The Toast

Recession Indicators with Dorothy Wang: Thursday December 4th, 2025

December 4, 2025

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  • Dorothy Wang officially changed her name to Dorothy Wang Yankowitz following her marriage, and she and Claude discussed the differences between filming reality TV for E! (handheld experience) versus Netflix (content-focused). 
  • Dorothy Wang detailed her intentional courtship with her husband, Brandon Yankowitz, which culminated in her conversion to Reform Judaism, a process she found straightforward due to her prior exposure to Jewish culture. 
  • The conversation highlighted the stark contrast between the production support on *Rich Kids of Beverly Hills* (which was canceled despite high ratings due to cost) and the hands-off approach of Netflix shows like *Bling Empire*, alongside a discussion about the etiquette of splitting group dinner bills. 
  • The hosts view Prince Harry re-enacting a viral meme with Stephen Colbert as a 'recession indicator,' suggesting dark times in media/culture. 
  • There is a significant cultural difference discussed between Los Angeles, where social life is separate and home-centric, and New York, where social interactions are frequent and often out at venues. 
  • The conversation highlights a trend of celebrities, like Kris Jenner, becoming more open about cosmetic procedures, though they still maintain privacy regarding certain procedures like buttock enhancements. 

Segments

Dorothy’s New Name and Past Appearances
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(00:00:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Dorothy Wang legally changed her name to Dorothy Wang Yankowitz upon marriage.
  • Summary: Dorothy Wang confirmed she is now legally Dorothy Wang Yankowitz, with Wang serving as her middle name. The hosts attempted to confirm if this was her second or third appearance on The Toast. They recalled a past appearance where Wang correctly predicted Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy based on subtle social media cues.
Meeting and Courtship Details
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(00:04:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Dorothy Wang met her husband, Brandon Yankowitz, at a Halloween party in New York City after moving from LA, and he was immediately intentional about planning their first date.
  • Summary: Wang met her husband at a Halloween party hosted by the Met, locking eyes in the elevator before meeting formally upstairs. Brandon immediately planned their first date to Company XIV in Brooklyn, arranging a car service for her the next morning. Wang noted that from the first date, he felt like what a husband should feel like.
Judaism Conversion Journey
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(00:06:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Wang converted to Reform Judaism after her husband expressed a hope that his wife would be Jewish, a process that involved reading ‘To Be a Jew’ and a mikvah immersion.
  • Summary: The topic of conversion arose about a year into the relationship when Brandon mentioned his hope for a Jewish wife. Wang, having grown up around Jewish friends in Beverly Hills, felt comfortable gaining a religion rather than leaving one. Her conversion process involved Zoom sessions with Rabbi Michael Ehrlich and culminated in a mikvah experience.
Wedding Traditions and Heritage
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(00:08:34)
  • Key Takeaway: The wedding successfully merged Jewish traditions, including a ceremony under a chuppah with Rabbi Michael Ehrlich, and a Chinese tea ceremony.
  • Summary: The couple incorporated both Jewish and Chinese traditions into their wedding ceremony. Wang noted that growing up with strong heritage traditions, which felt annoying as a child (like wrapped lunches), becomes a celebrated and unique aspect of life as an adult. They intentionally merged the traditions to honor both sides of the family.
Reality TV Experience Comparison
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(00:09:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Filming for E!’s Rich Kids of Beverly Hills involved significant network support and communication, contrasting sharply with the high-volume, less-supported content machine of Netflix’s Bling Empire.
  • Summary: Wang felt E! producers were very caring, offering meetings and support, leading her to believe all reality shows operated that way. Netflix, conversely, treats shows more as ‘content’ to be binged once before moving on to the next release. Rich Kids of Beverly Hills was canceled despite being the second highest-rated show under The Kardashians, reportedly due to rising cast salaries.
Rich Kids Cast Status Update
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(00:13:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The cast of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills has largely splintered post-show, with Johnny and Wang remaining pen pals, and EJ recently moving to New York.
  • Summary: Wang maintains contact with some former cast members, noting she and Johnny exchange memes but haven’t seen each other in years. EJ recently moved to New York, and Wang runs into him occasionally. Roxy lives in LA and has two children, resulting in less frequent contact with Wang.
