Pop Apologists – Episode 301: Prince Andrew Stripped of Titles + Courtney Grow on The Row Controversy, 💉 Beauty Treatments & Keeping Marriage Hot ❤️‍🔥

PodcastOne | November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, sisters Lauren and Chandler are joined by their "celebrity sister" Courtney Grow, filling in while Lauren recovers from a short-lived flu. The hosts take listeners through the latest in royal scandals, celebrity divorces, fashion controversies, and deep dives into beauty regimens, marriage, and influencer culture. The episode blends sharp pop culture commentary with personal anecdotes, particularly highlighting the recent stripping of Prince Andrew’s royal titles, the Row sample sale and influencer fallout, and Courtney’s unfiltered takes on aging and relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life & Moving Updates (01:25–09:11)

• Lauren’s Recent Move: Lauren details her hellish experience moving while hungover and sick, unpacking the mess of boxes while battling a 24-hour flu.

  • “It's called double hell...you're already in hell because you're sorting through all your junk...but then add to it, you're a little nauseous...That was the hellscape I was in on Saturday.” (03:35–03:48, Lauren)

• Chandler’s Role & Courtney’s Guest Interview: Chandler steps in for Lauren and brings on Courtney, noting her 'celebrity' status in their family and her busy lifestyle.

• House Journey: Lauren speaks to her ongoing renovation plans in Puerto Rico and invites listeners to follow along for home content on Instagram.

2. Divorce, Adultery & Celebrity Narratives: Deborra-Lee Furness, Hugh Jackman, Lily Allen, and David Harbour (09:31–16:36)

• Deborra-Lee Furness’s Memoir News:

  • Panel reacts to news that Deborra-Lee Furness is shopping a “bold, emotional memoir” post-divorce from Hugh Jackman.
  • “I feel like this is a win for women, and I hope she gets the fattest check possible, as she should.” (10:00–10:10, Chandler)
  • Lauren emphasizes the shift in culture: “I think it's important for women to feel emboldened to tell their stories...” (12:12)

• David Harbour/Lily Allen and Artistic Excuses:

  • Discussion of David Harbour’s recent Esquire interview, and the tendency for some artists to justify misdeeds as part of their “journey.”
  • Key quote: “If you've never been through anything, what do you really have to offer?... If I were to change anything, I change everything and just make my life happy and silly...and then I wouldn't be an artist anymore, and that would suck.” (14:22–14:54, David Harbour quoted by Chandler/Co-host)
  • The hosts call out the lack of accountability and “mental gymnastics” in this rationale.

• Millie Bobby Brown Harassment Claims:

  • Bringing up new allegations of workplace harassment by Harbour towards Millie Bobby Brown on Stranger Things, highlighting the disconnect between on-screen personas and alleged off-screen behavior.
  • “If the other main co-star in the show is needing to take this type of action against you, what are you doing to people who are smaller?” (20:15–21:11, Co-host)

3. Prince Andrew Stripped of Titles – Royal Scandal Deep Dive (21:45–36:02)

• Timeline Recap of Andrew’s Association with Epstein:

  • The sisters walk listeners through a quick-fire but searing overview of Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and involvement in the sexual abuse scandal.
  • The hosts clarify past palace responses, discuss Andrew’s disastrous TV interviews, and critique the monarchy’s repeated inaction.

• Criticism of the Monarchy:

  • Lauren lambasts the royal family’s focus on self-preservation:
    • “They’ve known exactly who Andrew was this entire time. And guess what? It was only when it threatened their power that they decided to take any action.” (31:17–31:51, Lauren)
  • Chandler on hush money: “The only reason why he's getting this payment is because they don't want him to reveal any more of their secrets...” (33:10)

• Respect for Meghan Markle and Harry:

  • Lauren praises Harry & Meghan for leaving the monarchy:
    • “Maybe she looked around and was like, I don't want to be around these in-laws.” (35:12–35:42, Lauren)

4. Harry & Meghan on Social Media; Vanderpump Rules Reboot (38:18–45:42)

• Tabloid Gossip Debunked:

  • Chandler and Lauren dismiss Page Six reports claiming Prince Harry is upset about Meghan sharing family moments online.
  • Lauren, citing a personal source, doubts any tension and praises the couple’s authenticity and strong love.

