
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.
Latest episodes

Jan 13, 2025 • 36min
How Elon Musk Became Such A Pathetic Villain
Dive into the chaotic world of Elon Musk, where fame meets controversy. From his rise in AI to his surprising pivot toward right-wing politics, the discussion reveals the evolution of a once-celebrated tech icon. Parenting dilemmas with celebrity implications take center stage, as hosts mockingly dissect the moral quandaries of raising a child in such a public eye. Musings on his tumultuous relationship with Grimes and peculiar public antics pepper the conversation, creating a portrait of a man who embodies both innovation and contradiction.

Jan 6, 2025 • 30min
Blake Lively Versus Justin Baldoni: Dissecting The 'It Ends With Us' Legal Battles
The podcast dives into the messy legal battles surrounding the adaptation of 'It Ends With Us,' unraveling a feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. It highlights accusations of on-set abuse and the fallout of social media smear campaigns. The hosts discuss media manipulation and how text message leaks can sway public perception. They also tackle victim-blaming tactics and defamation in celebrity culture, revealing the complexities of reputation management. Finally, they humorously reflect on the challenges of communication in the digital age.

Dec 30, 2024 • 44min
The Definitive 2025 Ins and Outs List: No Style As Personal Style, AI, Timothée Chalamet & More
Surprise!! As new year looms and as the internet declares in/out lists over, Ione and Gina share theirs for 2025. Will it be Lady Gaga's year? Is AI going rogue? Why are all the influencer girlies embracing having no taste? Should video content be longer or shorter? And are tabis finally over? Tune in to this extra special long episode to find out!Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Preorder 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 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.

Dec 2, 2024 • 31min
Have Bag Charms and Blind Boxes Killed Personal Style?
Are you an Anik Anik girly or are you misappropriating cultural language as an excuse to buy more stuff? Whether you love or loathe blind boxes, this year we’ve all become obsessed with collecting bits and bobs - with the internet fiercely debating the ‘right’ type of knick knacks. In our final episode of the year, hosts Ione and Gina dig into the chaotic customisation trend and discuss why we’re all pinning self worths on the bag charms we’ve accumulated in 2024. We're working with Hinge to our listeners to refresh their profiles for the new year ahead, focusing on the prompt 'This year I really want to...' #hingepartner 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.

Nov 25, 2024 • 34min
Holding Space For The Unhinged Wicked Press Tour
As two members of the queer media, this week Ione and Gina are taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity, and taking a deep dive into the most mind boggling film rollout of 2024. From the holding of a singular acrylic nail that broke the internet, to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s friendship, we’re left questioning what the hell Wicked is about to warrant all of this anyway. Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, 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 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.

Nov 18, 2024 • 30min
Is Giving Up Men a Form of Political Resistance?
The 4B movement is a South Korean fringe feminist movement operating on four principles - Bihon (no to heterosexual marriage), Bichulsan (no to childbirth), Biyeonae (no to dating), and Bisekseu (no to heterosexual sexual relationships) - the aim being to remove women from patriarchal lifestyles. After the announcement of Trump's win in the American election on the 5th November, women in the States have been making the 4B movement trend across Twitter and TikTok as they consider this kind of lifestyle as an act of protest to the election result. In this week's episode, Ione and Gina dissect the ethics of the use of the practice by Western feminists, the extreme reactions of alt right men across social media to the Trump win as well as the under discussed gen z Republican women who voted this year.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, 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 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.

Nov 4, 2024 • 30min
Is Online Superiority & The Irony Epidemic Rotting Our Brains?
Explore the dark side of social media, where online superiority and irony become toxic traits. Listen as contemporary artists like Ethel Cain and Halsey navigate this tricky landscape, confronting ridicule and the pitfalls of becoming a public spectacle. Delve into the ethics of candid photography and how digital interactions often lead to desensitization toward public shaming. The discussion also touches on the shifting dynamics of criticism in music and the emotional weight carried by artists in today's hyper-connected world.

Oct 28, 2024 • 30min
Sabrina Carpenter, Pedobaiting And The Infantilisation Of Adult Women
Sabrina Carpenter faces criticism for her provocative stage outfits, igniting a debate on the sexualization of young women in the industry. The conversation dives into how cultural infantilization contributes to the double standards affecting female artists. The hosts examine the term 'pedobaiting' and its implications, while exploring the societal backlash against women's sexual expression. This discussion highlights the urgent need for a shift in perceptions and the importance of supporting women in defining their own narratives.

Oct 20, 2024 • 56min
Tavi Gevinson on Influencers, Old vs New Media & Performativity
Tavi Gevinson, a writer, actor, and producer known for her early influence in fashion and her Audible Original series, joins the conversation this week. She dives into the differences in influencer culture, exploring class dynamics and the fading relevance of traditional media. Tavi reflects on her adaptation of Edith Wharton's "Glimpses of the Moon," discussing authenticity in modern narratives. The talk also touches on art, fandom, and how women are reshaping success in the digital landscape amidst evolving cultural expectations.

Oct 13, 2024 • 25min
How Rage Bait Replaced Moral Compasses
Is it cynical to question if podcasts are being recorded just to get viral social media clips? And is it ironic that we're saying that on OUR podcast?This week, hosts Ione and Gina delve into the murky ethics of posing questions around sex work and marriage to self promote, the need for having a definite opinion over admitting nuance and whether we're all individualising theory far too much.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, 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 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.