The JTrain Podcast: Pop Culture Thursday

Episode: Ashley Tisdale Leaves The Mommy Groupchat, St Barths, and Schumer Bikini Post
Host: Jared Freid
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

This Pop Culture Thursday, Jared Freid dives headfirst into recent headlines ripped from Page Six, serving his signature comedic takes on the hottest celebrity gossip. The episode centers on Ashley Tisdale’s dramatic departure from a celebrity mom group chat, Amy Schumer’s bold bikini post following her split, Cher’s tongue-in-cheek comment about Kristen Bell’s marriage, celebrity chaos in St. Barts, and Bethenny Frankel’s latest “relatable” moment. Jared riffs, mocks, and empathizes, all while keeping his commentary playful and self-aware.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ashley Tisdale’s ‘Toxic’ Celebrity Mom Group Chat Fight

00:50 – 14:30

• Nostalgia for Millennials:
  Jared spotlights the appeal: Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor, and Mandy Moore make a “murderer’s row of millennial nostalgia.” The story has it all: mean girls, mom drama, and reality TV vibes.

  • “Are you wet? I ask that respectfully because this group chat... is all the people you knew and love from a certain era when you didn’t have to open bills from a happier time when death wasn’t right around the corner...” (02:40)

• Ashley’s Vulnerability as Gossip Catnip:
  Tisdale pens an essay detailing her feelings of exclusion and not feeling “cool enough,” resonating with anyone who’s been on the wrong side of a clique—even in adulthood.

  • “Ashley Tisdale doesn’t feel cool enough even though she’s 40. That’s something I’d be embarrassed to say out loud.” (04:25)

• Cautious Sympathy & Reality Check:
  Jared, while sympathetic, gently roasts the melodrama:

  • “There’s a point where you have to say, you’re a mom with a family. What, what the [hell] are you talking about?... At some point, go hang with your husband and two kids. It’s time to be a mom.” (09:30)
  • “Welcome to every group chat ever.” (10:45)

• Detective Work & Fandom Sides:
  Tisdale’s decision to unfollow Duff and Moore (but stays following Meghan Trainor, who Jared calls “America’s sweetheart”) is noted as a not-so-hidden clue about whom the essay targets.

• Celebrity Getaway, Exclusion & Instagram Evidence:
  Jared shares further receipts: Ashley Tisdale was missing from group photos during a lavish Ojai, CA trip, while the rest flaunt “matching bathrobes”—the ultimate exclusion.

  • “The hottest group of moms you ever did see… Did they think Tisdale wasn’t going to write about this?” (14:10)

2. Amy Schumer’s Bikini Instagram Post After Divorce

16:30 – 21:00

• Moving On or “Britney Spears Water?”
  Amy Schumer posts a slideshow of unfiltered bikini photos after her split from Chris Fischer. Jared’s view: relatable, bold—but maybe a red flag.

  • “Any of these pictures are for a very specific thing, and that thing is not on Instagram... Amy, what’s going on?” (17:45)
  • “Amy Schumer right now is wading into Britney Spears water. This... has a dash of Spears.” (18:35)

• Intent vs. Execution:
  Jared questions if a self-love, body-positive message is coming through, or if it’s an ego-driven social media play.

  • “If her ex-husband was this known rocker... we’d get the reason for these bikini shots... but her husband has only ever been described as on the spectrum and a nice, quiet dude.” (20:05)
  • “This is a mess. And we all put posts on social media to feed our own ego, our insecurities...” (20:54)

3. Cher Throws (Playful) Shade at Dax Shepard

21:15 – 24:30

• Headline Deceit & Context:
  Page Six claims Cher thinks Kristen Bell could “do better” than Dax Shepard. But the context (from Shepard’s podcast) is clearly tongue-in-cheek.

  • “This is one of those stories that... humor is not meant to be reported on. Like when you read a joke from a standup special.” (22:20)
  • “It’s Cher being kind of punchy at its most real. It’s... ‘I don’t see what she sees in you either.’” (23:08)

• Media Hype vs. Reality:
  Jared mocks the clickbait aspect, noting how print skews playful banter into manufactured drama.

  • “This title is preying on the heavily online.” (22:50)

4. Celebrities Stranded in the Caribbean (St. Barts and Beyond)

24:40 – 27:00

• Flight Cancellations & A-listers “suffering”:
  Due to geopolitical events, celebs like Leo DiCaprio, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Jeff Ross are stranded in paradise. Jared highlights the absurdity with a comic’s eye.

  • “Look at these celebs stuck in the Caribbean... and then it’s me eating a cheeseburger with my shirt off, realizing I’m being photographed.” (26:05)

• Comedians Positioned as Clowns:
  Jeff Ross’s unflattering photo becomes a point about how media always makes comics look silly next to “glamorous” celebs.

5. Bethenny Frankel’s “Relatable” Post-Infection in St. Barts

27:15 – 29:40

• Saint Barts as the Celebrity Hotspot:
  Star after star is on the island for New Year’s. Jared notes the herd mentality and perfect PR for the destination.

  • “I don’t know what group chat exists... where all these celebrities just know to go to St. Barts... If it’s someone that works for the St. Barts tourism bureau, I would say great work.” (27:35)

• Bethenny’s Signature Play: High-Low Bragging:
  Frankel gets a rash but still flexes her access; her M.O. is always “I’m rich and invited, but also, I’m one of you.”

  • “I was in St. Barts but I’m just like you. I got some shit on my face. That’s her move.” (28:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is a gossip’s dream... we use them as our avatars. For Ashley Tisdale to go public with this—whoo!” (02:15)
• “This group chat... is all the people you knew and loved from a certain era when you didn’t have to open bills.” (02:40)
• “Ashley Tisdale doesn’t feel cool enough even though she’s 40? That’s something I’d be embarrassed to say out loud.” (04:25)
• “Welcome to every group chat ever.” (10:45)
• “Meghan Trainor, America’s sweetheart. I’m biased—I’ve only ever had a good interaction with her.” (07:35)
• “Amy Schumer is wading into Britney Spears water. This has a dash of Spears.” (18:35)
• “Whenever they show a comedian in an article that’s like a gossipy article, they gotta make him look like a clown.” (26:35)
• “Bethenny... it’s always the same move: I’m a billionaire who’s with billionaires. But also, they all suck, and it’s not that great, and look how shitty I have it.” (29:20)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:50–14:30 — Ashley Tisdale’s Celebrity Mom Group Drama
• 16:30–21:00 — Amy Schumer’s Bikini Post and “No Regrets” Message
• 21:15–24:30 — Cher’s Comment on Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard
• 24:40–27:00 — Celebrities Stranded in St. Barts
• 27:15–29:40 — Bethenny Frankel’s St. Barts Infection

Tone & Style

Jared’s delivery is sharp, tongue-in-cheek, and self-deprecating, inviting listeners to enjoy the absurdities of celeb culture but also reflect on universal group dynamics and social media quirks. Expect plenty of sarcasm and heavy millennial references, all delivered with the breezy charm of a seasoned comic.

Summary

Jared Freid’s Pop Culture Thursday delivers exactly what it promises: a comedic but insightful breakdown of the juiciest celebrity group drama, viral posts, playful feuds, and social-climbing shenanigans. Whether you love celebrity gossip or just enjoy watching it from afar, this episode serves up nostalgia, humor, and incisive commentary—always with a wink and a nudge.