Straight Up

We come armed with BTS goss on a huge range of pop culture talking points this week gang, from the newly announced Harry Potter documentary about Daniel Radcliffe’s paralysed stunt-double (with juicy tangents on Emma Watson, Rita Skeeter and more) to the hilarious, hard-to-believe celebrity stories from James Blunt’s new memoir – including the time he ate his own poo at Jamie Foxx’s house, on Bear Grylls’ advice. As requested, we also get into the Wagatha Christie documentary on Disney + that details exactly what went down between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, as well as the ethics of “playing evil”, prompted by the BBC’s new drama, The Reckoning, where Steve Coogan stars as Jimmy Saville.  Finally, if you haven’t yet please do leave us a review and next week, we promise, Ellie will be revealing her embarrassing, pants-related story as payback. We’re so chuffed with the ones you’ve already left, thank you! Any thoughts please do DM us @straightuppod 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.com⁠⁠⁠Yonder, 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 forensic analysis of Britney’s memoir is top of the agenda this week, as The Woman In Me’s many bombshell revelations make headlines everywhere. From childhood she was constantly sexualised by the media and after releasing her hit single Baby One More Time in 1998, aged just 16, the world was divided over what she represented: good American role model or dangerously bad influence? We look at how a toxic media and dated purity culture obsessed and shamed Britney over whether she was a virgin, a grotesque prurience Justin Timberlake himself took horrible advantage of via the calculatedly misogynistic media campaign for his own debut album.We trawl back through some of the most shocking Britney interviews from the lads mags of the late 90s, using our own experiences at mens' magazines to analyse journalistic motivations and Britney’s own agency. Plus: that now infamous Diane Sawyer interview, and how women journalists were complicit too.We also discuss everything from the current media narrative around Britney’s devastating abortion revelation to whether this memoir will calm or fuel the ongoing media circus.Please let us know your thoughts on the episode by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we love to hear 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.com⁠⁠Yonder, 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.

Do we have a right to tell our stories if they involve the private lives of others? It’s the ethical conundrum we’re discussing this week following the explosive revelations in Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir about her 'husband' Will Smith. And, on the same theme, the very dark stories ‘Kanye’s muse’ Julia Fox has revealed in her brilliant memoir Down the Drain. And for all the huns wondering, who is Julia Fox, don’t worry, Ellie gives us her wild life in a nutshell — prepare for your eyes to POP.Plus, how do you deal with professional rivalry when it comes to your own romantic relationships? We both watched Netflix’s erotic thriller about a couple going for the same promotion at a hedge fund and we have thoughts!! And finally Kathleen tells us all about why we need to know TikTok superstar Madeline Argy.Let us know what you think of the topics discussed on insta at StraightUpPod, we absolutely love all your messages.Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:London Nootropics, a literally game-changing adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠Yonder, 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! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at ⁠yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week there’s only one pop culture topic on everyone’s lips: the Beckhams. The four-part Beckham documentary dropped on Netflix to rave reviews, but what were the juiciest revelations and what did brand Beckham conveniently leave out?We get stuck into everything from the tabloid shaming of Victoria’s weight and the disturbing quotes about Beckham’s dad, to those Rebecca Loos allegations (including how the story was actually put together) and whether Loos had any leg to stand on selling her story.  We chart how the Beckhams’ relationship to the media has changed over the course of their 25-year marriage, the multitude of rumours, allegations and *that*  furore around the knighthood. Plus, we spill all our own insider secrets: Ellie shares a VERY interesting story from meeting Mr Beckham, while Kathleen hears from one of the family’s former employees. And we discuss whether any of the industry circle whispers hold water.Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IGThanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:London Nootropics, a literally game-changing adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at londonnootropics.comYonder, 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! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiii huns, we had such a fun afternoon catching up about everything from the latest celeb divorce (it never ends!) to Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, featuring some reminiscing from Ellie on the time she had brunch with Anya and left her "devastated" (whoops). Then, Kathleen gives the latest on the never-ending Kim and Kourtney fallout, including the "Not Kourtney" whatsapp group, and Kendall Jenner's Gucci campaign with boyfriend Bad Bunny, followed by a big dig into the new Jorja Smith interviews that have dropped in line with her new album this week, in particular her quotes around being trolled because of her weight.Plus, as a new book about Glossier founder Emily Weiss gets everyone talking, we discuss why she left her company last year after a Glossier boycott, the criticisms of 'barely there beauty' and the Girlboss era. And, VERY importantly, El continues her one-woman mission to read every piece of bad boy lit in the land, and has one particularly depraved recco for us, yay!Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IGThanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep:London Nootropics, a literally game-changing adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at londonnootropics.comYonder, 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! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.comReccos discussed this week: Queen & Slim (film) Split (film) Kill Your Friends by John Niven The Unpublishable by Jessica DeFino Boiling Point (BBC series) Drops of God (Apple+) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are so excited to welcome Emma Gannon on the pod, ahead of her speaking at the fantastic Wimbledon Bookfest, which runs 12-22 October.Emma is the author of six books and creator of hit Substack newsletter, The Hyphen. Having published The Success Myth earlier this year, which explains why our obsession with achievement is a trap and how to break free, Emma was diagnosed with chronic burnout, an irony that she unpicks with us as she gets into how it left her dissociated and unable to work for four months. From her own experience of massive success – and how it left her feeling unfulfilled and miserable – to workaholism, the subjective nature of success and how to design a life (not a career) you enjoy, there is so much insight and wisdom for all you angels here regardless of what you do for work! It felt almost like we’d been in one of Emma’s coaching sessions after this chat, and we absolutely loved it. Also up for debate are the joys of being child-free by choice (her novel Olive is all about this and it is fab), finding your own version of “fun”, how to earn more doing LESS work, the importance of prioritising a solo holiday and, of course, boundary setting. Also, a big shout out in our intro to The Apollo Arms, the most gorge new pub in Clapham, South London, that has the most incredible gastro menu we’ve tried in a long time. We implore you to go check it out! apolloarms.co.ukGet your copy of The Success Myth at all good booksellers, follow Emma on socials @emmagannonuk and check out her newsletter at thehyphen.substack.com/subscribePlease do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IGThanks so much to our three brilliant partner for this ep:London Nootropics, the tastiest sachet-served coffee EVER, which - thanks to its incredible adaptogens such as lion's mane mushroom and zinseng - actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or anxiety. 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 £19.95 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 like Lina Stores to gym F45! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi everyone, we’re all aware of the horrific rape and sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand  - which he vehemently denies, maintaining all sexual relations have been consensual - so in this episode we analyse what this means for the media (TW). Why is it that so many Brand supporters think this is a media conspiracy? What does ‘the media establishment’  - Brand and his supporters’ enemy no1 - really mean? And  are ‘alt’ voices like Brand really being silenced by traditional titles? Using our extensive experiences in the media we analyse how exactly this kind of investigation would have come about from a legal and editorial perspective, and why alt-right, conspiracy-led content from people like Brand does so well online.Plus, we debate the thorny issue of the age of consent, why there has never been such a divide between men and women, and who Russell Brand’s male and female supporters really are.Let us know what you think of our discussion by sending us a DM on Insta @straightuppod. We will be back to less sombre issues next week! E and K xxxThanks so much to our two brilliant partners: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 like Lina Stores and 45 Jermyn St to gyms F45 and Sweat BXR! The card also includes comprehensive travel insurance. Sign up today at yondercard.comLondon Nootropics, the tastiest sachet-served coffee EVER, which - thanks to its incredible adaptogens such as lion's mane mushroom and zinseng - actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, all without any of coffee's usual classic crashes or anxiety. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20 per cent off your box with the code straightup at londonnootropics.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve said it before huns, this is the year of the chaotic celebrity divorce, but the Joe Jonas vs Sophie Turner divorce drama has left us REELING. From Joe’s PR team playing what appears to many as a misogynistic smear-campaign against Sophie — who he married in 2019, when she was just 23 — to wild rumours involving partying and ‘ring cameras’, this might be the messiest celeb divorce we’ve witnessed since Brad and Angelina. We discuss everything from Sophie’s public battle with mental health and when Ellie interviewed Joe in 2018, to  the very revealing Taylor Swift song thought to be about ‘smug’ ex Joe.Plus, Kathleen tells us why she’s had enough of reading about heartbroken middle-class women, and we reveal our honest thoughts about new It couple Kylie and Timothée. Do they have more in common than we think?Let us know what you think of the episode by sending us a DM @straightuppod !Recommendation discussed:Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas and why the court of public opinion matters in celebrity divorces, today.comReally Good, Actually by Monica Heisy Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan  Real life by Brandon Taylor Mona Hotel AthensBirdman Athens Listener reccos:The Late Americans by Brandon TaylorMiddlesex by Jeffrey EugenidesDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverI'm Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca WaitMaame by Jessica George Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poor Els got mugged last week huns, so today’s episode starts with the download on her enforced digital detox, before taking a sunnier towards perhaps the best news we’ve heard all year  – Maya Jama and Stormzy are back together!! – and our slightly tragic obsession with this ultimate modern day love story. Then, more summer reading recommendations, including Imogen Crimp’s A Very Nice Girl, the buzziest debut novel of last year, and Dolly Alderton’s upcoming second novel, Good Material, as well as some suggestions from you gorgeous listeners. We also debate why there are so few ‘bad boy’ voices in literature these days, the female protagonist overload, and whether we could ever be interested in an ‘incel-y’ perspective. Finally, an unfortunate look at Kanye’s builders bum in Venice (yes you read that correctly), plus a rundown on the ongoing Hollywood strikes, and how they’re shaping TV and film for the future. Recommendations discussed: Jockstrap, I Love You Jennifer B  Another Round on Netflix  Theatre Camp in cinemas now  The Woman in the Wall on BBC1 A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan  Good Material by Dolly Alderton (out this November) The List by Yomi Adekoke The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan  Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the celebs are on holiday this week, angels, so we’ve got another jam-packed pop culture debrief for you, starting with Coleen Rooney’s fabulous – but divisive – Vogue cover for the September issue, the most important of the year! We get into all her explosive Wagatha Christie revelations and backstory with Wayne, as well as the criticisms of the cover. Are the suggestions that Coleen is not a Vogue cover girl rooted in classism? Then, a look at one of the most powerful and hated men in music, manager Scooter Braun – who discovered Justin Bieber and waged war with Taylor Swift in 2019 – who has just been dropped by Ariana Grande, following in the footsteps of J Balvin and Demi Lovato. We get stuck into the rumours as well as some of the disturbing allegations surrounding his management style. Plus, is it ethical for Amy Winehouse’s parents to be publishing her private diaries, and what the hell is going on with Britney’s divorce? Is Sam Asghari a scumbag who plans to take her to the cleaners? Or are the rumours that Britney cheated on him true? We lay out her prenup terms and all the other insider bits of intel, with a debate on her nude Instagram posts. Please leave us a review and send us a little DM @straightuppod on Insta, we love to hear from you!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.