291: Zoe Kravitsz’s Hot Boy Summer + Is Gwyneth Writing a Memoir?!?!

Summary

Pop Apologists – Episode 291: Zoe Kravitz’s Hot Boy Summer + Is Gwyneth Writing a Memoir?!?!

Date: August 27, 2025
Hosts: Lauren & Chandler

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of Pop Apologists, sisters Lauren and Chandler cover a whirlwind of celebrity news, pop culture gossip, and their signature witty banter. The main themes: speculation about Gwyneth Paltrow's cryptic social media post (is a memoir inbound?), Zoe Kravitz’s high-profile hot girl summer, Ben Affleck’s supposed anger over revelations about his romantic life, celebrity adventures at Burning Man, Serena Williams’ public disclosure about GLP-1 use, and the latest bombshell court documents about Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. They also dissect the trailer for the new Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season and share updates on the upcoming With Love, Megan.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Taylor Swift’s Engagement – Breaking News

• [01:24] Lauren: Announces an emergency episode is coming to react to Taylor Swift’s newly revealed engagement. She teases “the ring, the dress, the photos, the co-posting of it all” will be discussed in detail soon.

2. Burning Man: Why the Hype?

• [04:46–13:18]
  • Lauren and Chandler discuss their aversions to Burning Man, sharing stories about dust storms, the “radical self reliance” ethos, and hygiene challenges (“I can feel the grit on my teeth as I even just conjure this image for you.” – Chandler, [08:12]).
  • Lauren recounts RHOC’s Dr. Deb’s LSD-induced life transformation as a cautionary tale for Burning Man-style awakenings.
  • Chandler reveals misconceptions: “I thought it was like a music festival… Like, freaking square number one checking in.” ([10:08])
  • Both agree the playa lifestyle is not for them: “There’s not enough synthetic chemicals to make that experience worth it, and I’ll just leave it at that.” – Chandler ([08:47])
  • Notable riff: Burning Man’s art cars labeled as “floats—a la Macy’s Day Parade but after a 12 hour bumper to bumper car drive” (Lauren [11:02]), with Chandler comparing “aioli and mayo” to demystify their supposed uniqueness.

3. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Cryptic Reel – Book, Magazine, or Goop Marketing?

• [16:12–20:02]
  • Lauren shares her theory that Gwyneth’s new Instagram reel signals a memoir is on the way: “There’s no way this is not a book, right?” ([18:02])
  • Excerpts from Gwyneth’s reel are read out, including the line:

    “Becoming yourself in defiance of what is expected is an act of rebellion, but also a joyful pursuit. A style all your own, not your age… Always curious, always becoming.” ([17:06])

  • Speculation about whether the announcement is for a memoir or just another Goop business expansion, with both hosts leaning toward the possibility of a personal narrative in response to the unauthorized biography by Amy Odell.
  • “Removing her profile picture. It’s so dramatic. Something is coming.” – Lauren ([19:33])
  • They predict a reveal by end of August.

4. Ben Affleck: ‘Technically Excellent’ in the Sack?

• [20:02–26:51]
  • Ben Affleck is reportedly “livid” over disclosure of personal bedroom details in Amy Odell’s unauthorized Gwyneth biography.
  • Lauren: “This is the narrative every man wants: that they are a technically excellent lover who had the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow super in love with them…” ([22:48])
  • Chandler observes, “He’s chain smoking and pounding Dunkin’ Donuts like never before.” ([22:12])
  • Argument that the Affleck ‘anger’ narrative is a media fabrication, and they riff about euphemisms for sex (“in the sack” vs. “making love”—Chandler, [25:01]).
  • Memorable quote:

    “The only person I know who’s ever used that phrase [‘in the sack’] is someone who was 75+.” – Chandler ([24:46])

5. Zoe Kravitz’s Hot Boy Summer

• [26:51–36:10]
  • Zoe Kravitz has been spotted with both Austin Butler and Harry Styles since her break-up with Channing Tatum.
  • Chandler confesses: “He [Harry] is my biggest celebrity teenage crush. Even bigger than Orlando Bloom.” ([27:05])
  • Debate about the relative attractiveness of Harry Styles and Austin Butler, with generational gaps in who qualifies as “hot.”
  • Celebration of Zoe Kravitz’s looks (“She just is that girl”—Lauren, [30:44]); both agree she’s effortlessly cool and likeable.
  • The duo admires Zoe for her strong friendship with Taylor Swift and her mix of glam and chill vibes.
  • Lauren: “Why is she so pretty AND so likable? …We would hate her, I think, except we know she’s Taylor’s good friend.” ([30:33])
  • They recount the infamous “snake in Taylor Swift’s house” story—Lisa Bonet’s pet snake gets stuck in Taylor’s 1930s LA home, requiring bathroom destruction for extraction. Taylor was entirely unfazed:

    “I guess she calls Taylor, and…Taylor’s like, ‘Oh, you mean how you lost a snake and destroyed my bathroom?’” ([36:01])

  • Laughter over Harry Styles’ polite “I’m not online right now” response to a fan interruption during a private moment.

6. Serena Williams & GLP-1 Medications

• [37:16–40:02]
  • Serena Williams opens up on national TV about using GLP-1s (e.g. Ozempic/Mounjaro) for weight loss and destigmatizes the process.
  • Chandler: “She is no stranger to working hard…her inability to lose weight had nothing to do with a lack of discipline.” ([39:20])
  • Lauren’s hot take: If celebrities are going to be speculated about anyway, they might as well “get a check out of it” via endorsement.
  • They contrast Serena’s transparency against Mindy Kaling’s denials and praise Serena for “addressing it head on.”

7. Justin Baldoni vs. Blake Lively: Bombshell or Nothing Burger?

• [43:40–48:24]
  • Discussion of court docs alleging Baldoni’s production company paid a “social media guru” $90,000 during a public fallout with Blake Lively.
  • Lauren debunks media clickbait: “There’s actually no bombshell…all hat and no saddle. All bark and no bite.” ([45:19])
  • They argue both sides likely engage in covert PR strategies, making the supposed scandal “very par for the course” in Hollywood.
  • Curiosity about how easy it is to hire bots and orchestrate social media narratives.
  • Reassurance to Baldoni supporters: “This headline is nothing to be super concerned about.” – Lauren ([48:24])

8. Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – Trailer Breakdown

• [48:29–53:39]
  • Salt Lake City praised as the “blueprint” for future Housewives: “It’s just very nouveau riche…and fascinating for people.” – Chandler ([49:47])
  • Contrast with New York’s new cast: Salt Lake excels by being self-aware, campy, and chock-full of heavy-hitting personalities.
  • Standout moments in the trailer:

    “You need to go to work to pay for all those lawsuits.”
    “I don’t have a facelift, but I have 12 threads in each side.”
    (Lisa Barlow, [52:07–52:39])

  • Excitement for the cast’s trip to Greece (not “another large dated suburban home in Scottsdale”), with calls for more glamorous trips and less “red rocks.”

9. With Love, Megan – Season 2 Anticipation

• [54:03–59:49]
  • Lauren and Chandler tease their upcoming premium episode recapping the new season.
  • They dissect a Bloomberg interview with Megan Markle, poking gentle fun at her “late night indulgence” of Duolingo French:

    “Can you imagine saying to another woman…‘my late night indulgences, a little Duolingo’?” – Lauren ([56:28])

  • Chandler expresses skepticism but commits to watching with an open mind, hoping Meghan “can throw down like a normal.”

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Memorable Quotes

• Lauren: “There’s not enough synthetic chemicals to make that experience [Burning Man] worth it.” ([08:47])
• Chandler: “The only person I know who’s ever used that phrase [‘in the sack’] is someone who was 75+.” ([24:46])
• Lauren: “Why is Zoe Kravitz so pretty and so likable?” ([30:33])
• Chandler: “I literally have this in my notes: Zoe Kravitz is the prettiest person ever.” ([30:13])
• Lauren: “It’s all hat and no saddle.” (On the Justin Baldoni ‘smear campaign’, [45:19])
• Chandler: “…my late night indulgence is Duolingo.” ([56:28])
• Lauren: “All roads lead back to the motherland, and to Taylor Swift.” ([34:25])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Burning Man breakdown: [04:46–13:18]
• Gwyneth Paltrow’s possible memoir: [16:12–20:02]
• Ben Affleck “technically excellent” in bed: [20:02–26:51]
• Zoe Kravitz’s Hot Boy Summer: [26:51–36:10]
• Serena Williams & GLP1s: [37:16–40:02]
• Justin Baldoni/Blake Lively court doc drama: [43:40–48:24]
• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City trailer: [48:29–53:39]
• With Love, Megan S2 anticipation: [54:03–59:49]

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Tone & Style Highlights

• Self-deprecating humor: Chandler consistently labels herself “square” and generational divides are mined for laughs (e.g., who finds whom attractive).
• Cultural critique with light snark: Whether it’s reality TV, celebrity romance, or online rumors, both hosts balance genuine fandom with tongue-in-cheek commentary.
• Strong rapport: The sisterly banter flows naturally, peppered with sarcasm, pop culture references, and occasional gentle digs at celebrity personas.
• Press skepticism: Headlines and “bombshells” are picked apart, revealing more about clickbait culture than actual scandal—especially in the Baldoni/Lively segment.

