Straight Up

Why have we normalised celebrities abusing their power? This week we are joined by fellow journo and fab friend Olivia Petter to talk about celebrity narcissism, manipulation, power trips and industry open secrets. It's right on theme with her excellent debut novel Gold Rush, which explores the dark consequences of when Rose, a 20-something single woman working in the press office for a magazine publisher in London, spends the night with the most famous man on the planet. It's a gripping exploration of power, consent and celebrity, add it to your summer reading list right now! Ps: we are taking a one week break next week as Kathleen is getting married! Normal service resumes 18 July :)DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos: One Taste, Bloomberg One Taste, Netflix American Nightmare, Netflix  Baby Reindeer, Netflix Painful Lessons podcast (Armie Hammer) Spacey Unmasked, Channel 4 Jeanne du Barry (Depp film) Who Trolled Amber? Podcast, Tortoise Media Unbelievable, Netflix Freedom, and Corrections, both by Jonathan Franzen  Joe Alwyn profile The Sunday Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House of the Dragon is the biggest show on TV right now huns, but how does it compare to Game of Thrones? Kathleen is a huge fan of both so gives us her verdict. And hot on the heels of The Idea of You, we now have Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron playing out a hefty on-screen age gap in a new Netflix rom-com A Family Affair. Are critics right to say Hollywood has entered its cougar era, and what’s driving it if so? Plus, Ellie debriefs on whether Disney’s new Karl Lagerfeld drama goes too easy on the highly problematic late designer. Finally, we pick apart Tom Bower’s new book attacking brand Beckham: assessing his motivations for writing such a snide book, and whether these ‘explosive’ revelations offer anything new.DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos discussed: IF (2024 film) House of the Dragon, HBO Max The Last of Us, HBO Max A Family Affair, Netflix The Cougar Bites Back, Financial Times The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime Video Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, Disney Plus America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Netflix Business Barbie: Margot Robbie on how she built an empire, The Times House of Beckham, Tom Bower Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift’s tour has hit the UK and so of course we’re kicking things off with a debate on the queen of pop herself, most notably the recent suggestions that she is employing a calculated release strategy that keeps other artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX off the top spot. Is her Ed Sheeran-style obsession with having the best numbers admirable, or annoying? Next, we drill into Miley Cyrus’ interview with David Letterman last week, covering everything from her only celeb friendship (with Beyoncé no less) and her mum Tish Cyrus’ potent weed, to how she’s navigated fame since the age of 13. Plus, Kristen Stewart’s incredible new film Love Lies Bleeding, with a look back at her 2012 ‘affair’ scandal and public apology to Robert Pattinson, as well as her hilarious recent interviews and quite frankly iconic quotes. Finally, a recap of Kevin Spacey’s car crash interview with Piers Morgan, where the actor, despite having been found not guilty of sexual assault, seemed to incriminate himself, turning his previous supporters against him. DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠@straightuppod⁠. And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos discussed: Miley Cyrus on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman Miley Cyrus Finally Gets Her “Flowers”, W Magazine Love Lies Bleeding (film) Kristen Stewart, Rolling Stone (May) Personal Shopper (film) Kevin Spacey on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter’s relationship is top of our hit-list today hunnies, since the singer released a music video all about an embarrassing boyfriend with a cameo from none other than… her 'embarrassing' boyfriend, Barry. Is he a secret scumbag, or is this all a PR ploy? Next, we revisit Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast, Miss Me?, specifically the episode on sabotage and the Billie Eilish interview, followed by a review of the eagerly-anticipated TV adaptation of Candice Carty Williams’ book Queenie, which has divided critics and audiences. Plus, an ode to Clarkson’s Farm, which has returned to Amazon for a third season. How does a man with an unsavoury reputation as Jeremy Clarkson manage to make such charming, hilarious TV? And finally, a fascinating interview with the founders of London Nootropics, longtime partner of the pod and makers of the best adaptogenic coffee on the market. With Shez and Zain, we cover everything from medicinal mushrooms and coffee to biohacking trends like barefoot shoes and life-extending supplements. DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos discussed:  Sabrina Carpenter, Please Please Please  Dua Lipa Has No Lore, LA Times  Miss Me? Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast Hit Man, Netflix  Hit Man by Skip Hollingsworth, Texas Monthly Kiss The Ground, Netflix Queenie, Channel 4 Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (novel) Rye Lane, Disney + Queenie review – so half-baked it could have been made by AI, Guardian Queenie Reminds Us That Black Women Have A “Right To Exist Messily”, Refinery 29 Clarkson’s Farm, Amazon Prime Video (season 3)  Vivobarefoot shoes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ethical non-monogamy, platonic friendships and TikTok dating coaches: we get into all manner of divisive topics this week, huns, before a big old debate on North West, who has recently reignited the nepo-baby conversation with her controversial performance as Simba in the Lion King. Should adults be critiquing a child on the internet? And how does Kim and Kanye’s parenting approach figure? Speaking of, the Kardashians have returned to Disney for a new season and the elephant in the room is Ozempic. From Kylie and Kims’ shrinking frames, to scenes blatantly showing Wegovy in Scott Dissick’s fridge – are they now knowingly positioning themselves as the poster family for weight loss drugs? And how do we as a society navigate the glamorisation of Ozempic; can the benefits really outweigh the side effects? Next is a look at Will Smith’s upcoming comeback, why Brad Pitt’s daughter is dropping his surname and, finally, a review of the new Netflix series everyone’s talking about, Eric, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, a puppeteer in 1980s New York whose nine-year-old son goes missing. Is Eric the most divisive show of 2024? DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner 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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccos discussed: Sentimental Garbage, Caroline O’Donoghue  Aubrey Marcus on the dark side of open relationships, Diary of a CEO  Where Have All My Guy Friends Gone? The Cut Gone Girl (the ‘cool girl’ monologue) The Case for Marrying an Older Man by Grazie Sophia Christie, The Cut The Cult of the Provider Man, The Cut  The Kardashians Season Five on Disney + Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs by Johann Hari Our review of Jada Pinkett’s memoir (19 Oct 2023 episode) Eric, Netflix Eric review – Benedict Cumberbatch will win awards for this wildly ambitious drama, The Guardian Eric review: Benedict Cumberbatch excels as a weirdo in dark, misanthropic missing-child drama, The Independent Eric Shows Everything That’s Wrong With Mid TV, The Atlantic  Dark Days (2000 documentary film)  Machinal at The Old Vic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Lopez’s latest film has arrived on Netflix and, phew, do we have thoughts! From its botched messaging around AI, to J.Lo’s absurd (if admirable) commitment to her role as a serious scientist, we review Atlas in all its ridiculousness before debriefing on the latest Bennifer drama. Are the reports suggesting that Jen and Ben are separating after less than a year of marriage really true? And can Ben Affleck possibly be claiming temporary insanity as grounds for divorce? Also this week, we recommend The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, a charming rom-com meets action thriller about a stuntman that promises good vibes and classic Gosling unlikely leading man energy. And finally, an update on Sarah Jessica Parker, whose recent podcast appearances show an intriguingly different side to the ‘cruel’ one we’ve read about amid all the SATC drama.  DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner 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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Things discussed:  MOTH Drinks and Vinca Wine The Mother, Netflix Atlas, Netflix The Fall Guy Babylon starring Margot Robbie  A Quiet Place Glad We Had this Chat, with Caroline Hirons  Ruthie’s Table with Sarah Jessica Parker This Is Not A Pity Memoir, Abi Morgan Eric (Netflix) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Turner has given a tell-all interview to Vogue all about her explosive divorce from Joe Jonas, her experience of mum-shaming, her mental health, and becoming friends with Taylor Swift. We have MANY thoughts (and a few hot takes), which prompted a look at how so much mum-shaming online in the UK is linked to classism and slut-shaming. Plus, Ellie has seen Challengers and reveals whether it's up to the hype.DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner: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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccs discussed  Sophie Turner Talks Mum-Shaming, Misogyny And Why The Best Is Yet To Come, British Vogue Joan (coming to ITV in Autumn)  "My abortion story went viral - because even though I wanted it, the process was still painful", Cosmopolitan  Nelly London’s reel ‘I joined the childfree movement - and discovered its dark side’, Beth Ashley for Inews  Sluts: The truth about slutshaming and what we can do to fight it, Beth Ashley  Nicholas Galitzine interview, GQ Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, Netflix  All anyone wants is a hot rodent boyfriend, Dazed  Eudelo inaugural