Straight Up

How did J.Lo become one of the most iconic celebrities of all time? In honour of her ninth album, which is an ode to her fourth husband Ben Affleck, we look back at Jennifer Lopez’s extraordinary life and career, from the horrific fall out from her 2003 film Gigli (which broke her and Ben up the first time and left her ‘eviscerated’ by the press), to her out-and-proud, very meta obsession with the wedding industrial complex. Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you. Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep. Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mr and Mrs Smith reboot has landed on Amazon Prime and is already being dubbed the sexiest series on TV, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as spies trying to save their marriage. We get into why this show is a million times better than the iconic Noughties film, covering everything from the Brangelina curse, to why original co-writer/ Mrs Smith Phoebe Waller-Bridge exited early on.Next is our cinema pick for the week, American Fiction, a publishing satire about a black writer who writes a ‘stereotypically ghetto’ novel as a joke, only for it to become a literary hit. We discuss how accurately the film skewers white liberals as well as the concept of selling out for commercial gain, which brought us seamlessly onto the highly relevant new Vox article Everyone’s A Sell Out Now. Finally, a review of the hotly-anticipated new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’  iconic One Day in all its gorgeous nostalgia, with your cheat-sheet guides to leads Leo Woodall (White Lotus) and Ambika Mod (This is going To Hurt). Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you. Thanks so much to our partners for this ep:Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across restaurants, bars, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, with plenty of options for Valentine's Day! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Recommendations covered:  Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon Prime How Francesca Sloane Reimagined a More Relatable ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ The Hollywood Reporter Maya Erskine: ‘I looked at Angelina Jolie and thought, well, I can’t be her’ Fiona Sturges for The Guardian American Fiction, in cinemas now Everyone’s A Sell Out Now by Rachel Jennings for Vox One Day on Netflix Rev on BBC iPlayer Cat In Disbelief Of Dog’s Breath on TikTok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ofc The Traitors finale fall out had to quickly be discussed prior to kicking off proceedings today, huns, followed by an analysis of the off-the-charts chemistry between Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers. Plus, Paul Mescal has been on the Louis Theroux podcast and, shocker, we’re still finding Louis’s narcissistic interview style annoying.  In the world of TV, Kathleen recommends Nicole Kidman’s glossy new Amazon Prime thriller Expats, where we debate why Nicole has received criticism over her work — professional and cosmetic. Speaking of cosmetic surgery, we get into the deeply disturbing reports of children’s 12-step anti-ageing routines. Finally, we dive into Netflix’s latest true crime offering America Nightmare, which saw a kidnapping case tragically bungled by the media’s misogynistic obsession with Rosamund Pike thriller Gone Girl. Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you. Thanks so much to our brilliant partner for this ep:Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale atm, so get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recommendations discussed: All of Us Strangers (in cinemas now)  Paul Mescal on the Louis Theroux podcast  Paul Mescal: I’m Not Just the Token Irish Hunk (The Times) Andrew Haigh interview (Substack, Evan Ross Katz) Expats (Amazon Prime)  They Always Say the Younger You Start, The Better (The Cut) Why Does Gen Z Believe It's 'Aging Like Milk'? (New York Times)  American Nightmare (Netflix) American Nightmare review in the Guardian by Leila Latif  Griselda (Netflix)  Euphoria S2 E1 (HBO) The Traitors S2 (BBC iPlayer) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You asked and so we’ve delivered huns, with a deepdive into Sofia Coppola’s new film Priscilla, starring none other than the internet’s new boyfriend Jacob Elordi. We discuss how the film sits uncomfortably within the grey area between love and coercive control, and whether it would have been described as grooming in our current era. Plus, everything we know about Jacob Elordi to date: from first roles and first loves to his thoughts on everything from handbags to celebrity interviews. Consider us obsessed. Also, what the tween craze for Stanley Cups says about girls today (with a trip down memory lane to our own school status symbols) and whether the latest, hilarious Paul Mescal rumours could possibly be true. Let us know what you thought of the film, and as ever us all your celeb intel, by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta!Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale until the end of Jan, so head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from a swanky dinner at Frenchie to authentic Thai at Plaza! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex is at the top of the agenda today hunnies, with Ellie having watched Emma Stone’s insane, Oscar-tipped bonkbuster Poor Things, as well as the amazingly realistic How to Have Sex, about a girls rite of passage trip to Malia. Cue discussions about everything from sexual taboos to consensual grey areas.Meanwhile Kathleen has been paying *particular* close attention to Hollywood’s unlikely leading men, from Barry Keoghan to Timothée Chalamet. Why is everyone so horny for ‘little freak energy’ as Barry neatly put it himself?We also get stuck into Calvin Klein’s month of thirst and furore: from the Jeremy Allen White ad that has people visiting its New York posters like holy monuments, to the ‘objectifying’ FKA Twigs ad that the ASA has bizarrely banned.And finally, why the explosive Chiara Ferragni cake drama suggests influencer culture really is eating itself.  Make sure you leave us a review on Apple and Spotify, and send us a DM with all of your thoughts, feedback, and celeb gossip to @straightuppod on InstaReccos discussed: Saltburn's Barry Keoghan on flirting with Jacob Elordi and manifesting stardom (GQ) Jacob Elordi & Barry Keoghan on Hollywood, Future Films & ‘Making It’ (Vogue) ⁠How French is Timothée Chalamet?⁠ (Vulture) Why Celebs Are Over Keeping Their Private Lives Private (Vogue) Poor Things (in cinemas now) How To Have Sex (Amazon Prime) How To Have Sex Captures The Unique Thrill – And Pain – Of The Rite Of Passage Girls’ Holiday (Vogue) The Brothers Sun (Netflix) Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix) How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby? Jean M Twenge for The AtlanticThanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori is allegedly not allowed to speak in public,  but how many of the disturbing rumours swirling around the couple are actually true? We dive into the very strange world of Ye and Bianca, Head of Architecture at Yeezy, in light of the recent slew of semi-nude images posted by Ye in ‘honour’ of his wife’s 29th birthday. Kathleen also tells us why Michelle Keegan’s new Netflix thriller Fool Me Once is the best thing on TV right now, and we debate why Michelle isn’t taken ‘seriously’ as an actress, and whether the media have a right to focus on her lifestyle over her work.And Ellie watches a controversial new black comedy, Sick of Myself, about a pathological liar who purposefully disfigures herself to get attention online. Is it a pertinently dark look at viral fame or is the satire too crude?And, in the wake of the recent news story about the rape of a minor in the metaverse, we finally share our thoughts on of our fave recent novels, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, covering everything from virtual utopias to video gaming culture. Recommendations discussed:Sick of Myself (Amazon Prime)Fool Me Once (Netflix)Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinTetris (Apple TV)Your Christmas or Mine 2 (Amazon Prime) The Worst Person in the World Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*TW: themes of child sexual abuse and infertility* How could a female teacher in her mid-thirties ever think it acceptable to sleep with her 12-year-old student? That’s the question at the heart of provocative new film May December, starring Julianne Moore as said teacher, Gracie, who we find living married with the former student she raped, 20 years after the crime. The film - loosely inspired by a real case from the 90s - has received rave reviews, so we get into its many, very thorny ethical dilemmas. Then, more on age gaps and power dynamics in relationships as we debrief on how Nara Smith, the 22-year-old wife of the biggest male model in the world, Lucky Blue Smith, has become one of TikTok’s standout stars, with commentators upset about everything from their (quite frankly insane) baby name choices, to Nara’s conversion to Mormonism and ‘trad wife’ content. Finally, a look at the seminal 90s book The Journalist and the Murderer, and how extremely relevant it feels today when considering the murky ethics of true crime reporting, as well as two article recommendations by fashion writer Camille Charrière, whose accounts of IVF and infertility have recently gone viral. Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we LOVE hearing from you. Thanks so much to our brilliant partner Flare for this ep:Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reccs discussed: May December (available on NOW TV) The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm  Loch Henry (Black Mirror episode)  The Staircase on HBO  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell  Camille Charrière: We Need To Be Having More Honest Conversations About Fertility – And Not Just With Our Girlfriends in British Vogue They told me IVF would be fine. But it left me in a hole of despair by Camille Charrière in The Sunday Times Style Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The three most shocking sex scenes of 2023? They’re all in one buzzy new film: class satire Saltburn, which Ellie went to see last week and reports back with all the gory details in this episode. A little less sexy but equally entertaining was Kathleen’s culture pick this week: Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller  starring Julia Roberts. We get into why it’s so realistic for 2023 and why everyone’s talking about its secret Friends references.And as an extra Christmas treat in this episode we also have a fabulously fun interview with two amazing women: Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton, the cofounders of our favourite charity and ‘movement’ Choose Love, which supports displaced people across the world.Everyone from Olivia Colman to Phoebe Waller Bridge have lent their stardom to promote its incredible message, which proves celebrity philanthropy is not to be sniffed at. So we were so excited to be invited to Choose Love’s stunning Soho pop-up boutique to chat  to Dawn and Josie, getting off to an excellent start by bumping into Dawn’s husband Chris O’Dowd wielding a Choose Love placard just outside. We talked all about the highs and lows of a celebrity marriage, the hilarious fails of being a ‘celebrity plus one’, how Josie began her career in management for Coldplay, top tips for a fabulous dinner party and Dawn and Josie’s best foodie spots in London.  We’re having a little festive break next week gang but we’ll be back with an episode on Jan 4 full of culture recommendations to brighten up our gloomy Januaries. Happy Christmas to our wonderful listeners, we have absolutely loved growing this amazing community of smart, hilarious, fabulous huns - we’re still sobbing over our latest outrageously cute Apple review - so thank you very much for listening, and until next year!  E&K xPlease leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from youShop for someone who needs it via choose.love, visit the store at Carnaby Street (open until xmas eve) and follow @chooselove on instagram! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prison, feuds, fake rumours, sex tape scandals, rehab stints and car chases: it’s all kicking off in part two of our investigation into Hollywood’s hottest noughties 'it girls’, gang, starting with the strange story of Nicole Richie’s adoption and subsequent route to fame via reality TV trailblazer the Simple Life.  Then, we continue to chart the toxic noughties and our then-treatment of women in the public eye, from the shameless obsession with their bodies, to the outright bullying and manipulative tactics of the tabloids. We also look at how Paris Hilton, Linsday Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Richie carefully crafted their own celebrity personas, from Paris’ decades-long dedication to wearing blue contacts, to Lindsay’s breast-focussed SNL skit at the age of just 18. Finally, where are they now, and are any of them even nice people? We spill all the tea on Linsday’s new life in Dubai and debate whether Paris’ image revamp of recent years is actually legit. Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A picture is worth a thousand words… quite literally, in the case of the infamous ‘Bimbo Summit’ picture of 2006, which saw Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan crammed into a car together after a drunken night out, at the height of Paris and Lindsay’s tabloid-fuelled feud. The picture, which was plastered on the cover of the New York Post with the headline ‘Bimbo Summit’ went viral, and its backstory has been contested ever since, but one thing is clear: the media was toxic, and it ruled the noughties. In the first of this scandalous two-parter episode, we analyse how the rise and fall of Hollywood it-girls Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was charted, and largely caused, by these blood-thirsty tabloids and their packs of hungry paparazzi, who could sell pictures for over $20,000 a pop. We look at what drove the media’s frenzied hatred for successful young women, and how complicit, we, as consumers, really were. Ellie also gives us a bite-size travel guide to her recent trip to Goa. If you want to borrow her itinerary, here are her favourite hotels across north and South Goa: Ashiyanya Yoga, Cabo Serai, Turiya Villa and Silva Heritage. And Kathleen heartily recommends a winter getaway at the Pig in Devon.Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you!Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.