(Un)Controlled Chaos with Liz & Aly

allisonmwaksman

(Un)Controlled Chaos with Liz & Aly is more than just a podcast; it’s like that dreamy 30-minute dirty martini with a friend you’ve been longing for all week…the conversations you wish you had time for. Liz, the writer, and Aly, the publicist, are your quintessential 40-something besties who dive headfirst into all things pop culture. We chat about motherhood and relationships, hot stories taking over your newsfeed, and of course the latest gripping true crime mysteries. So, tune in, and let us be those gals who say what you’re always thinking – we’re raw, funny, and unapologetically spicy. This is ”(Un)Controlled Chaos” – your much-needed weekly pop culture juice. Drink up!

  1. Feb 2

    #31: Beckhams vs.Peltz, Why Millennials Still Drink, and Bop Queen Bruno Mars

    Is Brooklyn Beckham really cutting off his famous parents, and did he basically marry his mom? Aly and Liz unpack the family feud, mother-in-law energy, and Beckham brand drama that's giving major Harry & Meghan vibes. Then: the latest text leak in the Justin Baldoni–Blake Lively war. What the DMs reveal about Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, and how power dynamics actually work in Hollywood. Are we witnessing the most public friend breakup ever? Why are we still talking about this!? Plus, a funny conversation on millennial drinking habits, THC buzz, Bruno Mars’ genius bops, and the one wine Millennials love that Boomers just don’t get. What You’ll Hear: 00:00 Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Drama 11:25 Diabolical Texts and Celebrity Drama 22:43 Movie Critique and Character Analysis 23:00 Trends in Alcohol Consumption Among Generations 25:30 The Impact of COVID on Drinking Habits 26:52 Millennials vs. Gen Z: Alcohol Preferences 29:12 The Rise of THC Drinks 30:28 Hollywood Friendships: Authenticity vs. Transactionality 32:57 The Financial Realities of Celebrity Life 35:03 Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth and the Music Industry Dynamics

    40 min

  2. Jan 26

    #30: Chris Pratt vs. the AI Judge, Kim Kardashian’s Hairy Thong, and the Shoplifting Era

    Zoe Saldana is officially the highest‑grossing actress of all time, thanks to Avatar and a few billion dollars of James Cameron magic. Aly and Liz unpack how she quietly out-earned Scarlett Johansson and the Marvel crew, and why nobody saw this coming. Don't forget, she's also an Oscar winner! Then the gals swing into Will Smith’s new docuseries and the very complicated question of celebrity redemption. Does the world care anymore, or is the slap just too hard to unsee? Things get personal when the girls admit they have… five finger discounted. From lemons to self‑checkout loopholes, plus the Florida influencer who filmed her own Target heist for TikTok. Rounding things out: Kim Kardashian’s faux-hair thong (yes, really), Amy Poehler’s Golden Globe podcast win, and Chris Pratt’s new movie where an AI judge decides his fate in 90 minutes. Timestamps: 00:08 Zoe Saldana becomes the top‑grossing actress 11:00 Will Smith’s redemption doc and the slap hangover 17:24 Wynona Ryder and shoplifting nostalgia 20:56 The Florida TikTok influencer who filmed her own theft 23:46 Kim Kardashian’s faux-hair SKIMS thong 32:45 Chris Pratt vs. the AI judge in Mercy If you love celebrity chaos, millennial nostalgia, and mildly illegal grocery hacks, obvs this episode is for you.

    38 min

  3. Jan 19

    #29: Ashley Tisdale & Toxic Mom Groups, The Housemaid Trash Talk and Spencer Pratt for Mayor?

    What really happened in Ashley Tisdale’s now-infamous LA mom group? In this episode, Aly and Liz dig into the drama, the passive-aggressive unfollows, and the deeper truth behind why big friend circles implode. We also tackle the Oscar-bait circuit: Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Begonia, The Housemaid, and whether Emma Stone and Sydney Sweeney actually deserve their nominations (or not). It’s awards season chaos with no one safe from critique. Plus, a real conversation on screen addiction, mom guilt, and how to set tech boundaries in a world designed to keep you hooked. Featuring shoutouts to Mel Robbins, Kylie Kelce, Josh Peck, and one very unfiltered rant about Spencer Pratt running for mayor of LA. What You’ll Hear: Ashley Tisdale vs. Hilary Duff and why big mom groups almost always self-destruct The truth about The Housemaid and why it flopped in our minds Oscars hot takes: snubs, sweeps, and sleeper picks A nostalgic dive into MapQuest, mix CDs, and parenting with screens Mel Robbins' phone advice that actually works

    55 min

  4. Jan 12

    # 28: 50 Cent is King, Dating in 2026, Mushrooms, and the Swag Gap Nobody’s Talking About

    What happens when Disney teams up with OpenAI? When chatbots start running dating apps? Or when Diddy drops a documentary and 50 Cent drops the mic? In this episode, Liz and Aly talk about everything from the rise of AI culture (Sora, deepfakes, dating bots) to the disturbing details behind the Diddy doc and why 50 Cent might be the unlikely hero of 2025. Then it’s a full-blown therapy session on fashion, airport etiquette, the “swag gap,” why dressing up still matters, and how Adderall and mushrooms entered the productivity chat.

