The rise of phone-free shows, Taylor Swift’s new Disney song, and what’s behind Gen Z’s horror movie obsession? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Taylor Swift has written a song for Toy Story 5 –– I Knew It, I Knew You marks Taylor’s return to the country genre and was inspired by the cowgirl, Jessie. Also in music news, Phoebe Bridgers has been playing a string of phone-free pop-up shows across small cities and college towns in America. The $1 gigs mark a return to tech-free shows and has us asking, are we all looking for an excuse to put our phones away?

Next, have you noticed that so many TV shows and movies right now have the same villain? In a piece titled “‘Bogeyman of the moment’: Why every TV show seems to have the same villain” for The Age, Michael Lallo makes the claim that AI is the villain we’re seeing everywhere at the moment. It's also sparking a renaissance in human-made art, as seen in a viral tweet by producer Adam Faze.

Two Gen Z horror directors are the talk of the internet and film world this month, creating conversations about a new era of filmmaking. Backrooms and Obsession, created by two Gen Z YouTubers, are topping box offices globally. We break down why the films are so popular and why Gen Z is obsessed with the horror genre. We reference an article for The Guardian, the ABC, and Why YouTubers Are Turning Hollywood Upside Down by Marlow Stern for Variety.

In Bookmarked, Jas shares the three books she bought for her winter cabin retreat: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, Strangers by Belle Burden, and Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh. Maggie shares a music recommendation with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers' album, Glory.

Thank you for listening! We appreciate you so much.

Jas & Mags xo

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Cynthia Erivo speaks out about Wicked, the Pattie Gonia lawsuit explained, and why are dot cakes creating discourse?

Hi friends,

We're back in the studio this week, so if you want to watch this podcast, head here.

In today's episode, Cynthia Erivo speaks out about Wicked, the Pattie Gonia lawsuit explained, & why are dot cakes creating discourse?

After a quick chat about Off Campus, we dive into pop culture bites, including Olivia Rodrigo's 90-minute interview with The New York Times’ Popcast. Cynthia Erivo is also on a new press tour and doesn't want to talk about Wicked. We reference this YouTube video and this Variety interview.

In Culture Shock, American drag queen and activist Pattie Gonia is being sued by outdoor clothing brand Patagonia for trademark infringement. We break down the lawsuit and share a clip from fair fashion advocate, Venetia La Manna.

Have you seen dot cakes on your FYPs lately? The dessert has gotten a lot of people riled up, so we wanted to break down where they came from and how they could intersect with the Diary of a CEO's latest viral gaffe. Are we demonising joy through optimisation culture? We reference content creator Tinx's video on the topic.

In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends The Grill podcast, and Jas recommends Erika Veurink's Substack, Long Live.

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

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Pete Davidson’s messy break-up, are Harry Styles and Charli XCX purging fans, and what the hell are the enhanced games?

Hi friends! After a quick catch up we jump straight into music news. Olivia Rodrigo has released a brand new single titled ‘The Cure’ and we theorise on whether Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Charli xcx are trying to purge the fans they gained during their mega world tours. 

Comedian Pete Davidson has made headlines recently after his ex-partner and mother of his child, Elsie Hewitt, took to social media to share that she’s a solo parent of their five-month-old child. Yikes.

In a Hunger Games turn of events, this weekend sees the inaugural Enhanced Games take place. We recommend and discuss the 7am Podcast’s reporting on the new billionaire-backed Enhanced Games that allow participants to take “performance-enhancing drugs” including testosterone, anabolic steroids and growth hormone. The art of the grifter persists. 

In Bookmarked, we have two cosy recommendations for you: Watching the Detectives, a rom-com from 2007, and the juicy Rivals Season 2 on Disney+. 

Thank you for listening! No video episode this week as we recorded remotely but we’ll be back in the studio next time. Jas & Mags xo

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Shein buys sustainable brand Everlane, celebrity women are shilling AI, and unpacking the moral panic of Olivia Rodrigo’s babydoll dress.

Hi friends! In today's episode, we have a quick chat about Australian Fashion Week and our trip to Rarotonga, Cook Islands with Jetstar. Want to see it for yourself? Jetstar has officially begun direct flights to Rarotonga from Brisbane. Check those and other affordable flights out here!

In pop culture, we chit chat about a new celebrity couple in Cannes and a TikTok star who is starting his own fashion label. Also in fashion news, Lauren Sherman of Puck has reported that Shein has bought sustainable fashion label Everlane. In the US, two university commencement speeches have gone viral after they shilled the future of artificial intelligence. We read from The Cut's article 'The Girlbossification of AI' by Angelina Chapin.

Next, should adult women wear babydoll dresses? That’s the conversation the internet has been having around Olivia Rodrigo’s recent outfits. We break down the discourse, fashion history, and reference 'The Outrage Over Olivia Rodrigo Was Never Really About A Babydoll Dress' by Elizabeth Whitehead for Refinery29.

In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the novel 'Just Watch Me' by Lior Torenberg while Jas recommends 'Perfection' by Vincenzo Latronico.

Thank you so much for listening! There's no YouTube video this week as we recorded remotely. Jas & Mags xo

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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, the myths and taboos of menstruation, and what happens when a mood becomes an illness, with author Emma Hardy.

