Podcast Summary

Podcast: Girls Gotta Eat
Episode: The Snack: Skyscraper Climb, Olympic D*ck Scandal, and Blake and Taylor's Texts
Hosts: Ashley Hesseltine & Raina Greenberg
Date: January 29, 2026
Production: Dear Media

Episode Overview

This lighthearted, pop culture–infused episode of The Snack covers weather mayhem, viral moments in elite climbing, a lingerie stunt gone awry, invasive celebrity text leaks, a bizarre Olympic crotch scandal, and closes with an uncharacteristically emotional reflection on a national tragedy. Ashley and Raina dish out spirited banter, hot takes, and legal tidbits, maintaining their candid, comedic tone while also striking a powerful chord on urgent social justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather Drama: "Winter Storm Fern"

• (00:09–01:36)

  • Raina reports live from NYC’s snowstorm, joking about the underwhelming name "Fern."
  • Discusses the grocery store rush (“Covid all over again”) and the infamous leftover Dasani water meme.
  • Ashley quips on the anticlimax of snowstorm names and fondly recalls “bomb cyclone.”

  “Is there anything less intimidating than Fern?”
  — Raina Greenberg, (00:56)

2. Pop Culture Catch-Up: Shows & Canceled Plans

• (01:37–05:32)
  • Raina is binging Euphoria; Ashley roasts a character’s “penis cut” hair from Tell Me Lies.
  • Missed lookalike contests in NYC due to weather—a longtime inside joke for the podcast.
  • Ashley’s giddy Laguna Beach pilgrimage; nostalgia for reality show music.
  • Hilary Duff’s comeback: “It’s never over. You can take 18 years off and make a comeback.” (05:52)

3. Skyscraper Climb: Alex Honnold’s Netflix Stunt

• (07:13–15:27)
  • Ashley details Alex Honnold’s live, equipment-free climb of Taipei 101, streamed on Netflix.
  • Raina confesses, “that doesn’t look that hard … if this was appropriate height for me, I could do this.” (08:19)
  • Ashley firmly disagrees, describing the “stomach-turning” anxiety and the technical courage of the feat.
  • Dissects his underwhelming Netflix payout—estimated mid-six figures.

    “If you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it’s an embarrassingly small amount.”
    — Alex Honnold (11:02, as quoted by Ashley)

  • Both criticize Netflix’s choice of commentators—especially the inclusion of a WWE wrestler:

    “It felt like an insult to have a WWE wrestler even do this.”
    — Ashley (12:03)

  • Discuss logistical details: chalk use, communication issues, and live production stress.

4. Lingerie Stunt Flop: Sydney Sweeney’s Hollywood Sign Climb

• (15:27–16:40)
  • Sydney Sweeney allegedly, without permission, strung bras on the Hollywood sign to promote her new lingerie line—rumored to be backed by Jeff Bezos.
  • Ashley and Raina blast the “weirdo energy” and “badass lawbreaker” vibe, questioning why she’d risk legal trouble for such a sloppy campaign.
  • Ashley pivots: for celeb lingerie, “do Rihanna’s Savage Fenty, all day.” (17:41)

5. Celebrity Lawsuit Text Leaks: Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, & Hollywood Heavyweights

• (18:05–28:56)
  • Explosive private texts released as a result of ongoing litigation involving Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck, and more.
  • Raina explains the context: Lively vs. Justin Baldoni lawsuit over film-editing rights—drawing in a star-studded support network.
  • Ashley contextualizes the “tame” content of Swift’s texts:

    “If you think that’s bad, you’ve never read women’s text messages, especially when conspiring against a man.”
    — Ashley (18:52)

  • The “side-taking” struggle: they both swing between perspectives as the messy details emerge.
  • Legal deep-dive: Raina breaks down why and how private messages become public in US litigation (22:40–26:59), demystifying the subpoena process and privacy limits.

    “Once the lawsuit exists, it’s really hard to block it … courts do not protect third parties just because they are famous or might be embarrassing to them.”
    — Raina (23:43)

  • Both agree: reading private texts “feels invasive,” though the curiosity is undeniable.

6. Olympic “Crotch Enl*rgement” Scandal

• (31:00–33:41)
  • Norway’s ski jumpers caught modifying suits (“adding surface area to the crotch”) for performance gain, sparking memories of the infamous “big dick pole vaulter.”
  • Some use sleeves with hyaluronic acid to manipulate suit regulations.
  • Raina: “As little as 1 extra centimeter can add 5 meters to a jump.”
  • The mood stays playful: “Get a little fill-in.” “Is that your closer? Penis enlargement?” (32:57–33:14)
  • They promise more Winter Olympics drama and future recaps.

7. Somber Close: ICE Violence & Activism

• (33:41–45:37)
  • Shift to serious: painful reaction to the murder in Minneapolis by ICE agents.
  • Express heartbreak, particularly due to their personal ties to the city (“the kindest, most wonderful people in the country” — Raina, 34:16).
  • Ashley discusses her history of activism and the importance of amplifying these injustices, naming victims and how government gaslighting prolongs the crisis.
  • Raina reflects on the struggle to balance daily life and grief: “It’s hard to live in these two realities.” (36:03)
  • Both stress individual power in protest, spending, and social media, encouraging collective action and self-care.
  • Resources: Jessica Yellin, “Emily in Your Phone,” and Indivisible for engaging with civic action.
  • Emotional validation:

    “It is so not normal to see someone get killed on your device and go about your day.”
    — Ashley (44:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Is there anything less intimidating than Fern?” — Raina (00:56)
• “If you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it’s an embarrassingly small amount.” — Alex Honnold via Ashley (11:02)
• “It felt like an insult to have a WWE wrestler even do this.” — Ashley (12:03)
• “If you think that’s bad, you’ve never read women’s text messages, especially when conspiring against a man.” — Ashley (18:52)
• “Once you file this lawsuit, all of your communication is fair game.” — Raina (22:54)
• “It’s hard to live in these two realities where you’re like, ‘I want to compartmentalize this for a second, but this is next door to me.’” — Raina (36:03)
• “It is so not normal to see someone get killed on your device and go about your day.” — Ashley (44:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:09–01:36 | Winter Storm Fern recap & memes | | 01:36–05:32 | Pop culture catch-up: Euphoria, lookalike contests, Laguna Beach | | 07:13–15:27 | Alex Honnold Taipei 101 free solo event breakdown | | 15:27–16:40 | Sydney Sweeney Hollywood sign stunt | | 18:05–28:56 | Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni: Text scandal/legal breakdown | | 31:00–33:41 | Olympic suit/”crotch enlarging” controversy | | 33:41–45:37 | ICE violence, social activism, personal reflection, resources |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode maintains the classic Girls Gotta Eat blend of irreverence, sharp pop culture analysis, and genuine camaraderie—even as the tone shifts somberly in the closing segment. Ashley and Raina use humor and frankness to make complex legal and cultural moments accessible, and ultimately, issue a call to action: stay informed, contribute, and never underestimate the ripple effect of your own voice.

Resources Mentioned

• Jessica Yellin: News updates and context
• Emily In Your Phone: Simple ways to contact elected officials
• Indivisible Team: Civic action guides and organizing

Socials

• @ashhess (Ashley), @rainagreenberg, @girlsgottaeatpodcast on Instagram and TikTok

For laughs, hot takes, heartfelt moments, and a roadmap on activism—all in one episode—this installment of The Snack captures the relatable rollercoaster of news, pop culture, and personal responsibility.