Vault: Interview With JC

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault – Interview with JC Chasez (NSYNC)

Episode Date: October 31, 2025
Episode Theme: An unfiltered, candid conversation with JC Chasez (of NSYNC), exploring fame, friendship, handling the spotlight, and inside stories from the world of pop stardom.

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Episode Overview

In this lively throwback vault episode, the Bert Show cast sits down with JC Chasez of NSYNC. The conversation delivers a blend of nostalgia and insider perspective: from reflecting on NSYNC's stadium-filling success, to life in the public eye, group dynamics, rumors, relationships, and personal anecdotes—plus classic Bert Show humor and playful banter. JC is genuinely open about his journey, offering rare details about group life, his own career, and how he navigates fame.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Realizing NSYNC’s Impact and the "Stadium Tour" Experience

• JC shares when he grasped the scope of NSYNC's cultural impact.
  • He reflects on the "pinch me” moments during the stadium tour, performing to crowds of up to 120,000 fans.
  • JC (02:39): “We were playing, on average, 50,000 people a night. Some shows were 90,000… The one in Mexico City we did was 120,000 people.”
• He describes the emotional mix of excitement and pressure on stage.
  • JC (03:17): “You’re excited. And yet half the time…the way my brain works is I always have to make the show better… Don’t screw up in front of this many people!”

2. Performance Blunders and Real Moments

• JC tells a candid story about forgetting the lyrics during a House of Blues performance.
  • JC (03:43): “I forgot the whole end of the song… I just went, you guys, I just totally forgot all the words… I’m just gonna hum a little bit and finish out with a nice, pretty sound.”
  • He highlights how authenticity and embracing mistakes make for memorable, communal moments on stage: “Everybody had fun with it… people make mistakes.”

3. Navigating Fame and Dating Rumors

• Dating life and rumors, specifically the Tara Reid speculation:
  • JC says he keeps it simple: if he gets along with someone, they’ll hang out, regardless of her fame.
• On the Tara Reid dating rumors:
  • JC (05:13): “There’s one right there. That’s my buddy, man. We’re cool.”
  • On whether stars saying "just friends" is ever true:
    • JC (05:25): “In this case, no. We’re just friends. And… I can, dude, I’ll say it comfortably, no problem.”
  • He points out how the media zooms in on moments out of context, feeding the rumor mill.

4. Celebrity Relationships – Genuine or Not?

• JC is asked if it’s harder to meet people and determine “genuine feelings” due to his fame.
  • JC (04:51): “It’s not something that I dwell on… If I meet somebody, we get along, we’ll hang out, and then we’ll take it from there… I’m easygoing.”
• He mentions he's dated non-celebrities (including a “real doctor”), affirming he’s open and prefers positive energy over status.

5. Friendship and Group Dynamics in NSYNC

• On group friendships & Lance Bass’s space dreams:
  • JC shares their genuine support when Lance revealed his space ambitions.
    • JC (08:59): “No, I was definitely supportive about it. People don’t really realize he’s been studying about this stuff since he was 4.”
  • He dispels myths about group hierarchy and jokes about bandmate personalities.
    • JC (09:24): “Lance has got his own office. ...Lance doesn’t get pushed around at all.”

6. Tabloid Rumors and Not Stirring the Gossip Pot

• JC is careful not to buy into tabloid gossip, especially around fellow celebrities. He refuses to “talk crap” about anyone, maintaining positive relationships.
• Justin and Britney’s breakup:
  • JC (09:49): “That’s between them. ...I think in my case, ignorance is bliss.”
  • He notes Justin never talked in detail about it, respecting their privacy.

