Rachael Ray admits she’s ‘petrified’ and ‘nervous’ in social settings after sparking health concerns 

RACHAEL Ray admitted to being “petrified” and “nervous" in social settings on the latest episode of her new podcast after she sparked health concerns in recent months. 

Rachael, 56, hosts weekly podcast I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, which she launched in October. 

On the November 26 episode, Rachael interviewed author Harlan Coben and discussed how nervous she gets in social settings. 

“I am so scared in social, you gotta go to a Christmas party or here is an event, I am just petrified because I am not good at it. I know I am not.

"I like to try things I might be successful at and I know I am not successful at that. I just get nervous.”

Harlan said how the first time they met at a party, he was the one who went over to introduce himself.

“I was petrified and standing next to the wall, I was petrified,” she said of the meeting. 

FAN CONCERNS

This comes after Rachael has been sparking health concerns among fans with her recent videos. 

In a clip for Rachael Ray in Tuscany, she appeared to be slurring her speech during the cooking show.

"Omg is she ok? What happened?" one fan wrote on Instagram.

Another commented, "This is concerning. Something is not right."

A third expressed, "I love you but are you ok? I'm seriously concerned."

Rachael has not addressed the concerns and instead filtered the comments on her videos.

She continues to post cooking videos from episodes to her Instagram page. 

PODCAST CONFESSIONS

On Rachael's podcast, she has hinted at health troubles, though she hasn't confirmed fan speculation.

The first episode of Rachael’s podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, aired on Tuesday, October 22.

Rachael opened up about her love of being a homemaker while living with her husband, John Cusimano, in their Lake Luzerne, New York home. 

“I am a homemaker. I love chores, I love being in the kitchen… I really like chores,” she told her guest.

Rachael then shared her love of “physical labor,” which she admitted has been on pause.

“I like to help carry in the wood," she said. "I had a couple of bad falls in the last couple of weeks so I haven’t been doing that in a while. 

On the November 12 episode, Rachael revealed why she wakes up at 4 o'clock in the morning.

"I've gotten worse as I've gotten older, because I feel like time might be shorter, and I want my time to be more, every minute of it," she told her guest. 

On the November 19 episode, she opened up about how her dogs help her through her difficult days.  

She said, "It just brings you a ray of life. What it brings to a human, that unconditional love, it really gets you through dark days.

“For me, if I have the worst day, or sick as a dog, the things that make me feel best, go home, climb into bed with a blanket with my dog!”

PODCAST ISSUES

The U.S. Sun previously reported I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead has not ranked in the top 250 of all Apple podcasts, according to Chartable. 

The podcast is listed in the Arts, and Society and Culture sections. 

In the Arts category, the podcast ranked in the 95th spot as of November 22.

As for the Society and Category section, Rachael’s podcast did not place. 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The U.S. Sun previously reported Rachael filed for her husband to be her power of attorney decades before worry began for the chef. 

The document reads, “The powers you grant below continue to be effective should you become disabled or incompetent.

“Caution: This is an important document. It gives the person whom you designate (your agent) broad powers to handle your property during your lifetime, which may include powers to mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property without advance notice to you or approval by you. 

“These powers will continue to exist even after you become disabled or incompetent.”

The document continued, “This document does not authorize anyone to make medical or other health care decisions. You may execute a health care proxy to do this.”

Rachael only gave John authority for “real estate transactions.”

Rachael and John signed off on the document on July 19, 2005, just weeks before their September 24, 2005 wedding. 

ATTORNEY EXPLAINS

Beverly Hills attorney Adam Michael Sacks explained a power of attorney could be granted for certain reasons, including if the requesting party has health issues. 

"It is something that would be done if you are sick,” Mr. Sacks told The U.S. Sun.

“The power of attorney can make certain decisions. There are certain things you have to sign if you own a house that needs to be sold and you’re, for example, in a coma. With power of attorney, it lets that person sign for you. 

“Attorney means someone who acts for you. If I am your attorney, I can go to court and act for you. He would make the decision if she’s unable to.”

He continued, “It’s not common. One of the reasons is when you know you have a problem, like you’re sick or getting older.

"It has to be someone you completely trust, like a spouse. You would have them make decisions as though it were you."

Outside of health reasons, Mr. Sacks said power of attorney could be for financial help.

RACHAEL'S CAREER

Rachael appeared on ABC’s Rachael Ray Show from 2006 to 2023. 

Rachael left the show to launch her own production company, Free Food Studios. 

She also runs the nonprofit organization Yum-o!, which “empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cook through three main initiatives: Cook, Feed and Fund.”

In addition to the podcast, she currently hosts Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes and Rachael Ray in Tuscany on FYI.