Taboo on the Bus

Whatzaraloves
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

Sit down with Zara McIntosh to chat taboo topics from the front seat of the bus. Taking an unfiltered stance on pop-culture, society, culture, and queer issues, she candidly shares her opinion as passengers around her go about their every-day life, overhearing snippets of these unspoken taboos. The viral TikTok series has launched on Spotify after demand for lengthier episodes, so you can tune in to taboos on your next bus journey.

  1. 5d ago

    The crisis of homeless uni students in the UK - nobody is talking about this, so I will...

    (Apologies about the quality of the footage!)   No chatty intro to today’s episode; I wanted to get right to the heart of the issue of homelessness amongst university students in the UK. A staggering number of students, both domestic and international, experience homelessness while studying every year. That may look like sleeping in carparks, libraries, living out of cars during breaks, or even surfing round sofas. The matter of fact is that this is an incredibly common experience, but one that goes underreported and underrepresented in datasets.   Sit down with me today to discuss the nature of this issue, the paradox within the support system, who this largely affects, and what we ultimately need to do to not just tackle it but prevent it entirely. Thank you to Greg Hurst from the Centre for Homelessness Impact, who makes up the interview section of this episode, who joined me at the UCL campus café to discusssome research-backed recommendations for tackling this issue. Also thank you to the 13 individuals who shared their experiences with me to contribute to my ownresearch.   Find me: Instagram: @whatzaraloves TikTok: @whatzaraloves6 Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Email: whatzaraloves@gmail.com     Links/Reading/Citations:   Scottish Government Report: Research intohousing insecurity and hidden homelessness in Scotland - https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2025/04/research-housing-insecurity-hidden-homelessness-scotland/documents/research-housing-insecurity-hidden-homelessness/research-housing-insecurity-hidden-homelessness/govscot%3Adocument/research-housing-insecurity-hidden-homelessness.pdf   LSE Research Paper: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cr/casereport158.pdf   Unite Foundation: https://www.unitefoundation.org.uk\   Greg Hurst: https://www.homelessnessimpact.org/people/greg-hurst   -             https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Could-universities-do-more-to-end-homelessness.pdf   Toolkit: https://artshomelessint.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AHI-Homelessness-in-Higher-Education-Toolkit-DIGITAL-SPREADS.pdf   Homeless Liaisons: https://www.highereddive.com/news/more-colleges-are-creating-homeless-liaison-roles-heres-why/744262/     University of Edinburgh page: https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/living-in-edinburgh/accommodation/emergency-accommodation#:~:text=If%20you%20don't%20have%20somewhere%20to%20spend,University's%2024%2F7%20Community%20Support%20team%3A%20Email%3A%20security24%2D7%40ed.ac.uk.   Guardian quote: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/20/international-students-bring-much-more-than-money-to-the-uk     References: https://taso.org.uk/news-blog/new-report-pathways-higher-education-childrens-social-care/ https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/insights-and-analysis/enabling-care-experienced-and-estranged https://housinghand.com/who-we-support/students https://wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/students-and-their-homelessness-are-invisible-in-mhclg https://www.studygroup.com/blog/the-importance-of-international-students-uk-he https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8726680/ https://www.studynow.org.uk/blog/cost-of-living-uk-international-student-2026 https://wonkhe.com/blogs/removing-the-rent-guarantor-barrier-to-safe-and-stable-accommodation

    The crisis of homeless uni students in the UK - nobody is talking about this, so I will...

  2. Oct 23

    Taboo on the Tube, ft Kamal: on self help culture not actually helping

    Bonus new monthly series: Taboo on the Tube where I unpack other people’s taboo topics and conversations on the tube. Sit down with us on the Lizzie line today to unpack the taboo of self help content and culture, and how it doesn’t always serve us. Let me know if you’ve found yourself in a trap of this content before, and how we should manage? Kamal: https://www.instagram.com/kamalnw?srtk=MW9vdXAzMW00c3Vtcg== videographer: @roz.matuszyk Outfit: @après / @Babytoefu #tabooonthetube#tabooonthetube #videoessay

  3. Sep 30

    The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities?