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For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In…

This episode is a lively, info-rich tour through the week’s biggest celebrity stories and reality TV developments, marked by Lauren and Chandler’s incisive commentary, cultural insight, and plenty of laughs—perfect for fans who want to stay in the know and join the conversation around pop culture’s most talked-about moments.

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Catch the next episode for a breakdown of Taylor Swift’s engagement and a full recap of With Love, Megan S2. Stay tuned!

Transcript

[Chandler]

Now that I'm finally settled into my new apartment, my next mission is getting back into my gym routine. And nothing builds that gym confidence like a snatched workout set this week is Macy's labor day sale with 25 to 60% off and it's the perfect time to stock up on end of season essentials like warm activewear for outdoor runs or that first crisp morning walk. Right now, select women's and men's activewear is 25 to 40% off. I love the rib knit scoop neck romper and Nike's Phoenix fleece oversized crew neck. It's giving Hailey Bieber meets Princess Diana off duty vibes and I'm here for it. Also, you know I love a good pair of Levi's jeans. Macy's has 30 to 40% off Levi's right now and there's several pairs that I've been eyeing. The Macy's labor day sale runs August 27th through September 1st. Shop now at Macy's.com or in store. Your gym fit glow up and denim moment awaits.

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[Lauren]

You guys, my body is shutting down. My body is coming alive. I am having a visceral reaction all day. I have not been able to do anything but just completely mentally malfunction. And by that I mean to celebrate and just could just be ensconced in this news because yes, Taylor Allison Swift, she is. She is engaged. She's engaged. I cannot believe those words are coming out of my mouth, but they are. Okay everyone, today's episode we recorded it Tuesday morning and unfortunately it was already in the can being edited by our editors before all the news came out. And so we are sitting down the first time we can Wednesday morning to record emergency episode all about our reaction to Taylor's engagement with we're going to be talking about the ring, the dress, the photos, the co posting of it all. There is so much to get into everyone so we are going to be giving our full reaction and then also we are going to be chatting our recap and review of With Love Megan Season 2. So we are recording that Wednesday morning, and then that will be up as soon as possible, most likely Wednesday evening. So brace yourselves. We are coming with our reaction. It's going to be our premium episode for this week, so it'll just be up earlier than Friday. And we're just getting to that. To you as soon as possible. Okay. And with that, enjoy today's episode.

[Chandler]

Love you guys, everyone. It's a great episode. I'm not gonna lie.

[Lauren]

We get into so much everyone.

[Chandler]

We get into Gwyneth Paltrow's announcement and what it could mean. We talk about Ben Affleck and the fact that he is livid about, you know, his sexual prowess being discussed.

[Lauren]

Yeah. He feels like his personal matters are on public display thanks to Amy o'. Dell. So we give our full commentary on that. We chat about Burning Man. Okay. Whether or not we're interested.

[Chandler]

So stay tuned.

[Lauren]

Stay tuned for that. Zoe Kravitz is hitting the town with Austin Butler and with Harry Styles. So we give our full opinions.

[Chandler]

Little Taylor talk there. Just trigger warning.

[Lauren]

Serena Williams is. Is a spokesperson for GLP1s. Or she's on a GLP1. There's a lot there. So we chat about that. And then bombshell court documents reveal a smear campaign against Blake Lively by Wayfarer, everyone. That is the news headline, so we fully dig into that.

[Chandler]

We also discussed the trailer for Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. We cannot wait, you guys.

[Lauren]

Buckle in. It's a really fun show. This episode of Pop Apologists is brought to you by booking.combooking. yeah. From vacation rentals to hotels across the U.S. booking.com has the ideal summer stay for absolutely anyone, even those who might seem impossible to please. Find exactly what you're booking for. Booking.com booking. Yeah. Book today on the site or in the app.

[Chandler]

Well, well, well. Welcome to another episode of Pop Apologists, a podcast between Lauren and myself.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Chandler]

Two sisters.

[Lauren]

Two blondes.

[Chandler]

Two blondes back in the studio.

[Lauren]

Chandler, you look resplendent. You look beautiful. It's great to have you here. It's wonderful to be in person. It's been a minute.

[Chandler]

I know.

[Lauren]

So, I mean, what should we get into first? You know, somewhere we're not. This weekend is Burning Man.

[Chandler]

And thank God for that.

[Lauren]

Thank God for that. So there was some crazy storm already.

[Chandler]

The gates were closed. They couldn't even, like, get into the. The grounds, which I'm. I'm just imagining, like, gates in the middle of nowhere.

[Lauren]

And.

[Chandler]

And it's just, like, roped off this, like, these Couple acres of land where people can park.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I mean, we have not been to the. The Playa, so we're not totally sure how it works.

[Chandler]

Oh, that's right. They call it the Playa.

[Lauren]

I think you're.

[Chandler]

You are closer to going to Burning man than I am for sure.

[Lauren]

Because, well, I think there was a time in my life when I was close to going, but that time is gone. And I think that it is past. This ship has completely sailed and it' never getting on it.

[Chandler]

Do you think you could do like a Dr. Deb, like in your 60s moment at Burning Man? Dr. Deb, for everyone who doesn't know, she is the mother of Bronwyn Windenburg.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

Which sounds like. Isn't the Windenburk a hotel? Windham is a hotel.

[Lauren]

Windham is a hotel.

[Chandler]

Anyway, she's the mother of Bronwyn Windenburg, another woman you probably don't know about, who was a previous Real Housewife of Orange County.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Chandler]

And her mom is like this total hippie dippy. Rainbow dreads. That's not a euphemism or anything. She literally has rainbow dreadlocks.

[Lauren]

Yes, but she wears.

[Chandler]

She's a white person and she has rainbow dreadlocks. So you can picture it.

[Lauren]

She wears a big necklace that says medicine woman.

[Chandler]

Because she's a doctor. She was a doctor.

[Lauren]

So she actually has a blog and I read the blog and she used to be a very kind of like, trailer. Used to be like me, normal, gets Botox, like, is just very, you know, has subscribed to society and conventions.

[Chandler]

Like you and like, every other woman.

[Lauren]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Um, but then she writes about how she had this experience on LSD where she had a full body orgasm that lasted like three hours or something.

[Chandler]

That sounds like something I've seen on like my strange hospital visit TLC show. Well, that sounds like a medical problem.

[Lauren]

No, not a breakthrough for Dr. Deb. It actually turned her into a medicine woman because she emerged from that experience and transformed her entire life. And, you know, she went from probably having a side part, like me, blonde dressing in conventional clothing to rainbow dreadlocks. Really enlightened, you know, a shaman of sorts.

[Chandler]

I can't tell if this type of thing would be really good for our podcast or really bad for it if you were to have a Dr. Deb, like, three hour experience.

[Lauren]

You know me, and I love to throw myself into a new phase. So actually, Burning man scares me and the promise of a three hour full body orgasm really terrifies me because I don't really want to become a shaman. I'm good. I'm good being square.

[Chandler]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

I feel good. Like, my life as a square is fun. I like it.

[Chandler]

I completely agree.

[Lauren]

And I think I want to stay in my box.

[Chandler]

I like you rooted here as a square. I like you as you are. So. Yeah, you're not allowed to go to Burning Man. Not only do you not want to go, but you're not allowed to go. But everyone, if you'll remember, last year's Burning man was a total nightmare. Looked like a catastrophic apocalyptic scene.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

But yet again this year, people bought tickets, they, you know, tricked out their RVs, and they headed out on, you know, the 5 or whatever freeway in California towards. Towards Reno, Nevada.

[Lauren]

Playa Indio. Yeah.

[Chandler]

Is it. Is it literally where Coachella is? I thought it was somewhere different.

[Lauren]

I don't know.

[Chandler]

Anyway, we're seeing dust storms. We're seeing tick tocks of people stuck inside their RVs, while, like, there's literal dust inside the RV. I can feel the grit on my teeth as I even just conjure this image for you.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I think this sand is so fine, and there's so much of it and so much of it is in the air that people basically say they're like, sand is still coming out of their skin weeks later. Yeah. It's like a really gruesome thing. Like, your phone, my friend, is going, and she had a special case for her phone for the sand that plugged into each of the little dots. Just because the sand is so fine, it can just get into any tiny surface that has any sort of opening. This is not an experience that honestly appeals to me.

[Chandler]

There's not enough synthetic chemicals to make that experience worth it, and I'll just leave it at that.

[Lauren]

That's my feeling. It's like, why are people taking a vacation where they're trying to combine the worst parts of Survivor and hallucinogenic drugs? Like, why is that such a pull for adults?

[Chandler]

I don't know. There's an issue. This country has a lot of issues, and that's one of them.

