Chicks in the Office

RACHEL MCADAMS & DYLAN O'BRIEN INTERVIEW

January 28, 2026

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  • The hosts were extremely nervous but thrilled to interview Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, whom they consider major role models and favorites. 
  • The hosts and guests discovered a shared, awkward connection from having both attended the same 'Marty Supreme Party' without speaking to each other. 
  • The hosts successfully secured tickets to see Harry Styles perform in London alongside Shania Twain, coinciding with their 4th of July break. 
  • The upcoming documentary 'Reality Check Inside America's Next Top Model' will feature commentary from Tyra Banks and other key figures addressing the show's problematic past. 
  • Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie brand, SYRN, amidst controversy regarding the marketing stunt involving the Hollywood sign and the brand's investor, Jeff Bezos. 
  • Bella Hadid and cowboy boyfriend Adan Banuelos have reportedly split after two years, raising questions over the custody of their million-dollar horses. 
  • The hosts announced the launch of their new podcast, 'The Same Page Book Club,' with the first episode airing that Thursday. 
  • Rachel McAdams found receiving her Hollywood Walk of Fame star surreal, admitting she never fantasized about it and assumed it was off the table even after major career milestones like releasing *Mean Girls* and *The Notebook* in the same year. 
  • Dylan O'Brien described his audition for *Curb Your Enthusiasm* as a 10-minute improv session with Larry David that went exceptionally well, noting David's grounded nature made the creative process safe and allowed him to flourish. 
  • The filming for Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien's movie 'Send Help' was highly out of order, involving 13-15 weeks split between Sydney, Australia, and Thailand, which made tracking character continuity, like armpit hair length, challenging. 
  • Rachel McAdams learned longevity in Hollywood from observing Diane Keaton's consistent warmth and professionalism, noting how Keaton always arrived on set 'dressed to the nines' regardless of the early hour. 

