RHOA Reunion Chaos and Ariana Grande Steps Away

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "RHOA Reunion Chaos and Ariana Grande Steps Away"

Podcast: The Latest with Loren LoRosa
Host: Loren LoRosa (The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts)
Date: August 5, 2026
Episode Theme:
A vibrant breakdown of the most buzzed-about moments in pop culture, with particular focus on the Real Housewives of Atlanta’s (RHOA) reunion chaos, casting rumors, and takeaway on Ariana Grande’s decision to take an extended break from the spotlight.

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into two major trending topics:

• The escalating drama and casting rumors surrounding the Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) reunion and its upcoming season.
• Ariana Grande’s public break from the spotlight due to increased scrutiny over her health and appearance.

Loren LoRosa blends her energetic, candid commentary with firsthand scoops, exclusive analysis, and a window into larger conversations about fame, mental health, and fan culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Behind the Scenes: Loren’s Week and Approach

Timestamps: 02:42 - 04:36

• Loren shares her appreciation for "work weeks" spent digging into stories, drafting exclusives, and immersing herself in the latest pop culture news.
• She values having time to balance reporting, creative work, and self-care, teasing that more deep dives and exclusives are on the way.
• Tone: Conversational, authentic — giving listeners a look at her journalistic process.
  • “I love these type of weeks where I can spend all of my time outside of Breakfast Club, outside of recording a podcast for you guys, just working on stories...”

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2. RHOA Reunion and Season 16 Casting Chaos

Timestamps: 08:50 - 19:30

Contract Rumors and Fact Checking

• Reporting circulating about RHOA cast members receiving contracts for the next season.
• Loren emphasizes the importance of trusting official sources over fan pages, noting Andy Cohen’s denial:
  • "Andy Cohen has come out and said that is not true, that none of the girls have received contract offers yet."
• Example: Rumors swirled that Shamea might exit, which Loren investigates, understanding that “the more emotional and emotional roller coaster the season is for you, that means you got a storyline that’s working, baby.”

Breakdown of Main Cast Developments

• Porsha Williams: Maintains “Peach holder” status and a dominant storyline.
• Shamea Morton: Promoted to full-time, but her friendship with Porsha unravels; speculation over her return.
• K. Michelle: Major country album release forms central storyline; tension with Portia.
• Cynthia Bailey: Returns as “friend of the show,” balancing business and drama.
• Pinky Cole: Her transition from business headlines (Slutty Vegan bankruptcy, new baby announcement) to reality TV storylines provides new narratives.

Notable Quotes:

• [13:22] Loren LoRosa:
  • “...people thought that they were losing their main girls. Like they were losing the girls that were going to actually make the show good. Then Porsche came back in a major way on the show. We were excited about that because it felt like, you know, we had some of our OG girls back.”
• [12:54] Andy Cohen (via clip):
  • “A lot of casting rumors online...they’re not true...if you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast. This is the group, guys. I mean, spoiler alert. We’re very happy.”

Memorable Moments & Reads

• Loren highlights the hyper-dramatic, quick-witted “reads” at the RHOA season finale — classic Reality TV gold:
  • [16:57] Loren LoRosa: “We on Survivor’s Island. I’m gonna survive and you’re going to jail. You said hey, handsome in February for the girls.”
  • Portia and K. Michelle’s sharp verbal sparring and the unresolved “oystergate” plot tease major drama for the reunion.

On Storylines and Reality TV Culture

• Loren explains the mechanics of “produced drama” and why emotional storylines keep cast members relevant.
  • “The more emotional and emotional roller coaster the season is for you, that mean you got a storyline that’s working, baby.”

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3. Ariana Grande Steps Back: Celebrity Scrutiny and Boundaries

Timestamps: 23:58 - 32:42

Ariana’s Official Statement

• After the close of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour (Sept 1 in London), Ariana Grande will "take a step back from visibility" due to ongoing, intense scrutiny about her body and health.
  • [24:15] Loren (reading statement):
    • “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour...endless ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her...and then taking a much needed break from public facing work and appearances.”