[Lauren]

Well, I couldn't agree more. Also, I just feel like I don't want to take part in recreation or. Or I need to bring my own water.

[Chandler]

You know, in one of these videos I saw, like, I caught a glimpse of the RV shower.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

And it's one of those little hoses, you know, where it's like, you know, this is coming from a very limited supply. Very limited.

[Lauren]

And so one of the precepts or, you know, one of the Ordinances. One of the important parts of going to Burning man is radical self reliance. And part of that is all your own stuff. Everything.

[Chandler]

There's something I'm also not great at. No, Ben. Not great at. Radical self reliance.

[Lauren]

I mean, 1 million percent. And it's like when I'm on a vacation, I actually would like things to be brought.

[Chandler]

To me, it looks. It looks like a Hellscape yet again. And I mean, what musicians are even playing like, Chandler?

[Lauren]

I don't think it's like a. It's not a concert with a headliner. Oh, wait, it's not. No.

[Chandler]

Oh, I thought it was like a. Okay, here I'm. Here I am.

[Lauren]

Wow.

[Chandler]

Like freaking square number one checking in.

[Lauren]

No, it's not.

[Chandler]

I thought it was like a music festival.

[Lauren]

No, it's basically like a. It's like an art festival. So the.

[Chandler]

Okay.

[Lauren]

People spend all year. Some people.

[Chandler]

Coachella is also an art festival.

[Lauren]

Some burners, they spend their entire year building out their art car, which basically they like, drive.

[Chandler]

Oh, I know, like these. The Mad Max looking like ramshackle. I say that with love.

[Lauren]

They. And they drive around them in BDSM outfits in the desert. And it's like the pinnacle of their human experience on probably a kaleidoscope of hallucinogenic drugs. Yeah. You mean you've seen all of this?

[Chandler]

I think I've seen some of, like, the cars. Can I. Can I look it up?

[Lauren]

Sure.

[Chandler]

Allow me a moment to look this up.

[Lauren]

Burning man is one of the only places I think that you can fully just like, take off all your clothes and just like run around on the Playa. On the playa. Yeah. Because there's no rules.

[Chandler]

Art cars.

[Lauren]

Art cars. Yeah.

[Chandler]

Oh, yeah. They're floats. They're floats.

[Lauren]

It's basically like the Macy's Day Parade, except instead of getting to go home after you have a 12 hour bumper to bumper for car drive. Is that an Elmo art car? Elmo float.

[Chandler]

Once again, there's not enough synthetic chemicals in the world to make me want to experience that.

[Lauren]

I just love how you completely took all of the, like, fun and exciting and kind of like, I don't know, je ne sais quoi. Cool quality out of art cars by exposing them as floats. Like, it's really like the way that aioli is actually just a mayo. Like a mayo dressing. Yeah. These are really just floats.

[Chandler]

So people go, I'm gonna have burners coming after me. Let me just say I respect your art and, like, as long as you're not hurting anybody, And I guess you're radically self reliant.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

More power to you. But do does not call to me.

[Lauren]

So there was one. This is kind of crazy. There was one art car or like installation. Like there's art installations.

[Chandler]

There's like adult. It's a float, Lauren.

[Lauren]

There's. Well, there's stationary floats. There's adult jungle gym type spaces.

[Chandler]

This country has so many problems. I need an executive order from Trump for adult jungle gyms.

[Lauren]

There's one that like, it's kind of for the, for a lot of guys generally because more men like to do this type of activity where it's like, there's like bungee cords and you kind of just like you, you climb up to the top of like a dome with a, with the center cut out. Okay. And then you just go down in a bungee cord and you kind of just like hit other people. I'm not kidding. I'm not kidding. It's a dangerous place. Someone dies every year at Burning man because there's just like. It's completely lawless and people do crazy things. So these people need help.

[Chandler]

They, they need better help. I don't even know if Better helps sponsor this show today. But you need better help.

[Lauren]

They absolutely do. Well, anyway, so will not be. We are not burners.

[Chandler]

Everyone doesn't call to me. I'll never go. It's something actually next time I take a shower I'm gonna try to like.

[Lauren]

Even enjoy the experience more.

[Chandler]

Thinking about like imagine if I was taking the shower like at Burning Man.

[Lauren]

Yeah, that's a great idea. Anyway, it's kind of like whenever I'm maybe having a bad day, I'm like, imagine I'm 92 and I just, you know, I did a little spell and I became my 35 year old self.

[Chandler]

Went back to this bad day. I think that's a nice, that's a nice thing to think about.

[Lauren]

Yeah, it's a nice little like where you learn that exercise. I came up with it on my own.

[Chandler]

I think I've heard it before from other people.

[Lauren]

So Chandler, can I tell you what dots the landscape of my home on a regular basis?

[Chandler]

Litter. Trash.

[Lauren]

Well, kind of clean, simple eats clear protein cans. The other day I was on the couch and I realized I had two next to me because I'd indulged in two clear protein beverages. These are delicious canned beverages, everyone. They have 20 grams of grass fed whey protein for 90 calories. I grab one from the fridge, I crack it open. They are delicious and they nourish My body. They really do.

[Chandler]

Lauren, I've seen these littered throughout your house. I've seen them in your shower. I've seen them in your bathtub. I've seen them in between your couch cushions. They're everywhere.

[Lauren]

Find one. You did find one in between my couch cushions. I swear, I do throw things away, everyone. But the problem is, is when you consume as many as I do, they just tend to be around. And I don't mind it, because when I look at a can of Clear protein, what I'm reminded of is the protein I fed my body. The kitchen I have not messed up with a blender. Okay? Clear Protein is truly a revolutionary product. Everyone needs to try it.

[Chandler]

I love the blue raspberry flavor. Also, the candy apple flavor is delicious.

[Lauren]

You can put a can in your water, by the way. So if you just want to flavor your water, make your water taste extra delicious and get protein at the same time, you can do that. Go to cleansimplates.com and use code POPAPOLOGIST20. Okay, this is for 20 off firsttime orders, so you can get 20% off your order. Usually they do 10% for us. Plus everyone free shipping. Go to clean simp leads.com pop apologist20. Change your life.

[Chandler]

You know what a perfect night in for me is, Lauren?

[Lauren]

Please tell me a perfect night in.

[Chandler]

For me is making dinner at home. Okay, maybe. Maybe a steak, maybe a pasta. Taking a half an early bird, watching a little show with Ben and just falling asleep by 10:30. That's a perfect night for me.

[Lauren]

There's something about an early bird CBD gummy, where it's just that perfect, melty, warm body feeling. They make your brain just a little bit more relaxed. A little bit more. I don't know what the word is. Just less frantic. Yes. Cozy. Makes your brain feel cozy and just chilled out, which I need. I'm the opposite of chill, as you are well aware.

[Chandler]

You actually are the opposite of chill. I can fully confirm that. So you need early bird more than most.

[Lauren]

I really do, you guys. Early bird CBD gummies. They are just chef's kiss. If you want to have a perfect night in a gorgeous night's sleep, go to early birdcbd.com use code pop apologist for 20% off your order. That's early birdcbd.com code pop apologist for 20% OFF your order.

[Chandler]

Okay, so you texted me and you said, gwyneth, memoir incoming. Yeah, and then I ran to Instagram and I almost had a panic because I was like, well, did she Delete her whole Instagram. But she just took down her profile picture, which. Which I guess is a sign.

[Lauren]

Oh, it's a complete sign. And then she. She posted this reel that I feel like I need everyone to see. We're just gonna play.

[Chandler]

I could also do a re. A rereading of the audio, but I think we'd prefer Gwyneth's voice.

[Lauren]

A recitation. Yeah, let's plague. When it's real, everyone.

[Chandler]

It's like a stop action. What's that? Is it called?

[Lauren]

It's basically a really well done, beautiful visual collage of a bunch of different eras of her life.

[Chandler]

And there's, like, scrapbook materials. Like, it's like a. There's, like, pictures, there's notes, there's fabrics. It's like a. It's a. It's a. It's a physical collage. And a video of it.

[Lauren]

Exactly. Thank you, Chandler. Beautiful. And also, if you're watching on video, we're just going to put this on the video so you can see it.

[Chandler]

We live in a world of other people's opinions about who we are. Becoming yourself in defiance of what is expected is an act of rebellion, but also a joyful pursuit. A style all your own, not your age. A domesticity built on independence. An ambition that doesn't override empathy. We never dismiss what we feel. We explore it with her, for her and deliver it joyfully. Always curious, always becoming. Always goop. I memorized it. Which line from that are you gonna get tattooed on you?

[Lauren]

I'm debating. It's a good question. Yeah, I'm debating between always becoming. What was the other one? Oh, a joyful pursuit.

[Chandler]

A joyful pursuit. Always becoming, always curious.

[Lauren]

For her. For her, with her. I feel like there's no way this is not a book. Right.

[Chandler]

Okay. Or do you think it's just, like.

[Lauren]

Some spoken word poetry?

