Straight Up

Zendaya’s The Drama, Kanye West and a tradwife nightmare

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The drama surrounding Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s new rom com The Drama is first on the agenda this week, alongside the hugely hyped, Ballerina Farm-inspired tradwife thriller Yesteryear. Plus, the latest in the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case, the Kanye West Wireless controversy and our review of Jame Laing and Sophie Haboo’s documentary series Raising Chelsea. Enjoy huns!

Get tickets to our book club this Sunday at The Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor

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Recs/ reviews:

The Drama, in cinemas
You Need a Dark Sense of Humor for The Drama, Esquire
The Drama Is Too Cowardly to Commit to Its Provocative Premise, Vulture
Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke
Diabolical Lies podcast
‘Serve, smile, procreate’: Yesteryear author Caro Claire Burke on the rise of the tradwife, The Guardian
I’m obsessed by the trad wife world — this was the best way to expose it, The Times
A Tradwife Wakes Up in 1805… The New York Times
Why women can't resist tradwife porn, Cosmopolitan
Inside the secret smear machine that's targeting Hollywood, Hollywood Reporter
Who Trolled Amber podcast
Raising Chelsea, Disney+

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Harry Potter, The Pitt and Sydney Sweeney's latest controversy

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Should stars get a say in who plays them and how they’re portrayed? We’re diving into the debate this week after actor Kim Novak called Sydney Sweeney “totally wrong” for her upcoming biopic, and Daryl Hannah spoke out about her reputation-ruining portrayal in Love Story. Also on the show: the record-breaking Harry Potter teaser, a look at Euphoria's long-awaited series three, much-hyped hospital drama The Pitt, Riz Ahmed’s latest passion project, Rachel McAdams’ new satire and the Rupert Murdoch doc on Netflix.

Join us on Patreon for our oversharing bonus and ad free eps! patreon.com/straightuppodcast

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Get tickets to our book club on Sunday 12 April at The Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

Bait, Amazon Prime
Riz Ahmed’s ‘Bait’ Is About James Bond — But Mostly About Shame, Rolling Stone
Dynasty: The Murdochs, Netflix
The Pitt, HBO Max
Send Help, rent on Sky, Amazon etc
Kim Novak: ‘Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time. She could never play me’, Times
How Can ‘Love Story’ Get Away With This? New York Times
Euphoria s3 trailer 2
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone official teaser
How ITV met its match when it got hitched to Olivia Attwood, Times

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The Chappell Roan controversy, Barry Keoghan and SNL UK

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Chappell Roan’s in the news after being accused of making Jude Law’s 11-year-old daughter cry, so this week we’re diving into the debate around celebrity boundaries vs fan behaviour. Do stars have a right to set limits when it comes to fame? And is the kind of brutal trolling Barry Keoghan has recently spoken out about ever justified? Also on the show: the latest AI publishing controversy, our review of Saturday Night Live UK, the glossy new thriller starring Elizabeth Moss and Kerry Washington, Rose Byrne’s motherhood horror, and a return to the ethics of reality TV after The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was abruptly cancelled.

Get tickets to our book club on Sunday 12 April at The Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor and order your copy of our book pick Hooked here. We can't wait to hang out with you all!

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

Imperfect Women, Apple TV
The Square, Prime Video
Force Majeure, Prime Video
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, in cinemas
I confessed a deplorable secret about motherhood to a friend – and it changed my life, Guardian
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That? New York Times
Shit You Should Care About, Substack
Project Hail Mary, in cinemas
The Bachelorette's messy break-up with its unlikely star Taylor Frankie Paul, BBC
Momfluencer Faces More Consequences than All Men In Epstein Files Combined, Liz Plank
Saturday Night Live UK, Sky/ Now TV

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Louis Theroux, the manosphere and the hell of being a teenage girl

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Did Louis Theroux’s Inside the Manosphere go far enough? That's the big question on the show this week as we review his divisive new Netflix doc about male alt-right influencers. We discuss misogyny vs ragebait, the manosphere’s influence on politics and how this all affects young women and girls. Plus: a debrief on the Oscars, Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood career pivot, a Devil Wears Prada 2 update and the ‘bombshell’ new book about Meghan Markle.

Get tickets to our book club on Sunday 12 April at The Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor and order your copy of our book pick Hooked here.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/ reviews

Train Dreams, Netflix
The Secret Agent, in cinemas
Kylie Supreme! A Makeup Mogul Enters Her Hollywood Era, Vanity Fair
Jessie Buckley’s Oscars win is a battle cry for women in their mid-thirties,Grazia
‘I, too, get to make mistakes’ — how Meghan put herself first, Times
Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere, Netflix
Louis Theroux On Internet Culture, The Manosphere & Getting "Cooked", The Romesh Ranganathan Show
Did Louis Theroux’s Manosphere documentary Change Anyone's Mind?, BBC News
@YourmoneymateSarah,TikTok
Gen Z males twice as likely as baby boomers to believe wives should obey husbands, Guardian
I am a 15-year-old girl. Let me show you the vile misogyny that confronts me on social media every day, Guardian
GIRLS: Gen Z and the commodification of everything, Freya India
Why does Bari Weiss keep winning? Vox

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Harry Styles, Sarah J. Maas and the Timothée Chalamet backlash

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Harry Styles has dropped his long-awaited album, ACOTAR author Sarah J Maas went on Call Her Daddy and Timothée Chalamet is facing backlash for his comments on ballet and opera – it’s been a busy week in pop culture! Plus: Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall’s sexy new series Vladimir has landed on Netflix just as the “smut renaissance” reaches fever pitch. From romantasy to Heated Rivalry, is our insatiable appetite for steam a symptom of the loneliness epidemic? Finally, a quick look at Lily Allen’s tour reviews, that *very* awkward new Louis Theroux interview and a super exciting announcement: book club is back in April! We can’t wait to see some of you there <3

Get tickets to our book club on Sunday 12 April at The Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor and order your copy of our book pick Hooked here.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs

Maybe Knowing Too Much About Motherhood Has Ruined Me, The Cut
‘I regret having children’, The Cut
Vladimir: A Novel, Julia May Jonas
Vladimir, Netflix
Vladimir author Julia May Jonas: ‘We’re imprisoned by our obsessions’, The Guardian
Is it true that … if you pluck a grey hair, two will grow in its place? The Guardian
Julia May Jonas on Bringing Vladimir to Netflix—and What She Changed, Elle
Hooked, Asako Yuzuki
Sarah J. Maas on Call Her Daddy
Are We in a ‘Smut Renaissance’? New York Times
Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, Harry Styles
Harry Styles - Zane Lowe & Apple Music ‘Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally’ Interview
‘Would you like me to cry now?’: Louis Theroux on the manosphere, marriage and misunderstandings, The Guardian

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Love Story: JFK Jr & Carolyn Bessette, Olivia Dean and the Jay Shetty cult

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette has us all hooked, from the Sex and the City-style NYC setting to its retelling of the 90s' most iconic romance. But how much of it is dramatised vs what actually happened? Also this week: star of the moment Olivia Dean’s BRIT Awards sweep, why Jay Shetty remains un-cancellable despite an excruciating new interview, Lily Collins as Audrey Hepburn and former Call Her Daddy host Sofia Franklyn’s revenge memoir about her split from Alex Cooper. Enjoy huns and please do get in touch to let us know what you think of the ep!

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk

Recs/ reviews:

Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette, Disney+
I Knew JFK Jr. I Thought I Would Sob Through ‘Love Story.’ Instead, I Laughed Out Loud, Hollywood Reporter
What’s Fact And What’s Fiction In Disney's 'Love Story', Elle
Calvin Klein! The brand that made Kate Moss into the ’90s It Girl, Talk 90s to me podcast ep with Sali Hughes
Paul Anthony Kelly Tells Mel Ottenberg How He Became John-John, Interview
Uncovering the higher truth of Jay Shetty, The Guardian
Wellness guru Jay Shetty has raised some doubts. Including his own, The Interview, New York Times
Jay Shetty Knows Exactly What You Want. That's the Problem. Liz Bucar, Substack
Hard work, romance and bell hooks: how Olivia Dean became British pop’s newest megastar, The Guardian
Emily in Paris star Lily Collins to play Audrey Hepburn in film about Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Guardian
The Babies Kept in a Mysterious Los Angeles Mansion, The New Yorker

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America’s Next Top Model, Gordon Ramsay and the BAFTAs

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The new America’s Next Top Model doc has everyone talking about the ethics of reality TV and just how bonkers the 15-year phenomenon really was, so this week we’re diving into everything from how things have changed since the noughties to how terribly Tyra Banks comes across. Also on the show: Gordon Ramsay’s Netflix docuseries and the scandals it skips over, Bonnie Blue’s pregnancy announcement, the gorgeous BAFTA-winning film My Father’s Shadow and a recap on everything that went down at the awards on Sunday night.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

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Recs/reviews:

Paris recs: La Fondation hotel, Le Cheval D'or, Mischief
My Father’s Shadow, in cinemas now
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, Netflix
We were all rooting for Tyra Banks to give us some answers – but this America’s Next Top Model documentary gaslights its audience, Independent
Being Gordon Ramsay, Netflix
Swearing, Marty Supreme … and Prince William: Bafta’s 12 biggest snubs and surprises, Guardian
I Swear, AppleTV/Amazon Prime Video
‘Marty Supreme’ Ties BAFTA Record for Most Losses in History, Variety

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Gisèle Pelicot, celeb power couples and splitting the bill

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Symbol of survivor-led justice Gisèle Pelicot has released her memoir, so this week we’re discussing some of the most powerful and inspiring interviews from her press tour. Also on the show: hologram concerts, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner top the Standard’s list of London’s 25 power couples, Cruz Beckham’s Beatles-themed 21st birthday bash, and our thoughts on Vogue’s viral essay from a woman who refuses to split the bill on a first date. Plus, reviews of the Derry Girls’ creator’s new show How to Get to Heaven from Belfast and the gorgeous BBC sitcom Small Prophets.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk

Recs/ reviews:

Abba Voyage at the Abba Arena
Tivoli La Caleta, Tenerife
How to get to Heaven from Belfast, Netflix
Waiting for the Out, BBC iPlayer
Small Prophets, BBC, iPlayer
Anniversary, Netflix
Traindreams, Netflix
A Hymn to Life, Gisèle Pelicot
Gisèle Pelicot, The Interview, New York Times
Gisèle Pelicot: “I’ve Given Myself Permission To Be Happy”, Vogue
Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview review, Guardian
So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it’s about the mass abuse of women and girls, Guardian
I don't want children. I don't want children. I don't want children. I don't want children, Jameela Jamil, Substack
The Girl Who Wouldn’t Split the Bill, Vogue

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WUTHERING HEIGHTS: chemistry, controversies and our honest review

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights is the most talked about and divisive film of the year, so obviously we had to race home from the cinema to record our review for you as a special bonus episode! From Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s chemistry to the many controversies that have people hating, we weigh in on every juicy detail and share the honest thoughts we had while watching. Enjoy huns, we’ll be back tomorrow with our usual pop culture debrief!

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs

Wuthering Heights, in cinemas now
Should Jacob Elordi Play Heathcliff? Why the ‘Wuthering Heights’ Casting Is So Controversial, According to Literary Experts and More, Variety
Jacob Elordi, Heathcliff and the Controversy Over ‘Wuthering Heights’, New York Times
'The hostility has been relentless': How Wuthering Heights became this year's most divisive film, BBC
How Far Is Too Far? Emerald Fennell on Gothic Obsession and Wuthering Heights, V&A Museum YouTube

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Jacob Elordi, the Wuthering Heights press tour and motherhood horrors

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Wuthering Heights is out this weekend so we’re diving into some of the press tour’s juiciest moments, from Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie’s ‘affair baiting’ to Elordi’s Esquire interview with Emerald Fennell. Also on the show: Bella Hadid’s break-up, Charli XCX on her fave red carpet moments, and the powerful rise of motherhood horror, from Rose Byrne’s ‘monumental’ new film to an addictive, hun-recommended book about a baby shower gone terribly wrong. Plus, the viral Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore TV series, an excellent Romantasy rec and Freida McFadden’s new revenge novel.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

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Recs/ reviews:

Landman, Paramount+
Yellowstone, Netflix
What ‘Landman’ Understands About Oil, New York Times
Charli xcx is the Moment, Gloves Off with Nicky Campbell on YouTube
Jacob Elordi Opens up on the Magnetic Power of Margot Robbie and the Yorkshire Moors in Wuthering Heights, Esquire
Rose Byrne: ‘You lose part of yourself when you become a mother’, The Times
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, in cinemas from 20 Feb
Expectation, Anna Hope
So Thrilled for You, Holly Bourne
Dire Bound, Sable Sorensen
Dear Debbie, Freida McFadden

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Chappell Roan, Kim K’s Lewis Hamilton romance and Katie Price’s scammer husband

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Chappell Roan’s nipple-ring dress was the talk of the Grammy Awards red carpet, so naturally we’re debriefing on that this week, as well as the night’s other biggest moments. Also on the agenda: all things Formula 1, from Brad Pitt’s Oscar-nominated F1: The Movie to the latest rumours that Lewis Hamilton is dating Kim Kardashian, The White Lotus season 4 updates (including Helena Bonham Carter’s casting!) Katie Price’s highly concerning new husband, Olivia Attwood’s separation, a tribute to comedy icon Catherine O'Hara, the long-swirling allegations against David Walliams and a check-in on Marvel’s newest superhero show, which is actually all about acting. Enjoy huns!

Get one of the last few tickets to our book club on 15 Feb at the Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

Wonderman, Disney+
F1: The Movie, AppleTV
Grammys 2026 highlights: the 10 biggest moments of the night, The Times
Katie Price starting to think marriage to Lee Andrews was ‘huge mistake’, Metro
Olivia Attwood ‘to divorce’ Bradley Dack & removes wedding ring, The Sun
Hilltop hijinks: White Lotus to take over luxury chateau on French Riviera, Guardian

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Taylor vs Blake, the future of Brand Beckham and Sophie Turner’s Steal

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Beckham feud rolls on and of course we have a big juicy update for you! We comb through everything that’s happened over the last week, from wedding witness DJ Fat Tony setting the record straight on Victoria’s “inappropriate” dance, to weigh-ins from Brooklyn and Nicola’s exes. So what’s the future for Brand Beckham? Also on the show: what unsealed texts from the upcoming It Ends with Us trial reveal about Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s rumoured fallout, and our thoughts on the Meghan Trainor surrogacy backlash. Plus, the snubs from this year’s Oscar nominations and a debrief on The Beauty, the wild body horror satirising our culture of physical perfection starring Bella Hadid. Enjoy huns!

Get your ticket to our book club on 15 Feb at the Hoxton, Holborn via Ticket Tailor.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/ reviews:

Steal, Amazon Prime

Alana Hadid, whose brother dated Nicola Peltz, weighs in on Brooklyn Beckham drama, Independent

Victoria Beckham owns trademarks to all her children’s names, Times

Brooklyn Beckham doesn’t need his parents. He’s got a secret weapon, Times

Meghan Trainor Faces Onslaught of Hate Over Surrogate Baby, Newsweek

The Baby Died. Whose Fault is it? Wired

The Beauty, Disney Plus

Ratched, Netflix

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Harry Styles, Heated Rivalry and Paul Mescal in Hamnet

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Harry Styles has new music out, ‘Skins meets Succession’ show Industry is back for season four and Paul Mescal is playing Shakepeare in tear-jerker Hamnet – it’s a good week for pop culture! Also on the show, we’re debriefing on Amazon’s first-look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, the ice hockey romance that’s taken the internet by storm, Heated Rivalry, and Molly Mae’s Adidas collab. Plus a fab Call Her Daddy ep with Jennette McCurdy (author of our book club pick Half His Age), a gripping podcast series from Alice Levine and our initial thoughts on s2 of Idris Elba’s Hijack. Enjoy huns and don’t forget to listen to our Brooklyn Beckham bonus episode from yesterday, where we deep-dive into his explosive statement on his relationship with Victoria and David!

Tickets for our book club on 15 Feb at the Hoxton, Holborn are going quickly! Get yours via Ticket Tailor.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

Hamnet, in cinemas now
Hamnet feels elemental, but is it just grief porn? New Yorker
How accurate is Hamnet? The Times
21 Questions to Fall in Love with Paul Mescal, GQ
The Roofman, Amazon
Explosive Lies podcast
Riot Women, BBC iPlayer
Heated Rivalry, NOW TV/ Sky
UK viewers warm up for steamy ice hockey hit Heated Rivalry, BBC
Jennette McCurdy: Half His Age, Call Her Daddy
Heavy Is the Crown: George R.R. Martin on His Triumphs and Torments, The Hollywood Reporter
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, NOW TV
Molly Mae: Behind It All, Amazon
Industry, BBC iPlayer
Industry’s Marisa Abela and Myha’la on success, sisterhood and strap-ons, Glamour
How to Fail with Marisa Abela
Marisa Abela: ‘Industry isn’t afraid to do things that upset people’, Times
Hijack, Apple TV

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BROOKLYN BECKHAM: the family feud goes nuclear

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:50:21 GMT

Brooklyn Beckham has broken his silence on the family feud and so *obviously* we had to record an emergency episode for you huns! In an utterly jaw-dropping statement, Brooklyn has accused his parents Victoria and David of putting brand Beckham above absolutely everything, with allegations ranging from a vendetta against wife Nicola Peltz that includes planting false stories in the press, to his mum dancing inappropriately “on” him after hijacking the first dance at their wedding. Is this fall out the inevitable culmination of a lifetime in the public eye? Or is Brooklyn a brat with a controlling wife whose parents have tried their best? We dissect it all! As always we’re dying to know your thoughts huns so please do get in touch with your takes x

Tickets for our book club on Sunday 15 Feb at the Hoxton Holborn are now live here!

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

References:

It’s a Brooklyn v Beckham Inc disaster: what happens when the elephant in the room goes rogue, The Guardian
VICTORIA BECKHAM: marriage, money and the Brooklyn fall out, Straight Up (our ep)
I don't want to reconcile with family, says Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, BBC
Nicola Peltz Has Married Brooklyn Beckham At Her Family’s Oceanfront Palm Beach Estate, Vogue
Nicola Peltz’s Custom Valentino Couture Wedding Dress Was Like “A Work Of Art”, Vogue

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Timothée Chalamet, Steven Bartlett and Kendall Jenner’s plastic surgery

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor at the Golden Globes so it’s time for our Marty Supreme review! Also on the show: Kendall Jenner has set the record straight on her sexuality and plastic surgery in her most candid interview yet. But could her nose really have changed shape from acne medication? Plus, our thoughts on the backlash against Diary of a CEO founder Steven Bartlett following his guest Chris Williamson’s controversial comments about the falling birth rate, and a couple of TV recs to beat the January blues.

Tickets for our book club on Sunday 15 Feb at the Hoxton Holborn are now live here!! Run don’t walk because the first 20 ticket buyers get a FREE baby tee from the iconic slogan baby tee brand Ruby Loot.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

His & Hers, Netflix
People We Meet on Vacation, Netflix
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, Netflix
Hunting Wives, iTVX
The Night Manager, iPlayer
‘Diary of CEO’ Guest Calls Out Girl With the List on Birth Rate—She Replies, Newsweeks
The Golden Globes ceremony ignored politics. But their big winner taps today’s unhappy turbulence, Guardian
Marty Supreme, in cinemas
Hamnet, in cinemas

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The Traitors, new Bond Callum Turner and The Housemaid

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Traitors is back with a whole new twist and we have thoughts! Also this week, we review Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried’s wild thriller The Housemaid and Callum Turner’s afterlife romcom Eternity. Speaking of, Mr Dua Lipa looks set to be the next James Bond… but would he make a good 007 or is he too safe a bet? Then of course we had to debrief on Timothée’s Chalamet’s speech about Kylie after winning Best Actor at the Critic’s Choice awards, and update you on the never-ending Beckham family feud saga. Plus, our first book club title has been decided and tickets will be on sale very soon! Enjoy the ep huns and as always please do let us know your thoughts, we LOVE hearing from you.

Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod

Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs/reviews

So Thrilled For You, Holly Bourne
Half His Age, Jeanette McCurdy
Flesh, David Szalay
The Housemaid, in cinemas now
Eternity, AppleTV
Can Callum Turner handle what it takes to be the new James Bond? Times
Critics Choice Awards: Full Winners List, Hollywood Reporter
Weapons, available to rent from home
The Beckham family's 'sad' escalating feud with Brooklyn and his wife Nicola explained, Hello!
The Traitors, BBC iPlayer

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The 10 best books of 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Happy almost New Year, huns! We’re rounding off 2025 with our list of the top ten books of the year, from award-winning heavyweights to addictive romantasy and some stand-out non-fiction. We’re reviewing the reads that dominated group chats, the ones recommended by you guys, and the under-the-radar faves we still can’t stop thinking about. Plus: the books we’re desperate to dive into in 2026 and an update on our book club! We really hope you enjoy this ep, we’ll be back next Thursday for our usual pop culture chaos.

Let us know what you think of the ep, share your fave books of the year and just generally get in touch via socials or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. We LOVE hearing from you!

Recs

The Names, Florence Knapp
Flashlight, Susan Choi
Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yaros
Shield of Sparrows, Devney Perry
Our Salt Path episode
Careless People Sarah Wynn-Williams
Girl on Girl, Sophie Gilbert
New Age of Sexism, Laura Bates
Bring the House Down, Charlotte Runcie
Flesh, David Szalay
Alchemised and CeCe reviews episode
Alchemised, SenLinYu
CeCe, Emmelie Prophete
The Safekeep, Yael van der Wouden
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran Desai
Perfection, Vincenzo Latronico
Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid
What We Can Know, Ian McEwan
Half His Age, Jeanette McCurdy
Dear Debbie, Freida McFadden

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The 10 best TV shows of 2025

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Happy Christmas hunnies and here’s a little treat from us: our definitive list of the top 10 TV shows of 2025. From thrillers to comedies and coming-of-age dramas, these should keep you entertained throughout the Christmas hols. We've kept our main list to original shows of the year, but with special mentions to our fave returning seasons too. Plus a run through of a few of the year’s very worst shows. We’ll be back next Tuesday for our Best Books of 2025 ep, then back to our usual Thursday pop culture debrief the week after that!

Enjoy and please do let us know what you think of the ep, share your top TV recs of the year and just generally get in touch on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. We LOVE hearing from you!

Recs

The Beast In Me, Netflix
Pluribus, AppleTV
Sirens, Netflix
Film Club, BBC iPlayer
Adolescence, Netflix
Toxic Town, Netflix
The Girlfriend, Amazon Prime Video
Down Cemetery Road, AppleTV
What It Feels Like For A Girl, BBC iPlayer
Overcompensating, Amazon Prime Video
Platonic, AppleTV
Amandaland, BBC iPlayer
Severance, AppleTV
Big Boys, Channel 4
The White Lotus, NOW TV

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Taylor Swift’s Eras doc, Bonnie Blue and the biggest film of 2025

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Taylor Swift’s The End of an Era documentary is already breaking Disney records, so we review the first two episodes. Is it pure hagiography or genuinely insightful? Also on the show: why Bonnie Blue wrote a Spectator op-ed backing Nigel Farage, George Clooney’s new marital rule, and the surprising subculture that’s helped make Zootopia 2 box office gold. Plus a review of Alchemised, the incredible fanfic inspired by Harry Potter and the Housemaid’s Tale that netted a seven-figure film deal. Enjoy hunnies and remember next week’s ep is dropping on Tuesday!

Enjoy and please do let us know what you think of the ep, share your recs and just generally get in touch on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. We LOVE hearing from you!

Recs/ reviews

Backstage Beauty Salon
Alchemised, SenLinYu
The fanfiction written on a notes app that’s become a bestseller – with a seven-figure film deal, Guardian
Margaret Atwood on Desert Island Discs, BBC Sounds
The MaddAddam Trilogy, Margaret Atwood
Cece, Emmelie Prophete
Grace Beverley: the Oxford student with a £70m wellness brand, The Times
Zootopia 2, in cinemas now
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Netflix
Taylor Swift: The End of an Era, Disney

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The Diddy documentary, Sydney Sweeney and Miley Cyrus’ younger man

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

50 Cent’s explosive Diddy documentary is dominating the headlines, so this week we’re unpacking the most shocking moments from Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Also on the show: Sydney Sweeney finally addresses her “great jeans” ad controversy, Margot Robbie has given a wonderfully juicy Vogue interview around Wuthering Heights, Channing Tatum’s “career defining” film with Kirstin Dunst is out, Miley Cyrus’s fiancée has everyone talking about age-gaps again and Ellie Goulding’s new baby daddy is a “bad boy”. Plus: the Netflix and Warner Bros mega-deal that has Hollywood spooked!

Recs/reviews:

Roofman, Apple TV
‘Roofman’ Stars Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst Talk That Nude Scene, Which Toys They Took From Set, Hollywood Reporter
Margot Robbie, British Vogue
The end of big-screen cinema? What Netflix hopes to achieve by buying Warner Bros, Guardian
All About Miley Cyrus’s Fiancé Maxx Morando and Their ‘Low-Key’ Relationship, Elle
Sean Combs: The Reckoning, Netflix
Sean Combs: The Reckoning review – you can see why the musician is fighting to ban this horrific documentary, Guardian

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Ed Sheeran, Wicked 2 and the new British ‘Gossip Girl’ Wild Cherry

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Ed Sheeran’s new songs hint at cracks in his seemingly perfect, previously ultra-private marriage, while Jessie J has had to set the record straight on her breakup with Channing Tatum. So just how literally should we take pop stars’ lyrics? Also this week, we’re diving into the BBC’s Gossip Girl-style mother-daughter thriller Wild Cherry, the so-called “female Adolescence", David Szalay’s Booker Prize-winning novel Flesh and 2025’s Word of the Year. Plus, the surprising news that we’re technically teenagers until 32, reports of wild parties from the set of Rivals, and, finally, our (spoiler-free) review of Wicked 2!

We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!

Recs/reviews:

Wild Cherry, BBC iPlayer
Flesh by David Szalay
Shuggie Bain, Douglas Stuart
Ignore the pessimists – we are living through a literary golden age, New Statesman
How to Stop Time, Matt Haig
Threw it Away, Jessie J
Play, Ed Sheeran
Straight Up behind the music miniseries ep with Ed Sheeran’s manager Stuart Camp
Adolescence lasts into your 30s, major new study on brain development finds, The Independent
Wicked: For Good, in cinemas now

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Jennifer Lawrence, Charli XCX on pop stardom and The Beast In Me

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:00:00 GMT

The Beast in Me is the buzzy new Netflix thriller everyone’s talking about, so this week we’re sharing our (spoiler-free!) review and the standout moments from its star Claire Danes’ latest interviews. First, though, we dive into Jennifer Lawrence’s career-defining performance in Die My Love, also starring Robert Pattinson, and her personal reflections on postpartum life, as well as Charli XCX’s fab Substack on the realities of being a pop star and the celeb newsletter boom more generally. Plus: the brilliant new sci-fi about a romantasy writer, Pluribus; the Guardian’s viral investigation into ‘free birth’ influencers; and Ambika Mod’s latest role as a porn-addicted academic. Enjoy hunnies!

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com, and the code works on top of Black Friday sales! Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews:

Pluribus, AppleTV
The Lost Bus, AppleTV
Die My Love, in cinemas now
‘Die My Love’ and the savage truth about the postpartum experience, Gillian Orr, Substack
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world, Guardian
The realities of being a pop star, Charli XCX’s substack
Why is Everybody Losing Weight and What do we do Sincerely? A person who's lost weight, Lizzo’s Substack
Lizzo Starts Over The pop star’s success once felt radical. Can she capture the Zeitgeist again?, Vulture
The Beast In Me, Netflix
‘I’d barely kissed a boy, but was making out with Adonis’: Claire Danes on sex, spy camp and teen stardom, Guardian
Porn Play, Royal Court
The 31-Year-Old Creator Of Porn Play Wanted To “Do Something Provocative”, Vogue

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The best films of 2025 (LIVE from Curzon cinema)

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:00:00 GMT

From Frankenstein, One Battle After Another and Bugonia, to Sinners, Materialists, and The Roses, in this very special bonus episode we're battling it out for the best films of 2025 live from the Curzon cinema Hoxton! Why are so many of this year’s top films so divisive, and is horror taking over Hollywood? Plus, why blockbuster icons like Leonardo DiCaprio should take note of Timothée Chalamet’s marketing tricks for Marty Supreme, the joys of the Wicked press tours, and our Oscar predictions. Finishing up with a few questions from our huns in the audience! TYSM to everyone who joined us, we loved meeting you all and we can’t wait to do more next year.

Thank you so much to our fave cinema Curzon for hosting and sponsoring this episode. PSA for all the huns who want to watch the incredible films reviewed in this ep, Curzon have got a brilliant Black Friday deal on their Classic Film Membership, which runs from 28 November to the 1 December and includes a whopping seven free cinema tickets instead of the usual five, as well as 20% off all additional cinema tickets for you and a guest, and 10% off food and drink in all Curzon cinemas. Find out more here.

Recs/reviews

Frankenstein, Netflix
Bugonia, in Curzon cinemas now
One Battle After Another, AppleTV
Eddington, Amazon Prime Video
Lilo and Stitch, Disney+
After The Hunt, Amazon Prime Video
The Roses, Disney+
Materialists, Amazon Prime Video
The Ballad of Wallis Island, Amazon Prime Video
Wicked: For Good, in Curzon cinemas now
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Amazon Prime
Sinners, Amazon Prime Video
Weapons, Amazon Prime Video
Babygirl, AppleTV
Die My Love, in Curzon cinemas now

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Caroline Flack, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Hilary Duff's comeback

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 01:00:00 GMT

The Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer has just dropped and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it! Will Miranda and Andy’s return live up to the iconic first film? Also this week: Jack Whitehall’s glossy thriller Malice, the Caroline Flack documentary that reveals new details about the role the tabloids and police played in her tragic passing, Louis Theroux interviews Florence Pugh, Hilary Duff is making a comeback, Rachel Sennot’s fab influencer comedy I Love LA, Michelle Obama publishes a fashion book and Paris Hilton has been problematic again. Enjoy hunnys and look out for our bonus episode next Wednesday!

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com, and the code works on top of Black Friday sales! Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

I Love LA, NOW TV
Malice, Amazon Prime
Californication, Paramount +
‘Diabolical move’: Miranda Priestly’s red shoes get Instagram fashion no-no, Guardian
Allow Hilary Duff to Reintroduce Herself, Vogue
Florence Pugh on the Louis Theroux podcast
Michelle Obama at 61: ‘I feel as free now as I did when I was a kid’, The Times
Paris Hilton: ‘I’m not scared of anything — except spiders, bees and dying’, The Times
Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, Disney+

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Sydney Sweeney’s reputation, Timotheé Chalamet and Jennifer Lawrence’s return

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Sydney Sweeney’s new film Christy has bombed at the box office, days after her GQ cover interview went viral for all the wrong reasons. Are her days as Hollywood’s golden girl over? We take a look at evolving public image and explore whether her controversies have actually damaged her career. Also on the show: how Sarah Snook’s new kidnapping thriller has prompted a conversation about the gender gap, the I'm A Celeb lineup, what Timothée Chalamet’s very revealing Vogue interview means for Kylie, and we are so here for JLaw’s comeback! Finally, is it fair to say Kim Kardashian has created the worst TV show of all time with All’s Fair? Plus two fab new book recommendations.

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com, and the code works on top of Black Friday sales! Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

All Her Fault, Sky/ NowTV
All her Fault is a misandrist masterpiece, Vulture
Sarah Snook And Dakota Fanning On How New Show ‘All Her Fault’ Reveals The “Invisible Labor” Women Take On In Relationships, Deadline
Sarah Snook on Why She Opted for ‘All Her Fault’ After ‘Succession’: “I Can’t Top That, So Finding Something Different Was Really Important”, Hollywood Reporter
Our October bonus ep: The myth of having it all and how to break free
Did women ruin the workplace?, New York Times
Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Vanity Fair lie detector test, YouTube
Jennifer Lawrence, The Interview podcast (NYT)
Sydney Sweeney, GQ
The Universe According to Timothée, Vogue
All’s Fair, Disney
Is All's Fair really the 'worst TV drama ever'? BBC
The All's Fair cast: ‘It’s good to see women come together and protect one another', Glamour
With ‘All’s Fair,’ Ryan Murphy gives us the ultimate Trump-era TV show, LA Times
‘All’s Fair’ and the New Television of Nothingness, Hollywood Reporter
Have we passed peak social media? Financial Times
Shield of Sparrows, Devney Perry
Under The Blue, Suzannah V Evans
The Safekeep, Yael van der Wouden

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How boyfriends became embarrassing, David Harbour and Jennifer Aniston

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? Vogue’s viral piece arguing that male partners have become “culturally loserish” has broken the internet, so we dive in and discuss whether it’s a feminist reckoning or pure TikTok rage bait. Also this week: Millie Bobby Brown’s bullying claims against David Harbour, Jennifer Aniston’s Hollywood hypnotist boyfriend, People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Jonathan Bailey, Cruz Beckham’s new music, and The Cut’s hot take on high-earning women dating younger men. Plus some far from mid TV for you to enjoy!

Last two tickets to our very special live recording at Curzon Hoxton on 19 November are available here :)

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com, and the code works on top of Black Friday sales! Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

Down Cemetery Road, Apple TV
Emma Thompson: The spy thrillers I read as a teenager told me women should fall in love and get killed, Radio Times
The Dead of Winter
Girl Bands Forever, BBC iPlayer
Jonathan Bailey named People magazine’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive, People
Millie Bobby Brown Reportedly Filed Harassment and Bullying Claim Against David Harbour, Vanity Fair
Jennifer Aniston Finally Hard-Launched Her Hypnotist Boyfriend, The Cut
OPTICS and Lick The Toad, Cruz Beckham
Just Find a Younger Man: Dating is horrible right now, but some women have discovered a loophole, New York Magazine
All Fours by Miranda July
The myth of having it all and how to break free, our bonus from last week
Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? Vogue
Is it really outrageously uncool to have a boyfriend? the Guardian

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Lily Allen’s West End Girl, Nobody Wants This and Julia Roberts’ controversial thriller

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Lily Allen’s West End Girl isn’t just a comeback, it’s a brutally honest divorce album and everyone is talking about it! We unpack where art ends and reality begins, who “Madeline” might be and Lily’s viral interview quotes about sex, age, personal branding and the media’s obsession with her private life. Also this week: our reviews of the second season of Nobody Wants This, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield’s controversial campus cancel culture film After the Hunt, Aimee Lou Wood’s gorgeous rom-com series Film Club and Dave’s new album. Plus: are we rooting for Sophie Turner and Chris Martin? And why is Geri trying to stop Netflix’s Spice Girls biopic? Enjoy hunnies!

Final tickets to our very special live recording at Curzon Hoxton on 19 November are available here :)

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com, and the code works on top of Black Friday sales! Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

After the Hunt, in cinemas now
After the Party, Channel4
The Chair, Netflix
Film Club, BBC iPlayer
Aimee Lou Wood reveals how debut writing project Film Club helped her embrace her neurodivergence, Radio Times
West End Girl, Lily Allen
Lily Allen on her sensational new album, Perfect
Lily Allen: ‘Intimacy is messy… I’ve had a tough year’, The Times
‘Madeline’ from new Lily Allen album comes forward after affair with David Harbour, NME
The Boy Who Played the Harp, Dave
Nobody Wants This, Netflix

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The myth of ‘having it all’ and how to break free

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 01:00:00 GMT

The myth of having it all has us trapped and the pressure to excel in every area of life can feel relentless. No wonder there’s a crisis in women’s happiness. Whether you’re single and stretched thin, dating and disillusioned, or juggling work and motherhood, it feels like we can never do enough. In this special ep, economist Corrine Low, author of Femonomics: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and How to Get the Most Out of Yours, explains why it’s not all in your head and why women today are overwhelmed from every angle. She breaks down why divorced women are statistically happier, the rise of heteropessimism, why she made the data-driven decision post-divorce to only date women and how to navigate those impossible trade-offs between success and self-care. From dating to fertility and the career ladder, Corrine is here to help us all ensure we get a better deal and ultimately enjoy life more!

You can check out Corinne’s free resources at corinnelow.com and get Femonomics via all major booksellers.

Femonomics: What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and How to Get the Most Out of Yours
Platonic, AppleTV
All Fours by Miranda July
This Economist Crunched the Numbers and Stopped Dating Men And she’s never been happier, The Cut

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Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa’s real-life rom com and why fluffy celeb interviews are out

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrity interviews without substance seem to be officially out, as the reaction to Kim Kardashian’s surprisingly flat Call Her Daddy episode proved last week, while thoughtful conversations about art (think Cillian Murphy and Stephen Graham) are in. We discuss! Also this week: Callum Turner’s heart-melting Sunday Times interview about Dua Lipa, Lily Allen’s candid Vogue comeback piece, Britney Spears' response to Kevin Federline’s new memoir, as well as our reviews of Molly Mae: Behind It All S2 and the Austin Butler–Zoë Kravitz film. Plus two gripping true-crime recs: a podcast discovery courtesy of a hun, and Netflix’s ‘revolutionary’ new doc The Perfect Neighbor.

