The Toast

Back to Basics: Wednesday, October 29th, 2025

October 29, 2025

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  • Jackie Oshry is temporarily returning to co-host *The Toast* during her maternity leave, filling in alongside Claudia Oshry, who has been covering for her. 
  • The hosts spent significant time discussing Ina Garten's *Back to Basics* episodes, particularly criticizing a 'sausage and grapes' dish and noting the show's declining quality over its 18 seasons. 
  • The first story discussed confirms the final split between Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade Giannulli, with the hosts agreeing that the relationship served as a positive stepping stone for Olivia Jade's image rehabilitation. 
  • The hosts heavily critique the use of props in Jordan Childs and Ezra Sosa's dance, agreeing with Carrie Ann Inaba that the harness was a distracting failure, while Andy's continued improvement and entertainment value earned their votes. 
  • Jen is deemed to have been unfairly judged postpartum, receiving the same score as Elaine despite performing while absent from the show, leading the hosts to believe Jen was ready to leave the competition. 
  • Alex is currently the hosts' prediction to win *Dancing with the Stars* due to her significant improvement and breakthrough performance, positioning her as a real contender against the consistently strong Whitney. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Guest Reveal
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(00:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Jacqueline Folet Freebush (Jax) is back as co-host while on maternity leave.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce the podcast, ‘The Toast,’ and welcome guest co-host Jacqueline Folet Freebush (Jax), noting her return and pregnancy.
Discussion on the Game Jax
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(00:01:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The game Jax evokes strong, happy memories, but its physical requirements make it impractical to play now.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the game Jax, its underrated status, the difficulty of playing it due to physical requirements (playing on the floor), and the nostalgic happiness associated with it.
Jax’s Return from Maternity Leave
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(00:02:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax is back co-hosting temporarily because her baby hasn’t signaled the start of her maternity leave yet.
  • Summary: Jax confirms she is back for the episode, explaining that her maternity leave hasn’t officially started, and shouts out Taylor Strecker for covering.
Guest Co-Host Workload Comparison
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(00:03:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Guest co-hosting is surprisingly exhausting, making this return feel like a ‘day off’ for Jax.
  • Summary: Jax comments on how tiring it is to guest co-host, noting that doing two guest spots felt like a full job, and this current appearance feels like a short week.
Pregnancy Update and Labor Speculation
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(00:03:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax feels she might go into labor soon, but is also prepared for it to be weeks away due to her cervical incompetence.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss Jax’s feelings about labor. Jax mentions her history of cervical incompetence, which usually risks early labor, but now she feels she might have three more weeks.
Baby Size Comparison
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(00:05:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax has historically given birth to large babies, noting her first child was 9 lbs 5 oz.
  • Summary: They discuss the size of Jax’s upcoming baby compared to her first, Charlie, who was 9 lbs 5 oz, and her second, Harry, who was 7 lbs 14 oz.
DWTS Postpartum Journey Discussion
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(00:06:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax’s final episode before her leave will focus on Jen Affleck’s ‘postpartum journey’ ending on Dancing with the Stars.
  • Summary: The hosts anticipate discussing Jen Affleck’s elimination from DWTS, noting her defeated demeanor, which Jax felt meant she wanted to go home.
Ina Garten’s ‘Back to Basics’ Critique
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(00:07:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Ina Garten’s later seasons feature increasingly desperate and strange recipes, like sausage and grapes.
  • Summary: They discuss watching Ina Garten’s ‘Back to Basics,’ specifically a bizarre recipe involving sausage and grapes, contrasting early, blurry, but better recipes with later, high-quality but strange ones.
Thanksgiving Hosting Plans
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(00:09:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax is hosting Thanksgiving this year, with Olivia handling the turkey and Jax handling the sides.
  • Summary: Jax shares excitement about hosting Thanksgiving and debates buying seasonal versus non-committal autumnal plates, with the other host offering to help shop.
Fast Five Stories Introduction & Sponsors
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(00:11:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The show transitions into the ‘Fast Five’ segment, sponsored by SmartMouth, Quince, and Byhart.
  • Summary: The hosts wrap up personal talk and introduce the ‘Fast Five’ segment, which is sponsored by SmartMouth (mouthwash), Quince (affordable luxury clothing), and Byhart (infant formula).
Olivia Jade and Jacob Elordi Split
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(00:18:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade have officially split for good, which the hosts view as positive for Olivia’s growth.
  • Summary: The first story covers the breakup of Jacob Elordi and Olivia Jade. The hosts feel she has outgrown him and credit him for helping her image rehabilitation post-scandal.
Dorothy Wang’s Italian Wedding
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(00:21:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Dorothy Wang married lawyer Brandon Yankowitz in Italy in a lavish, multi-cultural ceremony, but Vogue missed the feature.
  • Summary: The hosts celebrate Dorothy Wang’s wedding, noting her stunning looks and the blend of Chinese tea ceremony and Jewish wedding traditions. They debate whether Morgan Stewart was uninvited due to her absence.
Meghan and Harry at World Series
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(00:26:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Meghan and Harry’s attendance at the Dodgers World Series game was the main reason the hosts knew the series was happening.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss Meghan and Harry attending the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series game, leading to a brief, lighthearted debate about Canadian teams in American sports leagues.
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau Dating Rumors
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(00:29:30)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are surprisingly supportive of the rumored relationship between Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau, finding them a good match.