[Chandler]

I think it totally could be a book. Yeah, I. I believe that it could be a book. And maybe the book could be called Joyful Pursuit. I don't think so, actually.

[Lauren]

Joyful pursuit.

[Chandler]

Joyful pursuit. Because it's on the video, it says, like, chapter, and then it says new chapter.

[Lauren]

There's some, like, book, like, you know, details.

[Chandler]

But the only thing that kind of confuses me is that it's so goop forward.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

It's not very. It's not super Gwyneth forward.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

Like, if it's a memoir, I'm fully losing my mind. But there's, like, goop fabrics. It's just. It feels a little businessy, less like.

[Lauren]

Personally, it definitely feels more like a magazine. But I think if we learn anything from the Amy o' Dell book, it's that the magazine failed pretty miserably. But when she started with Conde Nast, she had two issues of it we'll all remember. There's the first issue of her where she was covered in actual goop. And it was such a cool picture. She was nude, but in goop. And then there was the love issue with Brad Falchuk. But then after that. So cute. I mean, so, so cute. I love that issue.

[Chandler]

I wouldn't happily subscribe to a magazine that's just stories from her and Brad.

[Lauren]

Of course.

[Chandler]

I mean, that would be like subscription pornography.

[Lauren]

Absolutely. Yeah. I don't think we'll be so lucky. I. I just think there's also most likely a part of her that wants to tell her story after Amy O'Dies.

[Chandler]

Yes. Told her story 100 because it was an unauthorized biography.

[Lauren]

So I don't know. There's just. There's something huge about this. And the other thing is removing her profile picture. It's so dramatic.

[Chandler]

It's very dramatic. Something is coming.

[Lauren]

Something is coming. And it says August 2025. So we're going to know by the end of the month. Oh, my gosh.

[Chandler]

We've got like, just hold on. We've got four, five days.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Don't fall out, wherever you are. Don't fall.

[Chandler]

Don't fall. But wow. Yeah, I. I'm excited. I hope it's a memoir. I think I would.

[Lauren]

Can you imagine? We will freak out.

[Chandler]

We'll lose our mind.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Okay.

[Chandler]

Speaking of Gwyneth.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

You know, there's a man who would not be so happy if she was writing a memoir because he feels a little too talked about. He feels like she needs to get his name out her mouth. Out of her mouth.

[Lauren]

Yeah. This is according to Yahoo. Entertainment. Okay. We want to thank the fine journalists over at Yahoo for bringing us this information.

[Chandler]

You know, a lot of days I feel like I'm a journalist at Yahoo. Entertainment. Okay, so everyone, the article, the headline is, ben Affleck is reportedly livid over details of his past sex life being exposed in ex partner's biography.

[Lauren]

Yeah. So during their relationship, things were so steamy between Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow that they reportedly got caught in an intimate moment on the set of Shakespeare in Love. So this was reported in the Tell all book Gwyneth the Biography. The Unauthorized Biography by Amy o'. Dell. Chandler had a. A episode that really crushed it on the download interviewing Amy o'. Dell. So everyone, if you haven't listened to that, it's absolutely worth the listen. But in this book, Amy Odell wrote that Gwyneth said, quote, how much she enjoyed her and Ben's sex life to makeup artist Kevin, a coin in a London hotel room. And that she loved when Ben would perform a certain sexual act on her. Curious what you think that is.

[Chandler]

Is this in?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

A certain sexual act?

[Lauren]

Yes. Oh, yeah.

[Chandler]

Wow.

[Lauren]

Well, it dovetails perfectly with what she told Alexandra Cooper, another journalist of our time. A bit of a Yahoo.

[Chandler]

I rewatched that, that moment from her interview because it's so good.

[Lauren]

It's so good.

[Chandler]

Alex Cooper plays a, a game with her called Brad or Ben. And she asks her. This is when I do really appreciate Alex Cooper for the, for the heavy hitting journalism that she engages in, holds her worthy where she basically asks, you know, who, who's a better actor, who's a better kisser? There was a couple more. But anyway, who's better in bed?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

Anyway, and this is when Gwenna says that Brad was the type that was, you know, very like chemistry. Love your life at the time. I literally rewatched it twice this morning. But Ben was the more technically excellent lover.

[Lauren]

Technically excellent, yeah. So apparently Ben Affleck is livid about all these comments and about this book.

[Chandler]

He's livid. He's change smoking and he is pounding Dunkin Donuts like never before.

[Lauren]

He, quote, feels completely exposed, just hand ringing, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. I mean, whatever, Brentwood compound. He's probably.

[Chandler]

I don't feel bad for him because the only thing that's being said is that he's an amazing lover. And that's the exact type of story I'd like leaked to the press about me by my ex.

[Lauren]

Wait, you don't think that he's super upset about these pride private details being exposed?

[Chandler]

Well, I think it's BS that he's upset.

[Lauren]

The quote from the story is that he feels completely humiliated.

[Chandler]

Little Benny when he's so humiliated.

[Lauren]

No, I can. I could not agree with you more. This story is 100% BS. First of all, this is what every man, this is the narrative every man wants that they are a technically excellent lover who had the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow super in love with them and basically like on bended knee making them dinner, trying to, you know, in win them, trying to win them over, obsessed with them. And her biggest complaint and the complaints of her friends is that he Wasn't really ever that into her as much as she was into him.

[Chandler]

Well, and that's what I think he might actually be upset about is that she's. Or that, you know, details of him not being a great boyfriend are being revealed. No, but I'm sorry, cats out of the bag. We all knew that you weren't that great of a man. Husband, boyfriend, whatever. Insert whatever, you know, does not care. Roll your filling. We knew that the minute you cheated on Heavenly Mother, AKA Jennifer Garner with the nanny.

[Lauren]

Yeah, and he doesn't care.

[Chandler]

He doesn't care.

[Lauren]

This article is just a complete nothing burger. It is funny to read though. It is.

[Chandler]

He's love it.

[Lauren]

He is just so upset. So I love this. The source says this isn't going away quietly. Ben is livid and he's ready to fight back.

[Chandler]

Like I'm ready for the lawsuit. Let's see the lawsuit. Let's take this to court.

[Lauren]

Give me a break. I could see it if it was like maybe in the book, Amy Odell said that Gwyneth said he was the smallest man who ever lived who didn't measure up in any measure of a man. I could see that making you live in. I could see, you know, her saying that you weren't that great in the sack, making you upset as a man. When you say in the sack, why it's so. Let's dig deeper there.

[Chandler]

Honestly, it's extremely geriatric.

[Lauren]

You know what phrase I was using with some friends the other day because I. I listen to too much Juicy Scoop is boning.

[Chandler]

That's better. That's certainly better than in the.

[Lauren]

So in the sack is just a little bit dated.

[Chandler]

The only person I know who's ever used that phrase is someone who was 75 plus.

[Lauren]

No. Yes, they.

[Chandler]

I feel like they use that phrase on Golden Girls.

[Lauren]

Okay. What phrase are the young people using?

[Chandler]

It's always Blanche from Golden Girls. And we were in the sack.

[Lauren]

So what am I supposed to say? What's your preferred nomenclature for. For the boudoir.

[Chandler]

I mean, I think you could say making love. Having sex.

[Lauren]

Making love.

[Chandler]

Making love is far better to me than. No, its.

[Lauren]

Making love is giving. R and B. It's giving. It's giving like Ray J. It's not giving cool. Just chill.

[Chandler]

And in the sack is giving cool?

[Lauren]

I think so. It's a little bit more.

[Chandler]

Well, I'd like everyone, I'd like AI to do some type of deep dive to see how many times on, you know, Golden Girls, they use that expression. Now that I'm finally settled into my new apartment. My next mission is getting back into my gym routine. And nothing builds that gym confidence like a snatched workout set. This week is Macy's labor day sale with 25 to 60% off. And it's the perfect time to stock up on end of season essentials like warm activewear for outdoor runs or that first crisp morning walk. Right now, select women's and men's activewear is 25 to 40% off. I love the rib knit scoop neck romper and Nike's Phoenix fleece oversized crew neck. It's giving Hailey Bieber meets Princess Diana off duty vibes and I'm here for it. Also, you know, I love a good pair of Levi's jeans. Macy's has 30 to 40% off Levi's right now and there's several pairs that I've been eyeing. The Macy's labor day sale runs August 27th through September 1st. Shop now at Macy's.com or in store. Your gym fit, glow up and denim moment awaits. This episode of Popapologist is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy. Just drop in some details about yourself and see if you're eligible to save money when you bundle your home and auto policies. The process only takes minutes and it can mean hundreds more in your pocket. Visit progressive.com after this episode to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Lauren]

You know who could be making love Chandler these days? Zoe Kravitz and Harry Styles.

[Chandler]

I know. And.

[Lauren]

Or Austin Butler.

[Chandler]

I know. Well, I want to begin this discussion.

[Lauren]

With a question for you, please.

[Chandler]

Do you find Harry Styles to be attractive?

[Lauren]

Not personally.

