The JTrain Podcast

Host: Jared Freid
Episode: What's In Celine Dion's Purse, Meghan Trainor Responds To Tisdale, and Heated Rivalry Fever – POP CULTURE THURSDAY
Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

On this Pop Culture Thursday, Jared Freid riffs on the week’s most buzzworthy celebrity headlines, zeroing in on millennial “mom group” drama with Ashley Tisdale and Meghan Trainor, viral moments with Celine Dion, debates on celebrity hustle (Timothée Chalamet vs. Leonardo DiCaprio), representation and discomfort in modern TV, and the comedic brilliance of Rick Glassman’s interviews. It’s a laugh-filled, gossipy, and insight-packed ride that unpacks why these cultural moments catch fire and what they say about us.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ashley Tisdale vs. Meghan Trainor & the ‘Toxic Mom Group’ Saga

(Begins ~08:00)

• Background: Ashley Tisdale publishes an essay about breaking up with her “toxic mom group.” Rumors swirl about which celebs are in the group, with Meghan Trainor’s name tossed into the mix.

• Jared’s Commentary:

  • “This is a millennial woman’s dream. Other people’s drama that they can relate to. That feels very high school.” (09:02)
  • The story echoes old Disney Channel/Nickelodeon pop culture. Listeners debate “girl’s girl” moves—digging into histories (e.g., Ashley Tisdale’s friendships during public relationships).
  • “You’ve had a relationship with these stars… so anything you feel about these people is either confirmed or rejected.” (09:40)

• Meghan Trainor’s Response:

  • Trainor uses TikTok to respond playfully, mouthing, “Come on, you have to believe me. Please. You have to believe me. No, you have to.” (12:44)
  • Captioned: “I swear I’m innocent.”
  • “Meghan Trainor is giving you a PhD-level lesson in how to handle vague accusations.” (14:30)

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • Applauds Meghan for using humor, ambiguity, and even her own music to “make her money.”
  • “She’s not really saying she’s not toxic. She’s just playing with it. She’s going as vague as [Tisdale] went.” (13:32)
  • Jokes about the “dynamic duo” energy of Meghan and her husband Daryl Sabara, who also dodges drama coolly:
    • “I don’t really know what’s going on. I hope she’s okay, though.” (16:12)

• Takeaway:

  • The saga’s compelling because it taps into widespread feelings of being left out or bullied, with fans projecting their own experiences onto celebrity splinters.

2. Heated Rivalry & Mod Mullets: The ‘Hot People’ Economy

(Begins ~24:56)

• Connor Story’s Golden Globes Look: The “Heated Rivalry” star’s mullet is inspired by Kurt Cobain’s mugshot.

• Jared’s Take:

  • “This is something only hot people can do… I have one speed, one lane.” (25:15)
  • “It’s why the hots live a different life than us.”
  • Compares Connor’s hair to ‘Dazed and Confused’ more than Cobain:
    • “I would say: give me the Dazed and Confused.” (27:16)

• Reflection on Generational Style Mistakes:

  • “When I was 13… you give it a shot, you got the Jonathan Taylor Thomas split, and then you realize, yeah, this probably isn’t me.”
  • Steers into the nostalgia and self-deprecating humor that defines Jared’s approach.

• Unpacking Modern Representation on TV:

  • Admits the show made him (as a straight man) “uncomfortable,” but recognizes its cultural importance:
    • “You don’t get to see that. When you see love on TV, it’s made for men… but seeing Gary on Golden Bachelor kiss Teresa felt as new to me as the Heated Rivalry scene.” (30:05)

3. Chelsea Handler vs. Timothée Chalamet: Debating Old vs. New Hollywood Hustle

(Begins ~32:50)

• Handler’s Critique:

  • Chelsea Handler bemoans Chalamet’s “Marty” press tour as “too serious” and “braggy.”
    • “Leonardo DiCaprio wouldn’t do that.” (35:12)

• Jared Claps Back:

  • “To say Leonardo DiCaprio wouldn’t go on tour promoting his movies to get the award is fraudulent.” (35:35)
  • “This is Gen Z. You want it? Go get it. That’s why people are offended by Gen Z.” (36:12)
  • Praises Chalamet for showing “chutzpah” and hustle, noting his thoughtful podcast appearances.

• On Hollywood Generational Divide:

  • “You’re talking about the days before dating apps. That’s not how it is now.”
  • "It’s the TikTok self-taping generation. I take offense because this podcast is a version of 'Please listen to me.'" (39:44)

4. Paul Rudd, Rick Glassman, and the Comedic Power of the Bit

(Begins ~43:00)

• Headline: “Paul Rudd reacts to claim he has a huge penis in wild interview.”

