The Toast

Looking Mighty Tasty: Thursday, January 8th, 2026

January 8, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts opened the episode of *The Toast* by discussing their mutual discomfort with maintaining direct eye contact, framing it as a potential 'weakness' in a job interview setting. 
  • Claudia Oshry revealed her strategy for managing snacking while breastfeeding involves eating high-protein, zero-point foods like ground meat on the Weight Watchers Nursing Program. 
  • The hosts engaged in a mock job interview where Claudia humorously addressed her career gap by citing her entrepreneurial experience and her inability to maintain eye contact, which she linked to childhood sibling dynamics. 
  • The hosts transition to discussing Luke Combs' new album, 'The Way I Am,' noting it is his first full-length album since 2024's 'Fathers and Sons' and expressing anticipation for new 'banger' material. 
  • One host reveals a strong aversion to the commuting experience, viewing it purely as a means to an end, contrasting with the other host's implied enjoyment of the journey. 
  • The latter half of the segment focuses on Jackie's dog, Bruno, detailing a recent health scare involving an eye ulcer and perceived vomiting of blood (later determined to be unrelated to the ulcer and likely food dye), highlighting the high cost of veterinary care ('Big Pet') and Bruno's attention-seeking behavior due to a new baby in the house. 

Segments

Eye Contact Weakness Admission
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Inability to hold eye contact is cited as a personal weakness that makes the speaker deeply uncomfortable.
  • Summary: One host admitted that their greatest weakness, if asked in a job interview, would be their inability to hold eye contact, often looking at the ceiling instead. The other host suggested this admission could be perceived as a red flag by potential employers, comparing it to serial killer behavior. This led to a brief debate on whether good eye contact is weirder than bad eye contact.
Taco Night and Protein Intake
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Eating high protein is an effective strategy to stave off endless snacking, especially when breastfeeding.
  • Summary: The hosts shared that they had tacos the previous night, prompting a discussion on protein intake. One host is actively trying to eat more protein to control snacking, noting that it helps when breastfeeding. A suggestion was made to utilize the Weight Watchers Nursing Program, where ground chicken and beef are zero-point foods.
Mahjong Lessons and Game Table
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Mahjong has experienced a resurgence in popularity, contrasting with past experiences where playing it was considered uncool.
  • Summary: One host recently took a Mahjong lesson and is eager to play before forgetting the rules, noting that her sisters never wanted to play when she learned in high school. She considered buying an expensive $3,000 game table but was advised to start with a foldable card table. The goal is to play for money so the winner can fund the communal card table.
Baby Milestones and Punctuality
Copied to clipboard!
(00:08:10)
  • Key Takeaway: A baby sleeping on their stomach after rolling over is a significant milestone that aids in better sleep.
  • Summary: One host shared that her baby, Max, has started sleeping on his stomach after rolling over, which is a relief for parents whose babies struggle with initial sleep patterns. This milestone contrasts with the host’s chronic tendency to be 20 minutes early for everything, a habit she maintains even when factoring in travel time in New York.
Mock Job Interview Roleplay
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Failing forward by pursuing dreams is presented as a strength, while struggling with eye contact is linked to childhood insecurity.
  • Summary: During a mock interview, the host explained her 11-year career gap by framing it as taking risks and knowing failure, referencing Taylor Swift’s lyrics about solitaire. Her greatest strength was cited as time management, stemming from being chronically on time. Her biggest weakness was again identified as struggling with direct eye contact, which she attributed to feeling unaccepted by her older sister.
Hilary Duff Risqué Song Snippet
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Hilary Duff’s new song snippet is criticized for being overtly sexual, poorly written, and incongruent with her established ‘girl next door’ persona.
  • Summary: Hilary Duff shared a snippet of a new song containing explicit lyrics about giving head in a dive bar, which the hosts found shocking given her stable public image. They contrasted her overt approach with the subtle innuendo used effectively by artists like Taylor Swift and Hailee Steinfeld. The hosts concluded the song is bad songwriting and doesn’t align with Duff’s established brand, suggesting she should sing about her actual happy marriage instead.
Spencer Pratt LA Mayor Campaign
Copied to clipboard!
(00:27:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Spencer Pratt is running for LA Mayor, motivated by uncovering fraud related to wildfire relief funds and criticizing the city’s broken system.
  • Summary: Spencer Pratt is launching a campaign for LA Mayor one year after losing his home in the wildfires, stating the system is ‘fundamentally broken.’ He previously brought attention to an investigation showing that $50 million raised for fire victims via a celebrity festival went to fake charities. The hosts endorse his bid, arguing that being a victim of the city’s failures provides him with unique motivation.
