Straight Up

Straight Up

The pop culture podcast with no filter, brought to you by besties and journalists Kathleen and Ellie. read less

Our Editor's Take

Straight Up is the podcast for those who like their celebrity news and gossip with a distinct British tinge. The podcast has two lively hosts, Eleanor Halls and Kathleen Johnston, who share fun, humorous takes on pop culture, music, social trends, and celebrity news. Eleanor works as the music editor and associate culture editor for the Telegraph, one of the largest newspapers in England. She offers fresh and clever insight on many of the show's topics. Kathleen is a writer and editor with experience in a variety of media jobs, from radio and video at BBC to Social Content Editor at GQ. Her broad experience has given her the ability to view situations through the lens of a media professional.

Together, the hosts have informal discussions that always feel spontaneous and organic. As the title implies, the two hosts always have a drink at hand while recording Straight Up. It's a breezy, afterwork vibe. Listening to them feels like hanging out with friends and catching up over drinks. The gossip and fun news updates keep listeners coming back for more

The show often features celebrity guests. These interviews are often freewheeling and cover a wide array of topics. Often, the listener comes away feeling as if they were the ones asking the questions. Straight Up is always fun, fresh, and honest, so this is a great choice for those looking for a new celebrity news show.

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Sociedade e culturaSociedade e cultura