Cancelling New West End Role

• Ariana will no longer appear in the West End revival of "Sunday in the Park With George" with Jonathan Bailey.

Deeper Conversation: Celebrity, Fans, and Social Media

• Loren unpacks how social media creates false sense of intimacy — “there’s no boundary anymore...”
• Reflects on legacy celebrity (Michael Jackson) vs. social media era, where accessibility erases boundaries and stokes pressure.
  • “They just have a job that they’re doing. But safety should matter for them as well too. Boundaries should matter for them as well too.”

On Body Scrutiny and Mental Health

• Highlights previous events: Manchester bombing aftermath, anxiety, viral memes about Ariana and co-star Cynthia Erivo.
• Loren pushes compassion over mockery: “When people are speaking, we should listen...We all are guilty of having a little laugh, a little Kiki, but we should listen.”
• Emphasizes the toll of public life: “She’s done with it. I just hope that she is in a healthy space, physically, and that...she’s taking care of herself.”

Notable Quotes:

• [30:13] Loren LaRosa: “...this go viral, go home society. She’s done with it. I just hope that she is in a healthy space, like, physically, and that, you know her...”
• [31:55] Loren LaRosa: “So I’m proud of her for making it, but it’s not easy at all. So I think when people are speaking, we should listen. Y’all.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [16:57] Loren LaRosa:
  • “We on Survivor’s Island. I’m gonna survive and you’re going to jail. You said hey, handsome in February for the girls. Listen, I know that the reunion is going to be insane.”
• [12:54] Andy Cohen (clip):
  • “A lot of casting rumors online...they’re not true. And I am going to tell you that if you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast. This is the group, guys. I mean, spoiler alert. We’re very happy.”
• [24:15] Loren LaRosa (reading Ariana’s statement):
  • “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour...endless ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her...”
• [30:13] Loren LaRosa:
  • “They just have a job that they’re doing. But safety should matter for them as well too. Boundaries should matter for them as well too.”
• [31:55] Loren LaRosa:
  • “So I’m proud of her for making it, but it’s not easy at all. So I think when people are speaking, we should listen.”

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Section Timestamps

• 02:42 - 04:36: Loren’s “work week” approach and podcast goals
• 08:50 - 19:30: Deep dive into RHOA casting rumors, contract drama, main cast shake-ups, season finale “reads” and reunion predictions
• 16:54 - 19:30: On K. Michelle’s country album, Pinky Cole’s business and family headlines, RHOA reunion teasers
• 23:58 - 32:42: Ariana Grande’s public statement, the context behind her break, mental health, celebrity culture, and the impact of social media scrutiny

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Final Thoughts

Loren LoRosa delivers a fast-paced, multilayered breakdown that combines exclusive news, nuanced analysis, and genuine concern for the humanity of celebrities.
This episode is essential for fans of RHOA, pop culture followers tracking the realities behind reality TV, and anyone interested in the complexities of fame in the social media era. Loren encourages listeners to dig deeper than the memes:

“When people are speaking, we should listen.” (31:55)

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Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

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On Raiders of the Lost podcast, we explore cinema like no one else, including huge interviews with stars like Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary.

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It was like the Jaws shark didn't always work, came with its own problems. That's what made it great.

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There was so much magic happening with each scene.

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[Carrie Brownstein]

Hey Portlandia fans, Kerry Brownstein and Fred

[Lauren LaRosa]

Armisen here the dream of the 90s

[Carrie Brownstein]

is alive in podcast form.

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We're launching Podlandia AO Rewatch, our brand new podcast where we revisit every episode of Portlandia together, breaking down sketches, going deep on our iconic characters and pulling back the curtain on how it all got made.

[Carrie Brownstein]

And we'll also be joined by the people who helped bring it all to life, guest stars, collaborators and friends including director Jonathan Krisel, the mayor himself, Kyle McLaughlin, legendary musician Amy Mann, and many more.

[Fred Armisen]

Kyle is going for it. Here you fully improvised, not just Words, but a song about.

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Well, I thought you were all going to write a song.

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I remember you thinking that. Listen to Podlandia AO rewatch on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's get to it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Time to do it. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, she don't lie about that, right?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Lauren came in hot.

