The Toast

Italia, Y'all!: Thursday, February 12th, 2026

February 12, 2026

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  • The hosts are looking forward to a long weekend due to a bank holiday and are celebrating Harry's fourth birthday on Friday. 
  • The hosts engaged in a lengthy, humorous debate about whether country singer Luke Combs should be classified as a redhead, despite his brown hair and red beard. 
  • The conversation touched upon the recent release of the Epstein files, noting the innocuous mentions of many Bravo-adjacent celebrities, though Annabelle from 'Ladies of London' had concerning emails regarding financial requests and young girls. 
  • The hosts discussed the ongoing fallout in Hollywood related to the Jeffrey Epstein files, specifically focusing on artists leaving the Wasserman agency due to CEO Casey Wasserman's past correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell. 
  • The Team Canada men's hockey team opting to stay in a five-star hotel instead of the Olympic Village highlights the recurring issue of inadequate sleeping arrangements for larger athletes at the Winter Olympics. 
  • The discussion about the Milan-Cortina Olympics opening ceremony led to a consensus that Taylor Swift is the modern American equivalent of Andrea Bocelli's significance to 'Italia' for a potential U.S. Olympic opening ceremony. 

Segments

Podcast Opening and Holiday Talk
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are anticipating a long weekend due to an upcoming bank holiday and celebrating Harry’s fourth birthday on Friday.
  • Summary: The episode of The Toast opens on a Thursday, which the hosts feel is already giving Friday vibes. They note the upcoming bank holiday on Monday, which contributes to the feeling of an extended weekend. Additionally, Friday marks Harry’s fourth birthday, adding to the celebratory mood.
Casey Musgraves and Luke Combs Debate
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(00:01:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Claudia claims historical credit for introducing the family to Casey Musgraves’ early work, while Jackie disputes her own introduction of Luke Combs, leading to a debate over his hair color.
  • Summary: The hosts reference a Casey Musgraves lyric, leading to a discussion about who introduced the family to her music, with Claudia claiming credit for ‘Merry-Go-Round.’ Jackie then claims credit for introducing Luke Combs, which Claudia disputes, leading to a tangent about whether Luke Combs is a redhead, with Jackie consulting search results that noted his red beard but brown hair.
Redhead Community Council Update
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(00:04:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Redhead Council’ (Jackie and Shannon) recently discussed that skin is more painful for redheads, particularly during childbirth, and they monitor famous redheads who dye their hair.
  • Summary: Jackie and Shannon, acting as the ‘Redhead Council,’ discussed recent topics including the fact that skin is more painful for redheads, especially during childbirth. They also noted that a famous redhead dyeing their hair constitutes drama within the community. Jackie expressed an inclusive stance, stating she would welcome Luke Combs into the redhead community if he wished to be considered one.
Olympics Speed Skater Story
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(00:06:37)
  • Key Takeaway: American speed skater Jason Stoltz, who grew up in rural Wisconsin, won a gold medal after training 40 miles away from the nearest facility.
  • Summary: The hosts discussed the inspiring story of speed skater Jason Stoltz, who won gold for America. He grew up in rural Wisconsin, practicing on a frozen pond before his parents drove him 40 miles daily for training. Jackie was moved to tears watching his mother’s pride during the broadcast.
Epstein Files and Bravo Mentions
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(00:08:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The Epstein files mention several Bravo-adjacent figures, with Annabelle from ‘Ladies of London’ being the most closely associated due to asking Jeffrey Epstein for investment money.
  • Summary: Jackie has been consuming content related to the recently released Epstein files, noting many innocuous mentions of business people like Mauricio Umansky and Caroline Stanberry. Annabelle from ‘Ladies of London’ stood out as she was emailing Jeffrey Epstein asking for money, suggesting he acted as an investor. Melinda Gates’ recent comments about the files bringing up painful memories were also noted.
James Vanderbeek’s Passing
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(00:11:40)
  • Key Takeaway: James Vanderbeek, star of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Don’t Trust the B—-,’ passed away at 48 from colorectal cancer, prompting a GoFundMe that quickly surpassed $1.4 million.
  • Summary: The hosts shared their sadness over the death of James Vanderbeek, who passed away at 48 after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. While known for ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ Jackie cited ‘Don’t Trust the B—-’ as his greatest work. A GoFundMe established for his wife and six children quickly raised over $1.4 million, with notable donations from celebrities like Zoe Saldana.
Kylie Jenner Skims Campaign
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(00:22:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Kylie Jenner is the new face of Skims’ everyday cotton collection, marking a recent increase in her professional collaborations with her sisters.
