The High Life with Ricki Lake

Death doula Alua Arthur never thought about death until two back-to-back experiences changed her life. A serendipitous encounter with a woman on a bus dying of uterine cancer and the terminal diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma by her brother-in-law opened her eyes to what happens when we don’t plan for death. From those moments on, Alua realized the power in guiding people through the dying process, and devoted her life to working as a death doula. On this episode, Ricki and Alua talk about how to plan for your death, why dying can bring about a fuller life, and the wonder Alua witnesses as her clients pass from this world to whatever comes next. Show Resources: Check out Alua’s book, Briefly Perfectly HumanLearn more about becoming a death doula at Going With Grace Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Virginia Sole-Smith was a skinny teenager who became a fat adult. She now writes about and personally experiences anti-fat bias on a daily basis, from finding clothes to accessing medical care. On this episode, hear Ricki open up about her own weight journey as she and Virginia talk about how weight discrimination shows up across the fat spectrum, how to let your kids make their own decisions about what they put in their bodies, and whether or not Ricki herself has contributed to fatphobia. Get ready for one of the most open and honest conversations about weight you’ve ever heard. Show Resources: Check out Virginia’s books, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture and The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image, and Guilt in AmericaSubscribe to Virginia’s Substack newsletter, Burnt Toast Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ricki talks with Ernesto Londoño, NYT national correspondent and writer of the book Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics, about his reporting on Ayahuasca retreats in Brazil and some of the dangers posed by the unregulated drug market. They also dig into Ernesto's personal experience taking the drug, and the mental health journey that he says unfolded as a result of his first trip. Show Resources: Check out Ernesto’s book, Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olympian Alexi Pappas may have won gold during the 2016 Summer Games representing Greece, but she wasn’t prepared for the debilitating depression she faced after the glory. Join Ricki in conversation with Alexi as they talk about losing loved ones to suicide, opting into life, and how Alexi regained her footing after her Olympic win and ensuing battle with her mental health.  Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 55 years old, Emmy-winning talk show host Ricki Lake is feeling better than ever! She’s cracked the code to her own happiness, and she wants to help you do the same. Join Ricki as she continues her lifelong journey of self-reinvention by talking to friends and experts in the realm of healing, health and wellness such as Olympian Alexi Pappas, journalist and psychedelics expert Ernesto Londoño, and death doula Alua Arthur. She’ll tackle topics like biohacking, tantric sex, somatic therapy, crystals, astrology, and clairvoyance. The High Life with Ricki Lake is a lighthearted dive into living your best life at any age. Follow Ricki Lake @rickilake on Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can now show your support for the Raised By Ricki podcast with your very own Raised By Ricki sweatshirts, mugs, and bucket hats. You can order all of the new Raised By Ricki items and more at www.lemonadamedia.com/shop. Let’s be ICONIC and match our outfits together!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Receiving love letters from women in prison, busting guests for lying on TV, flying Usher to the studio in a helicopter. These are just a handful of the stories longtime producer, Andrew Scher, remembers from his chaotic and thrilling days on The Ricki Lake Show. He tells Ricki and Kalen about why every day on TRLS felt like a party, how he’s seen daytime TV evolve in the last 30 years, and why he’ll never forget a shocking 2:00 am phone call he once received from a guest. Plus, Kalen reminisces on his time on The Ellen Show and Ricki gets real about whether or not her show would be successful today.     Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop culture expert Danny Pellegrino knows what TV shows are worth watching and when it’s time to change the channel. Danny, a New York Times Bestselling author and host of the Everything Iconic podcast, has seen everything from early 90s talk shows to today’s popular reality TV and he’s here to spill the tea. He tells Ricki and Kalen about his memories watching The Ricki Lake Show after school, digs into all the drama that surrounds The Real Housewives franchise, and shares who he considers to be the Queen of Reality TV. Plus, Kalen divulges what reality shows he’d want to be on and Ricki asks Danny about the on-screen scandals we can't get enough of.       Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you go on national TV and admit that you steal things? That’s exactly what these guests did in The Ricki Lake Show episode that Ricki and Kalen dissect today. From stringing along children to stealing from people’s homes, Ricki and Kalen discuss the scam artists featured in this episode: Brandie, who got caught shoplifting with her friend’s baby, MD, who picks up retail jobs and pockets the cash behind the register, and Rachel, who enjoys taking bizarre used things like toothpaste. Plus, Ricki and Kalen consider whether the episode played into stereotypes, reveal if they’ve ever stolen anything, and examine how the topic would be covered on TV today.    Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Believe it or not, there was once only one channel where we could watch new music videos, hear celebrity gossip, and catch stars like Mariah Carey give private tours of their luxurious homes. This might be before your time, but for journalist and Add to Cart host SuChin Pak, MTV was the launching pad that jump started her career. She joins Ricki and Kalen to talk about starting off in the industry as a teen reporter, becoming the first Asian-American and only woman correspondent at MTV News, and landing the sweet gig narrating MTV’s Cribs. Plus, SuChin reveals her secret connection to The Ricki Lake Show, and bonds with Kalen over the pressures of being a “relatable” person of color in a predominately white industry.