About It's Liv on Air: Your Behind the Scenes Bestie
Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of your favorite reality shows?GREAT - you're ready to join the Broken Brain Club.
Your host and former reality TV producer Liv is here tell you everything you want to know about the real behind the scenes of how these shows are made - not just repeating Reddit rumors or DeuxMoi posts.
Get ready for deep dives, current show gossip, and rewatches of shows with behind the scenes details for a peak into the real world of unscripted television.
I’m currently on a summer break, but plan to be back this Fall! Check out my Substack or catch me on socials in the meantime.
Follow @itslivonair on socials
BTS of Summer House Reunion, Below Deck Guest Interviews, and DEEP DIVE on Reunions!
Host Olivia "Liv" Ponton interviews guests about the Summer House reunion, Below Deck charter guest interviews, and the production of reality TV reunions.
4 May 2026
BTS of Summer House Audio Leak, The "Bad Edit," Can Producers and Cast Be Friends?
This week, THERE IS LOTS HAPPENING!!! We dive deep into the recent Summer House reunion audio leaks, giving you lots of logical theories on who could have leaked it, and who definitely didn't. We also explore the complex, often blurry ethical lines between producers and talent through the recent McBee Dynasty scandal with some tea exclusive to the pod that you'll only hear here!
We also break down exactly how "bad edits" are constructed, using a al scene from The Valley as an example. And I never say this happens, but I do think this is a classic, good old fashioned, bad edit.
Thanks for listening! Follow along on socials at @itslivonair.
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
17 Apr 2026
BTS of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat
Welcome back to the Broken Brain Club!
Lanisa Renee Frederick (aka Jackie Griffin) joins the show this week to pull back the curtain on the how the hit show Jury Duty: Company Retreat is made. From ear wigs, to lunch breaks, to on the fly directing, Lanisa shares what it’s like to live in a 24/7 improv experiment.
Be sure to follow Lanisa on IG (@lanisafrederick) (https://www.instagram.com/lanisafrederick/) and TikTok (@lanisa.frederick).
Please rate, review, and subscribe, and follow Liv (@itslivonair) on socials. For future listener questions, email itslivonair@gmail.com.
3 Apr 2026
BTS of Amanda/West, Bachelorette Shutdown, and DEEP DIVE: Cast Trips!
My screentime has never been higher! We dissect the chaotic BTS of the cancellation of The Bachelorette, wtf Amanda and West are doing and what's going on at the network, and some tinfoil hat theories about leaked videos to unpaid reality contestants. Plus, a DEEP DIVE on Cast Trips: who actually pays for those villas, how "trade-outs" work, and what scenes are always fake.
Follow @itslivonair for more!
19 Mar 2026
LISTENER Qs: How Do You Sell A Reality Show? Are The Texts on Screen Real? Getting Ready Scenes?
Welcome back to the Broken Brain Club listeners!
We start this episode with some CURRENTLY ON gossip - Love is Blind Finale/Reunion (and if I think they get bonuses for making it to the altar), Top Chef premiere and what I can tell you about cooking shows, and how competition shows are really filmed!
Then we get in to some AMAZING listener Qs, from how you sell a reality show, to what happens when a cast member 'leaves the show' and then 'comes back,' to how get ready scens are filmed all at the same time (or are they!), and more!
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
27 Feb 2026
Traitors (an interview with Sam Spector!), ANTM Doc, Love is Blind, and more!
Welcome back to the Broken Brain Club listeners!
Today's episode is PACKED with BTS goodness. My honest thoughts on The America's Next Top Model documentary (and how it shows us how reality tv shows are sold) , the disaster of Love is Blind, and a very fun interview with the man responsible for the iconic looks from Alan Cumming (and hello, Lala!) on The Traitors - Sam Spector!
Settle in, this one is FUN!
20 Feb 2026
Doctors Therapists Psychics, Oh My!
Proud members of the Broken Brain Club, we’re back!
In this episode, Liv answers one of the most frequently asked questions: is this doctor on this reality show real?! Is this therapist an actor? Surely this psychic is a production plant, right? Where do you even find these people? Why doesn’t Jax have a therapist (okay I can’t actually answer that one, but everything else, I gotchu).
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
5 Oct 2025
How Zayn Malik Got Me My Job in Reality TV
Ever wondered what it actually takes to get a job on a show like Married at First Sight or Dancing With the Stars? In this first-ever "Story Time" episode, Liv shares her unfiltered journey into the demanding, chaotic, and sometimes glamorous world of unscripted television.
Why I dropped my college major for One Direction
The harsh realities of the freelance life
How to Get Into Reality TV If I Haven't Talked You Out of IT
Did this episode make you want to start a career in TV, or run the other way? Send Liv your thoughts or questions for a future listener episode at itslivonair@gmail.com. If you liked this episode, please rate and review the podcast!
26 Sept 2025
REWATCH: Is UnReal Actually Real? Ep 1 Part 2
In this second part of our UnREAL breakdown, Liv dives deeper into the show's most shocking and controversial scenes to reveal what's fact and what's fiction. She's tackling your biggest questions head-on, from producer ethics to how far they'll go for a good story. We answer some spicy questions on this one!
The doctor on set - do we really have them?! Do they tell production everything?