7. Money Habits in the Group

• JC on who’s frugal vs. extravagant in NSYNC:
  • He’s pegged as the responsible one, while Joey and Justin are “loose” with their spending.
  • Joey’s purchase: “He has the largest residential swimming pool in the state of Florida… You can put Shamu in his swimming pool.” (11:00)

8. Life During NSYNC’s ‘Intermission’

• JC addresses breakup rumors and the group’s evolving projects:
  • JC (11:33): “No. This is kind of like the intermission before the next record… We just kind of needed to reinvent ourselves, you know… everybody’s doing their thing and then we’ll be back together, you know, next year and do a record…”
• He shares the distinct feeling of performing solo:
  • JC (12:22): “There’s nothing like looking back and seeing the guy… you’ve been with since you were 12 years old, laughing his ass off behind you… you feel safe… you definitely miss them.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• JC on stage fright and high stakes:
  “Those are the days you’re pinching yourself. You’re going, this is nuts. ...Don’t screw up in front of this many people.” (03:17)
• On authenticity on stage:
  “I just went, you guys, I just totally forgot all the words… I’m just gonna hum a little bit and finish out with a nice, pretty sound.” (03:43)
• On rumor mills and ‘just friends’ with Tara Reid:
  “That’s my buddy, man. We’re cool.” (05:13)
  “In this case, no. We’re just friends. And… I can, dude, I’ll say it comfortably, no problem.” (05:25)
• On Lance Bass’s space training:
  “People don’t really realize he’s been studying about this stuff since he was 4. ...He’s a space junkie. People just don’t know this stuff.” (08:59, 09:11)
• On tabloid gossip (Justin & Britney):
  “That’s between them. ...I think in my case, ignorance is bliss.” (09:49)
• On Joey Fatone's extravagant pool:
  “He has the largest residential swimming pool in the state of Florida. ...You can put Shamu in his swimming pool.” (11:00)
• On band hiatus:
  “This is kind of like the intermission before the next record… everybody’s doing their thing and then we’ll be back together, ...do a record and move on with our lives.” (11:33)
• On missing his bandmates:
  “You feel safe. ...you definitely miss them.” (12:22)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:14 – Interview begins: NSYNC fame, first 'big moment'
• 03:17 – Stadium tour reflections, performing under pressure
• 03:43 – Performance mishaps and embracing mistakes
• 04:51 – Dating, fame and forging genuine connections
• 05:11–05:25 – Addressing Tara Reid rumors and media dynamics
• 06:36 – Dated a doctor; how regular relationships work
• 08:24 – Celebrity gossip—JC’s take on refusing negativity
• 08:59 – Lance Bass’s astronaut dreams
• 09:49 – On Justin & Britney's breakup: privacy and loyalty
• 11:00 – Joey Fatone's legendary swimming pool
• 11:33 – Is NSYNC breaking up? JC explains the hiatus
• 12:22 – Performing solo vs. with NSYNC

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Episode Tone & Style

The show maintains its signature blend of authenticity, humor, and warmth. JC’s answers are thoughtful, down-to-earth and self-effacing, while the hosts inject playful teasing, rapid-fire questions and inside jokes. The group’s camaraderie is evident, creating an engaging and enjoyable listen for fans and newcomers alike.

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For more about The Bert Show or to become part of the conversation, visit thebertshow.com.

Transcript

[Jeff Bridges]

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[Zoe]

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[Jeff Bridges]

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[Zoe]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Zoe]

J free.

[JC Chasez]

You heard them.

[Jeff Bridges]

T Mobile is the best place to.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.

[JC Chasez]

Us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Jeff Bridges]

So what are we having for lunch?

[Zoe]

Dude, my work here is done.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

The 24 month bill credits on experience beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and 35 device connection charge credit same and balance due if you pay off earlier Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs 1099.99 and new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence Data 1H 2025 Visit t mobile.com.

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[Interviewer]

Purchased the Birch Show JC from nsync. Couldn't have been a nicer guy. Really great guy, but the dude lied to us. You listen to this, and he is lying through his teeth when he tells us that he and Tara Reid are just friends. Did you ever have, like, the epiphany of, oh, my God, this NSync thing is big. Like, was there ever one time where it just. It hit you like, okay, now I realize how big it is.

[JC Chasez]

The only time I really think about it is I go, man, I got a really cool job. I'm really lucky because I know a lot of people who would love to have my job, and that's when I know how lucky I am. The only other time I would say that, it really hit me. Well, I mean, two summers ago, we did a stadium tour. It's like, only so many artists in the world can say they've done an actual. Not an arena tour, but a stadium tour. Well, we were playing, on average, 50,000 people a night. Some shows were 90,000. Some shows. The one in Mexico City we did was 120,000 people.

