The Squeeze – “Francesca Mariano: Behind the Mic”

Podcast: The Squeeze
Host: Taylor Lautner
Guest: Francesca Mariano (Chicks in the Office)
Date: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid and heartfelt episode, Taylor Lautner sits down with Francesca Mariano of "Chicks in the Office" to dive deep into her mental health journey, her unconventional career path, personal growth, building "Chicks in the Office" from the ground up, and the power of vulnerability and female friendship. Francesca offers raw insight into her struggles with college, therapy, and impostor syndrome, while reflecting on what it takes to chart your own course and thrive in media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Struggles, Mental Health & College Pressure (00:01–15:00, 16:07–29:43)

• Pressure and Shame as the Oldest Child

  • Francesca describes profound internal pressure growing up as the eldest sibling and first grandchild, always feeling that “everyone has always been, ‘Oh, Francesca's got it all together.’” (16:35)
  • “I put so much pressure on myself. That year... I was just fully mentally frozen and could not break out of it until I was physically forced out of the environment.” (24:52)

• College Reality vs. Expectations

  • She entered Georgetown on a business track, reluctant but influenced by her successful mother, despite her true love for journalism.
  • The gap between expectation and reality led to her “first time dealing with depression or anxiety,” marked by sleeping until late, missing classes, and hiding struggles behind socializing. (19:27)
  • “I have learned that there's nothing wrong with bombing at something and growing from that and being OK with closing a chapter.” (28:02)

• Admitting Struggle & Asking for Help

  • Francesca recalls the turning point when academic performance forced her and her parents to reckon with the situation, eventually leading her to therapy—first reluctantly, then as a lifeline.
  • “Talk to somebody. Literally anybody. A friend, parent, somebody.” (52:55)
  • Therapy became a condition of her academic leave, and she credits it for her recovery and new self-awareness. (26:16)

Notable Quote

• “Every little thing that happened at that time felt like the end of the world… I’m never gonna do anything. This is the end of the world.” (53:53)

Breaking Tradition: Building a Career (00:56–01:28, 29:44–40:00, 54:44–56:45)

• Pushing Past Stigma

  • Francesca emphasizes the stigma within her peer group about non-traditional paths: “I just remember thinking... ‘Oh my God, that person's not going to college. What a disaster.’ And now I'm like, that was ridiculous.” (54:52)

• From Intern to On-Air: The Barstool Story

  • She became an intern at Barstool Sports through an unconventional series of events, simply being the only one to show up for an interview!
    • “I had an absolute Mickey Mouse way of getting into this job.” (33:46)
  • Initial office culture had few women; Francesca and Ria formed a team, leaning into the “chicks in the office” label that was originally quasi-mocking from their male coworkers. (36:56)

• Embracing Opportunity

  • When offered a full-time role before finishing school, Francesca took the leap. “This is my dream job right now… I will leave right now.” (55:52)
  • Her parents gradually came to support the decision given the difficulty she had experienced.

Notable Quotes

• “You can do so much with your life without going the traditional route.” (54:59)
• “I’m really proud that I fought to do that at that time and not kind of crumble.” (57:27)

Chicks in the Office: Sisterhood, Growth, and Creative Control (40:00–49:05)

• Origin Story & Evolution

  • Started as one-minute pop culture videos on Instagram—“what’s the biggest story? Here’s one minute.” (38:54)
  • The project grew into a radio show and then a full-on podcast, now three days a week.

• Unique Barstool Culture

  • Francesca credits Barstool with giving them freedom: “It is very much a place where you are brought in and they kick you out of the nest. Or like, see what you can do.” (42:21)

• Sisterly Partnership

  • Francesca and Ria met at Barstool—not childhood friends—yet developed real chemistry and openness. “We flow so well together, and we do have such a sisterly relationship now... We’re always super open with each other.” (46:20)
  • They prioritize the show’s success over ego: “We built it together... it's really like our baby. We always try and put Chicks in the Office first.” (47:54)

Notable Quote

• “The more we individually succeed too, the better it is for the show… There's more opportunities for the show if one of us is doing something amazing.” (49:05)

Self-Care, Boundaries & Advice (50:14–54:45)

• Francesca’s Wellness Routine

  • She values “rot days” for mental reset (ordering in, binge-watching, silence).
  • Leaning into boundaries: “Sometimes...I come home and I'm like, I have not shut up all day… Give me an hour just to sit in silence.” (50:50)
  • Owning a dog has brought unexpected structure and joy: “It's actually been very fantastic for me, I think, mentally.” (51:56)

• Advice to Her Younger Self

  • She stresses the importance of openness and not bottling things up: “I wish I had... talked to my friends because that also... caused a weird barrier.” (52:55)
  • She now recognizes college is not for everyone and is grateful she trusted her instincts, even when it bucked tradition.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “My biggest downfall at the time with my mental health was talking to anybody. I buried, buried, buried. Never had any issues before. I can't admit I have a problem now.” – Francesca (00:12)
• “I froze. Am I the biggest loser ever? That's just, like, what I dealt with constantly in my mind.” – Francesca (22:09)
• “I'm really proud of the relationships I've kept... my family are so special and important to me. I don't think I would be sane if I didn't have... my siblings and my parents and the group of amazing friends that I have who have been with me through so much.” – Francesca (57:27)
• On leaving college for Barstool: “I'm in school for broadcast journalism. This is my dream job right now. And I will leave right now.” – Francesca (55:52)

Timeline of Key Segments

• [00:01–00:56] Francesca recalls mental health collapse in college and the pressure of being the perfect child.
• [16:07–29:43] Deep dive into her struggle, shame, avoidance, finally seeking therapy, and lessons learned.
• [29:44–40:00] The non-linear journey to Barstool, the accidental internship, and trusting her gut over tradition.
• [40:00–46:00] How “Chicks in the Office” began, the switch to podcasting, and the Barstool environment.
• [46:00–49:05] On Francesca and Ria’s partnership and how communication and mutual respect drive their longevity.
• [50:14–52:48] Self-care: “Rot days,” dog walks, and boundary-setting for wellness.
• [52:55–56:45] Advice to her college self: openness, seeking help, new definitions of success.
• [57:25–58:57] What Francesca is most proud of: professional perseverance, maintaining relationships, and personal growth.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a refreshingly authentic look at what it means to evolve, struggle, and ultimately succeed on your own terms. Francesca’s journey is a testament to the power of vulnerability, the necessity of support, and redefining traditional paths, making her advice and story deeply relatable and encouraging.

For anyone wrestling with life’s “sour lemons,” Francesca’s story is a reminder: You’re not alone—and sometimes, the best opportunities come from trusting yourself enough to do what others might not understand.