Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce – Episode 39

Episode Title: "Kylie on Kelce Genes Takeover, Bennie's Spa Day Twist & Viral Spirit Tunnels with Jennifer Hudson"
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Kylie Kelce
Guest: Jennifer Hudson (EGOT Winner)

Episode Overview

This episode sees Kylie Kelce reflecting on a tough week for Philly sports and the ongoing genetic "domination" of the Kelce family. Kylie covers quirky internet trends in her signature "doom scroll," including a celebration of Fat Bear Week, updates on women’s basketball in Philly, and hilarious (and slightly gross) parenting hacks. The highlight of the episode is a warm and insightful interview with EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson, spanning her journey from American Idol to Dreamgirls, viral “spirit tunnels,” motherhood, women in sports, and unforgettable Super Bowl moments.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Philly Sports Woes and the Curse of the Full Moon

[01:02 – 03:00]

• Kylie jokingly blames the full moon for the week’s triple loss of the Eagles, Phillies, and Chiefs, and muses about her history as a sports announcer.
• Setting the tone: “Not gonna lie. I'm blaming the full moon. Eagles lost, Phillies lost. Chiefs lost. Trash. Absolute garbage.” (01:02 – Kylie)

2. Kelce Genetics & Parenthood Comedy

[03:10 – 07:00]

• Kylie recounts the viral attention surrounding the strength of the Kelce genes after seeing a childhood photo of her husband Jason and brother-in-law Travis (a.k.a. Uncle Trav), and realizes daughter Ellie’s resemblance to her father.
• Humorous struggle: “I've given up on the Ellie fight. It was so obvious. It's Ellie's eyes. [...] We saw Wyatt come out. It's like we cloned Jason in girl form. [...] We don't have a fighting chance.” (05:56 – Kylie)
• Acknowledges her daughters’ “bops” they listen to, particularly “Opalite” by Life of a Showgirl, and gives a nod to strong women supporting women.

3. Doom Scroll of the Week: Quirky Internet & Pop Culture Roundup

[07:05 – 17:40]

a. Women’s Basketball Comes to Philly

[07:10 – 09:00]

• Excitement for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league hosting games in Philadelphia ahead of the city’s eventual WNBA expansion.
• “I hope that people feel encouraged and welcomed [...]. I think we can show up and show out and I think that we can make our city proud.” (08:07 – Kylie)

b. Caitlin Clark’s Colts Game Power Move

[09:00 – 09:30]

• Applauds Caitlin Clark for not wearing a Colts jersey as a diehard Chiefs fan during a Fever team appearance: “You fucking nailed that. [...] When you are raised a die hard fan of a team that this is the only appropriate response.” (09:19 – Kylie)

c. Fat Bear Week – Meet Chunk, The Victor

[09:35 – 12:00]

• Kylie and Jennifer Hudson celebrate “Chunk,” a towering brown bear with a broken jaw who overcame adversity to win Fat Bear Week 2025.
• Memorable moment: “For him to become the fattest bear with a broken jaw, I don't think we are properly acknowledging the adversity he had to overcome to fatten up.” (10:28 – Kylie)
• Shoutout to the Katmai National Park Conservancy for raising over $430,000 during the event.

d. Parenting Hack: Spa Day Gone Wrong

[13:00 – 17:40]

• Kylie shares a TikTok mom hack about letting kids “play funeral” by doing mom’s makeup for low-energy play.
• Hilarious story: her daughter Bennett, during “spa day,” gives Kylie a “spit facial” by sucking water from a paintbrush and painting her mom’s face.
• “I could have lived my life not receiving a toddler spit facial.” (15:08 – Kylie)
• Tips for mess-free play: stickers, kid massages (i.e., getting pummeled by toddlers), and failed hairdos that still make for sweet moments.
• “Nobody tell her I said this. Horrific. And every single time, she goes, you look beautiful. And it is the sweetest moment.” (16:44 – Kylie)

4. Jennifer Hudson Interview: Candid, Joyful, Inspiring

[19:06 – 49:20]

a. Fangirling and Idol Beginnings

[19:06 – 20:08]

• Kylie reminisces about her family’s devotion to American Idol.
• “You provided Goosebumps. Yeah. On a regular ass basis.” (19:41 – Kylie to Jennifer)

b. On Hosting ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ & Viral Spirit Tunnels

[20:08 – 26:12]

• Jennifer reveals she frequently gets starstruck by her own guests and reflects on surreal moments like interviewing Mariah Carey and the original Dreamgirls cast.

  • “Sometimes I have to, like, remove myself from it to be able to get through it.” (20:26 – Jennifer Hudson)

• Breakdown of the origin and growing creativity of her show’s “spirit tunnel,” which has gone viral:

  • “It allows them to just let their guard down even before they come out for the interview. Because as soon as you hit the door, you know you are here to be loved on and celebrated.” (23:21 – Jennifer)

• Memorable clip: Usher gliding through the spirit tunnel on skates.