Segments

Podcast Intro and Ad Reads
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode begins with housekeeping announcements regarding where to find ‘Chicks in the Office’ episodes and an advertisement for GNC Amp Creabolic.
  • Summary: Every episode of ‘Chicks in the Office’ is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, with ad-free listening for Prime members on Amazon Music. The first sponsor segment promotes GNC Amp Creabolic, a creatine formula combining monohydrate with bioactive peptides and HMB for muscle optimization. Listeners can find this product at gnc.com/slash the drop.
Interview Guest Reveal
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(00:01:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts reveal the highly anticipated interview guests are Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, promoting the conversation as one of their favorites.
  • Summary: The hosts express immense excitement for the interview with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, noting the conversation flowed easily, feeling more like a natural chat than a formal interview. One host admitted to being genuinely nervous because Rachel McAdams was a childhood acting role model.
Marty Supreme Party Anecdote
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(00:03:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Both the hosts and Dylan O’Brien admitted to being too nervous to approach each other at the ‘Marty Supreme Party’ prior to the interview.
  • Summary: The hosts recounted seeing Dylan O’Brien at the party and debating whether to say hello, only to later learn Dylan felt the same way about approaching them. This shared awkwardness created an immediate bond between the hosts and Dylan O’Brien.
Movie ‘Send Help’ Review
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(00:06:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The movie ‘Send Help’ is a highly recommended wild ride, described as a horror-comedy with jump scares that earned a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Summary: The hosts saw the movie at an 11 a.m. screening, which was intense given the early plane crash sequence that occurred shortly after they were seated due to a late entry. Both Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien delivered phenomenal performances, and the film is directed by Sam Raimi.
Harry Styles Ticket Success
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(00:09:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts secured tickets for the Harry Styles London show on June 26th, thanks to Kelly’s low queue number during the Amex presale.
  • Summary: The hosts, along with Kelly, successfully purchased tickets for the Harry Styles show in London, which coincides with their 4th of July break, fulfilling a long-held desire to take Fran to London. The success was attributed to Kelly getting a queue position of 5,000 while the others were in the 57,000-60,000 range.
Concert Ticket Pricing Critique
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(00:12:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Current VIP concert ticket prices, exemplified by Harry Styles’ shows, are criticized for offering minimal perks like tote bags compared to older VIP packages that included meet-and-greets.
  • Summary: The hosts noted the high pricing for dynamic tickets, citing examples of $700-$800 tickets that used to secure better access, contrasting this with their own London ticket price which was lower due to not including international travel expenses. They contrasted this with artists like Olivia Dean who actively fight against platinum price gouging.
Book Club Announcement
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(00:20:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are launching a new podcast called ‘The Same Page Book Club,’ with the first episode scheduled for that Thursday.
  • Summary: The new book club podcast will be titled ‘The Same Page Book Club’ and will be available on all major audio platforms separately from ‘Chicks in the Office.’ A dedicated Instagram page, ‘same page book club,’ will provide updates.
ANTM Documentary Discussion
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(00:24:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The upcoming Netflix documentary on ‘America’s Next Top Model’ will feature commentary from Tyra Banks and others addressing the show’s history of problematic challenges related to ethnicity and body image.
  • Summary: The documentary, premiering February 16th, is expected to expose behind-the-scenes issues that contestants faced, including critiques about their bodies and controversial challenges. Jay Manuel is quoted in the trailer stating that Tyra would do anything for the show’s success, suggesting Tyra may address her role in pushing boundaries too far.
Sydney Sweeney Lingerie Launch
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(00:30:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie brand, SYRN, using a controversial marketing tactic involving draping bras on the Hollywood sign, which may alienate female consumers.
  • Summary: The marketing appeared staged, with reports suggesting the production only had permission to film around the sign, not climb it, leading to speculation of legal trouble that was likely manufactured for publicity. One host questioned the brand’s success potential due to Sweeney having lost a large, loyal female fanbase.
Bella Hadid Breakup News
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(00:36:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Bella Hadid and boyfriend Adan Banuelos split after two years, ending a relationship that involved shared ownership of million-dollar horses.
  • Summary: The couple reportedly spent the holidays separately, despite having posted anniversary tributes in October, indicating a tumultuous relationship. The hosts expressed sadness over the breakup of the horse-loving couple, noting the complexity of dividing assets like expensive horses.
Hillary Duff Concert Excitement
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(00:38:38)
  • Key Takeaway: One host is attending a Hillary Duff concert and is particularly excited to hear the song from the movie ‘Raise Your Voice,’ praising Duff as a unique millennial icon.
  • Summary: The host anticipates hearing songs from ‘Raise Your Voice,’ a movie they watched frequently in their youth. Hillary Duff is celebrated for being a jack-of-all-trades in singing and acting, despite questionable choreography skills.
Rachel McAdams & Dylan O’Brien Interview Start
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(00:42:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien are promoting their new horror-comedy film ‘Send Help,’ which features a plane crash and workplace dynamics.
  • Summary: The film is described as a wild ride that elicits both laughter and fear from the audience, a testament to director Sam Raimi’s style. Dylan O’Brien admitted he was thrilled because he felt he had ‘accidentally’ been sent the script and has long admired Rachel McAdams’ work.
On-Set Character Debates
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(00:47:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The cast and crew frequently debated whether to root for Dylan O’Brien’s character, Bradley, or Rachel McAdams’ character, Linda, throughout filming.
