By Camille Cannon

(This article originally appeared in Vegas Seven magazine on October 5, 2016.)

Don’t judge Heather Dubrow by the “Press for Champagne” button she had built into her closet—she’s earned it. The actress and Real Housewives of Orange County cast member has been juggling reality television, her podcast Heather Dubrow’s World, hosting the Post-Op after-show for E!’s phenom Botched, penning a new antiaging book co-written with her husband Dr. Terry Dubrow and managing the couple’s Consult Beaute skin-care line—all while raising four children. Dubrow recently called us from inside that cushy closet to fill us in on all of the above, in advance of her live podcast taping at House of Blues on October 13.

Why did you decide to start a podcast?

I realized that being on RHOC [Real Housewives of Orange County] is great, but the algorithm is that for every 30 hours you film, only 20 minutes make it [to the screen]. You can imagine how much of our lives, or how much of me, you’re not really seeing. My podcast became a way for me to talk to the audience in a more unfiltered, raw, real way. That is just so exciting to me. And then we decided to do a live show! When we record the podcast, it’s not live, so it’s hard to take calls. I love interacting with the audience at the live shows. [In Las Vegas], my lovely assistant, Natalie [Puche], will be there. And the fabulous Terry Dubrow is gonna be there.

How do you and Terry manage it all? 

I tend to [work] while my kids are at school. I still have to travel sometimes. It’s not easy. As parents, we just feel guilty. Even when I’m around 100 percent of the time, I still feel like I’m not serving someone appropriately. But after a few years, I have found a good balance—[it’s] not always perfect, of course—but [it’s] a good balance, because taking care of my family is my No. 1 priority. And working and doing things that [are] creative is important to make me feel like a whole person. I want the kids to see that that’s important, too. When Terry took on Botched by Nature, he had to start traveling and working on the weekends. It was a really difficult time because we want to support him and he was so happy with what he was doing, but then [he realized] he was missing his kids. He’s still working on it, but doing so much better.

What did you learn in the research process of your book, Dr. and Mrs. Guinea Pig Pr sent: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need to the Best Anti-Aging Treatments?

There [are] a lot of lotions and potions and treatments that promise so much—[they] overpromise and underdeliver. But there’s also a lot of really great stuff out there. One of the fails that you saw on RHOC was the leech therapy. We bled out for days and had bite marks for like six months afterward. And just to get a facial? I didn’t think it was worth it. But I loved Sculptra [Aesthetic]. It’s something you inject, but it’s not a filler. It was created for AIDS patients who lose a lot of fat. You inject it, and it regrows your own collagen.

Do you and Terry watch yourselves on television? 

Terry will watch himself on a loop [laughs]. I don’t love watching myself, but for RHOC, you have to, because you have to write a blog and see what everyone’s saying.

What’s that like? 

You know, sometimes it’s hard. Someone told me once you’ll like 80 percent and hate 20 percent. I think that’s pretty accurate.

What do you still want to accomplish?

I always thought that I knew what I wanted to do. It all changed when I had my kids and started reality television. It’s been weirdly enjoyable to loosen my control-freak nature and just go with it. I never thought I’d do a podcast, I never thought I’d be doing a live tour. I’m kind of interested to see what happens next. I say yes to a lot of different things because they’re new and they’re interesting and that’s what life’s about—just trying new things. I have no idea where I’m going, but I’m enjoying going there.

Heather Dubrow’s World Live Podcast Recording

House of Blues, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., $36, 702-632-7600, HouseOfBlues.com/LasVegas