  • “The skates are just the part. We know he's smooth, right? [...] To get on skates. Yes. And just glide through…” (24:03 – Kylie)

• Shoutout to WNBA rookie of the year Paige Beckers and how the spirit tunnel honors women’s basketball.

c. American Idol & Aretha Franklin Full Circle

[26:12 – 29:54]

• Jennifer shares the wild American Idol audition process, singing Aretha Franklin’s “Share Your Love with Me,” and full-circle moments—being handpicked to play Aretha in the film “Respect.”
  • “If you told me that then that one day I would be handpicked by Ms. Aretha Franklin and get to play her, I would be like, girl, go sit down. [...] My life works in so many full circles over and over again.” (27:58 – Jennifer)

d. From Cruise Ships to EGOT

[30:14 – 34:47]

• Fondly recalls singing as Calliope in Disney’s Hercules musical on cruise ships, later singing “Circle of Life” in front of Elton John on Idol.
• On taking risks and achieving milestones: “First film ever. That’s incredible.” (34:00 – Kylie)
• Jennifer didn’t realize she achieved an EGOT until the crowd pointed it out.
  • “I didn’t even realize I had won it until the whole room was like, ‘EGOT! EGOT!’ [...] Oh, they talking about me?” (35:04 – Jennifer)

e. Motherhood & Teen Parenting

[38:25 – 43:30]

• Jennifer’s son is 16 and learning to drive—a source of both pride and anxiety.
• Kylie and Jennifer bond over the time-warp sensation of raising kids and the challenges of letting children become independent.
  • “The hardest part [of parenting teens] is trusting our teachings. [...] Who did I raise?” (41:35 – Jennifer)
  • “What are you into, who are you, how are you changing?” (43:04 – Jennifer)

f. Sports: Basketball & the NFL

[43:32 – 47:03]

• Jennifer, a proud Chicago Sky fan, also loves Vegas for A’ja Wilson—but roots for all women athletes.
• “Women supporting women.” (44:27 – Jennifer)
• On performing at the NBA All-Star halftime and celebrity game: removed her nails to play seriously, trained with her son and “lethal shooter," but never touched the ball in the game.

g. Super Bowl Anthems

[47:03 – 48:47]

• Jennifer sang the national anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl (regarded as one of the best).
  • On singing it again: “Don’t fix something that’s not broken. I’m gonna let it sit where it sits.” (47:10 – Jennifer)
• Both Jennifer and Kylie praise Chris Stapleton’s recent anthem performance, sharing emotional fan moments in the stadium.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I could have lived my life not receiving a toddler spit facial.” (15:08 – Kylie)
• “We don't have a fighting chance. Okay? But luckily they make very cute children.” (06:45 – Kylie)
• “Who did I raise? What all did they receive that…the seeds we planted in them…now they're going into the world on their own." (41:35 – Jennifer)
• “The skates are just the part. To get on skates and literally glide through the spirit tunnel.” (24:03 – Kylie on Usher)
• “I love that my boys do, too…You see the boys get into it. It’s like, y’all better recognize. That’s how you know you’re raising a good man.” (44:29 – Jennifer, about men celebrating women’s sports)

Key Timestamps

• 01:02 – Kylie opens, blames the full moon for Philly sports losses
• 03:10 – Kelce genes: viral photos and family resemblance
• 07:10 – Unrivaled women’s basketball comes to Philly
• 09:35 – Fat Bear Week winner, Chunk’s victory and overcoming adversity
• 13:00 – Parenting hacks, spa day gone wrong (the “spit facial”)
• 19:06 – Interview: Jennifer Hudson joins, fangirling and American Idol reminiscence
• 20:08 – Spirit tunnels: origins, viral moments, and guest reactions
• 26:12 – Jennifer’s Idol experience, Aretha Franklin, and full circle career
• 30:14 – From cruise ships to Idol to Elton John and EGOT
• 38:25 – Parenting teenagers: driving, independence, identity
• 43:32 – WNBA, women’s sports, and All-Star moments
• 47:03 – Super Bowl anthems, emotional moments in the stands
• 49:17 – Closing gratitude and sign-off

Tone & Atmosphere

• Candid, breezy, and delightfully irreverent—Kylie’s blend of heartfelt anecdotes and humor pairs seamlessly with Jennifer Hudson’s sincerity and charisma.
• The show balances light parenting humor ("toddler spit facial") with genuine inspiration and celebration of women in sports and entertainment.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode blends Kylie's signature blend of sharp wit and honesty with Jennifer Hudson’s generosity and superstar sparkle. Whether discussing Fat Bear Week, chaotic spa days with toddlers, viral TV show traditions, or the challenges and joys of watching children grow, the conversation is lively, funny, and often moving. Highlights include a behind-the-scenes look at the viral “spirit tunnels” of The Jennifer Hudson Show, raw reflections on American Idol fame, and refreshing perspectives on women’s sports and parenting.
It’s a feel-good, laugh-out-loud, and occasionally goosebump-inducing listen that’ll leave you appreciating the power of individuality, community, and the joy of uncluttered authenticity.