    58 min

  5. 12/22/2025

    27: Snake Breath Celebs, Rob Reiner’s Tragedy & AI Messing With Your Money

    Somehow we go from ‘snake breath’ celebrities to pee-pee teepees and AI price gouging in one episode. Welcome to Controlled Chaos. In this one, Liz and Aly start with unhinged iPhone screenshots as time capsules and spiral into their long-running theory of which celebrities clearly have bad breath—Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30, Jon Voight in Anaconda, and the Dawson’s Creek grandma all get dragged into the “snake breath” hall of fame. Then things get heavy. They unpack the devastating Rob Reiner family tragedy and mental illness, and what happens to kids growing up in the shadow of a wildly successful parent. That leads into a bigger conversation about addiction, privilege, mental health, and when to trust professionals vs. your gut as a parent. From there, the episode zooms out to the world: The antisemitic Hanukkah attack in Bondi, Australia, gun laws, and why “it almost never happens there” actually matters Trump’s reaction to Rob Reiner’s murder vs. his response to Charlie Kirk’s killing — and the gaslighting double standards that make you feel insane AI dynamic pricing on Instacart, airlines, Uber, Black Friday “deals,” and whether algorithms are quietly charging you more based on your behavior Why “personalized pricing” sounds cute but is basically AI-powered price gouging To balance the doom, Liz and Aly celebrate Dick Van Dyke turning 100 and his secret...you'll have to listen to find out! And because it’s Controlled Chaos, we also somehow fit in: The Amy Schumer divorce, the seven-year itch, and motherhood-career resentment The Housemaid: the book vs. the movie, Sydney Sweeney vs. Amanda Seyfried, and why some actors disappear into a role and others don’t Wicked casting (Ariana Grande vs. Amanda Seyfried as Glinda) 50 Cent’s record-breaking tour, Travis Scott, and the new era of “docu-revenge” on public figures It’s grief, gun laws, AI scams, swinging pee-pees, and the quest to be a little more Dick Van Dyke and a little less rage goblin—aka peak Controlled Chaos.

    50 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    26 - Blake & Justin Weird Exchange, The AI Godfather’s Warning, and the Rise of Waymo

    Liz and Aly are back in full gossip-meets-tech mode. This week’s Controlled Chaos covers: The It Ends With Us tension between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, plus the leaked private comments everyone’s dissecting Why Brendan Sklenar (aka our new obsession) is about to break out in The Housemaid — the cult-favorite thriller by Rita McFadden Waymo’s driverless cars and why they might actually save humanity instead of ruin it Fran Drescher and the AI Godfather on how we’re creating our own extinction P.T. Anderson’s mysterious new film One Battle After Another and why it will sweep the Oscar's. Smart chaos. Sharp takes. No filters. Remember, we're not robots. Keywords: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, It Ends With Us, Brendan Sklenar, The Housemaid, Rita McFadden, Waymo, AI Godfather, Fran Drescher, PT Anderson, One Battle After Another, pop culture podcast

    37 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    25 - Kylie & Timothée, Meghan & the Kardashians, and AI Girlfriends—Oh My! Controlled Chaos is BACK!

    After a year-long hiatus, Controlled Chaos with Liz and Aly is back and as chaotic as ever! Oh, hi...we're not robots either. We're diving right back in as if we never left. From Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet’s confusing situationship (yes, we're jealous) to Meghan Markle schmoozing at Kris Jenner’s 70th, the girls unpack Hollywood’s weirdest headlines, celebrity facelifts, and why AI might actually be replacing us (and dating us). Pop culture meets existential dread, and it’s glorious. Keywords: Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Meghan Markle, Kris Jenner, celebrity gossip podcast, pop culture news, The Olsen Twins, AI girlfriends, Tilly Norwood, Controlled Chaos

    49 min

  8. 09/26/2024

    24 - Diddy's Downfall, 'It Ends With Us' Drama, & Bennifer's Reunion and Kiss Buzz

    This week we dive right into the thick of current celebrity dramas that have everyone talking. First up, Diddy's recent arrest has the world buzzing. Every day we learn new information about the case and he's currently on suicide watch? He's not gonna last! Then, the controversy around Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in the aftermath of "It Ends With Us"—what does the future hold for the sequel, and how does this impact their status as a power couple? And of course, we can't ignore JLo and Ben; spotted kissing post-breakup, what's really going on with these two and why do we still care? Join us as we peel back the layers of these captivating stories, wondering aloud—why are we so intrigued? Tune in and let's get into it!   If you liked this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   Apple: https://lnkd.in/gKzExy4K Spotify: https://lnkd.in/grig9PDa

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

(Un)Controlled Chaos with Liz & Aly is more than just a podcast; it’s like that dreamy 30-minute dirty martini with a friend you’ve been longing for all week…the conversations you wish you had time for. Liz, the writer, and Aly, the publicist, are your quintessential 40-something besties who dive headfirst into all things pop culture. We chat about motherhood and relationships, hot stories taking over your newsfeed, and of course the latest gripping true crime mysteries. So, tune in, and let us be those gals who say what you’re always thinking – we’re raw, funny, and unapologetically spicy. This is ”(Un)Controlled Chaos” – your much-needed weekly pop culture juice. Drink up!

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