Chicks in the Office

Chelsea Handler Talks Roasting Leonardo DiCaprio & Critics Choice BTS, Her Favorite Drugs + More!

January 7, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts opened the *Chicks in the Office* episode by discussing the dreary feeling of January and the post-holiday cleanup, comparing the month to the 'Sunday of the week.' 
  • One host detailed the complex, time-consuming process of mastering a new Breville Barista Touch espresso machine, highlighting the need to weigh beans and fine-tune settings for a good shot, leading to a newfound respect for baristas. 
  • The hosts discussed the viral news about Ashley Tisdale leaving a 'toxic' mom friend group, noting how the narrative quickly devolved into online speculation involving other celebrities like Mandy Moore and Hillary Duff, despite her representative clarifying the essay was about a different group and addressing political rumors. 
  • The speakers are anticipating the sequel to *The Housemaid* but have heard mixed early criticism regarding Sydney Sweeney's performance. 
  • Listeners are concerned about spoilers circulating widely for the upcoming season of *The Bachelorette* featuring Taylor Frankie Paul, and there is discussion about YouTube pulling its streaming data from Billboard charts. 
  • Chelsea Handler finds hosting the Critics Choice Awards easy and enjoys setting the tone for award season, while also sharing details about her intense preparation process which contrasts sharply with her relaxed life skiing in Whistler. 
  • Chelsea Handler detailed how a disastrous first date involving skiing with the Kennedys motivated her to dedicate significant time to mastering the sport, eventually becoming an expert skier. 
  • Handler discussed the profound, positive impact of taking ayahuasca during the filming of her Netflix documentary *Chelsea Does Drugs*, specifically improving her relationship with her sister. 
  • Handler prefers hosting awards shows like the Critics' Choice Awards over more serious events like the Oscars because she enjoys a fun, less tense atmosphere, and believes women are inherently better at hosting than men. 

Segments

January Gloom and Day Preferences
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:15)
  • Key Takeaway: January is perceived as the ‘Sunday of the week’ due to its dreary, cold nature and lack of concrete plans.
  • Summary: The hosts noted feeling the ‘doom and gloom’ of January, exacerbated by the removal of Christmas decorations. They debated the analogy of months to days of the week, with one host assigning January to Sunday as a month of anticipation. Conversely, Tuesday was identified as one of the worst days of the week, often feeling more isolating than Monday.
Espresso Machine Hobby Complexity
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Achieving a perfect espresso shot with a high-end machine like the Breville Barista Touch requires precise, continuous adjustments based on the specific coffee beans used.
  • Summary: The hosts detailed the difficulty of using their new espresso machine, noting that TikTok videos offering settings are often useless because each bag of beans requires unique fine-tuning. A good shot is characterized by a specific color progression (black to dark brown to crema) and extraction time (25 to 35 seconds for a double shot). The process necessitates tools like a food scale to weigh 18 grams of beans to yield approximately 36 grams of espresso.
New Live Stream Plans
Copied to clipboard!
(00:12:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The Chicks in the Office YouTube channel will begin live streaming on Tuesday nights at (7:30) PM Eastern.
  • Summary: One host announced plans to start live streaming on Tuesday nights at (7:30) PM Eastern on the Chicks in the Office YouTube channel. Initial streams may feature the challenging process of making espresso, potentially offering ASMR content from the grinding and pouring sounds. This expansion into streaming is part of broader fun ideas planned for the show’s future content.
Dog Hair Vacuum Endorsement
Copied to clipboard!
(00:17:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The Dyson cordless vacuum is highly effective at removing dog hair, living up to its hype despite potential battery life limitations.
  • Summary: A new Dyson vacuum, received as a late wedding gift, was praised for its immediate and effective cleaning power on dog hair, even when the dog sleeps under the covers. While cordless convenience is appreciated, the hosts acknowledged that Dyson batteries are notoriously short-lived, which can interrupt cleaning momentum. This experience contrasted with the reliability of older, corded vacuums.
