Girls Next Level

If you grew up watching The Girls Next Door on E!, this podcast is going to feel like finally getting the real story. Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt take listeners back to the early 2000s Playboy Mansion era and break down what was actually happening behind the cameras. The manufactured drama, the genuine friendships, the moments that were totally staged versus the ones that were painfully real. The show carries a 4.9-star rating from over 12,000 reviewers, which is almost unheard of for a podcast with that many ratings. The reason is straightforward: Holly and Bridget are remarkably candid. Holly in particular has been public about the darker aspects of mansion life, and the podcast gives her space to contextualize those experiences without it feeling exploitative. Bridget brings a lighter touch, often remembering the funnier, more absurd moments that balanced out the chaos. Each weekly episode typically focuses on a specific period or event from the show's timeline, with the hosts offering their perspectives on what viewers saw versus what actually went down. They also bring in other people who were around during that era. The result is part nostalgia trip, part cultural reckoning with early reality TV and what it did to the women involved. With 177 episodes so far, they've covered substantial ground. The pacing is good. They don't rush through major events, and they're willing to sit with uncomfortable topics. It's a show that manages to be entertaining and genuinely illuminating at the same time.