Straight Up

Straight Up

The pop culture podcast with no filter, brought to you by besties and journalists Kathleen and Ellie. New episodes out every Thursday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 16 hr ago

    FRIENDSHIP BREAKUPS: ghosting, group dynamics and comparison culture

    This week we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes on a topic that still feels like a taboo despite its clear universality, with the help of lots of deeply honest and moving DMs from the huns. A friendship ‘breakup’ is an experience more than 80% of women have been through and it can be even more gut-wrenching than ending a romantic relationship. Yet in our society that prioritises romantic over platonic love, there’s no social script for dealing with it. We cover everything from ghostings and estrangement to boundaries and therapy-speak, as well as how politics, exes and different life stages can lead to rifts and resentment. If you’ve been through something similar, then hopefully this ep will help you feel less alone!  Tickets for our book club on Wed 2 September are on sale now! Get yours at via Ticket Tailor and preorder your copy of Where Are the Kings here  Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcast Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs Bad Friend, Michelle ElmanBride Wars We Need to Talk about Our Ex Best Friends, ElleBad Friend, Tiffany Watt SmithThe Lingering Wounds of Friendship Breakups, Elle The White Lotus S3 E8, HBO Will Our Friendship Survive Your Baby, New York Magazine . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 30 Jul

    Our plastic surgery nightmare, Love Island and marital misery in The Invite

    This week we’re diving into Jia Tolentino’s viral essay on the new age of cosmetic enhancement, from how algorithms are changing our faces to whether Botox really helps women get ahead at work – and why our own feelings on tweakments have recently radically changed. Also on the show: Olivia Wilde’s brilliant new film The Invite, where she and Seth Rogen play a miserable middle-class married couple, Apple’s sci-fi dystopia Silo, dispatches from the newborn trenches, and the latest doc exploring the ethics of reality TV, The Love Island Curse. Enjoy huns! Tickets for our book club on Wed 2 September are on sale now! Get yours at via Ticket Tailor and preorder your copy of Where Are the Kings here  Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcast Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ Recs/ reviews:  On whether having a baby ruins your life or not, Sam Parker, SubstackSilo, AppleTVThe Invite, in cinemasThe Drama, available to rentHalf Man, iPlayerThe Curse of Love Island, Prime Video Our incredible September book club pick Where Are the Kings, by Donal Ryan – pre-order your copy here Our Plastic Surgery Nightmare, The New Yorker How 'The Botox Psyop' Broke Our Brains in the Name of Beauty, Diabolical Lies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 23 Jul

    Katie Price’s doc, The Odyssey and Justin Bieber vs Madonna

    We are so excited to be reunited and resuming normal service this week with a very overdue pop culture catch up! First up: reviews of Christopher Nolan's much talked-about Hollywood epic The Odyssey and "perimenopausal" crime caper Ride or Die starring Hannah Waddingham, before we dive into the fascinating new Katie Price docu-series. Plus: the new data showing that nine out of 10 of Britain's best-selling novels feature a murdered woman, and the Chris Martin-curated World Cup halftime show, from its bizarre performances to Madonna and Justin Bieber's reported feud. Enjoy huns and don’t forget to put Wednesday 2nd September in your diaries for our next book club at The Hoxton Holborn!  Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcast Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs/ reviews: The Odyssey, in cinemasSex, beds and grisly executions: what Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey changed, invented – and left out, GuardianChastity, nodding and enormous pores: will women also love Nolan’s Odyssey?, GuardianObsession, in cinemasRide or Die, Amazon Prime ‘An overnight success after 25 years? Delicious’: Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham on sexism, stunts and stardom at 51, GuardianLucky, Prime VideoKatie Price: Nothing to Hide, NOWTV/ SkyNine out of 10 bestselling novels in UK have one thing in common: a woman is murdered, Guardian9 of Britain's 10 Bestselling Novels Begin With a Dead Woman. I Asked Authors, Literary Experts and a Criminal Behavioural Analyst Why, Marie ClaireHawk, Netflix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 16 Jul

    The best books of 2026 so far

    This week we’re sharing our favourite reads of the year so far, from the novels we couldn’t put down and 2026’s most-talked about titles to the memoirs that kept us up at night. Consider this your summer reading inspo: including the ultra-hyped Strangers by Belle Burden, Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash and Devil Wears Prada-style thriller Workhorse. As promised, we’re also reviewing the trad-wife thriller Yesteryear again, as well as the addictive true story of how actor Hannah Murray found herself sucked into a creepy wellness cult. Enjoy huns and please do share your book recs in the comments!  Our next book club will be announced in the next couple of weeks – watch this space hunnies! You can also find our 10 best books of all time over on Patreon, where we drop bonus eps every month and offer our main eps completely ad-free. Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.com Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs/ reviews:  Strangers, Belle Burden Belle Burden on the Collapse of Her 20 Year Marriage & Her Bestselling Memoir, The Oprah PodcastWhy I Don't Feel Sorry for Belle Burden, Kathleen Harmer on Substack Yesteryear, Caro Claire BurkeI’m obsessed by the trad wife world — this was the best way to expose it, The Times The Caro Episode, Diabolical LiesLost Lambs, Madeline Cash “I Always Felt Ripe for a Cult”: Meet Madeline Cash, Author of the Year’s Buzziest Debut, Interview Magazine The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness, Hannah MurrayWorkhorse, Caroline Palmer Hooked, Asako Yuzuki. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 9 Jul