  • Summary: Kylie Jenner was announced as the new face for Skims’ everyday cotton collection, appearing in a campaign that the hosts found stunning. This collaboration, along with a recent Lemmy campaign, suggests Kylie has become more active in professional work with her sisters recently. The hosts also speculated on Chloe Kardashian’s reduced involvement with her company, Good American, noting her recent promotion of competitor brand Athleta.
Influencer Confession Ad Shock
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(00:24:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Influencer Michaela Naguera promoted Lemmy Purr, a vaginal probiotic gummy, with an explicit confession about never having been eaten out due to fear of taste.
  • Summary: The hosts reacted strongly to a viral Lemmy Purr ad featuring influencer Michaela Naguera, who confessed she had never received oral sex due to fear of taste. The ad, which has millions of views, prompted comments suggesting the high payment required for such honesty. The hosts agreed they would draw a line at making such a personal confession for a brand deal.
Dorinda Medley Joins RHONY Reboot
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(00:30:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Dorinda Medley is joining the ‘RHONY’ reboot cast following Jill Zarin’s firing, though her residency in Florida is questionable for the Florida-based show.
  • Summary: Dorinda Medley is reportedly joining the E! ‘RHONY’ reboot, seemingly replacing Jill Zarin, though Dorinda does not live in Florida. The hosts hope Dorinda provides more engaging content than she has on ‘Traitors,’ where she has been criticized for low blows. They also briefly discussed the disappointing execution of Colton Underwood’s ‘Traitors’ reveal videos, which were overly edited compared to previous seasons.
Hungry Root Ad Read
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(00:42:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Hungry Root offers personalized weekly meal planning, recipe recommendations, and grocery shopping, sourcing high-quality ingredients with no junk.
  • Summary: Hungry Root functions as a personal nutritional coach and shopper, planning and recommending healthy recipes tailored to individual tastes and goals. The service sources high-quality meat and seafood without hormones or antibiotics, simplifying healthy eating. Listeners can receive 40% off their first box and a free item for life using code THE TOAST at hungryroot.com/thetoast.
Wasserman Agency Fallout
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(00:44:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Artists, including Chappell Roan, are leaving the Wasserman agency following revelations about CEO Casey Wasserman’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
  • Summary: The exodus from Wasserman follows singer Bethany Costantino’s public demand for Casey Wasserman’s resignation after his name appeared in the released Epstein files. Wasserman, who is also the chairman of the LA Olympics Organizing Committee, expressed regret for the decades-old correspondence. Some artists, like Costantino, had more to lose professionally by speaking out first.
Epstein File Details and Implications
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(00:45:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Emails in the Epstein files vary in severity, ranging from innocuous social exchanges to highly incriminating evidence, leading to differing levels of professional consequence for those named.
  • Summary: Casey Wasserman’s correspondence is noted as less incriminating than others, such as that of Dr. Atiyah or Peter Thomas Roth, who allegedly provided skincare tutorials to Epstein’s associates. The hosts noted that Wasserman was photographed with Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jeffrey Epstein during a Clinton Foundation humanitarian trip. Leah Black from The Real Housewives of Miami was also named because her late husband, Roy Black, was Epstein’s lawyer who helped him avoid sex offender registration until 2008.
Team Canada Olympic Hotel Stay
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(00:52:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Team Canada’s men’s hockey team is staying in a five-star hotel rather than the Olympic Village to maximize their chances of winning gold, citing poor accommodations.
  • Summary: The decision is justified because men’s ice hockey is historically Canada’s best chance for a gold medal, and the Olympic Village beds are notoriously uncomfortable, often being twin mattresses made of cardboard. This situation mirrors past debates regarding tall athletes, like NBA players, who often opt out of the Village due to size constraints.
Winter Olympics Medal Count & US Athletes Abroad
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(00:54:25)
  • Key Takeaway: In the early stages of the Winter Olympics, Norway leads in gold medals (7), while Italy leads in total medals (14), illustrating that the U.S. often sends the largest delegation but may not lead in percentage-based success.
  • Summary: The conversation highlighted that many athletes competing for other nations, such as Eileen Gu competing for China, are American citizens, suggesting the Olympics often feature Americans competing against other Americans. The hosts noted that the U.S. is not historically dominant in the Winter Games compared to nations like Norway. Eileen Gu, a Chinese snowboarder who lives in California, was specifically mentioned as an example of an American competing internationally.