This week Anna caught up with award-winning director and writer Sara Dunlop. Strangely, although the two had never met before recording the podcast, Anna had actually worked for Sara before in her previous life sourcing the music for Sara's critically-acclaimed short film Dreamlands! Over a bottle of wine, they discuss John Hughes' sometimes problematic presentation of teenage romance, the strange sexiness of Prince, and the importance of extreme kindness in Queer Eye. 

In this episode, Anna chats to Mayanne Soret and Elise Bell of her favourite online collective, Tabloid Art History. Along with their third member, Chloe Esslemont, Mayanne and Elise use social media to draw comparisons between pop culture moments and art throughout the ages. They exist because, in their words, “for every pic of Lindsay Lohan falling, there's a Bernini sculpture begging to be referenced.” It’s a genius platform that serves to blur the lines between pop culture and high culture — there’s value in both forms, and they are not mutually exclusive. Who better to have a chat with about the influence of pop culture on our identities? 

This week Anna had the great fortune to have the comedian Ivo Graham round to her flat for a cup of tea and chat about his pop highs, his teen relationship lows, and the enduring excellence of ABBA. Right now Ivo’s bang in the middle of a Soho Theatre run of his show Motion Sickness, a new show about facing the future, a subject which is particularly pertinent considering the information he divulges about recent developments in his personal life…

This week Anna catches up with Anya Pearson who plays guitar in the punk band Dream Nails. When I interviewed the whole band a little while ago for The Tung they described themselves as ‘riotous punk witches singing in perfect harmony’ which is extremely accurate. Anya and Anna chat about everything from Sisqo’s ‘Thong Song’, to the pure insanity of the concept of Mr Blobby, to the importance of getting comfortable with being alone.

This week Anna's joined by the writer and editor Varaidzo. Having previously been Arts & Culture Editor at gal-dem, Varaidzo is now Assistant Editor at Wasafiri, and earlier this summer was shortlisted for the Guardian 4th Estate BAME Prize. Her thoughtful, nuanced writing can also be found in places like The Guardian, The New Statesman and Dazed. 

In this episode, Anna chats with Varaidzo about her purposeful withdrawal and careful re-entry into freelance journalism, as well as the pitfalls of being a 'face' in media, the calming effect of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and how to navigate the comments section as a writer. 

This week Anna went to meet performer Francesca Forristal hot off the back of a month in Edinburgh. She’d been performing as her drag king alter ego Christian Adore alongside her comedy partner Ed Scrivens in his drag queen persona, Eaton Messe. Together they performed their show The Dragprov Revue to rave reviews. 

Even though Francesca was fully sleep deprived, she and Anna had the best conversation about her pop cultural influences from Batman (the George Clooney iteration specifically), to how important it has been to find a community in theatre, to drag king makeup advice. It was a total joy.

This week Anna popped over to journalist and novelist Caroline O'Donoghue's house. 

She meant to be there for about 50 minutes but ended up staying for literally two and a half hours! During that time Anna and Caroline discuss her new novel, Promising Young Women, her deep love of Babe The Sheep Pig, and the bass line that inspired her to join a band. 

This one is an absolute cracker, so don't miss it! 

This week Anna jumped on Skype with the critically-acclaimed writer Nikesh Shukla. 

Nikesh has four novels under his belt at this point, having released his third, The One Who Wrote Destiny, in April and his fourth, a YA novel called Run, Riot this summer! He's also the editor of the hugely successful essay collection The Good Immigrant. 

Nikesh chats to Anna about how we can navigate pop culture when our faves keep being outed as problematic, how hip-hop influenced his school days, and how to deal with rejection. 

Listen via your favourite podcast provider. 

This week Anna caught up with Damsel Productions founders Kitty Wordsworth and Hannah Hauer-King. 

Damsel is a theatre company that brings work by women to the stage. They're committed to developing important, intersectional work that explores the myriad experiences of womanhood. Right now, they're preparing to bring Abi Zakarian's Fabric to Soho Theatre and four non-traditional London spaces. 

Listen in as Anna, Hannah and Kitty chat about the pop culture that influences the work they make, reminisce about the songs from their teen years that resonate even now, and decide which Gossip Girl character best represents them. 

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After reading Is Monogamy Dead? earlier this year, Anna became certain that writer, comedian and broadcaster Rosie Wilby would be an excellent podcast guest, and guess what?! Well, you know where this is going. 

Rosie's a super busy bee; as well as writing her debut book — a narrative non-fiction work that takes a deep dive into the world of modern dating — she also hosts a podcast called The Breakup Monologues, and has recently been touring a talk of the same name. 

Listen in as they chat about the pop culture that has influenced who Rosie is and the work she makes. Expect discussion of: the allure of George Michael, the freedom of the 90s and the importance of having a great song to imagine montages of your own life to.

Listen via your favourite podcast provider.