Episode Summary: The Toast - Girly Swirly University: Monday, November 11th, 2024

Hosted by Jackie & Claudia Oshry

1. Monday Blues and Weekend Reflections

The episode kicks off with Jackie and Claudia addressing the universal dread of Mondays. Jackie candidly admits her frustration with the start of the week:

Jackie [00:03]: "Happy Monday. Like, this fucking sucks. Let's just acknowledge it."

Claudia offers a more optimistic take, mentioning the proximity to the Thanksgiving holiday season:

Claudia [00:15]: "I feel like it's a very fair Monday as far as Mondays go, and we are so close to, like, Thanksgiving holiday season."

The conversation shifts to their differing perspectives on the weekend. Jackie feels her weekends pass by without meaningful accomplishments:

Jackie [00:39]: "Like, but on Friday, I was so, you know, accomplished, and I was like, yay, it's the weekend. And it just kind of, like, flew fucking by. I'm back where I started, and what do I have to show for it? Fucking nothing."

In contrast, Claudia shares her productive weekend activities, highlighting her active involvement with her husband:

Claudia [01:14]: "We did so much on Saturday. We went shopping, we went to the beach... I walked away with a new set of Le Creuset and a pair of Chanel sandals and a Chanel outfit."

2. Merch Drops and Girly Swirly University

Claudia excitedly discusses their latest merchandise drop in collaboration with Girly Swirly University (GSU), a playful nod to their fictional educational institution:

Claudia [01:50]: "We did so much on Saturday... I walked away with a new set of Le Creuset and a pair of Chanel sandals and a Chanel outfit."

Jackie humorously shares her experiences wearing the new merch, emphasizing the playful branding:

Jackie [02:42]: "Girly Swirly University set. We'll be teasing, like, all the products that we're launching. There's more."

They highlight their upcoming merchandise launch:

Jackie [05:09]: "Next Wednesday at 10am on our website, shoptoastmerch.com, these are two of the sets that we're dropping."

Claudia adds a lighthearted story about the confusion caused by their merch:

Claudia [04:04]: "I was wearing the Girly Swirly University hat that we've made... someone walked by me, and he was like, did you pass the bar? And I'm like, no."

3. Grammys Nominations: Hits and Snubs

The hosts delve into the latest Grammy nominations, expressing both excitement and disappointment over certain snubs:

Jackie [23:43]: "Gram Anomination 2025. I know everyone's been waiting for it. Beyoncé leads this year with 11 nominations as Taylor Swift, Chapel Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charlie X are also among the top nominees."

They discuss Ariana Grande’s perceived snub:

Claudia [24:03]: "One of the big stories of this nomination is Ariana Grande being snubbed. She wasn't nominated in any of the main four categories."

Jackie provides her perspective on the competitiveness of the nominations:

Jackie [25:12]: "The album was good. But when you think about, like, how competitive it was this year, like, that album just really did not make the cut."

Claudia counters by acknowledging the overwhelming number of nominations:

Claudia [25:35]: "I think it was a stacked year for albums. So it's not like a snubbing necessarily."

They predict potential winners, with Jackie favoring new and emerging artists:

Jackie [32:10]: "I think the album of my year was 'Tortured Poets Department.' I actually don't think she will win this year. She has won a lot before."

4. Comedy Albums and Industry Observations

The conversation shifts to the Best Comedy Album category, where Jackie criticizes the nominations for lacking representation of impactful comedians:

Jackie [40:12]: "Shane Gillis should have been nominated. Trevor Noah isn't even someone actively seeking out his specials."

Claudia agrees, highlighting the disconnect between the nominations and the current comedy landscape:

Claudia [42:10]: "Their comedy vertical nominators are obviously just ancient."

They lament the disconnect between traditional comedy awards and the evolving comedy scene influenced by the internet:

Jackie [42:26]: "Comedy is so Internet now. Many comedians rise through podcasts and viral content, not traditional specials."