Final tickets to our very special live recording at Curzon Hoxton on 19 November are available here :)

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com. Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

Wisecrack podcast
The Perfect Neighbor, Netflix
The Perfect Neighbor: How a 'revolutionary' CCTV film captures a shocking US killing, BBC
Callum Turner: ‘Love? It’s never not worth it’ The Times
Gwyneth’s Second Coming: “I’m Much Easier On Myself, I Would Say”, Vogue
‘It Was a Way for Me to Process What Was Happening’: Lily Allen on Marriage, Motherhood, and Her Music Comeback, Vogue
Britney Spears: the brutal media shaming of America’s teen dream, Straight Up
You Thought You Knew, Kevin Federline
Britney Spears, The Woman in Me
Kim Kardashian on Call Her Daddy
Kim Kardashian’s faux pubic hair thong is a patriarchal fever dream, Impact
Molly Mae: Behind It All S2, Amazon Prime
Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes, in all good bookshops
The Beauty Queens of MAGA World, Wall Street Journal
Caught Stealing, available to rent on Amazon Prime etc

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Celebrity traitors, Ariana Grande and Keira Knightley’s new thriller

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrity Traitors is giving us the will to live as we battle flu season hunnies, and we are so hooked! We debate our faves to win and round table strategy. Also this week: we review Keira Knightley’s The Woman in Cabin 10, Harris Dickinson’s directorial debut, Joe Wicks’s provocative doc about protein bars and Elizabeth Day’s new book. Plus our thoughts on the rumours surrounding Ariana Grande and Kylie Jenner’s relationships, new couple Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau, and the lowdown on Charli XCX’s feature film and Kim K’s TV drama. And make sure you listen to yesterday’s bonus ep on Victoria Beckham if you haven’t already!

Tickets to our very special live recording at Curzon Hoxton on 19 November are available here :)

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com. Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required.

Recs/reviews

Joe Wicks: Licensed to Kill, C4
Ultra-Processed People, Dr Chris van Tulleken
Why Karolina Krzyzak Followed the Raw Vegans to Bali, The Cut
Urchin, in cinemas now
Harris Dickinson won’t be your heartthrob, Vulture
The Moment teaser
Father of the Bride Part II, Disney+
All’s Fair trailer
Celebrity Social Media (Ariana Grande story), Lainey Gossip
Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes, in all good bookshops
Celebrity Traitors, BBC1
One of Us, Elizabeth Day
Flesh, David Szalay
The Woman in Cabin 10, Netflix

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VICTORIA BECKHAM: marriage, money and the Brooklyn fall out

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Victoria Beckham’s docuseries has arrived on Netflix so we’re diving into the glossy three-part portrait of Posh Spice turned fashion powerhouse in this bonus episode! From what it reveals about fame and misogyny, to her relationship with David and the bitter Brooklyn feud, we unpack all the drama and our favourite moments. Is it a boring advert for brand Beckham or juicy TV? We hope you enjoy hunnies, see you back here tomorrow for our regular Thursday debrief!

Get tickets to our very special live recording at Curzon Hoxton on Weds 19 November here! We can't wait to meet you!!

Recs/ reviews

Victoria Beckham, Netflix
Beckham, Netflix
Learning To Fly, Victoria Beckham
Spiceworld The Movie, rent via Sky Store
Nadia Hallgren on directing the new Victoria Beckham documentary, Stylist
Victoria Beckham: ‘It takes a lot to make me cry, but I did cry’,The Times
Louis Tomlinson on Diary of a CEO

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Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl, The Threesome and Nicole Kidman

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl has caused quite the storm since it’s release on Friday, so we’re getting into everything from the Charli XCX ‘diss track’ to the recent gear shift around music criticism. Also this week: Nicole Kidman’s divorce drama, the new AI actor touted as a real-life The Substance situation, Diddy’s sentencing, two excellent film recommendations and a review of Amazon’s new rom-com The Threesome.

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com. Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required!

Recs/ reviews:

I Swear, in cinemas now
I Swear Review, Variety
Weapons, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Sky Store etc
Weapons review — gorgeous, terrifying and the best thriller of the year, Times
The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift
The Life of a Showgirl review, Pitchfork
Taylor Swift says diss track is 'love letter to someone who hates me', BBC
Taylor Swift’s Charli xcx hit job misses the point – and underscores her tedious obsession with conflict, Guardian
Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes
Nicole, Keith, and Maggie, Lainey Gossip
The Threesome, Amazon Prime

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Emma Watson, Leonardo DiCaprio and open relationships

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Emma Watson’s first longform interview in five years has been making headlines this week, huns, so ofc we had to dive in and dissect the nearly-three hour podcast with Jay Shetty. A bounty of excellent film and TV has also arrived just in time for cosy season, from Dakota Johnson’s dark comedy about open relationships, to Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘era defining’ film One Battle After Another. As well as our five-star review, we discuss why everyone still seems to love Leo despite his controversies. Plus: House of Guinness, Mae Martin’s Netflix thriller Wayward and ITV’s The Hack. Finally, some advice to a hun needing help with a friendship breakup dilemma. Enjoy!

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com. Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required!

Get 20% off our favourite ready-to-drink cocktails from Whitebox, including the best spicy margs, espresso martinis and negronis, with our code SU20 at Whiteboxcocktails.com

Recs/reviews:

Emma Watson, Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast
From Palestine to JK Rowling, has Emma Watson taken her final form as the millennial people’s princess? Independent
Splitsville, AppleTV
One Battle After Another, in cinemas now
‘One Battle After Another,’ With Its Thriller Vision of Authoritarianism, Is the Rare Movie That Could Rule the Cultural Conversation, Variety
House of Guinness, Netflix
Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes
Let There Be Light, why modern TV shows are often too dark to See, Independent
The real life Descendants of the Guinness Dynasty to Know Now according to one of the family, Vogue
The Hack, ITV1
Wayward, Netflix
Feel Good, Netflix
Wayward is unlike any other thriller – for one unexpectedly inspired reason, Radio Times
Stereophonic, Duke of York’s Theatre (tickets via OfficialLondonTheatre.com)

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Harry Styles, controversial new Bumble film Swiped and Reese Witherspoon

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

On the show this week: Reese Witherspoon has teamed up with Harlan Coben to write a thriller, an AI R&B artist has just landed a £2.4 million record deal and Matthew McConaughey’s take on the secret to lasting love has gone viral. Plus, Harry Styles’ marathon run, Charli XCX’s Sicily wedding, the controversial new Kanye West doc In Whose Name and our review of the Bumble founder biopic Swiped. Does Lily James’ portrayal of Whitney Wolfe Herd signal the return of the girl boss, or provide proof that dating apps really are dead? Enjoy hunnies!

Get 10% off our fave sofa brand Swyft with the code straightup10 at swyfthome.com. Stylish, comfy, flat-packed and no tools required!

Get 20% off our favourite ready-to-drink cocktails from Whitebox, including the best spicy margs, espresso martinis and negronis, with our code SU20 at Whiteboxcocktails.com

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

Recs/reviews

Reese Witherspoon, The Interview, NYT
Gone Before Goodbye, Reese Witherspoon
Gen Z Only Watches TV Through Social Clips. Hollywood is Scrambling, The Ankler
Matthew McConaughey, Diary of a CEO
Cornfield Chase, Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar soundtrack
In Whose Name
Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes, from all good bookshops
Swiped, Hulu / Disney+
Tell Me Lies, Disney+
Culture Debrief: Are We Witnessing The Second Coming Of The Girlboss? Grazia
Black Rabbit, Netflix
Lily James leads a Girl Boss social network that is half film, half Bumble advert, Independent
Lily James: ‘Would I use a dating app? Maybe I don’t need one’, Telegraph

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The Summer I Turned Pretty, marriage resentment and The Girlfriend

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

We prayed for good TV and The Girlfriend more than delivered! We review Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke’s deliciously crazy psychosexual thriller: team Cherry or team Laura? Plus, why millennial women have fallen head over heels for The Summer I Turned Pretty, a look at whether Thailand is as ‘dark’ as Zara McDermott’s new documentary portrays, and our verdict on divorce comedy The Roses starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Also: our thoughts on Yellowface author RF Kuang’s new book Katabasis. Enjoy hunnies!

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

Get 20% off our favourite ready-to-drink cocktails from Whitebox, including the best spicy margs, espresso martinis and negronis, with our code SU20 at Whiteboxcocktails.com

Recs/reviews

The Roses, in cinemas now
Thailand: the dark side of paradise, BBC
Antioxidant scanning at BACKSTAGE Salon
The Girlfriend, Amazon Prime Video
The Girlfriend: Warning! This sexy oedipal thriller may be too shocking for vanilla viewers, Guardian
The Summer I Turned Pretty, Prime Video
Why Are Forty-Something Women Obsessed With The Summer I Turned Pretty?, Vogue
Why Almost Every Woman You Know Is Obsessed With The Summer I Turned Pretty, Elle
In ‘The Girlfriend,’ Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke ‘go feral.’ But who’s the real villain?, LA Times
Katabasis by RF Kuang
The Problem With RF Kuang's Fiction, Slate
Katabasis by RF Kuang review – a descent into the hellscape of academia, Guardian

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Wuthering Heights, Jacob Elordi's next role and a wild RichTok wedding

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Saltburn director Emerald Fennell seems to have enraged the internet with the trailer for her new Wuthering Heights adaptation starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, but is this really ‘ragebait cinema’ or just her signature ‘stylised depravity’? We discuss! Also this week: Elordi’s other big trailer for Netflix’s Frankenstein, the Thursday Murder Club adaptation, queen of RichTok Becca Bloom’s wedding and the Etsy witches she credits with banishing bad weather, a viral Wired long-read about surrogacy, the rise and fall of Vice magazine, and what a new ‘nepo baby’ editor means for Vogue.

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

Get 20% off our favourite ready-to-drink cocktails from Whitebox, including the best spicy margs, espresso martinis and negronis, with our code SU20 at Whiteboxcocktails.com

Recs/reviews

Popbitch, Substack
Thursday Murder Club, Netflix
Attack of the Rotten Tomatoes, Puck Magazine
Atomic, NowTV
Bland, easy to follow, for fans of everything: what has the Netflix algorithm done to our films? Guardian
Emerald Fennell’s Hyper-Sexualized ‘Wuthering Heights’ Gets Polarized Reception at First Test Screening, World of Reel
Is Emerald Fennell the Bonnie Blue of cinema? Dazed
$3 Million Watches and Caviar for the Cat: How Becca Bloom Became the Queen of RichTok, WSJ
I hired an Etsy witch to save my wedding day weather. Here's what happened, Glamour
Vice is Broke, Amazon Prime Video
The Baby Died. Whose Fault Is It? Wired
Can Vogue Go Niche, Business of Fashion
The Memification of Nepotism and How Proud Nepo Babies Are Rebranding Inequality, Substack

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OZEMPIC: medical miracle or body image nightmare?

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Hi hunnies! We had so many messages about Serena Williams’ weight-loss jab ad that we knew we had to dig deeper behind the headlines into the world of GLP-1s for this extra episode. From the shame still clinging to these drugs, to the groundbreaking new research on how they could help treat psychiatric disorders, addiction and even Alzheimer's, we’re weighing up the pros and cons. We also share how a GLP-1 has transformed the life of one listener with PCOS, ask what’s really driving the obesity epidemic and get into the difference between GLP-1s for medical vs. aesthetic use.

Reccs:

How is Ozempic changing the world? Why? With Emma Kennedy podcast
A GLP-1/obesity expert breaking down Jameela Jamil's post
How weight-loss wonder drugs are redefining the way our bodies work, Guardian
Here’s Why Doctors Are Hopeful That GLP-1s Can Help Treat PCOS Symptoms, Women's Health
Health and productivity losses from obesity ‘far outstrip weight-loss jab costs’, Guardian
A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We Are Thinking About Obesity All Wrong, New York Times

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Sabrina Carpenter, the Lily Phillips doc and Meghan Markle’s return

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

British OnlyFans creator Lily Phillips comes second to Bonnie Blue for her extreme sex stunts, yet she has a very different public image, as a new Stacey Dooley doc makes clear. What does this say about our notions of femininity? And is the criticism around Stacey ‘platforming’ Lily fair? Also on the show: Sydney Sweeney’s new romance, Molly Mae’s nanny furore, our verdict on Sabrina’s new album and another season of With Love, Meghan on Netflix. Enjoy hunnies!

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

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Recs/reviews

Inter Alia, National Theatre (or National Theatre Live)
Lilo and Stitch, Disney+
Disney's latest unnecessary remake is a monstrosity, Guardian
Chief of War, Apple TV
The Inheritance, C4
Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over with Lily Phillips, S6 E1, U
Lily Phillips: I slept with 100 men in a day, YouTube
ONLYFANS: Bonnie Blue, sex stunts and the rise of the porn 'influencer' (Straight Up ep from May)
Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter to Taylor Swift: Why female pop stars embracing sex is still controversial in 2025, BBC
With Love, Meghan, Netflix

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Serena Williams’ weight-loss ad, Millie Bobby Brown and the twisted tale of Amanda Knox

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Serena Williams has sparked a serious debate with her sponsored content promoting an Ozempic-style weight-loss jab. We get into the pros and cons of these so-called ‘miracle drugs’ and the inevitable media-fuelled fall-out with Jameela Jamil. Also this week, we dive into the Millie Bobby Brown adoption ‘backlash’, give an update on the most divisive film of the year (match-making rom com The Materialists), and review the controversial new Amanda Knox Disney drama, along with Netflix’s number one show Hostage. And, of course, as promised, our verdict on The Real Housewives of London!

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

Recs

The Materialists, in cinemas now
The Logic of the ‘9 to 5’ Is Creeping Into the Rest of the Day, The Atlantic
Speculating about Millie Bobby Brown’s adoption is unacceptable, Stylist
Op-Ed: I Judged Serena Williams For Using A Weight-Loss Drug — Now, I Get It, Essence
Fears that sport will be the loser as Serena Williams embraces weight loss jabs, The Observer
Dua Lipa, #SkinnyTok and the labubu doll craze, Straight Up May episode
Why with Emma Kennedy podcast: How is Ozempic changing the world?
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, Disney+
Why the new Amanda Knox TV drama is misguided, BBC
‘It’s a new kind of prison’: Amanda Knox on redemption , rage, and her unlikely friendship with the prosecutor who hounded her, Guardian
Hostage, Netflix
The Real Housewives of London, Hayu

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Taylor Swift, the horror renaissance and another Beckham update

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Swift has officially entered her sexy era, announcing a new album in her first-ever podcast interview with Travis Kelce, alongside a showgirl-themed shoot that’s got everyone talking. We debrief on both! Also this week: from Weapons to 28 Years Later, we’re deep in a horror renaissance, Chris Hemsworth drops a wellness doc with an appearance from pal Ed Sheeran, the mind-blowing new science of signs, Netflix’s depressing Biggest Loser doc and of course, yet another Beckham update, this time courtesy of Brooklyn and Nicola’s vow renewal.

Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.

Recs/reviews discussed:

28 Years Later, in cinemas now
Weapons, in cinemas now
Together, in cinemas now
Limitless: Live Better Now, Disney
Neuroscientist (Dr. Tara Swart): Evidence We Can Communicate After Death! Diary of a CEO
The Signs: the New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts, Tara Swart
Pillow Talk. What Travis Kelsey does that's made Taylor Swift suddenly so sexy, Daily Mail
Taylor Swift’s Sultry, Spangled Next Act, Vogue
Taylor Swift has gone raunchy for the life of a showgirl. What can it mean? Times
Wait, Is Taylor Swift Teasing a Super Bowl Halftime Performance? Vulture
David and Victoria Beckham face fresh heartache as new details emerge of Brooklyn's vow renewal speech to wife Nicola Peltz, Daily Mail
Fit for TV: The reality of the Biggest Loser, Netflix

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THERAPY: ChatGPT, false memories and therapy speak

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

From unqualified therapists planting false memories in vulnerable people and an obsession with labels to ‘therapy boasting’ on Hinge and the weaponisation of ‘therapy speak’, we deep-dive into the dark side of the therapy boom. Plus, what makes a good therapist, and can AI offer an accessible alternative to what has become a luxury? We hope you enjoy this special bonus hunnies, we’ll be back with our usual Thursday pop culture debrief tomorrow!

Recs:

Dangerous Memories podcast
My therapist told me Mum had abused me. She hadn’t, Times
The therapist who planted false memories, Pandora Sykes, Substack
How the language of therapy took over dating, NYT
Nobody has a personality anymore, Substack
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns users not to trust ChatGPT agent with sensitive or personal data, Decoder
Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens, NYT
He Had a Mental Breakdown Talking to ChatGPT. Then Police Killed Him, Rolling Stone
What does bad therapy actually look like? Stylist
Can AI therapists really be an alternative to human help? BBC

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Freakier Friday, Pamela Anderson and why 'all the good men are taken'

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

‘Heteropessimism’ is all over our feeds right now, so this week we’re asking: where are all the eligible men? Plus, our verdict on the Freaky Friday sequel (Freakier Friday), Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson’s rumoured romance, “recreational argument” families and the recent but inescapable rise of rage-bait, from Sydney Sweeney’s genes and the Skims chin strap, to sex stunts and wedding cake-smashing. Also: why Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne’s Platonic might just be our favourite TV show of the year!

Recs/reviews:

Freakier Friday, in cinemas now
Freakier Friday is humiliating to everyone involved, Time
Cosmetic procedures make Freakier Friday confusing as hell, Allure
‘Generations of women have been disfigured’, Jamie Lee Curtis, Guardian
Platonic, AppleTV
My Oxford Year, Netflix
The Store, Oxford
How the Right Shaped the Debate over Sydney Sweeney ads, New York Times
From Kim Kardashian’s ‘face shapewear’ to Sydney Sweeney’s jeans controversy, is everything rage bait now? Glamour
Heteropessimism and our declining faith in the straight, cis man, Glamour
Where Are All The Eligible Men? British Vogue
Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson Are Dating: 'It's Clear They're Smitten' People
The Emma Guns Show

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Caroline O’Donoghue, stolen time and the problem with selling trauma

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This week we're diving into the pressure female authors face to turn their personal trauma into marketable content. Why is women’s fiction so often mistaken for ‘autofiction’? And why does the publishing world seem to reward pain over imagination when it comes from women? Writer (and returning guest!) Caroline O’Donoghue joins us to unpack her brilliant recent piece in The Bookseller, deep-diving into everything from the first-person industrial complex, stolen time and tweakments, to her current pop culture picks including books, TV and film. Also this week, K has been to see match-making rom-com The Materialists and E has a book rec!

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Recs/reviews:

I Who Have Never Known Men, Jaqueline Harpman
Orlanda, Jaqueline Harpman
The Materialists, in cinemas
Materialists review – Celine Song’s Past Lives follow-up is a mixed bag, Guardian
‘Materialists’ Review: When Dakota Met Pedro (and Chris), New York Times
Past Lives, Amazon Prime
Up close and personal, Caroline O’Donoghue for The Bookseller
Skip Shock, Caroline O’Donoghue
Where's the 'you'? Naoise Dolan on Substack
I felt myself split into before and after’: how giving birth triggered a life-changing illness, Guardian
The Terrible Things I Have To Do To Be Me, Philippa Snow
In Love With Love, Ella Rusbridger
84 Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff
The Cinemile podcast
You’re Wrong About podcast
Lena Dunham’s C Word podcast
Ologies podcast

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Bonnie Blue’s shocking new doc and the ‘real’ Gwyneth Paltrow

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Is Bonnie Blue a ‘sexual predator’ or an empowered businesswoman? That’s the question driving the controversial new Channel 4 documentary about the porn star’s sex extremism, including sleeping with 1057 men in 12 hours. We went to the doc’s press screening last week, with Bonnie herself in attendance for a post-screening Q&A, so we discuss the its most uncomfortable moments, as well as Bonnie’s motivations, societal responsibility and what she’s really like in person. Also in this ep, a look at the juiciest revelations from the new and unauthorised Gwyneth Paltrow biog, from Goop’s toxic work environment to her fallout with Madonna. Plus a couple of TV reviews for you to get stuck into!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Recs/reviews

The Assassin, Amazon Prime
The Secrets of TikTok Shop: UNTOLD, Channel 4
ONLYFANS: Bonnie Blue, sex stunts and the rise of the porn 'influencer' (our 28 May bonus ep)
100 Men and Me: the Bonnie Blue Story, Channel 4
Bonnie Blue: 1,000 men and the worrying normalisation of porn, The Times
Confronting Andrew Tate & Bonnie Blue: World Exclusive: Have Men Lost Their Power & Has Feminism Ruined Society? Disruptors podcast
Bonnie Blue, Channel four and the problem with commodifying sexual violence, Glamour
The Affair podcast
Gwyneth: The Biography, Amy Odell
Back Row, Amy Odell’s Substack
Sorry, you’ll never be Gwyneth Paltrow. Whoever she really is, Washington Post
Shakespeare in Love, BBC iPlayer

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Cheating ethics, sextortion scammers and Love Island’s manosphere

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Coldplay KissCam controversy has everyone talking about cheating, so this week we’re weighing in on affairs and internet sleuthing, as well as the scary rise of ‘sextortion’, investigated by Jordan Stephens’s brilliant new doc. Also on the show: Love Island’s toxic masculinity problem, Charli XCX’s wedding, yet more Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni drama and plenty of fab recs, from a fascinating memoir about the News of the World scandal and the new Jurassic World, to Eric Bana’s slick Netflix detective show and the funniest comedy you’ll see all year.

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Recs/reviews

Jurassic World:Rebirth, in cinemas now
Pulp Kitchen, Jurassic World Rebirth
Could we make a real Jurassic Park? Why? with Emma Kennedy
The Return of the Dire Wolf, Time Magazine
Heads of State, Amazon Prime
Lion, Amazon Prime
Love Island 2025, brought to you by the manosphere, Glamour
Hunting My Sextortion Scammer, Channel 4
Don’t Let it Break You Honey, Jenny Evans
Untamed, Netflix
Such Brave Girls, BBC iPlayer
Sweet Bobby, Tortoise Media
Why does Gen Z smell like sugar? Vox
Yuka app
Weleda Skin Food

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Surgery, celeb gossip, dating and babies: your questions answered!

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Today’s topics have all been chosen by you, huns, in our first ever ask us anything Q&A ep! From tweakments and our most embarrassing celeb encounters to dating, the apps and planning for children, nothing is off limits as we dive into your nosiest questions. We also weigh in on the Tattle Life debate and get into whether the influencer gossip forum is toxic or necessary, as well as advice for a listener going through it and the myth of having it all. Thank you sooo much to the hunnies who sent in questions, we’ll be answering some more in another ep v soon x

We love hearing from you, so please DM us questions, recs or bonus ideas ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod on Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk.⁠ Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuppod! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going!

Recs

“Trolls on Tattle Life mercilessly tore me apart. The police told me there was nothing they could do” Grace Victory, Stylist
The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore
Choosing love over IVF, with Camille Charrière, Conversations on Love with Natasha Lunn, Substack

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Lena Dunham's Too Much, the Salt Path controversy and a Beckham prenup

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Lena Dunham remains one of the most controversial people in pop culture, but that hasn’t stopped a glittering roster of A Listers from appearing in her fun new London-based Netflix romcom Too Much. We assess some of her biggest online scandals, while looking at how autobiographical the show really is. Plus, an explainer of the Salt Path: the latest furore to rock the publishing industry. Are readers right to feel betrayed by writer Raynor Winn’s alleged lies and does publishing have a fact-checking problem? We’ve also got yet another juicy little Beckham family feud update for you, hunnies, plus a debate on whether prenups are feminist and two fab book recs!

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Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Recs/reviews

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
The Tenant by Freida McFadden
Too Much, Netflix
Too Much: what film and TV get wrong about London, BBC
Did the Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff Relationship Lore Inspire Too Much?, Marie Claire
Will Sharpe went too hard on himself in the Too Much finale, Vulture
Lena Dunham’s change of pace, New Yorker
Too Much Is Full of Lena Dunham Lore, Vulture
TALA founder: ‘We weren’t going to make payroll — so I sold my car’, Financial Times
The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were spun from lies, deceit and desperation, The Observer
The Salt Path revelations should be no surprise to anyone in publishing, The Observer

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Brad Pitt’s PR tricks, the American Apparel cult and Charlize Theron

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Brad Pitt’s carefully crafted F1: The Movie promo run has us thinking about how celebrities script their own stories and how easily we buy into them. From Brad’s quiet erasure of abuse allegations by Angelina Jolie to Chris Brown packing stadiums despite a long history of violence, we’re diving into the messy, age-old question: can you really separate the art from the artist? Also this week: a gorgeously candid Charlize Theron interview, Tim Key’s rom-com of the summer The Ballad of Wallis Island and Netflix’s jaw-dropping exposé on the cult of American Apparel and the toxic founder Dov Charney.

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Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Recs/ reviews:

Birnam Wood, Eleanor Catton
Charlize Theron, Call Her Daddy
Brad Pitt is Fooling You, Vulture
A Complete Timeline of Chris Brown’s Controversies, People
Scooter Braun, Diary of a CEO
Brad Pitt, GQ interview by Otessa Mosfegh, 2022
I think I'm done with being interviewed by women. Jameela Jamil Substack
Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence, our March 6 episode
Trainwreck:The Cult of American Apparel, Netflix
The Ballad of Wallis Island, in cinemas now

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The Bezos wedding, surgery transparency and a Glastonbury debrief

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Billionaires, botox, and a newly single Orlando Bloom – this week we’re diving into Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s ultra-extravagant Venice wedding, a spectacle that’s reminded the internet that money definitely can’t buy taste. From the Hollywood attendees that made headlines like Sydney Sweeney and Leonardo DiCaprio to the inevitable backlash to the whole thing, we’re getting into it all. Also, as Khloe Kardashian follows in Kylie Jenner’s footsteps and comes clean about her plastic surgery, we’re asking just how much we should applaud the KarJenners for their new transparency. And Ellie reports back from Glastonbury!

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Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Recs/ reviews:

The Affair with Anna Williamson
Story Time with Kayla Jade
Waterfront, Netflix
The Shark Whisperer, Netflix
The Shallows
47 Metres Down
House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J Maas (Crescent City series)
Deep Cover, Amazon Prime
The Dark Poetry of the Bezos Wedding, Atlantic
Vogue's Confidently Oblivious Lauren Sánchez Cover Story, Back Row, Substack
Khloé Kardashian Is Talking About Her Plastic Surgery Too, The Cut

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NOUGHTIES IT GIRLS: feuds, falls and the reign of the tabloids

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

We’re on hols this week, hunnies, but ofc we weren’t going to leave you without an ep! So, we’ve dug into the archives and stitched together one of our very first specials: a *very* juicy two-parter on the iconic Noughties ‘It Girls’ Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Richie, which feels extremely relevant right now thanks to the publication of the amazing new book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves. In this deep-dive, we cover everything from the toxic rise of tabloid culture and the paparazzi, to how this era ended up shaping celebrity and pop culture as we recognise it today. We know most of you haven’t heard this one yet and so we want to rectify that, bc we’re very proud of it!

We hope you enjoy and we’ll be back to usual business next week! We would love to hear your thoughts, pop culture recs and future special ideas so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

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WEDDINGS: pop culture, tradition and marital myths

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It’s wedding szn hunnies so we get into the bonkers and wonderful world of weddings, from the most absurd and insufferable wedding tropes to our favourite wedding pop culture, including two excellent book recs. Plus, a few top tips from recent bride Kathleen!

We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things weddings or ideas for future bonus eps, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Recs/reviews

The Fence
The Wedding People, Alison Espach
You’re Cordially Invited, Amazon Prime
The Materialists, in cinemas August
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Father of the Bride
Bridesmaids
The Bachelorette
An Attempt to Make Sense of the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial-Complex Canon, Vulture
Four Weddings and Funeral
Shotgun Wedding
Ticket to Paradise
Crazy Rich Asians
The Princess Diaries
All Hail the New York Influencer Who Posted TikToks Throughout Her Wedding, The Cut
The Happy Couple, Naoise Dolan
Dear Dolly, Should we let a pet dog come to our wedding?

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Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Cooper and the new age of sexism

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The backlash against Sabrina Carpenter’s new album cover supposedly satirising the male gaze has left us grappling with difficult questions, from how much moral responsibility Sabrina owes her young fans to whether this satire serves any greater purpose. Tying in with the release of Laura Bates’s brilliant new book The New Age of Sexism, we debate everything from how messy female ‘empowerment’ has become and what misogyny actually looks like in our terrifying age of AI. On theme, too, is our review of Alex Cooper’s new documentary about her meteoric Call Her Daddy fame: how does her sexual agency compare to Sabrina’s? And on a lighter note we start off with a juicy debrief on Dua Lipa’s new British Vogue cover. Enjoy hunnies!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Recs/review

Dua Lipa, British Vogue
Dua Lipa, SkinnyTok and the Labubu doll craze
Pop Culture Takes Up Smoking Again, New York Times
Why Are People Mad at Sabrina Carpenter Again, The Cut
How Sabrina Carpenter Dream-Come-True'd Her Whole Life, Rolling Stone
The New Age of Sexism: how the AI Revolution is reinventing misogyny, Laura Bates
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Conversation With Lana Del Rey, Pitchfork
Girl on Girl, Sophie Gilbert
Call Her Alex, Disney+
There's more to Alex Cooper than the 'Call Her Daddy' documentary suggests, Washington Post

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Bonnie Blue’s petting zoo, Billie Eilish and Blake Lively’s big win

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a big week for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with the judge dismissing Baldoni’s $400m countersuit against Lively and his $200m defamation suit against the New York Times. Who is now winning and where does that leave the trial in March? We bring you up to speed with all the latest developments, as well as news of another legal drama: nine women have accused Jared Leto of sexual impropriety. Now his ‘Mars Island cult’ feels very disturbing indeed. First up, though, we’re talking babies: from Nara Smith’s fourth pregnancy announcement to Jamie Laing’s podcast rebrand. Plus, a primer on Billie Eilish’s new boyfriend, as well as a much overdue debrief on Maya Jama’s adorable hard launch with Ruben Dias. And is the fallout from Bonnie Blue's now cancelled sex stunt valid? Finally we review BBC’s What It Feels Like for a Girl, which might just be the best show of 2025!

Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Reviews/ recs:

Chicken tarragon lasagne, So Good by Emily English
Pearl, Netflix
Sinners, AppleTV
Newlyparents podcast
What It Feels Like For a Girl, BBC iPlayer
'All of us felt like we had touched gold': What It Feels Like for a Girl, the BBC’s electric coming-of-age tale, Guardian
Jake Dunn Is Fiercely Protective of BBC Trans Drama ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’, Hollywood Reporter
What It Feels Like for a Girl star Ellis Howard on frank sex scenes, that toilet brush moment, and the emotional finale, British GQ
Paris Lees and What It Feels Like For An Icon, Polyester
Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400m defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, BBC
How Many Times Will Blake Lively Have to Beat Justin Baldoni in Court for It to Matter?, Slate

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FRIENDSHIP BREAKUPS: ghostings, exes and group politics

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A friendship ‘breakup’ is an experience more than 80% of women have been through and it can be even more gut-wrenching than ending a romantic relationship. Yet in our society that prioritises romantic over platonic love, there’s no social script for dealing with it. We dive into a topic that still feels like a taboo despite its clear universality, with the help of many of your deeply honest and moving DMs, which proved to us just how devastating – and common – friendship break-ups can be. We cover everything from ghostings and estrangement to boundaries and therapy-speak, as well as how politics, exes and different life stages can lead to rifts and resentment. Hopefully, if you’ve been through something similar, then this ep will help you feel less alone!

We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things friendship, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Recs

Bad Friend, Michelle Elman
Bride Wars
We Need to Talk about Our Ex Best Friends, Elle
Bad Friend, Tiffany Watt Smith
The Lingering Wounds of Friendship Breakups, Elle
The White Lotus S3 E8, HBO
Will Our Friendship Survive Your Baby, New York Magazine

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Sydney Sweeney’s bathwater, the ‘literary man’ and a Beckham feud update

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

On today’s show: BookTok is engulfed in controversy after an Australian rugby star was seemingly handed a book deal after just a month of posting on BookTok and with no former writing experience or manuscript to his name. We discuss the accusations of white male privilege, the inner workings of influencer publishing and whether we need more ‘literary men’ in our age of incel culture. Plus, is Sydney Sweeney selling droplets of her used bath water to male fans genius marketing or normalising objectification? And, following the news of Bella and Gigi Hadid’s secret sister, how wise is genealogical testing? Finally our usual film and TV recs (including a very honest And Just Like That review), and a highly revealing update on the Beckham feud.

Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

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Recs/reviews

Sydney Sweeney, Dr Squatch ad
The Elysian, Elle Griffin, Substack
The disappearance of literary men should worry everyone, New York Times
Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
The Principle of Moments, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
Evenings and Weekends, Oisín McKenna (audiobook on BookBeat)
The Gift, BBC Radio 4 podcast
You’ve found a lost relative. Now what? Vox
The Better Sister, Prime Video
Long Bright River, c4
Overcompensating, Netflix
And Just Like That, NOWTV
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Disney +
Mormon wives on swinging scandals, friendship fallouts and religious backlash, BBC

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Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa, Sirens and the Hollywood facelift

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa’s *very* hard launch and rumours of multiple joint TV projects has got us wondering: is this a rare example of a PR relationship? We dive in! Plus, an explainer of TikTok’s Odd Muse drama: can founders get called out without it being bullying? Also, a little look at Kris Jenner’s face lift and how one surgeon seems to be becoming the most popular man in Hollywood. And of course we had to debrief on the Netflix show starring Julianne Moore and Meghann Fahy that everyone is talking about: Sirens. Why are we so obsessed with eat the rich satire and gorgeous cult leaders?

Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Recs/ reviews

Pure flourish sleep tape
My brain finally broke, New Yorker
How to fix your focus and stop procrastinating, Johann Hari
Aimee Smale on Working Hard, Hardy Working podcast
Nine Perfect Strangers, Prime Video
Sirens, Netflix
Maid, Netflix
Netflix’s Sirens will leave you with questions, Hollywood Reporter
‘Sirens’ Creator on the Power of Lilly Pulitzer, Michaela’s Bird Obsession and Turning Greek Myth Into New England Nightmare, Variety
It must be nice to be a West Village girl, The Cut

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ONLYFANS: Bonnie Blue, sex stunts and the rise of the porn 'influencer'

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

From Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips to Kayla Jade and Ari Kytsya, OnlyFans influencers are everywhere. In this bonus ep, we’re deep-diving into the porn star meets social media matrix. How did OnlyFans become such a cultural and economic powerhouse? And who are ‘bops’ and ‘mattress actresses’ taking over TikTok? This special covers it all: sex stunts, stigma, empowerment, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, the celebs making millions on OF, explainers on our fave creators and the problem with sex extremism.

We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things OnlyFans, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Recs

‘We’re not influencers’: Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips tell us why anger over their sex stunts is ‘misdirected’, Brit Dawson for Cosmo
Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Everyone's a sellout now, Vox
Kayla Jade on TikTok, @blueeyedkaylajade
Story time with Kayla Jade podcast
Ari Kytsya on TikTok @notburnttoasthehe
I Slept With 100 Men in One Day | Documentary by Josh Pieters
Keily Blair, OnlyFans: ‘We are an incredible UK tech success story’, Financial Times
OnlyFans and the Myth of Owning Your Own Hustle, Vanity Fair
I’m an Ex Playboy model. My son 12 was banned from a sports team because of my job.
7 top OnlyFans creators on how it changed their lives, GQ
Why are we shaming Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips, but not the masked men queuing up to have sex with them? Glamour
Virgin Island, Channel 4
From Bonnie Blue To Boysober: Why Sex Extremism Is Doing No One Any Good, Elle

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The Diddy trial, Jameela Jamil and why your phone is making you unsexy

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Diddy trial has been dominating the pop culture convo this week and so on today’s show we debrief, from the horrendous victim-blaming of Cassie Ventura to her husband’s beautifully powerful response. First though, we’re getting into a fascinating piece about how our phones are killing our ability to feel sexy, Bella Hadid’s Vogue interview and Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s new film about early parenthood. Also: controversial comments abound as Jameela Jamil gets heat for her views on how women need to step up in the fight against toxic masculinity and Lorde has been interviewed about coming off the Pill. Is this really Right-wing propaganda? We discuss!

Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0%APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk

Reviews/recs

Breath, James Nestor
Forever, Netflix
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Your phone is why you don't feel sexy, Catherine Shannon Substack
The DumbPhone Boom is Real, New Yorker
Bella Hadid On Self-Love, Navigating Megastardom And Meeting Her Cowboy, British Vogue
Was Diddy a 'mastermind'? How ex Cassie's testimony builds the sex trafficking case against him, BBC
Jameela Jamil, Wrong Turns podcast
Sommer Tothill, TikTok
Jameela Jamil on Mamma Mia’s No Filter podcast
Lorde: 'I'm an Intense Bitch', Rolling Stone
Lorde is not a MAGA tradwife for going off birth control, Dazed
Murderbot, Apple TV

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Dua Lipa, #SkinnyTok and the labubu doll craze

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Dua Lipa has been hailed as ‘the best literary interviewer’ for her forensically researched Service95 author chats and so ofc we had to weigh in, huns, from the rise of celebrity book clubs (and even book stylists) to why people are so reticent to acknowledge a beautiful woman’s intelligence. Also this week: celebrity couples from Kylie and Timothée to Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, the labubu doll craze and the ‘kidultification’ of culture, plus a deepdive into the disturbing world of #SkinnyTok. Is this the end of body positivity or just recycled fatphobia, emboldened by the Ozempic era? Finally, a few TV recs, including our review of Molly Mae: Behind It All part two. Enjoy and have a fab weekend!

Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk

Recs/ reviews

Is Dua Lipa the best literary interviewer? The Guardian
Dua Lipa versus the literary landscape, YouTube
Still Born, Guadalupe Nettel
Why countless guys are obsessed with those weird and wild Labubu dolls, GQ
The £13 cuddly toys now being sold for thousands thanks to a celebrity craze, Telegraph
Flow, in cinemas and to rent on YouTube
Who’s Afraid of #SkinnyTok? Airmail
SkinnyTok Isn’t A Trend — It’s The Latest Iteration of Diet Culture & Fatphobia, Refinery29
From fashion to the food industry: 11 ways that weight-loss drugs have changed the world, Guardian
Molly Mae: Behind It All pt II, Amazon Prime
I thought Molly-Mae Hague was self-absorbed – her documentary changed my mind, Metro
Malpractice, ITV

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AMBITION: does anyone enjoy their job anymore?