facial, Eudelo Sloane Avenue London Mr Bao and Daddy Bao, Peckham and Tooting  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiona Harvey, the woman unearthed as 'the real-life Martha' by internet sleuths following the wild success of Baby Reindeer, gave a highly controversial interview to Piers Morgan on his YouTube channel last week, so of course we had to debrief. Was she lying? Was Piers wrong to interview her? What are the ethics of all this? Plus, since we love an age gap, we discuss Kate Moss holding hands with a 27-year-old Skip Marley, while Ellie has read a brilliant memoir on living a single life and has many wise nuggets to share with us all. DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!Thanks so much to our amazing partner: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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reccs this week: This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan  The Split, BBC Dark Matter, Apple TV Arrangements in Blue by Amy Key Sex and the City Season 6, Episode 9: A Woman's Right to Shoes Dear Dolly: ‘My boyfriend of 12 years doesn’t want to get married’, The Times One Pot, One Portion by @good_food_mood__ on TikTok Piers Morgan Uncensored interview with Fiona Harvey  New Moth cocktails – Paloma and Cosmopolitan, www.mothdrinks.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dua Lipa’s third album came out last week, huns, and we had such high hopes. So why has Radical Optimism fallen a little flat for us? This got us discussing the general ‘mood’ around the superstar: is she reaching her potential? And how authentic is her media empire, Service95, At Your Service podcast and her new production company Radical22? Plus, we’ve both watched the much-hyped new Anne Hathaway rom-com, The Idea of You, which explores the relationship between a 40-year-old divorcee and the 24-year-old frontman of a superstar boyband (Nicholas Galitzine), based on the hit 2017 novel of the same name. And finally, Kathers gives us the lowdown on the new season of Pandora Sykes’s new podcast, How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right.Thanks so much to our amazing partners: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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AMBL, the London reservations app that finds you incredible restaurants and bars in real time, tailored to you, from vibe to cuisine to cocktails and live music! Search Ambl in the App store;⁠ ambl.coRecs discussed Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism (album) Dua Lipa, Service95 (newsletter) Dua Lipa, At Your Service (podcast) Dua Lipa Manifested All of This, Time magazine Dua Lipa on pop, psychedelics and proving her haters wrong, The Guardian The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (book) The Idea of You, Amazon Prime Anne Hathaway Is Too Hot for 'The Idea of You', The Cut The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self, Vanity Fair How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right podcast, Pandora Sykes Decolonising My Body, Afua Hirsch Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, Afua Hirsch  Omnilux contour face mask Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bridge will soon be back on our screens with a new love interest we are VERY excited to see: young Leo Woodall. Do we like this 28 year age gap for our fave clumsy hun? We discuss! Plus, why everyone is talking about the steamy new psychosexual film Challengers, and why its star Zendaya is becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Also: our thoughts on Billie Eilish’s highly candid Rolling Stone interview, why J Lo’s is having some personal PR problems, and a debrief on Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper’s wedding.Thanks so much to our incredible partners:Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LiveInnermost.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠London 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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AMBL, the London reservations app that finds you incredible restaurants and bars in real time, tailored to you, from vibe to cuisine to cocktails and live music! Search Ambl in the App store; ambl.coReccs discussedBridget Jones Diary 4: Spoilers, cast, trailer and plot, elle.comZendaya talks Challengers, talks to Serena Williams and considers her future, VogueJimmy Carr: "There's A Crisis Going On With Men!", Diary of a CEO Challengers, in cinemas nowDune: Part Two, Netflix'Challengers' Star Josh O'Connor Is Filthy in Every Movie, Vulture 3 Body Problem, Netflix The Last of Us, HBOBlue Lights, BBCBillie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself, Rolling StoneHack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut, NetflixMeet Emily English, the nutritionist everyone’s talking about, The Times The Truth About Nutrition With Em The Nutritionist, Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast Yuka app The Call Her Daddy breakup, Shameless podcast Inside Alex Cooper And Matt Kaplan’s Intimate Beachside Wedding In Riviera Maya, Vogue  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.