The 'Southern Charm' Guys on How Reality TV Is Like Therapy

After over a decade of documenting the highs and lows of their friendships on TV, the guys of Southern Charm are back, still navigating the rollercoaster of relationships in Charleston — and all for the cameras to see.

One of the show's mainstays, Craig Conover, who started as a bit of a lost but lovable twentysomething, now runs a successful pillow business called Sewing Down South, which has since expanded into lifestyle and home goods. His goal? To become the male Martha Stewart – a far cry from the barely-graduated law school student we met on Bravo back in 2014.

"I'm excited," Conover, 35, tells Men's Journal of the new season. "I fortunately am not the same person that I was 12 years ago when I started. Some of our other cast members may be, but I go around and speak at home shows across the country and business schools and stuff, and I love sharing my story with people because so many people can relate."

Conover admits he "had issues with Adderall even though I was prescribed," which fans saw play out during season 6, "and then drinking" was his other vice. "It wasn't until I started to work out and started to clear my head in the morning that my entire life changed, and I just got healthy," he says. "And it's been almost two years now, and I started to make more money and once I could quantify it, I was like, 'Oh, this is a no brainer.' And so going into filming, I was excited to share that with people."

The Delaware native also credits his success to his three-year relationship with fellow Bravo star Paige DeSorbo. Though, his closest friends and costars – Austen Kroll and Shep Rose – are "foaming at the mouth," according to DeSorbo, to say Conover has changed because of her – and not in a good way.

"That is not the truth at all," Kroll, 37, tells Men's Journal of her comment. "I don't think that Shep or I think that it's Paige's fault that Craig has changed. That's just Craig. That's just Craig doing what Craig does and in his own Craig way. Now when you start to date someone, of course you get influenced by the person that you date. He's probably more of a house homebody more than he was in the past. But that's OK."

Conover says the real reason was his stepping away from alcohol and the party scene, telling MJ, "Well, since we were long distance, it wasn't really the time spent that was changing my friendship with them. It was that the parts of me that they liked, which was the guy that was really fun at the bar I was saying goodbye to, and they're having a really hard time mourning their loss."

He adds that he "was very disappointed and taken back by Shep and Austen's reaction" to his decision to get healthier. "I actually couldn't even believe that they were admitting it because it comes out of insecurity," Conover says. "It's a reflection of them. ...I wasn't holding up a mirror to them, it's just easier for them to justify their behavior when I'm messing up too. And I was inspired to get better. And really, Paige has a huge part of it. ...Also, I'm 36 years old. It's not normal to live like you're in college anymore."

The guys have had to face some tough situations over the years – from cheating and paternity scandals to toxic relationships and fractured friendships – all of which has played out for the world to see.

"I think the cameras are a great therapist," Conover says of having difficult conversations while filming. "The boys would like to sweep their problems under the rug as much as possible. I mean, that's how I've always – well with friends – that's how I've been. A lot of times it's easier if things aren't unforgivable to just move on. ... But yeah, I think the cameras do force you to really reflect on yourself and what's happening. We're always mediating for each other because two of the friends are usually on the outs and the ones usually in the middle."

This season, Conover and Kroll are in the midst of repairing their friendship with Rose, who was admittedly belligerent and black-out drunk during BravoCon in 2023. Later, during the season 9 reunion, he vowed to make amends and change, which is now playing out during this current season of the show.

Austen explains of the situation, "I do think that Craig has always been better than me at setting boundaries, especially with Shep. ...I'll always answer Shep's phone call or meet up with him for a drink. But then kind of the moment that you do that, it justifies whatever it is that you're annoyed at them for. ...And I was like, OK for the first time, I'm going to put my foot down and be like, 'I cannot be associated with this behavior at the moment, Shep. I cannot be associated.' And so, I wanted it to hurt his feelings."

For his part, it sounds like Conover is still skeptical of Rose's purported life improvements. "Some people try to convince everyone they're changing and doing OK. I think I was like that for a long time, and that's why I can see right through it," he tells MJ. "Shep's done a lot of really horrible stuff when he's that messed up, and I don't owe him anything. I am not going to associate myself with someone that's trying to actively tear me down and throw their life away at the moment. So I'm really happy for him that he wants to change. But yeah, again, I'm a grown adult living my own life and I hope he earns that friendship."

As for where they stand today, Craig says, "We're in a great spot, but that's because we've learned to love each other for who we are and accept each other for who we are. And I'm excited for him to continue to grow."

He adds, "One day he will realize that that was us actually being good friends to him, because any friend that enables your behavior that's unhealthy is not a good friend. And so now he's focused on the future instead of trying to convince everyone he wasn't that bad. And I think that's done wonders for us."

And while it seems like the guys are finally getting back to a good place, the male friendship dynamics will continue to take center stage this season.

"What's funny is Southern Charm was designed to bring men over to Bravo," Conover says. "I think Below Deck and Southern Charm do a good job of that. Some guys are like, 'Oh, well, I like boats.' Or they're like, 'Oh, I like Charleston,' or 'We like to see you guys golf on there.' It is really neat, and we're starting year over year to see those numbers [of male viewers] increase."

Austen agrees, adding, "I absolutely have women and men that come up and the women say, 'Southern Charm is the only show that I can get my husband to watch because of you guys.' And that makes me laugh. And then when the men approach me, they're just different. They're like, 'You're the man.' But they do come up and they're like, 'Oh man, my wife would kill me, I need a picture with you.' I'm like, 'You watch the show too, man. You watch the show too.'"

Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9/8c.