Girls Gotta Eat – The Snack: Rapture Report, Jimmy Kimmel, and Summer I Turned Pretty
Podcast: Girls Gotta Eat (Dear Media)
Episode Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Ashley Hesseltine (A), Rayna Greenberg (B)
Episode Theme Overview
This “Snack” episode of Girls Gotta Eat is a spirited, wide-ranging pop culture catch-up with Ashley and Rayna. With their signature irreverent humor and candid banter, the duo unpacks everything from the recent “Rapture” TikTok phenomenon, prom dress debates, and a fashion influencer wedding controversy, to weightier topics like the “Jimmy Kimmel freedom of speech crisis” and a breakdown of The Summer I Turned Pretty. They round it all out with quick-hit headlines in Bravo TV, fashion, and viral news.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Personal & Tour Catch-Up
Timestamps: 00:13–02:29
- Both co-hosts are in a rush pre-flight, briefly riff on their travel and show schedules.
- Hint at ongoing drama involving someone Rayna dated (“someone Raina dated has taken a turn for the worst… he’s locked up.” [01:00])
- Debunk and poke fun at rumors about moving to NY or dating someone, sharing they'll keep listeners updated as “a bonded pair.”
- “The bonded pair is rescued dogs and cats. That’s it. That’s so, so, so funny.” - Ashley [02:20]
2. Rapture Report – TikTok Apocalypse
Timestamps: 03:07–11:50
- Rapture TikTok Madness: Recap a recent evangelical prophecy about the “Rapture” supposedly happening on the 23rd of the month, and the way TikTok delivered genuinely bizarre, deadpan advice for what to do in case of sudden ascension.
- “If you’re hearing this [podcast], it didn’t happen. Or maybe it did.” – Ashley [03:34]
- Rayna details the TikTok advice: “You’re supposed to be in your ‘rapture pod’… don’t lock your knees… stand all day, no shoes… keep your arms and legs inside your pod like a rollercoaster.” [05:14–07:19]
- The humor pivots to “boarding zones” for Christians: “If you served in the military, you get to go first.” – Rayna [06:42], “Like Diamond Elite!” – Ashley [06:36]
- They reflect on patterns of extreme beliefs: people selling their possessions, not going to work, the cyclical panic, and the sad psychology behind it.
- “Sometimes you want to believe [something] so badly that you could cause harm to yourself and others.” – Ashley [11:22]
- Emphasis that their jokes are about the extremism, not Christianity as a whole. Ashley: “If you are somebody who is a Christian and you’re sick at seeing all the harm that’s happening at the hands of other people who call themselves Christians – we’re not talking about you…” [07:37]
3. Prom/Homecoming Fashion Controversy
Timestamps: 11:52–19:01
- Viral Homecoming Dress Debate: The hosts dissect blowback over teens wearing very short, sequined, Vegas-style dresses to high school dances.
- Both hosts don’t have kids; Ashley and Rayna struggle to find where they stand on teens' autonomy vs parental boundaries, and debate double standards regarding sexuality and policing girls’ clothing.
- “You don’t want to see a 10-year-old in a bra top…but why not at 16?” – Ashley [14:03]
- Rayna points out the futility of “protection” via clothing: “As a 16-year-old, a short vs long dress wouldn’t stop me from making all the decisions I made in high school.” [15:27]
- Both recognize the difficulty in policing the line between appropriate and inappropriate, the risk and reality of unwanted attention, and emphasize the importance of letting teens express themselves while trying to keep them safe.
- Memorable moment: Rayna: “Your job as a parent is to keep your kids safe. Your job as a teenager is to push boundaries…you have to find a balance.” [16:47]
4. Danielle Bernstein's Controversial Wedding Affiliate Links
Timestamps: 19:01–29:28
- Influencer Danielle Bernstein (WeWoreWhat) made headlines for suggesting guests at her engagement party shop from a curated (affiliate link) page she sent out—removing items from the “registry” as they sold to avoid duplicate dresses.
- Initial reaction: “That’s a little cringe.” – Ashley [21:27]
- But both ultimately defend the move—“Most guests want outfit guidance, especially for a high-profile, super-themed fashion wedding.”
- Rayna: “People want to know what to wear. If they’re going to buy anyways, why not give the person a kickback? She’s paying for the event!” [24:08]
- They clarify it’s 100% optional—no compulsion, and relatable for anyone planning themed events: “I can build a landing page in two seconds and people want that.” – Rayna [22:09]
- Criticism aimed more at the tone of Danielle’s delivery than the idea itself: “She delivered it as if she was a genius, not like ‘some of y’all may hate this.’” – Ashley [20:56]
5. The Jimmy Kimmel 'Freedom of Speech' Scandal
Timestamps: 34:54–52:20
- Background: ABC suddenly removed Kimmel after government (Trump administration) pressure in relation to “insensitive remarks,” only to reinstate him after widespread backlash and massive financial losses for their parent company.
- Ashley and Rayna dissect why this was a “real threat to freedom of speech”—not cancel culture, but government overreach.
- “This wasn’t just someone getting fired… this was, clearly, interference from the government coming down from the President, who is going after his critics.” – Ashley [38:05]
- Both stress the importance of free expression for everyone, regardless of viewpoint.