  • Summary: They discuss photos of Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau together in Paris, with both hosts agreeing the pairing makes sense despite their perceived ‘worst personalities.’
Taylor Swift’s Low Profile at Games
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(00:31:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Taylor Swift is keeping a low profile at Travis Kelce’s games due to ongoing security concerns and to avoid drawing attention to his performance dips.
  • Summary: The hosts analyze why Taylor Swift is attending games more discreetly, leaning toward the theory that it’s to avoid drawing negative attention to Travis’s performance rather than just security.
Ben’s Upcoming Toast Appearance
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(00:36:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Ben will be on the Friday ‘Toast to Weed’ episode in a costume where he plays a woman.
  • Summary: The hosts briefly discuss Ben’s upcoming appearance on ‘Toast to Weed’ and his costume choice, which involves him dressing as a woman.
eBay and Little Spoon Sponsors
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(00:37:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The final segment sponsors are eBay (thrill of finding pre-loved items) and Little Spoon (healthy, convenient kids’ meals).
  • Summary: The fifth story segment is sponsored by eBay and Little Spoon. Jax shares her success finding kids’ china on eBay, and they praise Little Spoon for healthy, convenient kids’ food.
DWTS Halloween Night Recap
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(00:42:43)
  • Key Takeaway: DWTS Halloween night featured shocking eliminations, injuries, and poor lighting, but Cheryl Burke was an excellent, clear-speaking judge.
  • Summary: The final story covers DWTS Halloween night, noting injuries (Dylan and Elaine), poor lighting making technique hard to see, and praising guest judge Cheryl Burke for her clear critiques.
Reality Show Balancing Act
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(00:47:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Celebrities face public criticism when admitting they struggle to balance multiple demanding commitments.
  • Summary: Discussion about a celebrity mom struggling with two reality shows and the resulting public hate, emphasizing that multiple truths can coexist.
Jordan and Ezra’s Prop Failure
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(00:48:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Silly props, like the harness used by Jordan and Ezra, distract from strong dancing if not executed perfectly.
  • Summary: Review of Jordan Fisher and Ezra Sosa’s performance (34/40) and strong criticism of the harness prop, agreeing with Carrie Ann’s critique.
Andy’s Consistent Improvement
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(00:48:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Andy continues to improve technically and entertain the hosts, leading them to vote for him despite low scores.
  • Summary: Review of Andy and Emma’s dance (28/40). Hosts were entertained, noted his footwork improvement, and discussed voting strategy.
Voting Strategy Discussion
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(00:49:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Hosts reveal who they voted for, with one host initially hesitant to vote for Elaine due to her absence but ultimately swayed by the performance.
  • Summary: The hosts compare their voting choices (Andy, Alex, Elaine) and discuss the fairness of Elaine competing after missing the show.
Andy’s Fan Theories Addressed
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(00:50:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Andy directly addressed the fan theory that he was being held against his will, which the host appreciated.
  • Summary: Discussion about Andy’s continued presence, his weight loss, and the host’s trust in his stated enjoyment of the competition.
Danielle Fishel’s Forgettable Run
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(01:11:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Danielle Fishel has become extremely forgettable, placing her firmly in the bottom tier of contestants expected to be eliminated soon.
  • Summary: Review of Danielle Fishel and Pasha’s score (33/40). Hosts agree she is neither bad nor good, just forgettable.
Judge Conflict Over Time
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(01:47:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Derek Hough appeared frustrated because Carrie Ann Inaba’s lengthy critiques cut into his allotted time to speak.
  • Summary: Observation of tension between Carrie Ann and Derek during judging, suggesting gimmicky packages should be cut to allow more time for commentary.
Robert Irwin’s Winning Potential
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(01:22:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Robert and Whitney are favored to win by ABC due to the Irwin family’s close relationship with the show.
  • Summary: Praise for Robert and Whitney’s dance. Hosts discuss Whitney carrying the routine and the rumored favoritism towards the Irwins.
Jen’s Postpartum Struggles
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(01:53:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Jen was unfairly judged without grace for being postpartum, and her defeated demeanor suggested she wanted to leave.
  • Summary: Review of Jen and Jan’s score (32/40). Hosts felt the dance was fine, criticized the lack of grace given her recent childbirth, and supported her exit.
Alex’s Breakthrough Performance
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(01:57:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex finally had her breakthrough moment, scoring 39/40 and establishing herself as a serious contender against Whitney.
  • Summary: Review of Alex and Val’s high-scoring dance. Hosts praised her dedication but wished Val would incorporate more ‘Barbie’ style fun.
Dylan and Daniella’s Suspicious Chemistry
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(02:39:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts suspect Dylan and Daniella are falling in love, noting their unusual lack of physical contact as a possible attempt to hide it.
  • Summary: Review of Dylan and Daniella’s dance (35/40). Hosts discuss their past success and their current, suspiciously distant interactions.
Next Week’s Theme Revealed
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(02:24:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Next week’s theme is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, featuring Flavor Flav as the guest judge.
  • Summary: Hosts discuss the upcoming theme and express surprise/disappointment that Flavor Flav is the guest judge instead of a more traditional rock star.
Top Four Predictions
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(03:07:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex is the current prediction for the winner, with Whitney, Robert, and either Jordan or Dylan rounding out the top four.
  • Summary: Hosts finalize their predictions for the top four contestants moving forward.