Is a cast member's edit decided before the cameras even roll?
Do we secretly keep filming even after a cast member thinks the cameras are down? Are there code words ?!
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Find her on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir (https://www.instagram.com/itslivonair/#), or email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com.
19 Sept 2025
LISTENER Q's: Morals of Producing Reality TV? Fake Breakups? Least Favorite Show?
This week, Liv is opening up the mailbag and answering the most frequently asked, burning questions from listeners! From a producer's ethical line to the real story behind an iconic TV breakup, nothing is off limits.
Am I a bad person? Does a producer ever feel guilty about how they portray someone? Liv shares her honest take on a producer's true power in the editing room.
The Southern Charm Breakup: Was that famous, emotional breakup scene between Thomas and Kathryn on Southern Charm real or scripted? Liv weighs in with her professional opinion.
The Best & Worst Job: Liv reveals the most grueling show she's ever worked on and the one that made her feel the proudest.
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Find her on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir, or email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com.
12 Sept 2025
BEHIND THE SCENES: Below Deck and McBee Dynasty
In this episode Liv, delves into the behind-the-scenes intricacies of two Bravo reality shows we are loving and maybe not so loving right now - 'Below Deck' and 'McBee Dynasty.' If you haven’t heard of McBee Dynasty THIS WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO! Liv discusses why 'Below Deck' works so well as a format, critiques the latest season's new stylistic changes, and reveals all on why she thinks it will need to change quite a bit if it will stay on the air. Then, Liv focuses on 'McBee Dynasty' - the best show you haven’t heard of - a reality show about a family of ranchers that mimics the popularity of 'Yellowstone.' Problematic men! Cows! Alcohol! Saying coo coo bananas multiple times?! What more could you ask for?!
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
5 Sept 2025
DEEP DIVE: Reality TV Interviews & Confessionals
Interview bites make or break whole episodes, and well, series! Let’s deep dive into the all important power of the confessional. In this episode, Liv is taking you into the interview chair to reveal the secrets behind how we get those tearful testimonials.
In this episode, we go over some of the basics:
OTF vs. Sit-Down: What's the difference between an on-the-fly interview and the polished confessionals you see on shows like The Valley?
The Power of the Question: The secret to getting a great "bite" from a cast member—and how producers get them to talk in the present tense about a past event.
Wardrobe, Hair, and Timing, Oh My!: We dive into who pays for their wardrobe and glam, and how often they are filming these interviews (and are they repeating looks?!)
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
29 Aug 2025
REWATCH - Is UnREAL Actually Real? Ep 1
Ever wondered if the dark, behind-the-scenes world of UnREAL is anything like the reality of making a show like The Bachelor? As a former producer on shows from Dancing With the Stars to Married at First Sight, Liv breaks down the first episode of the iconic Lifetime series to separate fact from fiction.
In this deep-dive re-watch, you'll learn:
Walkie-Talkies vs. Headsets: Why a showrunner would never use an open walkie on a high-stakes shoot.
Life on the Floor: You may have heard of producers being ‘on the floor’, but do they really LIE on the floor to get the shot?!
The Art of the Note: How producers soften a harsh note like "be more charming" to get the best performance from a cast member.
The Unbreakable Rules of Production: Why losing the main star or lacking a signed contract is a logistical nightmare that would (spoiler alert) never happen on a major show.
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
29 Aug 2025
DEEP DIVE: Is Reality TV Scripted?
It’s the number one question Liv gets asked, and in this episode, she’s giving you the definitive answer. We're going behind the curtain of shows like The Real Housewives to uncover the truth about what's planned, what's real, and everything in between.
In this episode, we cover:
The Anatomy of a Scene: How producers determine what they’re shooting in a scene and the kooky names for the documents they use to do so
Location, Location, Location: Why a restaurant might regret allowing a film crew in—and the rare instance it paid off.
The One Thing That Is Always Fake: I bet you can guess it if you think about it!
Talent Prep: The delicate art of guiding a cast member to say what's needed for the show without a script, and when you might feed cast a line directly
Edit Mindset: Why the edit is always on a good producer’s mind and why “I got a bad edit” can be the exact opposite
Want to ask Liv a question for a future listener episode? Email your questions to itslivonair@gmail.com (mailto:itslivonair@gmail.com). Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @ItsLivOnAir. Please remember to rate, view, and subscribe if you like the pod!
Inside a recent episode
BTS of Summer House Reunion, Below Deck Guest Interviews, and DEEP DIVE on Reunions!
Published 29 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Coming from her as a sober person about how alcohol can change you. And even if he's not an alcoholic, she understands what it was like to feel like your whole personality has been altered by a substance. And I thought it was very mature of her, dare I say. Because I think, right, the instinct in those is that you... do it in front of everyone because that's maximum drama but I think she really handled it very well and Danny kind of brushed it off and whatever and I do wonder just don't think we'll ever see like a reckoning from him where he like clocks that it's a thing I just don't but I thought it was I thought it was worth mentioning that I think that showed growth in her character that she was able to have that conversation the next day and I don't think I would say I know that non-sober Lola wouldn't have done that She also talks about Kristen and Nia having an alliance, and I do think she's right. […]
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