[Sam J]

Hey, y'.

[Unknown Advertiser]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What's up? It's Lauren the Rosa, and this is another episode of the Latest with Lauren the Rosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now, y' all know we. We always get into checking in behind the scenes of the grind before we get started. So let's get on into it. Checking in behind the scenes of the grind today. This week is actually just. Just.

[Unknown Advertiser]

We're just.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't know. It's just I. I always say, like, this week is, like, a work week, but I feel like every week is a work week. But I say that when I mean that, like, there's not, like, a lot of traveling. There's not, like, a lot of out of studio. We just podcast breakfast. Like, we didn't win the news, like, fully. I love these type of weeks where I can spend all of my time outside of Breakfast Club, outside of recording a podcast for you guys, just working on stories and being really in the, like, body of things. That's been, you know, a challenge for me to find and carve out and. And do it with discipline that time where I'm still, like, throwing myself fully into the story, into the details, and all of the things are also just taking care of myself as well, too. So this is one of those weeks. And, yeah, so hopefully this week I'll be bringing you guys a lot more exclusives. I felt like last week the news was so slow and there wasn't much going on, and when that happens, I'm like, all right, we need to make some news. We need to make some conversation. So this week, I think you guys will see a lot more of that, especially here on the podcast, the Latest with Launda Rosa, because we'll have the time to be digging all into the people's business. Other than that, though, yeah, we. We're good. We tapping on into the latest. So let's get into it.

[Ari Chambers]

What's up, fam? I'm sports journalist Ari Chambers.

[Sam J]

Hey, what's up, y'?

[Fred Armisen]

All?

[Sam J]

It's your girl, Sam J.

[Ari Chambers]

And we're the hosts of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from together and I heart women's sports because let's

[Sam J]

be real, women's sports is giving us way too much to talk about these days.

[Ari Chambers]

So Kelsey Finler, she became the first female solo rower to go from California to Hawaii.

[Sam J]

My first thought is just like, what's up with the snacks? Like, what are we eating?

[Ari Chambers]

The highlights, the rivalries, the breakout stars, the moments that take over your entire

[Sam J]

timeline and the conversations that start during the game and somehow keep going all week. Every week, we're breaking down the biggest stories across women's sports.

[Ari Chambers]

Naomi Osaka showing out. She beat Sabalenka.

[Sam J]

Shout out to you, Naomi, you get the palm.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Naomi, you get the palm for that.

[Sam J]

Because we're not just interested in what happened. We're interested in why everyone's talking about it. Because everyone watches women's sports. Listen to everyone watches women's Sports on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Hey, Portlandia fans.

[Fred Armisen]

Kerry Brownstein and Fred Armisen here, you

[Carrie Brownstein]

know us, or rather, you know them. Tony and Candace, Nina and Lance. Spike and yes, the chicken.

[Fred Armisen]

We've played a lot of iconic characters over the years, but today we're showing up as ourselves. To tell you about Podlandia. Ao rewatch our brand new podcast.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Each week, we'll revisit an episode of Portlandia from the very beginning, Breaking down the sketches, exploring the backstories of our most iconic characters, revisiting the Portland locations you know and love and. And opening up about our creative process.

[Fred Armisen]

How did any of this get made? Why did he think that was a good idea? We're ready to talk about it.

[Carrie Brownstein]

And we'll also be joined by the people who helped bring it all to life. Guest stars, collaborators, and friends, including director Jonathan Krisel, the mayor himself, Kyle McLaughlin, legendary musician Amy Mann, and many more.

[Fred Armisen]

Kyle is going for it. Here you fully improvised not just words, but a song about.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Well, I thought he was gonna write. I thought you were all gonna write a song.

[Fred Armisen]

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[Carrie Brownstein]

Listen to Podlandia every ayo rewatch on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Hayes Davenport]

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Then Mary Steenbergen.