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Ambition feels very complicated in 2025. On the one hand, hustle culture, 5am wake-ups and 'productivity bros' dominate our social media feeds, yet post-pandemic it seems like many have redefined what constitutes ‘success’ through finding purpose, setting boundaries or simply ‘quiet quitting’. So what does ‘making it’ even mean anymore? In this special bonus ep, we’re unpacking everything from side hustles, the girlboss era and softgirl trends to money anxiety, career disillusionment and Emma Grede’s controversial Diary of a CEO interview. Enjoy hunnies and let us know if there’s a special topic you’d love for us to tackle!

DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x⁠

Recs/ reviews:

What We Lose When We're Priced Out of Our Hobbies, Atlantic
Side hustles, Zoom waves and the Great Casualisation: how Covid shaped new ways to work, FT
I burned out chasing money and hustle culture's standards. Now, I'm taking a 'no shame' approach to my business, Business Insider
Emma Grede on Diary of a CEO
Some side hustle ideas to help you with all that money anxiety, The Cut
The rise of the side hustle, Guardian
Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman
If Books Could Kill podcast on Lean In
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson

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The Beckham family fallout, Met Gala drama and Dolly Alderton on friends

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Beckham family feud is making headlines again, huns, after Brooklyn missed David’s starry 50th bash – the latest in a long line of similar ‘snubbed’ events. He didn’t even post about his dad’s big day, so might this genuinely be more than tabloid rumour? Obvs we’re debriefing on the Met Gala too, from Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal to the apparent fall out between Anna Wintour and Naomi Campbell. Also this week: Dolly Alderton’s new quotes on friendship, Tina Fey’s ‘mid-life’ comedy The Four Seasons and our review of the first ep of the final series of The Handmaid’s Tale. Enjoy and please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going!

We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com ⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for 60 days for free and stream millions of audio and e-books using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk

Recs:

Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth
Naomi Campbell’s charity ended in disgrace. She wants to talk about why, Financial Times
Sally Rooney, Naomi Campbell and Nobody Wants This, Straight Up ep Oct 24
The Four Seasons, Netflix
The Handmaid’s Tale, Amazon Prime/ C4
As the curtain falls on Gilead, is The Handmaid’s Tale too close to the bone? The Independent
The MaddAddam Trilogy, Margaret Atwood
Make Christianity cool again: Why Gen Z is flocking to church, The Independent

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Sinners, Louis Theroux’s new doc and the latest Blake Lively ‘feud’

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrity Traitors, five-star sexy horror Sinners and Penn Badgley’s You finale are all on the agenda this week, huns, as well as Louis Theroux’s return to top form with new doc The Settlers. Is this his most important piece of work yet? We’re also getting stuck into the latest Blake Lively updates, from her ‘feud’ with A Simple Favour 2 costar Anna Kendrick, to the recent Baldoni-related developments. And why are celebs like Blake and Ryan all buying into football teams atm? Plus, Chappel Roan ‘pushing’ her assistant, the problem with ‘POVS’ and Kaitlyn Dever’s heart-wrenching The Last of Us interview. Enjoy and please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Try BookBeat for 60 days for free and stream millions of audio and e-books using our code straightup at bookbeat.com

Recs/ reviews:

‘I was sexualised, patronised and ridiculed’: how Charlotte Church survived the tabloids to become an earth mother, Guardian
Love Life, BBC iPlayer
Blake Lively Is on the 2025 TIME100 List, Time Magazine
You S5, Netflix
Podcrushed ep with Penn Badgley and Domino Badgley- Kirke
How ‘You’ Star Penn Badgley Set Out to Deconstruct His Romantic Icon, Hollywood Reporter
A Court of Mist and Fury, Sarah J. Maas
Sinners, in cinemas now
Sinners Is Bold, Ambitious, and Just Misses Greatness, Vulture
Louis Theroux: The Settlers, BBC iPlayer
The Settlers review – this vital film forces Louis Theroux to do something he’s never done before
Louis Theroux On Returning To The West Bank After 15 Years For BBC Doc ‘The Settlers’ & Being “Perpetrator Focused, Deadline
It Broke Her, Too: Kaitlyn Dever on The Last of Us, Vulture

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HENS: the most divisive hallmark of female friendship?

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Hen szn is here hunnies and so as promised here is our special deepdive! With the help of your excellent DMs, we assess the good and bad of this increasingly divisive topic: from money anxieties and the growing consumerism of the hen-do ‘aesthetic’ to how this tradition can provide a much-needed opportunity to celebrate and make time for those you love. Plus, the single gal perspective, hen ‘etiquette’, pop culture horror stories,, and whether hens are ultimately progressive or regressive for women.

If you enjoyed this please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! We absolutely LOVE hearing recommendations for Thursday topics or bonus eps too, so please do DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Recs

All the Behind-the-Scenes Debauchery From Writer Tish Weinstock’s Bachelorette, Cosmo
Bring back tacky hen do’s, the I paper
Why I wanted a one-night only hen-do, The Times
Why I’m no longer going on hen weekends, New Statesman
From penis straws to puppy yoga: Inside the ‘zen do’ revolution, Independent
Henpocalypse!, BBC iPlayer
Bachelorette, Prime Video
Bridesmaids, Prime Video
Everything I know about love, Dolly Alderton
Stag and hen parties swap binges for good clean fun, Times
Are You the Only One Who’s Broke? Or Is It ‘Money Dysmorphia’? NY Times
Over and out: why hens, stags and their parties should be put out to grass, Guardian
Hens with Heart

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The Last of Us, ACOTAR and touchy-feely friendships

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Are Big Brother’s Jojo Siwa and Chris Hughes just friends or something more? We discuss what is ‘normal’ within platonic relationships and whether Chris is really who he appears to be on screen. In other celeb news: a debrief on the Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas rumours, and why Liz Hurley’s new romance is rather concerning. As promised hunnies Kath reports back on her first foray into ACOTAR and how it compares to Fourth Wing, and we have some excellent recs across theatre and TV, including Disney’s The Stolen Girl and whether sleepovers should have parents worried. And last but not least… The Last of Us! We’ve kept our review to the first episode only to avoid spoiling ep two’s shocking (gahhhh!!) twist. See ya next time!

Please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Recs/reviews

A Court Of Thorns And Roses, Sarah J. Maas
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
I Who Have Never Known Men, Jaqueline Harpman
Retrograde, Apollo Theatre London
The Stolen Girl, Disney +
The Stolen Girl is here to make us think twice about sleepovers, Stylist
Your Friends & Neighbours, Apple TV
Jon Hamm Runs Deep, L’Officiel
The Last of Us, Sky/ HBO
Moya McLothian Lean, The Chaff Substack
Bel Priestley, YouTube

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Elizabeth Day: pop culture, friendship and getting over the ick

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The queen of podcasting herself, Elizabeth Day, is on the show today to talk all things pop culture and we could not be happier about it huns! We get stuck into her three top recent recs across TV, film and books, the media’s obsession with first person pieces about ‘bad friends’ and the toll of maintaining a personal brand. We also chat about the psychic reading that changed Elizabeth’s life, reality TV, her daily routine and top pieces of dating advice for our single huns. We promise anyone currently jaded by modern dating will feel uplifted hearing her talk about her first Hinge date with now-husband!

Check out Elizabeth's podcast How To Date here and pre oder her new book One of Us (out September 25) here

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Reccs/ reviews:

How to Date podcast
The Party, Elizabeth Day
Babygirl isn't just a sexy thriller, Elizabeth’s Substack Daylight
Love on the spectrum S3, Netflix
Bad Influence, Netflix
Show Don’t Tell, Curtis Sittenfield
Meghan Markle, Confessions of a Female Founder
Ed Sheeran, Call Her Daddy
Adolescence, Netflix
Conclave, AppleTV
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Chloe, BBC iPlayer
Erin Doherty, How to Fail
Olivia Atwood, How To Fail
On the Outside Substack

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Black Mirror, the Beckham feud and WhatsApp group politics

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Another week, another divisive op-ed from The Cut! This time about the fraught nature of WhatsApp groups: is it wise to use them to discuss such personal things as money, politics and parenting? First though, another op-ed, this time on the 'Singlehood Stigma', tackling why women feel like they are simultaneously being told by society not to want a partner, while also shamed for their singledom. It seems like we can't have it all - and maybe that's OK. Also on the show, we have a look at the new charges against Russell Brand, why Romeo Beckham is feuding with brother Brooklyn, a quick film rec and reviews of this week's top TV: Black Mirror and Dying for Sex. Enjoy hunnies!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Recs/ reviews

The New Singlehood Stigma, The Atlantic
When Did Dating Become So Depressing? (our ep)
Freya India, GIRLS, Substack
My Group Chat is Ruining My Life, The Cut
Thinking About Myself Too Much is Making Me Sick, Chloe Grace Laws’ Substack
Black Bag, in cinemas now
Russell Brand: Misogyny, manipulation and the mainstream media 'agenda' (our ep)
The Deliriously Witty Spy Games of “Black Bag”, New Yorker
Is this the kinkiest show on TV? New York Mag
Dying for Sex, Disney
Dying for Sex, Wondery Plus
Michelle Andrews on Inherited podcast
Black Mirror, Netflix
Blue Jean, BBC IPlayer

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Sydney Sweeney, Chappell Roan and dystopian pregnancy

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Chappell Roan has received a backlash for saying all her parent friends are ‘in hell’ – is it warranted? We discuss her controversial Call Her Daddy interview and the perennial issue of the ‘unlikeable’ woman, including Amanda Knox, who has just given a fascinating new interview. Also, why does it seem like the internet has been waiting for Sydney Sweeney’s engagement to fail? Plus plenty of film and TV reviews, from brilliant new AppleTV comedy The Studio to Emilia Clarke’s disturbing fertility sci-fi The Pod Generation, now on Netflix. Finally, we dig into why so many men seem to be fainting at a depiction of abortion in the West End, and the efficacy of trigger warnings.

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

We are blown away by how Sisterly's Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠

Recs/reviews

I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, Rebecca Wait
Havoc, Rebecca Wait
Brunswick House, London
The Studio, AppleTV
Ellen Pompeo, Call Her Daddy
Millie Bobby Brown, Call Her Daddy
The Electric State, Netflix
Chappell Roan, Call Her Daddy
Amanda Knox, How Do I Cope?
Con Mum, Netflix
The Pod Generation, Netflix
I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman
The Years, Harold Pinter

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MOVING: flatshares, break-ups and escaping the endless grind

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to another bonus episode, this time on the theme of moving: something we’ve been chatting about a lot over the last six months. Why are so many packing up the career ladder for a different way of life abroad? Is it easier to find love elsewhere? Why are people – including couples – flatsharing later in life than ever? And has it now become acceptable to live with your parents in your 30s? We unpick the most recent data and dive into all these cultural and social trends, while sharing our own experiences of moving, from how our first flatshares compared to pop culture tropes, to living with partners, parents and strangers. We would LOVE to hear about your experiences of moving, in any way shape or form, so please do DM us at @straightuppod, or email us a hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk, and we can continue the conversation. (And don't worry we'll be back with this week's regular ep on Thursday!)

Please leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep our little pod going <3

Recs

Homesick, Silvia Saunders
The Great Escape: “Why women like me are quitting our jobs in search of sunshine and self-discovery”, Stylist
Why everything you know about Gen Z is wrong, The Bunker podcast
Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton
Girls, Now TV

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Temptation Island, Gwyneth Paltrow and incest at The White Lotus

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Reality TV is first on the agenda this week huns, as we debrief on Netflix’s bonkers cheating show, Temptation Island, and all the Made In Chelsea alumni currently hitting the headlines. In the wake of the conversations ignited by Adolescence, is a teary Jamie Laing the new face of positive masculinity? Plus, Zara McDermott’s alleged new relationship and the tabloid’s subsequent ‘sad case’ portrayal of her ex Sam Thompson. Also today: the best bits from Gwyneth Paltrow's Vanity Fair profile and Bella Ramsey's British Vogue cover, the previously-promised whistle-stop tour of Chet Hank's many problematic moments in light of his Running Point role, and last but not least, a deep dive into the sixth and most recent episode of The White Lotus. What's driving the incest storyline, and are people right to be offended?

Please leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! Say hi by DMing us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠

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Recs/ reviews:

Temptation Island, Netflix
Million Dollar Secret, Netflix
Big Boys S3, Channel 4
Could tearful Jamie Laing be the antidote to Andrew Tate's toxic manosphere? Evening Standard
Jordan Stephens on We Need To Talk podcast
“There’s No Reason For People Not To Know”: Bella Ramsey for British Vogue
Gwyneth Paltrow for Vanity Fair
The White Lotus, Sky and NowTV
The White Lotus Official Podcast
My Pubic Hair Laser Regret, The Cut
How the Four Seasons Hit a Marketing Jackpot With HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’, WSJ
The White Lotus outstays its welcome, New Yorker

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Adolescence, Fourth Wing and what ‘really’ counts as cheating

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:30:15 GMT

Adolescence on Netflix has fast become the most talked about TV show of 2025, with Stephen Graham’s new drama igniting much-needed conversations around corrosive social media misogyny and violence against girls. We get into it all from our review to the reception. First, though, a chat about polyamory, non-monogamy and what constitutes ‘cheating’ in light of Ne Yo’s polycule reveal and the fallout from Danny Jones and Maura Higgins’s Brit Awards kiss. And also this week: we debrief on publishing phenomenons Fourth Wing now that we’re both Rebecca Yarros converts, share a listener update on the Let Them theory and return yet again to crisis PR.

⁠

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Reviews/ recs:

Still Bad, Lizzo
The Dynamics Of This Relationship Will Expand Your Definition Of Black Love, Huffington Post
Mel Robbins and Plagiarism, Sage Justice, Substack
Let Them: Words for the Healing Soul by Cassie Phillips
Flack, BBC iPlayer
Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros on Navigating Fame and What to Expect From ‘Onyx Storm’, Elle
Rebecca Yarros Talks ‘Onyx Storm’, Variety
Adolescence, Netflix
Netflix drama Adolescence has lessons for us all about alienated young men, Observer
Ctrl Hate Delete by Cecile Simmons

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With Love Meghan, a Blake Lively update and being abandoned by friends

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:00:00 GMT

How has one of TV’s blandest cooking shows ignited such a storm of controversy? We review Meghan Markle’s new Netflix offering to see if those one-star reviews are valid. We also share our honest thoughts on The Cut’s viral piece about the fallacy of the nuclear family. Is it fair to say that friends flake once they have kids? And is the media exacerbating friction between women? Plus, why Blake Lively’s latest big-guns crisis hires suggests something major might soon rock Hollywood, our favourite quotes from the latest Lady Gaga press run, and a look at Adrien Brody’s highly questionable art.

DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Reviews/ recs:

The Brutalist
Miss Me
It Ends With Urgh, Reality Bites podcast
With Love Meghan, Netflix
Furious About With Love, Meghan? Go Cool Off With A Lavender-Scented Flannel, Mate, Vogue
Five key takeaways from With Love, Meghan, Guardian
Running Point, Netflix
Never Have I Ever, Netflix
My Friends Abandoned Me When They Had Kids, The Cut
The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake by David Brooks, Atlantic
Mayhem, Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga: ‘People don’t always make it through success. I did’, Times

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Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:00:00 GMT

We always love it when a guest comes to help us decipher the week in pop culture, and who better to make sense of the Oscars than British actor Lucy Boynton, brilliant star of Bohemian Rhapsody, the Ipcress File, The Politican and Sing Street. She's also in ITV's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, a gripping new drama about the last woman to be hanged in Britain, which reveals the horrific elitism and misogyny of the 1950s, and has become horribly relevant in light of the increasing violence against women. We discuss everything from how the media reports on domestic violence to why our society is built for men. Also on the show: Millie Bobby Brown’s powerful statement in response to media trolling of her appearance, a quick debrief on the Brits and our review of new no1 Netflix hit Toxic Town.

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Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com

Reviews/ recs:

Toxic Town, Netflix
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, ITV
Witches (documentary)
Nickel Boys
Rosewater, Liv Little
Island, Aldous Huxley
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Burn After Reading
When The O.C. Killed Marissa: “What Have We Done?”, Vanity Fair
The Politician, Netflix

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Girlfriend robots, Justin Bieber and blowing up your life

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:00:00 GMT

We are finally getting stuck into the book everyone has been talking about hunnies: All Fours by Miranda July, which has prompted an 'erotic revolution', with a wave of women 'blowing up their lives' by ending their marriages and pursuing sexual liberation. Why is older women’s sexual desire so taboo? Next, following the viral pictures of a 'gaunt' Justin Bieber and Tuppence Middleton’s memoir on her struggle with OCD, we discuss the ethics of media speculation into celebrity health. And also this week: the debate on AI voice recreation as American Murder: Gaby Petito trends at No1 Netflix, a Substack suggesting Booktok content is becoming soft porn for teenage girls (ft our Forth Wing review) and new AI girlfriend thriller Companion.

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Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com/⁠

Reviews/recs:

Harris Dickinson on Chicken Shop Date, YouTube
Harris Dickinson on Off Menu
Is Rose Gray the Next Big British Pop Star? Vogue
All Fours, Miranda July
Miranda July’s Lucrative Fantasies, Substack
Why Gen X Women are Having the Best Sex
Scorpions: a memoir excerpt in the Guardian by Tuppence Middleton
Companion, in cinemas now
Her, Amazon Prime
American Murder: Gabby Petito, Netflix
If BookTok Was a Community Of Men We Would be Calling the Police, Substack

New York recs:

Carbone
Baretto
Bemelman's, Carlyle
Moxy Chelsea

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The White Lotus, botox in cinema and Louis Theroux’s Armie interview

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Happy Thursday huns! We’re checking in at the White Lotus in Thailand to debrief on the start of season three, from our fave characters this time around, to the wild tales from the seven months cast and crew spent on set. But first this week: BAFTAs gossip, Amelia Dimoldenberg’s new boyfriend and a big debate on whether botox is really ruining cinema, as per a recent piece in Dazed. And finally, Louis Theroux’s viral podcast interview with cancelled star Armie Hammer. Could the actor have made any more of a mess of it?

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Recs/reviews

Rye Lane, Disney+
Rev, BBC iPlayer
This reeks of a chemistry recession, Substack
Is botox ruining cinema? Dazed
Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy
This is not a Pity Memoir, Abi Morgan The White Lotus, HBO
Mike White’s Mischevious Vision for White Lotus, New Yorker
Meet the White Lotus series 3 cast: ‘It’s a big, dark, beautiful symphony’, The Times
The Louis Theroux Podcast with Armie Hammer
Podcasts were ruining Louis Theroux – then along came Armie Hammer, Independent
House of Hammer, Discovery+
Will I survive getting trolled again? Polly Vernon on Substack
Boarders s2, BBC iPlayer

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Bridget Jones 4: grief, friendship and magical men

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:00:00 GMT

It’s Bridget Jones season, huns, and so obviously we had to review the latest and fourth film in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy as a special bonus episode. We laughed, we cried, then dissected everything from Bridget's new boyfriends to Pandora Sykes' official podcast. Be warned, there are spoilers! And don't worry, we’ll be back here tomorrow with our usual pop culture debrief.

Let us know what you thought of the film by DMing us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Recs discussed:

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy The Official Podcast with Pandora Sykes
Renée And Hugh Reunite For British Vogue’s February Issue
Hugh Grant on Smartless
If the original Bridget Jones was released today, people would still call her fat, Glamour

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Dating advice, Apple Cider Vinegar and the return of horny

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 01:00:00 GMT

It’s Valentine’s week, hunnies, so ofc romance is top of the agenda on today’s show – kicking off with with a review of Elizabeth Day’s brand new podcast ‘masterclass’ How To Date, which she cohosts with MAFS’s Mel Schilling. Do you really have to be ‘healed’ to find love? And are we the only ones feeling a bit triggered by the ‘take your younger self for coffee’ TikTok trend? Plus: Netflix and Amazon Prime’s new rom-com efforts, Amy Schumer’s Kinda Pregnant and Reece Witherspoon’s You’re Cordially Invited, Jordan Stephens’ wonderfully refreshing take on male sexuality and the Bonnie Blue phenomenon, as well as life post-divorce in Amandaland. And, as promised, we’re getting stuck into Apple Cider Vinegar, the highly-anticipated Netflix series about Australian wellness scammer Belle Gibson.

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Recs/ reviews:

How To Date, Elizabeth Day
Sludge Magazine
Everyone Is Horny Again, Dazed
Miss Me? Let’s Talk About Sex... with Jordan Stephens
Jordan Stephens: sex on screen, male shame and Andrew Tate, Straight Up
Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs, Jordan Stephens
Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix
You’re Cordially Invited, Amazon Prime
Kinda Pregnant, Netflix
Amandaland, BBC iplayer
‘I met my younger self for coffee’ TikTok trend

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Timothée Chalamet, the Romantasy craze and the ‘real’ Ryan Reynolds

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 01:00:00 GMT

We finally got swept up in the Romantasy craze huns! Following the news that Rebecca Yarros’s latest novel Oynx Storm has become the fastest selling adult novel in 20 years, we’re giving her first book in the series, Fourth Wing, a whirl. What is it about these fantasy romances that has millions of women hooked? Plus, our reviews of Timothée Chalamet’s Oscar-tipped turn as Bob Dylan, an excellent book about building your own boyfriend (if only), Disney’s latest dystopian murder mystery, and Khloe Kardashian’s new podcast. Also, is Mel Robbins’s self-help mantra ‘Let Them’ helpful or just classic therapy speak? And how much weight do these rumbling Ryan Reynolds rumours have: is he the real villain of the It Ends With Us saga?

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Recs/ reviews:

A Complete Unknown, in cinemas now
Khloé in Wonder Land Podcast with Mel Robbins
‘Let them’: can this viral self-help mantra change your life?, Guardian
Blob: A Love Story, Maggie Su
Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros’s ‘Onyx Storm’ Is the Fastest-Selling Adult Novel in 20 Years, NYTimes
Did a Best-Selling Romantasy Novelist Steal Another Writer’s Story? The New Yorker
Paradise, Disney +

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The Traitors, Holly Willoughby’s return and our splintered 'selves'

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:00:00 GMT

The Traitors finale was so juicy we HAD to have a big old debrief: was Charlotte robbed? Did it all get too personal? What are the funniest The Traitors tropes? We also discuss Holly Willoughby’s first interview since a terrifying plot to kidnap and kill her was foiled a year ago, as well as Jameela Jamil’s unique ‘protection method’ against misogyny. Plus: has Angelina Jolie been snubbed by the Oscars because Hollywood favours Brad Pitt, despite her abuse allegations? We’re also sorry to report that our honey Leo Woodall’s ‘maths thriller’ Prime Target is... not thrilling. But luckily we do have plenty of other excellent recs for you to get stuck into!

Make sure you leave us your books recs in Spotify comments, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.7% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com/⁠

Reviews/recs

A Good House, Royal Court Theatre FKA Twigs did this for herself, Vulture FKA Twigs, Eusexua Central Cee, Can’t Rush Greatness Holly Willoughby: ‘It’s been tough. There’s no way of sugar-coating it’, Times Jameela Jamil, The Making of Me, the i paper Prime Target, Apple TV There had never been a sillier thriller about maths, Vulture High Potential, Disney Plus 100 Years of Solitude, Netflix What I Learned Visiting the Set of Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, Vogue Why Do TV Title Sequences Have So Much… Stuff, The Beast ‘Severance,’ ‘The Substance’ and Our Increasingly Splintered Selves, NYTimes We Run The Tides

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Cameron Diaz’s comeback, the Molly Mae doc and Lively vs Baldoni (again)

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 01:00:00 GMT

We were not expecting to be weeping over the glossy Molly Mae Amazon doc hunnies, but it got us!! We discuss all the revelations and ‘the Molly Mae paradox’. We also had to dive into the latest explosive lawsuit in this increasingly wild It Ends With Us saga, which has now pulled in Taylor Swift and, er, Game of Thrones. Does the flippant public reaction suggest the worrying end of the MeToo movement? And we’ve got a veritable spy extravaganza of reviews and recommendations this week, including Cameron Diaz’s first return to acting in over a decade. Plus, is We Live in Time up to the hype?

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.7% APR var. T&Cs apply.

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com/⁠

Recs/ reviews

Anora’s Mikey Madison: ‘I never felt naked filming those scenes’, Style
Are You a Charlotte? podcast
I knew one day I’d have to watch powerful men burn the world down – I just didn’t expect them to be such losers, Guardian
Willem Dafoe, The Louis Theroux podcast
Molly Mae: Behind it All, Amazon Prime
The paradox of Molly-Mae Hague, The New Statesman
How the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively legal battle ends, to us, Vulture
Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and the collapse of the Hollywood
MeToo era, New Yorker
We Live In Time, cinemas or pre-order on Apple TV
Let’s Talk About the Way We Live in Time Deals With Death, Time
Back In Action, Netflix
Day of the Jackal, Sky Atlantic
The Agency, Paramount Plus
Killer, Netflix
Severance, Disney+

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Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl, Lily Allen and money anxieties

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Nicole Kidman’s erotic thriller Babygirl is finally out and so ofc we had to see it and give you our verdict this week huns! Before our spoiler free-review, though, we discuss all the latest pop culture stories, from Lily Allen’s reported divorce to Heidi Montag’s musical comeback. As always we’ve got lots of TV chat, plus our thoughts on two of our favourite books of 2024, both about the financial anxieties of young women. Debates on OnlyFans, money diaries and more ensue!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠

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Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠

Official London Theatre has amazing discounts on the biggest and best London shows until Jan 31. ⁠⁠officiallondontheatre.com/seeitlive⁠

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com/

Recs/ reviews:

Infactuation, Heidi Montag
Missing You, Netflix
Playing Nice, ITV
Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, Netflix
When women do anti-ageing it’s called Goop, when men do it, it’s science, The I
Avicii - I'm Tim, Netflix
Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe
Come And Get It, Kiley Reid
Babygirl, in cinemas now
Harris Dickinson, the Run-Through with Vogue
Women Really Want to Talk After Seeing ‘Babygirl’, New York Times
The Secretary, Amazon Prime Video
Birth, Amazon Prime Video

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Blake Lively’s lawsuits, crisis PR and raunchy vampire remake Nosferatu

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Happy 2025 hunnies and welcome back, we’ve missed you! First up this week we’re debriefing on the holidays, from New Year’s resolutions to the culture that kept us entertained. Next, a deep-dive into the explosive developing story on the numerous (and ongoing) lawsuits surrounding It Ends With Us costars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Is the world of crisis PR as dark as it seems? And finally, some great new film recs for you, randomly both starring Nicholas Hoult: Lily-Rose Depp’s ‘sexy vampire’ film Nosferatu, and Clint Eastwood’s crime thriller Juror #2.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠

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Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at player.bfi.org.uk/

Official London Theatre has amazing discounts on the biggest and best London shows until Jan 31. ⁠officiallondontheatre.com/seeitlive

Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠ londonnootropics.com/

Recs discussed:

The Traitors, BBC One
Supacell, Netflix
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, BBC iPlayer
Blake Lively’s Suit Exposes the Twisted World of Hollywood Misogyny, The Nation
'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine, New York Times
Who Trolled Amber, Tortoise
Juror #2, rent via Amazon Prime, Google Play and Sky
Nosferatu, in cinemas now

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Fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Male infertility accounts for half of all IVF cases, so why does society so often consider it a ‘women’s issue’? We get into the taboo around fertility and masculinity, as well as the thorny topics of egg freezing, the 'queer tax' and the commodification of reproduction in this second part of our exploration of why more and more people are putting off having children. We also dive into plenty of other unspeakable truths, from 'unnatural' parents, the fantasy mother vs monster mother tropes in Hollywood, and loss of identity. Plus, we discuss some of the most joyous things about being a parent, how social media is shaping parenthood norms, and much more.

As mentioned in last week's intro, this is the part two of our Big Kids Question re-run , so that our new listeners can discover the two episodes we're proudest of, and because it feels so timely still given November's new fertility data! Plus we didn't want to leave you without anything during the holidays. If you've already listened, maybe give it another go!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Official London Theatre has amazing discounts on over 50 London shows until Jan 31, from Mean Girls to Tina the Tina Turner Musical, Stranger Things and more! Check them out at ⁠⁠OfficialLondonTheatre.com/seeitlive

Reccos discussed

Stand Up to Infertility, BBC
⁠'Elizabeth Day: At 45 I will never be a mother. I’ve made peace with it'⁠, The Times
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
⁠The Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage ⁠by Leslie Jamison, New Yorker
⁠Laura Jackson on Grace Beverley's podcast⁠
⁠Why Must We Pay Queer Tax?⁠ the Guardian
⁠'I’m a sexual and single but wanted to become a mum’⁠, Stylist
⁠Straight Up with Tove Lo,⁠ and ⁠Straight Up with BabyQueen⁠
Diary of a CEO: No.1 Neuroscientist: "Kids will make you unhappier"
⁠I chose my marriage over having kids by Ruby Warrington⁠, The Times
The School for Bad Mothers, Jessamine Chan
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel
⁠The false escapism of soft girls and trad wives,⁠ Time
⁠How Long Can You Wait To Have A Baby?⁠ The Atlantic

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The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore?

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 01:00:00 GMT

The startling new data revealing the sharply declining fertility rate in the UK taps into the fraught and personal conversations that we’ve been having since turning 30: are we ready to have kids, financially and emotionally? How has everything from increased gender equality and the thriving child free movement to social media and the pandemic skip affected our reasoning? We try to answer all these questions and more in this two-part series on the societal and cultural issues shaping how we think about parenthood in modern Britain.

As mentioned in the intro hunnies, this is a re-run of our most popular episode from this year, so our new listeners can discover, and because it feels so timely still given November's new fertility data! Plus we didn't want to leave you without anything during the holidays. If you've already listened, maybe give it another go! Part two will run next week.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Official London Theatre has amazing discounts on over 50 London shows until Jan 31, from Mean Girls to Tina the Tina Turner Musical, Stranger Things and more! Check them out at ⁠OfficialLondonTheatre.com/seeitlive

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Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow’s new thriller plus the best TV and films of 2024

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Hunnies we’ve made it to the end of the year! And our Christmas present to you is a definitive top 10 across both TV and film of 2024, so that you are happily entertained over the next few weeks. Also, we thought it was a good time to dive into Hugh Grant’s ‘freak show era’ now that his intriguing new horror film Heretic is out, and of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without a feminist reappraisal of Love Actually. We hope everyone has a lovely festive break, but we send big hugs and thoughts to anyone struggling at what can be such a difficult time of the year. We are also VERY sorry about the glitching audio which begins part way through this episode due to a mysterious tech diff. We didn’t want to leave you with nothing this week, so we’ve tried our best to make do with the audio we have. Hopefully you can forgive us!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠

Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply.

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Official London Theatre has amazing discounts on over 50 London shows until Jan 31, from Mean Girls to Tina the Tina Turner Musical, Stranger Things and more! Check them out at OfficialLondonTheatre.com/seeitlive

Recs:

Heretic, in cinemas now
Hugh Grant’s Most Convincing Character ‘Hugh Grant’? New York Times
No more Mr Nice Guy: how Hugh Grant transformed himself into an edgy national treasure, Observer
Smartless podcast episode with Hugh Grant
No Good Deed, Netflix

Our best TV & film of 2024:

Anora

Challengers
Blink Twice
Poor Things
La Chimera
Wicked
The Substance
All of Us Strangers
Speak No Evil
Inside out 2
Baby Reindeer
One Day
Rivals
After The Party
Say Nothing
Mr and Mrs smith
Kaos
Boarders
The Perfect Couple
High Potential

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Sabrina Carpenter, Keira Knightley’s Black Doves and brain rot

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Sabrina Carpenter has been accused of ‘marketing’ herself using problematic Lolita references, so we discuss in light of her new Netflix Christmas special A Nonsense Christmas. Plus, Keira Knightley is back on our screens with the highly entertaining spy thriller Black Doves, but will the media be kinder to her this time? Also, ‘brain rot’ is the word of the year, to which we hard relate, and Amy Adams’s new motherhood horror film, Nightbitch, has left us reeling.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% off our fave adaptogenic coffee using our code straightup at https://londonnootropics.com/

Recs:

Is doom scrolling really rotting our brains? The evidence is getting harder to ignore, Siân Boyle, Guardian

Black Doves, Netflix

Black Doves review – Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw’s gleefully pulpy Christmas gift, Guardian

In ‘Black Doves,’ Keira Knightley is a mother and an assassin, LA Times

Keira Knightley: 'Turning 40? It looks rather great', the Times

A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter, Netflix

Your fave is selling a pedophilic fantasy, Jade Hurley on Substack

She was a child influencer. Her fans were grown men, New York Times
Nightbitch, in cinemas now
Amy Adams and Marielle Heller on toddlers, incontinence and Nightbitch, the Guardian

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Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood transformations and hit thriller The Madness

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Linsday Lohan’s new Christmas film is being billed as her big comeback, so why is her alleged facelift at the centre of the story? We discuss the uncomfortable discourse around Lindsay’s recent transformation, from the hunt for her Hollywood surgeon, to our obsession with ‘ageless’ celebrities. Obvs we then had to get into The Cut’s latest viral piece on what a 30-something should look like, not to mention the millennial mid-life crisis. Plus some fab book and TV recs, including the drama that Ellie is calling the best of 2024 and Kathleen’s fave new Netflix thriller.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% off our fave adaptogenic coffee using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recs discussed:

Our Little Secret, Netflix
Hot Frosty, Netflix
Joia, Battersea Power Station
What Should a 30-Something Look Like? The Cut
Welcome to the millennial mid-life crisis, The Cut
How to Murder Your Life, Cat Marnell
The Madness, Netflix
After the Party, Channel 4
Buy Now, The Shopping Conspiracy, Netflix
Nightbitch, in cinemas from Dec 6
Joia Battersea

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Wicked, Gladiator's flop and AI pets

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Everyone is talking about Wicked and so of course we had to share our review with you this week, from just how much we loved the cinematic spectacle, to the best moments from the utterly hilarious press tour. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s crying and hand-holding has us in a chokehold. Surely you’ve been holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity too? Also, Ellie delivers some sad news about Paul Mescal’s Gladiator performance, while Kathleen has much to report on Pandora Sykes’s brilliantly thorough dissection of literary behemoth Colleen Hoover’s work. Plus: freakily life-like AI pets have launched in Japan and are targeted at women in their thirties. We discuss!

Recs/culture discussed

Gladiator II, in cinemas now
The Secret Of Us (deluxe version), Gracie Abrams
Afrikan Alien, Pa Salieu
The Real Reward Of All These Celebrity Lookalike Contests, Raven Smith for Vogue
Rita’s, Soho
White Horse, Shepherd’s Market
Pandora Sykes’ Books and Bits, Substack
Scrapper, BFI Player
My weird, emotional week with an AI pet, Guardian
My AI Girlfriend, Slow News Cast, Tortoise
Wicked, in cinemas now
Theatre Camp, Disney+
Emilia Perez, Netflix
Say Nothing, Disney+
Blitz, Apple TV+

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠https://www.yonder.com/straightup

Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% off our fave adaptogenic coffee using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Sisters, Molly-Mae and film of the year Anora

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Bad Sisters, the brilliant black comedy by Sharon Horgan, is back for season two, so this week we’re getting stuck into the Garvey girls’ return with our review. First, though, some celeb news, from Romeo Beckham’s new girlfriend Kim Turnbull, to Molly-Mae’s Vogue feature. Plus, a debrief on Anora, the award-winning new film touted as the modern day answer to Pretty Woman (consider us Mikey Madison stans). And finally, a raving review of bonkbuster Rivals now that we’ve both finished the first season. We absolutely get the hype.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, beloved by foodies like us. Find out more at https://www.yonder.com/straightup

BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Stream now at ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% off life-changing adaptogenic coffee brand using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed:

“People Find Me Quite Controversial”: Molly-Mae for British Vogue by Sirin Kale
Nightbitch (out 6 December)
Wolf Like Me, Amazon Prime

Anora, in cinemas now
A Night at Cannes With the Strippers of Sean Baker’s Anora, Vulture
Mikey Madison: from Tarantino bit part to hot tip for an Oscar playing a sex worker, Guardian
Better Things, BBC iPlayer
The Oscar contender with a Russia problem, Telegraph
Bad Sisters, Apple TV

Rivals, Disney +
Memo to my family: Stop asking me when I’m going to make you grandparents, Independent
People Aren’t Sure About Having Kids. She Helps Them Decide, Time

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Jamie Oliver’s controversy, The Substance and Margot Robbie’s My Old Ass

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:00:00 GMT

What would an 18-year-old you want to ask your 39-year-old future self if you met them during a hallucinogenic mushroom trip? That's the amazing conceit behind new Margot Robbie-produced rom-com My Old Ass. We review the film while chatting all about teen nostalgia and the passing of time. Plus, why on earth didn't Jamie Oliver hire a sensitivity reader for his cancelled new children's book? And Kathleen has only just recovered from watching the ever-divisive Demi Moore body-horror The Substance, which Ellie reviewed here last month, so we discuss!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, beloved by foodies like us. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re also over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on ⁠BFI Player. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!

We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed:

Barry Keoghan on the Louis Theroux podcast
The Outrun, in cinemas
A Different Man, Apple TV
The Apprentice, in cinemas
Trump spoke directly to young men online. Young men spoke back, The Face
All Those A-List Celebs Couldn’t Save Harris, But Joe Rogan Helped Trump, Hollywood Reporter
So Good, Emily English
My Old Ass, Amazon Prime
The Fall of My Teenage Self, Zadie Smith for New Yorker
The Substance, streaming now
Living with Yourself, Netflix
Anora, in cinemas now

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When did dating become so depressing?

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 01:00:00 GMT

You asked and we have delivered hunnies: an investigation into why modern dating feels so broken. Is it just a case of dating app fatigue and chronic ghosting or are there bigger societal issues pegged to the widening gender gaps when it comes to education, pay and politics? And how helpful is this very modern idea of self love over romantic love? We address all your requests, from positive dating stories and top tips for the apps and offline dating, as well as cautionary tales and horror stories for a little much-needed camaraderie. Plus, how dating affects friendships for better or worse and pop culture’s empty promises.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre, coffee and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re also over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on ⁠BFI Player. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!

