The JTrain Podcast – Pop Culture Thursday

Host: Jared Freid
Episode: Taylor Swift Reveals Her Bridesmaids, Kim Kardashian Fails The Bar, and Tom Brady Has A Clone Dog
Date: November 13, 2025

Main Theme / Episode Overview

This Pop Culture Thursday, Jared Freid riffs on recent celebrity news, blending commentary with comedic insight. He covers Tom Brady cloning his dog, Coco Austin’s unusual parenting choices, Kardashian royal drama, Kim Kardashian’s bar exam woes, Halloween backlash for Kayla Nicole, and the first reveals from Taylor Swift’s hypothetical bridal party. Throughout, Jared brings his signature self-deprecating humor and a mix of incredulity, empathy, and sarcasm to the week’s buzzy stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tom Brady’s Cloned Dog (00:00–09:35)

• Headline: Tom Brady reveals dog Juni was cloned from beloved pet Lua (00:24).
• Jared shares complex feelings as a Tom Brady fan, admitting the story is “just adding to the weirdness” of Brady’s public persona (02:30).
• He questions the logic and emotional consequences behind cloning a pet:

  “You’re chasing a dragon, Tommy. You’re not going to get the same dog. … You’re always going to compare that dog to the last dog.” (03:03, Jared)

• Wonders if anyone in Brady’s circle gives him honest feedback, drawing connections between cloning, cosmetic procedures, and the bizarre evolution of sports stars.
• Points to the class divide revealed by such stories—only the super-rich could pull this off, suggesting it’s also a PR move tied to Brady’s biotech investments (07:11).

2. Coco Austin Breastfeeding Controversy (09:37–19:24)

• Headline: Coco Austin defends breastfeeding daughter Chanel until age 6.
• Jared, as a childless single man, approaches the news with bewilderment, saying:

  “When you stop breastfeeding is beyond me… it seems old to me. But I’d say just talking about it alone feels weird.” (10:28, Jared)

• He’s critical of making private parenting public for attention or podcast listens, noting the effect it could have on the child long-term:

  “To me, this is someone who already has a lot of money who felt the light of their podcast dim and now they’re out here with outlandish statements…” (11:20, Jared)

• Mocks the argument about child-led weaning at such an age with hypothetical kid dialogue for comedic effect (13:40).
• Is skeptical of arguments that “Europe does it until 7,” poking fun at American perceptions versus European norms (15:15).
• Points out the danger of putting all this info about a child in the public eye “just trying to get clicks.” (18:02, Jared)

3. Kardashian–Royals Photo Drama (19:26–24:38)

• Headline: Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner suspiciously delete photos of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
• Wonders why the photos were deleted—was it vanity, privacy, or misguided royal protocol?

  “I think Meghan Markle and Harry make every move and it ends up being wrong. Every move they make to be likable, to not be hated…” (22:10, Jared)

• Critiques the “tacky” label from palace insiders and reframes Harry and Meghan as reality stars rather than royalty.
• Lighthearted commentary on celebrity party photos, “Maybe she asked for it to be taken down because Meghan looks like—get her out of here. … Harry’s in the background looking for his phone.” (21:43)

4. Kim Kardashian Fails the California Bar (24:40–30:50)

• Discusses Kim’s frustration with psychics who told her she’d pass, and her airing of grievances via voice-to-text on TikTok.
• Jared frames this as a rare morale boost for lawyers:

  “This is a good day for lawyers. If Kim Kardashian passes the bar exam, considering her schedule… it’s embarrassing to people who are just trying to pass the bar.” (25:32, Jared)

• Uses the opportunity to riff on the misery of the legal profession, the “dopamine factory” of law school, and why so many lawyers dream of different careers (27:01).
• Pokes fun at Kim’s reliance on psychics as opposed to tutors or law professors, and labels the whole saga as an “insult to everyone who has to go to work.” (29:10, paraphrased)

5. Kayla Nicole vs. Taylor Swift Fans (30:52–35:09)

• Headline: Kayla Nicole insists she isn’t “tearing other women down” after fans interpret her Halloween costume as a Taylor Swift swipe.
• Jared points out the Streisand effect:

  “You aren’t in the business of tearing other women down until you announce you’re not… You can diss Taylor Swift and also be pro-women, but… you can’t do both.” (31:15, Jared)

• Highlights how Swifties are ultra-sensitive and pick up on any slight, and jokes:

  “Nobody has better hearing than a Taylor Swift fan.” (34:15, Jared)

• Notes that every public statement now creates a mini-controversy, shaped and amplified by fandoms.

6. Taylor Swift’s Bridesmaids Revealed (35:10–41:06)

• Headline: Taylor Swift’s “star-studded bridesmaids revealed” as wedding reportedly planned.
• Jared jokes this process should have been a televised event or an “ESPN March Madness”–style reveal:

  “She should have made this a TV show… March Madness, these are the people on the bubble.” (36:10, Jared)

• Recounts the report that Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid will serve as two of Swift’s bridesmaids (36:42).
• Pokes fun at reports that Gigi “wasn’t expecting to be asked” as dryly implying Swift doesn’t have close friends (37:23).
• Jokingly imagines a wall chart of potential bridesmaids, in “Hunger Games” style, and calls it the “easiest bridesmaids job that’s ever been created.” (39:40, paraphrased)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Tom Brady’s cloning:

• “When you are a fan of someone, especially an athlete… as weird as that sounds, I don’t feel like—I guess I do feel a little embarrassed by the Tom Brady, like… He’s mine… you live long enough to become the villain.” (01:14)

On Coco Austin’s defense of extended breastfeeding:

• “If someone disagreed with me, I would like to think that I would go, I’m not gonna like sit here and fight with the commenters on something that might… I don’t know if you even think of your kid.” (12:29)

On Kardashians vs. Markle/Harry:

• “I don’t think it’s tacky to be the biggest celebrity in the world’s party. … Everything they’ve done is tacky.” (23:54)

On Kim Kardashian’s bar failure:

• “Every lawyer is also an aspiring comedian. Every lawyer has a TV show idea, loves to read, loves to, you know, to, like, get creative. And they ended up going down the law path because it was a safer route.” (27:30)

On Taylor Swift’s bridesmaids:

• “She wants it to be fun and memorable for everyone with parties, trips, and time spent together leading up to the big day. To me, this is the easiest bridesmaids job that’s ever been created.” (39:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–09:35 — Tom Brady’s Cloned Dog: Ethics, PR, and Fandom
• 09:37–19:24 — Coco Austin’s Breastfeeding Defense: Parenting, Privacy, and Podcasting Stunts
• 19:26–24:38 — Kardashian–Markle Photo Drama: Royalty, Hollywood, and Deleted Instas
• 24:40–30:50 — Kim Kardashian’s Bar Exam Failure: Professional Envy, Lawyer Misery, and Psychic Advice
• 30:52–35:09 — Kayla Nicole vs. Taylor Swift Fandom: Halloween Costumes, Public Perception, and Fandom Sensitivity
• 35:10–41:06 — Taylor Swift’s Bridesmaids: Celebrity Wedding Planning as Pop Culture Spectacle

Tone & Style Recap

Jared keeps the tone irreverent, self-aware, and playfully judgmental. The episode is full of comic exaggeration, wild analogies, and riffs on celebrity absurdity. He maintains a mixture of sincerity and sarcasm, grounding hot takes with real empathy—especially for people who might get inadvertently caught up in the celebrity meat grinder.

For listener submissions and future Pop Culture Thursday topics, reach out to jtrainpodcastmail.com.