The Toast

The Season of Truth: Monday, January 5th, 2026

January 5, 2026

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  • The hosts are kicking off Season 9 of "The Toast" with an intention to lead with "cold, hard truth" and authenticity, symbolized by removing the metaphorical 'glasses' they sometimes wear. 
  • Claudia Oshry (Jax) is easing back into work post-maternity leave, prioritizing honoring her current 'soft' emotional and physical state while still producing the show. 
  • The celebrity news segment immediately dives into the Alix Earle/Tom Brady rumors, with the hosts generally supporting Alix Earl's move into A-list territory despite the age gap and potential relationship fallout with her ex, Braxton. 
  • The hosts believe Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini's relationship is suffering due to fan fatigue after they posted content that caused their likability to decline, suggesting they should unplug from public perception. 
  • The hosts strongly condemn Zach Bryan's wedding caption, "tougher than the rest," viewing it as a toxic reference to his exes, particularly Brianna Chickenfry, and express concern for the new bride. 
  • The hosts speculate that 2026 will be "The Season of Truth" and "the year of The Toast," reflecting on personal growth from the previous year, including managing double maternity leaves. 

Segments

Season Nine Kickoff and Intentions
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts established their Season 9 intention is to lead with cold, hard truth and authenticity, moving away from veiled commentary.
  • Summary: The first episode of Season 9 of “The Toast” welcomed Jax back after her maternity leave, marking the start of 2026. The hosts set an intention for the season to be defined by authenticity and ‘cold, hard truth.’ They also noted that the holiday season felt longer due to Christmas and New Year’s both falling on Thursdays, leading to extended downtime.
Jax’s Postpartum Return
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(00:02:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Jax is intentionally embracing a ‘soft era’ post-maternity leave, prioritizing emotional and physical well-being over immediately bouncing back to pre-baby work pressure.
  • Summary: Jax explained she is putting less pressure on herself this time, remaining in a ’newborn bubble’ state physically and emotionally. She acknowledged the difficulty of returning to studio work versus working from home due to breastfeeding schedule constraints. The hosts also briefly touched upon the conflicting physical demands of breastfeeding (calorie surplus) versus weight loss (calorie deficit).
Personal Updates and Anecdotes
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(00:06:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts shared personal anecdotes illustrating the challenges of public commentary and the difficulty of maintaining reading habits during motherhood.
  • Summary: Claudia recounted an awkward interaction where the inventor of a reading quiz she disliked publicly responded to her critique, highlighting the curse of having a platform. Jackie admitted she has lost the ‘will to read’ since motherhood, despite having the time, illustrating that one cannot do everything perfectly.
Ad Reads and Sponsorships
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(00:16:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Bear Bells protein bars, Armra Colostrum, HomeServe home warranty, and Squarespace website building were presented as key sponsors for the start of 2026.
  • Summary: Bear Bells was promoted as the number one protein bar in the US, offering 20 flavors and 15-20g of protein per bar. Armra Colostrum was highlighted for immune and gut health benefits, particularly relevant for breastfeeding mothers. HomeServe offers home repair subscription plans starting as low as $4.99/month, covering wear and tear often excluded by standard insurance.
Alix Earle and Tom Brady
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(00:22:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The Alix Earle and Tom Brady St. Barts sighting was deemed a rite of passage for Alix’s A-list status, though the hosts doubt the romance is serious, noting Brady’s visible age discrepancy via a flashlight video.
  • Summary: Alix Earle was seen with Tom Brady after enjoying a yacht trip with other celebrities like the Tellers and Glen Powell. While some online reacted negatively, the hosts celebrated Alix’s move into the top tier of celebrity gossip, noting the back rub suggested she was in control. A video showing Brady’s phone flashlight on highlighted the age gap, leading the hosts to believe it was a vacation fling, not a lasting relationship.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner
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(00:30:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Timothée Chalamet publicly declared Kylie Jenner his ‘partner of three years’ in his Critics’ Choice Awards speech, signaling a serious, non-marital commitment.
  • Summary: Timothée Chalamet won an award for Wonka (Marty Supreme was mentioned as the film he won for) and thanked Kylie in his speech, using the term ‘partner’ which the hosts found significant. The hosts believe this intentional word choice suggests a long-term domestic partnership, leading them to anticipate an engagement or baby next for the couple. Kylie is praised for handling the new spotlight in the ‘arts’ world with grace.
Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini Reunion
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(00:37:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini reconciled after a ‘messy year for the heart,’ despite rumors Stokes was unfaithful, with Ballerini stating she believes in second chances and breaking patterns.
  • Summary: Chase Stokes posted photos confirming the reconciliation after a period where he allegedly made ‘desperate pleas’ on Instagram and rumors of infidelity surfaced. Kelsea Ballerini’s accompanying quote emphasized taking accountability and leaning into love, despite the public portrayal of their issues. The hosts noted that this situation sets up a difficult dynamic for Ballerini, whose music champions accepting nothing less than the best.
Chase Stokes Relationship Decline
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(00:41:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini’s public image and likability are suffering due to fan fatigue following recent posts, a new experience for both.
