Hello EIContent-obsessives, this week's deep-dive is on child influencers.

Jessalyn Grace, now 18, used to post YouTube videos to her 1.5m online audience as a child. But the former influencer has recently shared the dark reality behind that smiley online veneer. Behind the scenes she was an over-worked, anxious child and the breadwinner of her family. In this new video, she's also accused her mother of financial, verbal and physical abuse and shared why she left her family home.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the Spotify comments and in our DMs – did you agree/disagree with our takes?

Love O,R,B xxxx

-------

my experience as a "child youtuber"

Stacey Dooley: The Family That Live Online

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICritics! This week on the podcast we have a special guest! Fred Asquith is here to help us bring to you this Oscars special.

You may know Fred from his videos with his darling wife, he's a Yorkshire man in London, making some of the funniest videos on the web, as well as being a movie critic, you can follow him @fredasquith & @fredasquithonfilm.

We talk about that Timothée Chalamet faux pas, find out a little Oscars trivia, and discuss what we made of this years awards, the nominees, winners and of course, the outfits.

Thank you so much to Cue Podcasts for the edit.

We hope you enjoy the episode, and always please do share with your friends and leave us a rating or review on your podcast player app!

O, R, B xx

The Oscars feel silly in an era of endless crisis. But film still matters

Oscars Viewership Slides 9%, Its First Drop Since 2021

The Oscars are rigged and there's a formula to win

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICoveters! So a couple of weeks ago a video by TikTok user Farah Ammarah went viral, in which she describes envy in a friendship from the perspective of being the envious friend. She lists her former friend's car, job and neighbourhood as reasons she felt envious. She admitted that it made her feel bitter to see a friend doing so well.

The video was seen millions of times and sparked a hot debate about whether there was something strange or toxic in her experience. Thousands of commenters lashed out- saying envy and jealousy in friendships shouldn't be possible and that anyone who feels it is dangerous to be around. Other people were kinder, reminding other viewers that it's a totally normal emotion, we all experience it (even if we pretend otherwise) and it only matters how you respond.

So we asked you all what you made of the video and the response. What does envy/jealousy mean when it's directed to a friend? Is it a sign we should distance ourselves or lean into it and communicate? + we share our our jealousy/envy experiences and what they've taught us.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers, opinions and takes! Talk soon, O, R, B x

Farrah's video

Merriam Webster - Jealous vs. Envious

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICherry pies, we're back with a new episode for you <3

Ruchira is back with a dispatch from her recent trip. We then dive into an excruciating interview with Louis Theroux that's dividing the internet. Next: Style-ish, the Australian fashion podcast under Shameless media, got into hot water after they discussed a TikToker's video on personal style. We wade into the discourse to work out what happened. Finally, Freya India is fast becoming the 'voice of a generation' in some circles and has been branded the 'anti-woke influencer' for Gen Z. We previously loved a piece of hers on social media slop... Were we wrong to like it?

Thank you for Cue Podcasts for production.

This week on the podcast, Oenone reccomended Line of Duty and the Bride bad reviews. Beth loved Netflix's new series Vladimir and Ruchira reccomended the March issue of Vanity Fair and Yesteryear.

‘Would you like me to cry now?’: Louis Theroux on the manosphere, marriage and misunderstandings

How to Develop Your Own Sense of Taste | TikTok

“Private princess”: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy would hate this

Unpacking your feedback–Style-ish – Apple Podcasts

The 26-year-old Brit who is the anti-woke voice of Gen Z women

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICorporeal beings. Last month, a BBC documentary posited the question, 'can AI ‘cure’ grief?', which got us wondering, should we want to cure grief?

In AI confidential with Hannah Fry, Fry speaks to Justin Harrison, founder of You, Only Virtual. He ‘created the concept of the Versona after facing the dual challenges of his own near-fatal motorcycle accident and his mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. During this difficult period, he sought a way to preserve the unique bond he shared with his mother, leading to the development of YOV's Al technology. The Versona allows individuals to digitally recreate and continue conversations with their loved ones, even after they've passed, providing lasting emotional connection.’

Justin Harrison is not the only person working on this emerging technology, there are others such as Project December which is is an online AI platform created by video-game designer Jason Rohrer that allows users to simulate text-based conversations with specific personalities, including deceased individuals and, HereAfter AI which promises to ‘Preserve memories with an app that interviews you about your life. Then, let loved ones hear meaningful stories by chatting with the virtual you’.

Is this something that we need? Is it something we want?

Thank you so much for being so generous and sharing with us your experiences on such a sensitive topic, we're always so grateful.

Love you! and hope you enjoy the episode O, R, B xxx

AI Confidential with Hannah Fry

The Dead Have Never Been This Talkative

Alexis Ohanian thread

The Year Of Magical Thinking - Joan Dixon

The Obliterated Place

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICrooks and criminals!

This week on the podcast we start by discussing the Industry finale- what did we think and what are we hoping for from its upcoming final season?

Then we turn to global politics as influencers in Dubai chronicle missile strikes. Are crying videos from luxury apartments the ultimate in Western obliviousness or are we being too harsh? Plus: is OpenAI's sinister new deal with the U.S. Department of Defence enough to get people to #QuitGPT?

In Hollywood news: Who cloned Jim Carrey? What's the story, where did these rumours come from and what does it say about our collective brain power that people are asking if it's true?

We also discuss the audacity of 49-year old cinema-legend and generational hottie Maggie Gyllenhaal to visibly age. How have we gotten to a place in the culture where a woman NOT getting a $200K face-lift is the more controversial choice?

