

The Polyester Podcast
The Polyester Podcast
Is Blake Lively a bitch or being misconstrued? Will Elon ever stop cringing us out? And why is everyone using slurs again? Every week Polyester's head girlies Ione Gamble and Gina Tonic take you down a weekly rabbit hole of online discourse and pop culture - from trad wives and surrogacy to porn stars and unhinged press tours. Exploring the intersection of IRL and URL through a feminist lens, the Polyester Podcast is your weekly digest on absolutely everything everyone on the internet is talking about. With guests like Tavi Gevinson and Sofia Coppola collaborator Stacey Battat, and special episodes beamed into your ears from cultural centres like London’s Tate Modern and Barbican Centre, every Monday we offer a down-to-earth take from the front lines of the internet, feminism, and the weird world of celebrity it has spawned.Hosted by Editor in Chief Ione Gamble with Senior Editor Gina Tonic. Edited by Olivia Graham. Have faith in your own bad taste!Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Polyester is a self published, intersectional feminist arts and culture publication aiming to bridge the gap of URL cyberfeminism with the IRL world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 3, 2025 • 30min
Are Sydney Sweeney's Jeans The Harbinger Of Doom?
It's been over a year since we last spoke about Sydney Sweeney and how many online and off see the Euphoria actress as a MAGA spokeswoman. Her latest scandal - an American Eagle advert celebrating the blonde's "great genes" - cements Sweeney's spot as the right's poster child.In this week's episode, recorded before that expose revealing Sweeney is a registered Republican - hosts Ione and Gina dig into how fast speed advertising has changed the role of celebrity, why brands are being more blunt about appealing to Trump fans and why we should be more comfortable in calling a spade a spade (or calling a eugenicist a eugenicist).Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 27, 2025 • 28min
Is It 'The Gen Z Stare' Or Have Young People Always Been Called Rude?
The hosts dive into the phenomenon of 'the Gen Z stare,' examining its implications for communication in workplaces. They humorously debate whether young people have always been perceived as rude or if today's challenges, like COVID and climate anxiety, exacerbate this view. Discussions explore Gen Z's unique challenges, including the social skills gap and the struggles faced by young women. The impact of pandemic-related isolation on authenticity and kindness in daily interactions is also a focal point.

Jul 20, 2025 • 34min
Our Verdict on Lena Dunham’s Too Much: Are We So Back Or Is The Rom Com Not Good Enough?
We're back from our (unplanned, sorry!!) break with a big one. Lena Dunham has returned to television with a Netflix series that many online are claiming to be as good as - or even better than - Girls, the much lauded HBO show that launched her career. Conversely, critics are writing scathing reviews for broadsheets about the portrayal of romance, women and London in the show. But which is it? And are our hosts impressed with the Megan Stalter fronted romcom?This week, Ione and Gina get to grips with whether Too Much is hot or a flop: exploring the representation of class dynamics, the acclaim the series is receiving for fat representation, and questioning why Jess, the show's lead, has absolutely zero mates.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 29, 2025 • 31min
The Summer Of Crashing Out: Justin Bieber, Cory's World And Tattle Life
Ding dong the witch is dead - in a Scooby Doo worthy unveiling, the 'Helen McDougal' that began infamous British influencer gossip forum has been unmasked as vegan influencer Sebastian Bond. In the aftermath, TikTokers like Cory's World are cashing in on the moment to detail exactly how hate on platforms like these and trolls across the board has affected their mental health. Following a similar through thread of crashing out, Justin Bieber is going viral almost daily for his Instagram antics, scraps with paparazzi and alleged ill feelings towards wife Hailey.In this week's episode, our hosts Ione and Gina get to grips with the continuing normalisation of brutality in the comment section, how the expanding definition of celebrity has negative ramifications and the rising forms of surveillance we are all putting one another under.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 2025 • 27min
Labubu? Lafufu? LaTime Has Come To Stop This Nonsense
We're addressing the elephant kids toy in the room - the Labubu craze. You've definitely seen these monsters everywhere from exclusive brand collabs to Gemma Collins' Instagram reels to hanging off handbags while you wait in line at the cocktail bar. But where did they come from? And why is everyone going absolutely mad for the Pop Mart blind box item? This week, our hosts Ione and Gina go head to head about the validity of Labubu collecting, the Lafufu fakes populating the market and why nobody is seeing the proliferation of this plush for what it is - just another trend in a long legacy of popular toy collecting.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 15, 2025 • 29min
Yes, We’re Talking About Sabrina Carpenter’s Album Cover
Freeze! The Polyester Podcast had a whole episode planned for our lovely listeners until Sabrina Carpenter delivered us feminist discourse on a silver platter, or rather, on a silver dog leash. On Wednesday, the singer announced her forthcoming summer album titled 'Man's Best Friend' along with artwork picturing Sabrina on all fours having her hair pulled by an anonymous suited figure.Is the cover art a clever continuation of Carpenter's satirisation of female sexuality or are we being conned into embracing misogynistic portrayals of women again in the mainstream? This week, hosts Ione and Gina get into the nitty gritty of the discourse; from pop star sensuality, to ‘puriteens’ and the continuing poison of choice feminism on our ability to think critically.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 8, 2025 • 32min
Kylie Jenner's Boob Job, Kris Jenner's Facelift & The Problem With Choice Feminism
Kylie Jenner embraces her 'girl's girl' persona by discussing her boob job, while Kris Jenner reveals her double facelift. The hosts dissect the normalisation of plastic surgery influenced by social media, questioning if choice feminism has skewed our views on empowerment. They explore the implications of beauty standards enforced by influencers, raising concerns about self-worth and privilege in a culture obsessed with self-improvement. With humor, they navigate the pressures women face regarding appearance, offering an engaging critique of modern beauty expectations.

Jun 1, 2025 • 33min
Skinnytok, Crunchy Teens , & The Return Of Pro Ana Content
Hosts dive into the alarming trend of #Skinnytok on social media, exposing how influencers are propagating pro-anorexia content and promoting unhealthy eating habits. They discuss the glamorization of eating disorders in pop music and the role of TikTok in shaping body image perceptions. The impact of the pandemic on rising eating disorders among teens is also highlighted, along with the harmful implications of wellness culture. With a critical look at the dark side of diet culture, the conversation sheds light on the challenges faced by young individuals today.

May 25, 2025 • 34min
Where Are The Thinkers? Why Pop Culture Feels Doomed Right Now
The discussion kicks off with FKA Twigs' provocative question, "Where are the thinkers?" delving into the perceived decline of pop culture. The hosts unpack the issues of stagnation and originality in creative voices. They explore the impact of streaming on media consumption and the fragmentation of culture. The conversation also addresses the struggles of subcultures amid rising corporatization and emphasizes the value of constructive criticism for cultural growth. The episode urges a deeper engagement with genuine artistic expression.

May 18, 2025 • 28min
Is Ovulation Making You Horny Or Is It Fascist To Think So?
The girlies are going feral across the internet - one one hand, Lorde is calling ovulation the best drug she’s ever taken. On the other, TikTok’s reveal during ovulation many of us get uncontrollably horny. But is it true? Do our hormones control our libidos and cognition or do we have more free will than that? TikTok wellness huns are using pseudoscience to back up their claims, while Twitter feminists take to their feeds to fight back against the dehumanising nature of having our personalities attributed to hormone cycles.In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina pick apart the inherent bio-essentialism of ovulation discourse, the alt right's push for focusing on fertility and how these conversations feel like a step back for women.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.