Chicks in the Office – JaNa Craig Interview: Leaning on Ride or Die Friends + Love Island’s Iris & TJ Are Back

Podcast by Barstool Sports | Aired: September 17, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode of Chicks in the Office, hosted by Rhea and Fran, is a lively mix of pop culture news, reality TV recaps, and a heartfelt interview with Love Island fan favorite, JaNa Craig. The hosts discuss Coachella’s newly announced headliners, the drama-filled return of Love Island’s Iris & TJ, teases about Camp Rock 3, trends in music and reality TV, and, most importantly, explore the importance of strong, ride-or-die friendships with JaNa. The episode maintains the signature funny, supportive, and conversational tone that fans love.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Catching Up with the Hosts

• Personal Life Updates (02:07-09:12)

  • Fran and Rhea swap stories about upcoming birthdays, family events, and their pets (notably Rhea’s dog Olive’s aversion to car rides).
  • Fran gifts Rhea a luggage tag with Olive’s face, resulting in a sentimental, funny reaction:

    "It's so detailed... so cute. I can't wait to put it on my suitcase. She really has the cutest little face. Just stare at her."
    — Rhea (08:08)

• Dancing with the Stars & TV Chat (04:32-09:28)

  • Hosts express excitement for the return of Dancing with the Stars, Love Island, and personal milestones such as Fran expecting a new nephew.

2. Pop Culture News

• Coachella 2025 Lineup Reaction (13:37-23:01)

  • Headliners revealed: Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G.
  • Bieber’s return draws special excitement, with the hosts reflecting on his past tours, health battles, and what his comeback means for fans.

    "This is what, like, our generation has dreamed of... They're going to absolutely lose their minds to see this man perform at Coachella."
    — Fran (17:30)

  • Discusses Addison Rae’s rising performance profile and muses on whether she could sell out MSG.

• Housewives 'Wife Swap' Crossover (14:32-15:55)

  • Surprised and entertained by reality TV stars trading places, especially Melissa Gorga and Joe Gorga’s participation.
  • Commentary on nostalgia and the absurd concept of 'Wife Swap'.

• Basement Yard at MSG, Podcasts in the Spotlight (22:29-24:39)

  • Discussion on the rapid ascent of podcasters and comedians filling arenas, and how Chicks in the Office tour tickets compare.

3. Reality TV Updates

• Love Island’s Iris & TJ Reunite (33:30-36:53)

  • The podcast’s take: Approaches relationship drama with a mix of empathy (especially for TJ’s confidence) and skepticism about post-show rebound motivations.

    "I think it takes a pretty self-assured guy...to get over the fact that people are gonna be like, 'Oh, second choice.'"
    — Rhea (34:26) "I’m hoping that she's not just jumping back to TJ because she's hurt by Pepe..."
    — Fran (35:41)

  • Insight into how “timing is everything” on Love Island and why post-villa relationships get so complicated.

• Harry Styles & Zoe Kravitz Paparazzi Attention (37:24-39:59)

  • Dissects rumors about celebrities “calling the paparazzi,” ultimately landing on:

    "I’m choosing to be naive in this situation and think the paparazzi is just stalking them. They're just that famous."
    — Fran (37:58)

4. Nostalgia & Upcoming Projects

• Camp Rock 3 Rumors (40:15-46:12)
  • Reports of Jonas Brothers filming “Rock the Boat”; uncertain if Demi Lovato is involved, but high excitement over a potential reunion.
  • Generational reflection and fan desires for returning cast vs. “passing the torch” to new characters.

5. Popcorner – Listener Q&A & Hot Takes

• Discusses music release trends (e.g., too-long albums like Justin Bieber’s Swag and Swag 2), Bachelor Nation’s cruise ship event, and the logistics of cruise cabins.

• Addresses not having watched the new Freakier Friday movie (waiting for streaming).

• Listener hot take: Will Jen Affleck be a diva on Dancing With the Stars? Fran and Rhea defend her, noting her challenges as a new mom.

  "She just gave birth like seven weeks ago...Let’s maybe...slow down on automatically jumping to a conclusion..."
  — Fran (61:44)

• The importance of giving people grace before critiquing their “intentions” on reality shows.

