Straight Up

Straight Up
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Straight Up

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

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Black Mirror, the Beckham feud and WhatsApp group politics

    Another week, another divisive op-ed from The Cut! This time about the fraught nature of WhatsApp groups: is it wise to use them to discuss such personal things as money, politics and parenting? First though, another op-ed, this time on the 'Singlehood Stigma', tackling why women feel like they are simultaneously being told by society not to want a partner, while also shamed for their singledom. It seems like we can't have it all - and maybe that's OK. Also on the show, we have a look at the new charges against Russell Brand, why Romeo Beckham is feuding with brother Brooklyn, a quick film rec and reviews of this week's top TV: Black Mirror and Dying for Sex. Enjoy hunnies! Please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Recs/ reviews The New Singlehood Stigma, The Atlantic When Did Dating Become So Depressing? (our ep)Freya India, GIRLS, Substack My Group Chat is Ruining My Life, The Cut Thinking About Myself Too Much is Making Me Sick, Chloe Grace Laws’ Substack Black Bag, in cinemas now Russell Brand: Misogyny, manipulation and the mainstream media 'agenda' (our ep)The Deliriously Witty Spy Games of “Black Bag”, New Yorker Is this the kinkiest show on TV? New York MagDying for Sex, Disney Dying for Sex, Wondery PlusMichelle Andrews on Inherited podcast Black Mirror, Netflix Blue Jean, BBC IPlayer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  2. 3 APR

    Sydney Sweeney, Chappell Roan and dystopian pregnancy

    Chappell Roan has received a backlash for saying all her parent friends are ‘in hell’ – is it warranted? We discuss her controversial Call Her Daddy interview and the perennial issue of the ‘unlikeable’ woman, including Amanda Knox, who has just given a fascinating new interview. Also, why does it seem like the internet has been waiting for Sydney Sweeney’s engagement to fail? Plus plenty of film and TV reviews, from brilliant new AppleTV comedy The Studio to Emilia Clarke’s disturbing fertility sci-fi The Pod Generation, now on Netflix. Finally, we dig into why so many men seem to be fainting at a depiction of abortion in the West End, and the efficacy of trigger warnings. Please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. We are blown away by how Sisterly's Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Recs/reviews I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, Rebecca WaitHavoc, Rebecca WaitBrunswick House, LondonThe Studio, AppleTVEllen Pompeo, Call Her DaddyMillie Bobby Brown, Call Her DaddyThe Electric State, NetflixChappell Roan, Call Her DaddyAmanda Knox, How Do I Cope? Con Mum, Netflix The Pod Generation, NetflixI Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline HarpmanThe Years, Harold Pinter  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  3. 1 APR

    MOVING: flatshares, break-ups and escaping the endless grind

    Welcome to another bonus episode, this time on the theme of moving: something we’ve been chatting about a lot over the last six months. Why are so many packing up the career ladder for a different way of life abroad? Is it easier to find love elsewhere? Why are people – including couples – flatsharing later in life than ever? And has it now become acceptable to live with your parents in your 30s? We unpick the most recent data and dive into all these cultural and social trends, while sharing our own experiences of moving, from how our first flatshares compared to pop culture tropes, to living with partners, parents and strangers. We would LOVE to hear about your experiences of moving, in any way shape or form, so please do DM us at @straightuppod, or email us a hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk, and we can continue the conversation. (And don't worry we'll be back with this week's regular ep on Thursday!) Please leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep our little pod going 3 Recs  Homesick, Silvia Saunders The Great Escape: “Why women like me are quitting our jobs in search of sunshine and self-discovery”, Stylist Why everything you know about Gen Z is wrong, The Bunker podcast Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton Girls, Now TV  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min

  4. 27 MAR

    Temptation Island, Gwyneth Paltrow and incest at The White Lotus

    Reality TV is first on the agenda this week huns, as we debrief on Netflix’s bonkers cheating show, Temptation Island, and all the Made In Chelsea alumni currently hitting the headlines. In the wake of the conversations ignited by Adolescence, is a teary Jamie Laing the new face of positive masculinity? Plus, Zara McDermott’s alleged new relationship and the tabloid’s subsequent ‘sad case’ portrayal of her ex Sam Thompson. Also today: the best bits from Gwyneth Paltrow's Vanity Fair profile and Bella Ramsey's British Vogue cover, the previously-promised whistle-stop tour of Chet Hank's many problematic moments in light of his Running Point role, and last but not least, a deep dive into the sixth and most recent episode of The White Lotus. What's driving the incest storyline, and are people right to be offended? Please leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! Say hi by DMing us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Recs/ reviews:  Temptation Island, Netflix Million Dollar Secret, Netflix Big Boys S3, Channel 4Could tearful Jamie Laing be the antidote to Andrew Tate's toxic manosphere? Evening Standard Jordan Stephens on We Need To Talk podcast “There’s No Reason For People Not To Know”: Bella Ramsey for British Vogue Gwyneth Paltrow for Vanity Fair The White Lotus, Sky and NowTV The White Lotus Official PodcastMy Pubic Hair Laser Regret, The CutHow the Four Seasons Hit a Marketing Jackpot With HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’, WSJThe White Lotus outstays its welcome, New Yorker  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  5. 20 MAR