  • Summary: Dylan O’Brien noted that the crew was overwhelmingly ‘Team Linda,’ causing him to occasionally defend Bradley by pointing out his character’s human aspects and difficult background. Rachel McAdams enjoyed the movie’s ability to constantly shift audience allegiance between the two leads.
Filming Locations and Duration
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(00:53:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Filming for ‘Send Help’ spanned approximately 13 to 15 weeks, beginning in Sydney, Australia, and continuing in Thailand.
  • Summary: The production shot stage work and jungle scenes in Sydney’s Centennial Park before moving to Thailand for the remainder of the shoot. Key moments, including the beginning, second act, and climax, were filmed in Sydney.
Filming ‘Send Help’ Logistics
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(00:53:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The production of ‘Send Help’ required filming out of sequence across Sydney and Thailand over 13-15 weeks.
  • Summary: The movie ‘Send Help’ was shot in a highly broken-up sequence, alternating between six weeks in Sydney (including Centennial Park) and five weeks in Thailand. This non-linear shooting schedule made tracking character continuity, such as Rachel McAdams’ character Linda’s appearance changes, particularly difficult for the actors.
Island Life and Food Irony
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(00:55:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Filming in Thailand presented an ironic challenge where actors were restricted to an island diet while surrounded by rich, coconut-milk-heavy local cuisine.
  • Summary: The island filming location was in Thailand, leading to the irony of having to maintain a strict, limited diet (octopus and coconuts) while being near abundant, delicious Thai food. The actors justified their off-set meals by joking that Rachel McAdams’ character, Linda, was preparing gourmet meals in the film.
Jellyfish Safety Scare
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(00:57:31)
  • Key Takeaway: During a late-night ocean shoot in Thailand, water safety personnel were searching for pink jellyfish described as ‘super cuddly’ rather than sharks.
  • Summary: While filming late at night in the ocean, Dylan O’Brien noticed safety personnel shining flashlights, initially fearing sharks. The crew was actually looking for specific pink jellyfish that they claimed were ‘super cuddly’ and liked to be tickled, a detail O’Brien later realized was likely untrue.
Rachel McAdams Walk of Fame
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(00:59:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Rachel McAdams was shocked to receive her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, an honor she had previously deemed unattainable alongside her major film successes.
  • Summary: Rachel McAdams described the ceremony as surreal, noting that receiving the star was never part of her fantasies, even after achieving major career milestones like Mean Girls and The Notebook in the same year. She mentioned feeling awkward about asking people to speak on her behalf, but her sister confirmed that friends like Donald Sutherland were eager to honor her.
Longevity Advice from Diane Keaton
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(01:04:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Rachel McAdams learned longevity from watching Diane Keaton’s consistent warmth and professionalism, exemplified by Keaton always arriving on set impeccably dressed.
  • Summary: Rachel McAdams stated that she learned more from observing Diane Keaton’s behavior than from direct advice, noting Keaton treated her like family on set. Keaton consistently brought high energy and impeccable style to early morning shoots, setting a standard of professionalism that McAdams admires.
Iconic 2004 Film Releases
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(01:06:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Mean Girls was released before The Notebook, despite The Notebook being filmed first, creating a cultural phenomenon where two iconic, different roles landed months apart.
  • Summary: The simultaneous success of Mean Girls and The Notebook in 2004 was a surprise, as Mean Girls came out first even though The Notebook was shot earlier. Rachel McAdams recalled reading both scripts and feeling intensely about them, one making her laugh and the other leaving her a ‘puddle on a hotel room floor.’
Auditioning for ‘Mean Girls’
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(01:08:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Rachel McAdams auditioned for the Lindsay Lohan role in Mean Girls but was deemed too old at 25/26, while Lindsay Lohan was turning 17 during filming.
  • Summary: Rachel McAdams confirmed she auditioned for the role that went to Lindsay Lohan, but director Mark Waters told her she was too old. She recalled attending Lindsay Lohan’s 17th birthday dinner in Toronto, hosted by Lorne Michaels, while shooting the film in an abandoned high school nearby.
Experience on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
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(01:10:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Working on Curb Your Enthusiasm involves an audition that is a 10-minute improv session with Larry David, and the set environment is relaxed and allows for creative flourishing.
  • Summary: Dylan O’Brien confirmed that scenes on Curb Your Enthusiasm are largely improvised, starting with an improv audition with Larry David to set the scene’s parameters. He praised Larry David as a grounded, cool person who creates a safe environment where actors can be their best selves, unlike some comedians who possess ‘dark energy.’
The Appeal of ‘Twinless’ Script
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(01:15:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Dylan O’Brien immediately loved the script for ‘Twinless’ upon reading it five years prior, finding it both heartbreaking and hilarious, and praised director James as a genius.
  • Summary: The script for ‘Twinless’ was sent to Dylan O’Brien in 2020 and immediately captivated him, ripping his heart out while simultaneously making him laugh. He noted the film’s unique side-by-side storytelling technique, which serves the narrative intentionally, and praised James’s meticulous involvement in every aspect of the production.
Indie Spirit Award Nominations
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(01:19:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Dylan O’Brien received news of his Indie Spirit Award nominations via a flurry of excited texts from his team and mother, calling it a dream come true for the movie.
  • Summary: The news of the nominations came via text messages from his team, including his manager and publicist, early in the morning due to the time difference with the West Coast. O’Brien expressed that receiving Indie Spirit Award nominations was his absolute dream fantasy for the film ‘Twinless.’
Favorite Film Choices
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(01:21:05)
  • Key Takeaway: When pressed to name one favorite film of Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien implied it was Hot Chick, a movie that holds significant quotable memories for him.
  • Summary: Dylan O’Brien avoided directly naming a single favorite Rachel McAdams project but was strongly implied to favor Hot Chick, which he frequently quotes. Rachel McAdams later admitted that Wedding Crashers would have been a cool movie for her to be in at a different stage of her career.