Chicks in the Office — Episode Summary
Episode: Charli XCX & Jack Antonoff Collab, John Mayer & Kat Stickler? + Lukas Gage Interview
Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Ria & Fran (Barstool Sports)
Special Guest: Lukas Gage
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Ria and Fran cover a range of hot pop culture topics, from surprising celebrity romances and rumored music industry feuds, to reality TV news and a candid interview with actor/author Lukas Gage. The Chicks keep listeners filled in on everything from John Mayer's dating life, to the Bachelor Mansion's HGTV makeover, and take audience calls on everything from Dancing with the Stars cameras to who the next Bachelor should be.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
🎈 Catching Up & Birthday Banter (03:14–08:24)
- The team celebrates Noah’s 30th birthday, with playful ribbing about aging and past birthday celebrations.
- "Welcome to the other side." (Ria, 04:51)
- "Your life continues to change, but a number, they say." (Fran, 05:32)
- Fran talks about attending a concert at Terminal 5 and her ongoing issues with the venue—overcrowding, poor visibility, and frustrating exits.
- “Every time I go there, I'm like, why am I here?” (Ria, 11:56)
- The group shares exhaustion and jet lag stories post-Singapore trip.
🤦♀️ Unforgettable Elevator Story (15:08–26:21)
- Fran recounts a shocking and hilarious incident of being slapped on the butt by a little boy in her apartment elevator.
- “This little boy just smacked my ass right in the open... He is dying laughing.” (Fran, 16:27)
- Discussion on parenting surprises, boundary-setting, and how kids’ wild cards in public can be both mortifying and funny.
- “Having a little boy can be such a wild card.” (Ria, 20:45)
- The Chicks riff on what age such behavior stops being funny and what it’s like to be “the victim,” keeping the tone light and relatable.
💑 John Mayer & Kat Stickler Dating Rumors (28:04–39:38)
- The team dives into US Weekly’s reporting and fan theories about John Mayer pursuing TikTok star Kat Stickler.
- Noah expresses mild devastation but keeps it light:
- "You're better than this, John. I'm sorry to say it." (Noah, 30:23)
- Ria and Fran debate if celebrity pairings should “match” in status—landing on “date who you want.”
- Speculation over how the story leaked and whether Kat would tell everyone about Mayer ("I'm telling the barista at my coffee place. I'm telling everybody!” —Ria, 33:37)
- Recap on how quickly Kat split from her previous boyfriend and when/whether she and John started talking.
- Playful admits that Mayer is a follower of Stickler on Instagram, confirming “the Madar is on” (John Mayer radar).
🎶 Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff, and the Taylor Swift 'Feud' (39:46–52:23)
- Charli XCX collaborating with Jack Antonoff on music for an upcoming Anne Hathaway movie sparks speculation about his friendship with Taylor Swift.
- Vanity Fair profile notes Charli’s comments on tour documentaries being “oversaturated,” which fans connect to Swift's recent film.
- The Chicks consider Twitter analysis of relationship drama, Jack Antonoff’s alleged “moody” persona, and how internet fandoms dissect every move.
- “Sometimes you're like, where do your loyalties lie?" (Fran, 47:05)
- Both express a desire for less drama, more music.
- “We just need you to be a little more clear. Like, mention the word ‘brat’ or something. Just for clarification!” (Fran, 52:12)
🏠 Reality TV News Hot Takes (52:41–61:20)
Bachelor Mansion Makeover
- Bachelor Mansion to get a revamp as the focus of an HGTV competition show, hosted by Tyler Cameron and Tayshia Adams.
- Fran and Ria run through the cast, speculate on the format, and joke about how every Bachelor Nation personality is now a home designer.
- "Did they just create a show for Tyler Cameron?" (Fran, 53:08)
Teresa Giudice & Joe Gorga’s Potential Reconciliation
- The Chicks discuss rumors NJ Housewives siblings might reunite for family—and camera—reasons.
- They analyze Teresa and Joe’s patterns, noting: "There's gotta be mutual apologies from both ends because I'm sure nobody's innocent." (Fran, 59:44)
📞 Popcorner: Listener Calls & Hot Takes (62:11–76:41)
Dancing With The Stars Camera Angles (62:19)
- Caller complains about DWTS’s dizzying camera moves.
- Fran disagrees: "I think the cinematography is awesome.”
Love Island Games Fatigue (64:44)
- Caller & hosts agree there’s been too much Love Island, too soon; viewership is dropping due to show fatigue.
Next Bachelor/Bachelorette Fan Picks (67:10)
- Wild suggestions: Robert Irwin, Brooks Nader, Austin Kroll, Craig Conover (hosts agree Craig would “actually be perfect”).
Britney Mimics? (70:39)
- Caller says too many pop stars copy Britney Spears; Fran and Ria disagree, seeing most as original or, for Addison Rae, “a student of the pop star game.”