[Chandler]

This is. So this is going to inform the discussion, everybody. Lauren needs to state her bias first of all, because she doesn't think he's cute. And I'm going to come right out and say that next to Orlando Bloom, he is my biggest celebrity teenage crush. Like as a teenager, I was the most in love with him, even more than Orlando Bloom. Orlando Bloom was just my earliest. So, you know, you never forget your first.

[Lauren]

You never forget. Your sexual awakening for me was Captain Von Trapp.

[Chandler]

So the tan on that man, I mean, next time I go get a spray tan, maybe when I before I go to Hawaii, I'm going to show them Captain Von Trapper. I'm gonna say I want this color.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

I want this glow.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And I want a man just as stern. Yeah, no, I, I, I appreciate this, Chandler. And here's the thing. I think find Harry Styles to be totally cute. Like, I'm not saying he's not an attractive guy. Yeah. At all. I think he's, I think he's, I honestly would say he's much cuter than Austin Butler.

[Chandler]

Okay, good, good. Then we, then we are in agreement.

[Lauren]

I mean, he's not, he's not like Liam Neeson. He's not what?

[Chandler]

I think you're just, you're comparing guys in different age brackets. You're like, he's not Paul Newman.

[Lauren]

He's not John.

[Chandler]

He's not Marlon Brando.

[Lauren]

He's no Gregory Peck.

[Chandler]

Why don't you compare him to somebody from this decade?

[Lauren]

I just like that I'm 35 going on 55 slash.

[Chandler]

No, not even 55. You're like, you're 35 going on like 80.

[Lauren]

He's no Bob Hope in the 60s in Palm Desert with me and my friend. With me and my gals.

[Chandler]

I don't want to sound ages, but I think Liam Neeson. Liam Neeson looks especially old right now. So, like, what comes to mind is like all the press from shooting Gun or whatever. Yeah, playing Gun. What's the movie? Him and Pamela.

[Lauren]

Anyway. I don't know.

[Chandler]

He looks great. He looks great. Men are great. Men are great.

[Lauren]

Men are great. I just mean more broad of stature giving.

[Chandler]

Oh, you think he's kind of slight? Here's where we're gonna freaking.

[Lauren]

I think some trolls Very boyish. I think Harry Styles is very boyish and he has a boyish charm that if I'm just being like a red blooded American woman telling you my preference, it's more for Liam Neeson or once.

[Chandler]

Again, somebody who was born post 1985. I mean, there's no like Channing Tatum. I'm not saying no, I, but I'm talking just stature. I'm just talking stature.

[Lauren]

No, because Channing Tatum is kind of more giving Joe Rogan to me. So.

[Chandler]

Yeah, like a little like meathead kind of Rock Hudson. Oh my gosh. What? Like literally.

[Lauren]

Can you name it?

[Chandler]

An attractive man who is broad of stature who's age appropriate for you. It's James Sexton. Great, Perfect. Great.

[Lauren]

Anyway, I just, yeah, I find, I find hairstyles to be totally cute. I would say he's just not like the top top for me.

[Chandler]

Sure.

[Lauren]

Well, you know who I do think is super hot though? And I just, you know, I think that talking about people and their looks is important.

[Chandler]

It is, it is. And that's something we. We do on this podcast. It's a brave thing we do on this podcast.

[Lauren]

Exactly. We try to be a little bit counterculture and try to, with courage, discuss hotness. And Zoe Kravitz is one of the hottest people alive.

[Chandler]

I literally have this in my notes. I said, Zoe Kravitz is the prettiest person ever. Yeah, 100%. I mean, she's a perfect example of, like, who's her dad? Lenny Kravitz. Duh.

[Lauren]

And Lisa.

[Chandler]

Lisa Benet. Like, she's an. She's an amazing example of two gorgeous people can make another gorgeous person. It's not always, like, the other way.

[Lauren]

No. It's a story of hope for. Totally.

[Chandler]

Totally a story of hope.

[Lauren]

You know what my question is that Zoe Kravitz is. Why is she so pretty and so likable? Like, why do we love her? Like, because I would. I mean, we would hate her, I.

[Chandler]

Think, because we know how good a friend she is with Taylor Swift.

[Lauren]

You think that's it? Well, there's just something about her that is, like, that is so effortless and cool, but not effortless. Like, I'm trying so hard to be effortless. She just is. I think she's just that girl.

[Chandler]

I think that she seems chill. She seems more chill than mean or too cool.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I think it would be easy to be that chill if I was. If you're that symmetrical, literally.

[Chandler]

She kind of has like a. She's kind of like an SJP type where I feel like she looks good in anything. Like truly a paper bag. Sex on a stick. Absolutely.

[Lauren]

With paper bags. Will fly off the shelves. Yeah. She wears one anyway.

[Chandler]

So super happy that she has, you know, she's. She ended her engagement with Channing Tatum and she is having quite the summer. Apparently her and Austin Butler were, like, kissing on the set of their movie Caught Stealing, I believe. I actually am quite excited to see.

[Lauren]

She said, Channing packing. Yeah, I didn't realize what I was about to do there and. But I did do it. She sent Channing packing, and now she is canoodling with Austin and Harry. Just having, like, a hot girl summer, apparently, too.

[Chandler]

What preceded these paparazzi shots of them in Italy, I believe, is that they were caught. We don't have any photos of this, but they were at, like, some bar in London, some pub, restaurant, type of establishment in London after the press, after her, like, premiere that night. And her and Harry were just like, full snogging, as they say.

[Lauren]

I just.

[Chandler]

I love a celebrity comfortable making out in public. I think it's very pedestrian. It's very everyday man of them. I just. I love it.

[Lauren]

I love it.

[Chandler]

I heard that someone asked Harry for a photo, I think, while they were out and about. And he said, I'm not online right now.

[Lauren]

About online right now.

[Chandler]

But, like, something nice. He was nice, but he said, I'm not online right now. So he wouldn't take a photo of somebody. Which I thought. I think that's a great response.

[Lauren]

I love that, Harry.

[Chandler]

Something we will never be able to say.

[Lauren]

Yeah, no, very true. Unfortunately. You know what I love about Harry Styles? What? Something in his favor, so I hope you'll appreciate this, is that he. He loves a. A woman who's a little bit more his senior. Yeah. Like he was with Olivia Wilde for so long.

[Chandler]

Years.

[Lauren]

Zoe Kravitz is a little older than him.

[Chandler]

He even dated a woman who I think tragically passed away, who was like the host of Love Island. Like the. Who was, I believe, at least 10 years his senior.

[Lauren]

It's very.

[Chandler]

Like, when he was like a. He might have even been like 18 or something.

[Lauren]

It seems like this is his type, basically, which is. I think it's extremely hot. It's extremely hot. And it's just refreshing. You know, he could fully be a Leo.

[Chandler]

You know what? He probably loves the expression in the sack.

[Lauren]

Oh, for sure. Because that's Chandler. That's what all of the women he's used to dating. That's what they use.

[Chandler]

Do you know the story, though, about Zoe Kravitz and the snake in Taylor Swift's house?

[Lauren]

I do know the story.

[Chandler]

We didn't talk about it, but I. I think. I mean, I don't know. Let's just quickly dip into Taylor because she's the best friend of all time because Taylor and Harry dated, if you'll remember. Remember? Do you think Zoe loves the song Slut? Probably. How could she not?

[Lauren]

I mean, do you think. Let's ask a very important question. Do you think that during this time where she is hooking up with Harry Styles, she is also listening to 1989 V tracks to really heighten the experience.

[Chandler]

Of course. Of course. Or she was listening to them before and that only, like, added to why she wanted to, you know, land him.

[Lauren]

I just hope that she has, like, a bunch of takeout coffees in her hotel room and it's like 30 takeout coffees later.

[Chandler]

Right. Right here.

[Lauren]

Harry and our Harry and I are back in sconce.

[Chandler]

I. I love this.

[Lauren]

I love.

[Chandler]

I think that it shows that Taylor's a girl's girl. That she's not worried about Zoe dating her ex.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Because I don't think Zoe would jeopardize the friendship. Absolutely. Not for a romp with Harry. No.

[Chandler]

100%. And Taylor, I guess, was very chill about her bathroom being destroyed in la. So I think just once again, this is a story about Zoe, but it's actually a story about Taylor.

[Lauren]

Oh, everything's about Taylor. All roads lead back to the motherland and to Taylor Swift, I will say. So the store, the snake story, for anyone who didn't hear it, basically, Zoe had her mom at Taylor's house during the fires.

[Chandler]

They were displaced. Taylor has her house in LA. I guess it's from the 30s. Did you know this?

[Lauren]

Right? I. I didn't know which house it was. So it was the house in la.

[Chandler]

The house in la. It was during the fires. And so Zoe and her mom were staying at the house. And her mom has a snake, which is something only hot. She's the only hot person I know with a snake. I guess. I'll say. And the snake, I guess, like, found a hole behind this, like, banquet situation. It's, like, built in, and they literally. The snake was, like, st stuck in it. And so they had to, like, basically destroy the banquette that was in this bathroom in order to get the snake out. Right.

