Sonja & Luann: Pirates, Palm Beach & Picking Up Men

Episode of Call Her Daddy · September 30, 2026 · 1 h 11 min

Alex Cooper talks with Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps about their new E! series The Golden Life, RHONY memories, dating, aging, and friendship.

Summary

Alex Cooper hosted former Real Housewives of New York City cast members Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps to promote their E! series The Golden Life, premiering October 20. Morgan said the show came together after years of pitching to networks, and both described how Ramona Singer joined and how life in Palm Beach differs from New York, including its dating scene. They discussed Morgan's toaster-oven cooking, de Lesseps's planned caviar brand and new single, their touring cabaret and comedy shows, and Morgan's popularity on Cameo.

The pair commented on the current RHONY cast and Carole Radziwill's return, with Morgan saying Radziwill had always seemed only partly committed. They revisited famous moments: the St. John trip with Kelly Bensimon, the Cartagena food-poisoning episode, the St. Barts 'pirate' incident, and de Lesseps's marriage to Tom D'Agostino. Morgan recounted a chance reunion with Bethenny Frankel and Ramona Singer in Palm Beach that led to a Paris skincare campaign, which de Lesseps suspected had been planned. De Lesseps also addressed rumors about Southern Hospitality's Joe Bradley.

In the later part, both reflected on aging and dating in their 60s, compared younger and older men, and offered flirting advice. They praised each other's qualities as friends, and described how they had changed since their first seasons. De Lesseps credited cabaret with rebuilding her life, while Morgan spoke about her husband's car accident, raising her daughter, and gaining financial independence. Both said fan demand, visible at BravoCon, brought the original cast back to television.