Epcot New Year’s Eve Spectacle
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Epcot hosts elaborate, multi-location New Year’s Eve celebrations featuring DJ dance parties and light shows in each country pavilion.
  • Summary: The hosts were surprised by TikTok videos showcasing the massive crowds and festival atmosphere at Epcot on New Year’s Eve. The celebration appears to involve distinct DJ sets and fireworks for different international pavilions, potentially marking celebrations for various time zones throughout the day. Despite the excitement, the sheer size of the crowd was described as a personal nightmare.
Ashley Tisdale Mom Group Fallout
Copied to clipboard!
(00:25:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Ashley Tisdale’s essay about leaving a ’toxic mom friend group’ led to immediate, incorrect online speculation that the group included Mandy Moore, Hillary Duff, and Megan Traynor, which her representative strongly denied.
  • Summary: The story surrounding Ashley Tisdale’s essay quickly spiraled into speculation about which famous mothers were involved, fueled by old photos and rumors about political differences. Tisdale’s representative confirmed that the essay was about a completely different group of friends and stressed that Tisdale is a registered Democrat, refuting the false claims circulating online. The incident highlights how celebrity vulnerability can lead to intense, often inaccurate, public scrutiny.
RHOSLC Reunion Trailer Drama
Copied to clipboard!
(00:43:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion trailer shows host Andy Cohen walking off set due to the intense, circular fighting between housewives Angie and Lisa, an unprecedented action.
  • Summary: The trailer confirmed that the reunion will feature significant conflict, particularly between Angie and Lisa, whose inability to stop arguing prompted Andy Cohen to leave the set. This action is rare for Cohen and suggests the level of disrespect or chaos reached a breaking point. The trailer also revealed that Heather and Meredith were fighting, and that cast member Bronwyn confirmed her separation from Todd.
The Housemaid Sequel News
Copied to clipboard!
(00:49:06)
  • Key Takeaway: A sequel to The Housemaid movie is officially happening, despite mixed reviews for the first film, which some viewers found laughable.
  • Summary: The first film received varied reactions, with some viewers who loved the book finding the movie ridiculous and laughing out loud, while others enjoyed it. Criticism was specifically aimed at Sydney Sweeney’s performance, though the hosts plan to watch the sequel with an open mind, especially since the second book is reportedly more aligned with Sweeney’s style. The sequel’s confirmation suggests the first movie was commercially successful enough to warrant a continuation.
Housemaid Sequel and Sydney Sweeney
Copied to clipboard!
(00:50:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The second book in The Housemaid series is considered by one speaker to be much more focused on the character Sydney.
  • Summary: The speakers confirm that a sequel to The Housemaid is officially happening. One speaker expresses that the second book felt more aligned with the character Sydney. They plan to watch the sequel with an open mind despite hearing some criticism about the first installment.
Bachelorette Spoilers Frustration
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners are frustrated by widespread spoilers for Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette appearing on pop culture sites.
  • Summary: A listener called into the PopCorner segment expressing annoyance over seeing spoilers for the upcoming Bachelorette season, including details about finale attendees, in captions online. The hosts agree that avoiding spoilers will be difficult since Taylor Frankie Paul is already a public figure. They promise not to spoil any details for their audience.
YouTube Data Withdrawal Impact
Copied to clipboard!
(00:59:38)
  • Key Takeaway: YouTube is withdrawing its streaming data from Billboard charts following Billboard’s decision to weight paid subscription streams more favorably than ad-supported streams.
  • Summary: YouTube announced it would withdraw streaming data from Billboard charts effective January 16th as retaliation for Billboard changing its methodology. Billboard narrowed the ratio weighting paid streams against ad-supported streams from 1:3 to 1:2.5 to better reflect revenue. The hosts debate whether this will impact artists’ motivation to create music videos.
Award Wins Limitation Hot Take
Copied to clipboard!