    Sit down with me today to discuss the fallout from Ed Sheeran dropping Macklemore from his tour over his public support for a free Palestine. What started as a conversation centred on Palestinian liberation has warped into memes, weighing up of celebrity ‘sides’, drags of Ed Sheeran’s tattoos, and somewhat of a ‘Morality Olympics’ at play online.     What I have noticed is that amid conversations centring on world atrocities, we can be quick to end our advocacy online at follows/unfollows, and surveillance of celebrity stances and movements. We can get wrapped up in mass cancellations, public dragging, and picking ‘sides’, which diverts from conversations and actions that actually can move the dial.    This episode serves to discuss how we must engage with BOTH in order to make a difference and keep pressure on the cause, which is, and remains, a free Palestine.    Let me know what you think. I hope this serves as an important addition of digital culture analysis and a reminder of the root here.   Thank you for your continued support for my podcast/vodcast, it means the world to me!    Insta – Whatzaraloves TikTok – whatzaraloves6 Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email – whatzaraloves@gmail.com Reference List:   TikTok: Ed Sheeran Tattoo Artist: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8rATGRg/ Club Leader Gary: https://www.tiktok.com/@garebearclub?_r=1&_t=ZN-9A55wn0Qk5O   Articles Mentioned: https://gaypop.substack.com/p/ed-sheeran-and-the-fallacy-of-apoliticism   https://glasgowguardian.co.uk/2025/09/19/the-curtains-arent-just-blue-why-art-cannot-be-apolitical/   https://www.palatinate.org.uk/the-fallacy-that-art-can-be-apolitical/   https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/18/robert-kraft-macklemore-ed-sheeran-tour&ved=2ahUKEwjowLLF1o6XAxUtUEEAHcO8E0MQFnoECDIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3zJJ8lEHeBF-iOzfgidWoC     Donation Links: https://www.pcrf.net https://donate.wck.org/campaign/749399/donate?utm_source=googlesearch&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=gaza-googleaccountsitelinks&c_src=2025-paidmedia-fundraising-googlesearch-gaza-googleaccountsitelinks&utm_source=googlepmax&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=evergreen-performancemax&c_src=2026-paidmedia-fundraising-googlepmax-evergreen-performancemax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22475403517&gbraid=0AAAAApcxQJu3-B3-VBxYdCggywRPvbNVO&gclid=CjwKCAjw_eLVBhBEEiwAeaYZfA79vlR0ntUqTbLFUhOmbO6c_z6dI5_umT9vYY6qcVswscf08Q0QmxoCCIYQAvD_BwE   https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcyw0Uso0kD/&ved=2ahUKEwipr92w1o6XAxWqYEEAHVyBGAEQFnoECCAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1-ET7FziEt5r0T63dWULf6

    The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities?

  4. Sep 30

    The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities? [Mini Bus Version]

    [Long-form deep dive episode at home is also live] Sit down with me in the front seat of the bus to discuss the fallout from Ed Sheeran dropping Macklemore from his tour over his public support for a free Palestine. What started as a conversation centred on Palestinian liberation has warped into memes, weighing up of celebrity ‘sides’, drags of Ed Sheeran’s tattoos, and somewhat of a ‘Morality Olympics’ at play online.     What I have noticed is that amid conversations centring on world atrocities, we can be quick to end our advocacy online at follows/unfollows, and surveillance of celebrity stances and movements. We can get wrapped up in mass cancellations, public dragging, and picking ‘sides’, which diverts from conversations and actions that actually can move the dial.    This episode serves to discuss how we must engage with BOTH in order to make a difference and keep pressure on the cause, which is, and remains, a free Palestine.    Let me know what you think. I hope this serves as an important addition of digital culture analysis and a reminder of the root here.   Thank you for your continued support for my podcast/vodcast, it means the world to me!    Insta – Whatzaraloves TikTok – whatzaraloves6 Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email – whatzaraloves@gmail.com

  5. Sep 2

    “Divas hate data centres “- on racial gentrification, Brick Lane, and the harm of big tech infrastructure

    Sit down with me today to dissect the harms of AI data centres on a micro and macro level, looking at their local, racial, environmental, and social impacts. From Sophia and Cinzia promoting Google Gemini for AI pasta recipes, to Open AI taking influencers on a ChatGPT nature retreat, to the Save Brick Lane coalition, let’s unpack the current AI landscape and the powerhouses behind this force. Email: charlie@84world.com Instagram: whatzaraloves TikTok: whatzaraloves6 Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Links: What is a Data Centre?: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/ai-data-center Save Brick Lane: https://www.savebricklane.net/press/press-cuttings Oxford University Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKa1Z-Z6xOQ&t=2s  Capital B News: https://capitalbnews.org/musk-xai-memphis-black-neighborhood-pollution/ https://capitalbnews.org/data-centers-black-communities-south/ References: https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report https://theconversation.com/how-brick-lane-became-the-latest-neighbourhood-to-battle-against-a-data-centre-290200 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/06/scotland-lanarkshire-village-ai-datacentre https://www.regen.co.uk/insights/the-data-centre-boom-has-a-justice-problem https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/new-york-moratorium-ai-datacenters https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/09/slough-famous-the-office-datacentres-locals-hub-europe https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/technology/article/what-is-a-data-center/&ved=2ahUKEwi50aGfja-WAxWPRkEAHcJqIlsQFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw369MGsyZUy8KdDhAtwXqx-