[Chelsea Handler]

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[Yamaneika Saunders]

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[Nick Turturro]

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Then we sit down for a real conversation. I've shared a slice with everyone from Seth Rollins.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

So this week, actually, speaking of this week, as we go into the latest everything that's happening right now, we are days away from the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion. Now, I love Real Housewives of Atlanta, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but I actually haven't really tuned into Beverly Hills as much as I was before. I told myself that I was gonna get all caught up before Bozema St John bows. Love bows before her wedding because I wanted to, like, you know, she's been covering her wedding on the show and preparing for it, amongst other things. But with Real Housewives of Atlanta, they're like my, like my favorite franchise. Like they are number one for me. I've been hanging on to every episode this season, sometimes having to watch two or three a day because I haven't been caught up. I just finished the season finale episode prior to preparing myself for the the reunion this weekend. And there was reporting this week, like literally kicking off this week that the girls have received their contracts. And that's always a thing. Like the day that the women of Real Housewives of Atlanta cash receive their contracts is always a day that like makes news because then people start having conversations about who received the contract, what role are they coming back in. For those of you guys who do not watch Housewives, when I say what role are they coming back in? You have like main characters and non main characters. They call them Peach holders and friends of the show. Right? Or a friend of a peach holder. So for instance, I, Porsha Williams, Peach holder this season. That just means that a lot of the show revolved around her. Shamia actually, you know, got her Peach this season and it was a very emotionally rough season for Shamia, especially being as though we knew her as Portia's friend on the show. And now we got to get more into her life and see that relationship fall apart. So I don't think they'll ever get back to where they were even once they ever get back to being cordial. And K Michelle, those three women this season were the, the bigger, biggest storylines of the show for various different reasons. So, you know, people are going to want to see how that works out going into this next season. Like, will all those women still be main cast? Will they still be main Peach holders? Because then you can kind of predict what next season will look like and who we will focus on the most. Now I told you guys that that reporting was out earlier this week. How however, Andy Cohen has come out and said that is not true, that none of the girls have received contract offers yet. There were also rumors that Shamia was not going to be coming back to the show Again. Shamia was like best friends with Porsha when we first came to meet and know her and has now taken on her own life on the show. So there were rumors that she made, you know, potentially not be returning back to the show. And I'm not going to lie, like whenever you hear these rumors from the fan pages, it's like you, you can't ignore it because a lot of the news will leak to the fan pages through the, the girls teams through production because Real Housewives fans Are, are very intertwined with the fan pages and the fan cultures around the show. But it's like you have. So you got to pay attention to it, but you, you, you gotta wait to get the real information. This is a big example that because those stories leaked and then Andy Colin came out and said, and I have reached out to a source, coastal production, myself. Hey, I mean, Shamia had a rough season this season, so I could kind of see why she wouldn't come back. You know, maybe she want to protect her peace. But the more emotional and emotional roller coaster the season is for you, that mean you got a storyline that's working, baby. And that means you right there, stay right in that pocket. That's what builds, you know, the best housewives and reality stars in this type of lane. But here's what Andy Cohen had to say on the fact that Shamia and there's no, there's no truth to Shamia not returning as of now. There was also reports that any leaks may be returning.

[Sam J]

Let's take a look.

[Unknown Speaker]

