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 are delighted to see a film that doesn’t revel in the sordid details of her drug addiction. We get into the thorny debate around the Sam Taylor-Johnson directed ‘love story’, starring Marisa Abela and Jack O’Connell, as well as the wild recent reporting on how Mitch is currently suing two of Amy’s best friends for auctioning off items she gave them. First, though, we give our verdicts on Netflix’s Scoop, the thrilling dramatisation of Prince Andrew’s car-crash Newsnight interview from 2019, told from the perspective of BBC celebrity booker Sam McAllister, played by an excellent Billie Piper. How accurate is the show when spotlighting the inner workings of celebrity booking?  DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next week! And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm! Reccos discussed: Scoop, NetflixPrince Andrew would 'scream and shout' if his 72 teddies were not put back properly, Express Wendy Ide on Scoop for The GuardianClarisse Loughgrey on Scoop for The Independent Peter Bradshaw on Scoop for The ObserverOff the Fence newsletter on Scoop, Substack (9 April edition)Sam McAlister, Emily Maitlis and the drama behind Netflix’s Scoop, TelegraphCivil War (in cinemas now)My Amy by Tyler JamesA Private War (film and book)Back To Black (in cinemas now)Sam Taylor-Johnson on art, age gaps and Amy Winehouse, The GuardianIt’s a grotesque insult for Back to Black to suggest Amy Winehouse died of heartache over her childlessness, Laura Snapes for The Guardian  The Amy Winehouse I knew — by our critic, Will Hodkingson for The Times The row raging between Amy Winehouse’s father and her best friends, The TimesEmily The Criminal, Netflix Thanks so much to our amazing podcast partners: Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit⁠ ⁠⁠LiveInnermost.com⁠⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 misinterpretations of Lolita. Next, we debrief on the exposé on Andrew Huberman, the world’s biggest pop scientist and host of the third biggest podcast globally. How did the self-styled Mr Perfect manipulate six different women into believing they were his only partner? And should his questionable personal choices have bearing on his work? Very fittingly, we also cover the allegations detailed in Rebel Wilson’s book against Sacha Baron Cohen, including a look back at his highly questionable output, and he and Isla Fisher’s announcement last week that they are going through divorce. Finally, we recommend Lily Allen’s new podcast Miss Me, and chat all things Cowboy Carter and virginity.  Please do leave a review on Apple, and send us love, feedback and gossip on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠, our DMS are always open and we love chatting with you! Thanks so much to our partners: Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit ⁠⁠LiveInnermost.com⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Reccs discussed: The Case for Marrying an Older Man by Grazie Sophia Christie, The Cut Lolita by Vladimir NabokovAndrew Huberman’s Mechanisms of Control, The CutMy Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellWe Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieAmericanah by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieThe Exes Who Froze Embryos and Regret It, The CutDopamine Nation by Anna LembkeThe Molecule of More by Dr Daniel Z Lieberman Uncovering the Higher Truth about Jay Shetty, Guardian Miss Me with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver (podcast)The Hunks Du Jour Need to Start Having Fun on Instagram Again, Vulture All of You (film)Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé

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’, so we get into what has prompted such a media frenzy. And, is it hypocritical of Price to say women in their 20s shouldn’t get cosmetic surgery? We also give our brutally honest thoughts on Channel 4’s much hyped new millennial comedy about mental illness, Big Mood, while Kathleen’s review of The Gentlemen, starring Kaya Scodelario (aka Effy from Skins) prompts a trip down memory lane… Vote in our Spotify poll, leave a review on Apple, and send us love, feedback and gossip on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod, our DMS are always open and we love chatting with you! Thanks so much to our partners: Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit ⁠LiveInnermost.com⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 family, to previous privacy breaches like tampongate, Kate’s topless holiday pics and the hounding of Harry and Meghan. Next up is Ellie’s favourite new podcast discovery, Sounds Like A Cult, about the modern day cults we all follow. A tale of Lululemon leggings and murder ensues, followed very fittingly by Kathleen’s review of Netflix’s new true crime drama The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. A shocking look at ‘disciplinary schools’, we found this especially fascinating considering our recent dive into Paris Hilton’s mission to have the industry shut down.  Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta ⁠⁠@straightuppod Thanks so much to our partners: Innermost Nutrition, our favourite new plant protein that's actually really good for you, full of immune-boosting ingredients, a whopping 31g of plant protein and no nasty additives. It's stocked in Ocado, John Lewis, and Soho House, or visit LiveInnermost.com Flare, which makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Reccs discussed: The Princess Of Wales’s Decision To Share Her Cancer Diagnosis Represents A Powerful Break From Royal Tradition, British VogueSounds like a Cult podcastThe Program on NetflixThe Disney Adult Industrial Complex, New StatesmanThe Pulling, by Adele Dumont

