Have you ever left a social interaction feeling like you were annoying? That you spoke too much, or too little? That the people you were just hanging out with probably never want to speak to you again? Well, we have good news! Research sweeping TikTok motivational content suggests that 'the like gap' - or, the feeling that people like us less than we like them - is fake! Studies have shown people are like you sizeably more than you think they do. Or do they? This week, Ione and Eden are delving into the like gap, as well as the hell of being perceived, how social media is changing how we feel about ourselves and each other, and whether you should (or should not) care about what others think of you in the first place.

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Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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The Polyester Podcast universe is expanding! Introducing MJ Corey, the genius behind Kardashian Kolloquium, The Kardashian cultural analysis social media giant. She'll be breaking down the new season of The Kardashians episode by episode with her sister, producer, and collaborator Marie, in our brand new podcast series.

Are the girls really fighting? Are we moving away from written culture? And are reality tv storylines being structured around viral moments and TikTok sounds? Listen to the episode to hear MJ and Marie's deep dive into deconstructing the uncanny valley vibes of the newest Kardashian episode.

We've also introduced a new membership tier for fans of the pod. Support the podcast here!

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

Screenwriters are striking, celebrities are turning up on picket lines and creating viral moments, and all our fave shows are ceasing production. But the implications of a writers strike are bigger than the next series of Stranger Things being delayed. In this episode, Ione and Eden are diving into how past writers strikes have effected culture; from the dawn of reality tv, to a decline in media literacy, and whether the 2007 strike paved the way for Trump to become president.

Support our work and become a Polyester member <3

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

Discourse surrounding industry plants is seemingly never-ending, with the focus of this months twitter ire being new indie-darlings The Last Dinner Party. But what even is an industry plant? Are our favourite musicians really conceptualised by men sitting in a boardroom? And does it matter if they are? This week ione and eden are discussing whether authenticity matters, how new music marketing techniques are duping us all, and why nearly everyone accused of being an industry plant label is a woman.

Support our work and become a Polyester member <3

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

Paper Magazine, Gal-dem, and Buzzfeed news have all recently ceased publication, with rumours circulating that Vice and i-D are next on the chopping block. Once again, this has been a tumultuous year for digital publications. But how did we get here, and who is at fault? This week Ione and Eden are digging into why it feels like a new publication closes once a week, from the power hierarchies within media spaces, to selling out, and whether culture journalism is as powerful as it used to be. TW: Lots of bias due to our position as an indie magazine, lol.

Support our work and become a Polyester member <3

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

This week, social media decided on a common enemy. After this video went viral, showing two young women mocking another who was taking selfies and filming TikToks at a sports game - the entire internet came together to dox the two perpetrators. But who really was the mean girl in this scenario? Was it the pair, annoyed at being filmed in public? Or the poster for exploiting their experience in exchange for thousands of new followers. Ione and Eden are discussing what it means to be a twenty first century mean girl, how the archetype has changed, and if bad behaviour should or should not be punished by the court of online opinion.

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

Spoiler warning! The golden age of telly is over. This week, hosts Ione Gamble and Eden Young lay bare the ways that streaming services have decimated the TV watching experience. Is there any good to be gleamed from binge watching? Or do you long for the era of waiting for new episodes to air on the terrestrial television channels' primo spot? And how is anyone meant to enjoy an anticipated episode of their fav show when social media has laid all the best bits bare already?

Going head to head, Ione and Eden debate the pros and cons of our generation's departure from traditional programming and lay into anyone who dares to post show spoilers in the 24 hours post airing.

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

Have you ever received a message along the lines of, "Do you have the emotional/mental capacity for me to vent about something"? Or have you accused your friends of overstepping your boundaries, or not holding space for you to prioritise yourself? Over the past few years, this formalisation language - dubbed 'therapy speak' has infiltrated the way we talk to each other.

But is that person really gaslighting you? Or have we become too quick to medicalise our interpersonal issues? This episode, Ione and Eden are interrogating the origins of therapy speak online. From the motivations behind the individual influencers that peddle it, and whether any therapist or professional mental health worker would ever speak to you that way, to interrogating why we all feel so compelled to intellectualise the issues in our friendships.

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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

For the finale of our Confessions mini series, cover girly Doechii lends us her agony aunt services to solve the problems of Polyester readers across the globe. The musician sits down with Ione and Eden to discuss just how important (or not) sex really is in relationships, what to do about bigoted family members, whether being loud is the best way to bring about social progress, and much more.

In Collaboration with Coach, we've created a free limited edition print zine for all UK listeners, reserve your copy here: https://www.polyesterzine.com/sign-up

Coach is celebrating what we carry with us, not just your wallet, keys and lip gloss in your Coach Tabby Bag, the stories and experiences that have shaped us. In this mini-series, we’ll be delving into the personal moments and experiences that have made us who we are, from relationship drama, friendship woes, career mishaps and embarrassing moments to personal journeys, the revelations, and aspirations that we carry with us.

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

All of the girlies, from Bella Hadid to Kim Kardashian herself, are dressing like they love the football. Blokecore is the latest microtrend to sweep the internet - and suddenly, going to the pub with a footy scarf round your head (the style itself now christened the 'litty scarf') is a personality type. This week, Ione are examining the history of how we treat working class aesthetics - from the demonisation of ladette culture, and the knowing irony that so often infiltrates blokecore, to whether this new iteration of popularisation signals the return of a dreaded, populist type of neoliberalism that demonises the working classes at every opportunity.

Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to hear from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to [email protected], or drop us a DM on Instagram

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