‘Owning Manhattan’ Star Jessica Markowski Says She Left SERHANT “In Tears” After Recording Controversial Podcast With Jonathan Nørmølle: “I’m Not Proud Of It”

Jessica Markowski is ready for her redemption arc. A controversial podcast might’ve branded Markowski as Owning Manhattan ‘s resident mean girl in the Netflix show’s first season, but the real estate agent is hopeful that fans will get to see a different side to her in Season 2.

“My personality was kind of diminished because of the drama that was the talk of [the] town,” Markowski told DECIDER when she stopped by our studio. “So I think [in] Season 2, you’ll get to see me, Jessica, who I am, minus the drama that maybe I brought on in Season 1.”

About midway through the first season of Owning Manhattan — which follows real estate mogul Ryan Serhant ‘s team of top-earning agents — Markowski, along with series antagonist Jonathan Nørmølle , recorded and published a podcast episode in which they disparaged a fellow SERHANT agent. According to Markowski — whose involvement in the podcast got her kicked out of Chloe Tucker Caine ‘s event — she immediately knew she had made a mistake, revealing that she left the office “in tears” after recording the podcast.

“I was like, ‘Why am I doing this? Why was I just saying yes?’ I’m such a ‘yes’ girl,” Markowski said, before adding, “Looking back, I wish I stood more grounded and I wish I said, ‘What we’re doing is fucked up. Jonathan, stop. No, let’s get out. Let’s not do this.'”

While Markowski admitted she was “not proud” of the part she played in the podcast, she also noted that the drama that unfolded helped make Owning Manhattan “successful.”

“At the end of the day, I know this podcast made it a top hit. So I might hate it, but I love it at the same time because it allowed us to do Season 2,” she said, calling the ordeal a “win-win.”

But in Season 2, which officially began production last week, Markowski said she wants to be known less as the girl in the podcast and more as the “immigrant hustler girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to get listings,” telling us that she “really wants to capture the grind” and how immigrants have contributed to making New York City what it is today.

When we sat down with Markowski, she also opened up about her friendships with her co-stars, filming Season 2, and how she once scored a new listing in a Miami strip club. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: First of all, congratulations on the Season 2 renewal! What was your reaction to finding out the big news?

JESSICA MARKOWSKI: I remember this day like it was tomorrow. I mean, it was literally three weeks ago, so I would remember it. Ryan told us to all be available for a FaceTime. I’m like, “Why at [9 a.m.] on a Monday?” Of course, because it’s Season 2. I knew. He was like, “Okay, we got renewed. We got greenlit to do Season 2.” We were all screaming. I posted on Instagram Reels. David was sitting next to me and he recorded my reaction and everything as I’m literally in my PJs in Miami. We started literally yesterday … Season 2 Episode 1, ready to go. We were filming last night, so my hair is still from last night.

You did post a little “set selfie” the other day! How are things going so far?

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It’s awesome. I’m so excited to start filming again. We took the summer to focus on getting more business and focus on our actual job. Now, we’re doing Season 2 and putting all the work that we put [in] since the moment we aired to now doing Season 2 and now putting all that work on camera. It’s fun.

Ryan teased that your backstory is “a lot” and seemingly hinted that Season 2 would delve into that a bit more. What did he mean by that? Can you share a bit of your story with us now?

Ryan definitely mentioned that there’s more to me that hasn’t really been seen. The podcast definitely consumed 80% of Season 1. My personality was kind of diminished because of the drama that was the talk of town. So I think [in] Season 2, you’ll get to see me, Jessica, who I am, minus the drama that maybe I brought on in Season 1. You know, who I am, where I come from, that immigrant hustler girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to get listings, buildings, anything. That you’ll hopefully see on Season 2.

It must be so exciting getting to work with Ryan. What has the experience been like for you?

He gave me the most beautiful opportunity I could have ever asked for. I was at a different brokerage prior. Ryan really wanted me to join his company and ultimately be on the show. He really gave me this on a golden platter. Now, I have this to thank him for. With all the opportunities and business that I’m getting now, all thanks to Season 1, I feel like I have to pay it back. Since Season 1 has aired, I’m like, “Oh my God, I need to get more business. I need to focus, dive into it, give more.” So here we are. I got a building.

Congratulations! Last season, you were involved in the whole podcast drama with Jonathan. What was going through your mind when you were watching that play out in the show?

From the moment we filmed the podcast, I remember leaving out of SERHANT in tears. I was like, “Why am I doing this? Why was I just saying yes?” I’m such a “yes” girl that if my friends are like,”We’re going out,” I’m like, “Yes.” Even if I don’t want to, I always say yes. I think the whole podcast thing, I was kind of saying “yes” and kind of vibing with whatever was happening. Looking back, I wish I stood more grounded and I wish I said, “What we’re doing is fucked up. Jonathan, stop. No, let’s get out. Let’s not do this.” Part of me is disappointed that I did it. It led me to tears, leaving the office. I’m not proud of it, but it was a good learning experience.

From Season 1, I’ve learned so much that I need to always remind myself to stay grounded and be who I am and don’t let the outside try to change me and try to not be that “yes” girl. If I know something is wrong, just own up to it, say, “No, I don’t want it.” That’s been an ongoing problem with me. I’ve always been a “yes” person so now I’m becoming a “maybe” person.