A lot of casting rumors online which came out over the weekend and I'm gonna tell you that they're not true. And I am going to tell you that if you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast. This is the group, guys. I mean, spoiler alert. We're very happy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Now, I will say that is important to hear because there was a time where a lot of like, you know, people were not happy about the cast. Like, they felt like after Nene Leakes left, you know, and then you had the drama with Kenya Moore where she, you know, allegedly exposed some revenge porn and was, you know, suspended from the show and then didn't come back on the show. Like, all of that stuff, people thought that they were losing their main girls. Like they were losing the girls that were going to actually make the show good. Then Porsche came back in a major way on the show. We were excited about that because it felt like, you know, we had some of our OG girls back. Cynthia Bailey, you know, famous housewife, Atlanta Housewives of Atlanta, housewife, but also model. She came back onto the show this season as a friend of the show. So she is there, she is present, but it allows her to not fully be in all of the mess of the drama. But she's been even doing like some side commentating as well too. And I think it also just gives her time to figure things out as well. Like outside of the show. I think Cynthia has always been one of those people on the show who had a Lot happening. Like she was trying to figure out, you know, her wine situation and then she had the Cynthia Bailey agency. Like she's done very successful businesses. But I think at this point in her career, I could see her wanting to be able to have a little bit more time to build out those things, build out her personal life while also understanding what the platform does for her. So she, you know, one foot in, one foot a little bit out, which is great. Now there was also rumors about Kelly on the show. Kelly is a one of the newer housewives that, you know, her drew. Prior to Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan coming on, people were trying to figure out if they even, you know, really cared for Kelly on the show. And I feel like this season has really developed for her with her storyline. Even though she was not able to film with her children this season, there was a lot happening because of her recent separation from her estranged husband. But again, I think it gives her storylines, it gives her something to talk about. But people thought that she wasn't going to come back either. When those rumors broke. A contracts being sent out, people thought that, you know, there was also going to, you know, be a goodbye sent to Kelly, non contract since Kelly. And that is not the case according to, you know, what Bravo sources are putting out there now. Andy Cohen is speaking on. So I'm looking forward to this reunion, baby. And let me tell you guys something. This group of girls, the it's all about the reading. Okay? I don't know if y' all are into the reality tv. I wouldn't even say it's my guilty pleasure. I don't, don't even feel guilty about loving the Housewives. And what did they read down? Okay, when I say read, it's like the Comebacks. They quick, they sharp. So the season finale ended with them celebrating K. Michelle, who just released her first ever country album. She has been in the country music space for some time. I was told a long time ago she couldn't do a country music album because she's a black woman. And, and there's just been so much that has opened up in country music, you know, for people like K. Michelle because of the work that she's put in Beyonce. Mickey got you mad people right in that space. So she got to do that on this platform, which is benefit of the platform. It elevates everything else that you're doing. But it closes out with a party that she has. And at the end of the party, they are reading each other down. Okay, let's take a Listen, you're lying, but I'm not lying.

[Chelsea Handler]

No one's going to hold her accountable to her lies.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We on Survivor's Island. I'm gonna survive and you're going to jail. You said hey, handsome in February for the girls. Listen, I know that the reunion is going to be insane. We already know Pinky Cole of Slady Vegan, who recently made headlines for bankruptcy with her businesses and a lot of money things with her businesses. Her and her husband are expecting a new baby and this is after she revealed on the show that they were having some issues because she's just been so focused on her business and trying to figure out what was going on with the business when it came to bankruptcy. Let's take a look.

[Unknown Speaker]

Hi, Pinky.

[Ari Chambers]

Hi.

[Unknown Speaker]

You look amazing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, thank you.

[Unknown Speaker]

I know that you are vegan, but you had quite the meaty season.

[Chelsea Handler]

I did.

[Unknown Speaker]

How are you feeling about your first season?

[Lauren LaRosa]

It felt good.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

I don't even want to ever hit a B word again. The only B word that I want

[Lauren LaRosa]

to talk about is the fact that I'm having a baby. You're having what?

[Fred Armisen]

I don't want.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

No problem.

[Unknown Speaker]

Ok. How does your mom feel about it?

[Lauren LaRosa]

She was mad as.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Okay.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Hey, listen, she said she wanted to have another one.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I said, no, we ain't.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

Huh?

[Lauren LaRosa]

How to the no?

[Unknown Speaker]

When are you due?

[Lauren LaRosa]

In December. Oh, my God.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

And I just might name him or her Bravisha or something. I don't.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Wait a minute.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

Not Bravisha.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Congratulations. I'm excited to see this reunion. I don't think we're gonna get receipts from certain things. I know that there was like a big blow up between Portia Williams and K. Michelle. I don't think we're going to ever get the receipts of, you know, there was like a whole oyster gate, I will call it a whole plot and a plan in K. Michelle's voice that she said that was put out and trying to be, you know, or allegedly being executed by Portia to produce the show or produce the storyline around K. Michelle in a certain way, which is a reality TV show thing. You know, you will have the lead of your show or certain people on the show who can work with the story producers to build out narrative in a way that they need to. And K. Michelle is, you know, she comes from love and hip hop. So she's a reality star vet. She felt like she was trying. They were trying to swindle her. So she. That was a huge thing in the beginning of this season. But I don't think that we're going to actually get receipts of who she alleges told her all of that. But, hey, you never know. I just haven't seen too much about that in the previews yet. But we shall see, because they did exchange words. We know that. Let's take a listen to K. Michelle in Prince Portia. From the way that the edit looks. Anyway, I have lived. There's nothing I have lived about Tiana's side of life. And so has your body. Okay, okay.