[Lauren]

So basically, the snake, she lives at the beginning part of the story. But Lisa Bonet was playing with the snake. Playing with the snake must have been.

[Chandler]

Or the snake was just out and about.

[Lauren]

I don't think. I don't think if you have a pet snake, you let it go out.

[Chandler]

When are you playing with a snake?

[Lauren]

Well, I think I. Assuming she's doing, like, some type of, like, at some point. If you have a pet snake, you, like, get it out of its cage. No way. You don't.

[Chandler]

Playing with their.

[Lauren]

They're like, okay, well, then the petscape is snaked. That snake escaped from the cage or whatever it was out and about. Again, I don't think you let it go out and about. But anyway, it went halfway into a. Like a hole in a.

[Chandler]

Like I said, a banquet.

[Lauren]

A banquet. I don't even know what that is.

[Chandler]

It's like. It's like a seated thing. It's like. Like a little, like. Like you would kind of have, like a breakfast nook with a banquet.

[Lauren]

Okay. So anyway, the snake kind of slithers halfway in, and then Lisa Bonet, I think she says she's holding on to by the tail. Yeah. But then she says, like, keeps getting further.

[Chandler]

Yeah. And it's all muscle, so it's, like, hard to get out, I guess. And I guess Taylor Swift's house manager was there, and. But they're like, we either need to save this. We need to save the snake, or destroyed the bathroom. They destroyed the bathroom.

[Lauren]

Yeah, they destroyed the bathroom because what they didn't want to do was let go of the snake, and then it's gone forever. They. The snake is loose in her house. Anyway, long story short, she says this is a home that you want to keep in its original condition because the bones are from the 30s.

[Chandler]

Right.

[Lauren]

But they have to literally rip up the tile, rip up this bank to save the snake. And she destroys Taylor Swift's bathroom. A pretty harrowing.

[Chandler]

But I guess she, like, calls Taylor, and I guess the funny thing is a phone call where Taylor's like, oh, you mean how you, you know, lost. Almost lost a snake and store my bathroom.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

I think it was all in good fun.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Taylor took it in stride. Yeah.

[Chandler]

So anyway, that's another story about Taylor Swift that we bring you on this fine day. What else should we get into?

[Lauren]

Okay, let's talk about Serena Williams really quick. So Serena Williams has lost 31 pounds, everyone, and she's opened up about this experience.

[Chandler]

So she says, a lot of people have been wondering about my new fitness journey and what I've been doing, and I've been really open about me being on GLP1s. And I thought it was really important for me to come out and say it.

[Lauren]

She says, for me, it was really just about taking away that stigma of, is it a lazy way? Is it a shortcut? Why would you do that? Serena really wants to destigmatize medications like, you know, Mounjaro, Tirzepatide, Ozempic, X, Y, or Z.

[Chandler]

So she's doing this on, I believe, Good Morning America, one of the morning talk shows, and I only saw the clips of her talking about it. But what comes out a little bit later on, I believe in the interview, is that she is doing a sponsorship with roe.

[Lauren]

Yeah. So she's doing a paid endorsement with a company that sells these medications. And I believe her husband also is an investor.

[Chandler]

Investor.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I. Okay. I do have a hot take on this.

[Chandler]

Okay.

[Lauren]

Which I think if you're a celebrity and you have lost a significant amount of weight in the post GLP1 era, I think that regardless of if you took. Took it or not, people are just going to assume that, yeah, you might as well get a check out of it is my opinion.

[Chandler]

Oh, totally.

[Lauren]

Like, think about Mindy Kaling. We associate Mindy Kaling with GLP1s. Yeah, I feel like. I feel like we do.

[Chandler]

I think when you see a really dramatic weight loss. And I think the other thing that celebrities can do that shoots themselves in the foot is that they, like, then just all of a sudden start talking about their new fitness routine.

[Lauren]

Yeah. They pretend that this through working out, I think, and they.

[Chandler]

Mindy Kaling, like, kind of still holds the line that she just started hiking.

[Lauren]

Five times a week. Running. And we all know running is such a great way to lose weight.

[Chandler]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

No, that's obviously sarcastic. So I think that, like, Mindy Kaling would have been really smart to. Instead of denying she. Mindy Kaling honestly should have done this. Yeah. She should have partnered with a GLB1 company and gotten a big check for endorsing it because she's just. She's super associated with them, but she's never, like, cashed in on it.

[Chandler]

I completely agree. Huge missed opportunity for Mindy Kaling could.

[Lauren]

Have gotten that check.

[Chandler]

Um, I think what's really powerful about what we're seeing here is that she's, like, a world champion athlete.

[Lauren]

Right.

[Chandler]

So she is no stranger to working hard.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

No stranger to discipline. No stranger to, like, denying herself certain pleasures. Like, this has nothing to do with her. Not her inability to lose weight had nothing to do with a lack of discipline.

[Lauren]

Right. That's the point.

[Chandler]

And I just think it's very important for people like her to. To, like. I think it's really amazing that she, like, addressed that head on, because so much of, like, the narrative around weight loss is, like, right, you're lazy. You know, it's like the morality of it. And so I think it's like, a very good thing for the judgmental naysayers who are like, you know, you just can't lose weight because you're not trying hard enough.

[Lauren]

I agree.

[Chandler]

This episode of Pop Apologists is brought to you by booking.com booking. Yeah. From vacation rentals to hotels across the U.S. booking.com has the ideal stay for anyone, even those who might seem impossible to please. Whether you're booking for yourself, your partner, your sleep light rise, early mom, or your high maintenance group chat, you can find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com. lately, Ben and I have just been craving little escapes from the city. Something romantic and quiet just for us. But we also want to stay more than just a couple of days. So we need space to actually get Some work done. For me, that means a quiet spot to record the pod without background chaos. For him, strong wi fi is a must. And then come the dreamy details. A bathtub, Soft lighting for golden hour selfies. A king bed with crisp hotel sheets. And yes, a cozy nook for late night snacks. If I can find my perfect stay on booking.com, anyone can find exactly what you're booking for. Booking.com booking. Yeah. Book today on the site or in the app.

[Lauren]

Okay, let's move on. Chen, how are you doing? What's going on in your world?

[Chandler]

You turn 30? Yeah. Some information I will disclose. I turned 30, everybody. And I. The night before Ben set out this, like, massive wrapped thing. It was like, it's 40 by 40, everybody.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

Set it out was like, you can't open this till tomorrow. And so I honestly woke up the next morning with, like, jitters, like, what is my. What is this massive present? Yeah, and it's an art piece. It's like a oil recreation of a work of art I really like called Flaming June. And so anyway, it's going to be massive. He was kind of nervous, though, because he hasn't cleared it with Olivia, our interior designer. So Olivia will be chatting offline. But it's really beautiful. So there was, like. There was a cute surprise my day of. I already bought myself a gift, you.

[Lauren]

Know, and Ben also got you three huge bouquets for your third.

[Chandler]

Oh, my gosh. Well, spoiling it.

[Lauren]

Oh, sorry.

[Chandler]

Let me just. Let me just say, okay, I woke up, I got my first gift. So lovely. So just, like, I think too, you know, I had already kind of spent the amount of money that I should have spent on myself for my birthday. So it was very sweet that he went above and beyond and got me these things and then went to breakfast with my friends. Was lovely. And I came home from doing a little bit of personal shopping and I walk in and there are. We have like three window sills and there's. I look, I open the door and I see that there are, like, there's one, and then I see that there's two, and then I see that there'S three massive bouquets. Like, massive. Yeah, Very, very big. And I started crying because it was just. Ben goes, you know, a bouquet for every decade of your life, which I thought was a really romantic gesture. They really are massive. And I guess he. He went to the flower shop. He, like, went in person and he. He has the dimensions of everything on our apartment, on his phone. And so he gave them the dimensions of our windowsill. And he had this like, vision of them being in the windowsill. And yeah, it was. It was really, really sweet. I like, yeah, I fully started crying. So anyway, and then we went to dinner and I was in bed by 11:30.

[Lauren]

And you had a beautiful birthday.

[Chandler]

I had a beautiful birthday. I. I love being 30. I feel mentally like I've been 30 forever.

[Lauren]

So. Who knew? The secret to a good birthday is a massive romantic gesture that's completely over the top. But from your partner, plus being showered with lavish gifts, I mean, you've unlocked something. I'm.

[Chandler]

I'm literally running. I'm crack the code.

[Lauren]

Thank you.

[Chandler]

Last thing I'm going to say.

[Lauren]

Okay.

[Chandler]

His birthday is this week. And that's the real shitty thing about all of this, is that my birthday ends. And especially when he's knocked it out of the park. It's like you've got five days to get it together.

[Lauren]

So anyway, okay.

[Chandler]

Got to get. Got to get it together.

[Lauren]

Godspeed and good luck to you.

[Chandler]

Thank you.

[Lauren]

You know who else needs good luck right now? Justin Baldoni.