Chapters

0:03
Welcome and outfits
Cooper welcomes Morgan and de Lesseps and they joke about how they dressed for the interview.
1:19
How The Golden Life came together
Morgan and de Lesseps explain the origins of their new E! show and how Ramona Singer joined.
3:05
Palm Beach, men, toaster ovens and caviar
The guests compare Palm Beach and New York dating and discuss Morgan's toaster-oven cooking and de Lesseps's caviar brand.
7:46
The new RHONY and old New York
They give views on the rebooted RHONY cast and Carole Radziwill's return, and recall nightlife with John F. Kennedy Jr. and Madonna.
12:11
Cast superlatives and touring
A superlatives game covers lateness and bartenders, leading to talk of their cabaret tours and Morgan's Cameo business.
21:08
Men around the group
They revisit a trailer moment involving de Lesseps's boyfriend Michael and discuss what each wants in a man.
26:37
Bethenny and the Paris trip
Morgan describes a chance Palm Beach reunion with Bethenny Frankel and Ramona Singer that de Lesseps believes was planned.
29:55
Infamous girls' trips
They recall the St. John trip, the Cartagena illness, and give girls' trip do's and don'ts.
36:09
The hockey player and the pirate
Morgan discusses dating a young hockey player and both give their versions of the St. Barts pirate story.
41:37
Lingerie, commando and Tom
They discuss underwear habits and de Lesseps reflects on marrying Tom D'Agostino despite red flags.
45:13
Aging and dating in their 60s
Both describe the benefits of getting older, their current relationships, and de Lesseps addresses the Joe Bradley rumor.
53:30
Younger vs. older men and flirting tips
They compare younger and older men and give advice for approaching men at bars, pools and on planes.
1:00:22
Friendship and growth since season one
They praise each other as friends, reflect on how they have changed, and preview The Golden Life.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Sonja Morgan
Morgan says The Golden Life came about after years of meeting networks until timing and money aligned with E!.
“So we were always interviewing with different networks and it was just timing and the money came together”
Listen from 1:58 · The Golden Life
Sonja Morgan
Morgan says Ramona Singer was available to join because she had split from her serious boyfriend.
“Timing was very, very good for us with Ramona because she was not with her serious boyfriend any longer”
Listen from 2:23 · The Golden Life
Sonja Morgan
Morgan contrasts dating in Palm Beach with New York, where she says men are more generous.
“Dating, the men are very generous in New York. That's the difference. The men in New York, they like to take you out and spend a lot of money”
Listen from 4:49 · Palm Beach, Florida
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says the new RHONY cast has big shoes to fill but there is room for everyone.
“I think that we have very big shoes to fill. And I think they're different women. And, you know, there's room for all of us”
Listen from 8:12 · The Real Housewives of New York City
Sonja Morgan
Morgan says Carole Radziwill never seemed fully committed when filming with them, so her return surprised her.
“when Carol filmed with us, she always acted like you know, she wasn't in 100%. She was always like, well, this is a bit beneath me”
Listen from 8:35 · The Real Housewives of New York City
Luann de Lesseps Prediction · being checked
De Lesseps announced that her new dance version of a song would be released on October 9.
“I'm so excited for it. It's a dance version. It's very romantic. It's coming out October 9th, actually”
Listen from 16:22 · Countess Cabaret
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says Cameo requests have shown her that fans credit the show with helping them through hardships.
“we hear so much that the show has given them, you know, gotten them through law school. That's right. It's gotten them through cancer”
Listen from 18:44 · Cameo (website)
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says she values that her boyfriend Michael supports her rather than seeking camera time.
“he's comfortable with who he is and he's a real man. So he's there to support me. He's not there to steal the camera”
Listen from 24:46 · Dating standards
Sonja Morgan
Morgan says that without cameras and production pressure, the cast members simply love each other.
“when you don't have cameras on you and you're not trying to put out 22 episodes under the pressure, you just love each other”
Listen from 28:16 · Female friendship
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps suspects Bethenny Frankel's Palm Beach encounter was planned to gather intel and pull cast members away from filming.
“I think she wanted out of it to kind of, I don't know, do a little intel as to what's going on with us and take the girls away from the show possibly”
Listen from 28:52 · The Golden Life
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says the Cartagena illness was serious enough that the cast needed treatment for parasites.
“we had to go get treated for parasites. It was really bad. It wasn't just about the diarrhea. It was about parasites”
Listen from 32:05 · Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says she sent the St. Barts 'pirate' away early because she was in love with Jacques.
“He left, I told him to leave at like three o'clock in the morning because I have to film tomorrow, et cetera, because I was in love with Jacques”
Listen from 38:44 · The Real Housewives of New York City
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps explains she married Tom D'Agostino despite his on-camera kiss because she believes people make mistakes.
“I still married the guy even, you know, because we like to believe in the good of people and that people make mistakes”
Listen from 44:01 · Dating standards
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps says the best part of getting older is independence and not needing a man.
“the best part is, you know, being in the driver's seat and not having to need a man, right, at this point in life and being busy”
Listen from 45:35 · Aging
Sonja Morgan
Morgan describes her 60s as bittersweet but a time when real connection becomes more valuable.
“it's bittersweet because you have less time on earth and you start to really value real connection”
Listen from 46:43 · Aging
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps defends a woman her age feeling attractive to a much younger man, referencing Joe Bradley.
“there's nothing wrong with a woman my age like feeling good about being attractive to a guy that's 28 and a half”
Listen from 51:53 · Dating standards
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps recommends sending a handwritten note via the bartender to approach a man at a bar.
“nobody writes notes anymore and i think it's really cute to get a love note”
Listen from 55:59 · Dating standards
Sonja Morgan
Morgan says reality TV taught her to live publicly while keeping a private life, and that she now earns money independently of the show.
“I learned how to be in a fishbowl but have a private life also”
Listen from 1:04:07 · The Real Housewives of New York City
Linked moment · 1:07:29Skip to 1:07:29 using a listen link in the info box.
Luann de Lesseps
De Lesseps argues the New York franchise was relatable because the women lacked glam teams and lived normal lives on TV.
“We're just normal people living our lives on TV, putting ourselves out there, and hopefully helping people navigate their own lives”
Listen from 1:07:29 · The Real Housewives of New York City
Sonja Morgan
Morgan credits fan enthusiasm at BravoCon with convincing E! to bring back the original cast.
“Thank God E! Network showed up at BravoCon and they saw that the OGs get the most applause when we walk around”
Listen from 1:07:37 · BravoCon

People

In the conversation

Alex CooperAmerican podcaster and media entrepreneur, host of Call Her Daddy
Sonja MorganAmerican reality television personality, original-era cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City
Luann de LessepsAmerican reality television personality and cabaret performer known as 'The Countess'

Discussed

Ramona SingerFormer Real Housewives of New York City cast member joining The Golden Life
Bethenny FrankelFormer Real Housewives of New York City cast member and entrepreneur
Carole RadziwillFormer RHONY cast member who returned to the franchise
Kelly BensimonFormer RHONY cast member central to the St. John trip
Dorinda MedleyFormer RHONY cast member
Andy CohenHost of Watch What Happens Live
Kyle RichardsReal Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member
Tom D'Agostino Jr.Luann de Lesseps's former husband
Jacques AzoulayLuann de Lesseps's former boyfriend seen on RHONY
Joe BradleyCast member of Bravo's Southern Hospitality
John F. Kennedy Jr.Lawyer and magazine publisher, son of President Kennedy
MadonnaAmerican pop singer
Quincy MorganSonja Morgan's daughter

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From the publisher

Join Alex in the studio for an interview with Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps! Sonja and Luann look back on their wildest years on The Real Housewives of New York City and reflect on the friendship, lessons, and adventures that have brought them to their next chapter together, The Golden Life. They give their unfiltered takes on former castmates, relive some of their most iconic moments from the show, and set the record straight on what really went down during the most unhinged ones. Enjoy!

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on October 4, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: TV & Film·Relationships