Dirtcast

This is a recast of DirtCast's 13th episode where Madeleine Davies and Bobby Finger are joined by Jezebel staff writer Stassa Edwards to discuss her lengthy research into the long-running and largely unscientific obsession Gwyneth Paltrow and her lifestyle brand, Goop, have with the nebulous concept of “wellness.” Edwards talks about Paltrow’s favorite “experts” (you know, the ones who tell you to walk barefoot and that airplanes give you cancer), the romanticization of Eastern medicine, and why you should probably never stick a jade egg up your vagina.

popculturediedin2009 is one of the best celebrity gossip bloggers on the internet, which is interesting because A.) he's only 19 years old and B.) he's covering celebrity gossip from a full decade ago. This week, the prodigy behind the popular tumblr, Twitter and Instagram account joins us in the studio to talk about Lindsay Lohan, his early love of Anna Nicole Smith, and the familiar comfort of early aughts tabloids. It's widely agreed that pre-2010 is the last time celebrity gossip was good, so why not stay there?

Comedian and TV personality Michelle Collins joins us in the studio to talk about the recent scandal out of ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise, our most famous high school alumni, and what it’s like to see Leonardo DiCaprio while high on ecstasy at Coachella. Also in the episode, Madeleine and guest co-host Kate Dries talk about their weekend trip to a monster truck rally and what day Beyoncé REALLY gave birth to her twins.

In the early 2000s, celebrities ranging from Madonna to Lindsay Lohan could be seen wearing a simple red string around their wrists, a sign that they were studying the ancient Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah through the (then) trendy Kabbalah Centre. On this week’s DirtCast, culture writer Emaile Marthe joins us to discuss why, a decade later, Kabbalah has been all but abandoned by its celebrity followers and how the Centre lost its foothold as the epicenter of Hollywood spirituality. 

Jezebel’s Culture Editor and Twin Peaks superfan Julianne Escobedo Shepherd joins as we go back to the early 1990s to explore the on-set romance between Kyle MacLachlan and Lara Flynn Boyle that (allegedly) changed the plot of Twin Peaks...probably for the worst. 

This week on the podcast, Madeleine is joined by Kevin Dickson and Jack Ketsoyan, co-authors of Blind Item, a new novel composed of veiled-but-true celebrity anecdotes from Dickson’s years editing tabloids and Ketsoyan’s time as a Hollywood publicist. 

Kate Knibbs of the Ringer joins us to discuss why the ratings for Keeping Up with the Kardashians are in steep decline despite this being the series’ most dramatic season yet. Later in the episode, we take a trip to the THNK 1994 Museum to see our old friends Viviana Olen and Matt Harkins for an audio tour of their new (and delightful) exhibit, Yama Kippi Yay Bo: A Celebration of Kim Cattrall.

This week on DirtCast, we’re delving into the swooning, heart-breaking world of teen fan magazines with experts in the field Anne Raso, who worked at Tiger Beat in the early ‘80s interviewing everyone from Duran Duran to New Edition, and forever-teen Dodai Stewart, Editor-in-Chief of Fusion, former Deputy Editor of Jezebel, and one time J-14 writer. 

This week, Bobby and Madeleine are joined by Jezebel staff writer Stassa Edwards to discuss her lengthy research into the long-running and largely unscientific obsession Gwyneth Paltrow and her lifestyle brand, Goop, have with the nebulous concept of “wellness.” Edwards talks about Paltrow’s favorite “experts” (you know, the ones who tell you to walk barefoot and that airplanes give you cancer), the romanticization of Eastern medicine, and why you should probably never stick a jade egg up your vagina.

Gossip Cop co-founder Michael Lewittes joins Bobby and Madeleine to discuss his years of experience debunking tabloid rumors, how to fact check celebrity gossip, and what it was like to produce Britney Spears’ infamous 2006 Dateline interview.

This week in the studio, Madeleine and Bobby have Dayna Evans, Paul Walker super fan and Senior Writer at New York Magazine’s The Cut, to talk about The Fast and the Furious, a franchise that none of us should like, but all of us do. Who’d win in a fight between Vin Diesel, The Rock, and Jason Statham? Which men of Fast and the Furious would make the best slash fan fic? All this plus the reemergence of Harry Styles, Great British Bake Off drama, and more.

This week, Bobby and Madeleine discuss Busy Phillips' masterful Instagram stories (and her close call with death), the break up of Olivia Munn and Aaron Rodgers, whether or not the Spice Girls still like each other, and why anyone cares if Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx are dating.

Bobby and Madeleine are joined in the studio by Watch What Happens Live's Mariah Smith for a lengthy discussion about all things Bravo. From our favorite Real Housewives taglines to the enthralling antiheroes of Vanderpump Rules to the (often scary) Bravo fandom, no subject was too lowbrow to go unexplored.

Thanks to a poorly worded tweet from Kristi Yamaguchi (that happens to be this week’s Dirtiest Dirt), we’re taking a journey back to 1994, Co-founders of the THNK 1994 Museum, Matt Harkins and Viviana Olen, join us in the studio to talk about the saga of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, whose side they're on, and whether Margot Robbie was the right choice to play the ice skater who famously had “No Comment.”

Bobby and Madeleine talk with former US Weekly Deputy Managing Editor Amy Vinciguerra about the magazine's recent acquisition by the conservative-leaning American Media and what it was like to work there in its glory days. Also on this ep: Tyra Banks gives Rita Ora the boot and heartfelt discussion on Miss Tina Lawson's perfect Instagram.

To celebrate the end of The Bachelor’s 21ST SEASON, Madeleine and Bobby sit down with Bachelor expert and Jezebel Deputy Editor Kate Dries to discuss the various ways producers manipulate contestants in order to create what’s become the most successful reality TV franchise of all time.

Bobby and Madeleine take an in-depth look at the criminal accusations surrounding actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson and the cover-ups that happen within the favorite religion of the rich and the famous. Episode features interviews with Tony Ortega, journalist and renowned critic of Scientology, and former Scientologist Chris Shelton. 

Sunday’s Academy Awards were a wild ride, but Bobby and Madeleine were able to recover and discuss the night’s biggest moments (and biggest feud) before chatting with Jezebel's Rich Juzwiak about the so-called "Oscar curse." Is it real? Is it a myth? Did Marisa Tomei actually win Best Supporting Actress? (Yes. The answer is yes.) 

In preparation for Hollywood’s biggest night, Bobby and Madeleine chat with astrologer Rebecca Gordon about the star charts of the most notable nominees, and whether or not they should expect to take home an award this Sunday. Should Mahershala Ali expect a win? What about Natalie Portman? You’ll have to listen to find out. 

Bobby and Madeleine speak with special guest (and Jezebel Senior Writer) the Honorable Judge Kara Brown about C-list celebrities selling their souls--and Flat Tummy Tea--on Instagram. Also discussed: the tragedy of Tom Hiddleston, scary entertainment lawyers, and the vanilla sex of Fifty Shades Darker.