We’re chatting books to read this summer (why are there so many meanings for the word canon?) and we’re chatting about one of our favourite things: Nuance. Things in life are rarely black and white, many things in life exist in the grey area but have we lost the ability to involve or consider nuance? And why do we feel the need to caveat EVERYTHING.

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Recommendations:

After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Also mentioned:

Munroe Bergdorf’s Loose Women Interview

No Cancellations at the box office – Shameless podcast (Brad Pitt conversation)

We are back this week with a conversation about the impact of digital burnout, how we’re all affected by it, the overwhelm of the sheer volume of what is online and what is our responsibility when it comes to showing up online – we’re all online, how do we work with it rather than against it?

We’ve also got some rogue conversations about bedbugs, pickles and the kid’s table at family gatherings.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations:

I’m Not Ready for a Baby – Call Her Daddy podcast

How 2000s Culture Messed Us Up – Culture Study Podcast

Also mentioned:

Helli’s Bedbugs reel

We’re back, we’ve got stories from our latest trips and more than enough recommendations to make up for our (slightly) longer-than-planned break! Reality TV, books that will end a reading slump, podcasts…we’ve got it all. And then we’re chatting about trolling, accountability and the fine line between constructivly criticising people and just piling onto the hate. We are discussing it all and want to hear your thoughts too!

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

We will be back in a couple of weeks after our end of season break, if you have any topics you’d like us to cover, send us a message. Or you can join us on Substack where we regularly post content even during our break.

This Family by Kate Sawyer

Sirens on Netflix

Also mentioned: America’s Sweethearts on Netflix, Should I Delete That with Harriet, Shameless “Toddle Off” episode

Charlotte has got an exciting trip coming up and Helli had a much less exciting weekend involving a blown tyre and flagging down cars on the side of the road. We’re lamenting the clothing sizing issue that women face, especially when shopping for jeans and have a surprisingly long sports chat (unexpected, we know). We’re chatting about how we often feel like we should wait for the “perfect time” to do things and the problems that causes. How do we know when to just start and how do we find the confidence to do something even when it’s outside our comfort zone?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

We will be back in a couple of weeks after our end of season break, if you have any topics you’d like us to cover, send us a message. Or you can join us on Substack where we regularly post content even during our break.

Recommendations:

Drops on Skyscanner App for 20% drops in flight prices

Simone Biles documentary on Netflix

Also mentioned:

Unchained on Netflix

Never Enough on Netflix

We all know what we *should* be doing to recover from burnout, but how to do manage that when you’re already in the process of burning out? Plus we’ve got an interesting chat about privacy – is it the ultimate luxury and how do we protect it?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Here is your 30 day burnout recovery guide, courtesy of chatGPT: https://open.substack.com/pub/growthinprogresspodcast/p/i-asked-chatgpt-for-a-30-day-burnout?r=51hwgi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Recommendations:

Salaryman on Amazon Prime

Things I do BTS to Protect my Privacy as an Influencer

It’s picky tea season in the UK but there’s a rogue revelation that someone doesn’t like picky tea… Helli has only just discovered a British staple podcast and Charlotte is repeating last week’s recommendation… we’re here for the chaos! We’re also chatting about why sharing our ambitions outloud feels so exposing, particularly as women and the tension between going after what you want but not being “too” ambitious and not wanting to be seen to fail.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Want a taste? Here’s the bonus episode from March where we’re talking about Gwen Stefani, her right wing values and the discourse around that.

Recommendations

Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble – the episode with Jeff Goldblum

P.Diddy: The Rise and Fall on BBC iPlayer

Boyzone, cosy murder-mysteries, and all the regular chaos you’ve come to expect from us this week, plus we discuss whether we even enjoy half the things we do, or are we just good at them?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Want a taste? Here’s the bonus episode from March where we’re talking about Gwen Stefani, her right wing values and the discourse around that.

Recommendations

Boyzone Documentary on Now TV

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

We’re mixing heavy recommendations with a sprinkle of lighter ones this week, and we’re chatting all about Soft Life…

The Soft Life Aesthetic is supposed to be the antidote to Hustle Culture, the idea is to have more self-compassion, more intentionality, slow mornings and effortless routines. But the very nature of this curated trend means there is a lot of hypocrisy and privilege in what the soft life aesthetic stands for and the nature of creating content online means it is far from effortless. But there are some fundamentals of this trend that are important and speak to a wider craving of our generation for a more gentle, slower and compassionate lifestyle.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

IYCMI podcast – Have Influencers Become to Normalized to be Mocked?

Louis Theroux: The Settlers on BBC

Also mentioned

Bad Influence on Netflix

Ransom Canyon on Netflix

You know when you’re about to make the big scary decision, and you know it’s the right one and that you’re being brave and courageous, but it feels the total opposite? Well that’s what we’re discussing this week. People are always quick to tell you to make the brace decision but fail to mention that when you’re making the decision it can feel pretty terrifying. We’re looking into why that is, how to overcome it and how you can take comfort in knowing that you have great things waiting for you on the other side.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Will & Harper on Netflix

Complicating The Plastic Surgery Conversation 

After we’ve both had wholesome Easter bank holiday weekends, of course we’re back with chaos! And this week we’re talking about how real self care is not sexy, content-worthy or “aesthetic” like the wellness and self-care we’re sold online. Instead self-care is boring, it’s effective, it’s preventative. But the online aesthetic over-complicates it and creates the pressure to do it “right”, rather than doing it genuinely for you. The self-care we’re sold online is very privileged and assumes that journalling, meditation, skin care and morning routines are a one-size fits all, without taking into account the unique needs of everyone.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Franks RedHot Fire Roasted Jalapeno Sauce

A Case for Stagnant Summers

Also mentioned:

https://sabrinamolu.substack.com/

Back to the Future

Nosferatu