Reccs discussed:

Martha, Netflix
Kill List, Wondery
Young women are starting to leave men behind, Financial Times
‘Falling birth rate? It's difficult to imagine having kids when dating is this hard’ Chanté Joseph for Women’s Health
The Age of Abandonment, Girls by Freya India, Substack
Fear and Loathing on Feeld, Moya Lothian-McLean for The Londoner

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Saoirse Ronan, Louis Theroux’s lost touch, Tom Holland and Zendaya

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Happy Halloween hunnies! Why does it feel like the once brilliant Louis Theroux has become our embarrassing uncle? His new Spotify podcast season has revealed him to be narcissistic and underprepared, so we assess potential causes. Plus, our thoughts on two viral celeb videos: Saoirse Ronan's mic-drop moment on Graham Norton, and Tom Holland 'saving' Zendaya. We also come armed with two excellent what to watch reccos: zombie drama Generation Z and a biopic about the most provocative rappers today.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre, coffee and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠

We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible ⁠BFI Player ⁠every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!

We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Amazing health benefits plus no anxiety or jitters. Win! Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos/culture discussed

Law Roach, the architect of Zendaya’s red carpet style, The New Yorker
Generation Z, Channel 4
Sue Johnston is the greatest zombie to grace our screens in decades (Joel Golby) Guardian
Kudu Grill
The Louis Theroux Podcast, Spotify
The Louis Theroux Podcast review — his worst interview yet, Times
Grounded with Louis Theroux BBC Sounds
Kneecap, BFI Player
“She’s Fascinating Eating Cornflakes”: The Endlessly Alluring Saoirse Ronan On Blitz, Kids And Marital Bliss
The Outrun, in cinemas now
Blitz, in cinemas now
Paul Mescal enters the arena, GQ
Big Boys, Channel 4

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Liam Payne, Angelina Jolie and Woman of the Hour

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Liam Payne’s passing has reignited important conversations around the cost of fame and media exploitation, so we’re discussing everything from journalistic ethical standards, to the music industry’s duty of care for popstars. What can we learn from this all-too-familiar tragedy? Also on the show, we review Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, ‘bonkbuster’ Rivals and new comedy The Franchise. Plus: Angelina Jolie’s alleged romance with London’s own Akala, dating octogenarians, and Netflix’s adaptation of the hit podcast Sweet Bobby.

If you've been affected by anything in this episode, Samaritans are here to help, you can call 116 123.

Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠

We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible ⁠BFI Player ⁠every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Culture/reccs discussed

AARP-Breaker, Airmail
I’m 33 and my husband is 77 – this is why I only sleep with older men, Guardian
Magnolia Cafe, Lisbon
Woman of the Hour, Netflix
Love Life, BBC iPlayer
Liam Payne: journalistic ethics are often ignored when celebrities die, The Conversation
Rivals, Disney Plus
Sweet Bobby, Netflix
The crunch, the flavours, the rituals: how crisps became a British snack obsession, Guardian

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Andrew Garfield, Stormzy’s new relationship and men under curfew

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stormzy has a potential new girlfriend and we are SHAKEN by this breaking news huns (and the pics of them kissing at Heathrow) but trying our best to process — it helps that she is the incredible musician Victoria Monet who we already happened to adore. Plus, why we’ve fallen in love with the ultimate modern man Andrew Garfield ahead of his new film We Live In Time, ft. a hilarious story from filming with Florence Pugh. Also, our thoughts on the deeply uncomfortable Boris Johnson interview with Steven Bartlett, not to mention the recently unearthed Anne Hathaway press junket clips, as well as our verdict on the absolute stinker of a Netflix Rom-com Lonely Planet. And is the new show Curfew about making all men stay at home from 7pm to 7am onto something? We discuss!

Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠Yonder⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to experiences from the theatre to flights. Find out more at ⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠

Subject to eligibility. 18+ and UK Residents Only. T&C's apply.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Recs/ culture discussed

Andrew Garfield on the Modern Love podcast, The New York Times
Learning to Measure Time in Love and Loss, NYTimes
Andrew Garfield on All There Is with Anderson Cooper
The Confessions of Andrew Garfield, Esquire
Oliver Burkeman's last column: the eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life, Guardian
Kjersti Flaa YouTube (Blake Lively and Anne Hathaway interviews)
Boris Johnson on Diary of a CEO
Lonely Planet, Netflix
Will and Harper, Netflix
Disclaimer, AppleTV
Curfew, Paramount Plus

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Beyoncé conspiracy theories, Industry and a kinky Kit Harington

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:11:00 GMT

Can Hollywood recover from the Diddy scandal? With more than 120 new lawsuits and related conspiracy theories reigning supreme on TikTok, the allegations surrounding the music mogul have gripped the pop culture conversation this past few weeks From the many theories that hone in on Beyoncé, to a reframing of Zoe Kravitz’s Blink Twice, we provide a much needed update on it all. Plus, a debrief on Kamala Harris’ Call Her Daddy controversy, the happy news that The Princess Diaries 3 has been confirmed, and lots of TV and film recommendations, from our current cinema and Netflix picks, to a review of the new season of HBO/BBC sleeper hit Industry. Kit Harington’s brilliant new character has a love of, ahem, watersports, so the chat takes an unusually kinky turn. Enjoy!

Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠Yonder⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠

We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible BFI Player every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to player.bfi.org.uk ⁠to stream now!

And we’re partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews.⁠ ⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Reccs/culture discussed

Call Her Daddy, Kamala Harris
Speak No Evil
Force Majeure
Heartstopper s3
Prima Facie, NT Live
Blink Twice
The cheap tricks of MeToo thrillers, Vulture
Industry s3
Cheapskatelondon newsletter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Rooney, Naomi Campbell and Nobody Wants This

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Are we the only ones not head over heels for Nobody Wants This? Critics are unanimously (and unusually) full of five-star praise for the Netflix Rom-com which has left us a little puzzled — we discuss! In other news, Naomi Campbell has fallen foul of the Charity Commission for allegedly spending money from her charity on lavish hotel rooms and cigarettes, so we put this in the context of her many controversies and ask whether the ‘diva’ label has insulated her from serious scrutiny. Finally, of course we’re debriefing on Sally Rooney, having read her latest bestseller Intermezzo over the weekend. We get into her couple dynamics, how she writes men vs women, marketing hype and why some readers have called out a thematic ‘glorification of thinness’.

Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup

Subject to eligibility. 18+ and UK Residents Only. T&C's apply.

And we’re partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews. ⁠Subscribe here⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Reccs/ culture discussed

Nine Lives, Bermondsey Street London
The Barbary, Notting Hill
Nobody Wants This, Netflix
The Impeccable Smoothness of Nobody Wants This, Vulture
Netflix’s Nobody Wants This and the Persistent Jewish Stereotype, Glamour
Nobody Wants This Mean-Spirited Depiction of Jewish Women in Nobody Wants This, Time
Drama GCSE, Mathilde Barker, TikTok
Baby Reindeer was wrongly billed by Netflix as a ‘true story’, judge finds, Guardian
Tyra Banks recalls ‘evil and awful’ conflict with Naomi Campbell in early career, Independent
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
'The Interview': Sally Rooney, The Daily Podcast
Glimpses of Utopia: Sally Rooney's Couples by Joanna Biggs, London Review of Books
Sally Rooney in her own words: ‘I’m fighting a cultural battle’, The Times
Why Are All the Characters in Sally Rooney’s Novels So Thin?, Vogue
Are you cool enough to have the next Sally Rooney book? Esquire

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Diddy, Justin Bieber and Demi Moore’s anti-aging horror

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley has fast become the most talked-about horror of the year, with audiences divided on whether it’s a feminist masterpiece, or a ‘vile and disgusting’ exemplar of the male gaze. We get into how the film taps into our own fears around ageing and how Demi’s role was influenced by career-long toxic media scrutiny. Also this week, we deep-dive into the horrific allegations and rumours that have come to light since Diddy’s arrest, from his ‘freak offs’ and disturbing relationship with a young Justin Bieber, to the music mogul’s careful curation of a ‘legit’ celebrity persona. Is all of Hollywood as dark and sinister a place as it seems? As part of our conversation about male sexual assault, we also discuss the No1 show on Netflix right now, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to world-wide travel insurance and no FX fees for your hols. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup

We're also thrilled to be partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews. ⁠Subscribe here⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.

Reccs/ Culture discussed

The Substance (in cinemas)
I’m a 50-something woman and nothing about Demi Moore’s anti-ageing body horror rings true, Telegraph
‘We can be violent to ourselves. Brutal’: Demi Moore on body image, reinvention and her most shocking role yet, Guardian
Real Ageing is scarier than what’s going on in The Substance, The Cut
Helter Skelter by Ninagawa Mika (2012)
Once More From The Top by Emily Layden
Blink Twice (2024), Apple TV
I Survived Diddy’s White Party, YouTube
Yummy, Justin Bieber (YouTube)
The staggering fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – from music mogul to criminal charges, Guardian
The Powerful Celebs Who Acted as Diddy’s Human Shield, Daily Beast
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Netflix
The Wild, True Tale Behind Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Vanity Fair
Behind every Al-Fayed and Diddy there is a small army of enablers, Guardian

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Jacqueline Wilson, the celeb assistant reckoning and Vogue’s new doc

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jacqueline Wilson's GIRLS books were a defining part of our childhoods, so how does the author's 20-years-on sequel (for adults!) match up? We discuss whether the books were a good influence and how her real life inspired her writing. Also this week, we dissect all the juiciest bits from Anna Wintour's Vogue doc, and question how 'guilty' Matthew Perry's long-time assistant was in his death. Plus, a round-up of our fave TV shows, and whether star ratings matter.

Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to experiences from the theatre to flights. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup

Subject to eligibility. 18+ and UK Residents Only. T&C's apply.

We're also thrilled to be partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews. Subscribe here to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

There are still virtual tickets to our event next Thurs (26th) with the Trouble Club! Use our code STRAIGHTUP50 for 50% off!

Reccs/ culture discussed:

Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson (the ‘Girls’ series follow up)
Jacqueline Wilson: the children’s author who’s now writing graphic sex for adults, The Times
Jacqueline Wilson’s girls seem depressingly unable to grow up, The Telegraph
In Vogue: The 90s, Disney+
In Vogue: The 90s review – Anna Wintour and pals offer up hour after hour of fabulous nothingness, Guardian
In Vogue: The 90s review — proof of Anna Wintour’s pulling power, The Times
Anna Wintour: The Biography, by Amy Odell
Confessions of former Vogue assistants, Amy Odell’s Back Row (Substack)
Did Matthew Perry’s Assistant Have a Choice? Hollywood Veterans Aren’t So Sure, Vanity Fair
Why being a celebrity assistant is truly the worst job in Hollywood, Telegraph
The Assistant, BFI Player
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Disney +
How To Die Alone, Disney +
We Might Regret This, BBC
Nightsleeper, BBC
Colin from Accounts, BBC
Slow Horses, Apple TV
English Teacher, Disney+
Cooking for People, Mike Davies
Cook As You Are, Ruby Tandoh

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Perfect Couple, Taylor and Travis and womens’ wildest fantasies

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:04:00 GMT

Nicole Kidman’s badly-behaved-billionaires thriller The Perfect Couple is no1 on Netflix but we are divided! Kathleen loved it, Ellie didn’t, so we hash it out…(no spoilers!) and look forward to Kidman’s VERY racy film Babygirl. On that note, is The Times right to say that women’s ’dirty talk’ has become big business in pop culture? Gillian Anderson might agree: the star has just published an anonymous collection of sexual fantasies from women around the country, and Ellie reads out her, um, favourites. Plus: we dissect whether that viral Travis/Taylor ‘breakup contract’ can possibly be real, and Kathleen recommends a heartbreaking but empowering new podcast about fertility from our fellow pod hunnies at Shameless.

Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card that allows you to collect points for every pound you spend and then redeem at amazing local restaurants and bars, as well as against experiences like theatre tickets (such as Shifters!), online shopping and more. Plus, worldwide travel insurance and no fees abroad.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Reccs/ culture discussed:

Kaos, Netflix
Jeff Goldblum is a tracksuit-wearing Zeus in Netflix’s Greek myth series, Financial Times
Shifters, Duke of York theatre
Little Violet Door, Soho
The Bear S3, Disney +
How Kylie Jenner Won At Fashion, Family And Dating On The DL, British Vogue
The Perfect Couple, Netflix
She just unravels so beautifully’: how Nicole Kidman conquered the world – then kept on going, The Observer
A Family Affair, Netflix
Babygirl (out Jan 10)
Substance (out Sept 20)
WANT by Gillian Anderson
Kinky sex — what a turn-off! Gillian Anderson’s sexual fantasy book, review in The Times
Cat Brushing, Jane Campbell
How women talking dirty became big business, The Times
Submit, anon
All Fours, Miranda July
Cleavage, Cleo Watson
Erotic audio platforms Quinn and Dipsea
Living With Yourself, Netflix
Glass podcast, Shameless Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolly Alderton, the year of the break up and Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We didn’t think celeb breakups could get bigger than Maya and Stormzy, or Bennifer, but now Molly Mae and Tommy Fury have just proven that this very much is the year of the celeb breakup (and it’s killing us!!). We try to understand why we’re all taking it so personally, and assess the very icky rumours surrounding Tommy’s recent trip to Macedonia as well as the friction between Molly’s boss bitch success and the Fury’s traditional values. We’re also devo to report that our faves Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter may have joined the heartbreak train. Plus, Ellie gives us the verdict on Zoe Kravitz’s buzzy directorial debut Blink Twice, a sinister horror film seemingly inspired by Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘paedo island’. And of course we had to debrief on Dolly Aderton’s interview with the Sunday Times (anyone else have a Dolly Google Alert..?).

Enjoy hunnys! And we're on a one-week break next week but back straight after - dive into our archive while you wait!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner Whitebox Cocktails, who make the tastiest canned cocktails we have ever tried, from Maragritas and Negronis, frozen Martinis to Old Fashioneds. GET 20% OFF with our code SU20 at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://whiteboxcocktails.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs

Short N’Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Chicken Shop Date with Sabrina Carpenter, YouTube
At Home with the Furys, Netflix
Dolly Alderton on fashion: There’s more fun to be had in heels, The Times (and have a listen to our big Dolly Alderton deepdive from Nov 2023!)
Blink Twice (in cinemas)
Blink Twice is guilty of a vile horror trope, Slate
Promising Young Woman, Amazon Prime Video
The Lost City, Netflix
Inside Out 2, Disney +
Big Boys, Channel 4
The Conversation We Should Be Having Around It Ends With Us, The Cut

We are so excited to have finally announced our live event with The Trouble Club on 26th September at The Dally in Islington. Get your ticket for £15 with the code STRAIGHTUP50 here, or a virtual ticket for £7: ⁠⁠https://www.thetroubleclub.com/events/straight-up-live-podcast-recording⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bumper book special: from 2024’s hottest titles to all-time fave reads

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We’re talking books this week, hunnies, as what better time of year than to get stuck into some summer reads than holiday szn? From the hottest books of 2024 (think: Butter, Blue Sisters and Brotherless Night) to the all-time faves we're still thinking about years on, these are the titles we suggest adding to your bucket-list immediately. Thank you so much for your reccs so far, we've added the ones we didn't get a chance to talk about today below and will keep on ploughing through, please do send more!

We are so excited to have finally announced our live event with The Trouble Club on 26th September at The Dally in Islington. Get your ticket for £15 with the code STRAIGHTUP50 here: https://www.thetroubleclub.com/events/straight-up-live-podcast-recording

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Whitebox Cocktails, who make the tastiest canned cocktails we have ever tried, from Maragritas and Negronis, frozen Martinis to Old Fashioneds. GET 20% OFF with our code SU20 at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://whiteboxcocktails.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Incite Nutrition, a UK based supplement company making our favourite Vitamin D spray and biotin (plus marine collagen and lots more). Incredibly reasonably priced and amazing quality. GET 15% OFF via Amazon with the code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4eY4odu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Books / culture discussed:

Butter by Asako Yuzuki
Slutty Chef column, Vogue
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
A Little Dust on the Eyes by Minoli Salgado
Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
The Island of the Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagnee
Kill Your Friends by John Niven
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Reach For the Stars by Michael Cragg
Educated by Tara Westover
How Lucky Blue and Nara Aziza Smith Made Viral Internet Fame From Scratch, GQ
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
What Tweens Get from Sephora and What They Get from Us, Jia Tolentino for the New Yorker
No one is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
The Unwilding by Marina Kemp
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Us by David Nicholls
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagen
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
Experience by Kate Young
Mrs S by K Patrick

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Blake Lively’s ‘It Ends With Us’ drama, orgasm portals and Euphoria news

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Everyone’s talking about ‘It Ends With Us’ atm, huns, as some very bizarre things seem to be going down on the film’s press tour, with rumours of a feud between stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. We get into it all, from the Colleen Hoover book it’s based on, to the allegations of bad behaviour from both Blake and Justin. And what’s with the way it’s being promoted? Also this week, we recommend a fab new show about a woman who travels to parallel universes when she orgasms, Slip. We review ‘Babes’, a pregnancy comedy that was touted as the ‘new Bridesmaids’ (wtf?). And debrief on Hunter Schafer’s Call Her Daddy Interview. Given her Euphoria update, we dissect the recent Hollywood Reporter investigation into what’s really happening with the show and its controversial creator Sam Levinson.

Head to ⁠pfeffersal.com ⁠for more on the world-leading facials we review in this episode, with packages that save you money on your treatments. Buy 3 treatments, receive the fourth half price. Buy 5 treatments, receive the sixth for free.

See Pfeffer Sal's ⁠FAQ page⁠ for more. Find Pfeffer Sal on Insta ⁠@pfeffersal⁠ and the gorgeous clinic at The Stables, 10B Warren Mews, London W1T 6BY.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Reccos/culture discussed:

Babes (2024)
Passages (2023)
Slip, ITVX
The Instigators, Apple TV
It Ends with Us (in cinemas now)
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (book)
Hunter Schafer on Call Her Daddy
How Hunter Schafer Became ‘A Badass Thriller Bad Bitch’, Rolling Stone
What’s Ailing ‘Euphoria’? Tragedy and Trauma Inside TV’s Buzziest Show, Hollywood Reporter
Stealing Girlhood: The Legacy of Women's Work Being Stolen, Final Girl Studios YouTube
Inside The Cult of the Far Right, The Newsagents
What Do The Riots Say About Britain? Ash Sarkar, Aaron Bastani and Rivkah Brown Discuss, Novara Media YouTube
Death of England: The Plays, Soho Place theatre

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Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and the new Bridgerton

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Charli XCX and Billie Eilish’s new collab might just be the hottest song of the summer – and we are here for it! We get into all the discourse surrounding the pop culture-dominating duo: from BRAT and Charli’s birthday party to Billie’s insane charisma and those absurd queer-baiting allegations. Next, we debrief on the Suki Waterhouse Vogue cover and Ryan Reynolds on Chicken Shop Date, before running through some of the best new TV series we’ve seen. My Lady Jane, a hilarious revisionist comedy recommended by lots of you lovely listeners, Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, about the con-man behind the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync, and, of course, a quick debrief on the House of the Dragon finale. Also this week: we return to one of the most inescapable topics of 2024, age gap relationships, as Leonardo DiCaprio appears to have broken his ‘25 and under only’ rule with Vittoria Ceretti, and a 21-year-old British influencer comes under fire for having a 16-year-old boyfriend.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Whitebox Cocktails, who make the tastiest canned cocktails we have ever tried. We keep drinking our fave classic Margarita on air, but they stock everything from frozen Martinis to Old Fashioneds. GET 20% OFF with our code SU20 at ⁠https://whiteboxcocktails.com/⁠

Culture discussed:

May December (see our age gaps ep from Nov ‘23 for more)
Glen Powell’s meteoric rise proves audiences don’t actually care about age gaps, Independent
Guess (remix) featuring Billie Eilish by Charli xcx
Twisters (2024)
Amelia Dimoldenberg What’s in My Bag, Vogue
Miranda Kerr, What’s in my Bag, Vogue
Phoning It In, Billie Eilish, Elle
Suki Waterhouse On Her Wild Ride From London It-Girl To LA Mum, British Vogue
Chicken Shop Date with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, YouTube
He’s So Annoying: For years, being “sexy” didn’t work for Ryan Reynolds, Vulture
Longlegs (2024)
It Follows (2014)
Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, Netflix
My Lady Jane, Amazon Prime Video
House of the Dragon, HBO
How House of the Dragon’s Ewan Mitchell became TV’s most chilling villain, the Times

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Simone Biles, Ballerina Farm and Josh O’Connor’s best film yet

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How much should a journalist impose their own judgement in an interview? That’s the row raging on social media this week, after the Times published a profile of mega-influencer Hannah Neeleman, better known by her handle and business name ‘Ballerina Farm’. Writer Megan Agnew spent a day at Ballerina Farm in Utah with ‘queen of the tradwives’ Hannah, her eight kids, and husband Daniel, exploring the complexities of her ‘homemaker’ life as a Mormon mother. Is this important journalism exposing the underbelly of the ‘tradwife’ movement and a blatant case of coercive control? Or is it, as some have argued, a ‘hit piece’ with a ‘toxic’ faux-feminist agenda? We examine the many contradictions at the heart of this conversation, along with the rise of the Mormon influencer and the pro-natalist movement (ew, Elon Musk). Also, our verdict on the new Netflix Simone Biles documentary in time for the Olympics, Josh O’Connor’s incredible film La Chinera, which has just landed on streaming, and Apple TV’s Lady in the Lake starring Natalie Portman.

Ps: Please leave us some recommendations for uplifting books for August! We need happy content!!

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Whitebox Cocktails, who make the tastiest canned cocktails we have ever tried. We were drinking our fave classic Margarita on air but they stock everything from frozen Martinis to Old Fashioneds. GET 20% OFF with our code SU20 at https://whiteboxcocktails.com/

Incite Nutrition, which is a UK based supplement company that makes the best and tiniest biotin which has given Ellie the healthiest nails of her life. Incredibly reasonably priced and amazing quality. GET 15% OFF via Amazon with the code STRAIGHTUP at⁠ ⁠https://amzn.to/4eY4odu⁠⁠

Reccs discussed:

Simone Biles Rising, Netflix
Meet the queen of the ‘trad wives’ (and her eight children), the Times
My day with the trad wife queen and what it taught me, the Times
Trad Wives: The influencers selling 1950s house-wife life, The Story podcast for the Times
Meet the influencers repackaging the Mormon dream, Hunger
La Chimera, Amazon Prime
Lady in the Lake, Apple TV
Land of Women, Apple TV

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Bella Hadid, branding disasters and Maya Jama's breakup

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:18:02 GMT

Maya Jama and Stormzy’s sad but beautiful breakup statement had to be the first port of call today, huns, as obviously we have been trying desperately to reconcile ourselves with their shock separation. Why are we still surprised that social media doesn’t paint a full picture of relationships? Next, we review The Jetty, Jenna Coleman’s new BBC police thriller, before recommending two recent Netflix shows we have absolutely loved, albeit in very different ways. First, the incredible superhero drama Supacell by Rapman, which has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. And second, the compelling but creepy four-part documentary The Man With 1000 Kids, about the world’s most prolific sperm donor. Also this week: Adidas has apologised to Bella Hadid after putting her in an unbelievably negligent campaign for its new ‘it-shoe’. How can an ad this ill-advised and damaging possibly have slipped through the net? We examine why on earth this keeps happening, reflecting on other recent horrifying brand missteps from Bumble to Balenciaga.

Reccs discussed:

The Dakota hotel Manchester
Erst Manchester
Bar Levan and Levan Peckham
The Jetty, BBC One
Wilderness, Amazon Prime Video
Supacell, Netflix
Delaney Rowe on TikTok
Attack The Block, Netflix
Shiro’s Story, YouTube/LinkUpTV
Blue Story, BBC iPlayer
The Man With 1000 kids, Netflix
The Lady in the Lake, Apple TV

DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Incite Nutrition, which is a UK based supplement company that makes the best and tiniest biotin which has given Ellie the healthiest nails of her life. Incredibly reasonably priced and amazing quality. Get 15% OFF via Amazon with the code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠https://amzn.to/4eY4odu⁠

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Katy Perry’s ‘comeback’, Zara McDermott and PR relationships exposed

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What was Katy Perry thinking making a female empowerment anthem with one of music’s most problematic men, Dr Luke? We discuss the absolute flop that is the pop star’s comeback song Woman’s World. Much more inspiring is Zara McDermott’s courageous statement following the shocking abuse she endured on last year’s Strictly from her dance partner Graziano di Prima. Why does the performing arts world normalise extreme behaviour? Also this week: a snappy but hilarious tangent on the rumours that profesh celebrity BFF Derek Blasberg had an accident in Gwyneth Paltrow’s bed. Apparently, their friendship may never recover. And finally, we investigate the ‘cheating’ slash ‘PR relationship’ drama between rapper Central Cee, TIkToker Madeline Argy and rapper Ice Spice: is it the best marketing ploy the music industry has seen in years?

Reccos discussed:

Katy Perry, Woman’s World review, Guardian
Katy Perry, Woman’s World review, Pitchfork
Scat’s Out the Bag, Popbitch
TAR
Whiplash
Black Swan
Did it First by Central Cee and Ice Spice
Madeleine Argy on Call Her Daddy podcast
14 Celebs Who Admitted To Fake Relationships And Other Publicity Stunts For Attention, Buzzfeed
The Jetty, BBC One

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

Incite Nutrition, which is a UK based supplement company that makes the best and tiniest biotin which has given Ellie the healthiest nails of her life. Incredibly reasonably priced and amazing quality. Get 15% OFF via Amazon with the code STRAIGHTUP at https://amzn.to/4eY4odu

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The dark side of celebrity: from Armie Hammer to Jay Shetty

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why have we normalised celebrities abusing their power? This week we are joined by fellow journo and fab friend Olivia Petter to talk about celebrity narcissism, manipulation, power trips and industry open secrets. It's right on theme with her excellent debut novel Gold Rush, which explores the dark consequences of when Rose, a 20-something single woman working in the press office for a magazine publisher in London, spends the night with the most famous man on the planet. It's a gripping exploration of power, consent and celebrity, add it to your summer reading list right now!

Ps: we are taking a one week break next week as Kathleen is getting married! Normal service resumes 18 July :)

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos:

One Taste, Bloomberg
One Taste, Netflix
American Nightmare, Netflix
Baby Reindeer, Netflix
Painful Lessons podcast (Armie Hammer)
Spacey Unmasked, Channel 4
Jeanne du Barry (Depp film)
Who Trolled Amber? Podcast, Tortoise Media
Unbelievable, Netflix
Freedom, and Corrections, both by Jonathan Franzen
Joe Alwyn profile The Sunday Times

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House of the Dragon, A Family Affair and the year of the cougar

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:10:00 GMT

House of the Dragon is the biggest show on TV right now huns, but how does it compare to Game of Thrones? Kathleen is a huge fan of both so gives us her verdict. And hot on the heels of The Idea of You, we now have Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron playing out a hefty on-screen age gap in a new Netflix rom-com A Family Affair. Are critics right to say Hollywood has entered its cougar era, and what’s driving it if so? Plus, Ellie debriefs on whether Disney’s new Karl Lagerfeld drama goes too easy on the highly problematic late designer. Finally, we pick apart Tom Bower’s new book attacking brand Beckham: assessing his motivations for writing such a snide book, and whether these ‘explosive’ revelations offer anything new.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

IF (2024 film)
House of the Dragon, HBO Max
The Last of Us, HBO Max
A Family Affair, Netflix
The Cougar Bites Back, Financial Times
The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime Video
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, Disney Plus
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Netflix
Business Barbie: Margot Robbie on how she built an empire, The Times
House of Beckham, Tom Bower

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Taylor Swift’s killer strategy, Miley Cyrus and Kevin Spacey’s tears

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:06:00 GMT

Taylor Swift’s tour has hit the UK and so of course we’re kicking things off with a debate on the queen of pop herself, most notably the recent suggestions that she is employing a calculated release strategy that keeps other artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX off the top spot. Is her Ed Sheeran-style obsession with having the best numbers admirable, or annoying? Next, we drill into Miley Cyrus’ interview with David Letterman last week, covering everything from her only celeb friendship (with Beyoncé no less) and her mum Tish Cyrus’ potent weed, to how she’s navigated fame since the age of 13. Plus, Kristen Stewart’s incredible new film Love Lies Bleeding, with a look back at her 2012 ‘affair’ scandal and public apology to Robert Pattinson, as well as her hilarious recent interviews and quite frankly iconic quotes. Finally, a recap of Kevin Spacey’s car crash interview with Piers Morgan, where the actor, despite having been found not guilty of sexual assault, seemed to incriminate himself, turning his previous supporters against him.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠@straightuppod⁠. And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

Miley Cyrus on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman
Miley Cyrus Finally Gets Her “Flowers”, W Magazine
Love Lies Bleeding (film)
Kristen Stewart, Rolling Stone (May)
Personal Shopper (film)
Kevin Spacey on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sabrina Carpenter, Hit Man and the Queenie adaptation

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:56:47 GMT

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter’s relationship is top of our hit-list today hunnies, since the singer released a music video all about an embarrassing boyfriend with a cameo from none other than… her 'embarrassing' boyfriend, Barry. Is he a secret scumbag, or is this all a PR ploy? Next, we revisit Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast, Miss Me?, specifically the episode on sabotage and the Billie Eilish interview, followed by a review of the eagerly-anticipated TV adaptation of Candice Carty Williams’ book Queenie, which has divided critics and audiences. Plus, an ode to Clarkson’s Farm, which has returned to Amazon for a third season. How does a man with an unsavoury reputation as Jeremy Clarkson manage to make such charming, hilarious TV? And finally, a fascinating interview with the founders of London Nootropics, longtime partner of the pod and makers of the best adaptogenic coffee on the market. With Shez and Zain, we cover everything from medicinal mushrooms and coffee to biohacking trends like barefoot shoes and life-extending supplements.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

Sabrina Carpenter, Please Please Please
Dua Lipa Has No Lore, LA Times
Miss Me? Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast
Hit Man, Netflix
Hit Man by Skip Hollingsworth, Texas Monthly
Kiss The Ground, Netflix
Queenie, Channel 4
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (novel)
Rye Lane, Disney +
Queenie review – so half-baked it could have been made by AI, Guardian
Queenie Reminds Us That Black Women Have A “Right To Exist Messily”, Refinery 29
Clarkson’s Farm, Amazon Prime Video (season 3)
Vivobarefoot shoes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ozempic, ‘nepo baby’ North West and Netflix’s Eric

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ethical non-monogamy, platonic friendships and TikTok dating coaches: we get into all manner of divisive topics this week, huns, before a big old debate on North West, who has recently reignited the nepo-baby conversation with her controversial performance as Simba in the Lion King. Should adults be critiquing a child on the internet? And how does Kim and Kanye’s parenting approach figure? Speaking of, the Kardashians have returned to Disney for a new season and the elephant in the room is Ozempic. From Kylie and Kims’ shrinking frames, to scenes blatantly showing Wegovy in Scott Dissick’s fridge – are they now knowingly positioning themselves as the poster family for weight loss drugs? And how do we as a society navigate the glamorisation of Ozempic; can the benefits really outweigh the side effects? Next is a look at Will Smith’s upcoming comeback, why Brad Pitt’s daughter is dropping his surname and, finally, a review of the new Netflix series everyone’s talking about, Eric, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, a puppeteer in 1980s New York whose nine-year-old son goes missing. Is Eric the most divisive show of 2024?

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

Sentimental Garbage, Caroline O’Donoghue
Aubrey Marcus on the dark side of open relationships, Diary of a CEO
Where Have All My Guy Friends Gone? The Cut
Gone Girl (the ‘cool girl’ monologue)
The Case for Marrying an Older Man by Grazie Sophia Christie, The Cut
The Cult of the Provider Man, The Cut
The Kardashians Season Five on Disney +
Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs by Johann Hari
Our review of Jada Pinkett’s memoir (19 Oct 2023 episode)
Eric, Netflix
Eric review – Benedict Cumberbatch will win awards for this wildly ambitious drama, The Guardian
Eric review: Benedict Cumberbatch excels as a weirdo in dark, misanthropic missing-child drama, The Independent
Eric Shows Everything That’s Wrong With Mid TV, The Atlantic
Dark Days (2000 documentary film)
Machinal at The Old Vic

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bennifer drama, AI gone wrong and Ryan Gosling’s rom-com

Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Lopez’s latest film has arrived on Netflix and, phew, do we have thoughts! From its botched messaging around AI, to J.Lo’s absurd (if admirable) commitment to her role as a serious scientist, we review Atlas in all its ridiculousness before debriefing on the latest Bennifer drama. Are the reports suggesting that Jen and Ben are separating after less than a year of marriage really true? And can Ben Affleck possibly be claiming temporary insanity as grounds for divorce? Also this week, we recommend The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, a charming rom-com meets action thriller about a stuntman that promises good vibes and classic Gosling unlikely leading man energy. And finally, an update on Sarah Jessica Parker, whose recent podcast appearances show an intriguingly different side to the ‘cruel’ one we’ve read about amid all the SATC drama.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Things discussed:

MOTH Drinks and Vinca Wine
The Mother, Netflix
Atlas, Netflix
The Fall Guy
Babylon starring Margot Robbie
A Quiet Place
Glad We Had this Chat, with Caroline Hirons
Ruthie’s Table with Sarah Jessica Parker
This Is Not A Pity Memoir, Abi Morgan
Eric (Netflix)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Turner, ‘sluts’ and the sexiest film of 2024

Wed, 22 May 2024 23:08:00 GMT

Sophie Turner has given a tell-all interview to Vogue all about her explosive divorce from Joe Jonas, her experience of mum-shaming, her mental health, and becoming friends with Taylor Swift. We have MANY thoughts (and a few hot takes), which prompted a look at how so much mum-shaming online in the UK is linked to classism and slut-shaming. Plus, Ellie has seen Challengers and reveals whether it's up to the hype.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed

Sophie Turner Talks Mum-Shaming, Misogyny And Why The Best Is Yet To Come, British Vogue
Joan (coming to ITV in Autumn)
"My abortion story went viral - because even though I wanted it, the process was still painful", Cosmopolitan
Nelly London’s reel
‘I joined the childfree movement - and discovered its dark side’, Beth Ashley for Inews
Sluts: The truth about slutshaming and what we can do to fight it, Beth Ashley
Nicholas Galitzine interview, GQ
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, Netflix
All anyone wants is a hot rodent boyfriend, Dazed
Eudelo inaugural facial, Eudelo Sloane Avenue London
Mr Bao and Daddy Bao, Peckham and Tooting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Piers Morgan’s Baby Reindeer interview, Kate Moss and celebrating singledom

Wed, 15 May 2024 23:05:00 GMT

Fiona Harvey, the woman unearthed as 'the real-life Martha' by internet sleuths following the wild success of Baby Reindeer, gave a highly controversial interview to Piers Morgan on his YouTube channel last week, so of course we had to debrief. Was she lying? Was Piers wrong to interview her? What are the ethics of all this? Plus, since we love an age gap, we discuss Kate Moss holding hands with a 27-year-old Skip Marley, while Ellie has read a brilliant memoir on living a single life and has many wise nuggets to share with us all.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs this week:

This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
The Split, BBC
Dark Matter, Apple TV
Arrangements in Blue by Amy Key
Sex and the City Season 6, Episode 9: A Woman's Right to Shoes
Dear Dolly: ‘My boyfriend of 12 years doesn’t want to get married’, The Times
One Pot, One Portion by @good_food_mood__ on TikTok
Piers Morgan Uncensored interview with Fiona Harvey
New Moth cocktails – Paloma and Cosmopolitan, www.mothdrinks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Idea Of You, Dua Lipa and Pandora Sykes’ podcast

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Dua Lipa’s third album came out last week, huns, and we had such high hopes. So why has Radical Optimism fallen a little flat for us? This got us discussing the general ‘mood’ around the superstar: is she reaching her potential? And how authentic is her media empire, Service95, At Your Service podcast and her new production company Radical22? Plus, we’ve both watched the much-hyped new Anne Hathaway rom-com, The Idea of You, which explores the relationship between a 40-year-old divorcee and the 24-year-old frontman of a superstar boyband (Nicholas Galitzine), based on the hit 2017 novel of the same name. And finally, Kathers gives us the lowdown on the new season of Pandora Sykes’s new podcast, How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right.

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

AMBL, the London reservations app that finds you incredible restaurants and bars in real time, tailored to you, from vibe to cuisine to cocktails and live music! Search Ambl in the App store;⁠ ambl.co

Recs discussed

Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism (album)
Dua Lipa, Service95 (newsletter)
Dua Lipa, At Your Service (podcast)
Dua Lipa Manifested All of This, Time magazine
Dua Lipa on pop, psychedelics and proving her haters wrong, The Guardian
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (book)
The Idea of You, Amazon Prime
Anne Hathaway Is Too Hot for 'The Idea of You', The Cut
The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime
Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self, Vanity Fair
How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right podcast, Pandora Sykes
Decolonising My Body, Afua Hirsch
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, Afua Hirsch
Omnilux contour face mask

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Billie Eilish’s erotic advice, Zendaya and Bridget Jones 4

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Bridge will soon be back on our screens with a new love interest we are VERY excited to see: young Leo Woodall. Do we like this 28 year age gap for our fave clumsy hun? We discuss! Plus, why everyone is talking about the steamy new psychosexual film Challengers, and why its star Zendaya is becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Also: our thoughts on Billie Eilish’s highly candid Rolling Stone interview, why J Lo’s is having some personal PR problems, and a debrief on Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper’s wedding.

