The Polyester Podcast

Following the death of Brianna Ghey, as well as an open letter penned by contributors of The New York Times condemning the publications reporting on gender, and the defence of JK Rowling that followed, transgender rights are once again under attack. For this week's podcast, Ione and Eden are revisiting an episode from 2020 in which we discussed the rise of TERF ideology, and how the media at large has fuelled anti-trans sentiment both in the UK and the USA. In another special edition of The Sleepover Club, we're joined by Vice features editor Hannah Ewens to discuss her recent long read about how the debate over human rights for trans people came to dominate mainstream UK media and divide British feminists. A TERF is a trans-exclusionary radical 'feminist'. In this episode, Ione, Olivia, and Hannah discuss how TERF ideology has riddled British feminism, what cisgender feminists must do counteract it, and how representation / our treatment of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people in the media needs to change.Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conversation dives into the trend of deinfluencing, where influencers tell us what not to buy, challenging consumerism. The hosts critique how social media shapes our buying habits and pressure to conform to trends. They explore the authenticity of deinfluencing amidst aggressive marketing tactics and consumer fatigue. Personal anecdotes illuminate the struggles with overhyped products, while discussions highlight the need for a more mindful approach to purchasing. Laughter and frustration blend as they navigate the complexities of modern shopping culture.

We've been cursed with a new 'core'l and this one may be the bleakest of them all. Celebrities are no longer wearing necklaces on the runway, minimalism is back, and a new trend dubbed 'recession core' is the latest fixation of TikTok trend forecasters. But does fashion really change in times of economic uncertainty? Rich people certainly aren't getting any poorer, so is this new conscious aesthetic just another attempt to glean relatability from the masses? Or do socio-economic theories such as the lipstick theory and the hemline index really ring true? Ione and Eden delve into the politics of fashion and frugality in this weeks episode.Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard of lucky girl syndrome? The craze sweeping social media is bringing back manifestation and positive thinking for a new generation. With lucky girls taking over TikTok, we're asking if demanding what you want from the universe is uplifting or reductive? Can you really get what you want by just believing you deserve it? Or is it just a grossly naive flex that just shows us how little work has been done in terms of understanding privilege in our society? This Episode, Ione and Eden discuss how Millennials and Gen Z's adoption of pseudo spiritualism may be more damaging than it first appears. Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britney Spears is once again the focus point of internet gossip. The conspiracy theories grow more outlandish by the minute; from the pop star having a body double, to her husband placing her in a new conservatorship and pushing the star in front of a green screen to create Instagram content. But unlike in the early 00s, we now all have the ability to comment, dissect, and tear apart celebrities behaviour. No longer is the worst person online Perez Hilton, because millions of us on TikTok are elongating his legacy; using celebrities pain to generate engagement and boost our own profiles. Are we sleepwalking into another nightmare, in which marginalised celebrities are treated with no regard for their wellbeing? Ione and Eden discuss. Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a tale as old as time: a woman experiences a breakup, and in the midst of her heartbreak, takes to the internet to tell us every sordid detail of the ways in which her ex did her wrong. Whether on TikTok, published in personal essays on prestigious platforms, or showcased on Instagram stories - the girlies can't get enough of exposing the men that have ruined their lives. But have we bored of hearing these stories? And even worse, do they paint women as perpetual victims unable to exercise autonomy in their own relationships? Ione and Eden discuss! Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back! Did you miss us? This week Ione and Eden are discussing the trend that's dominated our Instagram feeds: In and Out lists. Written by everyone who's anyone; from Jemima Kirke and Hari Nef, to pretty much every influencer you've ever followed; the internet has become enamoured with notes app lists predicting what we will and won't enjoy in 2023. But do we really care what these people think? Or are they just away for us to flex our impeccable taste to our followers? We're discussing how the trend feeds in to our obsessions with 'cores' and what those who love or hate the new (micro)trend cycle both get wrong about what it means for our cultural landscape.Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our last episode of the year, Halima Jibril is BACK to go over our favourite podcast topics from 2022. We're looking at indie sleaze, toxic femininity, it girls (in particular, our patron saint Julia Fox), goblin mode and more! With hindsight, Ione and Halima take a trip down memory lane to look at the good, bad and ugly moments that came to define 2022 Thanks so much to everyone who has tuned in for The Polyester Podcast each Monday, we couldn't do it without you and we can't wait to continue our cultural critique into 2023!Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've been on Instagram this week, you've probably come across the Lensa App. We've all been turning ourselves into fairies, manga characters, and painters muses using AI technology. But is creating these selfies ethical? Are they going to put artists out of a job? Are they just harmless fun? Or an example of our rampant narcissism?This week, Ione and Eden are digging into the rise of AI on social media; from whether these apps are stealing art from small creators, to horror in the AI realm, chatbots that could change our lives and if a few fantastical selfies are worth the hidden cost to the creative industries.Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ione and Eden are trying to get to the bottom of the Balenciaga story; separating the fact from fiction, as well as examining how the controversy grew so large in the media and on social media. As the conspiracy theories around the fashion brand continue to spread like wildfire, we're digging into the importance of media literacy and how far right propaganda runs rampant on the internet. With users searching for the most sinister explanation possible when it comes to any number of subjects online, we're unknowingly allowing the far right to pull so many people into its orbit — But how do we stop and break these patterns of behaviour? Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine.com, or drop us a DM on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.