Shawn Mendes Confirms Romance
Copied to clipboard!
(00:32:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Shawn Mendes confirmed his romance with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine during a PDA-filled outing, prompting reflection on his career trajectory.
  • Summary: Shawn Mendes confirmed his relationship with Bruna Marquezine, leading the hosts to recall his past comments about sexuality being a spectrum, which they had forgotten about. The hosts noted that Mendes, who rose to fame from Vine, seems to have ‘fallen off’ since his peak popularity with songs like ‘In My Blood.’ They contrasted his current status with Harry Styles, who is currently taking a break after an extensive tour.
Ali Wong and Bill Hader Split
Copied to clipboard!
(00:39:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The breakup of Ali Wong and Bill Hader after two years is noted, with the hosts suggesting Amy Schumer was instrumental in making Bill Hader romantically desirable.
  • Summary: Ali Wong and Bill Hader split after dating for over two years, a separation that surprised the hosts who thought they were a stable couple. The hosts believe Bill Hader’s romantic desirability was largely established after his role in the movie Trainwreck, which starred Amy Schumer. They suggest Hader should send Schumer flowers annually, similar to how Taylor Swift sends Kelly Clarkson flowers, to thank her for the career boost.
Luke Combs New Album Announcement
Copied to clipboard!
(00:43:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Luke Combs announced his sixth studio album, The Way I Am, featuring the track ‘Sleepless in a Hotel Room,’ his first full-length since 2024’s Fathers and Sons.
  • Summary: Luke Combs announced his new album, The Way I Am, which is his first full-length release since Fathers and Sons in 2024. The new album includes the track ‘Sleepless in a Hotel Room,’ which was released the day prior to the announcement. The hosts noted that the album before Fathers and Sons was Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Older.
Watch What Happens Live Anecdote
Copied to clipboard!
(00:42:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Celebrities sometimes need to study their own past appearances to perform well on ‘Watch What Happens Live’.
  • Summary: The hosts reference a recurring situation on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ where guests must review their own career history to answer questions effectively. This suggests the show requires significant preparation or recall from participants. The anecdote highlights the pressure of live, unscripted recall regarding one’s professional history.
Luke Combs Album Announcement
Copied to clipboard!
(00:43:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Luke Combs announced his sixth studio album, ‘The Way I Am,’ featuring the track ‘Sleepless in a Hotel Room.’
  • Summary: Luke Combs is releasing his sixth studio album, ‘The Way I Am,’ which follows his 2024 release, ‘Fathers and Sons.’ The new album includes the track ‘Sleepless in a Hotel Room,’ which was released the day prior to this discussion. The hosts note that the last album featuring ‘banger’ tracks might have been the one preceding ‘Fathers and Sons,’ which was ‘Growing Up and Getting Older’ (released around 2023).
Commuting Music Preferences
Copied to clipboard!
(00:44:07)
  • Key Takeaway: One host views commuting strictly as a necessary means to an end, not an enjoyable experience for music listening.
  • Summary: The conversation explored personal enjoyment during the commute, with one host admitting they do not actively enjoy listening to music with the windows down while driving. For this host, commuting is purely about reaching the destination, not savoring the journey. The anticipation of new Luke Combs music might change this perspective.
Bruno’s Health Scare and Vet Costs
Copied to clipboard!
(00:45:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Bruno required a cone for an eye ulcer, and the initial vet visit suggested severe issues, but subsequent review indicated the vomiting was unrelated and likely due to diet or dye.
  • Summary: Jackie’s dog, Bruno, wore a cone due to an eye ulcer requiring drops, which he was prevented from pawing at to avoid potential blindness. Initial panic over red in his vomit, suggesting blood, led to a high potential vet bill, but this was later dismissed as likely being caused by eating something with red dye. The hosts criticized the high costs associated with veterinary services, noting Jackie managed to reduce a potential $4,000 bill to a couple hundred dollars.
Episode Wrap-up and Call to Action
Copied to clipboard!
(00:48:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts thanked listeners for well-wishes regarding Bruno and encouraged subscribing and leaving five-star reviews mentioning how ‘beautiful, stunning, and mighty tasty’ they are.
  • Summary: The hosts confirmed this was not the final episode of the week, despite feeling like a full week due to recent events. They directed listeners to subscribe on YouTube and follow on podcast platforms like Spotify and Stitcher. A specific instruction was given for listeners to include compliments about the hosts’ appearance in five-star reviews.