• Vanderpump Rules Reboot Skepticism:

  • Both hosts struggle to care about the new, influencer-heavy cast, lamenting the loss of organic drama from the early seasons.
  • “The original VPR cast was lightning in a bottle...cannot be replicated.” (42:28–43:18, Lauren)

5. Courtney Grow: Beauty, The Row Controversy, & Real Marriage Talk (47:42–78:24)

Rapid-Fire Beauty & Skincare (47:42–54:48)

• Botox, Filler, Lasers, and Exosomes:
  • Courtney is candid about her beauty regimen, favoring sculpture (a collagen stimulant) for natural “scaffolding” over traditional fillers.
  • On exosomes: “I just have really decided I don’t want my face to be any bigger. I just want my skin quality and skin texture to be as premium as it can be.” (52:46, Courtney)
  • Prefers to let trusted injectors guide choices, not influencer blueprints: “Everyone's anatomical structure is so different...you just need to find an injector you trust and do what they tell you to do.” (49:09–49:27, Courtney)

The Row Sample Sale & Influencer Brand Loyalty (54:52–71:12)

• The Row’s Declining Prestige & Sample Sale Fiascos:

  • Courtney relays her experience as an early “jelly sandals” adopter, the defect scandal, and contrasting customer service outcomes.
  • Full support for influencer Neelam’s viral Substack on feeling discounted by the Row, yet notes influencers are in a tricky “favor” space with brands.
  • Zinger: “Making your customer feel uncool is a horrible strategy.” (61:27, Courtney)
  • Courtney is wary of the “TJ Maxx syndrome” at sample sales—buying subpar items out of sheer FOMO.

• Retail & Influencer Treatment:

  • Both Chandler and Courtney bemoan snobby in-store experiences, contrasting them with more welcoming brands like Prada.
  • Courtney discusses being treated like “gum on the bottom of [a salesperson’s] shoe,” even with significant spend and influence. (66:46+)
  • “There is no comment section quite as on fire as something on TikTok where people talk about how much they hate influencers...and you would at least think that a retailer...would treat you well.” (68:09–69:17, Courtney)

Real Talk: Marriage, Sex, and Jealousy (71:18–78:24)

• Marriage & Intimacy – Total Transparency:

  • Courtney keeps it real about the exhaustion of parenting and the myth of perfect marital sex:
    • “Most of the time...there's that thought that washes over both of your eyes of just like, should we have sex? And genuinely, five to six out of seven days, it's just like...I wish I wasn't so goddamn tired.” (71:30–72:09, Courtney)
  • Connection matters more than constant physicality:
    • “To me, like, that's intimacy...sex is the cherry on top.” (74:03–74:44, Courtney)
  • On arguments: She and her husband avoid cruelty, but admits to losing her cool when his chill attitude brings her stress (76:41–77:11).

• Handling Jealousy:

  • Courtney’s philosophy: acknowledge envy, become the other person’s cheerleader, and watch yourself “level up” as a human.
  • “Look jealousy in the eye...become a person who is an active supporter of that person you might feel that way of, and watch your soul literally level up.” (78:00–78:24, Courtney)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lauren on Royal Hypocrisy:

  • “They have to do enough so that the public feels like they're taking it seriously, you know, but they have to not do so much that Andrew is no longer in their control.” (34:13)

• Chandler on TV Remakes:

  • “There’s something sacrilegious about seeing two people I’ve never seen before...arguing in the back of the Acer alley. It feels like cosplaying.” (43:18–43:31)

• Courtney on The Row’s Genius:

  • “They will do something first, and they will do it better than anyone.” (57:43)

• Courtney, Unfiltered on Marriage:

  • “We let the hot sex find us, and we are not in pursuit of the hot sex all the time.” (75:44)

• Courtney, On Jealousy:

  • “If you want to level up as a human being, look jealousy in the eye, look envy in the eye, get ahead of it. Become a person who is an active supporter of that person who you might feel that way of, and watch your soul literally level up.” (78:01–78:24)

Important Timestamps

• Lauren’s move and flu story: 01:25–04:56
• Deborra-Lee Furness shopping a tell-all: 09:31–12:45
• David Harbour's Esquire interview and Lily Allen: 13:04–16:36
• Prince Andrew stripped of titles/royal scandal timeline: 21:50–36:02
• Vanderpump Rules reboot reflections: 41:10–45:42
• Courtney Grow Beauty Treatments & The Row controversy: 47:42–71:12
  • Collagen stimulants vs. fillers:** 49:09–53:15
  • The Row sample sale & customer service:** 54:52–71:12
• Marriage & Jealousy, with Courtney: 71:18–78:24

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and sisterly: The dialogue is full of teasing, empathy, and realness.
• Unvarnished pop culture analysis: The sisters stand firm with their opinions—be it on royal scandals, fashion brands, or reality TV.
• Encouraging vulnerability: They champion transparency—be it memoirs about betrayal, honest beauty routines, or admitting the realities of motherhood and marriage.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a one-stop shop for astute, no-holds-barred pop culture commentary and real-life wisdom. From holding the monarchy accountable, dissecting influencer-brand dynamics, to debunking marriage myths, Lauren, Chandler, and Courtney manage to cover a sprawling swath of contemporary issues—always with wit, candor, and the comforting dynamic of sisters (and sisters-in-law) who overshare, giggle, and ultimately champion authenticity above all.