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone can come back from it. It did seem like it was more of him doing it, though, and you were just there for it .

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Listen, I’m not proud of it. But Season 2, I will try to stay grounded to what I believe in more than anything else. But listen, the podcast made the show successful. At the end of the day, I know this podcast made it a top hit. So I might hate it, but I love it at the same time because it allowed us to do Season 2 and allowed my fiancé to have a top-two podcast right now in investing and finance. Hate me. Love me. It’s a win-win.

At the end of the day, it all works out. But I still have to remind myself, “Who am I?” Season 1 allowed me to grow as a character. It’s crazy to say that I think me, out of all of the cast members — and Ryan, I know he said it, and the producers have said it — I had a lot of character growth and experiences throughout Season 1. I had certain hard challenges I faced in Season 1 that allowed me to get on the other side. So there was a lot of that. Now in Season 2, you’ll see a part of me that you haven’t gotten to see yet.

Are you still friends with Jonathan? Do you think he would ever return to SERHANT after getting fired?

We’re cordial. We’re fine. We’re on good terms. Will he come back? Maybe. It’s up to him at the end of the day.

Have you run into Savannah at all since she left SERHANT? Where do you guys stand now?

We’re all cordial. I’m friendly with all of them. If they want to come back, talk to Ryan. He’s the boss. He makes the decisions. But Savannah is at a different brokerage now, killing it. Jonathan’s doing his own thing. I think they’re happy where they are. But if they want to come back, it’s a Ryan conversation. I’m not the boss.

I assume that when you’re doing that level of business in the city, you probably run into them sometimes.

Funny enough, I haven’t run into them. But I’m sure I will.

When we talked to Chloe, she said she’s in a good place with you. How were you able to mend your friendship after she kicked you out of her event last season?

Before, I never got a chance to know Chloe. When I joined the company, we never had a sit-down coffee. We never communicated. So I think when you start a little bit of tension and drama with someone you don’t know, it’s not personal, which is kind of what happened. We’re on good terms. She’s awesome. We had coffee last weekend. She just had a baby. She has a dog. I brought my dog, she brought hers. We had such an awesome time. I think she’s a real homie. She’s a real girl, and I love it.

Was there anything you filmed for Season 1 that you wished had made the final cut? Or anything you wish people saw from you?

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We filmed so frickin’ much. You film for two years and then it gets toned down. We filmed in a Polish restaurant with Jonathan, and I had my first Polish beer. That was so funny to me. I was speaking Polish with the waitress. It was a funny moment experiencing my first Polish beer that I’d never had before. That was a fun moment.

Jordan March previously teased that he’s working with some celebrity clients and said that he even sent the Central Park Tower listing to Jay-Z and Beyonce. Are you currently working with any big names you can share? Or have you worked with any celebs in the past?

Honestly, everyone is big to me. It doesn’t matter how famous you are or how much money you have. Everyone is big to me. I’m honestly really proud and happy to work with my new listing 415 Washington St, 5A. The person who owns it, he’s definitely going to be on Season 2. His name is Alphonso. His story is so captivating. He’s a true American dream. [He’s] only 32 years old, sold an app for $40 million, has the most beautiful apartment. He sold the company, Unfold. Do you know that app? It’s like a template where you can edit images on it before you post on stories. He sold that company and I’m selling his apartment. To answer your question about fame and big people, everyone is big to me. It’s New York. Everyone is someone. But also, it doesn’t matter to me if you are Donald Trump. We’re all a person, and I value everyone equally … We all work with celebrities. Some want to be mentioned, some don’t. I value people’s privacy.

Ryan said in the show that he once had a client threaten to murder him if he couldn’t get him out of his contract. Do you have any crazy real estate stories?

My craziest story of how I got a listing was in Miami. I was at a strip club. My friends had a table, they invited us. I’m like, “Oh my, God. I’ve never been to a strip club before.” But I’m like, “I’m going!” It was a part of the Miami experience. This was three years ago, maybe four. We had a table, and one guy that was there was like, “Oh my God, I don’t live in New York anymore. I have a tough time selling my place in the city.” And I’m like, “Give it to me. I’ll try to sell it.” He was like, “Eh, I had no luck with this other brokerage.” I’m like, “Give me three months and I will sell it for you, I promise.” I sold it very, very fast. That’s the coolest, most interesting story to me personally that I have.

You wouldn’t think of doing that kind of business in a strip club.

No! And I’m proud of it, but I’m also awkward about it because I’m not a regular going to strip clubs. You meet people in such weird ways sometimes. You could meet them at a coffee shop or meet them sitting at a strip club. It’s weird but quirky. You meet people in interesting ways sometimes.

What can you tease about what’s to come in Season 2?

I’m most excited for people to see me. Growing up in New York City with a very humble background of parents who came here with under $500 to America to chase a better life in America, in New York City, in Brooklyn, I really want to capture the grind. Of course, we see all these beautiful, flashy things. We see Central Park Tower, and we see Tribeca. I really want to showcase how New York is built. It’s built through immigrants and it’s hard work. And a lot of them become very successful. New York is not just flashy. It’s also people who have worked very hard in this city to make it New York.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Owning Manhattan is currently streaming on Netflix.

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