Pairings

Amile & Phoebe
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Personal Journals

Pairings is a conversation series about stories—on the page, on the screen, and in our heads. Moving between literature and pop culture, Amile & Phoebe explore how society, technology and online culture is shaping everyday life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 014: Men Written By Women

    2 days ago

    014: Men Written By Women

    Turning to Kennedy Ryan’s Reel, Amile & Phoebe discuss romantasy & the male romantic leads who populate these worlds. Alongside the fantasy of emotionally intelligent billionaires and artistically gfted providers, they discuss the blackness of Reel & the importance of specificity and lived experience in storytelling. Through Neevah’s health battles and Dessi Blue's adventures, they delight in the ways in which the characters are written with texture, vulnerability, and interiority. They ask whether the fantasy of the “perfect man” is really about romance at all or whether it’s simply about being seen. This episode pairs well with: Reel by Kennedy RyanScore by Kennedy RyanThe 40 Days of Dating Social ExperimentMen wearing slutty little reading glasses non-ironicallyA lychee martini with a single rose petal floating on top Happy listening, A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 9min
  2. 013: Love Made Me Do It

    19 May

    013: Love Made Me Do It

    Set between Martha’s Vineyard and New York’s Upper East Side, Strangers by Belle Burden initially feels worlds away. But as Amile & Phoebe unpack its themes of marriage, compromise, and reinvention…familiar pressures emerge. Alongside the practical realities of divorce and prenups, they interrogate the public response to Belle’s story, and the tendency to dismiss certain experiences. They discuss the pursuit of becoming “wifey” & whether it's ever worth losing yourself for love. This episode pairs well with: Strangers by Belle BurdenBEEF, Season 2 (2026, Netflix)Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing? Chanté Joseph, British Vogue.Knowing Klay Thompson because of Megan Thee StallionLooking in the mirror and saying, “Stand up, girl!”A glass of Provençal rosé, grown the same year you got married. Happy listening, A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 5min
  3. 012: After the Fantasy

    12 May

    012: After the Fantasy

    Amile and Phoebe continue their deep dive into Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Spoilers included this time! Using the novel as a springboard, they explore the tension between modern femininity and masculinity. Beginning with the backlash surrounding Emma Grede’s promo tour for Start With Yourself, they consider the pulls (pitfalls!) of girlboss messaging. As the conversation unfolds, they turn to the pressures placed on men to perform a version of “traditional” masculinity that may not come naturally to them, and the consequences of building family life around rigid ideals. This episode pairs well with: Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeEducated by Tara WestoverKeep Sweet: Pray & Obey (2026, Netflix)Watching someone slowly rebrand their entire life online.Searching for tinctures instead of antibiotics. Leave us a 5 star rating (and a comment) please! A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 9min
  4. 011: Playing House

    4 May

    011: Playing House

    For their first foray into fiction this season, Amile and Phoebe turn to Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Through the character of Natalie, a self-styled tradwife, they explore what it means to perform the role of the “perfect” woman, and why some versions of femininity are so addictive to consume online. As they unpack her story, they revisit themes from earlier episodes through a refreshed lens...from the second shift to motherhood and of course, the manosphere. This episode pairs well with: Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanUnchosen (2026 TV series)Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025, Hulu)Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (2025, Netflix) Swapping your wholemeal loaf for sourdough.Praying that your raw milk is free from listeria. Make sure to read the book! A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 20min
  5. 010: How Far Will You Go?

    27 Apr

    010: How Far Will You Go?

    In the second of their Pixel Flesh deep dive, Amile and Phoebe turn to the idea of beauty maintenance. Comparing their TikTok algorithms, they discuss the shift towards more intensive, expensive and invasive forms of upkeep. They reflect on the ever-growing rejection of ageing and fatness, and the pressures that sustain these insecurities. Moving between viral advice, personal dilemmas, and cultural expectation, they consider what it means to invest in the face and body over time. From skincare and fitness to medications and injectables, how far are we willing to go? This episode pairs well with: Warning (poem) by Jenny JosephThe Year All My Friends Got Botox by E.Clein (The Cut, April 2026)The Substance (2024), dir. Coralie FargeatGetting a blepharoplasty without telling anyoneAn iced matcha with added collagen Happy listening, A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 16min
  6. 009: What Is Pretty Worth?

    20 Apr

    009: What Is Pretty Worth?

    In the first of a two-part series inspired by Ellen Atlanta’s Pixel Flesh, Amile and Phoebe explore the evolving landscape of beauty in the digital age. From size zero to “slim-thick”, and video vixens to the Kardashian era, they trace how beauty standards have intensified online. Reflecting on their different experiences growing up and what they thought of the Olsen Twins. Most apparent is the tension between critique and participation. How does one resist beauty ideals while still engaging in the rituals that sustain them? From filters and fitness to neurotoxins and aesthetic treatments, the list is endless. Join them as they discuss what it means to perform beauty in a world where being seen has never mattered more. This episode pairs well with: Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta"Pretty Hurts" (2013) by Beyonce"Unpretty" (1999) by TLCChecking your reflection in the front-facing camera.Saying “it’s just maintenance” and half-believing it.A Belvedere vodka soda with three lemons Happy listening, A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 6min
  7. 008: Who Gets to Be Innocent?

    14 Apr

    008: Who Gets to Be Innocent?

    This episode explores grooming in childhood. Drawing on cultural touchpoints from My Dark Vanessa to Lolita and Cat Person, they examine the archetype of the “inappropriate adult” and the subtle ways in which boundaries are pushed. Alongside this, they consider the idea of the “imperfect victim”. Who do we protect? And who do we turn a blind eye to? With a focus on British and Western culture, they reflect on how narratives are shaped, mobilised, and oftentimes, weaponised to serve wider agendas. This episode pairs well with: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellHalf His Age by Jeanette McCurdy“Cat Person” (2017), The New YorkerCharlene (The Crime Desk podcast)Lucky Boy (Tortoise Media podcast) Pandering to power instead of trusting your gut.A cup of tea gone cold. Happy listening! A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 6min
  8. 007: Who Gets To Belong?

    6 Apr

    007: Who Gets To Belong?

    In the second part of their Chums deep dive, Amile and Phoebe turn to the figures and cultural touchpoints that continue to shape Britain’s class system. From Jacob Rees-Mogg to Princess Diana and The Crown, they reflect on how class remains deeply embedded in British life, and why access to its upper echelons is rarely as fluid as it first appears. Phoebe shares why Brexit was the worst referendum of all time. Amile explains why she’s never read the Metro. They end by reflecting on the tension between disillusionment and hope & what it might mean to stay engaged in a system that doesn’t always feel built for you. This episode pairs well with: Chums by Simon KuperThe Crown (TV series)A Gin & Dubbonet served over ice à la the late Queen Elizabeth IIRemembering where you were when Princess Dianna diedSkipping past eh newspaper headlines to get to the crossword Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1hr 8min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Pairings is a conversation series about stories—on the page, on the screen, and in our heads. Moving between literature and pop culture, Amile & Phoebe explore how society, technology and online culture is shaping everyday life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Amile & Phoebe
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amile & Phoebe
  • Show Website
    Pairings

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