    “Divas hate data centres “- on racial gentrification, Brick Lane, and the harm of big tech infrastructure

  6. Sep 2

    AI Data Centres really are that bad - on racial gentrification, ChatGPT brand trips, and the harm of big tech infrastructure

    [Mini Bus version. Long episode is also live] Sit down with me today to dissect the harms of AI data centres on a micro and macro level, looking at their local, racial, environmental, and social impacts. From Sophia and Cinzia promoting Google Gemini for AI pasta recipes, to Open AI taking influencers on a ChatGPT nature retreat, to the Save Brick Lane coalition, let’s unpack the current AI landscape and the powerhouses behind this force. Email: charlie@84world.com Instagram: whatzaraloves TikTok: whatzaraloves6 Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Links: What is a Data Centre?: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/ai-data-center Save Brick Lane: https://www.savebricklane.net/press/press-cuttings Oxford University Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKa1Z-Z6xOQ&t=2s  Capital B News: https://capitalbnews.org/musk-xai-memphis-black-neighborhood-pollution/ https://capitalbnews.org/data-centers-black-communities-south/ References: https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report https://theconversation.com/how-brick-lane-became-the-latest-neighbourhood-to-battle-against-a-data-centre-290200 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/06/scotland-lanarkshire-village-ai-datacentre https://www.regen.co.uk/insights/the-data-centre-boom-has-a-justice-problem https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/new-york-moratorium-ai-datacenters https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/09/slough-famous-the-office-datacentres-locals-hub-europe https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/technology/article/what-is-a-data-center/&ved=2ahUKEwi50aGfja-WAxWPRkEAHcJqIlsQFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw369MGsyZUy8KdDhAtwXqx-

  7. Jul 24

    Meta glasses, surveillance fashion, and performing life for an audience

    [Epsiode starts at: 11:18] Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice?   Sit down with me today to discuss how these glasses pose threat particularly to women, children, and minority groups, and how smart yet harmful it is of Meta to target women with this launch. I’ll also give my thoughts on how I think the normalisation of these glasses in public will alter everyone’s behaviour from a lense of ‘performing for an audience’. Think of the way in which people don’t dance in the club anymore because of the fear of being recorded, now apply that to stepping outside.  Let me know what your thoughts are on Meta glasses going mainstream? Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email: charlie@84world.com   Reading list of articles mentioned: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/21/meta-smartglasses-child-filmed-ai-risk-technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87wqz0q9o https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/02/ai-chatbot-training-human-toll-content-moderator-meta-openai  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo

    Meta glasses, surveillance fashion, and performing life for an audience

  8. Jul 24

    Meta glasses bus taboo

    [Mini Bus Version - Full podcast episode also live] Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice?   Sit down with me today to discuss how these glasses pose threat particularly to women, children, and minority groups, and how smart yet harmful it is of Meta to target women with this launch. I’ll also give my thoughts on how I think the normalisation of these glasses in public will alter everyone’s behaviour from a lense of ‘performing for an audience’. Think of the way in which people don’t dance in the club anymore because of the fear of being recorded, now apply that to stepping outside.  Let me know what your thoughts are on Meta glasses going mainstream? Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email: charlie@84world.com   Reading list of articles mentioned: ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/21/meta-smartglasses-child-filmed-ai-risk-technology⁠ ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87wqz0q9o⁠ ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/02/ai-chatbot-training-human-toll-content-moderator-meta-openai⁠  ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo⁠

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Sit down with Zara McIntosh to chat taboo topics from the front seat of the bus. Taking an unfiltered stance on pop-culture, society, culture, and queer issues, she candidly shares her opinion as passengers around her go about their every-day life, overhearing snippets of these unspoken taboos. The viral TikTok series has launched on Spotify after demand for lengthier episodes, so you can tune in to taboos on your next bus journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Whatzaraloves
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Whatzaraloves
  • Show Website
    Taboo on the Bus

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