Mona Awad is one of the most influential authors of our time. She's the bestselling author of the novels 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, All’s Well, Rouge, and the cult classic, Bunny, which took off in book clubs around the world and became a BookTok phenomenon. Bunny was named a Best Book of 2019 by Time, Vogue and the New York Public Library. Bunny and Rouge are also being adapted into films. 

After the success of Bunny, Mona has decided to revisit the world in the 2025 hybrid prequel and sequel, We Love You Bunny. Described as Frankenstein meets Heathers, We Love You, Bunny follows Bunny’s protagonist, Samantha, after she’s published her first novel to critical acclaim. But the Bunnies, unhappy with how they’ve been portrayed, find and kidnap her, taking it in turns to retell their side of the story.

With Margaret Atwood naming Mona her “literary heir,” we were so excited to speak with the US author. In this chat, we discuss why she chose to revisit her cult classic novel Bunny, learning to fail as a writer, the shadow selves that can be found in female friendships, and more.

Speak soon!

Jas & Mags xo

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Hi friends!

We have another pop culture episode for you–delicious.

The pop girlies are in their marriage eras. Charli XCX threw her second wedding last week while Selena Gomez tied the knot with Benny Blanco. With a number of main pop girls getting married, will their music change? It's a question writer Catherine Shannon asks in her Substack essay, 'Pop Enters Its Wife Era'.

Matilda Djerf has returned to the press for the first time since her bullying and toxic workplace allegations last year. Speaking with Stephanie McNeal for Glamour US, Matilda shares that she’s keen to get back to her brand and community. Listen to our 2024 episode What The Djerf for a breakdown of the allegations.

Wearable AI device Friend is back in the news cycle after the company spent $1 million USD on subway ads to tell people to have robot friends. We discuss the news and read from a piece in The Atlantic by Yair Rosenberg titled Have You Considered Not Polluting the Water?

14-year-old Australian influencer, Deja Clark, daughter of influencer Kat Clarke, has launched a collaboration with Supre under her swimwear label, Sunny De. To launch, the brand and Deja held an event – a mix of Deja’s friends and influencers. Online, there’s been some heated commentary about influencer diversity as the attendees were almost all thin, white girls. We break down the online commentary from Kristine Achayo, Brooke (ewwitsbrooke), and Sinderella (@asinderellastory).

Next, why does it feel SO HARD to make decisions right now? An article for Dazed magazine by Maybelle Morgan interrogates our relationship with decisions and ChatGPT. We share our thoughts on the article and our own experience with decision fatigue.

In Bookmarked, Jas loved Good Hang with Amy Poehler and Olivia Colman while Maggie has been devouring Stinkbug by Australian writer Sinead Stubbins.

Thanks for listening!! <3 Jas & Mags xo

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Hi friends,

Some popcorn pop culture bits to warm us up today including TSITP finale, Chris Briney's new venture, Robert Irwin is Maggie's new white boy of the month, Jimmy Kimmel is cancelled and are Ben & Jerry going through a break-up?

In other news, 2022 called and it wants its scandal back. Ned Fulmer, former YouTube Try Guys member, is back in the spotlight. The Buzzfeed-turned-YouTube content group gained a following for their viral videos “trying” new things. Three years ago, Ned made headlines. The self-proclaimed “wife guy” was caught cheating on his wife, Ariel, in a “consensual workplace relationship”.

We chat about Ned's return to the media world and ask why Ariel was his first guest on his new podcast, Rock Bottom.

Earlier this month, VOGUE US announced that there would be a new head of editorial content: Chloe Malle. We find out who Chloe is, the nepo baby allegations against her, and break down the gossip-y TikToks and headlines about her style. We also chat about the blurring lines between influencers and editors, and why fashion fans think writers owe them entertainment. In this segment, we reference TikToks from editors Tyler McCall and Brodie Lancaster.

In recommendations, Maggie enjoyed Panic World Podcast while Jas can't stop listening to Wolf Alice's album, The Clearing.

Chat to you soon!

Jas & Mags xoxo

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Hi friends,

Maggie has been travelling again, so we have a lot to catch up on! From the Wuthering Heights adaptation trailer (and ensuing literature discourse) to another celebrity engagement, we start with some popcorn-pop culture bites.

Next, the news that dominated the media last week: the assassination of political podcaster Charlie Kirk. We share our thoughts on the divisive right wing figure and reference an article from The Cut by writer E.J Dickson. Titled Why Young Conservative Women Loved Charlie Kirk, the feature tells the story of Charlie Kirk's Turning Point conferences specifically targeted toward young women of high school and college age. We analyse the piece and discuss the increase of young people moving to the right side of politics.

Have you heard that all the girlies are doing the “Great Lock In” challenge? The new social media trend is billed as a way to laser-focus on self-improvement before December 31 rolls around. The premise: Get a head start on New Year’s resolutions or restart an abandoned goal for side hustles, diet, fitness, sleep, or creative hobbies. We ask if the "Great Lock In" is helpful to a generation that's already obsessed with productivity.

In recommendations, Jas loved Death Cap Murders on Stan Australia while Maggie shares her thoughts on Australian band, Folk Bitch Trio's album Now Would Be A Good Time.

Chat to you soon!

Jas & Mags xoxo

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Hi friends!