Thanks so much to our incredible partners:

Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LiveInnermost.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed

Bridget Jones Diary 4: Spoilers, cast, trailer and plot, elle.com

Zendaya talks Challengers, talks to Serena Williams and considers her future, Vogue

Jimmy Carr: "There's A Crisis Going On With Men!", Diary of a CEO

Challengers, in cinemas now

Dune: Part Two, Netflix

'Challengers' Star Josh O'Connor Is Filthy in Every Movie, Vulture

3 Body Problem, Netflix The Last of Us, HBO

Blue Lights, BBC

Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself, Rolling Stone

Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut, Netflix

Meet Emily English, the nutritionist everyone’s talking about, The Times

The Truth About Nutrition With Em The Nutritionist, Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast

Yuka app

The Call Her Daddy breakup, Shameless podcast

Inside Alex Cooper And Matt Kaplan’s Intimate Beachside Wedding In Riviera Maya, Vogue

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baby Reindeer, Nicola Peltz Beckham’s mortifying movie and The Tortured Poets Department

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Baby Reindeer is of course our main talking point this week, huns, as we debate the deeply ironic investigation undertaken by internet sleuths trying to uncover Martha and Darrien’s real identities. Sure, to uncover the ‘truth’ behind the chilling story of stalking is tempting, but is it fair to speculate when Richard Gadd has asked us not to? Ellie has also watched Nicola Peltz Beckham’s toe-curlingly vain attempt at filmmaking, Lola, and we mull over whether it could ever be OK for a billionaire’s daughter to write a screenplay from the perspective of a working class stripper. And of course we had to give our verdict on Taylor Swift’s new record, including an inside look at the power moves of her longtime publicist Tree Paine.

Please do send us a DM @straightuppod or email hello@straightuppod.co.uk. We absolutely LOVE hearing from you and so appreciate it. LYSM!

Thanks so much to our amazing podcast partners:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed this week:

Baby Reindeer, Netflix
‘I was severely stalked and severely abused’: Richard Gadd on the true story behind Baby Reindeer, the Guardian
Baby Reindeer review – Richard Gadd's solo theatre debut is a haunting hour, the Guardian
Richard Gadd: how I turned my stalking nightmare into a Netflix drama, The Times
Nicola Peltz Beckham, a billionaire’s daughter, made a movie about abject poverty. It’s as bad as you think, the Guardian
Memmo Alfama terrace bar, Lisbon
Magnolia restaurant, Lisbon
Mama Shelter rooftop, Lisbon
Praia da Adraga beach (one hour from Lisbon)
Nat's nourishments harissa potatoes
There Are Plenty of Power Publicists. But Only One Works for Taylor Swift, Wall Street Journal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Winehouse, celeb booking and Prince Andrew’s teddies in Scoop

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The new Amy Winehouse biopic is finally out, but Back to Black has bitterly divided critics and fans. Some are disgusted by the ‘sanitisation’ of key figures such as her dad Mitch Winehouse and former husband Blake Fielder-Civil, while others are delighted to see a film that doesn’t revel in the sordid details of her drug addiction. We get into the thorny debate around the Sam Taylor-Johnson directed ‘love story’, starring Marisa Abela and Jack O’Connell, as well as the wild recent reporting on how Mitch is currently suing two of Amy’s best friends for auctioning off items she gave them. First, though, we give our verdicts on Netflix’s Scoop, the thrilling dramatisation of Prince Andrew’s car-crash Newsnight interview from 2019, told from the perspective of BBC celebrity booker Sam McAllister, played by an excellent Billie Piper. How accurate is the show when spotlighting the inner workings of celebrity booking?

DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Reccos discussed:

Scoop, Netflix
Prince Andrew would 'scream and shout' if his 72 teddies were not put back properly, Express

Wendy Ide on Scoop for The Guardian
Clarisse Loughgrey on Scoop for The Independent
Peter Bradshaw on Scoop for The Observer
Off the Fence newsletter on Scoop, Substack (9 April edition)
Sam McAlister, Emily Maitlis and the drama behind Netflix’s Scoop, Telegraph
Civil War (in cinemas now)
My Amy by Tyler James
A Private War (film and book)
Back To Black (in cinemas now)
Sam Taylor-Johnson on art, age gaps and Amy Winehouse, The Guardian
It’s a grotesque insult for Back to Black to suggest Amy Winehouse died of heartache over her childlessness, Laura Snapes for The Guardian
The Amy Winehouse I knew — by our critic, Will Hodkingson for The Times
The row raging between Amy Winehouse’s father and her best friends, The Times
Emily The Criminal, Netflix

Thanks so much to our amazing podcast partners:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mind games, Sacha Baron Cohen and gold digging intellectualised

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:01:00 GMT

There’s yet another headline-grabbing ‘feminist’ debate raging on the internet, angels, so we give you the lowdown on The Cut’s viral piece The Case for Marrying an Older Man, from the intellectualization of gold digging (lol) to the persistent cultural misinterpretations of Lolita. Next, we debrief on the exposé on Andrew Huberman, the world’s biggest pop scientist and host of the third biggest podcast globally. How did the self-styled Mr Perfect manipulate six different women into believing they were his only partner? And should his questionable personal choices have bearing on his work? Very fittingly, we also cover the allegations detailed in Rebel Wilson’s book against Sacha Baron Cohen, including a look back at his highly questionable output, and he and Isla Fisher’s announcement last week that they are going through divorce. Finally, we recommend Lily Allen’s new podcast Miss Me, and chat all things Cowboy Carter and virginity.

Please do leave a review on Apple, and send us love, feedback and gossip on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠, our DMS are always open and we love chatting with you!

Thanks so much to our partners:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed:

The Case for Marrying an Older Man by Grazie Sophia Christie, The Cut
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Andrew Huberman’s Mechanisms of Control, The Cut
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Exes Who Froze Embryos and Regret It, The Cut
Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
The Molecule of More by Dr Daniel Z Lieberman
Uncovering the Higher Truth about Jay Shetty, Guardian
Miss Me with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver (podcast)
The Hunks Du Jour Need to Start Having Fun on Instagram Again, Vulture
All of You (film)
Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Price, Netflix’s The Gentlemen and where the Skins actors are now

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why do the tabloids write about Katie Price nearly every day? The former glamour model better known as Jordan has said in a recent interview that her relationship with the media has changed from a ‘game’ to ‘mental health abuse’, so we get into what has prompted such a media frenzy. And, is it hypocritical of Price to say women in their 20s shouldn’t get cosmetic surgery? We also give our brutally honest thoughts on Channel 4’s much hyped new millennial comedy about mental illness, Big Mood, while Kathleen’s review of The Gentlemen, starring Kaya Scodelario (aka Effy from Skins) prompts a trip down memory lane…

Vote in our Spotify poll, leave a review on Apple, and send us love, feedback and gossip on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod, our DMS are always open and we love chatting with you!

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London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Cults, Kate Middleton and the monarchy vs the media

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:00:00 GMT

In light of Kate Middleton’s recent announcement (and the prior ‘where’s Kate’ internet circus), this week we debate the fraught but symbiotic relationship between media and monarchy, from what ‘right’ we as the public have to access to the royal family, to previous privacy breaches like tampongate, Kate’s topless holiday pics and the hounding of Harry and Meghan. Next up is Ellie’s favourite new podcast discovery, Sounds Like A Cult, about the modern day cults we all follow. A tale of Lululemon leggings and murder ensues, followed very fittingly by Kathleen’s review of Netflix’s new true crime drama The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. A shocking look at ‘disciplinary schools’, we found this especially fascinating considering our recent dive into Paris Hilton’s mission to have the industry shut down.

Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta ⁠⁠@straightuppod

Thanks so much to our partners:

Flare, which makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccs discussed:

The Princess Of Wales’s Decision To Share Her Cancer Diagnosis Represents A Powerful Break From Royal Tradition, British Vogue
Sounds like a Cult podcast
The Program on Netflix
The Disney Adult Industrial Complex, New Statesman
The Pulling, by Adele Dumont

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The Big Kids Question pt II: fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Reccos discussed

Stand Up to Infertility, BBC
'Elizabeth Day: At 45 I will never be a mother. I’ve made peace with it', The Times
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
The Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage by Leslie Jamison, New Yorker
Laura Jackson on Grace Beverley's podcast
Why Must We Pay Queer Tax? the Guardian
'I’m a sexual and single but wanted to become a mum’, Stylist
Straight Up with Tove Lo, and Straight Up with BabyQueen
Diary of a CEO: No.1 Neuroscientist: "Kids will make you unhappier"
I chose my marriage over having kids by Ruby Warrington, The Times
The School for Bad Mothers, Jessamine Chan
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel
The false escapism of soft girls and trad wives, Time
How Long Can You Wait To Have A Baby? The Atlantic

Thanks so much to our partners:

@flareaudio makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range.⁠⁠ Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

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The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore?

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Next week we will discuss: male infertility, IVF & egg freezing, the child free movement, the taboo of the ‘unnatural’ mother, how pop culture has influenced our idea of parenthood, plus loads more listener DMs. If you don’t feel like your experience has been represented in, shoot us a DM or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk as this is very much just a conversation starter! We’d love to keep the conversation going.

Also don’t forget to vote in our poll, leave us a review, and share this ep with a friend :)

Thanks so much to our partners:

Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range.⁠ Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Poor Things controversy, Paul Mescal’s antics and a night at the Brits

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 07:05:16 GMT

Have there ever been so many women divided by a film as Poor Things? We get into the controversy ahead of the Oscars, and report on all the BTS gossip from our gals night at the Brit Awards (which is why we went live a little early this week! ). Plus, we dissect some seriously juicy gossip surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Mescal, and, following last week’s chat, get into the fascinating real life ‘Shitty Media Men’ list that inspired Yomi Adegoke’s book.

Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta ⁠@straightuppod

Reccos discussed:

I Want to Live Like Normal People, The Fence

Extraordinary, Disney Plus

Poor Things, Disney Plus

I Started the Media Men List, The Cut

Thanks so much to our partners:

Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range. Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift, The List and the dangers of a life lived online

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:11:44 GMT

After months of her dominating the news cycle, we’re finally getting down to it and talking about Taylor Swift. From her embodiment of girlhood to the problematic PR moments she’s generated over the years, we dissect Swiftie mania and interrogate our own feelings towards pop’s brightest star. Next up is a review of debut novel The List by Yomi Adekoke, a gripping exploration of online shaming, cancel culture and carefully crafted celebrity in the wake of movements like #metoo. Then, Netflix’s latest true crime offering and the first from Louis Theroux’s production house, Can I Tell You A Secret, continues the theme of cyber-stalking, while Sandra Bullock’s Lost City Of D, a fun adventure satire about a depressed erotic novelist starring Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe, offers some light relief at the end!

Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta @straightuppod

Reccs covered:

Taylor Swift and the Good Girl Trap by Anne Helen Peterson, Substack
The List by Yomi Adekoke, available via all booksellers
Can I Tell You A Secret, Netflix
The Lost City of D, Netflix

Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Sydney Sweeney’s rom com, EmRata and dressing for the male gaze

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Who is it that you’re really dressing for? That’s the Q we’re debating this week in light of Emily Ratajkowski’s recent Glamour interview, where she says she “kind of feels like everybody’s bullshitting when people say, ‘Oh, no, I’m doing this for the girlies.’” Also: Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You, the ‘rom com with an edge’ that was one of the most talked about films of the past year, thanks to the cheating rumours surrounding the costars. And what about the bizarre pizza restaurant allegations in relation to Sydney’s fianceé? Finally, our actual verdict on J.Lo’s new album film, and the viral article making some much-needed noise in the fashion industry by Paloma Elsesser on the Price of Being 'First'.

Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.

Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep. Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Reccs discussed:

Dexter's signet in One Day is the next Connell's chain, GQ
Anyone But You (streaming online)
Emily Ratajkowski doesn’t ‘give a f*ck’ what you think, Glamour UK
Body Type by Mikala Jamison, I Dress Sexy For Other People and So Do You, Substack
The Bluestocking, Helen Lewis, The Real Problem with Anti-Woke Comedy, Substack
The Unpublishable by Jessica DeFino, Substack
The Price of Being 'First' by Paloma Elsesser for The Cut

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J.Lo: heartbreak, divadom and the Ben Affleck curse

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:09:00 GMT

How did J.Lo become one of the most iconic celebrities of all time? In honour of her ninth album, which is an ode to her fourth husband Ben Affleck, we look back at Jennifer Lopez’s extraordinary life and career, from the horrific fall out from her 2003 film Gigli (which broke her and Ben up the first time and left her ‘eviscerated’ by the press), to her out-and-proud, very meta obsession with the wedding industrial complex.

Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.

Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep. Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Day, Mr and Mrs Smith and why everyone’s a sellout now

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 01:00:00 GMT

The Mr and Mrs Smith reboot has landed on Amazon Prime and is already being dubbed the sexiest series on TV, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as spies trying to save their marriage. We get into why this show is a million times better than the iconic Noughties film, covering everything from the Brangelina curse, to why original co-writer/ Mrs Smith Phoebe Waller-Bridge exited early on.

Next is our cinema pick for the week, American Fiction, a publishing satire about a black writer who writes a ‘stereotypically ghetto’ novel as a joke, only for it to become a literary hit. We discuss how accurately the film skewers white liberals as well as the concept of selling out for commercial gain, which brought us seamlessly onto the highly relevant new Vox article Everyone’s A Sell Out Now. Finally, a review of the hotly-anticipated new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ iconic One Day in all its gorgeous nostalgia, with your cheat-sheet guides to leads Leo Woodall (White Lotus) and Ambika Mod (This is going To Hurt).

Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.

Thanks so much to our partners for this ep:

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across restaurants, bars, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, with plenty of options for Valentine's Day! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recommendations covered:

Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon Prime
How Francesca Sloane Reimagined a More Relatable ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ The Hollywood Reporter
Maya Erskine: ‘I looked at Angelina Jolie and thought, well, I can’t be her’ Fiona Sturges for The Guardian
American Fiction, in cinemas now
Everyone’s A Sell Out Now by Rachel Jennings for Vox
One Day on Netflix
Rev on BBC iPlayer
Cat In Disbelief Of Dog’s Breath on TikTok

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Nicole Kidman’s Expats, All of Us Strangers and every woman’s worst nightmare

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 03:27:00 GMT

Ofc The Traitors finale fall out had to quickly be discussed prior to kicking off proceedings today, huns, followed by an analysis of the off-the-charts chemistry between Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers. Plus, Paul Mescal has been on the Louis Theroux podcast and, shocker, we’re still finding Louis’s narcissistic interview style annoying.

In the world of TV, Kathleen recommends Nicole Kidman’s glossy new Amazon Prime thriller Expats, where we debate why Nicole has received criticism over her work — professional and cosmetic. Speaking of cosmetic surgery, we get into the deeply disturbing reports of children’s 12-step anti-ageing routines.

Finally, we dive into Netflix’s latest true crime offering America Nightmare, which saw a kidnapping case tragically bungled by the media’s misogynistic obsession with Rosamund Pike thriller Gone Girl.

Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.

Thanks so much to our brilliant partner for this ep:

Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale atm, so get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Recommendations discussed:

All of Us Strangers (in cinemas now)
Paul Mescal on the Louis Theroux podcast
Paul Mescal: I’m Not Just the Token Irish Hunk (The Times)
Andrew Haigh interview (Substack, Evan Ross Katz)
Expats (Amazon Prime)
They Always Say the Younger You Start, The Better (The Cut)
Why Does Gen Z Believe It's 'Aging Like Milk'? (New York Times)
American Nightmare (Netflix)
American Nightmare review in the Guardian by Leila Latif
Griselda (Netflix)
Euphoria S2 E1 (HBO)
The Traitors S2 (BBC iPlayer)

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Priscilla, reframing Elvis and embracing Jacob Elordi mania

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:47:35 GMT

You asked and so we’ve delivered huns, with a deepdive into Sofia Coppola’s new film Priscilla, starring none other than the internet’s new boyfriend Jacob Elordi. We discuss how the film sits uncomfortably within the grey area between love and coercive control, and whether it would have been described as grooming in our current era. Plus, everything we know about Jacob Elordi to date: from first roles and first loves to his thoughts on everything from handbags to celebrity interviews. Consider us obsessed.

Also, what the tween craze for Stanley Cups says about girls today (with a trip down memory lane to our own school status symbols) and whether the latest, hilarious Paul Mescal rumours could possibly be true.

Let us know what you thought of the film, and as ever us all your celeb intel, by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale until the end of Jan, so head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from a swanky dinner at Frenchie to authentic Thai at Plaza! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠

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Lessons in sex, Barry Keoghan and unlikely leading men

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:52:20 GMT

Sex is at the top of the agenda today hunnies, with Ellie having watched Emma Stone’s insane, Oscar-tipped bonkbuster Poor Things, as well as the amazingly realistic How to Have Sex, about a girls rite of passage trip to Malia. Cue discussions about everything from sexual taboos to consensual grey areas.

Meanwhile Kathleen has been paying *particular* close attention to Hollywood’s unlikely leading men, from Barry Keoghan to Timothée Chalamet. Why is everyone so horny for ‘little freak energy’ as Barry neatly put it himself?

We also get stuck into Calvin Klein’s month of thirst and furore: from the Jeremy Allen White ad that has people visiting its New York posters like holy monuments, to the ‘objectifying’ FKA Twigs ad that the ASA has bizarrely banned.

And finally, why the explosive Chiara Ferragni cake drama suggests influencer culture really is eating itself.

Make sure you leave us a review on Apple and Spotify, and send us a DM with all of your thoughts, feedback, and celeb gossip to @straightuppod on Insta

Reccos discussed:

Saltburn's Barry Keoghan on flirting with Jacob Elordi and manifesting stardom (GQ)
Jacob Elordi & Barry Keoghan on Hollywood, Future Films & ‘Making It’ (Vogue)
⁠How French is Timothée Chalamet?⁠ (Vulture)
Why Celebs Are Over Keeping Their Private Lives Private (Vogue)
Poor Things (in cinemas now)
How To Have Sex (Amazon Prime)
How To Have Sex Captures The Unique Thrill – And Pain – Of The Rite Of Passage Girls’ Holiday (Vogue)
The Brothers Sun (Netflix)
Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix)
How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby? Jean M Twenge for The Atlantic

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠

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Bianca Censori, Michelle Keegan's moment and the 'hell' of personal branding

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori is allegedly not allowed to speak in public, but how many of the disturbing rumours swirling around the couple are actually true? We dive into the very strange world of Ye and Bianca, Head of Architecture at Yeezy, in light of the recent slew of semi-nude images posted by Ye in ‘honour’ of his wife’s 29th birthday.

Kathleen also tells us why Michelle Keegan’s new Netflix thriller Fool Me Once is the best thing on TV right now, and we debate why Michelle isn’t taken ‘seriously’ as an actress, and whether the media have a right to focus on her lifestyle over her work.And Ellie watches a controversial new black comedy, Sick of Myself, about a pathological liar who purposefully disfigures herself to get attention online. Is it a pertinently dark look at viral fame or is the satire too crude?

And, in the wake of the recent news story about the rape of a minor in the metaverse, we finally share our thoughts on of our fave recent novels, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, covering everything from virtual utopias to video gaming culture.

Recommendations discussed:

Sick of Myself (Amazon Prime)

Fool Me Once (Netflix)

Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tetris (Apple TV)

Your Christmas or Mine 2 (Amazon Prime)

The Worst Person in the World

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠

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Age gaps, 'tradwife' Nara Smith and the ethics of true crime reporting

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 01:05:00 GMT

*TW: themes of child sexual abuse and infertility* How could a female teacher in her mid-thirties ever think it acceptable to sleep with her 12-year-old student? That’s the question at the heart of provocative new film May December, starring Julianne Moore as said teacher, Gracie, who we find living married with the former student she raped, 20 years after the crime. The film - loosely inspired by a real case from the 90s - has received rave reviews, so we get into its many, very thorny ethical dilemmas.

Then, more on age gaps and power dynamics in relationships as we debrief on how Nara Smith, the 22-year-old wife of the biggest male model in the world, Lucky Blue Smith, has become one of TikTok’s standout stars, with commentators upset about everything from their (quite frankly insane) baby name choices, to Nara’s conversion to Mormonism and ‘trad wife’ content.

Finally, a look at the seminal 90s book The Journalist and the Murderer, and how extremely relevant it feels today when considering the murky ethics of true crime reporting, as well as two article recommendations by fashion writer Camille Charrière, whose accounts of IVF and infertility have recently gone viral.

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we LOVE hearing from you.

Thanks so much to our brilliant partner Flare for this ep:

Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Reccs discussed:

May December (available on NOW TV)
The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm
Loch Henry (Black Mirror episode)
The Staircase on HBO
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Camille Charrière: We Need To Be Having More Honest Conversations About Fertility – And Not Just With Our Girlfriends in British Vogue
They told me IVF would be fine. But it left me in a hole of despair by Camille Charrière in The Sunday Times Style

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Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton: freeze-dried cats and the celeb secrets behind Choose Love

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:02:00 GMT

The three most shocking sex scenes of 2023? They’re all in one buzzy new film: class satire Saltburn, which Ellie went to see last week and reports back with all the gory details in this episode. A little less sexy but equally entertaining was Kathleen’s culture pick this week: Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts. We get into why it’s so realistic for 2023 and why everyone’s talking about its secret Friends references.

And as an extra Christmas treat in this episode we also have a fabulously fun interview with two amazing women: Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton, the cofounders of our favourite charity and ‘movement’ Choose Love, which supports displaced people across the world.

Everyone from Olivia Colman to Phoebe Waller Bridge have lent their stardom to promote its incredible message, which proves celebrity philanthropy is not to be sniffed at. So we were so excited to be invited to Choose Love’s stunning Soho pop-up boutique to chat to Dawn and Josie, getting off to an excellent start by bumping into Dawn’s husband Chris O’Dowd wielding a Choose Love placard just outside.

We talked all about the highs and lows of a celebrity marriage, the hilarious fails of being a ‘celebrity plus one’, how Josie began her career in management for Coldplay, top tips for a fabulous dinner party and Dawn and Josie’s best foodie spots in London.

We’re having a little festive break next week gang but we’ll be back with an episode on Jan 4 full of culture recommendations to brighten up our gloomy Januaries.

Happy Christmas to our wonderful listeners, we have absolutely loved growing this amazing community of smart, hilarious, fabulous huns - we’re still sobbing over our latest outrageously cute Apple review - so thank you very much for listening, and until next year! E&K x

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you

Shop for someone who needs it via choose.love, visit the store at Carnaby Street (open until xmas eve) and follow @chooselove on instagram!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

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Noughties ‘it girls’ part II: from Paris and Nicole’s feud to Lindsay Lohan’s fall

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Prison, feuds, fake rumours, sex tape scandals, rehab stints and car chases: it’s all kicking off in part two of our investigation into Hollywood’s hottest noughties 'it girls’, gang, starting with the strange story of Nicole Richie’s adoption and subsequent route to fame via reality TV trailblazer the Simple Life.

Then, we continue to chart the toxic noughties and our then-treatment of women in the public eye, from the shameless obsession with their bodies, to the outright bullying and manipulative tactics of the tabloids. We also look at how Paris Hilton, Linsday Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Richie carefully crafted their own celebrity personas, from Paris’ decades-long dedication to wearing blue contacts, to Lindsay’s breast-focussed SNL skit at the age of just 18.

Finally, where are they now, and are any of them even nice people? We spill all the tea on Linsday’s new life in Dubai and debate whether Paris’ image revamp of recent years is actually legit.

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noughties ‘it girls’: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and the power of the paparazzi

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT

A picture is worth a thousand words… quite literally, in the case of the infamous ‘Bimbo Summit’ picture of 2006, which saw Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan crammed into a car together after a drunken night out, at the height of Paris and Lindsay’s tabloid-fuelled feud. The picture, which was plastered on the cover of the New York Post with the headline ‘Bimbo Summit’ went viral, and its backstory has been contested ever since, but one thing is clear: the media was toxic, and it ruled the noughties.

In the first of this scandalous two-parter episode, we analyse how the rise and fall of Hollywood it-girls Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was charted, and largely caused, by these blood-thirsty tabloids and their packs of hungry paparazzi, who could sell pictures for over $20,000 a pop. We look at what drove the media’s frenzied hatred for successful young women, and how complicit, we, as consumers, really were.

Ellie also gives us a bite-size travel guide to her recent trip to Goa. If you want to borrow her itinerary, here are her favourite hotels across north and South Goa: Ashiyanya Yoga, Cabo Serai, Turiya Villa and Silva Heritage. And Kathleen heartily recommends a winter getaway at the Pig in Devon.

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billy Porter on courting the press, finding fame at 49 and dating British men

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:04:35 GMT

When US megastar Billy Porter invited us for champagne at his five-star London hotel, we knew we were in for a treat, and boy, did he deliver. The Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning actor and musician got straight up about pretty much everything, including, of course, his relationship with the press. He tells us exactly how he managed his decision to go public with his HIV diagnosis in 2021, and why he feels obliged to be political.

Plus: what's it like being catapulted to global celebrity aged 49? Billy reveals all, as well as his top fashion tip, favourite London nights out, and who he was going on a date with straight after our recording.

Listen to Billy's INCREDIBLE new album Black Mona Lisa here: https://billyporter.lnk.to/BlackMonaLisa-album

Follow Billy on IG @theebillyporter

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The J.Lo and P. Diddy scandal, prison on screen and Pete Doherty’s tragic past

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Lopez was arrested with then-boyfriend P Diddy back in 1999, a scandal that had almost slipped from public view until earlier this week, when singer Cassie filed a lawsuit with a slew of disturbing allegations against the music mogul. We revisit exactly what went down on that fateful night in New York, which culminated in 14 hours in police custody for Jen, as well as the details surrounding Cassie’s now-settled claims.

Then, more on crime and punishment with our TV recommendation for the week, Time, the season 2 of which just dropped on BBC iPlayer starring Bella Ramsey and Jodie Whittaker, which gives a chillingly realistic look inside womens’ prisons.

We also recommend Flora and Son, a very sweet film starring our hun Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters) about a tearaway teen one move away from young offenders institute, as well as the book Criminal by Angela Kirwin. A former social worker who spent more than a decade in UK prisons, Kirwin’s account of the horror inside our criminal justice system – and why it matters so much for all of society – makes for the most compelling and necessary non-fiction book we’ve read all year.

Finally and still on theme, a deep dive into both recent Pete Doherty documentaries, the Louis Theroux Interview and channel 4’s Pete Doherty: Who Killed My Son. The latter is a shocking look at a bungled case from a bereaved mother, who is convinced Pete knows what really happened one fateful night in 2007.

Next week we’ll be back with a VERY fun interview that is a world away from these more sombre topics, angels, so do make sure you tune in and shoot us a DM @straightuppod to let us know what you’d like to hear about next.

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Recommendations discussed:

Time (BBC)
Flora and Son (Apple TV)
Criminal by Angela Kirwin - available from all good booksellers
Louis Theroux Interviews Pete Doherty (BBC)
Pete Doherty: Who Killed My Son (Channel 4)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolly Alderton's Good Material: Heartbreak, humour and the impossible weight of a 'generational voice'

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:49:44 GMT

Dolly Alderton’s second novel Good Material came out last week huns, so as promised we give you our verdict, and deepdive on the fabulous career of our millennial literary queen.

We analyse everything from the savvy personal brand building she began as young as her teens to why, after her memoir, she stepped away from the first-person writing that had made her famous.

Plus, our candid thoughts on everything from her prose to her humour, writing from the male perspective, the responsibility of being the ‘millennial Nora Ephron’ and that viral (and highly controversial) review of Ghosts that set Twitter alight.

Let us know what you think of the book (and our thoughts!) on Insta @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo: the reality TV queen talks media misconceptions, celeb besties and skin struggles

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:56:36 GMT

Made in Chelsea and I'm a Celeb star Georgia Toffolo was all set to study law until she appeared on the reality TV show as an extra, becoming such a beloved cast member that she didn't end up leaving for years.

The show helped her launch a VERY successful career (she's won I'm a Celeb, written four novels and launched three businesses) and so we went for a cuppa at the Standard hotel in London to ask her all about what it was like to spend her twenties in the spotlight on one of the UK's most successful shows.

We chatted about everything from strangest fan interactions and dealing with the paps to why she quit drinking last year and her daily routine.

Plus, whether she identifies as a 'Tory', her funniest celeb crushes, her most unexpected celeb friendship, favourite political podcasts and top spots around town.

Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠.

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wagatha Christie, James Blunt's wild humour and the new Harry Potter doc

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:41:39 GMT

We come armed with BTS goss on a huge range of pop culture talking points this week gang, from the newly announced Harry Potter documentary about Daniel Radcliffe’s paralysed stunt-double (with juicy tangents on Emma Watson, Rita Skeeter and more) to the hilarious, hard-to-believe celebrity stories from James Blunt’s new memoir – including the time he ate his own poo at Jamie Foxx’s house, on Bear Grylls’ advice.

As requested, we also get into the Wagatha Christie documentary on Disney + that details exactly what went down between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, as well as the ethics of “playing evil”, prompted by the BBC’s new drama, The Reckoning, where Steve Coogan stars as Jimmy Saville.

Finally, if you haven’t yet please do leave us a review and next week, we promise, Ellie will be revealing her embarrassing, pants-related story as payback. We’re so chuffed with the ones you’ve already left, thank you! Any thoughts please do DM us @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britney Spears: the brutal media shaming of America’s teen dream

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

A forensic analysis of Britney’s memoir is top of the agenda this week, as The Woman In Me’s many bombshell revelations make headlines everywhere.

From childhood she was constantly sexualised by the media and after releasing her hit single Baby One More Time in 1998, aged just 16, the world was divided over what she represented: good American role model or dangerously bad influence?

We look at how a toxic media and dated purity culture obsessed and shamed Britney over whether she was a virgin, a grotesque prurience Justin Timberlake himself took horrible advantage of via the calculatedly misogynistic media campaign for his own debut album.

We trawl back through some of the most shocking Britney interviews from the lads mags of the late 90s, using our own experiences at mens' magazines to analyse journalistic motivations and Britney’s own agency. Plus: that now infamous Diane Sawyer interview, and how women journalists were complicit too.

We also discuss everything from the current media narrative around Britney’s devastating abortion revelation to whether this memoir will calm or fuel the ongoing media circus.

Please let us know your thoughts on the episode by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we love to hear from you!

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at ⁠⁠yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jada Pinkett Smith's 'truth', the wild life of Julia Fox and erotic professional rivalry

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Do we have a right to tell our stories if they involve the private lives of others? It’s the ethical conundrum we’re discussing this week following the explosive revelations in Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir about her 'husband' Will Smith. And, on the same theme, the very dark stories ‘Kanye’s muse’ Julia Fox has revealed in her brilliant memoir Down the Drain. And for all the huns wondering, who is Julia Fox, don’t worry, Ellie gives us her wild life in a nutshell — prepare for your eyes to POP.

Plus, how do you deal with professional rivalry when it comes to your own romantic relationships? We both watched Netflix’s erotic thriller about a couple going for the same promotion at a hedge fund and we have thoughts!! And finally Kathleen tells us all about why we need to know TikTok superstar Madeline Argy.

Let us know what you think of the topics discussed on insta at StraightUpPod, we absolutely love all your messages.

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

London Nootropics, a literally game-changing adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Beckhams: ambition, betrayal and our insider secrets

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

This week there’s only one pop culture topic on everyone’s lips: the Beckhams. The four-part Beckham documentary dropped on Netflix to rave reviews, but what were the juiciest revelations and what did brand Beckham conveniently leave out?

We get stuck into everything from the tabloid shaming of Victoria’s weight and the disturbing quotes about Beckham’s dad, to those Rebecca Loos allegations (including how the story was actually put together) and whether Loos had any leg to stand on selling her story.

We chart how the Beckhams’ relationship to the media has changed over the course of their 25-year marriage, the multitude of rumours, allegations and *that* furore around the knighthood.

Plus, we spill all our own insider secrets: Ellie shares a VERY interesting story from meeting Mr Beckham, while Kathleen hears from one of the family’s former employees. And we discuss whether any of the industry circle whispers hold water.

Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IG

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

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Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, Jorja Smith and the fall of Glossier

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Hiii huns, we had such a fun afternoon catching up about everything from the latest celeb divorce (it never ends!) to Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, featuring some reminiscing from Ellie on the time she had brunch with Anya and left her "devastated" (whoops).

Then, Kathleen gives the latest on the never-ending Kim and Kourtney fallout, including the "Not Kourtney" whatsapp group, and Kendall Jenner's Gucci campaign with boyfriend Bad Bunny, followed by a big dig into the new Jorja Smith interviews that have dropped in line with her new album this week, in particular her quotes around being trolled because of her weight.

Plus, as a new book about Glossier founder Emily Weiss gets everyone talking, we discuss why she left her company last year after a Glossier boycott, the criticisms of 'barely there beauty' and the Girlboss era. And, VERY importantly, El continues her one-woman mission to read every piece of bad boy lit in the land, and has one particularly depraved recco for us, yay!

Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IG

Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:

London Nootropics, a literally game-changing adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at londonnootropics.com

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.com

Reccos discussed this week:

Queen & Slim (film)
Split (film)
Kill Your Friends by John Niven
The Unpublishable by Jessica DeFino
Boiling Point (BBC series)
Drops of God (Apple+)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Gannon on chronic burnout, the success myth and the joys of being child-free by choice

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

This week we are so excited to welcome Emma Gannon on the pod, ahead of her speaking at the fantastic Wimbledon Bookfest, which runs 12-22 October.

Emma is the author of six books and creator of hit Substack newsletter, The Hyphen. Having published The Success Myth earlier this year, which explains why our obsession with achievement is a trap and how to break free, Emma was diagnosed with chronic burnout, an irony that she unpicks with us as she gets into how it left her dissociated and unable to work for four months.

From her own experience of massive success – and how it left her feeling unfulfilled and miserable – to workaholism, the subjective nature of success and how to design a life (not a career) you enjoy, there is so much insight and wisdom for all you angels here regardless of what you do for work! It felt almost like we’d been in one of Emma’s coaching sessions after this chat, and we absolutely loved it.

Also up for debate are the joys of being child-free by choice (her novel Olive is all about this and it is fab), finding your own version of “fun”, how to earn more doing LESS work, the importance of prioritising a solo holiday and, of course, boundary setting.

Also, a big shout out in our intro to The Apollo Arms, the most gorge new pub in Clapham, South London, that has the most incredible gastro menu we’ve tried in a long time. We implore you to go check it out! apolloarms.co.uk

Get your copy of The Success Myth at all good booksellers, follow Emma on socials @emmagannonuk and check out her newsletter at thehyphen.substack.com/subscribe

Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IG

Thanks so much to our three brilliant partner for this ep:

London Nootropics, the tastiest sachet-served coffee EVER, which - thanks to its incredible adaptogens such as lion's mane mushroom and zinseng - actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or anxiety. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at londonnootropics.com

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants like Lina Stores to gym F45! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russell Brand: Misogyny, manipulation and the mainstream media 'agenda'

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Hi everyone, we’re all aware of the horrific rape and sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand - which he vehemently denies, maintaining all sexual relations have been consensual - so in this episode we analyse what this means for the media (TW).

Why is it that so many Brand supporters think this is a media conspiracy? What does ‘the media establishment’ - Brand and his supporters’ enemy no1 - really mean? And are ‘alt’ voices like Brand really being silenced by traditional titles?

Using our extensive experiences in the media we analyse how exactly this kind of investigation would have come about from a legal and editorial perspective, and why alt-right, conspiracy-led content from people like Brand does so well online.

Plus, we debate the thorny issue of the age of consent, why there has never been such a divide between men and women, and who Russell Brand’s male and female supporters really are.

Let us know what you think of our discussion by sending us a DM on Insta @straightuppod. We will be back to less sombre issues next week! E and K xxx

Thanks so much to our two brilliant partners:

Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants like Lina Stores and 45 Jermyn St to gyms F45 and Sweat BXR! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.com

London Nootropics, the tastiest sachet-served coffee EVER, which - thanks to its incredible adaptogens such as lion's mane mushroom and zinseng - actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or anxiety. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20 per cent off your box with the code straightup at londonnootropics.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner and being a 20-something divorcée

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

We’ve said it before huns, this is the year of the chaotic celebrity divorce, but the Joe Jonas vs Sophie Turner divorce drama has left us REELING.

From Joe’s PR team playing what appears to many as a misogynistic smear-campaign against Sophie — who he married in 2019, when she was just 23 — to wild rumours involving partying and ‘ring cameras’, this might be the messiest celeb divorce we’ve witnessed since Brad and Angelina. We discuss everything from Sophie’s public battle with mental health and when Ellie interviewed Joe in 2018, to the very revealing Taylor Swift song thought to be about ‘smug’ ex Joe.

Plus, Kathleen tells us why she’s had enough of reading about heartbroken middle-class women, and we reveal our honest thoughts about new It couple Kylie and Timothée. Do they have more in common than we think?

Let us know what you think of the episode by sending us a DM @straightuppod !

Recommendation discussed:

Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas and why the court of public opinion matters in celebrity divorces, today.com

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisy

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

Real life by Brandon Taylor

Mona Hotel Athens

Birdman Athens

Listener reccos:

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca Wait

Maame by Jessica George

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Maya and Stormzy, ‘bad boy’ literature and the cheek of Kanye’s bottom

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Poor Els got mugged last week huns, so today’s episode starts with the download on her enforced digital detox, before taking a sunnier towards perhaps the best news we’ve heard all year – Maya Jama and Stormzy are back together!! – and our slightly tragic obsession with this ultimate modern day love story.

Then, more summer reading recommendations, including Imogen Crimp’s A Very Nice Girl, the buzziest debut novel of last year, and Dolly Alderton’s upcoming second novel, Good Material, as well as some suggestions from you gorgeous listeners. We also debate why there are so few ‘bad boy’ voices in literature these days, the female protagonist overload, and whether we could ever be interested in an ‘incel-y’ perspective.