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Ross Mathews was a kid, he would watch The Ricki Lake Show and pretend to host the show alongside Ricki. Now he's one of the most beloved personalities on TV, currently serving as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and co-hosting The Drew Barrymore Show. Talk about manifestation! Ross tells Ricki and Kalen about his successful decades-long career on screen, including how an internship with Jay Leno turned into the opportunity of a lifetime. He shares the pressures he felt as a young queer host, how he established himself in daytime and late night TV, and won the hearts of millions of people across America. Also, Ricki and Kalen react to the Grammys and Kalen updates us on his quest for Beyoncé tickets.    Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aminatou Sow, host of the popular podcast Call Your Girlfriend, joins Ricki and Kalen to talk about growing up in Nigeria, where The Ricki Lake Show was her first introduction to American culture. She tells them about the impressions of African-American culture she formed from watching American television, and how her expectations compared to the reality she experienced when she moved to the US at age 19. Then, the friendship expert educates Ricki and Kalen on what she calls “Shine Theory,” why she doesn’t use the term “best friend,” and why friendship breakups are equally (if not more) brutal as romantic breakups. Plus, Ricki opens up about breaking up with a longtime friend.      Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before shows like Love Is Blind and Blind Date caught our attention, The Ricki Lake Show set shallow singles up on blindfolded dates to see if they could find a love match without knowing what their date looked like. Ricki and Kalen discuss the three superficial guests featured in this episode: Tamara, who believes she can “sense ugly” through a blindfold, Don, who says it’s dumb to date someone you don’t find attractive, and Amanda, who doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with picking pretty guys. Plus, Ricki shares some of what she’s learned about love in her life so far and encourages Kalen to be more open to it in his.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In The Ricki Lake Show’s last season, the Gay Pimp gave people and spaces makeovers, taught us about “metrosexuality,” and tested out some dubious aphrodisiacs. Today, the man behind the Gay Pimp character, Jonny McGovern, joins Ricki and Kalen to talk about the origins of the Gay Pimp, where his career went after his TRLS appearances, and even sings some of his hit song “Soccer Practice” for Ricki and Kalen! Plus, they discuss the myriad reasons why Jonny would not name a character the Gay Pimp today.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren Lake has done it all – music, TV, books, law, interior design – and she says it’s all because of her appearances on The Ricki Lake Show! Lauren tells Ricki and Kalen about the dating docuseries she was in that caught the attention of TRLS producers, her time as a life coach and relationship expert on Ricki’s show, and how those appearances led to Lauren laying down the law on Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and We the People with Judge Lauren Lake. Plus, Lauren reflects on the pressures put on Black women in the TV industry and how she pushes back against them with her signature wit, strength, and style.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britney Spears. NSYNC. Usher. Salt-N-Pepa. The Ricki Lake Show featured performances from some of the most iconic pop stars of the 90s and early 2000s. Ricki and Kalen talk with former MTV VJ Dave Holmes about the amazing artists who visited TRLS, looking back at the teen pop craze knowing what we know now, and the surprising places Ricki and Dave find new music nowadays. Plus, Kalen tells the story of when he hosted the announcement of Britney Spears’ Las Vegas residency that didn’t go exactly as planned.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab a friend and some snacks – we’ll provide the tea. We’re traveling back to the 90s, when The Ricki Lake Show was the place for drama and fun unlike anywhere else on TV. Ricki and Kalen are joined by Stuart Krasnow, former supervising producer of The Ricki Lake Show, to talk about the show’s beginnings and its lasting impact on a new generation.   If you were a past guest or audience member of The Ricki Lake Show, email us at hey@lemonadamedia.com.   Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raised by Ricki is off this week on holiday break, so we’re excited to bring you an episode of V Interesting that Ricki was recently a guest on.When V thinks back to their childhood, they remember rushing home from school to watch the Ricki Lake Show. That's where they learned about diverse relationships, how to stand up to bullies, and that wearing blazers is cool. Now, V’s talking to the show’s iconic star about how she went from starring in Hairspray to being the youngest talk show host that audiences had seen to producing documentaries inspired by her personal stories. This jam-packed journey is what inspired Ricki’s new retrospective podcast with Lemonada, “Raised By Ricki,'' and it turns out her life today is just as full: of happiness, love, and her advocacy work. Follow Ricki at @rickilake on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her podcast.  Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raised by Ricki is off this week, but we’re sharing an episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, another show we think you’ll love. For more than three decades, Maury has been a platform for flamboyant guests seeking paternity and lie detector tests for significant others. They’ve yelled, bawled and kicked over chairs. Now, the show’s host Maury Povich is retiring and it’s the end of an era for a particular brand of uber-trashy daytime TV.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Weave Wars stretched the imagination of what hair could look like. From the hair-icopter to a hairdo with actual, live finches, The Ricki Lake Show spotlighted the artistry of fantasy hair. In this jam-packed episode, Ricki and Kalen are joined by the top two competitors of Weave Wars: Sharon Shearer and Weaven Steven. They talk about their most memorable creations and how The Ricki Lake show catapulted their careers. Plus, hairstylist Clayton Hawkins (whose clients include Olivia Rodrigo, Dakota Johnson, and Emma Roberts) recounts the time he got mistaken for Ricki when he was 12 years old! Please note, Raised By Ricki contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.  Watch Ricki and Kalen's recent appearance on Access Hollywood where Ricki gets surprised by Weaven Steven! Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.  Raised by Ricki is sponsored by Harklinikken, the scalp health and hair growth brand foundational to Ricki Lake’s own hair journey. Join their membership program to get up to 50% off at harklinikken.com/ricki. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.