Plus Beth and Oenone have some choice words for SNL.

Thank you so much to Cue podcasts for the edit.

We hope you enjoy! B, O, R x

Oenone's been loving The Bride and Small Prophets.

Beth's been loving We Might Regret This & Shrill with a special mention to Detectorists.

BBC iPlayer - Industry

Substack - Empty Ambition by Brendon Holder

The Watch - Konrad Kay & Mickey Down

GOV.UK - United Arab Emirates

The Rest Is Entertainment - Dubai Influencers vs Iran

The Guardian - Quit ChatGPT: right now!

Cracked - Jim Carrey's Publicist Finally Addresses The Clone Rumors

Fastcompany - What to know about the 'everyone is 12' theory

Substack - Ah shit! We let pedophiles decide our beauty standards by Jameela Jamil

Mamamia - Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jim Carrey, and the ageing conversation we're too afraid to have.

Oenone's Substack - Carrie, Bridget & me

The Guardian - I was at the Baftas - and while hearing the N-word was unsettling, all anger should be aimed at the BBC

BBC - SNL criticised for 'hurtful' Tourette's sketch

Netflix - I Swear (airing in the UK from Tuesday 10th March)

The News Agents podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciao EIChin-waggers,

This week we're asking a tough question: should we shut the f up when it comes to telling partners our friends' info? Editor and writer Hannah Ewens argued for this very thing in a Vogue piece titled 'Please, Stop Telling Your Partner My Secrets'.

Thank you for listening and please do argue, agree or discourse us in the Spotify comments. We love to keep the conversations going...

Love O,R,B xxx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICulture Vultures. Our gorgeous Beth is ill this week, everyone say get well soon Beth!

So we were all rooting for this new Netflix documentary series to give us an unfiltered and balanced look into the unbelievably problematic world of America’s Next Top Model. The question is…did it? 

So for anyone who hasn’t watched it, Netflix released “Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model” on the 16th of February, and in three separate hour-long episodes it dives into the creation of the show which was hosted by Tyra Banks and then briefly Rita Ora, the many scandals that happened during its 24 seasons- or cycles, as the show called them- and how it all fell apart. We hear from many former contestants, as well as former judges J “Miss J” Alexander and Nigel Barker, and creative director on set Jay Manuel. But most controversially, Tyra Banks also appears and has her say- something people are having a lot of feelings about, and which we will get into. 

More TV news! A new limited series from Ryan Murphy's anthology franchise has captured the minds and hearts of the internet, myself included, it documents the intense, whirlwind romance and subsequent tragic marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. played by Paul Anthony Kelly and Carolyn Bessette played by Sarah Pidgeon, Based on Elizabeth Beller's book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the show explores their rise as a 1990s "It Couple" while highlighting the immense, often suffocating pressure of fame, paparazzi, and legacy. We give our thoughts!

Thank you so much to Cue podcasts for the edit.

We hope you enjoy! O, R, B x

Ruchira's been loving : Alysa Liu, There Will Be Blood

Oenone's been loving: Derry GIrls, Museum Of Pop Culture with Josh Widdicombe

We were all rooting for Tyra Banks to give us some answers – but this America’s Next Top Model documentary gaslights its audience

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model review – Tyra Banks comes across terribly in this exposé

Love Story Is Doing Daryl Hannah Dirty

Secrets And Lies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Hump day EICrunchies! So last week an Instagram post by a child-free creator went semi-viral. The post explored the perspective of its child-free creator (Danni Duncan) and many other child-free people who have felt sad when a friendship has changed following a mate having a baby, and want spaces to express that freely. In the visuals for the post she writes: 

"I know your kids come first but I still believe friendship should go both ways so that makes me selfish. I understand you’re busy but I still hope to hear from you, so that makes me needy. I don’t expect the same time as before but I do hope for some effort, so that makes me unrealistic. I miss our friendship and I’ll say that out loud, so that makes me difficult. Or maybe I’m not a horrible friend. Maybe I just believe friendship should survive life changes. And that both people deserve to be seen.”

And we wanted to discuss this- with your help. We ask: is it fair for CF women to express their sadness when a friend has a baby? Is it on mothers to cross the divide or should those of us without kids do the heavy lifting? Are some friendships just seasonal? And where on EARTH are the dads in all this?

Thank you all SO much for your takes on this- as empathetic, thoughtful and considered as ever. We luuuuurve being in conversation with you all. O, R, B x

Links:

Danni's post

Danni's follow up post

Waterstones - Lessons from a Default Parent by Lou Beckett

Psychology Today - The Ring Theory

Book recs from listeners:

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good morrow EICinephiles!

Apparently there's a new film out atm? Some kind of rom-com thing starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie?

J.K. We've come home, let us in your windows i.e. your headphones. It's time to discuss the most divisive film of 2026 (and yes, we know it's only February). It's our bumper Wuthering Heights special.

Join us on horseback as we ride through the film and share our takes before disembarking and take a promenade through the wild discourse of the film. We end with a balanced investigation into Emerald Fennell and how she became one of the most divisive filmmakers of our time.

Thank you for listening and let us know your hot takes in the comments. Do you disagree with any of us? We'd love to know below!

In partnership with Cue Podcasts.

--------

This week Oenone reccomended Wuthering Heights (the book). Beth loved Lord of the Rings and How To Get to Heaven From Belfast. Ruchira loved Sorry Baby and A Little Bit Fruity's episode with Ashley St Clair.

Finally, a Smooth-Brained Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights review – Emerald Fennell’s astonishingly bad adaptation is like a limp Mills & Boon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.