(01:08:22)
  • Key Takeaway: One listener suggests actors should only be allowed to win a specific acting category once per role to spread awards recognition.
  • Summary: A listener proposed that an actor should only win an award like Best Actor for a specific role once, citing Jeremy Allen White for The Bear as an example. The hosts disagree, arguing that a character’s storyline changes significantly across seasons, warranting continued recognition if the performance remains strong. They compare limiting wins to discouraging effort or issuing participation awards.
Taylor Swift and Hamnet Viewing
Copied to clipboard!
(01:13:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts speculate Taylor Swift is likely avoiding watching Hamnet because it stars her ex-fiancé, Joe Alwyn, despite her known affinity for Shakespeare.
  • Summary: A listener questioned whether Taylor Swift would watch Hamnet given her love for Shakespeare and Joe Alwyn’s role as William Shakespeare. The consensus leans toward her avoiding the film due to the serious nature of their past relationship. The discussion revealed that Paul Mescal plays William Shakespeare and that Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, died, inspiring the play Hamlet.
Chelsea Handler’s Hosting Prep
Copied to clipboard!
(01:31:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Chelsea Handler’s monologue preparation involves intense, last-minute collaboration with writers after she flies in from Whistler, transforming from a ‘homeless ski person’ to show-ready.
  • Summary: Chelsea Handler stated she feels competent hosting the Critics Choice Awards and enjoys setting the tone as the first show of the season. Her preparation involves sending jokes to writers while skiing and then undergoing a 48-hour beauty transformation upon landing in LA. She noted that Leonardo DiCaprio had the best reaction to her roasting.
Chelsea Handler’s Whistler Life
Copied to clipboard!
(01:39:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Chelsea Handler embraces chaos at her Whistler home, which functions as a ‘youth hostel’ where she spoils friends’ children with free PR gear.
  • Summary: Handler enjoys having many kids and their boyfriends around her Whistler home, viewing it as a fun, chaotic environment where she can be a positive influence. She gives away much of the PR ski gear she receives, noting K2 sent her excellent ski boots. Her love for skiing stemmed from a past relationship where she felt unable to ‘hang’ with expert skiers.
Learning to Ski After Date
Copied to clipboard!
(01:41:41)
  • Key Takeaway: A bad skiing experience with an ex-boyfriend spurred Handler to dedicate two months to intensive training in Whistler.
  • Summary: Handler’s first date involved skiing with the Kennedys where she couldn’t handle a double black diamond, leading her to take her skis off and climb the mountain. This red flag motivated her to spend two months in Whistler, hiring a ski guide (whom she also slept with) to learn properly. She subsequently skied 55 days in a row during the first year of COVID to conquer the skill.
Antarctica Trip and Psychedelics
Copied to clipboard!
(01:44:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler attended a 10-day psychedelic conference in Antarctica where MDMA and LSD were prevalent, noting the boat had more drugs than Venezuelan fishing vessels.
  • Summary: Handler recently returned from a 10-day trip to Antarctica, which was actually a psychedelic conference where researchers studied substances and others participated. She mentioned consuming MDMA and LSD on the trip, contrasting this with ketamine use, which she finds to be an ‘ick’ when people intentionally ‘K-Hole.’ She also noted that Antarctica during their summer was surprisingly not that cold.
Ayahuasca Experience and Sisterly Bond
Copied to clipboard!
(01:45:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Ayahuasca provided Handler with an intense, enlightening experience that fundamentally changed her perspective and behavior toward her sister.
  • Summary: Handler discussed taking ayahuasca for her Netflix special, Chelsea Does Drugs, which resulted in a voice telling her to be nicer and more gentle with her sister. The experience showed her that neither she nor her sister was entirely ‘right’ or ‘wrong,’ leading to repressed childhood memories resurfacing. She became much nicer to her sister afterward but waited until the show aired to reveal the reason.
The High and Mighty Tour Details
Copied to clipboard!