[Sam J]

You need to close your glory hole.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So we'll just have to stay tuned, see what's going on.

[Ari Chambers]

What's up, fam? I'm sports journalist Ari Chambers.

[Sam J]

Hey, what's up, y'?

[Chelsea Handler]

All?

[Sam J]

It's your girl, Sam J.

[Ari Chambers]

And we're the host of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from Together. And I heart women's sports because, let's

[Sam J]

be real, women's sports is giving us way too much to talk about these days.

[Ari Chambers]

So Kelsey Finler, she became the first female solo rower to go from California to Hawaii.

[Sam J]

My first thought is, like, what's up with the snacks? Like, what are we eating?

[Ari Chambers]

The highlights, the rivalries, the breakout stars, the moments that take over your entire

[Sam J]

timeline, and the conversations that start during the game and somehow keep going all week, every week, we're breaking down the biggest stories across women's sports.

[Ari Chambers]

Naomi Osaka showing out. She beat Sabalenka.

[Sam J]

Shout outs to you, Naomi, you get the palm.

[Ari Chambers]

Naomi, you get the palm for that.

[Sam J]

Because we're not just interested in what happened. We're interested in why everyone's talking about it. Because everyone watches women's sports. Listen to everyone watches women's Sports on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Hey, Portlandia fans.

[Fred Armisen]

Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen here, you

[Carrie Brownstein]

know us, or rather, you know them. Tony and Candace, Nina and Lance, Spike and yes, the chicken.

[Fred Armisen]

We've played a lot of iconic characters over the years, but today we're showing up as ourselves. To tell you about Podlandia. AO rewatch our brand new podcast.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Each week, we'll revisit an episode of Portlandia from the very beginning, breaking down the sketches, exploring the backstories of our most iconic characters, revisiting the Portland locations you know and love, and opening up about our creative process.

[Fred Armisen]

How did any of this get made? Why do we think that was a good idea? We're ready to talk about it.

[Carrie Brownstein]

And we'll also be joined by the people who helped bring it all to life. Guest stars, collaborators, and Friends including director Jonathan Krisel, the mayor himself, Kyle McLaughlin, legendary musician Amy Mann, and many more.

[Fred Armisen]

Kyle is going for it. Here you fully improvised, not just words, but a song.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Well, I thought he was gonna write. I thought you were all gonna write a song.

[Fred Armisen]

I remember you thinking that.

[Carrie Brownstein]

Listen to Podlandia AO rewatch on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Hayes Davenport]

Hey, this is Hayes Davenport and Sean Clements. We host the podcast Hollywood Handbook every episode. We're trying to help our guests improve their careers by mainly focusing on how they can help us improve our careers.

[Unknown Advertiser]

The show's famously super accessible, so you can easily jump into any of our 650 episodes and understand what's going on.

[Hayes Davenport]

We recommend some of our recent episodes with Ben Stiller.

[Unknown Advertiser]

The definition of what is a movie has kind of changed anyway, too, right?

What do you think it is now?

It's images and words being spoken, captured by some sort of technology.

[Hayes Davenport]

Danny McBride, he loves.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, that's fantastic. And you make it on. You make your own. That's great.

[Hayes Davenport]

I call him Tarot Reed.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's a good name.

[Unknown Advertiser]

They're all named after cast members of American Pie.

[Hayes Davenport]

Yeah, I call. I don't. I never looked up if she was in this, but I call him Leechy Sobieski.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I don't think she was an American Pie, but I still haven't looked at her.

[Hayes Davenport]

Haven't looked it up.

[Unknown Speaker]

She was prominent at the same time. Yeah.

