Chicks in the Office (Barstool Sports)

Episode: Hilary Duff’s Husband Slams Ashley Tisdale + Nikki Bella Dating 22-Year-Old Eagles Player

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Ria and Fran

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fun, chatty breakdown of the latest in pop culture and celeb news. Ria and Fran, joined by Noah and Alexa, start 2026 with strong Friday energy, discussing the NFL playoffs, Golden Globes, the viral Hilary Duff–Ashley Tisdale "mom drama," and some juicy celeb dating rumors. They also geek out over the new Rapunzel live action casting, relive some YouTube editing nostalgia, and wrap with a spirited round of trivia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kicking Off 2026 & Football Frenzy

• [03:40–07:01]
  • Ria and Fran settle into January with a relaxed vibe (“damp January”) and talk easing back after holidays.
  • Football playoffs dominate the weekend; Bills and Eagles games are pivotal for the hosts’ fandom.
  • Fran bemoans needing to multitask watching the Bills game during her nephew’s baptism, while Ria’s nerves have her fleeing the city for the Eagles’ matchup.
  • Discussion turns to the agony and hope of being a Philly sports fan.
  • Debate: Would you rather be a star quarterback or a head coach? (“When you say Belichick and Brady, it’s like, obviously, you’re gonna pick being Tom Brady.” — Ria, 09:13)

2. Old YouTube Days & Sports Highlight Fame

• [16:44–24:22]
  • Noah reveals he used to run the “Celtics Patriots Man” YouTube channel featuring fan-made hype sports edits, some of which were shared by Tom Brady (“Tom Brady posted my video. I still have a screenshot.”—Noah, 17:12).
  • The crew is amazed at the layered, secret internet past of their colleague (“It’s just layers of the layers of Noah.” — Ria, 19:48).

3. Rapid Fire: Current Pop Culture Hot Spots

• [26:06–40:58]

  • Hilary Duff/Ashley Tisdale Mom Drama

    • Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, calls Ashley Tisdale “the most self-obsessed, tone-deaf person on earth” in an Instagram post, confirming rumors of a mom-group friend breakup.
    • The hosts dissect how internet sleuths pile on, reviving old stories and overanalyzing celebrity friendships (“It just becomes a pylon of either real or fake stories that you don’t know what’s going on. It’s really created a monster of its own.” — Fran, 30:12)
    • Both feel the whole story is overblown and not worth picking sides: “Big whoopty dee dee. They’re not friends anymore.” — Ria, 30:24

  • Alex Earl & Braxton Berrios Breakup Reactions

    • Fans are choosing sides, and a viral TikTok claims Braxton wasn’t the “gentleman” people thought, but the hosts are suspicious of the motives (“NFL players being douchey in Vegas, breaking news”—Ria, 37:39)

4. Tangled Up in Movie News: Rapunzel Live Action Casting

• [41:28–47:00]
  • Teagan Croft cast as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider.
  • Ria is thrilled, noting the positive fan reaction to Milo’s casting (“When you put his face next to the cartoon Flynn Rider, you’re like, holy shit, that’s a great casting.”—Fran, 45:20).
  • They praise the choice to go with a lesser-known Rapunzel (“I think having someone play Rapunzel that’s not a massive star already is fun and good”—Ria, 43:45).
  • “If you’ve never seen Tangled, you gotta watch Tangled.” — Ria, 44:00
  • Lighthearted banter about swapping movie recommendations: Tangled for Fran, Coco for Ria.

5. Nikki Bella & 22-Year-Old Eagles Player: Age-Gap Dating Chatter

• [54:48–65:18]
  • Reports swirl that Nikki Bella (mid-30s, WWE star, massive Eagles fan) is “casually dating” Eagles player Cooper DeJean (22).
  • Hosts are entertained and a little skeptical—does Nikki want maturity? Or is it just for fun? “I feel like Nikki Bella deserves somebody who’s like… mature. And Cooper DeJean doesn’t scream mature.”—Fran, 56:38
  • Comparison to Tom Brady/Alex Earl age-gap conversations.
  • They reflect on how perspectives on age gaps shift based on gender and context.
  • General consensus: Nikki’s just living her best life. “If he’s taken her on a few dates, they’re probably having some fun, if you know what I mean.” — Ria, 63:54

6. Trivia Showdown

• [66:59–90:18]
  • Team trivia: multiple rounds of pop culture questions with Alexa and Taylor vs. the hosts.
  • Memorable moment: A missed question about Mandy Moore (“Mandy Moore! Are you fucking kidding me?” — Ria, 85:45).
  • Game ends with Alexa and Taylor’s victory: “Those were good questions. I enjoyed the game… you get shirts that say you beat us!” — Fran, 89:42

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Welcome to being a Philadelphia sports fan, where it’s like, the team is good, but we have 9 million things we complain about.” — Ria [07:31]
• “No, big whoopty dee dee. They’re not friends anymore… Ashley Tisdale’s probably super self-absorbed, and that’s why, and like, it’s over.” — Ria [30:24]
• “When you say Belichick and Brady, it’s like, obviously you’re gonna pick being Tom Brady.” — Ria [09:13]
• “[Tom Brady] posted my video. I still have a screenshot… I want to share this…It was before a playoff game. Awesome fan-made edit video.” — Noah [17:12]
• “If you’ve never seen Tangled, you gotta watch Tangled.” — Ria [44:00]
• “I feel like Nikki Bella deserves somebody who’s like… mature. And Cooper DeJean doesn’t scream mature.” — Fran [56:38]
• “Mandy Moore! Are you fucking kidding me?” — Ria [85:45]

Timestamps by Segment

• Intro & January Reset: 00:00–03:40
• NFL Playoff Hype & Sports Banter: 03:40–16:00
• Noah’s YouTube Editing Past: 16:44–24:22
• Hilary Duff/Ashley Tisdale Mom Drama: 26:06–40:58
• Rapunzel Live Action Casting: 41:28–47:00
• Nikki Bella & Cooper DeJean Rumors: 54:48–65:18
• Closing Trivia Game: 66:59–90:18

Tone and Style

The whole episode is lively, irreverent, and gossipy, with great chemistry among the co-hosts and friends. Fran and Ria speak frankly and humorously—sometimes venting, often cheering on their fandoms—and never missing an opportunity to poke fun at pop culture dramz. There’s a real sense of “you’re catching up with your smart, slightly chaotic, pop-savvy friends.”

For listeners who missed the episode:
You’ll catch up on all the trending pop culture headlines, from sports fandom to the latest casting buzz and viral celeb friendship drama, with the hosts’ signature mix of snark and sincerity. The episode’s memorable moments—both in the hot takes and in the tone—make it a worthy listen for any entertainment news fan.