[Interviewer]

Unreal. Is there any time where you're on stage and you're in front of 120,000 people and it's intimidating to you? Or is it, I mean, so routine?

[JC Chasez]

No, it's not about routine. You know what it is when you see that many people, those are the days you're pinching yourself. You're going, this is nuts. Okay, now ready? Don't screw up in front of this many people. That's all you know. It's pretty much what's running. You're excited. And yet half the time, the way my brain works is I always have to make the show better. You know what I mean? So it's, don't screw up in front of this many people. You have to do better.

[Interviewer]

Are there times where you will mess up on stage and everybody on stage can see but nobody watching knows?

[JC Chasez]

Oh, man, there's those moments, and then there's moments where everybody knows. I actually just sat in with my buddy Tony. He's a guitar player and an aspiring artist as well, and he's a songwriter, and him and I actually wrote, like, two songs together. He was playing a gig at the House of Blues, so I just sat in with him, and I sure enough, this song that we wrote and I hadn't sang since we wrote the thing like, maybe two months beforehand, he's like, just come up here and say, so I did it, and I forgot the whole end of the song. I just told him, you know, 2,000, 3,000 people. And I just went, you guys, I just totally forgot all the words of the rest of the song. You didn't have to tell me. So I'm just gonna. And I just said, I'm just gonna hum a little bit and finish out with a nice, pretty sound. I mean, the whole audience started clapping and laughing, and everybody had fun with it. You know, everybody makes real moments. Yeah, People make mistakes. It's not like I did anything, you know? Well, it didn't show my intelligence, but.

[Interviewer]

You know, hanging out with JC from nsync.

[Interviewer 2]

So now that you're so famous and everybody knows your face and everybody knows your name, I mean, when you're out there and you're meeting girls and stuff, you have to think, well, they know who I am. They know that I'm famous. They know all the success I've had. Does it make it so much harder to meet people and feel their real, genuine feelings?

[JC Chasez]

You know what? It's not something I'm like. I'm a positive person, and it's not something that I dwell on. It's basically, you know, what if I meet somebody, we get along, we'll hang out, and then we'll take it from there. If we don't get along, guess what? We won't hang out. I'm pretty simple, man. I'm easygoing.

[Podcast Host]

But the thing about it is, if.

[Zoe]

You go out with someone like Tara.

[Podcast Host]

Reid, let's just say, oh, here we go.

[Zoe]

The pictures are always.

[JC Chasez]

There's one right there. That's my buddy, man. We're cool.

[Interviewer]

Okay, now, when stars say that we're just friends and she's my buddy, that really means that we're going out, right?

[JC Chasez]

No. I mean, sometimes yes and sometimes no.

[Interviewer]

And in this case.

[JC Chasez]

In this case, no. We're just friends. And that's. I can. Dude, I'll say it comfortably, no problem.

[Interviewer]

We all know guys and girls can't be friends. Yeah. We're just waiting. The thing is.

[JC Chasez]

But they're snapping. They're snapping pictures. And when there's, like 15 of us around, and of course, the photographers are gonna zoom in on when the two of us are standing and having a chat or hanging out and, like, having a laugh, they don't shoot the other 10 people standing around us. I actually met Tara through Dallas. You know what I mean? It's like we all Just kind of hang out in groups and stuff like that. So everybody just never one kiss between.

[Interviewer]

You and Tara Reid.

[JC Chasez]

Like a cheek kind of thing. You say hello, but not serious or anything.

[Interviewer 3]

How does it work when you, like, you want to date another star? Does your agent fax her agent a letter? Like, will you go out with jc? Check one. Yes. No. Maybe right back to.

[JC Chasez]

That's. No, that's actually first grade nowadays. Do you like me? Check. Yes.

[Interviewer]

If you're. He raises a great point. If you're watching a movie or something and there's like a big old star on TV that you'd really like to meet. How would you, you know, being in that celebrity, I mean, go ahead and approach that.

[JC Chasez]

Some people do that, but I don't. Like I said, I'd rather just meet somebody on my own, chilling, whatever. If I'm out and, you know, I up in a lot of events that other artists are at or whatever, and if I meet him there, so be it. But you know, like I said, right now it's. I'm just kind of. I'm go with the flow, you know. If I meet somebody cool, like I said, I'll have a chat with them if they're famous or famous if they're not famous or not famous. I just like, you know, positive people, people with great energy. And you don't have to be famous to have all that.

