Gimme a Break Podcast Gimme a Break Podcast

Hello again friends,

It’s been a HUGE week, so let’s get stuck in.

Firstly Ailish address saying cya to Trump and hello to Biden. We talk about the inauguration ceremony and Biden’s impressive first day in office. This is a good article by Mamamia journalist Chelsea McLaughlin to learn what progress Biden made during his first day. Enjoy some of these election memes.

Bella wishes Betty White a happy 99th birthday and talks about this Harpers Bazaar interview with Betty by Amy Mackelden. We reflect on what we’ve learned from interviewing many 100th birthday celebrators and what we think the secret to a long life is.

And Nicolette takes us to a more serious discussion about couples living together before marriage and the divide it can cause in families. We break down the religious stigma often attached with it and talk about whether we think it’s beneficial to live together before marriage.

Plus, we recommend a TikTok lunch hack and two tunes to take a break with — one comes with a side of juicy drama.

Thanks for listening, we’ll be in your ears again next week!

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too.

WE’RE BAAAACK!! It has been a hit minute, oh boy, but we’re back and better than ever. Happy New Year and all that jazz, let’s deep dive into the clusterfuck that already is 2021.

Ailish kicks us off with a chat about I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and the boys club mentality on the show. Contestant Ash Williams displayed some gross behaviour towards Abbie Chatfield and Alli Simpson. This Pedestrian TV article by Matt Galea breaks it down well.

I couldn’t help but wonder … does a Sex and the City reboot belong in 2021? And what does this mean with no Samantha? Bella breaks it down for us. Read more in this Variety article by Ellise Shafer. Another good read is Ella Alexander’s recap of SATC’s triumphs and pitfalls for Harpers Bazaar.

And Nicolette takes us through a discussion about toeing the line between bullying and holding celebrities accountable. Are accounts like Celeb Spell Check doing more harm than good? Are they just a laugh? Let’s chat.

Plus we recommend two TV shows and a skincare product.

Thanks for listening, we’ll be in your ears again next week!

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too.

Hello friends,

It’s Friday so we’re back in your ears again with some juicy topics. Apologies for keeping you waiting, but trust us when we say this episode is well worth it. 

Ailish discusses how a 23-year-old who couldn't survive off her salary as a medical worker created an OnlyFans account to get by and the conversation a New York Post article, which exposed her, has created. Why is the focus on shaming her for sex work instead of the fact that a medical professional has to work three jobs to get by? This Rolling Stones article by EJ Dickson summarises our thoughts well.

Bella deep dives into Joseph Epstein's Washington Post opinion piece regarding Jill Biden dropping the honorific. It's a mess - let's unpack it. She references this delightful clapback by Monica Hesse. Wash away the first read with this one.

And Nicolette ends the conversation with a chat regarding influencer businesses. Do they need to bring something more to the table than just another fashion label with minimal sizing, representation and originality? We think yes.

Plus we recommend a wellness product, an app to try and a Netflix show to binge.

Thanks for listening! We won't be together to record over the Christmas break, so we'll be back in your ears again next year (ah, scary).

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too. 

Hey hey,

It’s us again.

Let’s deep dive into why the lovely Meghan Markle is in the spotlight this time. She opened up in a beautifully penned piece (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/opinion/meghan-markle-miscarriage.html) for the New York Times about her recent experience with a miscarriage, and the internet has gone nuts. When criticising Meghan for being ‘attention seeking’ they fail to remember she’s helping to break a stigma and also their comments will impact those in their lives who have experienced something similar. Ailish references this The West Australian article by Kate Emery (https://thewest.com.au/opinion/kate-emery/meghan-markle-miscarriage-attacks-on-meghan-are-attacks-on-every-woman-who-has-suffered-pregnancy-loss-ng-b881732234z), which summarises her thoughts nicely.

Bella rambles about today’s Black Friday sales and walks us through the ethical dilemma attached to them. Is it ethical to support and host Black Friday sales, which result in mass production and overworked employees, many of whom are in poor conditions to start with. Plus, should the onus to make a change be placed solely on the consumer? This (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-25/oxfam-ranks-fashion-brands-ahead-of-black-friday,-cyber-monday/12915008) ABC article by Amy Bainbridge and Penny Timms talks about the latest Oxfam report on Australian fashion brands and their ethics and ties it in nicely to Black Friday.

On a positive note, this week Scotland became first country to make tampons and pads available for free. Nicolette references this (https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/24/uk/scotland-period-products-vote-scli-gbr-intl/index.html) CNN article by Rob Picheta and Ivana Kottasová to fill you in.

Plus we recommend a new album, a fitness app and a yummy beverage.

Thanks for listening, we’ll be in your ears again next week!

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too.

Hello friends,

It’s Friday so we’re back in your ears again with some juicy topics. Apologies for the lack of energy, we’ve had a hectic work week and the vibe was a bit off when recording, but the chats are still good!

Ailish tackles the Paleo Pete debacle. Pete Evans has made headlines again after posting a meme, which featured a caterpillar wearing the MAGA hat, talking to a butterfly with a Black Sun aka nazi symbol on its wing, and captioned it “an oldie but a Goldie”. She references this Mamamia article by Billi Fitzsimons, which wraps up all the drama nicely, and this tweet by writer Benjamin Law.

Next up, Bella takes us into the rose-tinted world of the wonder that is Harry Styles. We talk about his confidence in breaking gender stereotypes by wearing a dress as the first solo male cover shoot in US Vogue history, and why clothing has no gender and masculinity is more than what you wear. She talks about this piece by Chelsea McLaughlin (sorry, it’s a Mamamia overload this week) and also references this  great article by Priya Elan for The Guardian.

Nicolette segues nicely into the fashion trend we didn’t know we needed; chunky dad sandals. We talk about this Sydney Morning Herald Style article by Melissa Singer and dive into the cyclical nature of fashion. 

Plus we recommend a skin care product, a podcast to listen to and a Netflix show to binge.

Thanks for listening, we’ll be in your ears again next week!

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too.

Hey hey!

Welcome back. Bear with us this week, Nicolette’s away so we had to attempt a Zoom episode. We tried, okay?

First off the bat, Ailish dives into a chat about the importance of representation in the arts, after the talented and diverse cast of the Australian Hamilton was announced. She references this Junkee article by Rashna Farrukh that has some great quotes, as well as this opinion piece by Devi Ruia for Pitt News.

Bella takes us into the world of sport and females throwing their hats in the ring to be a head coach of a male dominated sport. It stemmed from former national netball coach Lisa Alexander’s application for the vacant North Melbourne AFL coaching position. Bella is a gun at all things sports discourse, so she helps the other girls along the way. They reference this great article by Kasey Symons for The Guardian, and here’s a few others from ABC News, The Australian and News.com.

Nicolette brings a juicy topic to the table — single women using sperm donors to have children. It’s a wild ride and a super interesting chat. Have a read of this personal essay Alexandra Collier wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Plus we recommend two uplifting podcasts, a serious article from Mamamia and a new album.

Thanks for listening, we’ll be in your ears again next week!

Connect with the podcast on Instagram and follow us on TikTok.

You can find Bella, Nicolette and Ailish on Instagram too.