Straight Up

Straight Up episodes:

• 05.09.2024

  The Idea Of You, Dua Lipa and Pandora Sykes’ podcast

  Dua Lipa’s third album came out last week, huns, and we had such high hopes. So why has Radical Optimism fallen a little flat for us? This got us discussing the general ‘mood’ around the superstar: is she reaching her...

  
• 05.02.2024

  Billie Eilish’s erotic advice, Zendaya and Bridget Jones 4

  Bridge will soon be back on our screens with a new love interest we are VERY excited to see: young Leo Woodall. Do we like this 28 year age gap for our fave clumsy hun? We discuss! Plus, why everyone...

  
• 04.25.2024

  Baby Reindeer, Nicola Peltz Beckham’s mortifying movie and The Tortured Poets Department

  Baby Reindeer is of course our main talking point this week, huns, as we debate the deeply ironic investigation undertaken by internet sleuths trying to uncover Martha and Darrien’s real identities. Sure, to uncover the ‘truth’ behind the chilling story...

  
• 04.18.2024

  Amy Winehouse, celeb booking and Prince Andrew’s teddies in Scoop

  The new Amy Winehouse biopic is finally out, but Back to Black has bitterly divided critics and fans. Some are disgusted by the ‘sanitisation’ of key figures such as her dad Mitch Winehouse and former husband Blake Fielder-Civil, while others...

  
• 04.11.2024

  Mind games, Sacha Baron Cohen and gold digging intellectualised

  There’s yet another headline-grabbing ‘feminist’ debate raging on the internet, angels, so we give you the lowdown on The Cut’s viral piece The Case for Marrying an Older Man, from the intellectualization of gold digging (lol) to the persistent cultural...

  
• 04.04.2024

  Katie Price, Netflix’s The Gentlemen and where the Skins actors are now

  Why do the tabloids write about Katie Price nearly every day? The former glamour model better known as Jordan has said in a recent interview that her relationship with the media has changed from a ‘game’ to ‘mental health abuse’,...

  
• 03.28.2024

  Cults, Kate Middleton and the monarchy vs the media

  In light of Kate Middleton’s recent announcement (and the prior ‘where’s Kate’ internet circus), this week we debate the fraught but symbiotic relationship between media and monarchy, from what ‘right’ we as the public have to access to the royal...

  
• 03.21.2024

  The Big Kids Question pt II: fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths

  Male infertility accounts for half of all IVF cases, so why does society so often consider it a ‘women’s issue’? We get into the taboo around fertility and masculinity, as well as the thorny topics of egg freezing, the 'queer...

  
• 03.14.2024

  The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore?

  The startling new data revealing the sharply declining fertility rate in the UK taps into the fraught and personal conversations that we’ve been having since turning 30: are we ready to have kids, financially and emotionally? How has everything from...

  
• 03.06.2024

  The Poor Things controversy, Paul Mescal’s antics and a night at the Brits

  Have there ever been so many women divided by a film as Poor Things? We get into the controversy ahead of the Oscars, and report on all the BTS gossip from our gals night at the Brit Awards (which is...

  
• 02.29.2024

  Taylor Swift, The List and the dangers of a life lived online

  After months of her dominating the news cycle, we’re finally getting down to it and talking about Taylor Swift. From her embodiment of girlhood to the problematic PR moments she’s generated over the years, we dissect Swiftie mania and interrogate...

  
• 02.22.2024

  Sydney Sweeney’s rom com, EmRata and dressing for the male gaze

  Who is it that you’re really dressing for? That’s the Q we’re debating this week in light of Emily Ratajkowski’s recent Glamour interview, where she says she “kind of feels like everybody’s bullshitting when people say, ‘Oh, no, I’m doing...

  
• 02.15.2024

  J.Lo: heartbreak, divadom and the Ben Affleck curse

  How did J.Lo become one of the most iconic celebrities of all time? In honour of her ninth album, which is an ode to her fourth husband Ben Affleck, we look back at Jennifer Lopez’s extraordinary life and career, from...

