She’s a Boss: Jackie Schimmel-Haas of The Bitch Bible

This post kicks off the new series ‘She’s a boss!’ This is where I’ll introduce you to bad ass ladies with hustle, drive, success and female friendships that you don’t want to mess with.

She’s not a GirlBoss. She’s a Boss!

If you need to know anything about me it is that I have a bit of an edge. We’ll blame it on my New York background, but I really know it’s because I was raised by a woman that does not take shit from anyone and is simultaneously loved by all! When I meet other women who have that “bitch bite” I basically want to exchange numbers ASAP and figure out the next time we’re doing drinks. So when I heard about Jackie Schimmel-Haas (Shout out to the newlywed) and her blog-turned-podcast “The Bitch Bible” I downloaded as many of her podcasts as my phone would allow.

Here is the thing YOU need to know about Jackie: She is a California girl with a New York edge that won me over the minute she called Luann de Lesseps (aka The Countess) from The Real Housewives of NYC a ‘National Treasure’. I have quoted Luann since she explained to Alex McCord on Season 4 that even though her Herman Munster shoes were Louis Vuitton that even LV makes mistakes sometimes. ACTUAL GOLD!

Jackie’s podcast is one long “Oh thank god I’m not alone” or “Whew I’m glad someone said it”. She has at knack for being unapologetically unfiltered and so authentic that it encourages you to speak your mind and raise your voice. That’s reason one that I wanted to make her one the first bad ass women to introduce you to. It doesn’t hurt that she is also hilarious and the guests on her show never disappoint. She has introduced me to some of my other favorite podcasters, showcased her incredibly talented friends and more. Basically she introduced me and other listeners to some amazing women who are killing it in their profession. So, as they say I’m paying it forward to you!

While Jackie has the ability to call it like she sees it, there’s nothing negative about this ‘bitch.’ When I reached out to her to see if she would be open to talking about all things bitchy, reality tv, friendships and women empowerment, I had a ‘yes’ within minutes.

“Bitch to me has always been a term of endearment and if you’re going to try to insult someone, there are a million other words you could use,” she told me.

It didn’t take long for Jackie and I to start in on the concept of ‘bitch’ and why this wasn’t a negative thing in our world. Explaining to me that her level of directness with her friends, whom she’s had in her life since she was four years old, is something that you appreciate or you don’t.

However, if you take a listen to Jackie’s podcast, or scroll through her Instagram, you’ll notice the number of likes and comments from fellow famous ladies. These are friends she has made along the way and through her podcasting and as she says, “I’m not competitive in that space. There are so many female podcasters who are using the platform to speak their mind and if we can do that together and incorporate audiences it’s empowering and fun.”

The side of her personality that Jackie invites us to get to know via the podcast and social media is 100% authentically hers. But, at the core Jackie is fully aware of any kind of double standard you may see with someone who dishes on celebs and in the next breath talks about her amazing friendships.

“I get it a lot because it is a little hypocritical but it’s taking ‘lite-shit.’ I can get away with it mainly because I make fun of myself one thousand times more than I do others. I wouldn’t say anything about someone that I wouldn’t say about myself.” she explained. And for those digs at The Real Housewives of ‘Insert City’?? Well, as she says they are already a comedy in and of themselves. “It’s so light and fluffy! I try not to tackle anything that’s above my intellectual grade. There are certain topic I don’t discuss because it would be hypocritical of me.”

However, what Jackie will talk about is her unwavering support of her girlfriends.

“It is so important to surround yourself with people who elevate you in a way that [your friends] inspire you, make you think more, teach you something, make you laugh, make you feel. Just someone who is adding to your life.”

If you listen to Jackie’s podcasts, some of her best episodes are with her and her closest friends. To hear the excitement they share for one another and the moments when she is bragging on their accolades more than they will. That’s the big draw you can take away from The Bitch Bible, no one will celebrate you and your successes more than Jackie. But with those successes there’s no defining quality. We talked openly about how phrases such as Girl Boss have the potential to take women down a peg and is a constant reminder to others that we’re “girls”. FYI, no one over the age 18 is a ‘girl’.

“How about SHE-EO?” Jackie asked with an eye roll often seen in her Instagram stories. This is a woman who has her own successes and none of it came out of the fact that she is a woman, “Listen, I know some men who can be real bitches.” In fact, that isn’t about what it is about at all. For Jackie, it’s all about confidence and support for her friends and vice versa.

“I am so sick in the head that I think it’s me, I’ll say ‘We have a new song coming out!’ (Jackie’s friends are some amazing artists like Rooty and have written hits for One Directioners, JoJo and more!) or I’ll go ‘We got a new deal!’ It feels like I had something to do with it.”

There is a lot that Jackie has done right from owning her own brand, to creating a community of women who feel comfortable enough to speak their mind that they have even started Facebook groups dedicated to The Bitch Bible podcast. While Jackie is not in charge of the group you will see her pop in and chat with other listeners and talk real-time shit because those who know Jackie know we can’t wait for a podcast to get her thoughts on the recent separation of NYC Housewife and National Treasure herself: Luann de Lesseps. Guys, it was SO about Tom!!

And what’s next for this newlywed? She has taken back control of her show and is making the transition to go even more full throttle and unfiltered, if that’s even possible, with a new production company and a few new ventures she’s keeping close to the chest..for now. However, she shared that the ultimate dream would to be on Sirius XM Radio and maybe even joining the shock-jock himself, Howard Stern’s station one day down the road.

And in the most Bitch way we sent her off, with good vibes and putting her dreams and next steps out in the universe. “I should really put this on my non-vision board, huh?” she laughs.

And anyone who listens to The Bitch Bible knows, Vision Boards? HARD NO.

Guys, I LOVED chatting with Jackie and getting her thoughts on female friendships and as Lauryn Evarts says, “collaborating not competing” with other women. I want to continue to interview strong, bad ass women who are owning their success, hustle and drive and celebrating their female friendships along the way.

Who would you want to read about next? Leave me a message in the comments! And if you want to be showcased, I cannot WAIT to talk to you. Hit me up at MyRevampLife@gmail.com and let’s chat. Seriously. I’m so excited for this series!