(01:48:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler’s upcoming ‘High and Mighty Tour’ will feature stories about travel, drug adventures, and the positive experience of cutting family members out of her life for holidays.
  • Summary: The tour starts in February and will cover travel adventures and drug stories, including micro-dosing LSD and psilocybin. A major theme is breaking up with family for the holidays, as she found her first Christmas alone to be the happiest she’s ever been. She emphasizes that editing people out of one’s life, even family, is acceptable if a break is needed for peace.
Favorite Drugs and College Experiences
Copied to clipboard!
(01:50:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler favors MDMA for its positive vibe and ability to enhance intimacy, contrasting her current preference for micro-dosing with the hosts’ past rave experiences.
  • Summary: Handler stated her favorite drug is MDMA because it creates a great vibe and is fun for making out, noting the hosts had a ‘rave girl phase’ in college. She now prefers micro-dosing LSD and psilocybin, sourcing clean substances through doctor friends in Canada. She mentioned that her first drug experiences were later in life, as she started working at 19 instead of attending college.
Helping Callers on Dear Chelsea
Copied to clipboard!
(01:52:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler finds fulfillment in her podcast Dear Chelsea by helping people gain confidence to make difficult life decisions, sometimes participating in challenges like a 30-day pot break in solidarity.
  • Summary: Handler enjoys her podcast because she gets to help people take leaps of faith, such as leaving bad jobs or relationships, fulfilling her natural inclination to give unsolicited advice. In one instance, she joined a caller in a 30-day pot break to help him gain clarity, which resulted in the caller coming out to his parents and quitting pot altogether. She values feeling like a good, reliable person through these actions.
Family Dynamics and Vacation Expectations
Copied to clipboard!
(01:55:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler prioritizes her own peace and enjoyment on vacations, refusing to finance trips where she must endure family members’ negative behavior or political views.
  • Summary: Handler, who financially supports her extended family since her parents passed, is done financing trips where she has to listen to things like her brother’s wife discussing her love for Putin. She expects courtesy and gratitude when she is generous, stating she doesn’t need material returns but demands respect. She prefers solo vacations now to ensure she can be silly, take drugs, and avoid negativity.
Giving and Receiving Criticism
Copied to clipboard!
(01:57:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler values direct, non-passive-aggressive communication, citing Jane Fonda’s direct criticism years ago as a pivotal, loving teaching moment that inspired her to be truthful with others.
  • Summary: Handler prefers calling things as they are rather than engaging in passive aggressiveness, believing that saying hard truths nicely is a sign of caring. She recounted how Jane Fonda once called her out for bad behavior at a party, telling her not to ‘become a product of this environment’ but to ‘make this environment a product of you.’ This interaction taught Handler the value of both giving and receiving criticism, leading to a close friendship with Fonda.
Hosting Awards Shows and Leo/Benicio
Copied to clipboard!
(02:00:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler prefers the Critics’ Choice Awards because it is fun and less serious than the Oscars, where the high stakes lead to negative energy like the Will Smith slap incident.
  • Summary: Handler enjoys the Critics’ Choice Awards because the atmosphere allows for cocktails and fun, contrasting it with the seriousness of the Oscars where winners are often upset if they lose. She referenced the Will Smith incident as an example of the negative energy at the Oscars, noting Smith received a 10-year ban. She expressed admiration for Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting ability, particularly his skill in portraying intoxication convincingly without being high.
Vegas Residency and Gambling Habits
Copied to clipboard!
(02:07:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Handler enjoys her monthly residency shows at The Chelsea in the Cosmopolitan, where she hosts friends and consistently wins back any money her group loses gambling on Blackjack.
  • Summary: Handler has five remaining shows at The Chelsea in the Cosmopolitan, which she turns into a fun event where friends from various locations attend. She gives her guests money to gamble, and while they usually lose it, she always manages to win back her starting amount by the end of the night. Her preferred casino games are Blackjack and Roulette, as she needs a challenge and dislikes the passivity of slot machines.