    Why we’re all bored of everything

    We have more entertainment than any generation in history, so why does everything feel boring now? Fatigue, the death of originality and digital overwhelm are things we’ve been mulling over a lot recently, after finding ourselves sick of the onslaught of mid-level media, the memeification of politics, nihilism, AI slop and remake after re-release upon algorithm-driven copycat. Is this all just a symptom of the attention economy in overdrive? And what can we do to reclaim our interest? This week we’re deep-diving into why we all feel so bored of everything and how we fight back in the age of average. Get our brand-new bonus episode (plus early access and ad-free listening) on Patreon! patreon.com/straightuppodcast Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.com Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs / reviews:  “Is This the Worst-Ever Era of American Pop Culture?” The AtlanticThe decline of Hollywood talent and originality, Brad Starks on LinkedInThis is what it looks like when nothing matters, The AtlanticWhat Does '6-7' Mean? Don't Expect Gen Alpha to Explain It. New York TimesWhat Does Boredom Do to Us—and for Us? New YorkerWhen Did Reading Become A Competitive Sport? Elizabeth Day on Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 2 Jul

    Taylor Swift’s wedding, Olivia Wilde and the rise of singles nights

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are supposedly getting married this weekend, so we discuss how much of a spectacle it will be. Plus, what Olivia Wilde’s unfiltered Call Her Daddy episode says about the demonisation of mothers, what the glamourisation of smoking says about today’s weight-loss era, and why the exploitation of Marilyn Monroe feels so deeply relevant today. Also, the return of Caroline Calloway, boyfriend shaming, and why singles nights are revolutionising dating. Thank you to this week’s wise and wonderful guest co-host Olivia Petter, award-winning journalist, author of the brilliant debut novel Gold Rush and founder of Red Lips Dating. Hear Olivia answer your juicy dating questions in our exclusive bonus ep now on Patreon! patreon.com/StraightUpPodcast Olivia’s IG: @oliviapetter Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.com Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs/reviews Red Lips, @redlipsdating on IGGold Rush, Olivia PetterOlivia’s first Straight Up ep in 2024The Unheard Tapes, NetflixMarilyn Monroe–The Rest Is HistoryLetters from Scamelot, AirmailMy Week with MarilynI recognise the person in Netflix’s Wellmania — it used to be me, The TimesOlivia Wilde, Call Her DaddyOlivia Wilde has to disappear, The CutMonsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire DedererTwo Weeks in August, ITVThe Invite, in cinemas Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 25 Jun

    Ariana Grande, Brooklyn Beckham’s ad and reporting a police officer

    Did Brooklyn Beckham just blow up any chance of a family reunion with his controversial $1m Door Dash ad, or is it straight out of the Victoria Beckham playbook? Also this week: the increasingly fraught discourse about Ariana Grande's weight loss, and whether Emily Ratajkowski is ragebaiting us with her viral new essay and accompanying photoshoot that’s ‘sexualising breastfeeding’. Plus, why women are obsessed with Off Campus, the must-read, five-star book about the Kardashians, and the traumatising experience of reporting sexual misconduct within the Met Police. Thank you to this week’s incredible guest co-host, broadcaster, writer, pop culture queen and OG hun Jackie Adedeji!  Jackie’s IG: @jackieadedeji Get our brand-new bonus episode (plus early access and ad-free listening) on Patreon! patreon.com/straightuppodcast Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.com Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs/reviews DeKonstructing the Kardashians, MJ CoreyThe Moment, AppleTVOff Campus, Amazon PrimeOff Campus’s Hannah Finally Makes Me And My Big Boobs Feel Seen, Pedestrian TVKatie Price: Nothing to Hide, SkyTV (out July 8)Karen Carpenter offers a haunting warning for Ariana Grande fans, Telegraph What if we're not actually worried about Ariana Grande? Liz Plank, SubstackReporting ‘police sexual misconduct’ - my traumatic experience, Channel 4 NewsMy Big Boobs: Untold, Channel 4I Don't Trust My Therapist: Untold, Channel 4 . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 18 Jun

    Margot Robbie, Emma Grede and the politics of pregnancy

    Pregnant women are being unfollowed in their droves on social media, but at the same time, pronatalist messaging has never been harder to escape. So why is it that both the child-free community and parents alike feel so under siege? We take a look at the celebs at the centre of the discourse, from Margot Robbie facing backlash for “pretending she’s not a mum” and Emma Grede catching heat for her comments on balancing work and motherhood, to Rihanna’s body being under constant surveillance and Nara Smith-style ‘momfluencer’ culture. Plus: K’s personal experience of pregnancy, why society isn’t set up for people to procreate and postpartum representation.  Get our brand-new bonus episode (plus early access and ad-free listening) on Patreon! patreon.com/straightuppodcast Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.com Try the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.com Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppod Find us on YouTube @straightupmediapod Email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Recs/ reviews:  Madeleine White Responds to Commenters Who Say They Are Unfollowing Her for Being Pregnant, PeopleMargot Robbie, stop pretending you’re not a mum, The Courier Mail The Bump Watch That Won't Quit, Yahoo EntertainmentInfluencers are selling a delusional fantasy of being postpartum. Why is it so easy to believe? SubstackThe Kardashian Whisperer Who Says Three Hours With Her Kids Is Enough, WSJEmma Grede: from the East End to $300m with the Kardashians, The Times The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore? Straight Up Dispatches from Motherhood, Substack . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

The pop culture podcast with no filter, brought to you by besties and journalists Kathleen and Ellie. New episodes out every Thursday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Straight Up
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Straight Up
  • Show Website
    Straight Up

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