  
• 02.08.2024

  One Day, Mr and Mrs Smith and why everyone’s a sellout now

  The Mr and Mrs Smith reboot has landed on Amazon Prime and is already being dubbed the sexiest series on TV, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as spies trying to save their marriage. We get into why this show...

  
• 02.01.2024

  Nicole Kidman’s Expats, All of Us Strangers and every woman’s worst nightmare

  Ofc The Traitors finale fall out had to quickly be discussed prior to kicking off proceedings today, huns, followed by an analysis of the off-the-charts chemistry between Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers. Plus, Paul Mescal...

  
• 01.25.2024

  Priscilla, reframing Elvis and embracing Jacob Elordi mania

  You asked and so we’ve delivered huns, with a deepdive into Sofia Coppola’s new film Priscilla, starring none other than the internet’s new boyfriend Jacob Elordi. We discuss how the film sits uncomfortably within the grey area between love and...

  
• 01.18.2024

  Lessons in sex, Barry Keoghan and unlikely leading men

  Sex is at the top of the agenda today hunnies, with Ellie having watched Emma Stone’s insane, Oscar-tipped bonkbuster Poor Things, as well as the amazingly realistic How to Have Sex, about a girls rite of passage trip to Malia....

  
• 01.11.2024

  Bianca Censori, Michelle Keegan's moment and the 'hell' of personal branding

  Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori is allegedly not allowed to speak in public,  but how many of the disturbing rumours swirling around the couple are actually true? We dive into the very strange world of Ye and Bianca, Head of Architecture...

  
• 01.04.2024

  Age gaps, 'tradwife' Nara Smith and the ethics of true crime reporting

  *TW: themes of child sexual abuse and infertility* How could a female teacher in her mid-thirties ever think it acceptable to sleep with her 12-year-old student? That’s the question at the heart of provocative new film May December, starring Julianne...

  
• 12.21.2023

  Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton: freeze-dried cats and the celeb secrets behind Choose Love

  The three most shocking sex scenes of 2023? They’re all in one buzzy new film: class satire Saltburn, which Ellie went to see last week and reports back with all the gory details in this episode. A little less sexy...

  
• 12.14.2023

  Noughties ‘it girls’ part II: from Paris and Nicole’s feud to Lindsay Lohan’s fall

  Prison, feuds, fake rumours, sex tape scandals, rehab stints and car chases: it’s all kicking off in part two of our investigation into Hollywood’s hottest noughties 'it girls’, gang, starting with the strange story of Nicole Richie’s adoption and subsequent...

  
• 12.07.2023

  Noughties ‘it girls’: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and the power of the paparazzi

  A picture is worth a thousand words… quite literally, in the case of the infamous ‘Bimbo Summit’ picture of 2006, which saw Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan crammed into a car together after a drunken night out, at...

  
• 11.30.2023

  Billy Porter on courting the press, finding fame at 49 and dating British men

  When US megastar Billy Porter invited us for champagne at his five-star London hotel, we knew we were in for a treat, and boy, did he deliver. The Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning actor and musician got straight up about pretty much...

  
• 11.23.2023

  The J.Lo and P. Diddy scandal, prison on screen and Pete Doherty’s tragic past

  Jennifer Lopez was arrested with then-boyfriend P Diddy back in 1999, a scandal that had almost slipped from public view until earlier this week, when singer Cassie filed a lawsuit with a slew of disturbing allegations against the music mogul....

  
• 11.16.2023

  Dolly Alderton's Good Material: Heartbreak, humour and the impossible weight of a 'generational voice'

  Dolly Alderton’s second novel Good Material came out last week huns, so as promised we give you our verdict, and deepdive on the fabulous career of our millennial literary queen.  We analyse everything from the savvy personal brand building she began...