5. Hollywood’s Elite Celebrations and Critiques

Jackie and Claudia comment on Leonardo DiCaprio's 50th birthday celebration attended by high-profile celebrities:

Claudia [48:14]: "Leonardo DiCaprio celebrated his star-studded 50th birthday with Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, and Steven Spielberg."

Jackie expresses her disdain for the superficiality of such events:

Jackie [49:27]: "These people are disgusting... They're partying while they still can."

Claudia reflects on the decay of Hollywood’s allure:

Claudia [50:21]: "Of those Hollywood parties, I feel like it's like yucky, run for your life."

6. TV Show Spotlight: Yellowstone Recap and Discussions

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the latest developments in the TV show Yellowstone.

Season Finale Expectations: Jackie expresses her excitement and apprehension about the season finale, fearing unresolved plotlines:

Jackie [64:02]: "So, after much anticipation, I posted on my Instagram... I was like, this better be good."

Character Developments and Plot Twists: Claudia and Jackie dissect major character arcs, including the absence of Kevin Costner and its impact on the storyline:

Claudia [66:00]: "John Dutton is one of my favorite characters. I wasn't even sad because I'm like, he's not dead. He's just lazy."

Emotional Reactions to the Show: The hosts share their emotional disconnect from certain plot developments, highlighting inconsistencies and confusing narrative choices:

Claudia [67:03]: "Those opening moments were really hard to watch because of everything that we know."

Jackie criticizes the believability of character portrayals, especially regarding Beth Dutton’s reactions:

Jackie [71:21]: "Nothing that comes out of his mouth is wrong. Nothing."

Future Season Predictions: They speculate on future plotlines, such as revenge arcs and character motivations:

Claudia [73:02]: "She's very much involved in the storyline about Garrett and his influence."

Jackie [74:45]: "It was nice to see the show and the characters come back together."

7. Personal Anecdotes and Social Commentary

Throughout the episode, Jackie and Claudia weave in personal stories and societal observations, adding depth and relatability to their discussions.

Petting Zoo Experience: Claudia recounts a humorous encounter with llamas at a farm:

Claudia [06:24]: "I have like llama spit up on my GSU."

Jackie contrasts this with her own less enjoyable experience:

Jackie [07:35]: "I will never in my life take my children to like, especially the sea aquarium type of."

Education and Career Paths: They touch upon the concept of Girly Swirly University, a playful metaphor for their personal growth and education:

Jackie [10:05]: "I think you could study that at GSU."

Claudia praises their online education approach, emphasizing flexibility and customization:

Claudia [10:44]: "Where do you go? I went on the Internet and found educationconnection.com."

8. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Content

As the episode concludes, the hosts tease upcoming content and encourage listeners to engage with their merchandise drops:

Jackie [75:01]: "And you know, we have our Merch drops Wednesday at 10am. shoptoastmerch.com."

They express gratitude towards their audience, inviting them to subscribe and follow their social media for more updates and exclusive content.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie [00:03]: "Happy Monday. Like, this fucking sucks. Let's just acknowledge it."

• Claudia [04:04]: "I walked away with a new set of Le Creuset and a pair of Chanel sandals and a Chanel outfit."

• Claudia [48:14]: "Leonardo DiCaprio celebrated his star-studded 50th birthday with Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, and Steven Spielberg."

• Jackie [23:43]: "Gram Anomination 2025. Beyoncé leads this year with 11 nominations as Taylor Swift, Chapel Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charlie X are also among the top nominees."

Conclusion:

In this episode of The Toast, Jackie and Claudia navigate through a blend of personal anecdotes, pop culture critiques, and in-depth discussions on current events. From the frustrations of starting a new week to the exciting launches of their merchandise and the competitive landscape of the Grammys, the hosts offer a candid and entertaining perspective. Their deep dive into Yellowstone provides fans with thoughtful critiques and anticipations for future seasons, while their commentary on Hollywood’s elite celebrations underscores their ability to blend humor with societal observations. As always, Jackie and Claudia maintain an engaging dialogue, making the episode both informative and relatable for listeners.