Before Brunch

In 2006, Dove released an advertising campaign that exposed the gratuitous use of Photoshop and kicked off an anti-airbrushing movement .

People no longer wanted to accept false representations of beauty, and actresses and models moved to distance themselves from the 'sexist act' of altering a woman's appearance on the cover of a magazine.

At the same time, technology that allows 'normal' people, non-celebrities like you and me, to alter their appearances digitally has become widespread and massively popular.

For just a couple euros you can download an app and create a digital version of yourself. You 2.0.

Actresses and models can't distance themselves from what they share on their own social media accounts, images that we know have been altered thanks to Instagram accounts like Celebface.

We share what we think we "should" look like - simulacrums of ourselves that are almost more relevant than our real selves. Digital avatars that not only represent our lives, but determine our lives - our relationships, lifestyle choices, and in many cases - income levels.

As the two movements continue to grow simultaneously, it's no wonder that women are pretty fucking confused about how they should feel and talk about their bodies.

We try to dissect some of those feelings in this week's podcast, touching on Rihanna's Savage X Fenty show at NYFW, Tess Holliday's Cosmo cover, and Lena Dunham's conflicting messages.

In 2006, Dove released an advertising campaign that exposed the gratuitous use of Photoshop and kicked off an anti-airbrushing movement .

People no longer wanted to accept false representations of beauty, and actresses and models moved to distance themselves from the 'sexist act' of altering a woman's appearance on the cover of a magazine.

At the same time, technology that allows 'normal' people, non-celebrities like you and me, to alter their appearances digitally has become widespread and massively popular.

For just a couple euros you can download an app and create a digital version of yourself. You 2.0.

Actresses and models can't distance themselves from what they share on their own social media accounts, images that we know have been altered thanks to Instagram accounts like Celebface.

We share what we think we "should" look like - simulacrums of ourselves that are almost more relevant than our real selves. Digital avatars that not only represent our lives, but determine our lives - our relationships, lifestyle choices, and in many cases - income levels.

As the two movements continue to grow simultaneously, it's no wonder that women are pretty fucking confused about how they should feel and talk about their bodies.

We try to dissect some of those feelings in this week's podcast, touching on Rihanna's Savage X Fenty show at NYFW, Tess Holliday's Cosmo cover, and Lena Dunham's conflicting messages.

This week an inquest found that Cranberries lead singer Dolores O' Riordan died by drowning as a result of alcohol intoxication.

The coroner, Dr Shirley Radcliffe, said: “There’s no evidence that this was anything other than an accident. There was no intention, this seems to be solely a tragic accident.”

The findings prompted us to discuss the media coverage of Dolores' death at the time, and celebrity deaths in general.

Although death is an inevitable part of life, we still don't have the language to discuss it meaningfully - and struggle to both report on it and talk about it in daily life.

At this point we'd love to encourage you to listen to "About Death" - a recent episode of Racheal Bland's "You, Me and the Big C" podcast. Racheal died this week after a cancer battle, and the episode will truly change how you think and talk about death.

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

This week an inquest found that Cranberries lead singer Dolores O' Riordan died by drowning as a result of alcohol intoxication.

The coroner, Dr Shirley Radcliffe, said: “There’s no evidence that this was anything other than an accident. There was no intention, this seems to be solely a tragic accident.”

The findings prompted us to discuss the media coverage of Dolores' death at the time, and celebrity deaths in general.

Although death is an inevitable part of life, we still don't have the language to discuss it meaningfully - and struggle to both report on it and talk about it in daily life.

At this point we'd love to encourage you to listen to "About Death" - a recent episode of Racheal Bland's "You, Me and the Big C" podcast. Racheal died this week after a cancer battle, and the episode will truly change how you think and talk about death.

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

Sustainability is big business right now. This week, it was announced that the traditional pear-shaped lightbulb was giving way to LED bulbs that are more environmentally friendly.

Sustainable fashion has been 'cool' for months, and everyone now has a keep cup... unless they're a 'D*ck'.

On this week's episode we chat about Gen Z and their propensity to make change through what they buy rather than politics. It means industries are forced to listen up, because at the end of the day - sustainability is good for the bottom line.

We talk about how social media influences and charges these social movements and laugh at how the best way to influence an Irish person is to make them feel guilty. Hey, it works!

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

Sustainability is big business right now. This week, it was announced that the traditional pear-shaped lightbulb was giving way to LED bulbs that are more environmentally friendly.

Sustainable fashion has been 'cool' for months, and everyone now has a keep cup... unless they're a 'D*ck'.

On this week's episode we chat about Gen Z and their propensity to make change through what they buy rather than politics. It means industries are forced to listen up, because at the end of the day - sustainability is good for the bottom line.

We talk about how social media influences and charges these social movements and laugh at how the best way to influence an Irish person is to make them feel guilty. Hey, it works!

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

This month, Lauren Conrad experienced the moment she's been waiting for for ten years. The chance to turn down a reunion of The Hills. The chance to prove to everyone who wronged her that SHE MADE IT. She can say no.

But what about everyone who is going back? Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, JEN BUNNY?!

What does this mean for them? If The Hills was aspirational reality TV ten years ago, what is it now?

On this week's podcast we chat about the seminal reality show, what's happened in between, and why it's best to be as dumb as Heidi Montag in this scenario.

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

This month, Lauren Conrad experienced the moment she's been waiting for for ten years. The chance to turn down a reunion of The Hills. The chance to prove to everyone who wronged her that SHE MADE IT. She can say no.

But what about everyone who is going back? Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, JEN BUNNY?!

What does this mean for them? If The Hills was aspirational reality TV ten years ago, what is it now?

On this week's podcast we chat about the seminal reality show, what's happened in between, and why it's best to be as dumb as Heidi Montag in this scenario.

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

On the eve of another Rose of Tralee, we chat about the competition's place in modern Irish society. Is it harmless to celebrate 'niceness'? Or is it time to move on from the lovely ladies format and try something more relevant? Also - we're not paranoid, our phones are listening to us. But what does that actually mean?

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]

On the eve of another Rose of Tralee, we chat about the competition's place in modern Irish society. Is it harmless to celebrate 'niceness'? Or is it time to move on from the lovely ladies format and try something more relevant? Also - we're not paranoid, our phones are listening to us. But what does that actually mean?

Before Brunch Podcast is the perfect Sunday morning hangover cure. Megan and Cassie chew over all the biggest stories of the week, from the frivolous to the meaningful and everything in between. It's the same dirt you talk about at Brunch, we're just digging a little deeper. If you like the podcast, please do subscribe, rate and review to help other brunchers find us!

Get in touch on twitter @meganmcassidy @cassielorraine @lovindublin @lovindotie or [email protected]