Wedding Planning Philosophy
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(00:14:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Wang prioritized a short, sweet destination wedding in Florence, Italy, intentionally skipping the post-wedding brunch and limiting events to prevent guest fatigue.
  • Summary: The wedding size was 155 guests, focusing on people who truly love them and have a connection with Brandon. They chose Florence for its food and warmth, structuring the schedule to avoid tiring guests out by merging the welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, and ceremony into one night. They deliberately skipped the post-wedding brunch, which Wang finds unnecessary.
Pre-Wedding Wellness Routine
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(00:24:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Wang’s pre-wedding focus was primarily on diet to reduce inflammation and achieve minor weight loss, supplemented by a Titan laser treatment from Dr. Belkin.
  • Summary: Wang attributed her wedding look to reducing inflammation through diet and eating smaller portions, noting that even a five to ten-pound change makes a big difference for her. She avoided trying many new things due to ongoing skin allergy issues. She did undergo a painful Titan laser treatment, which she prefers less than injections due to the prolonged burning sensation.
The Itemized Bill Controversy
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(00:20:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The infamous itemized bill incident on Rich Kids of Beverly Hills occurred when Wang and another friend ordered minimally at a group sushi dinner and were pressured to pay equally for the large bill ordered by others.
  • Summary: The incident stemmed from a group dinner where Wang and one other person ordered only one shared roll while the rest of the group ordered heavily, including alcohol. They had informed the waiter they wanted separate bills, but the group insisted they pay the full amount, leading to an argument in the bathroom. Wang believes the gracious move is for those ordering more to cover the difference or tip, not to force minimal eaters to cover excessive orders.
Rick Hilton Fires Shotgun at Burglars
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(00:32:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Rick Hilton fired his shotgun at three burglars who broke into the Hilton home while Kathy Hilton was at BravoCon, successfully scaring them off.
  • Summary: While Kathy Hilton was at BravoCon, Rick Hilton confronted three burglars who smashed into their LA home, firing his shotgun and yelling for them to leave. Wang noted she was in the neighborhood that night and heard what she thought was a loud door slam. This incident underscores the severe security issues in LA, where burglars reportedly knew police response times were slow.
Miley Cyrus Engagement and Harry/Meghan Update
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(00:35:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Miley Cyrus is engaged to drummer Max Morando, whom she met during her New Year’s Eve party, while Prince Harry is resorting to making TikToks with Stephen Colbert due to perceived financial need.
  • Summary: Miley Cyrus was reportedly blindsided by the proposal from Morando, who is a drummer in the band Lily. The hosts expressed ambivalence toward Meghan and Harry, blaming Harry more for Meghan’s difficult adjustment to royal life. Harry’s appearance lip-syncing a Great British Bake Off meme with Stephen Colbert was cited as evidence that the couple is behaving like regular celebrities who need the attention.
LA vs. New York Social Life
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(00:42:59)
  • Key Takeaway: New York social life involves frequent, active outings, contrasting with Los Angeles where social interactions are less frequent and often centered around home comforts.
  • Summary: In New York, people see friends multiple times a week, often going out to venues like Cipriani, whereas in LA, seeing best friends bi-weekly was common. People in LA tend to have amenities at home, leading to fewer external outings once accustomed to staying in. The speaker preferred cozy hangs during a recent LA trip, which are rare in New York.
Harry & Meghan Media Presence
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(00:44:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The viral TikTok clip of Prince Harry on Stephen Colbert’s show overshadowed the actual interview content, signaling a shift in media focus.
  • Summary: Prince Harry was reportedly booed for a joke about Trump during his appearance on Stephen Colbert. The subsequent TikTok meme generated more buzz than the interview itself, which the hosts interpret as a sign of ‘dark times’ or a recession indicator. Meghan Markle’s podcast, Archetypes, did not get renewed by Spotify, and her subsequent podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, also ended after a short run.
Celebrity Facelifts and Dr. Levine
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(00:45:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Stephen Levine is currently the sought-after cosmetic surgeon, commanding high prices and long waitlists for procedures like facelifts.