  • Summary: The couple, previously seen as perfect, has taken a significant nosedive in public perception, encountering fan fatigue for the first time. The hosts suggest that public perception can penetrate their relationship because both individuals are active online and aware of the feedback. Their advice is for the couple to unplug or allow the relationship to die a slow death.
Thrive Market Grocery Service Ad
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(00:44:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Thrive Market offers online grocery shopping featuring healthy ingredients, kitchen supplies, and cleaning products delivered to the home.
  • Summary: Thrive Market provides a convenient, healthy online grocery shopping experience, eliminating the need to visit physical stores or worry about label reading. Host Jackie Oshry praises the service for stocking better swaps of previously enjoyed but unhealthy items. Listeners can receive 30% off their first order plus a free $60 gift using the link thrivemarket.com/slash the toast.
Quince Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
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(00:44:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Quince provides luxurious, ethically sourced wardrobe essentials like cashmere and silk at prices significantly lower than traditional luxury brands.
  • Summary: Quince focuses on building a lasting capsule wardrobe with versatile, polished essentials, including soft cashmere sweaters and silk tops. The brand uses premium materials sourced from trusted, ethical factories while avoiding designer markups. Listeners can get free shipping and 365-day returns by visiting quince.com/slash toast, and the service is now available in Canada.
Velvet Caviar Tech Accessories
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(00:47:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Velvet Caviar offers fashionable, protective, MagSafe-compatible phone cases and matching accessories from a female-founded New York company.
  • Summary: The brand merges fashion and tech, providing cases that are drop-tested up to 10 feet for safety. Listeners can utilize a BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free) offer on all phone cases and matching accessories for 24 hours using the code Toast at Velvetcaviar.com. The company is female-founded and based in New York.
Stamps.com Shipping Solution
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(00:48:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Stamps.com allows small businesses to print postage on demand, access up to 90% off carrier rates, and schedule pickups directly from their door.
  • Summary: The service eliminates post office runs and expensive postage meter leases by enabling mailing and shipping from a computer or phone 24/7. Users can schedule carrier pickups, receive carrier-compliant labels, and access document tracking for delivery confirmation. New users can try stamps.com risk-free for 60 days using the code toast.
Zach Bryan Wedding & Brianna Reaction
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(00:49:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Zach Bryan’s marriage to Samantha Leonard, captioned “tougher than the rest,” prompted a savage reaction from his ex, Brianna Chickenfry, using a Taylor Swift song.
  • Summary: Zach Bryan married Samantha Leonard in Spain, but the caption referencing his past relationships shocked the hosts, who view it as toxic behavior. Brianna Chickenfry reacted by posting a TikTok lip-syncing Taylor Swift’s “Mastermind,” which the hosts debated as either a direct jab or a general post. The hosts expressed concern for Brianna, referencing her previous decision to turn down a large settlement.
Joe Jonas New Relationship Update
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(00:56:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Joe Jonas is confirmed to be dating model Tatiana Gabriela more than a year after settling his divorce from Sophie Turner, prompting a crush revival for one host.
  • Summary: One host admitted to being ‘so back on’ her Joe Jonas celebrity crush now that he is dating someone new, though she is not threatened by the new relationship. The hosts noted that Joe’s brothers, Nick and Kevin, appear happy in their respective relationships (Sophie Turner with Pellegrino and Dakota with Role Model). The hosts expressed a desire to keep Dakota Johnson and Role Model in the rear view.
Role Model Real Name Reveal
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(00:58:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Singer Role Model’s real name is Tucker Pillsbury, and he allegedly adopted his stage name from Paul Rudd’s character in the film ‘Role Models’.
  • Summary: The hosts were surprised to learn the singer’s first name is Tucker, which one host guessed correctly, though the last name is Pillsbury. Tucker Pillsbury reportedly changed his name from Tucker when switching from rapping to singing, possibly inspired by the 2008 movie. He previously dated Emma Chamberlain, and they appear to be on good terms, as she recently participated in a viral TikTok trend related to his song ‘Sally’.
Episode Wrap-up and 2026 Theme
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(01:01:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts declared the current episode one of their best and predicted 2026 will be ‘The Season of Truth’ and ’the year of The Toast’ following a year of significant personal growth.
  • Summary: The hosts reflected that 2025 was a year of growth, marked by two unplanned maternity leaves which they plan to coordinate better in the future. They settled on ‘The Season of Truth’ as the theme for 2026, suggesting they will care less about external opinions. The segment concluded with standard sign-offs and promotion for subscribing to the podcast and YouTube channel.
Lens Crafters Eye Exam Offer
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(01:03:41)
  • Key Takeaway: LensCrafters is offering 50% off lenses with a frame purchase, valid through February 11th, and encourages booking annual eye exams.
  • Summary: LensCrafters provides state-of-the-art eye exams and a wide assortment of designer brands and high-quality lenses. The current promotion offers 50% off lenses when purchasing a frame. Customers can book appointments online at lenscrafters.com or visit the location at Westchester Mall.