A few weeks ago on the podcast, you may have heard Jas' tears as she struggled to cope in the midst of a hard premenstrual dysphoric disorder (or PMDD) week. PMDD is a severe, chronic medical condition similar to PMS, causing debilitating mood and physical symptoms in the 1–2 weeks before menstruation.

In perfect timing, Melbourne author Emma Hardy published Periodic B*tch, a narrative memoir exploring the myths and culture surrounding the cyclical mood disorder. In this vulnerable chat, Emma shares her experience with the illness that led her to write the literary memoir and why PMDD is shrouded in cultural stigma.

Buy Periodic B*tch here. You can follow Emma's work here. And, if you are also struggling with PMDD, you're not alone.

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

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Harry Styles’ taxi cab engagement theory, the latest on Rebel Wilson’s lawsuits, and Meryl Streep’s pay rise energy.

Hi friends! One of the biggest engagement stories of 2026 has landed: Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz are betrothed after just eight months of dating. We break down the details and ask if the Sex & the City Taxi Cab Theory has anything to do with it. We reference the Harry Styles and Zane Lowe interview from earlier this year.

This week, Taylor Swift was featured in The New York Times Magazine as one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. The NYT polled more than 250 music insiders and gathered six Times critics to select the songwriters. We question some contradicting statements.

Never has an Australian film been faced with this much controversy. After first speaking about this in 2025, we have more to unpack about the messy lawsuits around Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, which has bombed its Australian cinematic release.

While doing press for Devil Wears Prada 2, Meryl Streep revealed on the US Today Show that she asked to double her salary in 2006 for the first film. We discuss our own thoughts around pay transparency and advocating for your worth. We reference Anna Mackenzie's substack, and her Shoot Your Shot Wednesday initiative.

In Bookmarked, Maggie shares a recent Modern Love x NYT episode (and shares a hack), and Jas recommends The Pitt on HBO Max.

Thanks for listening! Jas and Mags xo

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Today’s guest is Jessica Cerro, AKA Montaigne. Montaigne is one of Australia’s most distinct and exciting musicians. The 30-year-old has a certified platinum hit, an ARIAs Breakthrough Artist of the Year title, and represented Australia on the Eurovision stage in 2021. They also compose music for video games. Montaigne released their fourth studio album It's Hard to Be a Fish last year, and is about to head out on the Glorious Heights 10th anniversary tour across the country this August. You can buy tickets here and follow Montaigne on Instagram here. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

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Tween media is back, the battle of the Alexs/Alixs, and how looksmaxxing has hit the mainstream media. You can watch our episode on YouTube!

Cosy season is here! After a catch-up, we discuss new media news. Glamour is launching in Australia, and W Magazine is launching WYouth, its teenage sister publication. We discuss a recent study that finds that Gen Z is the most active cinemagoing demographic.

What’s going on with the two Alexs/Alixs of the internet? We break down the big internet drama of the week between Alex Cooper and Alix Earle. We fill you in on all the details and read from this NYT article. 

Australian news has made global headlines when Clavicular, a looksmaxxing leader, walked out of a 60 Minutes interview. We reference BBC’s article ‘Inside looksmaxxing, the extreme cosmetic social media trend’ and podcast In Red With The Right’s episode on looksmaxxing. We highly recommend reading Crystal Andrews’ piece for Zee Feed, ‘Clavicular is a media lolcow’.

In Bookmarked, Jas recommends the TV series Celebrity Traitors UK and Maggie kinda recommends The Drama, but uses this segment as an excuse to chat about the film more deeply (spoilers ahead!).

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xoxo

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Today’s Culture Club Chats guest is Louis Hanson. Louis is a Melbourne presenter, writer, podcaster, columnist, and comedic content creator. He’s known for his internet comedy sketches, podcast co-hosting duties on Everybody Has A Secret, and writing in publications like The Guardian, GQ, SBS and The Sydney Morning Herald. Now, he’s taking his charismatic self on the road with his first-ever international solo show, Good Boy. In this chat we discuss the inspiration behind his comedy show, the struggle of leaving something you love for your dream, and what it's like being a private public figure.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Thanks for listening! Jas & Mags xo

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Anna Wintour’s in her personal brand era, leave Aubrey Plaza alone, and the irony of the tradwife movement. You can watch our episode on YouTube!

We start off the ep with a chat about the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Repeller's tragic Instagram AI slop buyout. Anna Wintour has fronted the cover of Vogue, alongside Meryl Streep, for the first time ever. Is this a new moment for the famous editor as she departs the ship? Or simply clever marketing for The Devil Wears Prada 2? The Hannah Montana of the publishing industry has been unwigged. Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid, has publicly come out with her true identity. Actress Aubrey Plaza is pregnant and expecting her first child with actor Christopher Abbott, and the internet has thoughts.

In Culture Shock, we go to the international influencer community as legacy YouTuber and content creator, Elena Taber has been caught out posting about herself in the infamous r/NYCinfluencersnark Reddit thread. Is this proof that even the most "successful" online creators are affected by being perceived?

Next, is the online trad wife trend dying down, or has it reached a new level of normalcy? Nara Smith's 2025 interview with Jay Shetty has resurfaced on X as she rejects the trad wife label, despite profiting from it. The trad wife is also being analysed in the hotly anticipated novel, Yesteryear, by Caro Claire Burke. We read from the ELLE US interview with her.

In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the movie I Swear and Jasmine recommends Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash.

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xoxo

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