The cast of Southern Charm may be a bit older and wiser in Season 10, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their flair for the dramatic. “This season everyone was doing something that was completely different, which made it feel very chaotic,” series regular Venita Aspen exclusively tells In Touch. “It definitely tested friendships.” (Case in point: In a November 8 Instagram post  in which he said he needed time to  recover from “an extremely challenging & exhausting year,” Jarrett “JT” Thomas announced he is leaving the show.) Here, Venita joins returning favorites Austen Kroll, Shep Rose, Craig Conover, Madison LeCroy, Taylor Ann Green, Leva Bonaparte and Rodrigo Reyes as well newbies Salley Carson, Molly O’Connell and Ryan Albert to talk to In Touch’s Fortune Benatar about JT’s unceremonious exit, their love lives — and growing pains.

Tell us about this season.

Austen: You don’t get to Season 10 of a show with stagnation. We’re all growing up, getting older, and just trying to navigate life as personal and business stakes are raised.

Madison: It’s been incredibly emotional for me — messy and dramatic, to say the least!

Taylor: A lot of strange dynamics.

Leva: Like a merry-go-round no one could get off!

Rodrigo: It’s the never-ending game of telephone where person after person is guilty of not relaying a message properly.

Who brings the most drama?

Austen: Everyone is dramatic, but Rodrigo is the most dramatic.

Rodrigo: A lot of people take turns, myself included. But no one can dethrone JT and Salley, the king and queen of stirring the cauldron.

Salley: JT — but that’s a given.

Leva: JT, even though I don’t think he had any intention of doing so.

Ryan: Hands down JT.

Venita, tell us about JT’s exit.

Venita: We currently aren’t speaking. My thoughts on him leaving are that I think it was a cowardly choice.

Austen, what’s the latest on your friendship with Craig?

Austen: You’ll definitely see a strain, but as with every good story, there’s an arc.

Shep, how about you and Craig?

Shep: I’m good with Craig. Hell, we’ve known each other for 12 years. We’ve had lots of laughs and certainly conflicts. But having a history means something in my view.

Craig, how are things with Austen and Shep?

Craig: We repaired our friendship by not giving up, having patience, and trying to accept each other for who we are. The last one is the toughest. We love each other, but we have to stop trying to change each other.

Newbies, what’s it been like?

Salley: Definitely nerve-wracking because I knew it was going to bring some drama between Taylor and I.

Molly: It felt easy considering I’ve known them all for so long. I have a lot of respect for all the OG cast members who have been putting it all out there for the last 10 years!