Straight Up

Everyone is talking about Wicked and so of course we had to share our review with you this week, from just how much we loved the cinematic spectacle, to the best moments from the utterly hilarious press tour. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s crying and hand-holding has us in a chokehold. Surely you’ve been holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity too? Also, Ellie delivers some sad news about Paul Mescal’s Gladiator performance, while Kathleen has much to report on Pandora Sykes’s brilliantly thorough dissection of literary behemoth Colleen Hoover’s work. Plus: freakily life-like AI pets have launched in Japan and are targeted at women in their thirties. We discuss! Recs/culture discussed  Gladiator II, in cinemas now  The Secret Of Us (deluxe version), Gracie Abrams  Afrikan Alien, Pa Salieu The Real Reward Of All These Celebrity Lookalike Contests, Raven Smith for Vogue  Rita’s, Soho White Horse, Shepherd’s Market  Pandora Sykes’ Books and Bits, Substack Scrapper, BFI Player My weird, emotional week with an AI pet, Guardian My AI Girlfriend, Slow News Cast, Tortoise Wicked, in cinemas now Theatre Camp, Disney+ Emilia Perez, Netflix  Say Nothing, Disney+ Blitz, Apple TV+DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠https://www.yonder.com/straightupYonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at ⁠⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off our fave adaptogenic coffee using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Sisters, the brilliant black comedy by Sharon Horgan, is back for season two, so this week we’re getting stuck into the Garvey girls’ return with our review. First, though, some celeb news, from Romeo Beckham’s new girlfriend Kim Turnbull, to Molly-Mae’s Vogue feature. Plus, a debrief on Anora, the award-winning new film touted as the modern day answer to Pretty Woman (consider us Mikey Madison stans). And finally, a raving review of bonkbuster Rivals now that we’ve both finished the first season. We absolutely get the hype. DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, beloved by foodies like us. Find out more at https://www.yonder.com/straightupYonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Stream now at ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off life-changing adaptogenic coffee brand using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccs discussed:  “People Find Me Quite Controversial”: Molly-Mae for British Vogue by Sirin Kale Nightbitch (out 6 December)  Wolf Like Me, Amazon Prime Anora, in cinemas now  A Night at Cannes With the Strippers of Sean Baker’s Anora, Vulture Mikey Madison: from Tarantino bit part to hot tip for an Oscar playing a sex worker, Guardian  Better Things, BBC iPlayer The Oscar contender with a Russia problem, Telegraph Bad Sisters, Apple TV Rivals, Disney + Memo to my family: Stop asking me when I’m going to make you grandparents, Independent  People Aren’t Sure About Having Kids. She Helps Them Decide, Time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would an 18-year-old you want to ask your 39-year-old future self if you met them during a hallucinogenic mushroom trip? That's the amazing conceit behind new Margot Robbie-produced rom-com My Old Ass. We review the film while chatting all about teen nostalgia and the passing of time. Plus, why on earth didn't Jamie Oliver hire a sensitivity reader for his cancelled new children's book? And Kathleen has only just recovered from watching the ever-divisive Demi Moore body-horror The Substance, which Ellie reviewed here last month, so we discuss!DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, beloved by foodies like us. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We’re also over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on ⁠BFI Player. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccs discussed:  Barry Keoghan on the Louis Theroux podcast The Outrun, in cinemas A Different Man, Apple TV The Apprentice, in cinemas Trump spoke directly to young men online. Young men spoke back, The Face All Those A-List Celebs Couldn’t Save Harris, But Joe Rogan Helped Trump, Hollywood Reporter So Good, Emily English My Old Ass, Amazon Prime  The Fall of My Teenage Self, Zadie Smith for New Yorker The Substance, streaming now Living with Yourself, Netflix Anora, in cinemas now  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You asked and we have delivered hunnies: an investigation into why modern dating feels so broken. Is it just a case of dating app fatigue and chronic ghosting or are there bigger societal issues pegged to the widening gender gaps when it comes to education, pay and politics? And how helpful is this very modern idea of self love over romantic love? We address all your requests, from positive dating stories and top tips for the apps and offline dating, as well as cautionary tales and horror stories for a little much-needed camaraderie. Plus, how dating affects friendships for better or worse and pop culture’s empty promises. DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre, coffee and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We’re also over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on ⁠BFI Player. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccs discussed:  Martha, Netflix Kill List, Wondery  Young women are starting to leave men behind, Financial Times ‘Falling birth rate? It's difficult to imagine having kids when dating is this hard’ Chanté Joseph for Women’s Health  The Age of Abandonment, Girls by Freya India, Substack  Fear and Loathing on Feeld, Moya Lothian-McLean for The Londoner  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Halloween hunnies! Why does it feel like the once brilliant Louis Theroux has become our embarrassing uncle? His new Spotify podcast season has revealed him to be narcissistic and underprepared, so we assess potential causes. Plus, our thoughts on two viral celeb videos: Saoirse Ronan's mic-drop moment on Graham Norton, and Tom Holland 'saving' Zendaya. We also come armed with two excellent what to watch reccos: zombie drama Generation Z and a biopic about the most provocative rappers today.DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre, coffee and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible ⁠BFI Player ⁠every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Amazing health benefits plus no anxiety or jitters. Win! Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos/culture discussed Law Roach, the architect of Zendaya’s red carpet style, The New Yorker  Generation Z, Channel 4  Sue Johnston is the greatest zombie to grace our screens in decades (Joel Golby) Guardian Kudu Grill  The Louis Theroux Podcast, Spotify  The Louis Theroux Podcast review — his worst interview yet, Times  Grounded with Louis Theroux BBC Sounds Kneecap, BFI Player  “She’s Fascinating Eating Cornflakes”: The Endlessly Alluring Saoirse Ronan On Blitz, Kids And Marital Bliss The Outrun, in cinemas now Blitz, in cinemas now  Paul Mescal enters the arena, GQ  Big Boys, Channel 4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liam Payne’s passing has reignited important conversations around the cost of fame and media exploitation, so we’re discussing everything from journalistic ethical standards, to the music industry’s duty of care for popstars. What can we learn from this all-too-familiar tragedy? Also on the show, we review Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, ‘bonkbuster’ Rivals and new comedy The Franchise. Plus: Angelina Jolie’s alleged romance with London’s own Akala, dating octogenarians, and Netflix’s adaptation of the hit podcast Sweet Bobby.If you've been affected by anything in this episode, Samaritans are here to help, you can call 116 123.Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible ⁠BFI Player ⁠every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to⁠ ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Amazing health benefits plus no anxiety or jitters. Win! Get 20% off using our code straightup at⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Culture/reccs discussed  AARP-Breaker, Airmail I’m 33 and my husband is 77 – this is why I only sleep with older men, Guardian Magnolia Cafe, Lisbon Woman of the Hour, Netflix  Love Life, BBC iPlayer Liam Payne: journalistic ethics are often ignored when celebrities die, The Conversation  Rivals, Disney Plus Sweet Bobby, Netflix The crunch, the flavours, the rituals: how crisps became a British snack obsession, Guardian  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stormzy has a potential new girlfriend and we are SHAKEN by this breaking news huns (and the pics of them kissing at Heathrow) but trying our best to process — it helps that she is the incredible musician Victoria Monet who we already happened to adore. Plus, why we’ve fallen in love with the ultimate modern man Andrew Garfield ahead of his new film We Live In Time, ft. a hilarious story from filming with Florence Pugh. Also, our thoughts on the deeply uncomfortable Boris Johnson interview with Steven Bartlett, not to mention the recently unearthed Anne Hathaway press junket clips, as well as our verdict on the absolute stinker of a Netflix Rom-com Lonely Planet. And is the new show Curfew about making all men stay at home from 7pm to 7am onto something? We discuss! Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠Yonder⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to experiences from the theatre to flights. Find out more at ⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠Subject to eligibility. 18+ and UK Residents Only. T&C's apply.We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible ⁠BFI Player ⁠every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to ⁠⁠player.bfi.org.uk⁠⁠ ⁠to stream now!We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Amazing health benefits plus no anxiety or jitters. Win! Get 20% off using our code straightup at ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Recs/ culture discussed Andrew Garfield on the Modern Love podcast, The New York Times Learning to Measure Time in Love and Loss, NYTimes Andrew Garfield on All There Is with Anderson Cooper The Confessions of Andrew Garfield, Esquire Oliver Burkeman's last column: the eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life, Guardian  Kjersti Flaa YouTube (Blake Lively and Anne Hathaway interviews) Boris Johnson on Diary of a CEO Lonely Planet, Netflix  Will and Harper, Netflix  Disclaimer, AppleTV Curfew, Paramount Plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Hollywood recover from the Diddy scandal? With more than 120 new lawsuits and related conspiracy theories reigning supreme on TikTok, the allegations surrounding the music mogul have gripped the pop culture conversation this past few weeks From the many theories that hone in on Beyoncé, to a reframing of Zoe Kravitz’s Blink Twice, we provide a much needed update on it all. Plus, a debrief on Kamala Harris’ Call Her Daddy controversy, the happy news that The Princess Diaries 3 has been confirmed, and lots of TV and film recommendations, from our current cinema and Netflix picks, to a review of the new season of HBO/BBC sleeper hit Industry. Kit Harington’s brilliant new character has a love of, ahem, watersports, so the chat takes an unusually kinky turn. Enjoy! Huge thanks to our sponsor ⁠Yonder⁠, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at ⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠Yonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible BFI Player every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to player.bfi.org.uk ⁠to stream now!And we’re  partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews.⁠ ⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.We’re back working with our OG faves London Nootropics, the adaptogenic coffee brand that has literally changed our lives with its amazing blends. Amazing health benefits plus no anxiety or jitters. Win! Get 20% off using our code straightup at londonnootropics.comDM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Reccs/culture discussed Call Her Daddy, Kamala Harris Speak No Evil Force Majeure  Heartstopper s3 Prima Facie, NT Live Blink Twice The cheap tricks of MeToo thrillers, Vulture   Industry s3 Cheapskatelondon newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we the only ones not head over heels for Nobody Wants This? Critics are unanimously (and unusually) full of five-star praise for the Netflix Rom-com which has left us a little puzzled — we discuss! In other news, Naomi Campbell has fallen foul of the Charity Commission for allegedly spending money from her charity on lavish hotel rooms and cigarettes, so we put this in the context of her many controversies and ask whether the ‘diva’ label has insulated her from serious scrutiny. Finally, of course we’re debriefing on Sally Rooney, having read her latest bestseller Intermezzo over the weekend. We get into her couple dynamics, how she writes men vs women, marketing hype and why some readers have called out a thematic  ‘glorification of thinness’. Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to theatre and online shopping. Find out more at yonder.com/straightupSubject to eligibility. 18+ and UK Residents Only. T&C's apply.We’re also absolutely over the moon to be partnered with the British Film Institute to tell you about our favourite films dropping on their incredible BFI Player every week. At the moment we’re loving Evil Does Not Exist, Rare Beasts, Scrapper and The Assistant. BFI Player offers a 14-day free trial for new users PLUS our hunnies get an extra month free with the code STRAIGHTUP. Head to https://player.bfi.org.uk to stream now!And we’re  partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews. ⁠Subscribe here⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Reccs/ culture discussed  Nine Lives, Bermondsey Street London The Barbary, Notting Hill   Nobody Wants This, Netflix  The Impeccable Smoothness of Nobody Wants This, Vulture Netflix’s Nobody Wants This and the Persistent Jewish Stereotype, Glamour Nobody Wants This Mean-Spirited Depiction of Jewish Women in Nobody Wants This, Time Drama GCSE, Mathilde Barker, TikTok Baby Reindeer was wrongly billed by Netflix as a ‘true story’, judge finds, Guardian Tyra Banks recalls ‘evil and awful’ conflict with Naomi Campbell in early career, Independent Intermezzo by Sally Rooney 'The Interview': Sally Rooney, The Daily Podcast  Glimpses of Utopia: Sally Rooney's Couples by Joanna Biggs, London Review of Books  Sally Rooney in her own words: ‘I’m fighting a cultural battle’, The Times  Why Are All the Characters in Sally Rooney’s Novels So Thin?, Vogue Are you cool enough to have the next Sally Rooney book? Esquire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley has fast become the most talked-about horror of the year, with audiences divided on whether it’s a feminist masterpiece, or a ‘vile and disgusting’ exemplar of the male gaze. We get into how the film taps into our own fears around ageing and how Demi’s role was influenced by career-long toxic media scrutiny. Also this week, we deep-dive into the horrific allegations and rumours that have come to light since Diddy’s arrest, from his ‘freak offs’ and disturbing relationship with a young Justin Bieber, to the music mogul’s careful curation of a ‘legit’ celebrity persona. Is all of Hollywood as dark and sinister a place as it seems? As part of our conversation about male sexual assault, we also discuss the No1 show on Netflix right now, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use, from points to use towards your bill at the trendiest restaurants and bars in the UK, to world-wide travel insurance and no FX fees for your hols. Find out more at yonder.com/straightupYonder membership is subject to eligibility and you’ll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. If you sign up, only borrow what you can afford to pay back. The representative rate is 66.7% APR variable. Membership fees and other T&Cs may apply. We're also thrilled to be partnered with brand new quarterly newspaper The Pass, the only publication bold enough to ignore food influencer hype and give us properly honest London restaurant reviews. ⁠Subscribe here⁠ to receive the new issue and find out what to cross off, and put on, your list.DM us your thoughts on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please, please, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm!Reccs/ Culture discussed The Substance (in cinemas) I’m a 50-something woman and nothing about Demi Moore’s anti-ageing body horror rings true, Telegraph ‘We can be violent to ourselves. Brutal’: Demi Moore on body image, reinvention and her most shocking role yet, Guardian  Real Ageing is scarier than what’s going on in The Substance, The Cut Helter Skelter by Ninagawa Mika (2012) Once More From The Top by Emily Layden Blink Twice (2024), Apple TV  I Survived Diddy’s White Party, YouTube  Yummy, Justin Bieber (YouTube) The staggering fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – from music mogul to criminal charges, Guardian The Powerful Celebs Who Acted as Diddy’s Human Shield, Daily Beast Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Netflix  The Wild, True Tale Behind Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Vanity Fair  Behind every Al-Fayed and Diddy there is a small army of enablers, Guardian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.