Finally, an unfortunate look at Kanye’s builders bum in Venice (yes you read that correctly), plus a rundown on the ongoing Hollywood strikes, and how they’re shaping TV and film for the future.

Recommendations discussed:

Jockstrap, I Love You Jennifer B
Another Round on Netflix
Theatre Camp in cinemas now
The Woman in the Wall on BBC1
A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
Good Material by Dolly Alderton (out this November)
The List by Yomi Adekoke
The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan
Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

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Cover girl Coleen Rooney, Britney’s bitter divorce and the downfall of Scooter Braun

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

All the celebs are on holiday this week, angels, so we’ve got another jam-packed pop culture debrief for you, starting with Coleen Rooney’s fabulous – but divisive – Vogue cover for the September issue, the most important of the year! We get into all her explosive Wagatha Christie revelations and backstory with Wayne, as well as the criticisms of the cover. Are the suggestions that Coleen is not a Vogue cover girl rooted in classism?

Then, a look at one of the most powerful and hated men in music, manager Scooter Braun – who discovered Justin Bieber and waged war with Taylor Swift in 2019 – who has just been dropped by Ariana Grande, following in the footsteps of J Balvin and Demi Lovato. We get stuck into the rumours as well as some of the disturbing allegations surrounding his management style.

Plus, is it ethical for Amy Winehouse’s parents to be publishing her private diaries, and what the hell is going on with Britney’s divorce? Is Sam Asghari a scumbag who plans to take her to the cleaners? Or are the rumours that Britney cheated on him true? We lay out her prenup terms and all the other insider bits of intel, with a debate on her nude Instagram posts.

Please leave us a review and send us a little DM @straightuppod on Insta, we love to hear from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Styles’s fertility fetish and 'celeb sickness’ Lyme disease

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 04:00:38 GMT

From the outrageous 'dirty' celeb dating story that has blown up our WhatsApp chats to the Harry Styles rumour that sent the internet spinning, it's safe to say we have been SHOCKED by the world of celebrity gossip this week huns!! And of course we are here to share all of our uncensored thoughts.

In more serious news, we also look at the claims that Lyme disease is a 'celebrity' sickness that has become an identity for some, as well as the absolutely horrific allegations that have come out of an investigation into some of Britain's top drama schools.

Plus, we get into Zayn Malik's underwhelming comeback (and a very strange story about his pet chicken), and the book you absolutely must bring on your next holiday.

Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, it really helps us in the charts and then we can get more fabulous guests!

And we LOVE receiving your DMs on Insta @straightuppod, so please send us something cute

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Dissecting the Lizzo scandal and Ariana Grande's 'steal your man' energy

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

It's a dark and sordid week in the world of fame and celebrity huns, with pop stars Lizzo and Ariana Grande both getting flack from all directions.

Lizzo is at the centre of wild allegations from three former dancers – all of which she denies – while Ariana Grande has been accused of living a little close to her lyrics by finding herself at the centre of yet another cheating drama.

We get into all the arguments for and against both women, and let you be the judge!

Finally, we have a juicy debrief on the politics of sharing bills with your partners, thanks to a divisive Refinery29 Money Diaries post. Plus, TV recommendations including S2 of Netflix's brilliant Heartstopper, and Kevin Costner's contemporary cowboy, Succession-style drama Yellowstone.

Let us know what you think of the episode by shooting us an Insta DM @StraightUpPod and please do rate, review and subscribe on your fave podcast platform!

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Gizzi Erskine: naked dinner parties, magic mushrooms and how ADHD almost killed her

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

We are SO excited to share this fascinating chat with our favourite chef and cookery writer Gizzi Erskine with you all this week, getting into everything from naked dinner parties to psychedelics, via public shaming, misogyny and body image.

Author of killer books from Gizzi’s Healthy Appetite to Slow and Restore, you might recognise Gizzi from her various TV appearances over the years, or perhaps from her lockdown fakeway brand with Professor Green, Giz and Greens. She’s a proper celeb chef and a pop culture icon, writing regularly for the Independent and as a London party scene fave, with a whole host of famous friends and fascinating insight into that world.

Gizzi talks incredibly honestly about how her extreme ADHD and cyclothymic disorder made life feel like utter “chaos” for decades, and how she’s since come through the other side, after addiction, losing all five of her businesses last year and hitting financial rock bottom. Ever the optimist, Gizzi reveals all the ways she’s been putting her life back together, from experimenting with different mushrooms, to settling down in Brighton. And, of course, her must-try restaurants in the UK!

Enjoy huns, don’t forget to leave a review, and shoot us a DM with your thoughts on the episode @straightuppod on Insta.

Thank you so much to our wonderful partner Flare Audio, who have game-changed the way we sleep thanks to their amazingly nifty little earplugs, Sleeeps, which totally block out pesky sounds — from snoring to traffic — ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep. Plus they are so tiny, so comfortable, and don’t fall out! Get your Sleeeps, starting at £4.95, from flareaudio.com.

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The big Barbie debrief: Sex dolls, incels and Ken’s controversial crotch

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The headline speaks for itself huns, this episode is spicy!! After seeing Barbie together last week (dressed in pink, obv) we couldn’t wait to discuss our verdicts and debate the VERY polarised online conversation, including Barbie-burning Republicans and some very cross incels.

Plus, we deepdive into Barbie’s salacious origin story and the woman who created her, and reveal why Ken’s crotch became one of toymaker Mattel’s most unexpected nightmares.

Also, what is going on with so-called Margot Robbie fans editing her face beyond recognition, and what does this say about our warped beauty standards? Which obviously prompted us to fret that everyone around us is getting tweakements and we should too *cries*

Finally, we have a ‘cheugy’ moment dissecting the latest TikTok lingo, as well as the very strange success of new ‘robot’ social media star PinkyDoll.

Please do rate review and subscribe, and send us a DM with all your hot pink Barbie thoughts to @straightuppod on Insta

And enjoy our two delicious restaurant reviews of Little Kudu in Peckham and Sale e Pepe in Knightsbridge.

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Caroline Calloway: the infamous influencer on scamming, revenge and surviving scandal

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT

We are SO excited to introduce you to this week’s utterly fascinating and highly controversial guest: Caroline Calloway, one of the very first internet celebrities, a self- anointed ‘scammer’ and perhaps our first guest who has been publicly shamed.

If you haven’t heard of her before, don’t worry, we give you the complete lowdown in our intro, but in a nutshell: Caroline moved from New York to the University of Cambridge in 2013 and swiftly became famous as one of the first Instagram influencers, then was commissioned aged just 23 by a major British publisher to write a memoir.

But by 2019 her life had fallen to pieces. The book was never finished, she was $100k in debt to her publisher, and her former best friend had written a viral, tell-all piece claiming all her fame and success was a scam. She was attacked from all corners of the internet as an emblem of everything wrong with influencer culture, while her ex-friendship became a sordid topic of public fascination.

Now, she’s finally written a self-published memoir, Scammer (which is actually fab!) has built an incredibly successful personal brand off her own controversies, and has become a kind of anti-hero with a cult following. Her life rights have even been bought by Lena Dunham!!

So we got her on Zoom to chat all about her insane and unusual experience of fame, the catharsis of rage, making ‘chaos’ her brand, how she dealt with an overwhelming online pile-on, her complicated feelings around friendship, and MUCH more. She was incredibly eloquent, charming and thoughtful, and we have to say, she very much won us over. But what do you think? Let us know!

Buy Caroline's book Scammers via carolinecalloway.com and find her on Insta @carolinecalloway.

Please leave us a review on Apple or Spotify, and find us on Insta @straightuppod. We'd love to hear from you, especially if you have a topic suggestion for future episodes.

Thank you to our fabulous sponsors for this episode:

Art Fund, which has an amazing art pass that allows you to see paid exhibitions at major galleries from the Tate to the V&A and National Gallery at half the price! Head to artfund.org/straightup to claim your discounted under 30 membership – then we recommend booking DIVA at the V&A.

Yonder, the new lifestyle credit card that gives you the most incredible perks, allowing you to convert the money you spend on your card into points that are then redeemable at some of London’s best restaurants, bars, cafes and entertainment spots – from Lina Stores to BAO. AND if you join now you get your first 6 months for free! Get yours at ⁠yondercard.com⁠

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Jonah Hill’s 'boundaries', Louis Theroux's lost touch, Kim and Kourtney’s epic fallout

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:46:55 GMT

No interview this week angels, instead, we're covering the hottest celeb talking points from the past few days. First, we get into the topic that's currently ruling the internet, actor Jonah Hill's toxic 'boundaries', which came to light when his ex Sarah Brady shared their private messages on her Instagram. We debate the dangers of therapy speak and at which point it becomes a tool for manipulation and narcissism, the difference between boundaries and controlling behaviour, plus why fame enables emotional abuse. Next, a rich-person drama to rival Succession: the epic fallout between Kim and Kourtney Kardashian over Dolce and Gabanna. Did Kourtney steal Kim's "wedding country" and "wedding singer" Andrea Boccelli? Is Kim a money-grabbing manipulator who puts fame before family? And finally, *whisper it*, has Louis Theroux lost his touch? We debrief on Louis' new Spotify podcast, in particular the episode with former Straight Up guest Amelia Dimoldenberg, where his interview style seemed to not only irk her, but in all honesty, us as well.

Please leave us a review on Apple or Spotify, and find us on Insta @straightuppod

Articles, TV shows, podcasts, films etc. discussed:

normalondon.com restaurant on Charlotte Street
Green Tea Peng live at Somerset House. Keep up to date with GTP's upcoming shows via her IG @greenteapeng
Why are millennials talking in therapy speak? Sidney Lima for The Times
You People
The Kardashians
The Louis Theroux Podcast on Spotify

Thank you to our fabulous sponsors for this episode:

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The Barbie invasion, chaotic celebrity divorces and Idris Elba’s irresistible Hijack

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Right huns, gets ready for an episode full of drama, because this week we're debriefing on America’s sweetheart Blake Lively getting her first taste of cancellation, and why celebs are in their peak chaotic divorce era (and we secretly love it).

Plus, is it at all possible to escape the insane multi-million pound marketing campaign for Margot Robbie’s new Barbie blockbuster, encompassing everything from AirBnb to inflatables — and might it be overcompensating for a potential flop?

We also get stuck into Idris Elba’s thrilling new role in Apple TV’s Hijack, in which he plays a VERY sexy corporate negotiator on a hijacked plane flying from Dubai to London. And of course we couldn’t not update you on the final of The Idol, which we are sorry to report enters a whole new realm of terrible.

Finally, we discuss one of Lily-Rose Depp’s little known roles in the film Wolf, as a troubled young woman who identifies a cat and is sent to a sadistic treatment centre to be ‘cured’. Are we the only ones who seem to have watched it? Let us know!

Please leave us a review on Apple or Spotify, and find us on Insta @straightuppod

Thank you to our fabulous sponsors:

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Caroline O’Donoghue: Carrie Bradshaw, celeb gossip and the reality of being a best-selling author

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Today’s guest is the best-selling author Caroline O’Donoghue, the GENIUS behind one of our favourite podcasts, Sentimental Garbage, for a pop cultural deep dive on everything from And Just Like That and Desperate Housewives, to Fleishman in Trouble, the career vs kids conundrum and why fame is less like being the most important in the room, and more like being the entire public’s PA. Plus, Caroline’s top recommendations for you all, including Brooke Shields’s Pretty Baby documentary and her favourite London pub.

If you take one thing from this chat gang, make sure you buy a copy of The Rachel Incident, which, as thought-provoking as it is funny, is without a doubt one of the best novels we’ve read in the past few years! It’s out now so you can grab yours from all good book shops.

Follow Caroline on IG ⁠@czaronline⁠

Enjoy the episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple, or send us a DM ⁠@straightuppod ⁠on Insta.

Thanks to our two amazing sponsors for this episode:

Art Fund, which has an amazing art pass that allows you to see paid exhibitions at major galleries from the Tate to the V&A and National Gallery at half the price! Head to ⁠artfund.org/national-art-pass⁠ to grab your 3-month trial National Art Pass for just £15, PLUS until June 30th you can add a free plus one to your trial membership with promocode STRAIGHTUP.

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Black Mirror, AI boyfriends and The Idol: torture porn or top TV?

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:38 GMT

Gang, we have waited SO long to debrief about HBO’s new “torture porn” show The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd that is already the most talked about TV show of 2023, and since three episodes have passed we think we’re finally ready to give our verdict. We get stuck into its grotesque flaws and surprisingly more promising moments, debating everything from whether Lily-Rose Depp is any good (and if her character Jocelyn could ever really be a viable pop star), to the allegations of “heavy sleaze” and its inescapably male gaze.

Plus, the new Black Mirror anthology has dropped on Netflix after a four year wait, and one episode in particular is highly relevant to us celeb culture nuts: 'Mazey Day', the one in which a vulnerable celebrity is stalked by paparazzi. No spoilers huns, instead we debate the ethics of photographing someone who has consented to becoming a public figure, and whether the paparazzi has evolved since its infamous heyday. Plus, a quick overview of episode one, Joan Is Awful, the most "vintage", deliciously "Black Mirror" of all of the new series.

Finally, Ellie has a new boyfriend, and we get to meet him!

Enjoy the episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple, or send us a DM @straightuppod on Insta.

Thanks to our two amazing sponsors for this episode:

Art Fund, which has an amazing art pass that allows you to see paid exhibitions at major galleries from the Tate to the V&A and National Gallery at half the price! Head to artfund.org/national-art-pass to grab your 3-month trial National Art Pass for just £15, PLUS you can add a free plus one to your trial membership with promocode STRAIGHTUP.

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Alastair Campbell: Princess Diana, celebrity politicians and how to ACTUALLY make a difference

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:01:32 GMT

Hi huns, we’ve got someone a little different from the usual celeb on the pod this week: Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who is currently having a second wind of fame thanks to his top-charting podcast The Rest is Politics, of which both of us are HUGE fans.

This month he also released a brilliant new book called But What Can I Do? which is all about motivating young, capable people to get into politics and shake things up, with lots of practical tips on how to improve the essential skills you need in politics, from communication to body language.

Of course, true to the Straight Up USP, we had to ask Alastair all about his most surreal – and nightmarish – celebrity encounters, from Princess Diana to Jimmy Savile. Plus, he revealed his biggest celebrity crush, how he feels about his daughter's risque comedy, and his surreal interlude writing erotic fiction.

We had so much fun (despite Alastair ripping us for our shameful lack of general knowledge) that he even let us accompany him to his home after the recording to sign some books for us. Though he may have got cross that we didn't immediately recognise his portrait of John Lennon - oops.

We hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording this one! Please let us know what you think by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or rating us on Spotify and come say hello on Insta ⁠@straightuppod⁠

Thanks so much to our amazing partners for this episode:

Art Fund, which has an amazing art pass that allows you to see paid exhibitions at major galleries from the Tate to the V&A and National Gallery at half the price! Head to artfund.org/national-art-pass to grab your 3-month trial National Art Pass for just £15, PLUS you can add a free plus one to your trial membership with promocode STRAIGHTUP.

Also thanks very much to the Dartmouth Arms in Highgate for hosting us! This gorge pub has an amazing dining club, the next one is on Thursday 29 June in collaboration with Uncharted Wines and is just £50 a ticket for five courses and a welcome drink with an optional £30 wine pairing supplement, tickets available at disappearingdiningclub.co.uk.

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Matty Healy, Phil Schofield and why modern dating is so broken

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:48:23 GMT

This week’s mad developments in celebrity culture has aligned perfectly with Straight Up’s USP, to deconstruct ‘fame’ in all its surreal highs and horrible lows, so we’re talking about everything from Matty Healey’s controversial performative fame and the online outpouring of outrage from Taylor Swift fans, to the the surreal This Morning saga and Phil Schofield's fall from grace, as well Johnny Depps's return to Cannes. Then, we debrief on the wildly shocking new data on what top podcaster Chris Williamson calls ‘the mating market’ (ie, the dating scene), investigating why so many amazing women are single and why it feels like there aren’t enough ‘good men’ to go round (spoiler: because there literally aren't). Plus, we tell you all about our new TV obsession: Platonic, starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as old friends reuniting, which got us wondering why opposite-sex, heteronormative friendships in adulthood becomes so hard to maintain.

Enjoy angels and please do leave us a little review, rate us on Spotify and let us know what you think on Insta ⁠@straightuppod⁠

Thanks so much to our amazing partners for this episode:

Huel, the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at ⁠huel.com/straightup

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Sophie Ellis-Bextor: noughties nostalgia, phone hacking and fame vs family

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:55 GMT

Hello huns, we were SO excited to go round for tea at Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s gorgeous London home the other week to chat all about her extraordinary experience of fame, from her initial “failed” start in a band as a teenager, who were dropped by their label before their second album, to the incredible success of her iconic hit Murder on the Dancefloor just a few years later (Europe’s biggest song of 2002 and our primary school selves’ FAVE).

The queen of the kitchen disco was just as fun as we’d hoped, getting into everything from her most embarrassing showbiz fail and how she played the tabloids by making up her own stories, to her insane archive of vintage clothing and a retrospective on what the noughties music scene was really like. Plus, how fame can affect family dynamics, dealing with phone hacking, the paparazzi and a stalker, and what it’s like to be such a successful musician with five children.

Sophie's new album HANA is out 2nd June, find it here: sophieellisbextor.komi.io

Follow Sophie on IG @sophieellisbextor

Leave us a little review, rate us on Spotify and let us know what you think on Insta ⁠@straightuppod⁠

Thank you so much to our sponsors for this episode:

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Kesha’s ghost exorcism, the genius of Jury Duty and the Hailey Bieber dilemma

Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:20 GMT

Welcome back to another cultural debrief gang! This week, Ellie interviewed the icon that is Kesha for the Telegraph ahead of her brilliant new her album Gag Order, out now, and gave us all the behind-the-scenes gossip and juicy talking points, specifically: did Kesha really have a vaginal ghost exorcism? Plus we both reveal our own experiences with the paranormal, featuring Kathleen’s mum’s run-in with a hag at the end of her bed and Ellie’s unexplained sleep paralysis...

Then, we debrief on Lily Allen’s new show Dreamland, prompting all kind of existential questions, from whether you can ever innocently party with your friend’s partner, to what counts as an unforgivable betrayal, and why filming such scenes were so triggering for Lily, who cheated on her former husband with female escorts.

Finally, we get into why everyone is watching Jury Duty right now, as well as all the ethical implications of Amazon's reality hit. And finally, our thoughts on Hailey Bieber’s interview with The Sunday Times Style, where she said that public hate makes her scared to have children, and whether she’s really as “calculated” as Selena Gomez fans would have us believe.

Leave us a little review, rate us on Spotify and let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod

Thank you so much to our amazing partners for this episode:

Yonder, the new lifestyle credit card that gives you the most incredible perks, allowing you to convert the money you spend on your card into points that are then redeemable at some of London’s best restaurants, bars, cafes and entertainment spots – from Lina Stores to BAO. AND if you join now you get your first 6 months for free! Get yours at yondercard.com

Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode, the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at ⁠huel.com/straightup

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Allan ‘MC Grindah’ Mustafa: prank calls, insecure men and winding up Jared Leto

Thu, 18 May 2023 06:39:22 GMT

Buckle up huns because today’s guest is one of our all-time favourites: fellow Londoner and proper funny man Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa, the BAFTA-winning actor, writer and co-creator of hit crime comedy, The Curse, as well as the ICONIC People Just Do Nothing, the BBC mockumentary series – and feature film – where he played MC Grindah.

In this hilarious chat, Allan tells us all about the inspiration for PJDN, from his work in a call centre (featuring retellings of some of his best pranks), to the pirate radio and raving scenes he loved, as well as his relationship with weed and partying, and how that has evolved now that he’s a 37-year-old celeb.

We also get stuck into whether Allan has always been a natural-born performer, how he met his best friends and collaborators Asim, Steve and Hugo, why they never cared about being famous and how he learned to be a brilliant writer and actor, all on the job. Plus: harnessing imposter syndrome, his “celebrity regret” featuring Post Malone, the comedic tragedy of bravado, meeting fans when your persona is so well known and Allan’s top restaurant recommendations (as a bonafide member of food collective Taste Cadets).

Follow Allan on IG @seapa220 and @tastecadets. Watch both series of The Curse now via Channel 4.

Thank you to our three partners for making this episode possible:

Black Lines, the amazing bottled cocktail company behind the Spicy Tommy's margarita we drank on air. Allan's fave, our fave and this one is utterly delicious – it's our drink of the summer, from festivals and picnics to parties and date nights. Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 for 15% off at blacklinesdrinks.com

Leave us a little review, rate us on Spotify and let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod

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Gwyneth Paltrow on Brad vs Ben, and a deep dive into the ‘It Girl’

Thu, 11 May 2023 04:02:48 GMT

We’ve got a real treat in store for you today angels, starting with the latest explosive Gwyneth Paltrow interview and the many, many revelations she made on how her exes Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck compare, as well as a big debate on therapy, finding yourself and how the Goop guru’s life advice actually works in practice.

Next, we get into a fascinating chronology of the ‘It Girl’ phenomenon, based on a new New York Magazine feature, covering Jaime King, Chloe Sevigny, Alexa Chung et al and exposing how these women have been both deified and damaged by that attention. Finally, is Sydney Sweeney our era’s It Girl? All the gossip around the rom-com she’s currently filming with Glenn Powell would certainly suggest so…

Leave us a little review, and rate us on Spotify, it helps boost us in the charts and then we can continue getting more fabulous guests and spending time curating juicy, informative content about all things celeb culture. And let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod

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Fleur East: surviving The X Factor and the secret to long-lasting love

Thu, 04 May 2023 04:01:53 GMT

This week hunnies we have musician, The X Factor semi-finalist and Strictly finalist Fleur East on the show for a chat all about what it’s like to go through the often brutal churn of reality TV, and come out very much on top! She shared stories about how she almost pulled out of her big The X Factor audition, dealing with managers who wanted to lie about her age, and the wildest A-List party she ever attended. She also shared the cutest story about how she got together with her now husband Marcel, her secrets to a long and happy relationship, and what she’d like to set the record straight on.

Plus we’ve got a fabulous bar review for you Londoners, having spent an excellent evening together at the city’s hottest new haunt, Stereo, the stunning cocktail bar, restaurant and live music venue from super chic the Experimental Group. It’s right in the heart of Covent Garden and for a night of killer cocktails, burgers and a little spin on the dance floor, this totally hits the spot. Stereo is at 35 The Piazza, London, WC2E 8BE, check out Stereo’s website at stereocoventgarden.com, or on IG @stereocoventgardenlondon.

Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at ⁠huel.com/straightup

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Sofia Richie’s wedding, a Netflix sex scandal and Reese Witherspoon’s Hollywood reign

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:00:06 GMT

We’re back with a thrilling culture debrief for you today, angels, and as you can hear from our unhinged giggling, we are really very excited to be reuinited with you all, gossiping about everything from Sofia Richie’s wedding at the infamous, ridiculously luxurious Cap Du Eden Roc hotel in France, to the explosive sex scandal gripping the cast of Netflix’s latest hit, Beef. We also get stuck into Lewis Capaldi’s Netflix documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, which highlights his struggles with Tourette’s syndrome, as well as the streamer’s latest surprise success, The Night Agent, a brilliant, pacy political thriller recently became its third most-watched show of all time, as well as, erm, it’s epic new series about chimpanzees. Also, why you need to read Curtis Sittenfield’s new novel Romantic Comedy about a famous male pop star falling for a TV comedy writer, inspired by Kim K’s hook up with Pete Davidson, as well as a deep dive into how Reese Witherspoon became the most powerful woman in Hollywood. Finally, for anyone planning a Mexico trip in the near future, Kathleen gives a very brief overview of her recent travels, from swimming with wild dolphins to street food hotspots. If you’d like to know more, be that on the route, AirbnB reccos or restaurants to book, shoot us a DM and Kathleen shall share!

Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at ⁠huel.com/straightup

Mexico recommendations discussed:

Mexico City: Expendio de Maiz, Orinoco, Supra Roma, the Xocholmilco floating gardens.
Puerto Escondido: Stay in La Punta, swimming with dolphins boat trip, visit Fish Shack.
Oaxaca: Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Tacos Roy.
Bacalar: Stay in a lakeside cabin at Amacar Baclar, visit Los Rapidos.
Holbox: We stayed at Mystique, do eat at Feugo Santos and Temco.

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Picture This’ Ryan: introversion, Irish stereotypes and why he doesn’t want kids

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:03:25 GMT

Hello darlings, have you missed us? Kathleen is back from Mexico so Straight Up is back to business and we have an excellent celebrity interview for you today: Ryan Hennessy, frontman of Picture This, the childhood friends turned Irish mega band who flew to the top of the Irish charts with their debut album in 2017. If you go weak for an Irish accent and swoon over gorgeous introspective songs about love, breakups and existentialism then you are going to absolutely love em.

We met Ryan one sunny afternoon in Kings Cross and chatted all about why they're the most 'egoless band out there', why young female fans should not be patronised, and why he might be the only artist that never drinks before a show. And his anecdote about a mental house party in LA - which also inspired a song - might well be one of the craziest stories Straight Up has heard to date.

Plus: why he wasn't offended by controversial Irish film Banshees of Inisherin, the song inspired by his big existential crisis and his thoughts on masculinity and fatherhood.

Check out Song To Myself here: https://songtomyself.lnk.to/PictureThis

If you want to see Picture This live, they're headlining Koko on the 27th April, tickets here

Follow the band @picturethis on IG and Ryan @ryanhennessy_

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Celebrity journalism's big existential crisis

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:01:51 GMT

Hi gorgeous ones! Today we round up our mini celebrity journalism series with the fourth and final part (listen to parts one to three by scrolling back in our archive - they’re super juicy!). And it’s all about celebrity journalism’s uncertain future: in an era in which celebs increasingly hold all the power, and publications are losing their relevancy, who needs who?

After Ellie reveals a shock celebrity encounter that got her feeling all kinds of existential angst, we discuss why and how celebs are choosing to disrupt traditional media, from Dua Lipa's newsletter and podcast to the now ubiquitous A-List tell-all Netflix documentary. Whereas celebrity journalism used to be a highly calculated game paying dividends for both sides, today it seems to have become something a lot less strategic.

But it's not all doom and gloom for the media huns, as we make the case for why the traditional interview still holds an important place in our culture, and why celebrity journalism more broadly is important in holding the powerful to account.

Make sure you answer our themed question on Spotify! And let us know what you thin on Insta @straightuppod

Ps we're off for a two-week break after this episode but don't go anywhere, we'll be back on April 20 with a VERY fun interview. See ya then!

Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Stephens: sex on screen, male shame and Andrew Tate

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:01:49 GMT

Jordan Stephens is in the studio today angels and this is defo one of our favourite chats to date – you are going to absolutely love this one! Jordan shot to fame as a teenager as one half of Rizzle Kicks, they disbanded in 2016 and he went on to pursue a super successful, incredibly varied career, from actor and painter to children’s book author (as well as still releasing music ofc).

We sat down at Brixton Village studios to debrief on the rise of Rizzle Kicks and being thrown into fame overnight as a teenager, from the “delusion” that got him there in the first place, to the wild and ultimately unsustainable partying that came with such success.

Jordan gets into what his subsequent five years of sobriety have been like and his myriad talents, including being an actor, and his views on everything from Penn Badgley's no intimacy rule for filming, to Andrew Tate and toxic misogyny.

Plus, why he absolutely loves how famous his partner, Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix, is, how they complement each other, their creative intimacy, and their plans when it comes to getting married and having children.

And thanks VERY much to Shure for gifting us our sexy new mics, the MV7s, which we can highly recommend to any new or current podcasters. Grab yours at Shure.com

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Fat suits, Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback and popping the Paul Mescal hype

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 05:00:28 GMT

Welcome back angels! We’ve got a corker of a chat for you today, where first we quickly debrief on our favourite Oscar looks, before getting into The Whale, for which Brendan Fraser took home Best Actor, and Hollywood’s surrounding fat suit controversy. Is the portrayal of his character Charlie is ethical? And why are weight and morality all too often confused? Plus Jonah Hill’s life-long struggle with his weight and self-image, as portrayed in his Netflix documentary Stutz.

Then, we pop the Paul Mescal hype after seeing his arthouse hit Aftersun, which we, unlike the rest of the world, unfortunately did not love. Also, the dreamy Austin Butler as Elvis in the new Baz Lurman film, Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback and Cara Delevingne’s recent renaissance post a much-documented ‘unravelling’. Plus, Kathleen’s favourite new bar discovery, a Mexican meets Japanese underground spot in Notting Hill, Viajante 87.

Recommendations:

The Whale
Stutz on Netflix by Jonah Hill
Elvis (Baz Lurman film)
Austin Butler on Mark Maron’s podcast
Jennifer Lawrence BuzzFeed
No Hard Feelings (JLaw film)
Planet Sex on BBC iPlayer with Cara Delevingne
Viajante 87 bar, 87 Notting Hill Gate
Mae Stevens “If We Ever Broke Up”
Miley Cyrus “Endless Summer”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SG Lewis: ‘songwriting camp’, fame freebies and Face-timing Elton John

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:58:08 GMT

Hi darlings, we’re back today with a chat with the man who got us turning our kitchens into dancefloors over the pandemic, and has just released one of the most disco-tastic albums of 2023, AudioLust and HigherLove. SG Lewis (or Sam, to his friends) is, as Kathleen says, a pied piper of the party! Makes sense that he’s also super-producer to some of the world’s biggest stars, from Mabel to Dua Lipa, and has worked with icons such as Elton John.

Sam Zoomed us from LA to talk about what his career spent working with some of music’s biggest stars has taught him about fame, money and success, as well as entertaining us with some excellent red carpet stories and revealing what the mysterious ‘songwriter camps’ are really like.

Plus we have got all our cocktail loving Huns covered with a review of what might be our top new London bar: SOMA, in Soho. And Ellie gives us the lowdown on her favourite new female comedians for International Women’s Day, while we also both get stuck into the juiciest controversy of the moment, the explosive fallout from HBO’s upcoming show The Idol, which has been accused of ‘male torture porn’. How did a show satirising fame become the very thing it was meant to satire? And what does this mean for its very famous co-creator The Weeknd?

Recommendations discussed:

SOMA
Dans Le Noir?
Guilty Feminist Podcast ( IWD episode not yet out!)
Comedian Helen Bauer
Comedian Michelle de Swarte
The Rolling Stone expose on The Idol

Enjoy!

Thank you to Huel for making this episode possible. Huel is a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake in a load of amazing flavours, and which has totally changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The epic Peltz-Beckham wedding fall out, Paris Hilton’s birth phobia and horror’s hottest actor

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 04:55:18 GMT

First up today darlings is a whistlestop recommendation rundown for New York, where Ellie celebrated her 30th last week, followed by a blow-by-blow look at the car crash that is the Peltz-Beckham wedding lawsuit drama. Then, a further debrief on the unofficial first family of Britain, from whether we think Victoria Beckham is a nice person, featuring *alleged* intel from Kathleen, who once met one of the Beckham’s nannies, to Ellie’s experience of interviewing a rather handsy David.

Also on the topic of weddings, we cover the rise of the “couple podcast” and debrief one of Kathleen’s fave new discoveries, Jaime Laing’s Nearlyweds, plus, our new celebrity crush, the actor Mia Goth who is currently starring in Infinity Pool, the new horror dubbed “White Lotus for sickos” and is the lead in two of Ellie’s favourite horror films, X and Pearl (out now).

We also get stuck into Paris Hilton’s decision to use a surrogate because of her crippling phobia of childbirth, which was triggered, in part, by the abuse she experienced at boarding school, as well as the revelation that her sextape “One Night In Paris” was the first bit of porn either of us ever saw (we’re so sorry! We understand the ethics of this now!). Finally, a debrief of Selena Gomez’s documentary My Mind and Me, in particular the excruciating press day scenes and her incredible mental health advocacy.

Then a hilarious look at former Elle Editor Farah Storr’s latest Substack newsletter, where she gives “the world’s best restaurant” a brutally honest review that reads just like the amazing chef thriller we recently recommended, The Menu.

Recommendations discussed:

Homefire by by Kamila Shamsie
Big Vogue Still Trying to Push the Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Agenda, Gawker
Nearlyweds podcast with Jaime Lang and Sophie Haboo
Jaime Lang on Elizabeth’s Day’s How To Fail
Infinity Pool starring Mia Goth
X and Pearl both starring Mia Goth
Paris Hilton’s Glamour cover story
Diary of a CEO episodes with Romesh Ranganathan, Richard Hammond and Charlie Sloth
Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, Apple TV
The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Dave
Farah Storr’s review of “the world’s best restaurant” Noma, Substack
Jay Rayner’s Le Cinq review for the Guardian

NYC recommendations:

The Williamsburg
Gotham Comedy Club
The Book Club in East Village
The Sex Museum
Lafayette for brunch
Misi for brown butter pasta
Sunday in Brooklyn
Tompkins Square Bagels
Dante bar in Chelsea for $10 martinis
Little Ned cocktail bar

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:

Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup

Get 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/

And thanks VERY much to Shure for gifting us our sexy new mics, the MV7s, which we can highly recommend to any new or current podcasters. Grab yours at Shure.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mae Muller: body image, TikTok stardom and celibacy

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:04 GMT

Hi gorgeous ones, this week we have the equally gorgeous Mae Muller in the studio, who many of you will no doubt recognise from her absolute belter I Just Came to Dance which was permanently on the radio just before Christmas, as well as her viral TIkTok hit Better Days which she even performed on Jimmy Fallon. Trust us when we tell you she’s gonna be a star!

Over her fave drink, an Aperol Spritz, we had such a fun chat talking everything from first unglamorous jobs to dating in the public eye and her (now broken) year long celibacy journey. Plus, how fame has impacted her body image, why she’s built an all-female team around her and her most memorable ‘don’t you know who I am?’ moment.

Another highlight was debating over the pros and cons of Stan culture, and we almost died laughing when Mae took the opportunity to beg her fans to change their fandom name from the.. ahem…Mullshitters.

Check out Mae Muller's amazing music and her socials here: https://bio.to/MaeMuller

Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brit Awards goss, Rihanna’s big reveal and Kourtney K’s vagina gummies

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:48:53 GMT

Sorry about the hangovers, huns, because first up today we’re give you the full behind the scenes debrief on the Brit Awards, where we had a rather raucous evening on Saturday night, starting with drinks at the gorgeous Shoreditch bar Seed Library and culminating with the star-studded Universal Records party at Soho House’s 180 The Strand. We then get stuck into all the other biggest talking points of the past week, from Rihanna’s epic pregnancy reveal at the Superbowl, to the Chat GPT takeover, as well as our top TV and podcast picks right now, from HBOs’ zombie masterpiece The Last of Us, to Strippers In The Attic, a no-holds-barred series on what really goes down at strip clubs. Enjoy darlings and as ever please rate, review, subscribe and send this episode to a friend!

Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod

Recommendations discussed:

Seed Library at 100 Shoreditch ( our fave bar discovery of 2023!). Book via seedlibraryshoreditch.com
Watch RiRi at the Superbowl via NFL's YouTube
The Last of Us on HBO
Happy Valley
Next Level Chef on ITV X
Strippers in The Attic podcast
'The Last of Us’s gay love story breaks new ground for an entire genre' The Independent

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RAYE: survival, songwriting and success on your own terms

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:16 GMT

Gang we are so excited to have none other than RAYE on the podcast this week, one of our favourite artists and an absolute icon on the British music scene at just 25-years-old. The South London gal released her debut album independently on 3 Feb after a very public dispute with her label last summer – they’d stifled her and controlled her creatively for seven years – and now, is telling her story on her own terms and enjoying more commercial success than ever before (her most recent amaze single, Escapism, went to No1). Ellie was unwell for this one (*sob*) and so Kathleen sat down to talk to RAYE about her incredible journey and resilience, from surviving abuse at the hands of the music industry’s darkest figures, to thriving as an independent artist after calling out injustice. We get deep about forgiveness, standing up for artists, Black Mirror-worthy media events, the power of therapy and finally having your moment.

Check out RAYE’s incredible album My 21st Century Blues here: https://raye.orcd.co/m21cb

Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pamela Anderson’s sex tape nightmare, Miley Cyrus’ revenge and fine dining horror

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:00:32 GMT

Hi darlings, this week we get stuck into some VERY juicy topics, starting with, is the new Amy Winehouse biopic doomed to fail? Plus, having watched the brand new Pamela Anderson documentary on Netflix, how much did her sex tape colour the public view of her? And can sex tapes ever be empowering?

Also, having both watched the very entertaining black comedy The Menu, about an acclaimed pompous (and murderous) chef starring our fave Anya Taylor Joy, we reminisce over some of our most absurd memories reviewing some of the world’s finest restaurants (it’s a hard life huns).

Finally, is there more to J Lo’s new marriage romcom than meets the eye, and why Miley Cyrus’s Liam Hemsworth revenge song Flowers is the latest savvy mood in celebrity meta marketing.

Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode:

Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup

Recommendations discussed:

Pamela, a love story on Netflix

‘Pamela Anderson: The only man to treat me with respect? Hugh Hefner’, The Times

The Menu on Disney Plus and in cinemas

Shotgun Wedding on Amazon Prime

An Attempt to Make Sense of the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial-Complex Canon, Vulture

Miley Cyrus Flowers

Miley thread: https://twitter.com/mileycyrusvibez/status/1614391250396012545

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Akon: celebrity greed, dealing with divas and taking Straight Up to the strip club

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:09 GMT

Can’t quite believe we’re saying this huns but we had the man, the legend AKON in the studio with us recently to celebrate his new TikTok EP TT Freak and it was all we hoped and more. We had the most amazing chat about everything from growing up between New Jersey and Senegal and how his time in prison inspired his major hit Locked Up, to discovering Lady Gaga, working with Whitney Houston and becoming TikTok’s most streamed star.

