Call Her Daddy

The Chainsmokers: Cheating, Threesomes & Toxic Exes (FBF)

December 31, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The Chainsmokers duo, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, met through their manager after the original member left, leading to an immediate alignment on their shared goal of becoming the biggest artists on the planet. 
  • Alex and Drew have a highly functional, though occasionally physically combative, partnership, characterized by Alex being hyper-communicative and Drew being less so but possessing an incredible memory for people. 
  • Alex fabricated a wild, elaborate story about a fan shaving her head during a show in Italy for years, which was eventually told to Larry King, because he lacked a genuinely crazy fan interaction story. 
  • Alex revealed a bizarre breakup story involving his ex-girlfriend posting a Craigslist ad to have someone pee on her to fund a cocaine habit. 
  • Both members of The Chainsmokers admitted to having had threesomes, often unplanned, especially during their early touring days when sharing hotel rooms. 
  • Alex's past romantic partners were characterized by Drew as having 'severe issues' until his current girlfriend, while Drew tends to remain on better terms with his exes. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Sponsors
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Crocs Cozy Slippers and cotton products are highlighted as current holiday and wardrobe staples.
  • Summary: Crocs Cozy Slippers, fully lined in faux fur, are promoted for holiday comfort. Cotton fabrics, including denim, corduroy, and flannel, are noted for their versatility, gentleness, and hypoallergenic qualities. Domino’s specialty pizzas, like the new spicy chicken bacon ranch, are advertised as an affordable treat.
Chainsmokers Welcome and Mic Check
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(00:02:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex Cooper welcomes The Chainsmokers, immediately focusing on mic proximity and breathing habits.
  • Summary: Alex Cooper greets the audience and the guests, initiating a brief, lighthearted check on microphone closeness and breathing technique. The discussion touches on the difference between mouth and nose breathing. The Chainsmokers express initial nervousness before the interview begins.
Miami Meeting Cancellation and FOMO
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(00:03:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The Chainsmokers’ planned Miami interview was canceled, leading to a reflection on the city’s event culture driven by FOMO.
  • Summary: The planned interview in Miami was canceled due to Alex Cooper being sick. The conversation contrasts past, manageable art world events like Basel with the current scene characterized by excessive events and FOMO. Attendees often chase the next party, believing it is better, even when the current one is enjoyable.
Duo Formation and Blind Date Meeting
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(00:06:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew Taggart joined Alex Pall in The Chainsmokers after the original partner left, meeting Alex in a ‘blind date’ scenario where Drew hoped Alex was the right partner.
  • Summary: Drew Taggart joined Alex Pall after the original member left to pursue a solo career around 2011-2012. Drew traveled from Boston to New York City via the Fung Wah bus to meet the duo for the first time. Drew immediately hoped Alex was the correct person to partner with, confirming the match based on shared musical tastes like Calvin Harris.
Duo Personalities and Communication Styles
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(00:09:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex is described as hyper-communicative and surface-level, while Drew is the least communicative but maintains deep connections with many people.
  • Summary: Alex covers more ground while Drew prefers to go deeper into topics. Alex notes Drew’s poor texting habits, often requiring Alex to relay messages. Despite occasional disputes leading to physical fights in the past, the duo is generally aligned on goals and handles disagreements reasonably.
Fan Interactions and Fake Story
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(00:13:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The Chainsmokers have exceptionally passive and relaxed fans, leading Alex to invent a detailed, fake story about a fan shaving her head during a show in Italy for years.
  • Summary: The Chainsmokers’ fans are described as passive, nice, and rarely cause crazy interactions, unlike the host’s experience with Barstool fans. Alex admitted to lying about a specific fan interaction for seven years, which involved a fan silently shaving her head and eating her hair during a show in Italy. This fabricated story was told in interviews, even reaching Larry King.
Pre-Show Rituals and Team Support
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(00:19:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The duo minimizes pre-show pressure by keeping rituals simple, relying on mutual support when one member is exhausted or sick during performances.
  • Summary: The Chainsmokers avoid building up too much tension before shows, keeping rituals simple, often involving tequila backstage. They have a simple pre-ritual handshake, treating the performance like a normal day with a large event at the end. If one member is struggling, the other steps up to carry the slack, demonstrating a strong team unit.
Hiatus Decision and Career Burnout
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(00:21:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The duo took a hiatus after 2019 due to severe burnout from a relentless schedule, including a 42-city arena tour following an album release.
  • Summary: The Chainsmokers felt extremely burnt out after completing a demanding schedule, including 150 shows a year and a 42-city arena tour. They realized the constant travel between Vegas and Europe was unsustainable. They acknowledge the need to balance success with personal life as they enter their 30s, recognizing sacrifices made in personal events like weddings.
Evolving Personalities and Relationship Priorities
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(00:26:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Both members feel pigeonholed by the media into their early party-centric personas, but they have evolved significantly, recognizing the need for better personal balance.
  • Summary: The EDM scene’s early party and drug-centric wave helped The Chainsmokers gain relevance, but they regret some past actions. Alex attributes his drive to using his father’s passing as a catalyst to succeed, overcoming crippling anxiety about his career path. Both are now actively trying to break out of their heads and seek better balance, acknowledging that their selection of romantic partners previously served the business.
Personal Growth and Relationship Evolution
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(00:28:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew evolved from being hyper-insecure and selfishly focused on success to being calm and generous, while Alex’s motivation stems from overcoming early life trauma.
  • Summary: Drew admits his early focus on success negatively impacted relationships because he lacked the mindset to be present and giving. Alex channeled the loss of his father into a drive to achieve success, motivated by crippling anxiety about his financial stability compared to peers. Both are now in healthy relationships, recognizing that past partners often mirrored what they thought the business required.