  
• 11.09.2023

  Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo: the reality TV queen talks media misconceptions, celeb besties and skin struggles

  Made in Chelsea and I'm a Celeb star Georgia Toffolo was all set to study law until she appeared on the reality TV show as an extra, becoming such a beloved cast member that she didn't end up leaving for...

  
• 11.02.2023

  Wagatha Christie, James Blunt's wild humour and the new Harry Potter doc

  We come armed with BTS goss on a huge range of pop culture talking points this week gang, from the newly announced Harry Potter documentary about Daniel Radcliffe’s paralysed stunt-double (with juicy tangents on Emma Watson, Rita Skeeter and more)...

  
• 10.26.2023

  Britney Spears: the brutal media shaming of America’s teen dream

  A forensic analysis of Britney’s memoir is top of the agenda this week, as The Woman In Me’s many bombshell revelations make headlines everywhere.  From childhood she was constantly sexualised by the media and after releasing her hit single Baby One...

  
• 10.19.2023

  Jada Pinkett Smith's 'truth', the wild life of Julia Fox and erotic professional rivalry

  Do we have a right to tell our stories if they involve the private lives of others? It’s the ethical conundrum we’re discussing this week following the explosive revelations in Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir about her 'husband' Will Smith. And,...

  
• 10.12.2023

  The Beckhams: ambition, betrayal and our insider secrets

  This week there’s only one pop culture topic on everyone’s lips: the Beckhams. The four-part Beckham documentary dropped on Netflix to rave reviews, but what were the juiciest revelations and what did brand Beckham conveniently leave out? We get stuck into...

  
• 10.05.2023

  Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, Jorja Smith and the fall of Glossier

  Hiii huns, we had such a fun afternoon catching up about everything from the latest celeb divorce (it never ends!) to Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, featuring some reminiscing from Ellie on the time she had brunch with Anya and...

  
• 09.28.2023

  Emma Gannon on chronic burnout, the success myth and the joys of being child-free by choice

  This week we are so excited to welcome Emma Gannon on the pod, ahead of her speaking at the fantastic Wimbledon Bookfest, which runs 12-22 October. Emma is the author of six books and creator of hit Substack newsletter, The Hyphen....

  
• 09.21.2023

  Russell Brand: Misogyny, manipulation and the mainstream media 'agenda'

  Hi everyone, we’re all aware of the horrific rape and sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand  - which he vehemently denies, maintaining all sexual relations have been consensual - so in this episode we analyse what this means for the...

  
• 09.14.2023

  Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner and being a 20-something divorcée

  We’ve said it before huns, this is the year of the chaotic celebrity divorce, but the Joe Jonas vs Sophie Turner divorce drama has left us REELING. From Joe’s PR team playing what appears to many as a misogynistic smear-campaign...

  
• 08.31.2023

  Maya and Stormzy, ‘bad boy’ literature and the cheek of Kanye’s bottom

  Poor Els got mugged last week huns, so today’s episode starts with the download on her enforced digital detox, before taking a sunnier towards perhaps the best news we’ve heard all year  – Maya Jama and Stormzy are back together!!...

  
• 08.24.2023

  Cover girl Coleen Rooney, Britney’s bitter divorce and the downfall of Scooter Braun

  All the celebs are on holiday this week, angels, so we’ve got another jam-packed pop culture debrief for you, starting with Coleen Rooney’s fabulous – but divisive – Vogue cover for the September issue, the most important of the year!...

  
• 08.17.2023

  Harry Styles’s fertility fetish and 'celeb sickness’ Lyme disease

  From the outrageous 'dirty' celeb dating story that has blown up our WhatsApp chats to the Harry Styles rumour that sent the internet spinning, it's safe to say we have been SHOCKED by the world of celebrity gossip this week...

  
• 08.10.2023

  Dissecting the Lizzo scandal and Ariana Grande's 'steal your man' energy

  It's a dark and sordid week in the world of fame and celebrity huns, with pop stars Lizzo and Ariana Grande both getting flack from all directions. Lizzo is at the centre of wild allegations from three former dancers –...