• Jared’s Dissection:

  • Notes this is clickbait for those unfamiliar with Rick Glassman’s improv-forward “bits.”
  • “This is what separates Rick from the next comedian. This is what makes him great because it’s fucking hilarious.” (45:23)

• Personal Anecdote:

  • Talks about his own appearance on Mike Feeney’s bit-based podcast, drawing parallels:
    • “I thought it was a funny turn on the subject at hand. Went back at him. Can you watch it on YouTube…” (47:18)

• Takeaway:

  • The art of the bit can confuse audiences but is essential to grabbing attention in the digital age.

5. Vanessa Williams, GLP-1s, and Celebrity Body Narratives

(Begins ~50:30)

• Williams Opens Up:
  • Vanessa Williams discusses managing menopause symptoms with GLP-1 medication (Manjaro), emphasizing a desire to “look my best.”
    • “It’s a game changer… I want to be here for a long time and I want to look my best.” (51:08)
• Jared’s Nuance:
  • “To say I want to look good minimizes what it’s all about; it actually makes people more afraid to take it… playing on vanity.”
  • Connects to his own Ozempic journey and points out Page Six’s penchant for juicy, reductive headlines.
• Complications of Talking Publicly About Meds:
  • “We just need to find how we’re going to talk about this.” (52:59)

6. Celine Dion’s Purse: A Viral Content Masterclass

(Begins ~55:08)

• Viral Trend:
  • Celine unpacks her purse on Instagram: a microphone (to sing on cue), a folding fan, dog food, Mentos mints, hand cream, a landline telephone, and more.
• Jared’s Praise for the Format:
  • “Whoever came up with this, whoever’s doing this, I hope they’re making a lot of money. They deserve every dollar. It’s great.” (57:13)
  • Declares the purse-content format superior to “What do you do for a living?” street interviews: “I think that guy stinks. The way he does it stinks.”
• Celine’s Comedy:
  • Dion hams it up—whipping out her microphone, riffing on the hot Vegas weather, pantomiming “Believe,” and jokingly threatening to call “911” on a rotary phone when people question her identity.
    • “It takes a lot of balls!” Dion quips, holding up billiard balls. (01:00:39)
    • She closes with: “Stay moist,” after applying lip gloss.
• Memorable Detail:
  • Her purse spill at the end: “Segment concluded with her singing and picking up her bag… only for its items to fall out and completely crash.”
  • Jared’s reflection: “Is Celine just this kooky old lady now? Is she my grandma?” (01:01:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Meghan Trainor’s masterclass in rumor management:
  "Meghan Trainor is giving you a PhD-level lesson in how to handle vague accusations… she’s not really saying she’s not toxic, she’s just playing with it."
  — Jared Freid, (14:30)

• On celebrity group drama:
  "We have gone into the time machine… Disney Channel pop romance… so anything you feel about these people is either confirmed or rejected."
  — Jared Freid, (09:40)

• On new Hollywood hustle:
  "This is Gen Z. Gen Z knows: you want it? Go get it. That's why people are offended by Gen Z."
  — Jared Freid, (36:12)

• On Celine Dion's purse bit:
  "I just think it’s like a great, great, great idea… I want to know what’s in people's pockets. Hey, Leonardo DiCaprio, show me what’s in your pockets. Wouldn’t you be interested? Instantly interested."
  — Jared Freid, (58:47)

• On representation in media:
  "I felt the same way watching Gary from Golden Bachelor kiss Teresa as I did when I saw the Heated Rivalry scene. I guess I haven’t seen that before in a show anyone could watch."
  — Jared Freid, (30:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ashley Tisdale / Meghan Trainor Mom Group Drama: 08:00 – 22:40
• Heated Rivalry, Mod Mullets, & Hot People Culture: 24:56 – 32:30
• Chelsea Handler vs. Timothée Chalamet: 32:50 – 43:00
• Paul Rudd & Rick Glassman Bits: 43:00 – 50:25
• Vanessa Williams, GLP-1s, Body Conversations: 50:30 – 54:58
• Celine Dion’s Purse, Viral Content Genius: 55:08 – 01:01:38

Episode Takeaways

• Millennial nostalgia and high school dynamics power today’s celebrity gossip, making “mom group” drama resonate so widely.
• Gen Z’s hustle and “main character energy” is misunderstood by older Hollywood, but Jared cheers their self-promotion.
• Representation on TV can be both radical and uncomfortable, but it’s a sign of progress.
• Comedy thrives on bits and format innovation, as shown by Rick Glassman and the “What’s In Your Purse?” virality.
• Celebrity confessions about bodies/meds are double-edged: relatable but also shaped by headlines seeking clicks.
• Celine Dion is the queen of quirky, self-aware content, showing the value in leaning into your own weirdness.

Final Quote & Call to Action:
“If you’re enjoying this deep in, send it to a friend. That’s my way of promoting myself.” (49:49)

Next Pop Culture Thursday: Back Next Week!