The JTrain Podcast – Pop Culture Thursday

Episode Title: Beckham, Brady, Gisele, JLO and Alix Earle!! – POP CULTURE THURSDAY
Host: Jared Freid
Date: December 25, 2025

Episode Overview

On this Pop Culture Thursday, Jared Freid riffs through the week’s juiciest Page Six headlines, unpacking the melodramas of celebrity families, relationships, and internet-fueled gossip. Jared’s comedic takes guide listeners through stories involving the Beckhams’ social media drama, J.Lo and Ben Affleck’s holiday shopping, Tom Brady’s ex’s new relationship, Ariana Grande romance rumors, Amy Schumer’s very public breakup, Lily Allen's new flame, and Alix Earle’s post-breakup bikini photos. The tone is irreverent, snarky, and fun, turning tabloid antics into laugh-out-loud commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brooklyn Beckham Blocks His Whole Family

• Headline: “The wild reason Brooklyn Beckham reportedly blocked David and Victoria and brother Cruz revealed”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Finds humor in how celebrities’ social media habits have become newsworthy (“You are in another planet because this happens. Oh, my God. Nicki Minaj has unfollowed whoever.” [06:24]).
  • Proposes the “wild reason” is utterly mundane: getting blocked after a parent’s like or comment on social (which he frames as “the most regular reason to block someone” [08:41]).
  • Critiques internet commenters demanding family reconciliation:

    “No one wants to be told to make up with someone. No one will make up with someone because they were forced to do it... Elaine in Tennessee, you don’t know what’s going on here.” [11:15]

  • Expresses sympathy for Brooklyn, rejects meddling by fans.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “You know you have a amount of money and fame that is unrelatable when people are reporting on your social media habits...” [03:55]
  • “I want to do a TV show where I show up at the door of a commenter...” [11:45]

2. J.Lo, Ben Affleck & Holiday Shopping with His Son

• Headline: “Exes Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reunite for holiday shopping trip with his son Samuel”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Questions the true nature of their outing (“This lunch that's presented as, oh, look at, she's with him and the kid, is like them going over papers for their divorce. We don't know.” [16:07])
  • Amused by celebrity fashion (“She looks like Spinelli from Recess.” [15:37])

• Notable Quotes:

  • “She looks like Spinelli from recess. Better without the sweater. Without the sweater, the dress makes more sense.” [15:37]

3. Tom Brady’s PR-Polished Reaction to Gisele’s New Relationship

• Headline: “How Tom Brady really feels about ex Gisele Bundchen marrying Joaquin Valente”

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • Mocks the bland, ultra-careful “source” quotes (“He’s happy in the way that is simple. He’s happy that she’s happy.” [20:27])
  • Reads between the lines; interprets Brady’s robotic statements as veiled resentment:

    “This means Brady hates this fucking guy. Because the source that he and his PR people are probably putting out there... they're not even being that nice.” [23:10]

  • Insists the public statements are more about optics for kids and future relationships than genuine happiness.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “If you ask Tom Brady, how do you feel about Gisele’s new boyfriend? Mr. Miyagi... Yeah, I’m good. I think I’ll be okay.” [20:10]
  • “He’s being the most medium, which means he hates Mr. Miyagi, the karate guy, the jiu jitsu coach.” [22:45]

4. Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Split Rumors

• Headline: “The major clue Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are still going strong despite split rumors”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Lampoons what qualifies as a “major clue” in tabloid logic (“I would need to see such a public show of affection... If it’s like them laughing together, no.” [26:57])
  • Notes the supposed “major clue” is just Ethan showing up to Saturday Night Live during Ariana’s hosting — the bare minimum.
  • Mocks the cyclical, empty speculation that passes for gossip journalism.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “If the major clue is he went to SNL when she was hosting, that is not a major clue. You have to do that.” [28:45]

5. Amy Schumer’s “Rock Bottom” After Split

• Headline: “Amy Schumer candidly speaks about ‘hitting rock bottom’ after confirming Chris Fisher separation”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Skeptical about the authenticity, timeline, and candor of celebrity breakup declarations as reported by tabloids.
  • Points out Schumer’s “rock bottom” claims don’t match the actual substance of her statements (“I saw this video. I don't know if that was her saying, I hit rock bottom.” [34:15])
  • Observes the media spin around personal events.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “The title of this and this whole rock bottom speech have quite literally zero to do with each other.” [35:23]

6. Lily Allen’s New PDA After David Harbour Split

• Headline: “Lily Allen passionately kisses author Jonah Freud after David Harbour split”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Wonders at how musicians turn personal drama into artistic and public narratives (“This is why you don't date a musician. A musician is going to take whatever evil thing you did and make it into a hummable song.” [39:14])
  • Amused by the public’s default siding with Lily Allen, jokes about the glamorous romantic lives of artists and authors.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Are there young authors? Are there like hot authors? ...Author Jared Freed steps out of the house in his sweatpants to go get a donut.” [41:50]

7. Alex Earle’s “Post-Split Bikini Body”

• Headline: “Alex Earle flaunts post split bikini body on birthday trip to Cabo after Braxton Barrios breakup”

• Jared’s Take:

  • Mocks the premise that a “post-breakup” bikini body is any different than before (“You can't have the same body before the breakup as you do after the breakup and call it a post-breakup bikini body. It was the same body.” [44:26])
  • Defends Alex Earle against suggestive coverage, notes the routine nature of her pics, criticizes the media’s sensational framing.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “This should be ‘Alex Earl went to the beach.’ And that has nothing to do with Braxton Barrios.” [44:44]
  • “Let us have our hot dogs. Us disgustings reserve the right to take away a hot dog from you.” [47:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On pop culture obsession:

  "The purpose of a podcast is to take your brain, put it on the shelf, let me take the wheel, and maybe take in some new directions that don't involve you thinking about the anxieties in your own life." [01:36]

• On social media drama:

  "Blocking is basically like hey nuh, get outta here. I told you we're not on good terms. This is a reminder. You and I Mom, not on good terms." [08:48]

• On manufactured tabloid clues:

  "Nobody does it like you, dingus." (mocking gushing social posts as evidence of romance [29:47])

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [02:51] - Episode setup: Jared explains the Pop Culture Thursday format and purpose.
• [03:30] - Brooklyn Beckham’s blocking drama begins
• [11:45] - Commentary on meddling internet fans in celebrity family spats
• [14:15] - J.Lo & Ben Affleck shopping/lunch sighting
• [18:57] - Jared’s take on celebrity co-parenting optics
• [19:45] - Tom Brady, Gisele, and the “happy for his ex” PR script
• [23:10] - Reading between the lines of Tom Brady’s “medium” response
• [26:45] - Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater split rumors and SNL “clue”
• [32:35] - Amy Schumer split and “rock bottom” press narratives
• [39:14] - Lily Allen and the musician-breakup song trope
• [44:26] - The absurdity of “post-split bikini body” headlines with Alex Earle

Overall Tone

Irreverent, skeptical, and self-aware, Jared playfully skewers both celebrities’ behaviors and the way media (and fans) interpret every movement, like social media clicks or public outings, as major life milestones. The commentary is brisk, sharp, and peppered with personal asides and observational humor.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This Pop Culture Thursday episode is perfect if you love tabloid gossip but crave comic relief and a dose of common sense. Jared demystifies the headlines, calls out the manufactured drama, and gently (sometimes not so gently) mocks the characters at the center of each story and the “fans” who think they know best.

No need to have followed Page Six yourself—Jared reads the headlines so you don’t have to, serving up hot takes and memorable one-liners along the way.

End of Summary