    Adolescence, Fourth Wing and what ‘really’ counts as cheating

    Adolescence on Netflix has fast become the most talked about TV show of 2025, with Stephen Graham’s new drama igniting much-needed conversations around corrosive social media misogyny and violence against girls. We get into it all from our review to the reception. First, though, a chat about polyamory, non-monogamy and what constitutes ‘cheating’ in light of Ne Yo’s polycule reveal and the fallout from Danny Jones and Maura Higgins’s Brit Awards kiss. And also this week: we debrief on publishing phenomenons Fourth Wing now that we’re both Rebecca Yarros converts, share a listener update on the Let Them theory and return yet again to crisis PR.  Please leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! Say hi by DMing us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ ⁠ Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Reviews/ recs: Still Bad, Lizzo The Dynamics Of This Relationship Will Expand Your Definition Of Black Love, Huffington PostMel Robbins and Plagiarism, Sage Justice, SubstackLet Them: Words for the Healing Soul by Cassie Phillips  Flack, BBC iPlayer Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros Rebecca Yarros on Navigating Fame and What to Expect From ‘Onyx Storm’, ElleRebecca Yarros Talks ‘Onyx Storm’, VarietyAdolescence, Netflix Netflix drama Adolescence has lessons for us all about alienated young men, Observer Ctrl Hate Delete by Cecile Simmons  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 19m

  6. 13 MAR

    With Love Meghan, a Blake Lively update and being abandoned by friends

    How has one of TV’s blandest cooking shows ignited such a storm of controversy? We review Meghan Markle’s new Netflix offering to see if those one-star reviews are valid. We also share our honest thoughts on The Cut’s viral piece about the fallacy of the nuclear family. Is it fair to say that friends flake once they have kids? And is the media exacerbating friction between women? Plus, why Blake Lively’s latest big-guns crisis hires suggests something major might soon rock Hollywood, our favourite quotes from the latest Lady Gaga press run, and a look at Adrien Brody’s highly questionable art. DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠ Reviews/ recs: The Brutalist Miss MeIt Ends With Urgh, Reality Bites podcast With Love Meghan, Netflix Furious About With Love, Meghan? Go Cool Off With A Lavender-Scented Flannel, Mate, VogueFive key takeaways from With Love, Meghan, GuardianRunning Point, NetflixNever Have I Ever, Netflix My Friends Abandoned Me When They Had Kids, The Cut The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake by David Brooks, Atlantic Mayhem, Lady GagaLady Gaga: ‘People don’t always make it through success. I did’, Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  7. 6 MAR

    Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence

    We always love it when a guest comes to help us decipher the week in pop culture, and who better to make sense of the Oscars than British actor Lucy Boynton, brilliant star of Bohemian Rhapsody, the Ipcress File, The Politican and Sing Street. She's also in ITV's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, a gripping new drama about the last woman to be hanged in Britain, which reveals the horrific elitism and misogyny of the 1950s, and has become horribly relevant in light of the increasing violence against women. We discuss everything from how the media reports on domestic violence to why our society is built for men. Also on the show: Millie Bobby Brown’s powerful statement in response to media trolling of her appearance, a quick debrief on the Brits and our review of new no1 Netflix hit Toxic Town.  DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com Reviews/ recs: Toxic Town, NetflixA Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, ITVWitches (documentary)Nickel BoysRosewater, Liv LittleIsland, Aldous HuxleyFrankenstein, Mary ShelleyBurn After Reading When The O.C. Killed Marissa: “What Have We Done?”, Vanity FairThe Politician, Netflix  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 11m

  8. 27 FEB

    Girlfriend robots, Justin Bieber and blowing up your life

    We are finally getting stuck into the book everyone has been talking about hunnies: All Fours by Miranda July, which has prompted an 'erotic revolution', with a wave of women 'blowing up their lives' by ending their marriages and pursuing sexual liberation. Why is older women’s sexual desire so taboo? Next, following the viral pictures of a 'gaunt' Justin Bieber and Tuppence Middleton’s memoir on her struggle with OCD, we discuss the ethics of media speculation into celebrity health. And also this week: the debate on AI voice recreation as American Murder: Gaby Petito trends at No1 Netflix, a Substack suggesting Booktok content is becoming soft porn for teenage girls (ft our Forth Wing review) and new AI girlfriend thriller Companion. DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email us at ⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Yonder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yonder.com/straightup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠player.bfi.org.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com/⁠ Reviews/recs: Harris Dickinson on Chicken Shop Date, YouTube Harris Dickinson on Off Menu Is Rose Gray the Next Big British Pop Star? Vogue  All Fours, Miranda July Miranda July’s Lucrative Fantasies, Substack  Why Gen X Women are Having the Best Sex Scorpions: a memoir excerpt in the Guardian by Tuppence Middleton  Companion, in cinemas now  Her, Amazon Prime  American Murder: Gabby Petito, Netflix If BookTok Was a Community Of Men We Would be Calling the Police, Substack  New York recs: Carbone Baretto Bemelman's, Carlyle Moxy Chelsea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Straight Up
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    175
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Straight Up
  • Show Website
    Straight Up

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