Plus Akon got real on our favourite topic of fame, revealing why so many stars are selfish, greedy and give nothing back to their communities. He also spoke honestly about why musicians like Kanye West need to care less about music, and why - controversially - he still stands by Michael Jackson. And, our favourite moment of the interview, he invites us to his favourite strip club! We shall attend and report back.

Let us know what you think by leaving us a review on Apple or Spotify, or you can DM us on insta @straightuppod

Thank you to our two incredible sponsors:

If you’re nervous about starting your therapy journey this year, then check out our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get 10% off your first month by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry bombshells, family estrangement and frostnipped todgers

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:39 GMT

We read Prince Harry’s memoir so you don’t have to, huns, and good grief do we have thoughts. We trawl through the juiciest revelations (especially the ones that haven't made the headlines) and debate over some of Spare's most contentious points, from Harry's obsession with the press and the royal family's strange dysfunction, to whether he'll eventually regret going into such microscopic detail about his sibling rivalry with William. Plus, has online discourse around cutting off ‘toxic’ people done more harm than good, and is it leading to an ‘estrangement’ epidemic?

Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppod

Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baby Queen: drugs, toxic managers and the ‘void’ of celebrity

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:55:31 GMT

Happy new year huns! After a restful Christmas of pigs in blankets and Oatnog we’re suitably fattened up and raring to go for 2023 at Straight Up HQ, with plenty of juicy, eye-opening interviews about the murky world of celebrity.

In this episode we’re joined by the fabulous Baby Queen, the 25-year-old South African born, London-based artist who many new fans might recognise from Netflix’s Heartstopper soundtrack, for what is perhaps our most revealing interview to date – like, EVER!

Baby Queen, AKA Bella, spills the tea on just how twisted the music business actually still is, even in its green juice era, from toxic male managers and the prevalence of drugs, to abuse and manipulation, the sexism, the self-medicating and the mental health costs that are all practically part and parcel of being a performer. Bella digs deep into her own “bright lights syndrome” and the narcissism inherent in artistry, while talking through a recent identity-crisis, navigating ADHD, and her battles with depression, revealing how they are, for her, intertwined with being in the spotlight. Plus, we talk everything from therapy and why Bella says she is never, ever having children, to video games and why the name “Baby Queen” triggered an existential crisis.

Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppod

Thank you to our gorgeous sponsors for making this episode happen:

Black-lines, the amazing bottled cocktail company behind our fave winter tipple Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here

Huel, our January saviour helping us to get back into the gym, build muscle and save money with Huel Black Edition, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas special: festive quiz, 2022's best celeb moments and top TV

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 04:55:08 GMT

Hello angels, today we are bringing you an episode full of festive cheer and (slightly tipsy) merriment! Over a bottle of Straight Up’s fave winter drink Oatnog, we reminisce about our best and worst Christmas rituals and presents, the highs and lows of seasonal cinema, and Ellie even whipped up a truly scintillating Christmas quiz for us all to enjoy, of which the first question is: ‘What is Ellie’s favourite ingredient on the Christmas Day lunch plate?’ (Kindly note Kathleen’s eye roll).

Also, we share our top celebrity moments of 2022, and why Billie Piper’s I Hate Suzie is THE show you all need to watch over the holidays. Plus we couldn’t resist debriefing the White Lotus finale too, obv.

We’re taking a little two week break now, so see you next year on the 12 January for an incredibly exciting guest interview. We really do have some absolute corkers for you lined up in 2023, so get ready for even bigger and better juicy celebrity stories, fascinating analysis around what it means to be famous in this day and age, plus your usual cultural recommendations to keep you entertained and in the know. Happy Christmas and see you on the other side!

Hunnies if you want the PERFECT Christmas/New Year's gift for your loved ones, or simply as a well-deserved treat for yourself, then look no further than amazing bottled cocktail company black-lines, which has launched quite literally the most delicious winter cocktail you will ever try: Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery East Rarer rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Aid Kit: touring with your dad, sexist journalists and the 'good girl' trope

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 04:55:41 GMT

Hiiii huns, this week we have one of our fave bands on the show: First Aid Kit! The Swedish, Brit-nominated sisters Klara and Johanna are adored around the world for making the most beautiful country music, which had Ellie swooning into her wine last Friday at the Eventim Apollo. This episode is a cracker, with such fun, hilarious sisterly energy as Klara and Johanna recall their drunkest moments, touring together as children (with their dad in tow) and the most outrageous thing a journalist has ever said in an interview.

Plus, they share a very moving and spiritual story behind their amazing new album Palomino, and get candid about everything from the pressures of performing to pleasing fans.

Shoutout to the gorgeous pop-up bar we reviewed in the intro too, which is just ideal for snug winter cocktails on a beautiful alpine rooftop! Book your table at Laurels on the Roof here!

A huge thank you also to our incredible partners for this episode:

Amazing bottled cocktail company black-lines has just launched quite literally the most delicious Christmas cocktail you will ever try: Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here

Ever feel totally bamboozled by everything from investing to crypto and your pension? Juno is an amazing educational platform and app that is helping to close the financial literacy gap that affects women and non binary people. Use the code STRAIGHTUP to get 30% of a premium subscription, which brings the cost down from £4.15 to £2.91 per month – less than a cup of coffee! Search Your Juno in the App Store or visit www.yourjuno.co

Q Acoustics is the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

As ever, please do let us know what you think by shooting us a DM at our newly launched Straight Up IG @straightuppod

Brands with collab enquiries, please feel free to email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk.

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The White Lotus, wealth and the explosive truth about celeb gossip giant DeuxMoi

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:59:20 GMT

Get ready for some rip-roaring recommendations this week angels, because we're debriefing on everything from infamous celebrity gossip IG account DeuxMoi's thinly-veiled new autofiction, Anon Please, to the second season of the bonkers, totally brilliant HBO series The White Lotus, set in a luxury hotel in Sicily. We get stuck into debates on privilege, power, hypocrisy, stalking and celeb privacy, plus lots of laughs on A-list lookalikes, astrology (and the legitness of it) and the inherent sexism in "icks". We also have a good old debrief on the alleged Maya Jama and Stormzy reunion (including our take on the incredible new album This Is What I Mean and the thorny question of whether you should ever take an ex back), the ethics of paparazzi and the tabloid story exchange game, plus why clickbait headlines simply reflect our own worst instincts.

Recommendations discussed:

The White Lotus
Anon Please by DeuxMoi
Stormzy This Is what I Mean
Explained on Netflix (astrology episode is S1 E14)
Debbie - Is This Real Love?

As ever, please do let us know what you think by shooting us a DM at our newly launched Straight Up IG @straightuppod

Brands with collab enquiries, please feel free to email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk.

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dermot Kennedy: music biz myths, embarrassing moments and terrifying stalkers

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 04:59:23 GMT

Hi darlings, if, like us, you love peeling back the glossy layer of the celebrity machine and digging beneath the sparkle of the music industry, then you are going to absolutely adore this episode with Dublin megastar Dermot Kennedy. He’s sold out the O2, counts Taylor Swift among his fans and in 2019 released Ireland’s best-selling debut album of this millennium. Now he's just released an amazing new album, Sonder.

But, as Dermot told us in this very moving and honest chat over some gorgeous Oatnog from our new partner black-lines, he hates celebrity, and does everything he can to protect himself from the trappings of fame, from not checking what’s in his bank balance to keeping his dad on his payroll. Refreshingly down-to-earth, he offers some serious debunking when it comes to the music business, revealing how little money he makes when he’s on tour.

And of course it wouldn’t be Straight Up without some eye-popping anecdotes, from Dermot pranking his friends in front of Muse’s Matt Bellamy and being dared to drink his own piss (yes, really), to a quite frankly terrifying fan experience.

Thank you to our amazing new partner, bottled cocktail company black-lines, which has just launched quite literally the most delicious Christmas cocktail you will ever try. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic surgery, James Corden’s cheating drama and Julia Fox’s radical celibacy

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 04:59:55 GMT

We’ve got a full free-wheeling festival of recommendations for you this week angels, from our thoughts on Em Rata’s new podcast HighLow – which prompted a big old debate on tweakments, the intersection of cosmetic surgery and feminism, body image and Julia Fox’s belief that aging is hot – to Amazon’s latest big hitter, Mammals, a dark comedy all about cheating and monogamy, starring James Corden. We also get stuck into the problem with the term ‘punching’, our personal insecurities and the radical weight-loss injections that all the A-listers are suddenly using. Plus, our review of the most festive bar in London, at the gorgeous Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, a deep-dive into the six forces of friendship, and, the best theatre production of 2022.

As ever, please do let us know what you think by shooting us a DM at our newly launched Straight Up IG @straightuppod

Thank you so much to our fantastic new partner Juno for supporting this episode. Ever feel totally bamboozled by everything from investing to crypto and your pension? Juno is an amazing educational platform and app that is helping to close the financial literacy gap that affects women and non binary people. Use the code STRAIGHTUP to get 30% of a premium subscription (usually £4.15 per month if bought annually), which offers super fun and bitesize courses on how to be smart with your money, as well as access to the app’s incredible community section, where you can ask other Juno users questions and share your own experiences around money. Search Your Juno in the App Store and remember to use our discount code STRAIGHTUP. www.yourjuno.co

Recommendations

Miracle bar pop up at the Henrietta Hotel
HighLow with Em Rata: the Julia Fox interview episode and 'Can you be a feminist and get plastic surgery? EmRata asks'
The Doctor at Duke of York’s Theatre, London
The IG account @beauty.false
Mammals on Amazon Prime
Handmaid’s Tale on 4
Fall (2022 film)
One Man, Two Guvnors
The Six Forces That Fuel Friendship

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roman Kemp: life as an A-list radio presenter, from cleaning toilets to celeb parents

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:01:34 GMT

Hello darlings, this week's fabulous Straight Up guest is the radio presenter and DJ Roman Kemp, who has just released a memoir, Are You Really Ok?, and who opened up to us about everything from his lifelong struggle with mental health and losing his best friend to suicide, to his surreal celebrity upbringing as son to Martin Kemp (Spandeau Ballet) and Shirlie Kemp (Wham!).

It's a very inspiring chat that also peels back the layers of one of the UK's most famous faces, with Roman admitting that he actually hates attention so much he can't even stand friends singing him Happy Birthday. Plus, Roman talks about his difficult years spent in the fashion industry, and reveals what it's really like to work in radio, from disaster interviews to dealing with trolling.

Oh, and his extraordinary Harry Styles impression is NOT to be missed!

Enjoy!

Get Roman's book Are You Really Ok? here and follow him on IG at @romankemp

A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode:

Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

Black Cow, the world's first sustainably made pure milk vodka that is made by a dairy farmer in West Dorset, which we enjoyed in our extraordinarily delish cocktails with Roman. While chatting, we drank the ready to drink Negroni, a smooth, delicious, absolutely pitch-perfect take on the classic. Get your negronis (and some seriously excellent strawberry vodka) at blackcow.co.uk.

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britney’s shocking family history, Matthew Perry’s memoir and celeb couple age gaps

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:01:18 GMT

Hi lovely listeners, this week’s episode is absolutely brimming with recommendations spanning everything from romantic autumn minibreaks to the memoir everyone’s been talking about – did you know that Matthew Perry (Chandler from Friends) almost died from drug addiction and once dumped Julia Roberts?

We also deep dive into the sordid affairs of Britney Spears’s late grandfather, who, according to an incredibly juicy new New York Magazine article, is horribly relevant when it comes to questioning why Britney’s dad put his daughter in a conservatorship. Speaking of sordid things, there's a new serial killer film on Netflix starring Eddie Redmayne that's based on a true story – Ellie gives her verdict.

Plus, we debate our fave Julia Roberts film after Kathleen reviews her new romcom Ticket to Paradise and we assess the controversy around Billie Eilish’s boyfriend.

Dig in and let us know what you think!

Recommendations

Il Palazzo Experimental, Venice
Osteria alle Testiere, Venice
Al Covo, Venice
House of Spears article in NY Mag
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
The Good Nurse, Netflix
The Peripheral, Amazon Prime
Louis Theroux interviews Judi Dench, BBC
Popbitch newsletter
The Playlist, Netflix
Ready Player One, Amazon Prime
Vanity Fair, Apple TV

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tove Lo: female pleasure, narcissism and monogamy

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 05:00:58 GMT

Gorgeous ones, are you ready for one saucy lil episode from none other than the extraordinary, Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling star Tove Lo? And we really do mean saucy: Tove might just be one of the most sexually liberated women in pop, with a vagina tattoo on her arm, a history of flashing her lucky fans at gigs, and lyrics to make a grown man blush.

Not only did the Swedish pop queen open up about her marriage, being queer, living communally in LA with her husband and friends, freedom and female pleasure, she even shares a cheeky sex tip. Plus, expanding on some of the themes in her amazing new album Dirt Femme, we dig right into the pressures and contradictions around motherhood, womanhood, and romantic love, from ambivalence around having children, to being a "floating free spirit" by nature.

Tove was also very inspiring about her experiences navigating the music industry as a woman who won’t take any shit, from body image struggles to lewd music execs and disbelievers who told her she was too ‘intelligent’ to make it as a musician.

And of course, it wouldn’t be Straight Up without some highly nosy questions about fame, and what she gets up to when she isn’t being famous, from her favourite cocktail to her must-watch TV.

A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode:

Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dark side of superyachts, Stormzy’s heartbreak, Draco’s memoir and House of Dragon sex scenes

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:48 GMT

Hi angels! This episode is an absolute cultural smorgasbord (yes that is the first time we’ve used that word), covering everything from what real life luxury hotel concierge think of hilarious super rich satire The White Lotus and crew members revealing the 1%’s wildest demands in light of superyacht comedy Triangle of Sadness, to the tea from Stormzy’s Louis Theroux interview and Piers Morgan’s car crash Kanye interrogation.

Plus! Why you need to watch Netflix’s creepiest drama The Watcher (inspired by real events) and why House of Dragon is so deliciously feminist. And finally, all the juiciest behind-the-scenes intel from the memoir of Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) about what it was like to grow up as one of Hollywood’s most hated characters.

Come to chat to us in our DMs on @straightuppod, and see you next week! <3

Recommendations

Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton
Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman
White Lotus S2
Triangle of Sadness
Below Deck
Louis Theroux interviews Stormzy
The Watcher
Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast with John Legend
House of the Dragon

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caggie Dunlop: sobriety, self-worth and the chaos of her Saturn's Return

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:39 GMT

Hello gorgeous ones, this week’s guest is the wonderful podcaster, musician and author Caggie Dunlop, whose dulcet tones some of you might already have heard on her own podcast Saturn Returns, which makes sense of our chaotic lives using astrology and amazing interviews with experts across everything from dream therapy to tarot.

Caggie tells us all about how she became sober-curious after realising she had an addictive personality and was using alcohol as a way of masking vulnerability, and dives deep into what she calls her “cosmic coming of age” after her life fell apart in unpredictable ways. She also reveals how her stint in reality show Made in Chelsea contributed to self-destructive behaviour, with producers “puppeteering” her life.

But, she tells us she fought against a “victim mentality” and has now reshaped her life around authenticity, spirituality and self-kindness. And excitingly, not only has she just launched the sixth season of her very successful podcast, next year she will release a new book, Saturn Returns, and release an EP. You can pre-order the book here. She was full of the most brilliant insight and life advice – we hope you come away from this chat as energised and inspired as we did.

Enjoy huns! And please leave us a review, and send this episode to a friend. Please do hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think!

Thank you SO much to our two amazing partners for this episode.

First, Q Acoustics, where you can get the best quality, affordable speakers that will transform the way you listen to music AND watch films on your TV. Try the super sexy M20s.

Second, Grubby, the UK’s first 100% plant-based, vegan recipe boxes, which not only taste banging, but have six portions of veg in every box and take just 30 mins to whip up after work for a super healthy meal. Use the exclusive and mouth-watering discount code STRAIGHTUP for a 50% off on your first box, and 20% on your next three!

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Industry, 2022's funniest film and true crime’s morality problem

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:22 GMT

Get ready for another cultural debrief gang, because this week our guest once again cancelled at the last minute. Celebs, ey? Don’t fear however, hunnies, because to make up for it we have an extra fast-paced and fun one for you all. First up, we chat Industry, the HBO drama about young, ruthless bankers that has arrived on BBC iPlayer for a second season. As big fans of the first season, we just have to ask: why are the characters suddenly so predictable? Why is Harper so unlikable? And why have they gone so hard on the sex scenes? The New Statesman called it “ porn posing as prestige TV” and we think they’ve got a point (although that’s not to say we didn’t really quite enjoy it).

Then, Ellie fills Kathleen in on Triangle of Sadness, the new, absolutely hilarious, pitch-black comedy from celebrated Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund about a yacht that sinks, leaving the super-rich survivors – including a fashion model celebrity couple – trapped on an island. It’s Östlund’s English language feature film debut and El’s is calling it the funniest thing she’s seen this year.

Finally, we turn our attention to the murky world of true-crime, as Netflix’s Dahmer, a dramatisation of the life and crimes of serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, continues to stir up controversy. Is the genre as morally indefensible as the journalist Anna Leszkiewicz argues?

Recommendations discussed:

Industry S2 on BBC iPlayer
How my friends struck gold with a TV show about badly behaved city boys by Ed Cumming for The Telegraph
Triangle of Sadness
Force Majeure
Kiss the Ground on Netflix (the Woody Harrrelson climate doc – NOT Mud, sorry guys, ha)
Dhamer on Netflix
The Staircase on HBO
Serial S01 E13: Adnan is Out
Abolish True Crime By Anna Leszkiewicz for New Statesman
What Makes a Murderer on Channel 4

Enjoy, leave us a review, and please do hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think!

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kanye vs the world and what the Kardashians did next

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 10:39:55 GMT

Sorry for the late episode this week hunnies… the kitten ate our homework. Ok, not quite – though Kathleen does have a new kitten – but actually we had our celeb guest reschedule last minute. And, instead of leaving you all in the lurch (because obv you can’t get through the weekend without us), we did recorded a spontaneous deep dive into the topic EVERYONE is talking about this week: Kanye’s disastrous Paris fashion week, in which he wore and presented a White Lives Matter T-Shirt.

And then, because Kathleen is actually a Kardashian academic (ok, not really, but almost), we thought we would also treat you to a thorough dissection of the Kardashian Klan: from Kimye's twisted mythology (ft an excellent The New Yorker piece on why their trajectory is modelled on The Incredibles by @Kardashian_Kolloqium's MJ Corey) to Kourtney’s work ethic and Khloe’s body positivity. Plus, important questions: is Kim a good role model? Is money her main motivator? Are Kanye & her in a secret business partnership? And was her relationship with Pete scripted by Hulu? Dive in!

Enjoy, leave us a review, and hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think of the whole wild saga. We'd love to know!

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blonde's 'torture porn', female envy, and a hot new restaurant drama

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 04:01:02 GMT

Hey huns! Autumn is finally upon us so we recorded this among plenty of scented candles and some steaming mugs of tea, while sinking our teeth into yet MORE controversy, this time about much-talked about new Marilyn Monroe film, Blonde, which has been accused of 'torture porn' and exploiting Marilyn's life. Ellie went to see the film on Sunday and gives us the DL, while we both give our verdict on Don't Worry Darling, having seen it after our blow-by-blow account of all the drama last week. And guess what... there's yet more drama!! Kathleen also shares her top Manchester tips having just spent a weekend there, from the luxurious but affordable Dakota Hotel two minutes from the main station, to the incredible, ultra-trendy Spanish spot Canto and the rooftop cocktail heaven for sprawling city views.

Plus, why you all need to watch the best-written show of 2022: The Bear, about a f**ed up chef in the hottest white T-shirt you will ever see on a man, and his heart-warming attempts to rescue his late brother's bankrupt Chicago sandwich shop. We may have gone off on a tangent (as always) and ended up discussing a strange chef who once gave Kathleen a VERY inappropriate Secret Santa present.

Finally, what is it about women and jealousy? Why do we covet each other's 'lot' so much, and why don't men? These are the questions prompted by Anna Hope's book Expectation, and we get deep into our own personal jealousies and what they mean.

Enjoy, leave us a review, and hop into our DMs to let us know what you thought of DWD and Blonde. We'd love to know!

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don’t Worry Darling drama, freaky premonitions and our obsession with status

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:55 GMT

Darlings, you won’t believe how juicy this episode is. Tomorrow sees the release of the film the world has been talking about for weeks on end: Don’t Worry Darling, the psychological drama fronted by none other than Harry Styles. But unfortunately for poor Hazza, and the film’s excellent director Olivia Wilde, everyone seems a lot more interested in the behind-the-scenes – from on-set feuds to sex and #spitgate – than what’s actually on screen. So, we’ve put our sleuthing hats on and taken you through every step!

Also in this week’s episode, Kathleen recommends Will Storr’s excellent new book The Status Game, and explains why our obsession with status helps us live longer (yep, really), while Ellie dives into the freaky history of the Evening Standard’s Premonitions Bureau, after reading an also excellent book by Sam Knight.

Please leave us a review or hop into our DMs to let us know what you think!

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amber Rose Gill: romance, representation and the truth about reality TV

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:24 GMT

This week we’re rolling out the red carpet for queen of the internet Amber Rose Gill, the 2019 Love Island winner turned TV personality, podcaster, content creator and now debut author, with romance novel Until I Met You having been published by saucy fiction titans Mills & Boon earlier this summer. We had the best time over at her place drinking Ginger Strawberry Cow cocktails courtesy of our fab partner Black Cow, covering everything from her childhood in Newcastle, choosing beauty over uni and being approached by Love Island, to finding her purpose, navigating the public eye (including *those* Jack Grealish headlines and her recent “coming out” tweet), the importance of representation, reiki, property, owning being an “average” influencer and why women get cancelled more than men. Not to mention, of course, the juiciest behind the scenes look at Love Island, from how it’s actually all filmed and why for Amber it was really just a fun free holiday, to what she spent her prize money on and the therapy provided afterwards. We also dig deep into the problem with the reality TV bimbo stereotype and the quarter life crisis, as well as laughing like loons about red flags, the ick-factor, and why Amber is not a girl boss!

Please leave us a little review on Apple or Spotify, and do DM us with any feedback or thoughts on our brand new Insta @straightuppod

A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode:

Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co

Black Cow, the world's first pure milk vodka that is made by a dairy farmer in West Dorset, which we enjoyed in our extraordinarily delish cocktails with Amber at her place. While chatting we drank tall, refreshing Strawberry Ginger Cows, which use the all-new Black Cow + English Strawberries vodka – made from wonky strawbs, because Black Cow care about sustainability – and all three of us are now obsessed. Get your bottle (and some serious excellent Cheddar cheese) at blackcow.co.uk.

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Funny women and the fall of Armie Hammer

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:00:35 GMT

Hi angels! We're so happy to be back with another cultural debrief for you all, covering the absolutely wild new doc on controversial Hollywood actor Armie Hammer, House of Hammer; an original debut story collection by 80-year-old Jane Campbell, Cat Brushing; Sharon Horgan's brilliant new Apple TV show, Bad Sisters; the best erotic novel, Insatiable, by Daisy Buchanan; and finally House of Dragon (the Game of Thrones prequel). We also chat about why men don’t find women funny, murderous dreams, polyamory, and what we've been up to recently – from Lost Village festival to a v v special proposal!

Please leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod.

Don't forget that you can still redeem your 50% off your first Grubby vegan recipe box with the code STRAIGHTUP . Thank you so much to our amazing partner Grubby for their delicious boxes packed with more than 6 vegetables, we still cannot stop thinking about the onion bhaji burger we made earlier...

Thank you also to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the sex lives of Gen Z, J Lo's divisive documentary and our new Netflix binge

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 04:01:18 GMT

Ladies and gents, check your prudery at the door, because we have one hell of a cheeky little episode for you this week, jam-packed with stories about sex, sex and...more sex.

First up, a peek behind the curtain of what it's really like to be dating as a Gen Z in London right now, from vows of celibacy to sex positive sex parties and Feeld threesomes, as Ellie reveals alllll the juicy research she recently did for a Vogue article on whether young people are in the grips of a "sex recession".

Then Kathleen gives us the lowdown on her favourite racy show right now, Uncoupled, which fans of Sex and the City are going to absolutely love – though does it revisit the same problematic tropes as And Just Like That?

Plus, the brilliant book no one is talking about but absolutely should be: Trouble, by Marise Gaughan, who writes viscerally about the sexually destructive behaviour she experienced in the wake of her father's suicide, which included sleeping with older men for money.

Ok, then the Netflix J Lo documentary Halftime isn't about sex at all, but it DID prompt a very lively discussion between us about J Lo's motivations: cynical branding or pure hearted sob story?

And finally we both vent our ancient millennial bafflement at the "ironic" trends sweeping fashion right now, from Ketamine chic to coastal grandma.

Ps: we are now taking a two week break as we go off and record with some amazing new guests, but we'll be back on September 8th, so don't go anywhere!

Please leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod.

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aitch: fame, relationships and next stop Hollywood

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:02:18 GMT

Yes huns, you read that correctly, we have got Aitch, man of the moment and one of the UK’s most adored musicians, on the show!

We had Aitch over for some daiquiris (his fave) at our home at BRXTN Studios ahead of his debut album Close to Home coming out next Friday, and had one of our most mad, most chaotic chats yet which reveals a whole new unseen side to Aitch that will have you obsessed with him on a whole new level.

It’s not often rappers really talk about how much fame has really affected them, but here Aitch reveals the highs and lows of becoming one of the world’s most recognisable stars, whilst also explaining why he tries hard never to complain about fame (until we made him, soz).

We get deep on everything from privacy (his blue eyes give him away every time) and relationships (you won’t believe what some fans send his mum…) to the weirdest things he reads about himself on the internet and the misconceptions he wants to correct.

PLUS what does Aitch get up to when he’s not being famous? He talks all about his fave restaurants, his secret nerdy love for one particular film franchise, and why he’s destined for Hollywood.

And finally, this week we hit him with one particularly weird Straight Up SOS, which involves Kathleen and her dog’s balls. You'll have to hear it for yourself.

Thank you SO much to our two amazing partners for this episode.

First, Q Acoustics, where you can get the best quality, affordable speakers that will transform the way you listen to music AND watch films on your TV. Try the super sexy M20s.

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magic mushrooms, Crawdads' controversy and this summer's hottest book

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:00:12 GMT

We've got another culture fix for you this week gang, from why LSD and magic mushrooms are good for you (they could have even stopped the Vietnam war!) to the novel everyone is talking about, and Hollywood's latest controversy. Have you seen or read Where The Crawdad's Sing? Well hunnies, strap in for a wild ride covering the unfortunate miscasting of Daisy Edgar Jones, the real-life murder allegations surrounding the publication, and, in all honesty, the quite frankly sickening corniness of the tweeting eagle. Also, the novel of 2022, I'm Sorry You Felt That Way, by British author Rebecca Wait and how we much we loved it – despite it being fairly triggering to say the least. We hope you enjoy and please do let us know if you have any recommendations for us, we absolutely love to hear from you and would ask that you please keep the fans art coming.

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week!

Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Vamps' Brad: What it’s like to front one of the world’s biggest boy bands

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:31 GMT

This week’s guest might just be our most favourite ever, not least because he carried our mics for us after this interview – how cute is that?! You guys are going to LOVE Bradley Simpson, frontman of The Vamps, as much as we do, as we dig deep in this wide-ranging chat covering everything from what it was like to become famous as a teenager in one of the biggest bands in British pop history (fun fact: they were the first band to headline the 02 Arena five nights in a row), to their frustration with female fans getting a bad rep, the wildest thing their fans have ever done and how he really struggled with the band going on a break.

The Vamps embark on a 10 year anniversary tour later this year and so we looked back on some of Brad’s fave tour moments:, from the advice they were given by Taylor Swift’s mum when they supported Taylor back in 2014, to how living on the road for the best part of a decade has shaped him and the other boys. Plus Brad revealed why, for all four members, The Vamps will always be “the mothership” — no matter their solo projects.

We also talk about his bar, his upcoming gin and the last time he had a little bit too much to drink (let’s just say it was a mortifying model-filled LA gig), having no “Plan B”, how toxic the music industry can be (especially for teenage artists) and why having a manager who was also a guardian was the best thing that ever happened to the band.

Plus, what it was like to go on Celebrity First Dates and what he’s currently looking for in a life partner (not to mention the juicy details on his recent house renovation). As you’ll hear here, Brad called this the most interesting interview he’s ever done! Just sayin’, gang... Enjoy!

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Watson, Brooklyn Beckham, Sienna Miller: What it's really like to be a celebrity journalist Pt III

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:00:21 GMT

As promised gang, we've got a third instalment of our chat covering what it's really like to be a celebrity journalist – there were, after all, just too many hilarious, ridiculous stories (and actual analysis!) left out of the first two parts. From liaising with celebs directly via text to today’s thorny issue of copy approval, we look at how celeb journalism has changed since we burst onto the scene in 2015 as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed interns, starting with our first ever interviews, and the time El harassed Emma Watson with a cat (yes you read that right), all the way to stans, cancel culture and why writers are so scared these days. Expect trademark absurdity covering what it’s like to direct Brooklyn Beckham’s attempt at reading cue cards, interviewing Burna Boy while he has a pina colada in one hand and an unidentified lady friend in the other, buying Sienna Miller a sea bass on behalf of Vogue, the worst day of our professional lives, being trolled by Nicki Minaj's entire fandom, spying the fear in One Directioners' eyes and being told you're intense by none other than Wiley (LOL), having turned up an interview after a rather disorientating introductory spliff experience. As always, time totally ran away with us while we were recording this episode, so keep your eyes peeled for the fourth and final part! You asked, and we shall deliver.

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Bay: tackling misconceptions from mental health to the Met Gala

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:55 GMT

It’s another glorious sunny Thursday and we have singer songwriter extraordinaire James Bay in the house! He has a brand new album out, Leap, which is all about his journey overcoming imposter syndrome and mental health struggles – despite his eight billion streams.

He opened up to us about how he was affected by the more toxic aspects of fame and social media, and *cuteness overload* how his partner Lucy, whom he has been with since they were both 16 and with whom he now has a baby daughter, has been his North star throughout. No, you’re crying.

It wasn’t just the deep stuff though, as we also got all the goss on what it’s like to attend the Met Gala and speak to our Queen and Saviour Beyonce, the one thing James takes on tour (clue: he got the inspo from Mick Jagger), and his favourite restaurant in London. Plus, we ask James to set the record straight on one thing that’s been bugging him, and whether he has ever had therapy.

He was such a charismatic guest, we hope you feel as charmed as we were! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside our best friend baecation, from beach reads to cocktail chaos

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 04:01:25 GMT

Hello gorgeous listeners, this week we’re taking you to the Maldives! And, guys, it’s not just any private island hotel, it’s The Standard, our absolute fave for fun with friends, strong cocktails and enticing dancefloors (if you’ve not yet been to the Kings Cross outpost then consider this your PSA).

Recently we took ourselves away for a best friend baecation and we feel it is our public duty to tell you all about it. For one, it’s really quite affordable, as far as the Maldives goes – this isn’t a trip to save for your honeymoon, nor is it one you need a lover for!

We had the BEST time together and we’re going to share every juicy detail about this gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime, Instagram-perfect trip, including how to save your £, the food, the fish and allllllll the fun.

Plus, our beach reads, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason and At The Table by Claire Powell, not to mention our plane picks: these two gals spent the entire 24 hour journey watching House of Gucci and J Lo’s Marry Me. Heaven!

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Krept: fan madness, fatherhood fails and a £15m baby business

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 04:01:00 GMT

Hi huns! This week we caught up with one of the UK's best-loved rappers and one of our fave musicians Krept, half of duo Krept & Konan, to talk about his incredible journey from making chart-topping rap songs to launching his game-changing baby skincare range Nala's Baby, stocked across 400 Boots stores and valued at £15m. Yep, rappers do babycare!

Named after his ADORABLE two-year-old daughter Nala, the business is in partnership with his co-parent, influencer Sasha Ellese Gilbert, who became concerned about how toxic so much of the babycare on the market was while she was pregnant. Amazingly it is now the first 0 rated clean baby skincare range on cosmetics ratings app @thinkdirty and the products are so good even adults are lathering themselves with them... (yes, those adults are us...)

We interviewed Krept quite a few times while working at GQ together so it was so nice to look back on his success and chat all about how his life has changed over the years. He made us laugh so much with his hilarious stories about Nala playing dead and one memorable poo explosion, plus we were left speechless at some of his wildest showbiz moments.

We also asked him for advice on how to go into business with a friend, and got him to spill the beans on everything from the weirdest thing he's read about himself on the internet to the biggest misconception about him and what it's like to date as a single parent.

Catch our lifestyle recommendations at the start too, from the books we've been reading to fun nights out in London and Ibiza, and let us know what you think!

Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naomi Campbell, Richard Branson, Lady Gaga: What it's really like to be a celebrity journalist Pt II

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:08 GMT

Back by popular demand, this week we embarrass ourselves once again by sharing more of our juiciest stories about the fame game, from the time we accidentally made a top Hollywood actor cry and how one wilts in Naomi Campbell's presence, to herding Richard Branson around Soho Farmhouse and how you navigate a phone call from Lady Gaga. There's also plenty of intel on how the celebrity machine actually works, including getting kicked out of Netflix press junkets (and what that even is), what publicists do and what glitzy press trips are like, wrangling ridiculous freebies, stalking stories, and just generally laughing until we cry. You’re going to love all this hilarious gossip hunnies, we ran out of time recording it all for you so promise to bring you a part three later this season! If you haven't head Part I, then just scroll on back a bit and take a listen too.

Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston

Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Paul: handcuffs, spacecakes, and a $25,000 suit

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 04:01:15 GMT

Honeys, we’re home!!! Did you miss us? We had not forgotten you – in fact over the last few months we’ve been working SO hard to bring you the biggest and best season of Straight Up yet, fuelled by our spiciest trademark margs, obv.

And doing the launch honours for us today is none other than the ICON that is Sean Paul, one of the world’s most successful artists who has billions of streams to his name. I mean, if Temperature and Get Busy didn’t have a defining moment in your teens, then where TF were you??

Over his fave drink, a Guinness Foreign Extra, Sean had us both in stitches with stories about getting arrested and accidentally getting his 90-year-old grandmother high, the weirdest gift from his most adoring fan, his most surreal showbiz moment and the $25,000 freebie he still can’t believe he got away with…Plus, we talk about everything from cooking and travel to love and friendship, with some, ahem, interesting life lessons from Sean along the way.

Sean also reveals a whole new side to him by getting candid about the dark side of fame: how rumours circulated by the press have caused him angst, how the weight of always creating another hit can be so overwhelming, and why he’s needed marriage counselling.

Enjoy gorgeous listeners! And for anyone new here… allow us to introduce ourselves. Hosted by best friends and noseyest pop culture journalists on the planet Kathleen and Ellie, Straight Up goes behind-the-scenes with some of the world’s biggest celebs to hear what being famous in 2022 is really like. Are showbiz parties really as wild as we think? Do famous people ever embarrass themselves in public? How big are the freebies and how crazy are the fans? Plus, how does fame affect everything from your romantic life to your mental health? And are celebrities…normal?

We get our guests to answer all of this and SO much more, over their favourite drink (because the first rule of journalism school is to get your interviewee drunk….right?) Which basically means subscribing to Straight Up is like eavesdropping on the juiciest cocktail debrief with your favourite A-Listers.

Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod . See you next Thursday!

Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @MarlonPercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maya Jama on imposter syndrome, creepy DMs and Drake's name-drop

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:00:00 GMT

From the song that soundtracked her first dance with a boy to her bad bitch breakup anthem, Maya Jama shares the music that means the most to her in this extremely cute episode. We also chatted about Maya's struggles with imposter syndrome and finding a work life balance after three years of no holidays, her ambitions to get more women behind the camera, her funniest radio fails and her top tips for success.

This episode of Straight Up has three wonderful sponsors. First up Vivir Tequila, which we drank in our Paloma cocktails with Maya. It's also perfect in margaritas! Fans of Straight Up can get a 10 per cent discount with the code MAYAJAMA10 via vivirtequila.com

Then we have Chick n Sours, who make the best fried chicken burgers and sour cocktails in London that are loved by everyone from Mike Skinner to Usher. They've just launched a range of DIY meal kits for delivery across London, which are utterly delicious. Order yours from chicknsours.co.uk

And finally the independent jeweller Katie Mullally, whose gorgeous handmade collections are all hallmarked at either the London or Dublin Assay Office and are therefore an investment for life. Check out her designs at katiemullally.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mahalia’s lessons in love, life and money

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT

It’s the last episode of S2 and, as sad as we are, we’re SO excited to be ending on a high with this very special chat with one of our favourite artists, Mahalia. Fuelled by some gorgeous Whitley Neill gin and tonics, the 23-year-old, who was signed at 13, gets candid about everything from the myth of the overnight success story, to reframing the “crazy ex-girlfriend” trope and being friends with your first love. We also chat about her weekend rituals, what she likes to spend her money on (spoiler: globally successful artists aren’t as wealthy as you think) and the one thing she’d like to thank her therapist for.

Follow Mahalia on all platforms @mahalia and find her epic merch store here: lnk.to/Mahalia-Store. Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Culture recommendations discussed:

Don Toliver
The Handmaid’s Tale
Lost in Space
Selling Sunset
Desperate Housewives
Modern Family

Thank you so much to our amazing partners for this episode:

The delicious gin and tonics Ellie, Kathleen and Mahalia enjoyed during this episode were provided by Whitley Neill, the UK’s no1 premium gin brand which offers an amazing 15 flavours of luxury, hand-crafted gin, including blood orange and raspberry. Get yours at all major supermarkets, good independents or at WhitleyNeill.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hottest gossip of 2022: from Molly Mae to The Weeknd

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:22:39 GMT

No guest again this week, gang, but what we’ve got in store might just be even better! Instead, we chat all about the hottest cultural gossip of the year so far, from music, TV and film, to the biggest talking points that have had the internet in overdrive over the past week. Covering *that* Molly Mae interview on Steven Bartlett’s podcast, The Lost Daughter (Netflix’s most exciting new film) and why having children can be a huge, life-defining regret; we also get deep into The Weeknd’s excellent new album and one of our most mortifying, joint professional faux pas ever.