[Interviewer]

Do you have friends? Friends that are girls in every town that you guys tour in and will call them up when you're in the town and say, hey, let's go out.

[JC Chasez]

I've dated girls in different cities. But like, as far as, like having a regular. No. I mean, unless they're my girlfriend for a while. But not like, not booty calls. We don't stay in the cities long enough. We actually, we tour so hard. We do six shows a week. So it's not like we stay in one city long enough. Like most bands, they'll do like three, four shows a week. We actually do six. Is it hard to date somebody that's not. That doesn't go through the same things that you do?

[Podcast Host]

Being a celebrity and a singer, I mean. Cause you guys have completely different worlds.

[JC Chasez]

It just depends on the person. I mean, there's, you know, my last girlfriend was, you know, was a doctor. You know what I mean? So it's like she's totally normal. She's not.

[Podcast Host]

She must have been old.

[JC Chasez]

No, she wasn't old. She wasn't old at all. I date old women, you know, there's.

[Interviewer]

Nothing Wrong with a real doctor? Like one of those role playing.

[JC Chasez]

No, no, she's a ram. Hey, put on the nurse outfit, honey. She's a real doctor. But like I said, it just depends on the person. Some people can handle it and some people can't. And you know what? Maybe you might not know in the beginning whether they can handle it or not. And that's where the test is. Time will tell you know who.

[Interviewer 3]

Because a lot of times we'll have people come in here, you know, celebrities, and. And we'll ask them, like, gossip or stuff on other celebrities. And we'll say, like, all right, you got to be honest now. In one word, sum up. Like Mariah Carey, you know, and if it's in tabloids, it's true. So even though every tabloid has said that, you know, so and so hates Mariah Carey, when they're on the spot and asked directly, they won't say anything negative. Who famous do you have no problem talking crap about? Because they're such an ass.

[JC Chasez]

You know, I'll be totally honestly, I haven't really met any, like, if Timberlake. That's my boy. Dude, seriously, that's my homie. No, as far as, like, I've. I haven't really met anybody rude, but I guess if they're rude, they don't want to talk to me anyway. You know what I mean?

[Interviewer 3]

What about that Joey Fatone character?

[JC Chasez]

That Joey Fatone character, he's one hell of a. Me too.

[Interviewer 3]

What's up with him? Want to go in outer space?

[JC Chasez]

Lance? He's going in April now. I just got pushed back. He missed, like, a few days of the crucial training, so he had to. He had to redo his mission training.

[Interviewer]

When he came to you guys and he said, look, guys, I'm going into outer space and I'm pursuing this thing, were you like, dude, you are high, or were you thinking, all right, were you supportive about it?

[JC Chasez]

No, I was definitely supportive about it. People don't really realize he's been studying about this stuff since he was 4. He's been to at least a dozen space camps when he was a kid. He's got every mission that's been into outer space and spacewalks. He's got autographed pictures of all these guys.

[Interviewer]

Is that right?

[JC Chasez]

The guy is a space junkie. People just don't know this stuff.

[Interviewer 3]

In the NSYNC group, though. And you guys are in the dressing room. He's the one that gets shoved in the locker, right? No, seriously, it's Lance, right?

[JC Chasez]

Lance's Business. Lance has got his own office. He's, like, caught making calls and stuff like that. Lance doesn't get pushed around at all.

[Interviewer]

You know, hanging out with JC from nsync.

[Interviewer 3]

Now, considering you brought up Justin and Brittany, if you watch the interviews, there's. Justin always alludes to Britney doing something that ended the relationship. Is that accurate?

[JC Chasez]

You know what? That's between them. And my whole situation on that was, I don't want to know. That's kind of how I left it. I think in my case, ignorance is bliss. He. He didn't get into details with us about it because he. He doesn't even like to talk about it. So, I mean, obviously something happened, but.

[Interviewer 3]

I heard the hell yeah underneath all that.

[JC Chasez]

But like I said, it's between them too, and I let them deal with it.

