
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

Aug 4, 2024 • 28min
So… We Got Cancelled
The hosts tackle the backlash faced by independent journalism, sharing personal stories of online bullying. They delve into the balance between passion and profit in writing, exploring how capitalist influences can stifle creativity. The discussion shifts to media industry challenges, including accountability and wage transparency, highlighting the need for diverse voices. They also humorously dissect inflation tactics and societal challenges, emphasizing the importance of creative fulfillment over financial success.

Jul 29, 2024 • 26min
Is Kamala Brat? How The Politician Memed Herself Into A Presidential Candidate
The Kamalanomenon is here. You think you just fell out of the coconut tree? This week, hosts Ione and Gina break down how brat summer, among other Kamala memes, morphed from gen z nihilistic irony into millennial girlboss earnestness - and how the memeification of politics affects us all.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.

10 snips
Jul 21, 2024 • 28min
Underconsumption Core, Recession Pop & Projecting Meaning Onto Poverty
Exploring underconsumption core and recession pop, the hosts discuss the projection of meaning onto poverty. They question whether society should romanticize frugality and delve into how social media shapes our self-narratives. The podcast touches on music reflecting economic climates and the influence of cultural shifts on our consumption patterns.

Jul 14, 2024 • 31min
Hawk Tuah Girl, Mixed Weight Relationships and The Rise In Dehumanising Women Online
It seems as though its never been worse to be a woman participating in the discourse. The Hawk Tuah girl has used her blowjob technique to become a star; cashing in on the viral moment with a merch line, a manager and a possible documentary. But while she makes bank, the alt right have commodified her into a figurehead - once again proclaiming any woman with blonde hair and big tits as their own. Across the pond, the the left seems to be just as pitiful - as indie fashion brands release ironic 'I <3 Ozempic' t-shirts, and seemingly feminist articles ascribe individual actions political buzzwords, resulting in the death of any kind of progressive discourse. Add 'mixed weight' relationship discourse into the mix, and our hosts have had enough. Will we ever stop reducing women to their bodies? Tune in to find out! 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.

Jul 7, 2024 • 30min
Aura Points, Looksmaxxing And The Warped Morality Of TikTok Trends
Discover the bizarre world of aura points on TikTok, where teens compete for coolness. Explore the harmful trend of looksmaxxing, leading to body dysmorphia in men. Reflect on how self-commodification and external validation are shaping modern society.

Jun 30, 2024 • 29min
Why The 2024 General Election Is So Depressing
We're all desperate to get the tories out, but for the first time in our hosts lives as voters, there's been an inescapable apathy in the air. As it seems certain that Labour will take over as the new British government, is it time to vote independent or spoil the ballot? This week Ione and Gina are getting knee deep in the culture war that's surrounding election year, discussing the pros and cons of voting for different parties and why our generation is feeling so miserable about it all.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.

Jun 23, 2024 • 32min
The Brat Deep Dive
The name on everybody's lips is: Charli XCX. The musician's sixth studio album Brat dropped this month and all of a sudden everything is Brat. But while we continue to wonder if every lime green car is planted by charli herself or just pure coincidence, in this week's episode, Ione and Gina are taking on the behemoth Brat marketing rollout.Is this is truly Charli's most relatable album yet? Or does the music itself not match up to the genius of its rollout?P.S - we recorded this before the Lorde remix dropped!!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.

Jun 16, 2024 • 28min
Literary It Girls, BookTok And The Complicated History of Men Watching Women Reading
This podcast explores the rise of Literary It Girls, the BookTok phenomenon, and the historical context of men watching women read. They discuss the changing literary culture, the evolution of book sharing platforms, and the influence of fashion brands on book promotion. The conversation also covers the history of men observing women reading, the gender biases in artistic depictions of reading, and concludes with gratitude and an invitation to visit Cambridge.

Jun 9, 2024 • 26min
The 'All Eyes On Rafah' Viral Image And How AI Is Turning Us Into Boomers
The past two weeks have seen a new debate arise in the world of online activism - what is the place of AI in conversations around raising awareness of important political issues? In this episode, Ione and Gina ask whether all is fair in getting All Eyes On Rafah or if we need to be cautious of the intentions behind those creating viral images to be shared across social media.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.

8 snips
May 26, 2024 • 26min
Why Is Everyone 'Neurospicy' Now? On The Individualisation Of Neurodivergence Online
The podcast explores how the internet has turned being neurodivergent into a trend, discussing the pros and cons of sharing mental health conditions online. It delves into the commodification of neurodiversity on social media and the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in society.
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