  
• 08.03.2023

  Gizzi Erskine: naked dinner parties, magic mushrooms and how ADHD almost killed her

  We are SO excited to share this fascinating chat with our favourite chef and cookery writer Gizzi Erskine with you all this week, getting into everything from naked dinner parties to psychedelics, via public shaming, misogyny and body image.  Author of...

  
• 07.27.2023

  The big Barbie debrief: Sex dolls, incels and Ken’s controversial crotch

  The headline speaks for itself huns, this episode is spicy!! After seeing Barbie together last week (dressed in pink, obv) we couldn’t wait to discuss our verdicts and debate the VERY polarised online conversation, including Barbie-burning Republicans and some very...

  
• 07.20.2023

  Caroline Calloway: the infamous influencer on scamming, revenge and surviving scandal

  We are SO excited to introduce you to this week’s utterly fascinating and highly controversial guest: Caroline Calloway, one of the very first internet celebrities, a self- anointed ‘scammer’ and perhaps our first guest who has been publicly shamed.  If you...

  
• 07.13.2023

  Jonah Hill’s 'boundaries', Louis Theroux's lost touch, Kim and Kourtney’s epic fallout

  No interview this week angels, instead, we're covering the hottest celeb talking points from the past few days. First, we get into the topic that's currently ruling the internet, actor Jonah Hill's toxic 'boundaries', which came to light when his...

  
• 07.06.2023

  The Barbie invasion, chaotic celebrity divorces and Idris Elba’s irresistible Hijack

  Right huns, gets ready for an episode full of drama, because this week we're debriefing on America’s sweetheart Blake Lively getting her first taste of cancellation, and why celebs are in their peak chaotic divorce era (and we secretly love...

  
• 06.29.2023

  Caroline O’Donoghue: Carrie Bradshaw, celeb gossip and the reality of being a best-selling author

  Today’s guest is the best-selling author Caroline O’Donoghue, the GENIUS behind one of our favourite podcasts, Sentimental Garbage, for a pop cultural deep dive on everything from And Just Like That and Desperate Housewives, to Fleishman in Trouble, the career...

  
• 06.22.2023

  Black Mirror, AI boyfriends and The Idol: torture porn or top TV?

  Gang, we have waited SO long to debrief about HBO’s new “torture porn” show The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd that is already the most talked about TV show of 2023, and since three episodes have passed we...

  
• 06.15.2023

  Alastair Campbell: Princess Diana, celebrity politicians and how to ACTUALLY make a difference

  Hi huns, we’ve got someone a little different from the usual celeb on the pod this week: Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who is currently having a second wind of fame thanks to his top-charting podcast The Rest is...

  
• 06.08.2023

  Matty Healy, Phil Schofield and why modern dating is so broken

  This week’s mad developments in celebrity culture has aligned perfectly with Straight Up’s USP, to deconstruct ‘fame’ in all its surreal highs and horrible lows, so we’re talking about everything from Matty Healey’s controversial performative fame and the online outpouring...

  
• 06.01.2023

  Sophie Ellis-Bextor: noughties nostalgia, phone hacking and fame vs family

  Hello huns, we were SO excited to go round for tea at Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s gorgeous London home the other week to chat all about her extraordinary experience of fame, from her initial “failed” start in a band as a teenager,...

  
• 05.25.2023

  Kesha’s ghost exorcism, the genius of Jury Duty and the Hailey Bieber dilemma

  Welcome back to another cultural debrief gang! This week, Ellie interviewed the icon that is Kesha for the Telegraph ahead of her brilliant new her album Gag Order, out now, and gave us all the behind-the-scenes gossip and juicy talking...

  
• 05.18.2023

  Allan ‘MC Grindah’ Mustafa: prank calls, insecure men and winding up Jared Leto

  Buckle up huns because today’s guest is one of our all-time favourites: fellow Londoner and proper funny man Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa, the BAFTA-winning actor, writer and co-creator of hit crime comedy, The Curse, as well as the ICONIC People Just...