[Chandler]

Okay, things are not looking good. And we say this as two women in team Baldoni.

[Lauren]

Yeah. So this is the news article that came out, everyone. It said, bombshell court documents reveal Samir campaign against Blake Lively.

[Chandler]

Let's also just know. This is also from Yahoo. Entertainment. So let's just take back our words about their. Their journalism that we spoke earlier.

[Lauren]

Let's take them back because what, what, what words do we.

[Chandler]

Oh, we were just kind of like this from Yahoo. Entertainment. This article about Ben Affleck being livid. Sounds like they're actually, they're doing the most over there.

[Lauren]

Yeah, they are putting their shoulder to the wheel. So they have said that newly unsealed records show Justin Baldoni allegedly hired a high priced social media guru to secretly sway online narratives against Blake Lively during their highly publicized fallout. So on August 24, 2025, new court documents revealed Justin Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, paid social media consultant Judd Wallace $90,000 for a three month contract. In addition, emails showed that the actor's publicist, Melissa Nathan, introduced Jed Wallace to Wayfair's co founder Jamie Heath, describing him as someone who had worked on monumental projects around the world. Okay, you read this headline and it's like, bombshell court documents reveal Samir campaign against Blake Lively.

[Chandler]

And I am kind of like, yeah, I read the headline. I was like, what is the bombshell document?

[Lauren]

So you read and then you read the article and you can't find the. There's no.

[Chandler]

Well, I'm like, who's the social media guru? I'm like, surely it can't be Jed Wallace. Because we've talked, we've talked a lot about Jed Wallace.

[Lauren]

We know, you know, that is, that's the paid social media.

[Chandler]

I know, I know.

[Lauren]

Now I'm realizing that. And if you go and actually read the current documents, what you realize is there's actually no bombshell in these documents. This is what I would call this headline. I would call it all hat and no saddle. Okay. I would call it so all bark and no bite. There's actually no substance behind this headline. There's nothing going back and forth where there's a smoking gun. And it's like, okay, we need to decimate her reputation. We need to create all of these, like, fake headlines about her. It's all very vague.

[Chandler]

And he's a social media consultant.

[Lauren]

Yeah. There's just. There isn't like some big grand smear Blake Lively plan that they unveil. Yeah, that is, that is really the takeaway that I found.

[Chandler]

But I think where it gets tricky is, okay, he, he was a social media consultant potentially hired to, you know, combat negative stuff about Justin. If he has control of bots, if he can, if he can control bot accounts.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

And, you know, we've read that, you know, he claimed it was all untraceable. I find it a little bit hard to believe that he was only ever saying just positive things about Justin and not negative things about Blake. Yeah, that's where I'm like, I'm trying to parse this out.

[Lauren]

I also feel like, I find it very hard to believe that Blake's team didn't engage in any sort of social media engineering.

[Chandler]

Yes.

[Lauren]

Like that. To me, this is a little bit of a nothing burger because this just feels like very par for the course. Like, Blake Lively's team hired the. Didn't they hire like an ex member of the CIA?

[Chandler]

Yes.

[Lauren]

I just feel like, I mean, she's definitely doing her own sort of behind the scenes work.

[Chandler]

Allegedly. Blake Lively is also allegedly going after content creators.

[Lauren]

So it's just again, when you actually read the documents, there just isn't that, okay, we're launching a smear campaign. We're trying to ruin her reputation. It seemed like he was hired preemptively because, like, they were afraid that Blake was going to share something that would make him look really bad. But. But then they say that he was never. His services were never actually needed because organically everyone just started Driving on Blake. So again, it's all very he said, she said, but there's no smoking gun. Do you know anything about how it's.

[Chandler]

Easy to hire bots or how. How easy it is to hire bots?

[Lauren]

I don't know.

[Chandler]

Yeah, I'm curious about that. I'm curious if a lot of celebrities, a lot of housewives, like, how. How common it is to hire somebody who can just like, get a. Get you a little bot army.

[Lauren]

Well, I just think bots are very easy to detect.

[Chandler]

Totally.

[Lauren]

Because they don't. They don't look like real people. They don't engage like real people. So if there is, like, this spam activity in my mind, it would just be very clear. That's what it is. So I. I've never heard of, like, authentic looking accounts that can drive a narrative. Yeah. And if anything, people. People tend to really call that out quickly when they see it online. Yeah. So anyway, I would say for everyone who is friendly, Team Justin. This headline is nothing to be super concerned about.

[Chandler]

We are just getting closer and closer to the trials.

[Lauren]

I know.

[Chandler]

So that will be crazy.

[Lauren]

Buckle in, everyone.

[Chandler]

Let's talk about the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City trailer that dropped in a house of. What is this? What? It's the most dramatic reading that, like, plays over the top of this trailer. It's like in a house all about image, truth is the only sword or something.

[Lauren]

And then they have, like, Meredith Marks dressed up as George Washington, and she's like, stop your lies. I just have to say, I personally, I love these women. This is an all star cast. I mean, we have Mary back. We have Brittany Bateman back. This is going to be such a good season. I can already feel it.

[Chandler]

If we had, like, half as many of them, it would still be good. Like, we.

[Lauren]

We.

[Chandler]

Our cup runneth over with Salt Lake City.

[Lauren]

Our cup really runneth over. And I think Salt Lake City really is the blueprint of how housewives can be great and excellent into the future because it's very, like, Salt Lake City is very aware of itself. It doesn't have the charm of the authentic 2009 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or Orange county or New York. But I think I'm trying to, like, parse why Salt Lake is so much better than New Roni, for example.

[Chandler]

I think Salt Lake City is better because it's not. It's just very nouveau riche.

[Lauren]

And I think that's fascinating for people.

[Chandler]

As they see these, like, women who really were not rich 10 years ago.

[Lauren]

For the most part, yeah.

[Chandler]

And now they are and they're sort of pretending. I mean, it's the Lisa Barlow. Is she in debt or is she, you know, borrowing money? Is she returning her clothes? It's that aspect of it that I think is really right. What's really delectable for people.

[Lauren]

There's a really fun, camp, tacky quality the Salt Lake City girls bring that I think the New York New girls are too cool to bring. Yes. Right.

[Chandler]

Or too like we've always been rich or like.

[Lauren]

Yeah. They want to give off a certain energy. And the Salt Lake City girls don't have the same, like pretense. Yes. About themselves. I also think that there's just like a real comic quality to these characters that, that's also just like very difficult to find these true comedians. Heather Gay is super hilarious. I mean, Mary Cosby is also a, a stand up comic. Little girl doesn't know it. Bronwyn Wyndham or not Wyndham A Bronwyn on Salt Lake City. I think she's. Her commentary is giving Carol Rodswill. It's almost giving Bethany.

[Chandler]

I think they are all heavy hitters. Whereas on New York we don't have heavy hitters. We don't have as we maybe have two heavy hitters. Let me just say. I think, I think this reason is the biggest one, that they are all actually quite interesting. Interesting and distinct. You know, like, they all have like their funny quirks. Like every single one of them is. Is funny in their own way, whether they know it or not. Like what? Like, I feel like Meredith and Mary Cosby, like, don't think they're funny, but they are extremely funny with their seriousness. The other thing that I'm frankly glad is happening, they've kind of shed some of like the, a little bit of like the Mormonism of it all.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

Like it's, it's less focused on like, how are these women not Mormon in this Mormon place.

[Lauren]

Right.

[Chandler]

And I feel like that joke was a little tired.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I think that we kind of. We got the picture, but that story stopped, I think being interesting after a few seasons. And I, I mean, I'm just so excited. Like, there's a moment in the trailer where Lisa Barlow says to Bronwyn, she's like, you need to go back to school or you need to go to school. And Bronwyn says, you need to go to work to pay for all those lawsuits. And then Lisa says. Lisa calls Bronwyn a gout. D I C K Socker.

[Chandler]

I. I don't know that I fully knew what that first word was that she said. I knew she said the D. D.S phrase.

[Lauren]

And I. Wow. There's another moment where some. I. I forget who says it, but someone says to Lisa Barlo, like, I need. I'm gonna pull your ears back. Like the facelift you have.

[Chandler]

Angie says it.

[Lauren]

Okay, Angie K. Okay. Angie K. Who was also just like such an incredible character, such an incredible housewife. And anyway, Lisa's like, I don't have a facelift, but I have. I have 12 threads in each side, which is just. It's iconic.

[Chandler]

It's iconic.

[Lauren]

These are iconic women.

[Chandler]

I cannot wait, everyone. It comes out September 16, which cannot come soon enough.

[Lauren]

Cannot come soon enough.

[Chandler]

I feel starved for good reality TV right now.

[Lauren]

Also, you know what I'm so happy about? When they preview the trip. And it's not in some.

[Chandler]

It's not in Scottsdale.

[Lauren]

It's not in exactly some dated rental in Scottsdale. No, we're actually getting a trip to Greece. Like, thank you, Bravo, for upping the budget. I mean, I'm sure Bravo pays for those trips. And. Yes, no, they for sure pay for all.