[Hayes Davenport]

Then Mary Steenburgen.

[Chelsea Handler]

Why are you guys talking to me? Like, why are you so down to me that you think I don't understand your little play?

[Yamaneika Saunders]

Play?

[Hayes Davenport]

I just really trying to set you up for success here.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Listen to Hollywood handbook on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chelsea Handler]

This is Chelsea Handler from Dear Chelsea. Every week the news gets worse, the world gets crazier, and Yamanika is here to tell whoever's respons the problem.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

If you come over here to play games, I'mma check you. Okay. If you do some in the news that don't sound good, I'mma play you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Join Yamanika Saunders as she breaks down the week's most problematic stories on her new podcast. You're the problem with Yamaneika.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

Do you know I just found out who Sydney Sweeney was.

[Chelsea Handler]

New episodes weekly every Wednesday is part of my new network, the Dear Chelsea Network.

[Yamaneika Saunders]

If he got a bunch of women, then I should have a bunch of men do better or do less so I don't have to do so much.

[Chelsea Handler]

So join Yamaneeka each episode as she answers one question. Who's the problem?

[Yamaneika Saunders]

I'm Yamaneika and I'm out. Listen to youo're the Problem with yamaneika on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So speaking of storylines, narratives, all the things that come with being somebody of influence, Ariana Grande, there was a statement that was released by her team confirming that she is going to take a step back from the spotlight for an extended break after she finishes her Eternal Sunshine tour. And the reason for that, the rep says, is because of a lot of the scrutiny that she's been getting surrounding her health and her body. So here's the statement. After her Eternal Sunshine tour wraps in London on September 1, the singer, who is 33 years old, she's going to be stepping away. And this is the statement was given by Ariana Grande's rep to People magazine. So this is from People magazine. She will be stepping away from the public eye as scrutiny surrounding her health and body intensifies. So the rep continues, Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour. She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happy, and then taking a much needed break from public facing work and appearances, which has led to endless ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much. She performs a very physical show and there's a lot of athleticism involved. She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night. So, you know, because of this, they say that Ariana Grande is no longer going to be appearing in the West End revival of Steven Sodom's Sunday in the Park With George. So she's taking a step back from work that was supposed to open at London's Barbacon center next summer. And she was going to be doing that with Jonathan Bailey, who she did Wicked with. They were, he was going to be opposite her. But yeah, so she's taking a step back. And y' all know what's crazy? I feel like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, when they were on that Wicked tour run, I knew, I, I, and I've heard Cynthia Rivo talk about, you know, why she felt like she got so much jokes and memes about her appearance on that tour. We'll get into that. She says that it's because she's a black woman and that at the and it particularly it was a moment where she jumped in front of this guy who was like a fan who like jumped over like almost like barricades at a red carpet to get to Ariana Grande. And Cynthia Re aro jumped in front of her to just make sure she was okay. Because Ariana has talked about suffering from like anxiety and different things. She's been through a lot. But the crazy part of that is I feel like that time period from them has like changed forever the way that they're going to interact with fans in the public. I mean we know that Ariana Grande has been through other things that publicly have, you know, really changed the way that she interacts with. There was the bombing that took place at the concert that the Ariana Grande concert back in 2017. There were at least 19 people killed and 50 people injured at the, the concert in Manchester in England. I think it's a. Celebrities have such a, like you think about something like that. You think about, you know, you're on a red carpet, a man is jumping, literally jumping over the carpet at you and you're already dealing with a lot of like society, societal like thoughts, pressures. Like you're scared all the time because you don't know who's coming at you for a reason. Like it is a nerve wracking thing, I'm sure at the height that she is dealing with it at. But I think celebrities have such a different experience with fans and supporters nowadays because of social media as well too. I think social media, even if you are Ariana Grande who isn't really accessible like Ariana Grande is not posting YouTube videos every day and on stream and giving us her life story all the time. And you know, like she still, there are some things about her that are still very like, you know, that school of celebrity like a Zendaya or Tom Holland is in where things are kept to herself. It's very regarded. You're