[Interviewer]

You know, who is the. The most frugal with their money in the bent? You are. You are absolutely everybody else, when they made their money, went out, made stupid purchases, and you're the one that.

[JC Chasez]

Not stupid purchases, but, I mean, you know, some. Some of us are looser than others with their money.

[Interviewer]

Who's the loosest?

[JC Chasez]

I think Joey. Joey and Justin are running neck and neck.

[Interviewer 3]

Lance is spending $20 million going to space.

[JC Chasez]

He's not spending his money to go to space. Lance's business dog.

[Interviewer]

What have, like, Joey and Justin bought that? You said dudes. I mean, what are you spending money on that about?

[JC Chasez]

Well, no, I mean, Joey is special.

[Interviewer]

Joey? Yeah. What is he bought? Come on.

[JC Chasez]

No, I mean, he literally. It's still under construction. He has the largest residential swimming pool in the state of Florida.

[Interviewer]

Is that right?

[JC Chasez]

Yeah. You can put Shamu in his swimming pool in his backyard.

[Interviewer]

Seriousness. Nice. Nice. Very nice Purchase JC from insync. Justin now doing his solo stuff. You got Joey out on Broadway and he's doing movie stuff also. And then you got Lance in space.

[JC Chasez]

Yeah, and.

[Interviewer]

And you're doing outer space.

[JC Chasez]

Lance, blast off.

[Interviewer]

You're doing solo stuff now also. Are we slowly now seeing the breakup of NSync?

[JC Chasez]

No. This is kind of like the intermission before the next record. I mean, we've been beating this horse for, like, seven years. We rode it really hard. And like, you know, like I said before, we were doing six shows a week and things like that. We just kind of needed to reinvent ourselves, you know, and kind of cleanse ourselves. So we all needed to do something refreshing. So at first we were like, oh, let's just take some time off. We're workaholics. It doesn't happen, you know what I mean? Just when we were, like, all chilling on our own for a quick minute before we got back into it, you know, Next thing you know, everybody finds themselves doing something because, hey, this came up, I figured I'd take it. Why not? You know, Da da da da da. So everybody's doing their thing, and then we'll be back together, you know, next year and do a record and move on with our lives.

[Interviewer]

You know, I was watching MTV last week, and they were talking to Justin, and he was talking about how it's really kind of scary to be up on stage by yourself and not have you guys around and have the comfort of friends.

[JC Chasez]

We're so used to it, you know? I mean, there's nothing like. I mean, I'll be honest with you, you know, and I've done, you know, whatever. I've shot a video now and whatever by myself. But there's nothing like looking back and seeing the guy that you've been with, you know, friends with since you were 12 years old, laughing his ass off behind you going, I saw you screw up. It's funny, but it's a great feeling, you know, you feel safe. I mean, you know, that's your family. You miss them. You definitely miss them.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you can feel it when they're not there.

[JC Chasez]

You can definitely feel it. I mean, you're still gonna perform your best and you're gonna. It's. It's just a different energy. You know what I mean? When you're on stage with other people, there's chemistry that pops, that flies around. You know, there's a. It's bouncing between everybody. When you're up there by yourself, it's kind of like you have to focus all the energy on you, you know, I like to give away my energy to my friends and bounce back and forth and have a laugh.

[Interviewer]

Dude. Thanks a lot for coming in. Appreciate it. We know you got a hectic schedule, and thanks for stopping by. Q and honor.

[JC Chasez]

My pleasure.

[Interviewer 3]

The Birch show.

[Jeff Bridges]

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

[Zoe]

Jeff Bridges. Why are you still living above our garage?

[Jeff Bridges]

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you. Teach me, so. Damna.

[Zoe]

Oh, no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at T Mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Jeff Bridges]

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network. Nice.

[Zoe]

Jeffrey, you heard them.

[Jeff Bridges]

T Mobile is the best place to.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.

[JC Chasez]

Us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Jeff Bridges]

So what are we having for launch?

[Zoe]

Dude, my work here is done.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

The 24 month bill credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers + tax and 35 device connection charge credit send and balance due if you pay off earlier Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1,099.99 and new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ooklab Speed Test Intelligence data 1H 2025 visit t mobile.com.