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Artwork for Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

CBS
Soap Operas
All My Children
Days Of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Young and the Restless
Beyond the Gates
Cancer
Emmy Awards
Acting
Stalking
Daytime Soaps
Functional Health
Generations
Mental Health
Young and the Restless
Guiding Light
Christian Leblanc
Meditation
Susan Lucci

Join Rebecca Budig (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Greg Rikaart (Days of Our Lives) as they delve into the captivating world of TV soaps. Discover behind-the-scenes secrets and insider stories from a diverse array of actors, writers, and producers, revealing the magic behind the characters, plots, and the industry itself. New episodes every Tuesday.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes51Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Entertainment NewsNewsTV & FilmTV Reviews

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Artwork for Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

Latest Episodes

Nancy Lee Grahn joins hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The decorated soap opera icon opens up about the highs and lows of her decades-long career. Nancy reveals how her colleagues and networks have always stepped up to support her. The Daytime E... more

Christel Khalil joins hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The iconic star of The Young and the Restless reveals new details about the challenges she faced growing up in Los Angeles as a child star-- and how she overcame doubts, rejections, and road... more

Eric Martsolf joins hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The veteran Soap heartthrob tells us how he made his way to Soap stardom by way of Hershey Park, Dollywood, and touring musical theatre productions. Eric opens up about landing his leading rol... more

Elizabeth Hendrickson joins hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The beloved Soap veteran walks us through her decision to transition from actor to director on Young and the Restless. Elizabeth also shares intimate details of her remarkable career p... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Christel Khalil
Actress on The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
Episode: Christel Khalil's Deep Soap Roots
Eric Martsolf
Actor known for Brady Black on Days of Our Lives; previously on Passions; theater background
Episode: Eric Martsolf Puts the Heart in Soap Heartthrob
Elizabeth Hendrickson
Actress turned director; known for work on All My Children and The Young and the Restless
Actress/Director
Episode: The Making of a Soap MVP: Elizabeth Hendrickson
Tamara Tunie
Actor, producer, director with a long-running career in daytime and stage
Actor/Producer
Episode: Soap Opera's Reigning Queen Tamara Tunie
Owen Renfroe
Director known for One Life to Live, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless
Television daytime directing
Episode: How Owen Renfroe Shapes Young and the Restless
Tanisha Harper
Actress known for General Hospital, Jordan Ashford
General Hospital
Episode: Tanisha Harper's Rising Star
Sean Kanan
Actor known for Deacon on The Bold and the Beautiful and roles on other soaps
Actor, Cobra Kai, The Karate Kid 3
Episode: The Making of Soap Legend Sean Kanan
Eileen Davidson
A veteran soap actress known for Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless and multiple other roles across soaps
Actor
Episode: Eileen Davidson's Enduring Superstardom
Robert Scott Wilson
Actor known for Days of Our Lives, Price Is Right male model
Days of Our Lives, The Price Is Right
Episode: The Rise of Daytime's Robert Scott Wilson

Hosts

Greg Rikaart
Host of the show; veteran daytime actor with extensive soap opera experience and on-air collaboration with the co-host.
Rebecca Budig
Co-host; long-standing daytime actress with a prominent role in the soap world and on-air collaboration with the co-host.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 167 ratings
  • Eileen D

    Ashley and Drucilla were my two favorite female characters on YR. I remember when she would have those glasses on and her blue lab coat doing the chemist thing; the coolest, most striking, powerful white

    lady.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tarang Tarang
    United States2 months ago
  • It’s okay most of the time

    I enjoy listening to the guests but it’s very annoying when Ms. Budig keeps interrupting her guests and overtakes the conversation and makes it about her. Stop cutting off your guests please!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kawehe N
    United States2 months ago
  • Love the podcast!

    Love learning about the ins and outs of soaps and the wonderful stories with each guest. Thank you Greg and Rebecca for making it a fun and fascinating podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TammytheGardener
    United States5 months ago
  • Awesome caliber and variety of guests

    I’m really impressed with the variety of guests that include actors, producers, writers, etc. You can tell the hosts are friends and have chemistry / history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ldnq
    United States7 months ago
  • Sudsy start

    Interview was good but could have used better audio on Eric. Opening banter had way too much of Greg’s juvenile teasing of Rebecca. I will listen to episode 2 in hopes of improvement. Update: nope. All episodes show why they are actors…they don’t know how to freely banter without scripts. She laughs constantly. So sad. Could’ve been a contender.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Winterfuzz55
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Chemistry between hosts is often highlighted as a strength, with engaging banter when well-scripted.
Some feedback calls for tighter editing and less on-air teasing during conversations.
Listeners appreciate the deep-dish soap industry insights and strong guest lineup.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#25
United States/TV & Film/TV Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#177
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/TV & Film/TV Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#119
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#42
Australia/TV & Film/TV Reviews
Apple Podcasts
#54
Italy/TV & Film/TV Reviews

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Making of a Soap MVP: Elizabeth Hendrickson
Q: Who was your favorite co-star you've ever worked with and why was it Greg Rikaart?
Elizabeth notes the long, collaborative history with Greg as a colleague and friend, highlighting the strong on-screen chemistry and shared experiences from working together on soap sets.
Christel Khalil's Deep Soap Roots
Q: How did you prepare for portraying difficult experiences like cancer or infertility on screen?
Preparation blended acting techniques like substitution with imagination, plus working closely with someone on set to build genuine chemistry, allowing emotions to flow authentically during scenes.
Christel Khalil's Deep Soap Roots
Q: Did you have a moment when you realized you were no longer the young ingenue and had new responsibilities?
Yes, there came a shift as I aged and became the elder figure among the younger cast; I started noticing I was the older one in the group and began embracing a new level of responsibility on set.
Christel Khalil's Deep Soap Roots
Q: What was the hardest storyline you ever filmed emotionally and why?
The cancer storyline for Lily Winters stands out as emotionally taxing because it required projecting vulnerability while dealing with real-world implications fans connected to, which made the experience deeply personal and challenging.
How Owen Renfroe Shapes Young and the Restless
Q: Okay, well, for the audience, who I think are just going to be so thrilled to hear your perspective and have you here today, walk us through your process of directing an episode.
The director receives the script about a week ahead, studies the show and brand to understand the world, reads through multiple times, creates shot lists, and develops emotional blocking. They plan where actors should be, how to position them for shots, and how camera motion will convey the narrative, while staying open to what actors and crew contribute in rehearsal and on the floor.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversational series centered on daytime soap operas, featuring actors, writers, and executives who share career milestones, on-set anecdotes, and industry insights. Episodes cover acting journeys, long-running character arcs, casting stories, and behind-the-scenes decision-making across iconic shows, with a mix of humor and candid storytelling. Noteworthy is the show's ability to blend nostalgia with practical guidance for actors and creators, plus guest diversity ranging from veteran stars to rising talents. Listeners often gain a clearer sense of how daytime television evolves, survivals in a fast-paced genre, and tips for crafting enduring TV storytelling.

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 51 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Christel Khalil
2. Eric Martsolf
3. Elizabeth Hendrickson
4. Tamara Tunie
5. Owen Renfroe
6. Tanisha Harper
7. Sean Kanan
8. Eileen Davidson

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