not just going to be able to walk up and get to her. But at the same time because of social media, because of how much you're seeing her on your timeline and other celebrities, I think that, you know, supporters feel like people and celebrity, people, celebrities as people are very accessible. And I think that there's no boundary anymore of like understanding that like these are also people too. They just have a job that they're doing. But safety should matter for them as well too. Boundaries should matter for them as well too. And I think that it has changed the dynamic between the fan experience and the celebrity experience. And I think about I want to go see the Michael Jackson movie. I saw the Jackson's Instagram post that they're going to be doing a series all about Joe Jackson as the Jackson's manager too, which we'll watch and we'll talk about here. But I think about Michael Jackson after watching the Michael Jackson movie and how famous he was at that height, like, social media was not really a thing. You know, there was so much that, like, hadn't happened yet. Technology wise. Imagine if it had, how overly personified that would have been. And then you have people nowhere near as famous as Michael Jackson. Like, I don't think anybody will ever be as famous as Michael Jackson. But you do have big celebrities still. It's very few far in between, because we have Internet personalities who, don't get me wrong, are in the celebrity lane. But I think the way that they maneuver their lives, they're way more accessible. They want you to know way more. They want you to. They want to bring you in way more. You have celebrities who don't want to do all that, who grow up in a school learning from a Michael Jackson or other big Hollywood names like Ariana Grande or Cynthia Erivo, who are just two true creators who want to put certain things out into the world. And the, the people don't be having that at all. Especially in this go viral, go home society. She's done with it. I just hope that she is in a healthy space, like, physically, and that, you know her, because it's like she' taking a step back during a time where people are noticing, you know, that she is thinner, visibly thinner. So I. I just hope that she's taking care of herself. And I hope that even if she's struggling with how to take care of herself while performing at such a high level, dealing with, you know, all the pressure and anxiety that come with the job that she has this time that she's taking off, she's going to really focus on, you know, rebuilding her, her arsenal of tools to be able to do that. Because I think a lot of times, like, you'll hear like, Ariana Grande because she's such a big celebrity. She's rich, she's very successful. It's like, all right, champagne problems. Like, come on, girl. Like, you got the career, you got everything going. You're in some of the biggest movies of the last, like, you know, biggest projects of the last, like, two, three years. You know what I mean? Like, people can look at this and be like, complaining, complaining, complaining. But also, the girls had a kiki about all the memes and the viral moments. But I think there's a real conversation that she's been trying to have for some time, just about what she's battling in quiet, that I don't think people really hear or pay it too much attention to or love to sit to the side because the memes and stuff are funny. So I hope that she's actually tapping back into what she needs to be okay. And I think I will say it is a not. It's. It's not a never before seen thing because we've had celebrities take a step back. We've had celebrities be forced to take a step back. Britney Spears when she was 5,000, 150 back in 2008. This. It gets crazy. It does. Like, every level comes with new devils. And you got to learn how to balance it all. You got to learn how to, like, let somebody know when you're struggling with doing all that. And that's why I was, when I saw this statement, I'm like, damn, like, they didn't drug sis into the ground. She is tired, okay? She is over it. But at the same time, I was like, you know, it's a really big thing to say, yo, I'm take a break. I'm gonna stop working. She got the money, she got, she cool. She got the bread. She'll be able to do it. But a lot of us that work in this industry feel like out of sight, out of mind. So I understand, like, you know, she's on a run right now, like Wicked. I mean, they say, you know, the. The second installation of Wicked wasn't as good as the first, but, like, Wicked and all the projects that she has happening, like these last couple years, she, if she's dominated for the last, I would say, like, what, like five to seven years? From music to television projects to movies, taking a step back is a big deal and a big decision to make. So I'm proud of her for making it, but it's not easy at all. So I think when people are speaking, we should listen. Y'.

[Unknown Speaker]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We, look, we all are guilty of having a little laugh, a little Kiki, but we should listen. I'm Laurenta Rosa. This has been another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. I tell y' all all the time, y' all could be anywhere with any old body, my low riders talking about all of the things, but you guys choose to be right here with me. I appreciate you guys. I'll catch you in my next episode. This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.