Southern Charm Summary: Craig wants to step back from the Austen podcast

Craig Conover and Austen Kroll hit a roadblock in their friendship—and working relationship—in the series’ latest episode Southern charm.

“He just can’t take any constructive criticism,” Austen, 37, said of Craig, 35, during Thursday’s Jan. 9 episode after the two bumped heads a week ago.

Austen told a mutual friend Shep Rose that after he accused Craig of never spending time with him outside of work — they launched their ‘Pillows & Beer’ podcast in 2021 — and the gym, and Craig didn’t react well to that.

“I think I’m going to lower the bar,” Austen admitted, noting that he doesn’t want to be in the “sy” place with his former best friend.

In the midst of their feud, Craig and his then-girlfriend Paige DeSorbo they find themselves throwing a backyard party for their friends, but Austen doesn’t make the guest list. (The group was originally supposed to attend a birthday party Taylor Ann Greenbut she canceled at the last minute.)

“He’s not sending me an invite because I told him something he didn’t want to hear,” Austen told the cameras, calling Craig a “little little whore.”

Craig was equally disturbed by his tension that Austen recounted Rodrigo Reyes that Austen said he wasn’t “a good friend”, which put him off.

“I’m not going to chase you down and convince you to be my boyfriend,” Craig said of Austen, admitting that he “kind of grows” from their ups and downs. (Austen, meanwhile, exclusively speaking My Weekly in December 2024, she wishes “Craig had more balance in his life” and called him a “hermit”.)

Later in the episode, Craig expressed his frustration Madison LeCroy over Austen’s comments and revealed that it spills over into their podcast success.

“He came in here and basically knocked my hustle down,” Craig said, adding, “I’m never going back to that guy missing him.”

Paige — who confirmed her and Craig’s breakup in December 2024 — also criticized Austen for his alleged overreaction to Craig putting work and her ahead of his friendship with Austen. “What grown man goes to another grown man’s house crying that he misses him?” she joked.

“I was stunned. I was like, ‘We are not dating.’ Like what are you talking about?” Craig said with a laugh.

Craig admitted that he thought the men were “good” and “on the same page”, but once he found out that wasn’t the case, he turned around. “I recorded the podcast last night by myself,” Madison, 34, said, explaining: “I love doing a podcast with him, but not when he’s acting like this.”

Craig shed more light on his alleged negative working relationship with Austen when he sat down with Shep, 42, at the end of the episode.

“You and I, when we have disagreements and we don’t understand each other, we can take a seat because we have nothing but our friendship,” Craig told Shep, hinting that the podcast is becoming a big point of contention for him. Austen.

Craig noted that for him the “solution” to the Austen problem would be to “step back from the podcast”. He said, “Then I won’t be bothered by how you live your life.” Instead of forcing yourself.”

When Shep remarked that it must be “exhausting” juggling his friendship with Austen and working so closely together, Craig admitted that the “chemistry” was no longer there.

“He wouldn’t show up with the podcast or he’d have a hangover.” Just pathetic,” claimed Craig, claiming that Austen was “sitting on our podcast tour” and he “had to do everything”.

Craig admitted: “It’s supposed to be the most fun time of the week and I’m starting to dread it.”

The Founder of Sewing Down South he explained that he treats the podcast “like a job” and does it “responsibly”, while Austen allegedly “treats it like a party”.

Craig added: “Maybe I’m outgrowing the allegations we had before.”

In the preview for next week Southern charm episodeCraig confronts Austen about their podcast issues. “How much would I have to give you to sign papers saying, ‘Craig now owns Pillows & Beer?'” Craig asks.

“Are we doing it?” Austen answers. “Ms.”

At the time this week’s episode aired, Austen and Craig were still co-hosting the podcast and had recently opened their By The Way restaurant together in Charleston.

Southern charm airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on Bravo.