After a plethora of fun interviews (Poh Ling Yeow! Jessica Mauboy! Indy Yelich!) we are back with a juicy pop culture episode. But first, we give you a little update on what we've been up to. After some Culture Quickie updates, we launch into the engagement news of the year: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Is it the parasocial moment of the decade?

Next, former West Coast Eagles player, Mitch Brown, made history in Australia this week after coming out as the first queer player in the AFL's (that's the Australian Football League) 129-year history. We discuss the importance of this moment, the response of the other clubs, and hear an excerpt from Bridget Hustwaite's opinion article on the topic for Missing Perspectives.

US tennis champion Serena Williams has made headlines this week after becoming the face of weight loss drug and direct-to-patient healthcare company, Ro. We debate the ethics of an athlete promoting a weight loss drug and discuss the back-and-forth the news has created on social media. We reference Jameela Jamil's Instagram post, the PEOPLE magazine exclusive Serena broke the news in, and the Sydney Morning Herald's article by Nell Geraets.

In Bookmarked, we have two book recommendations to help get you out of your reading slump. Jas is sharing an all-time favourite in Nora Ephron's Heartburn, while Maggie recommends the Australian eco-dystopian book Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.

Chat to you next time! Jas & Mags xo

This episode of Culture Club is sponsored by WHEN Fertility. Learn more about your reproductive health with the at-home fingerprick test. And, speak with your trusted GP if you have questions or concerns about your health.

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In 2006, a teenage Jessica Mauboy auditioned for the fourth season of Australian Idol during the show’s regional audition tour, finishing as a runner-up. Fast forward nearly two decades, and Jessica is one of Australia’s most beloved (and successful) artists. 

The singer has achieved six top-ten albums (including two number-ones) and 16 top 20 singles. She’s also been nominated for an ARIA a whopping 25 times and has won two. And while we personally think Jess was robbed in the recent Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs countdown, she is receiving her flowers with her induction into the National Indigenous Music Award’s Hall Of Fame.

In this chat, we discuss her new independent music label Jamally, her nostalgic resurgence on TikTok, and what it means to be inducted into the National Indigenous Music Award’s Hall Of Fame.

Jas & Mags xo

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Have you always wanted to travel alone but were overwhelmed by the thought? Or maybe the wrangling of friends in group chats meant compromising your holiday plans?

In this special solo episode of Culture Club, Maggie is breaking down her dos and don'ts of solo travel.

From safety as a woman to packing tips and why she's so obsessed with hopping on a flight, Maggie is sharing everything she's learnt so far and answers your burning questions.

We'll be back in your ears with pop culture eps soon.

Jas & Maggie x

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Indy Yelich is a New Zealand-born indie pop artist who’s just released her second EP, ‘Fame Is A Bedroom’. The EP explores age-gap relationships, sisterhood, sexuality, and the conversations that happen behind closed doors.  

And, if her name sounds familiar, that’s because Indy is the younger sister of Ella Yelich, AKA, Lorde. In this interview, we chat about what it’s like to move to NYC from Auckland, New Zealand, her diary-like new EP, and how she grappled with her older sister’s stratospheric rise to fame as a young teen.

Indy kindly gave us heaps of recommendations during our chat.

In music, Indy loves 'Feeling' by Billy Marten and 'All I Ever Asked' by Rachel Chinouriri. When it comes to books, Indy is in her fantasy era with 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros and 'Skipshock' by Caroline O'Donoghue. In poetry, Indy's favourite poems are 'June' by Alex Dimitrov and 'Wild Geese' by Mary Oliver.

This episode is brought to you by Lifeblood. Find your nearest donation centre (and get props for being the middle child) here.

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Poh Ling Yeow has been a beloved fixture on Australian TV since her Masterchef debut in 2009. She’s hosted multiple shows, like ABC’s Poh’s Kitchen and SBS’s Poh & Co, and has authored multiple cookbooks. Now, she’s back on our screens as one of the Masterchef judges. Poh has also been nominated for the prestigious TV Week Gold Logie! You can vote for Poh here until 7pm on Friday August 1.

In this chat we discuss how she balances multiple creative pursuits, why her shyness became her strength, and "sucking the marrow" out of all life has to offer.

Poh recommends Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

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Hi pals!

Strap in, cos we have a whole host of Culture Quickies to run through.

Filming for The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially underway with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway papped on the streets of New York. The Trisha Paytas baby reincarnation theory continues, and has Rebel Wilson “deliberately undermined” the release of her comedy musical, The Deb?

We know many Culture Clubbers have fantasised about Mr. Harry Styles, and now he’s letting us take him to bed – or, at least, his product. In Culture Shock, we discuss Pleasing's new product and whether we'd buy it ourselves...

Next, Charli xcx and her musician husband, George Daniel, got married in Hackney, London. We share our thoughts on the pap pics and ask why everyone's obsessed with "low-key" weddings.

Fashion brand Guess has published print ads in Vogue US… using AI models. Seraphinne Vallora, an AI marketing agency that creates editorial-level AI-driven marketing campaigns, is behind the images but who is responsible here? The publication or the brand?

In recommendations, Maggie shares YouTube series, Worth It – Andrew, Steve and Adam and Jas is obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty. Up top, we also chat about Melbourne International Film Festival, which kicks off on August 7. Go support the arts!

Chat to you next time!

Jas & Mags xo

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