Episódios

Timothée Chalamet, the Romantasy craze and the ‘real’ Ryan Reynolds
Hoje
Timothée Chalamet, the Romantasy craze and the ‘real’ Ryan Reynolds
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? 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! 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 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: A Complete Unknown, in cinemas nowKhloé 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 YarrosRebecca 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 +
The Traitors finale, Holly Willoughby’s return and our increasingly splintered selves
Há uma semana
The Traitors finale, Holly Willoughby’s return and our increasingly splintered selves
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! 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 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
Cameron Diaz’s comeback, the Molly Mae doc and Lively vs Baldoni (again)
23-01-2025
Cameron Diaz’s comeback, the Molly Mae doc and Lively vs Baldoni (again)
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! 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 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? podcastI 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 podcastMolly Mae: Behind it All, Amazon PrimeThe 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 HollywoodMeToo era, New Yorker We Live In Time, cinemas or pre-order on Apple TVLet’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+
Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl, Lily Allen and money anxieties
16-01-2025
Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl, Lily Allen and money anxieties
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!  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! 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 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/⁠ 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 MontagMissing You, NetflixPlaying Nice, ITVDon't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, NetflixWhen women do anti-ageing it’s called Goop, when men do it, it’s science, The IAvicii - I'm Tim, NetflixMargo’s Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe Come And Get It, Kiley Reid Babygirl, in cinemas nowHarris 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
Blake Lively’s lawsuits, crisis PR and raunchy vampire remake Nosferatu
09-01-2025
Blake Lively’s lawsuits, crisis PR and raunchy vampire remake Nosferatu
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 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/ 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
Fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths
02-01-2025
Fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths
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 TimesMagpie by Elizabeth Day⁠The Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage ⁠by Leslie Jamison, New Yorker⁠Laura Jackson on Grace Beverley's podcast⁠⁠Why Must We Pay Queer Tax?⁠ the Guardian⁠'I’m a sexual and single but wanted to become a mum’⁠, Stylist⁠Straight Up with Tove Lo,⁠ and ⁠Straight Up with BabyQueen⁠Diary of a CEO: No.1 Neuroscientist: "Kids will make you unhappier"⁠I chose my marriage over having kids by Ruby Warrington⁠, The TimesThe School for Bad Mothers, Jessamine ChanStill Born by Guadalupe Nettel⁠The false escapism of soft girls and trad wives,⁠ Time ⁠How Long Can You Wait To Have A Baby?⁠ The Atlantic
The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore?
26-12-2024
The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore?
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.  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. 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
Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow’s new thriller plus the best TV and films of 2024
19-12-2024
Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow’s new thriller plus the best TV and films of 2024
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 TimesNo more Mr Nice Guy: how Hugh Grant transformed himself into an edgy national treasure, ObserverSmartless podcast episode with Hugh Grant No Good Deed, Netflix  Our best TV & film of 2024: Anora Challengers Blink TwicePoor ThingsLa Chimera Wicked  The Substance All of Us Strangers Speak No Evil Inside out 2 Baby Reindeer  One DayRivals After The PartySay Nothing Mr and Mrs smith KaosBoarders The Perfect Couple High Potential
Sabrina Carpenter, Keira Knightley’s Black Doves and brain rot
12-12-2024
Sabrina Carpenter, Keira Knightley’s Black Doves and brain rot
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 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 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 TimesNightbitch, in cinemas nowAmy Adams and Marielle Heller on toddlers, incontinence and Nightbitch, the Guardian
Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood transformations and hit thriller The Madness
05-12-2024
Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood transformations and hit thriller The Madness
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 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 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 StationWhat Should a 30-Something Look Like? The Cut Welcome to the millennial mid-life crisis, The Cut How to Murder Your Life, Cat MarnellThe Madness, Netflix After the Party, Channel 4Buy Now, The Shopping Conspiracy, Netflix Nightbitch, in cinemas from Dec 6 Joia Battersea
Wicked, Gladiator's flop and AI pets
28-11-2024
Wicked, Gladiator's flop and AI pets
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 SalieuThe Real Reward Of All These Celebrity Lookalike Contests, Raven Smith for Vogue Rita’s, SohoWhite Horse, Shepherd’s Market Pandora Sykes’ Books and Bits, SubstackScrapper, BFI PlayerMy weird, emotional week with an AI pet, GuardianMy AI Girlfriend, Slow News Cast, TortoiseWicked, in cinemas nowTheatre 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 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 Get 20% off our fave adaptogenic coffee using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Bad Sisters, Molly-Mae and film of the year Anora
21-11-2024
Bad Sisters, Molly-Mae and film of the year Anora
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 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.  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 KaleNightbitch (out 6 December) Wolf Like Me, Amazon Prime Anora, in cinemas now A Night at Cannes With the Strippers of Sean Baker’s Anora, VultureMikey Madison: from Tarantino bit part to hot tip for an Oscar playing a sex worker, Guardian Better Things, BBC iPlayerThe Oscar contender with a Russia problem, TelegraphBad 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
Jamie Oliver’s controversy, The Substance and Margot Robbie’s My Old Ass
14-11-2024
Jamie Oliver’s controversy, The Substance and Margot Robbie’s My Old Ass
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 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.  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 podcastThe Outrun, in cinemasA Different Man, Apple TVThe Apprentice, in cinemasTrump spoke directly to young men online. Young men spoke back, The FaceAll Those A-List Celebs Couldn’t Save Harris, But Joe Rogan Helped Trump, Hollywood ReporterSo Good, Emily EnglishMy Old Ass, Amazon Prime The Fall of My Teenage Self, Zadie Smith for New YorkerThe Substance, streaming nowLiving with Yourself, NetflixAnora, in cinemas now
When did dating become so depressing?
07-11-2024
When did dating become so depressing?
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 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.  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:  Martha, NetflixKill 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
Saoirse Ronan, Louis Theroux’s lost touch, Tom Holland and Zendaya
31-10-2024
Saoirse Ronan, Louis Theroux’s lost touch, Tom Holland and Zendaya
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 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.  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) GuardianKudu Grill The Louis Theroux Podcast, Spotify The Louis Theroux Podcast review — his worst interview yet, Times Grounded with Louis Theroux BBC SoundsKneecap, BFI Player “She’s Fascinating Eating Cornflakes”: The Endlessly Alluring Saoirse Ronan On Blitz, Kids And Marital BlissThe Outrun, in cinemas nowBlitz, in cinemas now Paul Mescal enters the arena, GQ Big Boys, Channel 4
Liam Payne, Angelina Jolie and Woman of the Hour
24-10-2024
Liam Payne, Angelina Jolie and Woman of the Hour
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 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.  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 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, AirmailI’m 33 and my husband is 77 – this is why I only sleep with older men, GuardianMagnolia Cafe, LisbonWoman of the Hour, Netflix Love Life, BBC iPlayerLiam Payne: journalistic ethics are often ignored when celebrities die, The Conversation Rivals, Disney PlusSweet Bobby, NetflixThe crunch, the flavours, the rituals: how crisps became a British snack obsession, Guardian
Andrew Garfield, Stormzy’s new relationship and men under curfew
17-10-2024
Andrew Garfield, Stormzy’s new relationship and men under curfew
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. 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 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 TimesLearning to Measure Time in Love and Loss, NYTimesAndrew Garfield on All There Is with Anderson CooperThe Confessions of Andrew Garfield, EsquireOliver 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 CEOLonely Planet, Netflix Will and Harper, Netflix Disclaimer, AppleTVCurfew, Paramount Plus
Beyoncé conspiracy theories, Industry and a kinky Kit Harington
10-10-2024
Beyoncé conspiracy theories, Industry and a kinky Kit Harington
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 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.  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. 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 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 HarrisSpeak No EvilForce Majeure Heartstopper s3Prima Facie, NT LiveBlink TwiceThe cheap tricks of MeToo thrillers, Vulture  Industry s3Cheapskatelondon newsletter
Sally Rooney, Naomi Campbell and Nobody Wants This
03-10-2024
Sally Rooney, Naomi Campbell and Nobody Wants This
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. 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 https://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  Nine Lives, Bermondsey Street LondonThe 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, GlamourNobody Wants This Mean-Spirited Depiction of Jewish Women in Nobody Wants This, TimeDrama GCSE, Mathilde Barker, TikTokBaby Reindeer was wrongly billed by Netflix as a ‘true story’, judge finds, GuardianTyra 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?, VogueAre you cool enough to have the next Sally Rooney book? Esquire
Diddy, Justin Bieber and Demi Moore’s anti-aging horror
26-09-2024
Diddy, Justin Bieber and Demi Moore’s anti-aging horror
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 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.  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! 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