  • Summary: Dr. Stephen Levine reportedly has a four-year waitlist, and a facelift from him costs $250,000. Kris Jenner openly admitted to having a facelift, joking that her nose is the only real thing left on her face. Kim Kardashian countered this by claiming her teeth are real amid the celebrity veneer craze.
Veneers and Aesthetic Trends
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(00:46:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Veneers are seen as a commitment indicator for fame in LA, but the speaker fears the permanence and potential for trends to change, citing Miley Cyrus’s veneers as a cautionary tale.
  • Summary: The speaker is hesitant about veneers due to the irreversible nature of shaving down teeth and the risk of future aesthetic trends making them look dated. Veneers are perceived as common in LA but less necessary in New York. The size of some celebrity veneers, like Miley Cyrus’s, is noted as being overly intense in real life compared to how they look in pictures.
Celebrity Transparency and Plastic Surgery
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(00:49:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The Kardashian-Jenner family is embracing a new era of transparency regarding cosmetic procedures, though they remain secretive about buttock enhancements.
  • Summary: The family is becoming more open about procedures like facelifts and breast augmentation (Kylie reportedly had hers done under the muscle). The hosts note that while they are open about many surgeries, they consistently refuse to discuss their behinds. The discussion also touched on the age limit for fillers versus the necessity of lifting procedures as one ages.
Korean Beauty Aesthetics
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(00:52:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Korean beauty standards prioritize a ‘youthful’ aesthetic characterized by soft and round features over a ‘snatched’ or chiseled look.
  • Summary: The speaker visited Seoul and learned that doctors differentiate between aiming for a youthful look (soft and round) versus a snatched look. Korean aesthetics favor rounder features, contrasting with more chiseled looks seen elsewhere. The speaker opted for collagen drops instead of the salmon sperm facial due to pain concerns.
Sponsor Reads: BetterHelp, Dibs, Fashion Pass, Nurture Life
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(00:52:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Sponsors offered deals for therapy services, multitasking beauty products, clothing rental, and children’s meal delivery.
  • Summary: BetterHelp offers 10% off for therapy to help manage holiday stress. Dibs Beauty promotes multitasking products like the Desert Island Duo, offering 15% off with code TOAST. Fashion Pass offers 10 items monthly for $125, with a special deal for the first two months at $55 each. Nurture Life provides fresh, fully cooked kids’ meals, offering 55% off the first order with code TOAST.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Relationship
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(00:58:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Travis Kelce requested the Chiefs not play Taylor Swift songs at Arrowhead Stadium to maintain focus on the team, despite his relationship being seen as mutually beneficial for both brands.
  • Summary: The hosts view the relationship positively for both individuals’ brands. Kelce’s request is framed as being a team player, avoiding distraction from potential booing by toxic NFL fans. The couple frequently visits members’ clubs in New York, like Zero Bond and Casa Cipriani.
Justin Sylvester’s Career Trajectory
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(01:00:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Justin Sylvester transitioned from being an assistant and producer on Rich Kids to becoming a charismatic E! News personality and now a major media figure.
  • Summary: Justin Sylvester was initially Farah’s assistant and later a talent producer for Rich Kids. E! executives praised him as cute and charming, leading to his on-air career. He is described as a hustler who is now achieving major success, including interviews on the Today Show.
TV Shows and Becca Tobin
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(01:04:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker is currently enjoying the thriller series The Beast and Me and is excited for the return of Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.
  • Summary: The speaker prefers limited series over long-running shows, especially avoiding her husband Brandon’s sci-fi preferences like Pluribus and Three-Body Problem. Becca Tobin was met at a gala where she casually used the NorCal term ‘brah,’ which surprised the speaker.
Husband’s Legal Career and Social Habits
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(01:06:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker’s husband is a personal injury and mass tort attorney who strictly adheres to traffic laws, often acting as the safety-conscious ‘dad’ in social settings.
  • Summary: The husband is an attorney at the Yankovitz Law Firm who is very strict about following the law, including driving under the speed limit. He is very social and enjoys pickleball, leading to discussions about specialized pickleball clubs in the city.