Recommendations discussed:

Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast
The Lost Daughter (Netflix)
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
“This is what I tell friends who are torn about having children” by Hadley Freedman (Guardian)
White Lotus (HBO)
Euphoria S2 (HBO)
Dawn FM by The Weeknd

Max Martin on Table Manners podcast

Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bastille’s Dan on his wildest fan story, imposter syndrome and the power of therapy

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT

We've got a real Christmas treat for you this week: a hilarious, insightful, thought-provoking interview from Dan Smith of Bastille. Eased along by some red wine, Dan spills the beans on what it's really like to be the frontman of one of the world's biggest bands – 11 million records sold and counting – while also having made the conscious choice to keep as far from the public eye as possible, ever since the four-piece broke through with "Pompeii" back in 2013. Highlights include the time he got spiked at the Brits and embarrassed himself in front Frank Ocean, a hilarious Guatemalan backpacking trip up a volcano, Dan's top culture picks (he's a big film fan) and where he likes to go out in London, plus how much he enjoys having songs that are far more famous than he is. Dan also opens up about his experiences with therapy, including his struggles with performance anxiety and imposter syndrome, as well as giving us a sneak-peek of the band's upcoming, sci-fi wonderland-set album Give Me The Future (out in Feb).

Follow Dan on IG @bastilledan, Twitter @bastille and preorder the album here: https://bastille.lnk.to/BastilleGMTF

Thank you to this episode’s amazing sponsor, the books and beer subscription service Books Plus Beer, a thoughtful and unique gift for Christmas for the book lovers in your life who need some quality R&R. Choose a DIY box as either a one off purchase or a subscription, and fill it with two amazing new releases across nonfiction and fiction, two cans of craft beer and some tasty snacks. Can you think of a more luxurious way to unwind at home? Head to booksplusbeer.com to order!

Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HRVY on fame, finding himself and the Strictly curse

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Our guest today is HRVY, the 22-year-old pop sensation and former Strictly semi-finalist who is basically the British, Gen-Z answer to Justin Bieber. HRVY (real name, obviously, Harvey) has been in the music game since 13 and has amassed a crazily dedicated following of more than 4 million fans on Instagram and 4.4 million on Tik Tok. He, is as you might suspect, a big hit with the ladies, lusted after by everyone from the nation's population of teenage girls, to Strictly-watching nans. He recently switched record labels, having had the exact realisation so many young stars do, where he decided to take the reins and change his musical direction. Now, he's given up being a "yes man" and is doing it for himself. His new single "Talking To The Stars" is out NOW so make sure you go and check it out. We love it and you will too. HRVY made for the most hilarious, honest and vulnerable guest, opening up about everything from being a new-gen sex symbol and why he 100 per cent believes in the Strictly curse, to how the school-days mortification of being Facebook-famous has helped in finding the humour in hate comments, plus his thoughts on male objectification, cancel culture, toxic masculinity and what it's like to be on MTV Cribs.

HRVY's album Views From The 23rd Floor is out in January.

Thank you so much to our two amazing sponsors for this episode:

Katie Mullally, the beautiful, independent luxury jewellery brand that is beloved by everyone from Niall Horan to Dua Lipa. From delicate wishbones to chic engraved coins, the gorgeous, vintage-inspired charms are a match made in heaven for anyone who cares about quality and sustainability (all of the pieces from her collections are hallmarked at either the Dublin or the London Assay Office). To get yours, or to do some next-level Christmas shopping, head to katiemullally.co.uk. Check IG for exclusive discounts and styling inspo: @katiemullallyjewellery

Manscaped , the male grooming brand revolutionising male personal grooming with its excellent and hilariously named body trimmers. Manscaped's best products come in one neat Performance Package, which is the perfect stocking filler! After all, 85 per cent of people prefer a man groomed below the waist. Get 20% Off and Free shipping with code STRAIGHTUP20 at ukManscaped.com

Find HRVY @HRVY on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter.

Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Emrata, Sally Rooney, sex and power

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 18:06:32 GMT

We’ve got another departure from our usual format for you this week, where this time we chat culture recommendations, from the book everyone’s talking about to Netflix’s latest hits. Strap in for our thoughts on Emily Ratajowski’s collection of essays, My Body, and the furore around it, as well as Maid (starring Margaret Qualley and her mother Andie McDowell), Squid Game and Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You?. Over some spicy margaritas from Tom Savano, we cover how Emily’s book captures our own feelings about our younger-selves, looking back at the gendered power dynamics that shape teenagedom, how status and beauty intersect, the utterly brilliant gossip from one of the world’s biggest models, plus the male gaze, motherhood (hello, Maid), The Harry Potter reunion and why John Legend really needs to confiscate Chrissy Teigen’s phone.

Thank you to our amazing sponsor for this episode, Tom Savano, from which you can get the tastiest bottled cocktails just in time for Christmas, from a spicy Mezcal Margarita to a Mai Tai and Mojito. Unapologetically strong, the cocktails are made with spirits sourced solely from craft distilleries - with sustainable, local links to the regions they are from - and are all inspired by Tom Savano’s travels across the world. Each beautifully presented Christmas delivery box includes a drinks menu, glassware, snacks and coasters, while each bottle holds a generous five serves. Perfect for a special seasonal gift to loved ones, or to enjoy a cosy night in at home! Head to tomsavano.com.
*Please drink responsibly*

Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pandora Sykes talks friendship, career hacks and life after The High Low

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:41:35 GMT

Our guest today is Pandora Sykes, the author and podcaster who also happens to be one of our absolute *favourite* journalists ever (top fangirls over here). Pandora got her first big break at The Sunday Times Style magazine and has been one of the most beloved voices in the UK since – you’ll likely know her from No1 podcast The High Low and more recently, her BBC Radio 4 podcast Pieces of Britney. She’s written for everywhere from Vogue and GQ to The Cut and The Observer, her book How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? Is a Sunday Times bestseller and she also hosts podcasts The Missing and Doing It Right, as well as IRL book events.

We sat down for a fascinating, wide-ranging chat about everything from friendship, motherhood and anxiety to Britney, how she and Dolly made The High Low so successful (including the possibility of another joint project!) and what her working day looks like.

Over some insanely delicious lychee martinis from Bottle Bar and Shop, Pandora also spoke about balance, her flute phase, first heartbreak, how she’s grown from an anxious child to a contented adult and carving out her own space, plus musical bluffs, The Spice GIrls and why she doesn’t do spon con.

Thank you so much to our two amazing sponsors for this episode:

Bottle Bar and Shop, one of our favourite bottled cocktail brands, which makes delicious, small batch natural blends in South East London. Winner of a whopping four Great Taste Awards, these cocktails are made by husband and wife duo Natalie and Xhulio on site at their cocktail bar of the same name in Catford. Visit IRL or buy online for nationwide delivery at www.bottlebarandshop.com

Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co

Find Pandora on IG @pandorasykes, listen to series two of Doing It Right here and order her book from Waterstones here.

Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From interview disasters to A-List parties: what it’s really like to be a celebrity journalist

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:12:33 GMT

This week, Kathleen and Eleanor put themselves in the hot seat, and talk all about what it’s really like to chat to celebrities for a living and becoming best friends while working at British GQ. Expect hilarious and juicy gossip about everyone from Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid to Stormzy and Tom Jones. We don’t hold anything back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tanya Burr on overcoming anxiety, becoming an actor and finding love at 30

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Tanya Burr, who first found fame uploading makeup tutorials to YouTube in 2009 that reached millions of views and made her one of the UK’s very first “influencers”, comes on Straight Up to talk to Kathleen and Eleanor all about her pivot to acting and the launch of her lifestyle brand Authored.

As well as recommending her favourite beauty products and explaining their sustainability, Tanya also reveals how her anxiety as a teen stopped her from pursuing her love of drama, but how hours of therapy gave her the confidence to take up acting classes in her mid-twenties and become a professional actress across theatre, TV and film.

Over some gin cocktails from Lockdown Liquor, Tanya also talked battling body image issues and why she never reads reviews, as well as finding love in her thirties after going through a divorce at 29. Plus, the music that reminds her of her best memories with friends as well as of her new relationship.

Thank you to our two amazing sponsors for this episode:

Lockdown Liquor, which sent Straight Up and Tanya the gorgeous Pepino cocktails to enjoy on air. Lockdown Liquor’s range of nine pre blended cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists and include everything from Espresso Martinis to a killer Old Fashioned. Perfect for gifts, nights at home with friends or special events. Order yours from lockdown-liquor.com

Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products at wearedame.co. with the exclusive code UP25!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley talks swapping medicine for music, conspiracies and sea slugs

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 23:00:00 GMT

What's it like to quit a seven-year medicine degree to chance it on a music career? Over some spicy margaritas, the lead singer, writer and producer of psych-pop band Glass Animals tells Straight Up all about how he swapped a career as a neuroscientist to launch a No1 band with a record-breaking one billion streams for their 2020 single Heat Waves.

Also in this episode, Dave busts some myths around life as a musician, including how the band had to wash their own underpants while on a major tour, how he spent the band's minimal advance from their record label, and his escape strategy for when fans recognise him in public.

Plus, Dave recalled his funniest drunken story, his strangest conspiracy theories and the one internet black hole he always falls into.

Thank you to our two amazing sponsors:

First up, hometipple, which provided the amazing Ambhar Tequila Plata for Dave's spicy margaritas, and is the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.com

VOX, which has everything any amateur or professional guitarist needs for the home and studio, from noise-cancelling headphones to retro-looking electric guitars and amps. Check their brand-new VOX Bobcat V90 & S66 semi-hollow body guitars and VH-Q1 smart noise-cancelling headphones for guitarists voxamps.com

Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Grammar's Hannah Reid on how the music industry almost broke her

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:41:41 GMT

What do you do when you're about to embark on a world tour but are suffering from burnout? London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid sat down with Kathleen and Eleanor to trace her journey from the band forming at Nottingham University to coping with a chronic illness and industry misogyny all the while going to No1.

Hannah spoke powerfully about her experiences of sexism in the music business (from getting her lyrics called "vacuous" by critics to being dismissed as "irrational"), as well as the problematic adoration of the complicated male genius and how macho culture can also corrode men in the music business as well as women. Straight Up also drilled into why some male critics write about women’s music so patronisingly, and how Hannah felt pressured to desexualise her image to be taken seriously.

Plus, Hannah revealed what she blew one of her first paycheques on, the one person she stalks religiously from the London Grammar Instagram account and the career she secretly fantasises about if she ever calls it quits on music. And of course, as always, shares the songs that have soundtracked her highs and lows.

This episode of Straight Up is supported by two brilliant sponsors:

Strykk, the no-alcohol, calorie-light spirit range that will save you from your worst mornings. By swapping to Strykk, you'll be waving goodbye to hangovers without compromising on taste or the fun of a fancy drink. All of the spirit, none of the alcohol - what's not to love? It’s as simple as using each one as a straight swap for its namesake spirit, bringing some much needed balance for those who want to take a flexible approach to drinking. We are so happy to be offering listeners of Straight Up 25% off site wide with code STRAIGHTUP25. Check out the amazing Not Vanilla V*dka, perfect for pornstar or espresso martinis, and the rest of the range, from Not G*n to Not R*m, s at strykk.com

Q Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can connect with everything from your phone and tablet to your TV and turntable. They will upgrade your listening experience as well as your living room, and are perfect for listening to London Grammar's new album Californian Soil at home with friends. Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.uk

Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KSI on crypto, cancel culture, and coming offline

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:38:59 GMT

How do you keep your privacy when you're one of the most famous YouTubers in the entire world, and have shared your entire life online? One of the first YouTubers to make his name on the platform (where he has 23 million subscribers) KSI spoke to Kathleen and Eleanor about the pressures of being in the public eye from such a young age.

Over Bacardi rum cocktails, KSI also talked through the songs that have soundtracked his life's highs and lows, from the song he wrote for his first romance (and which he has tried to scrub from the internet) to the songs he associates with heady nights of success. Plus, KSI spills the beans on how he met his girlfriend of three years – and how he has managed to keep her identity from prying fans – his reflections on getting cancelled for using a transphobic slur, and whether we will ever see him come offline completely.

Also in this episode, KSI reveals his favourite cryptocurrency, whether he will let his kids use social media and the songs he loves to sing in the shower.

Thank you to this episode's two brilliant sponsors:

Bacardi, who provided the amazing Coco Colada Spritzes we drank with KSI during the record: a simple but delicious mix of pineapple juice, soda water and Bacardi's coconut flavoured white rum. It's the perfect drink for the holiday season, immediately bringing the tropical island vibes we are all so sorely missing. Get your bottle from major retailers including Asda, Sainsburys, Ocado and Tesco.

Q Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can connect with everything from your phone and tablet to your TV and turntable. They will upgrade your listening experience as well as your living room. Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.uk

Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ray Blk on money, dating and the dark side of X Factor

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:32:36 GMT

Should women pay on the first date? Should men date women with more money than them? In this very juicy episode, South London RnB musician Ray BLK chats to Kathleen and Eleanor all about dating do's and don'ts ahead of her debut album Access Denied.

Ray also shared hilarious anecdotes around first paycheques, her very first experiences of success and her craziest moments from the last few years (including her funniest drunken night out in Ghana).

Plus, Ray reveals how the music industry forced her to make pop music at the expense of her true self, and Ray shares for the very first time a traumatic X Factor audition that happened when she was 16, and a song from a few years ago that she regrets making today.

Follow Ray on Instagram @rayblk and pre-order Access Denied on iTunes or Amazon Music. Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston

This episode of Straight Up has two wonderful sponsors. First up hometipple, the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.com

And second, the independent jeweller Katie Mullally, whose gorgeous handmade collections are all hallmarked at either the London or Dublin Assay Office and are therefore an investment for life. Check out her designs at katiemullally.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zack Snyder on music and vulnerability

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT

One of the world’s most adored film directors Zack Snyder comes on the brand-new second series of Straight Up to talk all about the music that made him: from the songs that soundtracked his childhood and his first romance to the song that always makes him cry.

Zack also chats to Kathleen and Eleanor all about his favourite songs from across his films, as well as getting stuck into topics around being a provocateur, reading reviews, vulnerability and the power of fandoms.

Plus, Zack picks his favourite character from Justice League and Army of the Dead, gives us a sneak peak at the Army of the Dead TV series and what‘s happening with Fountainhead.

Thank you to our three amazing sponsors for this episode:

Polaroid, the game-changing instant camera legend which has just launched the world’s smallest instant analog camera and 2021's coolest little gadget: the Polaroid Go. It's a must-have for young creatives, with a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, a battery life for 15 packs of film, dynamic flash, and double exposure. Check it out at uk.polaroid.com

hometipple, the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.com

Q Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can turn your sitting room into a mini at-home cinema: perfect for watching all of Zack's incredible films and hearing the soundtracks in all their glory! Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.uk

Find Kathleen on Instagram @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1

Thank you to Marlon Percy for our music and editing. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg on dating everyone from Dave to Aitch

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT

No one puts the UK's biggest musicians in their place like Amelia Dimoldenberg, CEO of Chicken Shop Date, the cult YouTube series in which the comedian and broadcaster takes stars to their favourite chicken shop, and grills them about everything from their love lives to their most embarrassing moments. Both deliciously awkward and completely hilarious, Chicken Shop Date has become a massive viral hit, racking up millions of views, and with guests including AJ Tracey, Dave, D Double E, Sean Paul, and Maya Jama.

Amelia talked to us about her favourite Chicken Shop Date episodes, the musicians who have turned her down, the one date that went disastrously wrong and the musician she still keeps thinking about. Also on this episode, Amelia dissects the behind-the-scenes of how Chicken Shop Date is filmed, how she prepares her questions and who she still wants to get on the show.

Also this week: the wild success of pop prodigy Billie Eilish, who has become the youngest writer of the Bond song. Keep listening right until the end to hear all about her pet tarantula, her brother Finneas and her sleep paralysis.

Follow Amelia on IG @ameliadimz and shoot us a DM at @staightuppod

Loved this episode of Straight Up? Have any suggestions for our next episode? Are you a brand wanting to chat to us about sponsorship opportunities? We'd love to hear from you: hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Amelia's bottle of Artigianale Prosecco.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Hélène Pambrun on the stories behind her Harry Styles photographs

Wed, 26 May 2021 12:17:56 GMT

What's it like to tour the world with Harry Styles, capturing some of the most intimate and symbolic moments of his life and career? Paris-based photographer Hélène Pambrun talks to Kathleen and Eleanor all about how she first met Harry, and why her interest in his fans is the reason she was hired by his team.

Also in this episode, Straight Up and Hélène talk all about the power of seduction in photoshoots, as well as her most striking memories shooting everyone from Lenny Kravitz and Ed Sheeran to Tom Hanks.

Plus, Hélène reveals what she wants to do next. Have a listen!

Thank you to this episode's three wonderful sponsors:

Polaroid, the game-changing instant camera legend, which has just launched the Polaroid Go, the world’s smallest instant analog camera. Portable, wearable, and take-anywhere-able, the Polaroid Go is set to be the next generation’s creative collaborator, featuring a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, a battery life for 15 packs of film, dynamic flash, and double exposure. polaroid.com

Piper-Heidsieck champagne, which we enjoyed while recording this episode to toast to Hélène's incredible career.

Eliou jewellery, which Harry Styles fans will know is loved by the pop star himself. Fans of Straight Up get 15 per cent off at Eliou using the discount code STRAIGHTUP15, via www.eliou-eliou.com.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Nile Rodgers and Merck Mercuriadis on how Hipgnosis is flipping the music industry upside down

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 07:20:01 GMT

Chic co-founder and super producer Nile Rodgers, along with his longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis, joins Straight Up to chat about how they’ve made a decades-long professional partnership work, what they love most about each other and why they’ve never had an argument (except a small one in this episode).

They also told us all about their new business venture, Hipgnosis, which is essential to anyone who loves music and cares about the fair treatment of performing artists and songwriters. It is completely changing the way the music industry works by challenging the power of the big record companies, redressing an uneven power balance that has been corroding the music industry for decades.

How? By buying some of the most famous songs in the world, because Hipgnosis believes that songs are just as valuable as gold and oil, completely unaffected by economic cycles, and basically just about the safest investment you can make. By buying up these songs and "actively managing" them, they are giving these old songs a new lease of life, protecting their cultural legacy, while giving songwriters more money.

Merck and Nile also chat about why songwriters are so undervalued, how it feels to disrupt music industry from the inside when its top execs are the people they go on holiday with, and the UK artists they love right now.

Thank you to our three wonderful sponsors:

Q Acoustics, which has just launched the most handsome active speakers on the market, ideal for music lovers who want rich, beautiful, widescreen sound as well as a living room upgrade. The Q Active 200 speakers will transform your interiors and listening experience in equal measure. Check them out at qacoustics.co.uk.

Eve bar, our favourite Covent Garden bar from Adam Handling, which serves some of the most luxurious and theatrical cocktails in the city. Their espresso martini (laced with white chocolate) will have you coming back every Friday. Book a table at evebar.co.uk and you can buy their beautiful cocktails for home delivery at adamhandling.co.uk/hame.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Creative director Willo Perron on designing tours for Lady Gaga, Rihanna and JAY Z

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 20:49:29 GMT

How did Drake build his floating yellow ferrari and who owns it now? What inspires Gaga's theatric performances or JAY Z's political visuals? And what's it like to edit Kanye West's wardrobe? Willo Perron, creative director to the stars and co-founder of Los Angeles based architect studio Perron–Roettinger, talks to Straight Up about all of this and more.

Also in this episode, we chat about how the best ideas come from our subconscious, what happened when his Rihanna show went wrong, and why his favourite artists are the ones with "shitty attitudes".

Thank you to this episode's wonderful sponsor Shop Cuvée, the hugely successful lockdown project from renowned North London restaurant Top Cuvée, which launched a gorgeous online shop at the start of the pandemic and has since become one of the leading sellers of natural wine in the UK. Shop Cuvée also stocks incredible cocktails from Three Sheets bar in London, as well as beautiful store cupboard essentials and deli items including charcuterie and cheese. With Willo we drank a super fresh bottle of Austrian orange wine, the Joiseph Muskat Ottonel, that came specially recommended by the team. Enjoy 10 per cent off shop-wide with the code STRAIGHT UP

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: DJ Semtex on gaining Drake's trust and the tortured genius of Kanye West

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:41:07 GMT

How do you bag the only interview with Drake, and get Kanye to open up to you?

DJ Semtex’s interviews are the stuff of legend, so over a bottle of Semtex’s favourite drink – Ruinart champagne – Straight Up quizzed him on how he gets the biggest names in music to open up to him and nobody else, his most amazing behind-the-scenes anecdotes with everyone from Travis Scott to J Cole, and his surprising interview fails.

Semtex also revealed who from the UK rap scene throws the most iconic parties, how he’d pulled together a Drake interview at a DM’s notice and what he thinks of cancel culture, including which artists and songs he no longer feels comfortable playing in his sets. In this episode, Semtex and Straight up also discuss the damaging impact of fame on artists’ mental health, and the complicated and corrosive nature of artistic genius.

This episode of Straight Up has two incredible sponsors. First up, Pioneer DJ, the biggest DJ focused electronic hardware brand in the business, stocking everything from players, mixers and controllers to speakers and headphones, and where every DJ, producer or music lover in the know gets their kit. For DJs just starting or music fans after studio quality sound at an affordable price, then check out Pioneer DJ’s new (and super compact) HDJ-CUE1 headphones. Head to Pioneerdj.com

Our second sponsor is the unbeatable Bleecker Burger – winner of the National Burger Award and hands down London’s juiciest burger (don’t believe us? Check out its mouthwatering Instagram). Excitingly for those not lucky enough to live near one of Bleecker’s London restaurants for local delivery, Bleecker has now launched an epic range of DIY burger kits for delivery nationwide, which includes a full bottle of Bleecker's signature house sauce for you to enjoy long after the burgers are gone. That’s our Friday night sorted...forever. Head to Bleeckerburger.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Jimmy Napes on the story behind his Oscar-winning Bond song with Sam Smith, and Spotify's big problem

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:14:46 GMT

What do you do when you're at your first-ever Grammys, sitting next to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but too high to speak? In this eye-opening chat with Straight Up, the Grammy and Oscar-winning collaborator to Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Dave reveals some of the most unforgettable moments of his career, from his hilarious Grammys blunder to penning the Oscar-winning Bond song Writing's on the Wall for 2015's Spectre.

Also in this episode, over some delicious Old Fashioned cocktails, Jimmy talks about how he first met Sam, and what it was like to co-write their first big hit, Latch, going from singing at empty North London pub nights to becoming world-famous. Plus, Jimmy reveals some of him and Sam's strangest songwriting sessions, why hangovers are brilliant for creativity, and what it was like to work with Dave on Lesley and Stormzy on Crown.

Jimmy, Kathleen and Eleanor also get deep into one of the biggest talking points in the music industry right now: the way that Spotify treats musicians, and what needs to change.

This episode of Straight Up has two wonderful sponsors. First up, Bar Swift, the London bar with locations in Soho and Shoreditch, which is now offering a brilliant cocktail delivery service, Speakeasy at Home, via which you can order their world-famous Old Fashioned's – including the ones made with Woodford Reserve which we drank with Jimmy – as well as many other delicious cocktails. Head to barswift.com

Our second sponsor is Popsockets, the one-stop-shop for all things digital accessories, from their famous PopGrips to their beautiful phone cases and wallets. Fans of Straight Up get an exclusive 25 per cent discount, STRAIGHTUP25. Simply enter it at the check out! Head to popsockets.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Songwriter KAMILLE on creating Little Mix's 'sexual sadness' and the impact of trolling

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:02:41 GMT

Songwriter, producer and singer KAMILLE is one of the most in-demand collaborators in pop, having crafted four number one hits for the likes of Mabel, Little Mix and The Saturdays, as well as working with everyone from Headie One and AJ Tracey (yes, that's her on the hook to Ain't it Different) to Clean Bandit.

Here, over some bottled cocktails, KAMILLE talks to Straight Up all about how she went from working in the city as a stockbroker to writing some of the UK's catchiest songs, what it was like to submit tracks for queens Beyoncé and Rihanna, her experience of working with Simon Cowell as a vocal coach on the X Factor (including a sneak peak into his insane house) and launching her own successful solo artist career.

She also chats about how hard it was starting out as a black woman in the music business, the difficulties of getting your songs rejected by huge artists, and why there aren't more women in music production.

This episode is sponsored by London bar The Proofing Room, which has just launched a range of beautifully bottled cocktails, which are available for home delivery and ready to drink. On the podcast with Kam we drank the delicious Tequila Habanero: light, refreshing, and creamy with coconut. Fans of Straight Up get a very special 20 per cent discount! Simply enter straightup20 at the checkout. Head to theproofingroom.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: GRM Daily founder Post: from homeless to media mogul

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 06:25:58 GMT

What do you do when your entire life's work gets deleted from the internet? Koby 'Posty' Hagan founded GRM Daily while studying law at university in 2009, and it went on to become the most successful youth platform in the UK, hosting thousands of rap and grime videos from a generation of black British talent and playing a part in the careers of everyone from Giggs to Stormzy. But in 2011, YouTube deleted the channel, losing 2,000 pieces of archive content – content Posty has never seen again.

Here on Straight Up, Posty talks about how he coped during one of the most testing times in his career, building the channel back up again to what it is today, as well as launching everything from the RATED Awards to his record label, and, partnering with YouTube again for his new documentary about GRM Daily's come-up, Together We Rise.

He also chats to Kathleen and Eleanor how GRM Daily runs day-to-day, the real reason Wiley isn't in the documentary, which stars he knew were going to blow up after seeing their first videos, and his tips and secrets for a successful business.

This episode is sponsored by Equiano Rum: the world’s first premium aged rum from Africa and the Caribbean. Equiano have given fans of Straight Up an exclusive 10 per cent discount code to redeem on a bottle that would have cost £49.95. Simply enter STRAIGHTUP10! at the checkout to get it for £45. Head to https://equianorum.com/

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women in Music special: how to get ahead in your career

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:53:53 GMT

How to find yourself a mentor that could change your life? How can women take charge in male dominated spaces? And how can we ensure black female executives are getting top level jobs?

In a special live record from women's members club The AllBright in Mayfair, Straight Up speaks to two of the most important women working in music today, Taponeswa Mavunga, Head of Publicity at Columbia Records, and Claire Coster, Head of Publicity at Atlantic, about their inspiring journeys to the top of the music industry.

Between them, Tapi and Claire have worked with everyone from Ed Sheeran and Jay Z to Wizkid, Charli XCX and Koffee, and they first met after Claire interned for Tapi, and subsequently became her mentee.

Packed full of career advice for women across all industries, as well as insider analysis on how the music industry is adapting post MeToo and Black Lives Matter and where change is still crucial, this episode of Straight Up is a must-listen for creatives of all levels.

Stay listening until the end to hear Kathleen and Eleanor chat about their major artist interviews this month, which include Headie One, Nile Rodgers, D Double E and rising star Kamal. And, to get a sneak preview of our exciting upcoming guest!

This episode of Straight Up was sponsored by Beija London, a beautifully inclusive and empowering lingerie and swimwear brand for all cup sizes from AA up to 36H. Fans of Straight Up can get 15% off your first order by entering ‘straightup’ at checkout. Their website address is www.beija.london

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Ed Sheeran manager Stuart Camp on the pressures of fame, fans and when Ed almost died

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:55:53 GMT

What strange clauses does Ed Sheeran insist are in his management contract? What is the one unexpected item he asks for on his rider? And what really happened at Russell Crowe's house in Australia? (Clue: it involves a field of snakes.)

Stuart Camp, longterm manager to the world's most successful male recording artist, talks to Straight Up about what it's like to be Ed Sheeran's right-hand man. Stuart, who cut his teeth managing James Blunt, Lily Allen and The Darkness, is so close to Ed the star calls him dad, and even lived with him for several years.

Stuart reveals how he got his first job in the music business despite being told by his careers advisor that he should become a binman, the one skill you need to be a good manager, how he deals with mad fans and the emotional toll of looking after the physical safety and mental health of one of the world's most famous people.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can get all of your favourite drinks, including this episode's bottle of Fortaleza Blanco tequila.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Music video director Henry Scholfield on dancing with Dua Lipa and the story behind Stormzy's Vossi Bop

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:37:40 GMT

What's it like to dance with Dua Lipa? How does Billie Eilish think up her lyrics? And what is the book Stormzy's reading in Sounds of the Skeng? Henry Scholfield, one of the world's most sought after music video directors, spills his creative secrets to Kathleen and Eleanor, from why Wiley didn't turn up to the Boasty shoot to the story behind Stormzy's Vossi Bop uber.

Henry also chatted to Straight Up about how he got his very first job and the niche sources of his inspiration, his advice for aspiring film makers, and what he believes are some of the most iconic music videos of the last decade.

Also in this episode, Kathleen and Eleanor share their recommendations across podcasts, books and TV on the themes of race and white privilege, from Little Fires Everywhere and George the Poet's podcast to Kiley Reid's Such a Fun Age and Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can get all of your favourite drinks, including this episode's refreshingly botanical bottle of Ki No Bi gin.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Radio 1Xtra's Tiffany Calver on blacklisting rap lyrics and when her nans met Drake

Fri, 15 May 2020 13:10:10 GMT

What's it like to spend weeks on the road with Drake (with your nans in tow)? How to react when Fredo buys you a gas mask as a present? And what is it really like to DJ for the King and Queen themselves, Beyonce and JAY Z?

Most importantly, how does it feel to be one of the most in-demand and respected DJs in the world? Tiffany Calver, the 25-year-old, Shropshire-born host of Radio 1Xtra's Rap Show talks to Straight Up about everything from first jobs and career disasters to owning her presence as one of the few women shaping UK rap.

Over a couple of glasses over prosecco, Tiffany also chatted about how she overcame her imposter syndrome and why she blacklists certain lyrics from her radio show. Plus, where is really good to go out in London, which celebrity throws the best parties and what's it like to live down the road from Maya Jama?

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy this episode's bottle of Galeotti Prosecco.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Publicist Barbara Charone on the wild times touring with the Rolling Stones

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:26:18 GMT

Why is touring like a drug to artists and what happens when they get off stage? Is all press good press? And can the tabloids still break a celebrity? For this episode, over a dry bottle of rose, Eleanor and Kathleen spoke to publicity legend and former music critic Barbara Charone about working with some of the world’s biggest artists, from Madonna and The Rolling Stones to Mark Ronson and the Foo Fighters, Kesha, Duffy and Christina Aguilera.

Barbara also revealed what it was like to tour with The Rolling Stones while writing Keith Richards' authorised biography, launching a young Madonna in the Eighties, and the one artist she regrets not working with.

In this week's cultural run-down, Eleanor and Kathleen chat about the one album, book, TV show, film and podcast they can't get enough of.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Barbara's favourite bottle of Williams Chase rose

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Atlantic Records UK co-President Ed Howard on signing Ed Sheeran

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 09:46:22 GMT

How do musicians deal with fame and is there such a thing as an overnight success story? What's the story behind Ed Sheeran getting signed? (It involves a Bruno Mars gig and a tonne of beer). This week Kathleen and Eleanor speak to one of the music business's most influential players, Ed Howard, who was promoted to co-President of Atlantic (alongside Briony Turner, who is on maternity leave), in January.

Ed talks about crafting the long-term strategy behind his first-ever signing Charli XCX, how he consoled Burna Boy after the star lost out on a Brit Award, how labels will adapt to an era of stars coming off social media, how a label imprint like Stormzy’s Merky Records actually works, and the difficulty of taking on his mentor Ben Cook's role after Cook was asked to leave Atlantic following a blackface controversy.

Kathleen and Eleanor also talk about what it’s like to interview Niall Horan, and why the most recent episode of internet culture podcast Reply All has got everyone hooked.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy a bottle of tasty Haku vodka.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Guardian music critic Laura Snapes on interviewing Taylor Swift at home

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:57:22 GMT

What's it like to meet Taylor Swift in her Nashville home and chat politics and Kanye? Guardian Deputy Music Editor Laura Snapes is one of the best critics in the country and on this episode of Straight Up talks about profiling Taylor Swift and the difficulties of interviewing Avril Lavigne, why she convinced Matty Healy from The 1975 to pledge only playing festival line-ups with enough women on the bill, as well what it’s like to have a male musician sexually harass you over an email interview, before making explicit, inappropriate references to you during one of his shows.

In this episode, Kathleen and Eleanor also discuss the musicians they interviewed at the Brits – from Burna Boy to Aitch – what the Brits Chiltern Firehouse afterparty is really like (including secret smoking areas and performances), and what happened to Duffy.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Kathleen and Eleanor's choice Alkkemist gin.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Stylist Carlotta Constant on dressing Stormzy and the Arctic Monkeys

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 08:50:21 GMT

What's it like to get celebrities naked for work every day? Carlotta Constant, the super stylist who has dressed everyone from Rihanna, Stormzy and Loyle Carner to Krept and Konan, Hrvy and The Arctic Monkeys, lifts the lid on what it's really like to work so up close and personal with some of the music industry's biggest names.

Over a couple of glasses of Tattinger champagne, Carlotta chatted to Kathleen and Eleanor about the piece of advice she gave Rihanna, the musician she'd most like to give a makeover to and the behind-the-scenes issues that happen on set, including what happens when musicians take drugs during a shoot or steal shoot clothes and jewellery. Carlotta also talked about the brand every musician wants on their rail, and her hypebeast tips for getting ahead of the best fashion drops.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Carlotta's favourite bottle of Tattinger.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Producer Fraser T Smith on the most intimate studio moments with Stormzy and Dave

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 16:52:02 GMT

Fraser T Smith witnessed Stormzy's tug of war between the light and dark while the rapper recorded Gang Signs and Prayer, went with Dave to meet his brother in prison while recording Psychodrama, and was a shoulder to cry on for Adele while she recorded Set Fire to the Rain. Having been at the side of the UK's most successful musicians during their most vulnerable moments, Fraser shares them with Kathleen and Eleanor in this episode of Straight Up.

Over a couple of gin and tonics, Fraser also talks to Straight Up about the one song he regrets producing, the thorny issue of freedom of speech in his studio and his craziest memory with Craig David – who hired him as a backing guitarist and was then best man at his wedding. Listen in to learn all about Fraser's signature style, his favourite songs and how he became producer to the stars.

Kathleen and Eleanor also discuss Adele's rumoured new album, the just-announced Sound of 2020 list, interviewing Wiley and Lizzo's killer chat-up line to Niall Horan.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Fraser's favourite bottle of Monkey47 gin.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: This is Grime photographer Olivia Rose on why D Double E is the best friend you could ever have

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 17:05:52 GMT

What's it like to photograph everyone from Kano to Jeremy Corbyn, and direct J Cole and Skepta's music videos? Olivia Rose, grime's most trusted photographer, spills her secrets, from how she got Slowthai naked and chased Tempa T through Milton Keynes for her perfect shot, to making her biggest mistake on a shoot with JME and leaning on D Double E as an agony aunt. It's a fun one, enjoy!

You can also read Eleanor's GQ cover interview with Skepta and watch her Facebook Live with Jeremy Corbyn, and read Kathleen's interviews with Slowthai and Jorja Smith.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy our bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Festival boss Jason Carter on experiencing the mad demands of Madonna, JAY Z and Eminem

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:57:18 GMT

What does a festival organiser do when there's a bomb threat beneath the main stage and a royal in the crowd? How to cope when Madonna's manager is shouting at you down the phone, when JAY Z threatens to pull out of your event, or when Eminem starts being a diva?

This week, over a couple of whiskeys, BBC Introducing and GetOnMusic founder Jason Carter gives Straight Up the skinny on what working with the stars (and their entourage) is really like. Also in this episode, Jason talks about booking a then unknown Ed Sheeran to play the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, how the BBC Sound Of lists get drawn up and why Radio 1Xtra was launched, and the time a manager tried to bribe him to get his artist on the radio.

Keep listening until the end to hear Kathleen and Eleanor chat about interviewing Stormzy and Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne's problematic new album and the queer narrative around Harry Styles. Enjoy!

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Enjoyed this episode of Straight Up? Have any suggestions for our next episode? Are you a brand wanting to chat to us about sponsorship opportunities? We'd love to hear from you: hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy a bottle of Jason's Ardberg single malt.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Sony 4th Floor's Cassandra Gracey on why George Ezra is so nice

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 06:32:47 GMT

What makes an artist blow up and what happens when they fall? Do artists still need press, how much do their music videos cost and who tells them off when they step out of line?

Why does Rita Ora have such a complicated reputation and why is George Ezra so nice? Cassandra Gracey, President of Sony’s in-house creative agency 4th Floor Creative and one of only two female label presidents in the UK, lifts the lid on all this and more over a cold glass (or two) of her favourite drink: Moët champagne.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy a bottle of Cassandra's Moët.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Music miniseries: Austin Daboh on going from bail to the most influential man in the biz

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:17:38 GMT

Austin Daboh almost lost his very first job in music at the BBC, yet now he's one of the industry's most respected voices. Previously at Spotify, then Head of Editorial at Apple Music, and now Executive Vice President at Atlantic Records UK, Austin chatted to Straight Up all about his life changing career moves, what he has learned from failure along the way, and advice for all aspiring creatives.

Over his favourite drink, a Hennessy and coke, Austin also spoke to Kathleen and Eleanor about how he created Spotify's game-changing Who We Be playlist, his thoughts on cancel culture and the controversial word 'urban', meeting JAY-Z, and his most surreal career moment to date.

To listen to all the music discussed on Straight Up and the songs we've got on repeat, follow our Straight Up playlist on Spotify.

Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy

Straight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQ

Straight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy a bottle of Austin's Hennessy VS.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.