- “No one should want this… unless you’re saying, ‘I love Russia, China, North Korea…’ How can you not see the path we’re headed down?” – Ashley [44:25]
- Acknowledge despair and fatigue with relentless bad news but reaffirm the power of collective action—massive public and financial pressure reversed ABC’s decision: “The only shining beacon of hope… that money still moves the needle.” – Rayna [41:22]
- Notable quote: “We’ve never seen a president say stuff like this. This is who y’all are following.” – Ashley [46:44]
- Gallow remarks on the surreal nature of events: political rallies as funerals, “solving” autism, anti-science rhetoric, and viral speeches at the Charlie Kirk memorial.
6. Trump’s “Autism Cure” & Anti-Science Rhetoric
Timestamps: 47:12–52:42
- Trump claims a “cure for autism” will be “dropped soon,” blaming acetaminophen (Tylenol). Both hosts scathingly mock his inability to pronounce ingredients (“aceta…what?”) and denounce the lack of science.
- “There is no data that taking Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism… one of the worst things to happen since Trump took office is the anti-science movement.” – Ashley [48:55]
- Both highlight the cruelty of scapegoating mothers and the emotional toll on parents of autistic children.
- “How dare you?…a fucking clown who can’t pronounce the research is blaming you for what you have supposedly done to your child.” – Rayna [52:19]
- Reiterate: This is more anti-woman, anti-science, and another front in the culture wars: “Abortion down, birth control next, now pain relief during pregnancy.” – Ashley [50:25]
7. Pop Culture Recap: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Timestamps: 53:48–58:44
- Rayna admits to feeling left out of the hype and only watched the finale (after an Ashley-voiced synopsis video). Both agree the anticipation for the love triangle was real and discuss the finale, with Belly ending up with Conrad.
- “I…did not want her to end up with Jeremiah.” – Ashley [56:14]
- Marvel at the usage of over 20 Taylor Swift songs (with full clearance) in the show: “It’s unprecedented… like, how much did that fucking cost?” – Ashley [57:38]
- Ashley raves about the new Cardi B album (“Am I the Drama?”), calling her a true rap icon, while Rayna notes Cardi B is also expecting another child.
8. Quick Headlines: Bravo, Fashion & Viral News
Timestamps: 59:46–63:25
- Bravo TV: Summer House gets a New York City spinoff, focusing more on cast “real life” than partying. Both are excited to see this version.
- Trend Alert: “Horse Girl Fall” is here—riding boots, equestrian style, trending via Ralph Lauren and NY Fashion Week. Both hosts see it as classic, albeit with a funny new label.
- Art Prank: A mysterious statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein “frolicking” (not just shaking hands) appeared at a DC monument, attributed to anonymous artist group “The Secret Handshake.” Ashley reads out the artist’s cheeky statement about “Friendship Month,” and both marvel at the public stunt and art as activism, signaling not to forget the Epstein files.
- “They have their legs up like they’re skipping through a field.” – Rayna [62:38]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “You like someone who looks like a criminal, but you can’t be a criminal. That’s different.” – Rayna, [01:05]
- “Sometimes bridesmaids faint at the altar because they locked their knees.” – Ashley, [05:33]
- “People want to know what to wear. If they’re going to buy anyways, why not give the person a kickback? She’s paying for the event!” – Rayna, [24:08]
- “Freedom of speech isn’t that you can say anything, but…we’ve tolerated…even the KKK can have peaceful protests. We’ve lived in a country where we’ve tolerated that up till now.” – Rayna, [37:27]
- “If ABC would have just outright fired him, people would have been up in arms. But this was clearly interference from the government…” – Ashley, [38:05]
- “How dare you?…a fucking clown who can’t even be bothered to know the research is blaming you for what you have supposedly done to your child.” – Rayna, [52:19]
- “Sometimes I just have to laugh that this is who people voted for… all the terrible, horrible things happening… that’s the most ridiculous person on Earth.” – Ashley, [48:28]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:13 – Co-host travel and tour updates, personal drama hints
- 03:07 – Rapture Report: Christian TikTok End Times
- 11:52 – Homecoming/prom dress fashion controversy
- 19:01 – Danielle Bernstein wedding dress curation/affiliate controversy
- 34:54 – Jimmy Kimmel/ABC/Freedom of Speech crisis
- 47:12 – Trump’s “autism” claims & anti-science screed
- 53:48 – The Summer I Turned Pretty finale breakdown
- 59:46 – Quick pop culture/fashion/Bravo/viral news headlines
Tone, Flow & Style
The episode weaves lighthearted pop culture riffs with biting social commentary and direct reader engagement. Ashley and Rayna’s fast-paced, conversational style includes healthy self-awareness: frequent caveats that they aren’t parents or experts, admissions of uncertainty, and the recurring joke that their opinions may change tomorrow. Humor is never far from even the darkest topics, often used to process the absurdity and frustration of current events.
This summary captures the episode’s richness, memorable lines, and the natural back-and-forth that define Girls Gotta Eat’s take on pop culture, controversy, and community.