FEATURE INTERVIEW: JaNa Craig

(66:49 - 101:40)

Setting the Scene
JaNa Craig brings warmth and trademark honesty to her first in-studio Chicks in the Office appearance.

Highlights:

Post-Love Island Life & Embracing Opportunities

• Flying straight from Monday Night Football to the New York studio, JaNa describes her whirlwind schedule:

  “Like, Janae, we'd love to have you a part of this. I'm like, yes... I'm just, like, going on this little ride of, like, fun, saying yes to everything.”
  — JaNa (69:04)

• Details her collaboration with Truly on the "No Shade Just Tea" hard seltzer, inspired by her own post-show drama and backed by supportive fans.

  “Truly was so Team Janae. It was so cute. People were blowing up my phone... I actually love this idea. Can we make this happen?”
  — JaNa (70:26)

Ride or Die Friendships & Resilience

• JaNa gets emotional describing her Love Island support circle:

  “I really don't think I would be the person I am right now...like, the strength I have without them. Like, oh, my gosh, I am so grateful.”
  — JaNa (77:26)

• Hosts & listeners reflect on public breakups and how the show’s cast united behind JaNa. The crew reiterates their support:

  “…we ride for Janae. Oh my God. We can't be caught following either. Clearly, something bad happened, right?”
  — Fran & Rhea (77:46)

Authenticity in the Post-Reality World

• JaNa opens up about filming the "Beyond the Villa" docuseries, navigating life under a microscope, her bond with castmates, and her commitment to genuine connections over social media appearances.

  “The most beautiful thing is, like, not only having, like, a relationship from the show, but, like, friendships that, like, last a lifetime, like, that's like, you can't pay for that.”
  — JaNa (73:01) “We love our privacy now...When we're in person, we just want to throw our phones out the window.”
  — JaNa (91:09)

Manifesting the Future

• JaNa shares dreams of starting her beauty line and dabbling in acting:

  “I want to throw that out there...[a] beauty brand...And I kind of want to do, like, a movie, just a small little script...just to check it out.”
  — JaNa (82:08)

• On dating:

  “The next time I date, no one's gonna know until the ring is on my finger. Like, I'm going to be so private.”
  — JaNa (98:11)

Unfiltered, Inspiring Moments

• Life philosophy instilled by her elders and Vegas days:

  “Life is never, ever that deep...friendship is more important than anything. And life is so short.”
  — JaNa (89:06)

• Prom Queen, the importance of being kind and inclusive from Hawaii to Japan to Vegas.

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• “This is what, like, our generation has dreamed of... They're going to absolutely lose their minds to see this man perform at Coachella.” — Fran, on Bieber at Coachella (17:30)
• “I think it takes a pretty self-assured guy...to get over the fact that people are gonna be like, 'Oh, second choice.'” — Rhea, on TJ (34:26)
• “Life is never, ever that deep...friendship is more important than anything. And life is so short.” — JaNa (89:06)
• “The most beautiful thing is...friendships that, like, last a lifetime, like, that's like, you can't pay for that.” — JaNa (73:01)
• "Truly was so Team Janae...Can we make this happen?...It was so cute." — JaNa (70:26)

IMPORTANT TIMESTAMPS

• 02:07-09:12 Early banter, birthday plans, Olive the dog, TV talk
• 13:37-23:01 Coachella lineup, podcast live shows, Addison Rae, MSG
• 33:30-36:53 Iris & TJ Love Island drama
• 40:15-46:12 Camp Rock 3 rumors & nostalgia
• 66:49-101:40 Interview with JaNa Craig: ride-or-die friends, reality TV survival, self-empowerment, future ambitions

FINAL THOUGHTS

This episode is a celebration of pop culture obsessions, reality TV drama, and most importantly, friendship’s power to help you bounce back after public heartbreak. JaNa Craig embodies gratitude, openness, and a refreshing work ethic — a reminder to say yes, lean on your people, and trust the journey. For fans of Chicks in the Office and Love Island, this is a feel-good, up-to-the-minute episode with laughs, sage advice, and “no shade, just tea.”