Dating Partners and Relationship Conflicts
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(00:31:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The duo has learned that partners who are too accommodating to the Chainsmokers’ lifestyle are often not the right long-term match, and they avoid directly criticizing each other’s partners.
  • Summary: Alex realized that dating someone willing to do everything for the business was not sustainable for a true relationship. They avoid directly telling each other they dislike a partner unless the partner’s suffering is evident, understanding that individuals must reach relationship truths on their own. They acknowledge witnessing crew members date the wrong person, realizing the red flag is when you feel the need to tell others, ‘They just don’t get it.’
Ultimate Breakup Story: Pet Cam Spy
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(00:37:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex discovered his then-girlfriend was spying on him using a hidden, expertly camouflaged pet treat camera, which she controlled remotely to monitor his private conversations.
  • Summary: Alex found a pet camera, which he had previously unplugged multiple times, set up again with the recording light meticulously blacked out with marker and tape. Security footage confirmed the girlfriend unplugged the camera, accessed a cabinet (presumably to hide something), and then plugged it back in before leaving for Cannes. Alex confronted her directly, confirming she had been watching his late-night conversations with his friend Craig.
Past Relationship Spying Tactics
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(00:47:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Accessing iMessage history via an iPad is a more effective way to uncover deleted texts than checking the phone directly.
  • Summary: The speakers recount a story where one person discovered infidelity by checking an iPad, noting that deleted texts often remain visible on synced devices. This method was employed after the partner initially presented a seemingly clean phone. The discovery led to a dramatic confrontation where the iPad’s contents revealed the truth.
College Dating Lives
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(00:51:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew was a frat bro at Syracuse, while Alex was a ‘quantity club promoter’ at NYU who developed personality skills through the job.
  • Summary: Drew’s college dating life involved typical fraternity experiences. Alex worked as a club promoter, learning how to differentiate himself and develop his personality in repetitive nightlife settings. Alex humorously described his club promoter persona as being able to maintain a conversation without hearing the other person, relying on genuine-sounding reactions.
Assessing Alex’s Dating History
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(00:53:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex’s previous girlfriends, up until his current one, were characterized by Drew as having ‘severe issues’ that made dating him entertaining.
  • Summary: Drew noted that Alex historically attracted partners with significant problems, contrasting sharply with his current, well-received girlfriend. Alex accepted this assessment without defensiveness, acknowledging that those past relationships were not the right fit. The segment highlights a pattern of attraction to drama before achieving personal growth.
Assessing Drew’s Dating History
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(00:55:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew previously dated women who were excited by The Chainsmokers’ lifestyle, social media presence, and being ‘out there,’ unlike his current partner.
  • Summary: Alex suggested Drew previously dated women who enjoyed the public-facing, exciting lifestyle associated with the band. Drew countered that the common thread was simply ‘being out there,’ as some exes enjoyed the social scene while others did not. In contrast to Alex’s burned bridges, Drew maintains amicable relationships with many of his exes.
Hard Cuts vs. Lingering Breakups
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(00:57:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex prefers a definitive ‘hard cut’ after breakups, whereas Drew is prone to lingering, maintaining friendships that can lead to awkward encounters.
  • Summary: Alex stated his relationship endings are final, citing an instance where an ex tried to return years later, but he prefers closure. Drew admitted he is not good at the hard cut, often suggesting they ‘stay friends’ after a breakup. The hosts agreed that a hard cut is often healthier for moving on than a prolonged, ambiguous buffer period.
Experiences with Infidelity
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(00:58:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew discovered cheating during a self-imposed ‘break’ when his partner slept with someone else, later confirmed by checking her best friend’s texts.
  • Summary: Both members confirmed they have been cheated on, with Drew detailing a physical instance where his ex slept with another man during a stated break. Alex found out about his infidelity instances because it was ‘obvious’ and confirmed through evidence after persistent lying. Alex cautioned against phone checking unless something feels ‘really fucking off.’
The Craigslist Pee Story
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(01:01:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex discovered his then-girlfriend was soliciting men on Craigslist to pee on her for money to buy cocaine.
  • Summary: While investigating his girlfriend’s shady behavior, Alex found emails detailing her arrangement to perform urolagnia for payment to fund her drug habit. Alex found the story bizarre rather than heartbreaking, noting it was a relief to end the relationship over such an unusual discovery. He humorously noted the luck of the man who responded to the ad.
Sex Talk and Best Experiences
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(01:03:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew’s best sexual experience was with a spontaneous hookup where zero expectations allowed for perfect performance and connection.
  • Summary: The Chainsmokers confirmed they openly discuss sex with each other. Drew explained that his best sexual encounter lacked the pressure associated with dating, allowing for spontaneity and a rare, strong physical and emotional connection. Both agreed that confidence and knowing what one wants in bed are the most attractive qualities.
Hooking Up with Fans and Threesomes
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(01:06:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Both members admitted to hooking up with people met at their concerts, and they have engaged in threesomes, often unplanned, especially in early touring days.
  • Summary: The likelihood of hooking up with a fan is a toss-up depending on the city, though they clarified this usually means someone met at the show, not necessarily a die-hard fan wearing merch. Threesomes have occurred, often spontaneously, particularly when they were forced to share small hotel rooms in Europe with two single beds.
Intimidating Women and Final Messages
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(01:10:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex is intimidated by very stylish women because he views excellent style as a subtle form of intelligence and taste he doesn’t fully possess.
  • Summary: Alex stated that stylish women intimidate him because he respects their ability to express themselves tastefully, which he feels he lacks the capacity for. Drew offered a sincere message to the female audience, expressing admiration for Alex’s mother and the host’s ability to build an inspiring brand based on authenticity.