The JTrain Podcast

Episode: The New Mormon Bachelorette, The Royal Butler and Kendall Jenner Quits Modeling!
Host: Jared Freid
Date: September 11, 2025
Episode Theme:
Pop Culture Thursday—Jared Freid riffs on the week’s most attention-grabbing stories from reality TV, celebrity news, and listener emails, delivering commentary with his signature mix of snark, curiosity, and comic insight.

Episode Overview

On this Pop Culture Thursday edition, Jared Freid reviews and breaks down the week’s buzziest pop culture news from Page Six and beyond. He gives his unique take on the surprise Bachelorette casting of Mormon TikTok star Taylor Frankie Paul, a tell-all from a royal butler, Kendall Jenner’s “modest” new career path, the dating drama of Brittany Cartwright, and Selena Gomez opening up about body shaming. Throughout, Jared keeps the tone playful and irreverent, blending thoughtful social analysis with jokes and, often, affectionate cynicism about the spectacle of pop culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Taylor Frankie Paul: The New Mormon Bachelorette

[13:05 - 25:00]

• What Happened:
  Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and TikTok influencer, Taylor Frankie Paul, is announced as the next Bachelorette (Season 22)—a casting that both surprises and doesn't, according to Jared.

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • The decision marks a turn towards a more family-oriented, right-of-center audience for the franchise.
  • Jared likens The Bachelor/Bachelorette to a scientific “petri dish”: the format stays the same, but variables (now: religion, motherhood, TikTok fame) are swapped in and out.
  • He sees the pick as a calculated business move: Taylor is a crossover figure who appeals to both conservative ("Cinderella story") viewers and digital-savvy audiences.
  • "You can be surprised but not shocked. I'm surprised because you're taking a, and I'm going to say this very meaningfully, you're going to take a hard right both literally and metaphorically on your show." (Jared, 14:55)
  • The franchise is doubling down on women with aspirational “love story”-driven narratives, while also bringing “spice” through casting someone with a not-so-cookie-cutter past (three kids, two exes).
  • Jared riffs on the absurdity of the press release language and the way reality TV fuses business and storytelling: "This isn't art. It's art meets business. Again, we're all doing a version — I do that." (18:45)
  • He predicts curiosity but not necessarily excitement for the season, and notes how fans and ex-cast members might feel “angry” or slighted by the network's outside-the-box choice.

• Memorable Moment:

  • "Single mother of three. Oh, my God. What guy with a straight face... Single mother of three, good luck to you. The fact that these men are lining up..." (Jared, 21:50)
  • “Cinderella with spice—that could be merch for her.” (Jared, 35:30)

2. The ‘Royal Butler’ Tell-All: Palace Secrets or Promotional Fluff?

[36:00 - 46:30]

• What Happened:
  Page Six covers ex-Buckingham Palace butler Grant Harold’s new book, featuring “bombshell” revelations about Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and ongoing royal rifts.

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • Skeptical of the headline’s promise, Jared questions Harold’s status as a true “insider,” likening it to a comic who claims big-club credentials after performing in a class show.
  • He points out that those with the juiciest info—like housekeepers, nannies, butlers—could easily shape narratives with tone: “A butler could say things in a different tone. If they say your joke in the tone, it's not meant to be said, you sound evil.” (39:40)
  • He lampoons the idea of promotional “bombshells” and the vagueness of the butler’s insights ("the king doesn’t trust Harry..."), ultimately dismissing most of the “revelations” as tabloid clickbait.
  • "Do I believe he was like... like, you gotta look more like Alfred for me to buy that you know all the inside scoop on the family." (Jared, 44:10)

• Notable Quote:

  • "They were all so close. And to see their... that relationship completely destroyed, I do not see them coming back from it." (Harold, quoted by Jared, 43:00)

3. Kendall Jenner: Quitting Modeling for ‘Modest’ New Career

[46:40 - 53:50]

• What Happened:
  Kendall Jenner announces she's leaving behind catwalk fame to pursue her “true passion”: home design.

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • Jared sarcastically questions the “modesty” of this pivot, suggesting it’s another privileged, influencer-friendly field where connections and wealth count most.
  • He draws a parallel with other celebs taking up real estate (e.g. Nev Schulman), noting how fame—rather than years of education or expertise—opens doors: “Every job that a Kardashian Jenner does is a job that, like, someone is doing with education that maybe they didn't need to have.” (50:45)
  • Jared empathizes with interior designers and models who might feel slighted by privileged celebrities treating their jobs as casual hobbies or side hustles.
  • “It's easy to design homes when you have endless amounts of dough. The creative vision is you copied something else you saw somewhere else that someone else did.” (52:30)

• Memorable Moment:

  • “I swear to God, I’m going to stop everything and just design homes. I’m not kidding.” (Kendall Jenner, quoted by Jared, 49:00)

4. Brittany Cartwright’s Dating Drama: Married Man Edition

[53:55 - 1:01:25]

• What Happened:
  Vanderpump Rules alum Brittany Cartwright is rumored to be dating Brandon Hansen, who’s technically still married (but separated), leading to online shade from his ex.