[Chandler]

All of it.

[Lauren]

Yeah. They pay for all of it. Yeah.

[Chandler]

Okay. Well, yeah, I'm glad Bravo is, like, stepping it up then.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Because we could not have another. Oh, just another, like, large dated suburban home. And that's the cast trip.

[Chandler]

I don't even want Secret Lives of Mormon wives to ever go back to Arizona. Like, I don't.

[Lauren]

I just don't want to see another cast trip to Arizona ever again. We cannot have another cast trip from Salt Lake City or secret lives that you can get to on the i15. Okay. That is.

[Chandler]

I don't want Vegas. I don't want Arizona.

[Lauren]

No. Yeah.

[Chandler]

No more suburban landscapes.

[Lauren]

I don't want to see any red rocks.

[Chandler]

No.

[Lauren]

Okay. Yeah. I want to. I want to see a European cliff.

[Chandler]

I don't even want to see Palm Springs again.

[Lauren]

No. Oh, my gosh. Exactly. Although, you know, that for the Housewives.

[Chandler]

I'm sure they prefer that because it's so fast.

[Lauren]

It's so much quicker and easier.

[Chandler]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

Than having to go all the way.

[Chandler]

To Europe, except for when they have to fly coach. Enough about Salt Lake City. What's going on with you?

[Lauren]

Well, this is a big week because With Love, Megan is premiering. It actually premieres today. So everyone, we are going to be watching it and recapping it for Global Elites on Friday. So get excited for that. Also, a 45 minute interview with Megan came out and it came out on. It was like Bloomberg. And it was a girl who. Or was a female journalist. A woman who.

[Chandler]

What? What are those? Female journalists?

[Lauren]

What?

[Chandler]

Why did you say female journalist?

[Lauren]

Oh, why didn't I just say a journalist? Yeah, because it's a little bit. It's like girls chatting.

[Chandler]

Okay. Okay.

[Lauren]

They're like, like she compliments her necklace and just like the vibe is very.

[Chandler]

I guess also it's Bloomberg. So maybe it's like. Seems like a more serious, like.

[Lauren]

Right.

[Chandler]

It's not less yappy.

[Lauren]

It's not them sitting. It's not her with like a man in a suit looking at. Yeah, it's like her with another kind.

[Chandler]

Of like a woman looking at Excel. I don't know. We're very biased in this exchange right now.

[Lauren]

Okay. It's just a very kind of like fancy lady chit chat.

[Chandler]

Love it.

[Lauren]

And they. They meet at a bookstore and then they get cheeseburgers together.

[Chandler]

Oh, cute.

[Lauren]

And it's cute. It's 45 minutes long. And I went into it and I was really.

[Chandler]

It's on video.

[Lauren]

Yeah, it's on video. I had really high hopes and I want to play for you just a little bit of this.

[Chandler]

My gosh, what a little surprise for me.

[Lauren]

I know. Because Megan reveals what she indulges in late at night. Shut up.

[Chandler]

More duolingo.

[Lauren]

Just wait. So they're walking to the bookstore and they're kind of talking about how like Megan saying it's been a long time since she's really like dove into a book. She reads a lot of obviously now children's books to her children. Okay. So then they kind of. You're chatting four and six and so at the end of the night, I do that. And then I haven't really. I haven't really gotten into a book in a long time. I know it's hard. I also read a lot of parenting books. Parenting self help. And then my late night indulgence now is just a lot of duolingo. Do you ever do that?

[Chandler]

Oh, it's great.

[Lauren]

When I could find the time. What are you duolingoing? I'm duolingoing French. Yeah. I committed to relearning it. And so. Yeah.

[Chandler]

I mean, she's like never even read a single meme about herself because she already said. Made this joke.

[Lauren]

No.

[Chandler]

Yeah, she.

[Lauren]

That's what she said in her interview, I think believe it was Vanity Fair. Like three. They don't watch tv. Don't. You know, basically after. They might turn on the tv after she's done all of her things, plus her duolingo. But now it's actually. The duolingo has just transitioned to the late night indulgence.

[Chandler]

Late night indulgence.

[Lauren]

Can you imagine saying to another woman, being like, you know what? With a straight face, you know what? I. What? My late night indulgences. A little duolingo.

[Chandler]

A lot. I thought. I think it was a lot of duolingo. Like flashcards.

[Lauren]

Fuck off, bitch. What are you flashcards about?

[Chandler]

Literally French flashcards.

[Lauren]

It's. You know what, it's giving.

[Chandler]

It's.

[Lauren]

It's giving Katy Perry and, you know, I just like to read about astrophysics and stem. It is just so odious. We are in for.

[Chandler]

Really in for it.

[Lauren]

Yeah, we really are. So we will be recapping with love, Megan. Everyone, if you would like to hear our full thoughts on the new season, we're going to spare none of them. None of them. We are. We are going to. Here's the thing. I might troll Megan for her, I would say, unrelatable qualities. Okay. Yeah. Because my indulgence late at night, that's a guarantee. Isn't in the learning category. I do, though, I do think she's stunning and I do want to love her. So that is the. That's the space I'm coming in with. Like, that's the. That's where my heart is.

[Chandler]

You see, I was there before season one, I was like, I'm so ready to love this woman. And after season one, my heart's cold. It's hard and it's cold, and I might just be, like, all annoyed now.

[Lauren]

I think you got to go in. You got to go in with an open mind because we can't just. We cannot just roast her. Like, go in to roast her.

[Chandler]

I mean, of course I'm going to have an open mind, but I just think from the trailer to this interview, I mean, this kind of just sent me over the edge. I don't know what you. What you thought was going to happen, but this little interview that you showed me, it's not helping them. It's not helping her case. And anyway, I'll try to, like, do some type of ritual to, like, expel these negative feelings, but she really rubs me the wrong way.

[Lauren]

I know, I know. I think that we have to hold the hope alive that Megan has a part of her that is funny, that is chill, that is actually relatable, and that part does exist. And eventually she will let down her guard and show it to us and not always be, like, holier than thou.

[Chandler]

You can't see this, but I've currently got my. I'm doing some type of yoga pose, trying to listen to Lauren's words and let them flow through me, because I would like. I would like to approach season two with an open heart and an open mind, and I would like to have love for her.

[Lauren]

Let's just hope she can throw down like a. Like a normal.

[Chandler]

And I will say I saw one sneak peek that was of her in Tan France, and she was like, does a little flower sprinkle? And he goes, that's the gayest shit I've ever seen. And it was hilarious.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Chandler]

I guess that has more to do with how amazing tan France is. But I like, even the fact that she let that stand, you know, that's a little bit irreverent.

[Lauren]

Completely. Yeah.

[Chandler]

So, okay.

[Lauren]

Okay. There was also news about the brand. Like, I feel like. What was the news?

[Chandler]

I mean, we got a video of Harry surfing.

[Lauren]

We did get the video of Harry surfing. What did you think of that?

[Chandler]

I like that. She's hot for her man. Yeah, that's cute. It was cute to me.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And I think it's cute to see him doing, like, the California things.

[Chandler]

I. I think that that's a very real part of her, is how much she loves Harry. And I will try. I'm gonna try to focus on that.

[Lauren]

Yeah, let's try to focus on that. And we're just gonna keep hope alive for cool Megan coming in season two, okay. That is where our heart is at.

[Chandler]

And that is our prayer. Catch us on Friday for our full.

[Lauren]

Recap of season two.

[Chandler]

With love, Megan. Bye.

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[Lauren]

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[Chandler]

The single line. I'm Kaitlyn Bristow, host of off the vine podcast, where I get real, well, maybe a little too real sometimes with my friends and celeb guests from Bachelor franchise and beyond. I'm talking guests like Jonathan Van Ness. Na na na na na na na.

[Lauren]

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Just like in this, like, business jacket. Like, I would love some tacos.

[Chandler]

Heidi d', Amelio, Big Brother's Taylor Hale. I have to bring it up because it happened and we're going to get through it, what I do, and so many more. So come hang out with us, hear ridiculous confessions and get a little vulnerable. Because you know what? We're all just floating on this weird little planet together. Follow Rate and review off the vine podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts. Now that I'm finally settled into my new apartment, my next mission is getting back into my gym routine. And nothing builds that gym confidence like a snatched workout Set this week is Macy's labor day sale with 25 to 60% off. And it's the perfect time to stock up on end of season essentials like warm activewear for outdoor runs or that first crisp morning walk. Right now, select women's and men's activewear is 25 to 40% off. I love the rib knit scoop neck romper and Nike's Phoenix Fleece oversized crew neck. It's giving Hailey Bieber meets Princess Diana off duty vibes and I'm here for it. Also, you know I love a good pair of Levi's jeans. Macy's has 30 to 40% off Levi's right now and there's several pairs that I've been eyeing. The Macy's labor day sale runs August 27th through September 1st. Shop now at Macy's.com or in store. Your gym fit, glow up and denim moment awaits in the time it takes.

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