Straight Up

Taylor Swift has officially entered her sexy era, announcing a new album in her first-ever podcast interview with Travis Kelce, alongside a showgirl-themed shoot that’s got everyone talking. We debrief on both! Also this week: from Weapons to 28 Years Later, we’re deep in a horror renaissance, Chris Hemsworth drops a wellness doc with an appearance from pal Ed Sheeran, the mind-blowing new science of signs, Netflix’s depressing Biggest Loser doc and of course, yet another Beckham update, this time courtesy of Brooklyn and Nicola’s vow renewal.Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Recs/reviews discussed: 28 Years Later, in cinemas nowWeapons, in cinemas nowTogether, in cinemas now Limitless: Live Better Now, DisneyNeuroscientist (Dr. Tara Swart): Evidence We Can Communicate After Death! Diary of a CEOThe Signs: the New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts, Tara Swart Pillow Talk. What Travis Kelsey does that's made Taylor Swift suddenly so sexy, Daily Mail Taylor Swift’s Sultry, Spangled Next Act, VogueTaylor Swift has gone raunchy for the life of a showgirl. What can it mean? Times Wait, Is Taylor Swift Teasing a Super Bowl Halftime Performance? VultureDavid and Victoria Beckham face fresh heartache as new details emerge of Brooklyn's vow renewal speech to wife Nicola Peltz, Daily Mail Fit for TV: The reality of the Biggest Loser, Netflix . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From unqualified therapists planting false memories in vulnerable people and an obsession with labels to ‘therapy boasting’ on Hinge and the weaponisation of ‘therapy speak’, we deep-dive into the dark side of the therapy boom. Plus, what makes a good therapist, and can AI offer an accessible alternative to what has become a luxury? We hope you enjoy this special bonus hunnies, we’ll be back with our usual Thursday pop culture debrief tomorrow!We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Recs:Dangerous Memories podcast My therapist told me Mum had abused me. She hadn’t, TimesThe therapist who planted false memories, Pandora Sykes, SubstackHow the language of therapy took over dating, NYTNobody has a personality anymore, SubstackOpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns users not to trust ChatGPT agent with sensitive or personal data, Decoder Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens, NYTHe Had a Mental Breakdown Talking to ChatGPT. Then Police Killed Him, Rolling StoneWhat does bad therapy actually look like? StylistCan AI therapists really be an alternative to human help? BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Heteropessimism’ is all over our feeds right now, so this week we’re asking: where are all the eligible men? Plus, our verdict on the Freaky Friday sequel (Freakier Friday), Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson’s rumoured romance, “recreational argument” families and the recent but inescapable rise of rage-bait, from Sydney Sweeney’s genes and the Skims chin strap, to sex stunts and wedding cake-smashing. Also: why Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne’s Platonic might just be our favourite TV show of the year!We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Recs/reviews:Freakier Friday, in cinemas nowFreakier Friday is humiliating to everyone involved, Time Cosmetic procedures make Freakier Friday confusing as hell, Allure ‘Generations of women have been disfigured’, Jamie Lee Curtis, Guardian Platonic, AppleTVMy Oxford Year, NetflixThe Store, OxfordHow the Right Shaped the Debate over Sydney Sweeney ads, New York Times From Kim Kardashian’s ‘face shapewear’ to Sydney Sweeney’s jeans controversy, is everything rage bait now? Glamour Heteropessimism and our declining faith in the straight, cis man, Glamour Where Are All The Eligible Men? British Vogue Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson Are Dating: 'It's Clear They're Smitten' People The Emma Guns Show . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're diving into the pressure female authors face to turn their personal trauma into marketable content. Why is women’s fiction so often mistaken for ‘autofiction’? And why does the publishing world seem to reward pain over imagination when it comes from women? Writer (and returning guest!) Caroline O’Donoghue joins us to unpack her brilliant recent piece in The Bookseller, deep-diving into everything from the first-person industrial complex, stolen time and tweakments, to her current pop culture picks including books, TV and film. Also this week, K has been to see match-making rom-com The Materialists and E has a book rec! We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠Recs/reviews:I Who Have Never Known Men, Jaqueline Harpman Orlanda, Jaqueline Harpman The Materialists, in cinemasMaterialists review – Celine Song’s Past Lives follow-up is a mixed bag, Guardian ‘Materialists’ Review: When Dakota Met Pedro (and Chris), New York Times Past Lives, Amazon PrimeUp close and personal, Caroline O’Donoghue for The Bookseller Skip Shock, Caroline O’Donoghue Where's the 'you'? Naoise Dolan on Substack I felt myself split into before and after’: how giving birth triggered a life-changing illness, Guardian The Terrible Things I Have To Do To Be Me, Philippa SnowIn Love With Love, Ella Rusbridger 84 Charing Cross Road, Helene HanffThe Cinemile podcast You’re Wrong About podcast Lena Dunham’s C Word podcastOlogies podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Bonnie Blue a ‘sexual predator’ or an empowered businesswoman? That’s the question driving the controversial new Channel 4 documentary about the porn star’s sex extremism, including sleeping with 1057 men in 12 hours. We went to the doc’s press screening last week, with Bonnie herself in attendance for a post-screening Q&A, so we discuss the its most uncomfortable moments, as well as Bonnie’s motivations, societal responsibility and what she’s really like in person. Also in this ep, a look at the juiciest revelations from the new and unauthorised Gwyneth Paltrow biog, from Goop’s toxic work environment to her fallout with Madonna. Plus a couple of TV reviews for you to get stuck into!We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!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/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.Recs/reviewsThe Assassin, Amazon PrimeThe Secrets of TikTok Shop: UNTOLD, Channel 4ONLYFANS: Bonnie Blue, sex stunts and the rise of the porn 'influencer' (our 28 May bonus ep)100 Men and Me: the Bonnie Blue Story, Channel 4 Bonnie Blue: 1,000 men and the worrying normalisation of porn, The TimesConfronting Andrew Tate & Bonnie Blue: World Exclusive: Have Men Lost Their Power & Has Feminism Ruined Society? Disruptors podcastBonnie Blue, Channel four and the problem with commodifying sexual violence, GlamourThe Affair podcastGwyneth: The Biography, Amy Odell Back Row, Amy Odell’s SubstackSorry, you’ll never be Gwyneth Paltrow. Whoever she really is, Washington Post Shakespeare in Love, BBC iPlayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Coldplay KissCam controversy has everyone talking about cheating, so this week we’re weighing in on affairs and internet sleuthing, as well as the scary rise of ‘sextortion’, investigated by Jordan Stephens’s brilliant new doc. Also on the show: Love Island’s toxic masculinity problem, Charli XCX’s wedding, yet more Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni drama and plenty of fab recs, from a fascinating memoir about the News of the World scandal and the new Jurassic World, to Eric Bana’s slick Netflix detective show and the funniest comedy you’ll see all year.We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!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/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠Recs/reviewsJurassic World:Rebirth, in cinemas nowPulp Kitchen, Jurassic World Rebirth Could we make a real Jurassic Park? Why? with Emma KennedyThe Return of the Dire Wolf, Time MagazineHeads of State, Amazon Prime Lion, Amazon PrimeLove Island 2025, brought to you by the manosphere, GlamourHunting My Sextortion Scammer, Channel 4Don’t Let it Break You Honey, Jenny EvansUntamed, NetflixSuch Brave Girls, BBC iPlayerSweet Bobby, Tortoise Media Why does Gen Z smell like sugar? VoxYuka appWeleda Skin Food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s topics have all been chosen by you, huns, in our first ever ask us anything Q&A ep! From tweakments and our most embarrassing celeb encounters to dating, the apps and planning for children, nothing is off limits as we dive into your nosiest questions. We also weigh in on the Tattle Life debate and get into whether the influencer gossip forum is toxic or necessary, as well as advice for a listener going through it and the myth of having it all. Thank you sooo much to the hunnies who sent in questions, we’ll be answering some more in another ep v soon xWe love hearing from you, so please DM us questions, recs or bonus ideas ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod on Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk.⁠ Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuppod! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going!Recs“Trolls on Tattle Life mercilessly tore me apart. The police told me there was nothing they could do” Grace Victory, StylistThe Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymoreChoosing love over IVF, with Camille Charrière, Conversations on Love with Natasha Lunn, Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lena Dunham remains one of the most controversial people in pop culture, but that hasn’t stopped a glittering roster of A Listers from appearing in her fun new London-based Netflix romcom Too Much. We assess some of her biggest online scandals, while looking at how autobiographical the show really is. Plus, an explainer of the Salt Path: the latest furore to rock the publishing industry. Are readers right to feel betrayed by writer Raynor Winn’s alleged lies and does publishing have a fact-checking problem? We’ve also got yet another juicy little Beckham family feud update for you, hunnies, plus a debate on whether prenups are feminist and two fab book recs! We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too!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/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.comRecs/reviewsMy Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout The Tenant by Freida McFadden Too Much, Netflix Too Much: what film and TV get wrong about London, BBCDid the Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff Relationship Lore Inspire Too Much?, Marie Claire Will Sharpe went too hard on himself in the Too Much finale, Vulture Lena Dunham’s change of pace, New Yorker  Too Much Is Full of Lena Dunham Lore, VultureTALA founder: ‘We weren’t going to make payroll — so I sold my car’, Financial Times The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were spun from lies, deceit and desperation, The Observer The Salt Path revelations should be no surprise to anyone in publishing, The Observer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad Pitt’s carefully crafted F1: The Movie promo run has us thinking about how celebrities script their own stories and how easily we buy into them. From Brad’s quiet erasure of abuse allegations by Angelina Jolie to Chris Brown packing stadiums despite a long history of violence, we’re diving into the messy, age-old question: can you really separate the art from the artist? Also this week: a gorgeously candid Charlize Theron interview, Tim Key’s rom-com of the summer The Ballad of Wallis Island and Netflix’s jaw-dropping exposé on the cult of American Apparel and the toxic founder Dov Charney. We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too!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/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.comRecs/ reviews:Birnam Wood, Eleanor CattonCharlize Theron, Call Her Daddy  Brad Pitt is Fooling You, Vulture A Complete Timeline of Chris Brown’s Controversies, PeopleScooter Braun, Diary of a CEOBrad Pitt, GQ interview by Otessa Mosfegh, 2022I think I'm done with being interviewed by women. Jameela Jamil Substack Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence, our March 6 episode Trainwreck:The Cult of American Apparel, NetflixThe Ballad of Wallis Island, in cinemas now . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billionaires, botox, and a newly single Orlando Bloom – this week we’re diving into Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s ultra-extravagant Venice wedding, a spectacle that’s reminded the internet that money definitely can’t buy taste. From the Hollywood attendees that made headlines like Sydney Sweeney and Leonardo DiCaprio to the inevitable backlash to the whole thing, we’re getting into it all. Also, as Khloe Kardashian follows in Kylie Jenner’s footsteps and comes clean about her plastic surgery, we’re asking just how much we should applaud the KarJenners for their new transparency. And Ellie reports back from Glastonbury!We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too!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/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply.Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.comRecs/ reviews:The Affair with Anna Williamson Story Time with Kayla JadeWaterfront, Netflix The Shark Whisperer, Netflix The Shallows47 Metres DownHouse of Earth and Blood, Sarah J Maas (Crescent City series) Deep Cover, Amazon Prime The Dark Poetry of the Bezos Wedding, AtlanticVogue's Confidently Oblivious Lauren Sánchez Cover Story, Back Row, Substack Khloé Kardashian Is Talking About Her Plastic Surgery Too, The Cut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.