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • Jared dismisses the manufactured scandal, pointing out the reality that divorces/partnership splits take time and it’s not unusual to date during the process.
  • He acknowledges the ex-wife’s perspective ("she's angry at him... trying to wrangle him in"), but also notes the clickbaity way tabloids portray these sorts of relationships.
  • He predicts that open talk about “just seeing how it goes” suggests the couple isn’t especially serious.
  • “This is such a non-story because she's dating someone who's going through a divorce. Some divorces take a year, four years...” (54:10)
  • Jared highlights how the ex’s viral TikTok ("That man is married") muddies impressions while masking the complexity and overlap of breakups/new relationships.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • "If you see this and go, Britney Cartwright's dating a married guy and is open about it. What do you think she's like, a WWE heel? That's right, I'm dating this guy and his wife's off, you know, feeding their kids and who gives a about that?" (Jared, 54:35)
  • "He's probably taking trips with Britney and being posted in all these photos on TMZ and Page Six. And she's going, him, I need to bring him back down to earth." (Jared, 56:50)

5. Selena Gomez on Body Shaming, Insecurity, and Therapy

[1:01:30 - end]

• What Happened:
  Selena Gomez addresses her struggles with body shaming and weight fluctuations in an Allure cover story, sharing her battles with insecurity and her use of DBT therapy.

• Jared’s Analysis:

  • He expresses empathy: “If all of us had our photos taken from 16 until now... It would fuck you up too.”
  • Jared contrasts Selena’s experience with that of the Jenner-Kardashians, arguing that Gomez’s struggles are more relatable and rooted in real vulnerability, rather than PR moves.
  • He praises Selena’s authenticity and highlights the relentless social media scrutiny stars like her face.
  • "Some people are just prone to fluctuation. I am one of those people. So I look at these pictures of her, and, like, they're showing every version of Selena Gomez..." (1:04:35)

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “I got stung by a person saying I was fat. Why is that emotion coming up?... Analyzing why she's triggered by certain comments.” (Jared, referencing Selena, 1:05:40)
  • "I think Selena Gomez is a trustworthy source for the body sensitivity and, like, hearing from commenters." (Jared, 1:07:20)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Pop Culture Engagement:
  "I'm the anti Death scroll podcast. That's a good merch. Maybe that'll be a T-shirt or hat. Anti death scroll with a big skull and crossbones." (Jared, 05:10)

• Sharpest Jokes:

  • On celebrity cross-promotion:
    "Paul is the breakout star... This is the Jetsons meets the Flintstones. This is a crossover, the statement continued... Oh my, what an eye roll for me." (24:10)
  • On “revelatory” butler gossip:
    "He polished silver for kings, poured tea for queens, and stood quietly in the shadows as royal dramas played out." (41:25)
    "Is he the main butler? I need him to look more like Alfred." (44:10)

• Biting Observations:

  • "Every Jenner Kardashian job they enter... it's either you get the education, or you are the rich person." (51:05)
  • On real estate celebrity pivots: "He’s been doing it 10 minutes, but you know who he is. You trust him." (50:55)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro, Story Setup, and Social Media Bits.........................[00:00 – 05:00]
• Lead Story—The New Mormon Bachelorette.............................[13:05 – 35:30]
• Royal Butler Reveals Royal Drama..................................[36:00 – 46:30]
• Kendall Jenner’s Career Pivot to Home Design.......................[46:40 – 53:50]
• Brittany Cartwright Dating (Married!) Drama........................[53:55 – 1:01:25]
• Selena Gomez on Body Image and Fat Shaming........................[1:01:30 – End]

Overall Vibe & Takeaways

Jared brings both sharp skepticism and relatable honesty to stories from the worlds of reality TV, celebrity PR, and social media drama. His commentary skewers manufactured outrage and reheated tabloid stories, while offering real insight into why certain reality stars or celebrities become lightning rods for public attention—and why we keep clicking.

If you haven’t listened:
This episode is a zippy, irreverent ride through the week’s hot (and hotly manipulated) pop culture topics, perfect for listeners who love celebrity gossip but need it alongside some smart, no-nonsense commentary.