John Krasinski vs. Ryan Reynolds (72:51)
- Hot take: "John Krasinski is who Ryan Reynolds wishes he was.”
- Fran confesses she never loved Ryan Reynolds, says John “has the best public image.”
🗣️ Interview: Lukas Gage — Actor & Author (77:49–121:56)
About “I Wrote This for Attention”
- Lukas opens up about his memoir's cheeky title, “I Wrote This for Attention,” describing the pushback he got from publishers who took it too literally.
- "The whole point is, like, you’re gonna get scrutinized—so you might as well make the joke first." (Lukas, 78:41)
- On writing the book, he reflects:
- “I had a vulnerability hangover... but ultimately, it doesn’t belong to me anymore.” (Lukas, 79:10)
- Using his childhood journals helped reconstruct vivid memories, though he admits, “Some things have been embellished... But, you know, everything in there is factual.” (Lukas, 82:33)
On Truth, Lying & Perspective
- “Everyone's a liar. And I think, you know, I frame it in a way, especially as a kid—it was a way to try to change the narrative.” (Lukas, 83:41)
- The book’s opener, “I killed a kid,” was a metaphor (not a confession!) about identity, designed to hook readers.
Viral Audition & Sudden Public Life
- The viral audition Zoom incident (director trash-talking Lukas while unmuted) "absolutely" changed things:
- “I would be lying if I said that didn’t change the trajectory of my life and didn’t affect me... but it’s not always a good thing to get that kind of attention.” (Lukas, 86:15)
- Speaking on his brief marriage being publicized:
- “...it did feel like I didn’t make my mark as an actor yet—like, this is not what it’s about. This is not what I wanted.” (89:13)
- Lukas credits his family for approving difficult stories, especially about addiction and his brother.
- “For him to be cool with that is really cool... because it’s not his story. I have to be like—someone might read that and not want to work with you, but people change.” (109:48)
Mental Health, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Honesty
- He reflects on being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder after a devastating breakup, and how hard it’s been to talk publicly:
- “When writing [the] book, I was like, screw that. Let’s stop stigmatizing it. I’m not a nightmare to work with... it’s a part of me, not all of me.” (94:44)
Candid About Family
- Fran and Ria praise the detailed family narrative; Lukas says his mom was incredible despite hardships.
- “You can be the best parent... but they’re out in the world and you have no control.” (107:16)
- Discussed the universal nature of “family shit” and being honest about messiness helps break social-media illusions.
Acting & Bravo Fandom
- Started acting young—acting camp at 9 or 10 "sealed the deal."
- Recounts White Lotus and Euphoria audition stories, being on set with Jennifer Coolidge ("everything you would want... she is so funny and so kind" —100:23).
- Ends with a deep dive into Bravo—speaks lovingly of Vanderpump Rules, Salt Lake City Housewives, his desire to work on Below Deck (“as a deckhand, not a guest!" 117:27). Chicks promise to bring him back just to talk Bravo.
Notable Lukas Quotes
- "Some things have been embellished and, you know, my version or my perspective of what I think is true—and that's how stories are told.” (82:01)
- “I want to be that unapologetically myself and that, like, take it or leave it, baby.” (102:15)
Memorable Moments / Notable Quotes
- “This little boy just smacked my ass...in the middle of my cheek. Genuinely a stunning turn of events.” —Fran, 16:27
- “You're better than this, John.” —Noah on Mayer/Stickler rumors, 30:23
- “You love who you love.” —Noah, 38:06
- “Jack Antonoff could be a real moody son of a bitch.” —Fran, 45:23
- “Vanderpump Rules is the best reality show ever made.” —Lukas Gage, 121:06
- “You guys are the Barbara Walters of our generation. Not kidding.” —Lukas Gage, 116:14
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:14 — Noah’s 30th birthday chat
- 08:24 — Fran's Terminal 5 concert rant
- 15:08 — Fran’s elevator “ass slap” story
- 28:04 — John Mayer & Kat Stickler dating rumors
- 39:46 — Charli XCX/Jack Antonoff/Taylor Swift feud discussion
- 52:41 — Bachelor Mansion home makeover show
- 57:00 — Teresa Giudice & Joe Gorga family news
- 62:11 — Popcorner: Listener hot takes
- 77:49 — Lukas Gage interview (deep-dive sections at: 78:41, 82:01, 94:44, 102:15, 109:48)
- 121:06 — Bravo TV lightning round with Lukas
Tone & Style
- Fast-paced, playful, and irreverent—banter between hosts and guests
- Self-aware honesty—willing to make fun of themselves and pop culture at large
- Inclusive of listener opinions, keeping content crowd-sourced and interactive
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode delivers signature Chicks in the Office energy: relatable stories, up-to-the-minute celebrity news, insightful (sometimes gossipy) breakdowns of trending media relationships and music drama, and a thoughtful, vulnerable celebrity interview. If you want to keep up with pop culture and enjoy unfiltered, smart conversation with a comedic twist, this episode is for you.
