Candiace Dillard Bassett and Michael Arceneaux are stepping into podcasting with “Undomesticated,” and the energy feels immediate. 

The outspoken “Real Housewives of Potomac” star links up with the New York Times–bestselling culture critic for conversations that sound less like commentary and more like the group chat you actually want to be part of. 

Their chemistry is easy, their takes are sharp, and together they bring humor, perspective, and real cultural awareness to the mic without overthinking it.

Each episode breaks down the biggest moments in pop culture, reality TV, and the messiest headlines of the week with honesty leading the way. From viral TikTok chaos to celebrity stories everyone’s debating, the duo keeps it smart, funny, and direct.

In an interview with BET.com, the actress star and the bestselling culture critic leaned into their reputations for being “too outspoken,” explaining that the show is less about dialing themselves back and more about letting honesty show up in different ways. 

For the Bravo favorite, the dynamic works because it isn’t one-note. She points to her co-host’s approach as bold and immediate, while positioning her own voice as rooted in optimism, even when the message is tough. 

“He’s going to give you his opinion and his thoughts. It’s raw. It’s in your face,” she said. 

Her own style, she noted, may land differently, but it’s still grounded in truth. 

“I think that balance is what draws people in,” she added, explaining that the contrast allows listeners to trust the chemistry. “It makes people feel like, ‘Okay, this is a good team.’”

That sense of intention also shaped how the platform came together, particularly for the reality star, who was thoughtful about returning to podcasting after her earlier show with radio personality Leah Henry. 

She credits that experience with sharpening her perspective on what she wanted her voice to contribute this time around. While she praised her former co-host and collaborator,  calling her “an incredible force” and “a voice,” she also admitted that the oversaturation of podcasts made her hesitate. 

“There are a lot of saints and ain’ts in the world with a podcast,” she said candidly. 

For her, the question became whether the format could be used to say something that mattered. 

That reflection ultimately shaped the show’s broader scope, where pop culture conversations live alongside discussions about politics, government, and the realities impacting Black communities. 

“We’re not just focusing on the fluff,” she explained. “We’re also bringing you what’s really happening and how it’s affecting our communities and other communities around us.”

For Arcenaux, protecting his peace comes from a long-standing understanding of how rare his perspective still is in mass media. 

As a writer, he’s well aware that the internet is crowded, but that hasn’t made his voice feel any less necessary. 

“No one sounds like me. No one has my point of view,” he said, pointing specifically to the lack of representation for Black, queer men like himself across major platforms. 

Even beyond sexuality, he noted that class and upbringing often go unacknowledged in mainstream conversations. 

That awareness informs how he shows up, fully and without apology. 

“If I’m fortunate enough to be in the room or be in any of these spaces, I’m going to be myself,” he said, adding that advocacy across different communities remains central to his approach.

The podcast also allows the Howard alum to explore themes he’s long unpacked in his books, from  faith, identity, culture, and politics, but in a way that feels more immediate and accessible. 

He traces that instinct back to his early dreams of becoming a talk show host and his background in broadcast, noting how much the media landscape has shifted. 

“A lot of Americans don’t read,” he said plainly, acknowledging that while writing remains his foundation, audio and video offer a different kind of reach. Podcasting, for him, is about meeting audiences where they are. 

It gives him the freedom to be animated, conversational, and direct, while still engaging the same ideas that shape his work. 

“We’re like the perfect balance,” he said of the hosting duo, emphasizing that culture, politics, and even reality TV aren’t separate conversations, as they’re deeply connected, and the show reflects that reality in real time.

You can listen to the show wherever you listen to your podcasts.