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 tax' and the commodification of reproduction in this second part of our exploration of why more and more people are putting off having children. We also dive into plenty of other unspeakable truths, from 'unnatural' parents, the fantasy mother vs monster mother tropes in Hollywood, and loss of identity. Plus, we discuss some of the most joyous things about being a parent, how social media is shaping parenthood norms, and much more. Reccos discussed Stand Up to Infertility,  BBC'Elizabeth Day: At 45 I will never be a mother. I’ve made peace with it', The TimesMagpie by Elizabeth DayThe Birth of My Daughter, The Death of My Marriage by Leslie Jamison, New YorkerLaura Jackson on Grace Beverley's podcastWhy Must We Pay Queer Tax? the Guardian'I’m a sexual and single but wanted to become a mum’, StylistStraight Up with Tove Lo, and Straight Up with BabyQueenDiary of a CEO: No.1 Neuroscientist: "Kids will make you unhappier"I chose my marriage over having kids by Ruby Warrington, The TimesThe School for Bad Mothers, Jessamine ChanStill Born by Guadalupe NettelThe false escapism of soft girls and trad wives, Time How Long Can You Wait To Have A Baby? The Atlantic Thanks so much to our partners: @flareaudio makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range.⁠⁠ Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

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 increased gender equality and the thriving child free movement to social media and the pandemic skip affected our reasoning? We try to answer all these questions and more in this two-part series on the societal and cultural issues shaping how we think about parenthood in modern Britain.  Next week we will discuss: male infertility, IVF & egg freezing, the child free movement, the taboo of the ‘unnatural’ mother, how pop culture has influenced our idea of parenthood, plus loads more listener DMs. If you don’t feel like your experience has been represented in, shoot us a DM or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk as this is very much just a conversation starter! We’d love to keep the conversation going. Also don’t forget to vote in our poll, leave us a review, and share this ep with a friend :) Thanks so much to our partners: @flareaudio makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range.⁠ Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

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 why we went live a little early this week! ). Plus, we dissect some seriously juicy gossip surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Mescal, and, following last week’s chat, get into the fascinating real life ‘Shitty Media Men’ list that inspired Yomi Adegoke’s book. Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta ⁠@straightuppod Reccos discussed: I Want to Live Like Normal People, The Fence Extraordinary, Disney Plus Poor Things, Disney Plus I Started the Media Men List, The Cut Thanks so much to our partners: @flareaudio makes the best earplugs for light sleepers: tiny, unobtrusive, with memory foam balls that perfectly moulds to your ear, and they don't fall out! Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ambl, the incredible app that's like a personal pocket concierge. Perfect for our spontaneous huns who need a last minute dinner reservation in London, Ambl matches you with the restaurants with real-time availability, all the while letting you fine-tune your choice with filters from vibe to price range. Search Ambl in the app store, or visit https://www.ambl.co

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 our own feelings towards pop’s brightest star. Next up is a review of debut novel The List by Yomi Adekoke, a gripping exploration of online shaming, cancel culture and carefully crafted celebrity in the wake of movements like #metoo. Then, Netflix’s latest true crime offering and the first from Louis Theroux’s production house, Can  I Tell You A Secret, continues the theme of cyber-stalking, while Sandra Bullock’s Lost City Of D, a fun adventure satire about a depressed erotic novelist starring Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe, offers some light relief at the end! Enjoy huns and please do rate review and subscribe as well as shooting us a DM on Insta @straightuppod Reccs covered: Taylor Swift and the Good Girl Trap by Anne Helen Peterson, Substack The List by Yomi Adekoke, available via all booksellers Can I Tell You A Secret, NetflixThe Lost City of D, Netflix Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 this for the girlies.’” Also: Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You, the ‘rom com with an edge’ that was one of the most talked about films of the past year, thanks to the cheating rumours surrounding the costars. And what about the bizarre pizza restaurant allegations in relation to Sydney’s fianceé? Finally, our actual verdict on J.Lo’s new album film, and the viral article making some much-needed noise in the fashion industry by Paloma Elsesser on the Price of Being 'First'. Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.  Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep. Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Reccs discussed:  Dexter's signet in One Day is the next Connell's chain, GQAnyone But You (streaming online) Emily Ratajkowski doesn’t ‘give a f*ck’ what you think, Glamour UKBody Type by Mikala Jamison, I Dress Sexy For Other People and So Do You, SubstackThe Bluestocking, Helen Lewis, The Real Problem with Anti-Woke Comedy, Substack The Unpublishable by Jessica DeFino, SubstackThe Price of Being 'First' by Paloma Elsesser for The Cut

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 the horrific fall out from her 2003 film Gigli (which broke her and Ben up the first time and left her ‘eviscerated’ by the press), to her out-and-proud, very meta obsession with the wedding industrial complex.  Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.  Thanks so much to our partner @flareaudio for this ep. Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 is a million times better than the iconic Noughties film, covering everything from the Brangelina curse, to why original co-writer/ Mrs Smith Phoebe Waller-Bridge exited early on. Next is our cinema pick for the week, American Fiction, a publishing satire about a black writer who writes a ‘stereotypically ghetto’ novel as a joke, only for it to become a literary hit. We discuss how accurately the film skewers white liberals as well as the concept of selling out for commercial gain, which brought us seamlessly onto the highly relevant new Vox article Everyone’s A Sell Out Now. Finally, a review of the hotly-anticipated new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’  iconic One Day in all its gorgeous nostalgia, with your cheat-sheet guides to leads Leo Woodall (White Lotus) and Ambika Mod (This is going To Hurt).  Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠ on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.  Thanks so much to our partners for this ep: Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across restaurants, bars, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, with plenty of options for Valentine's Day! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Recommendations covered:  Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon PrimeHow Francesca Sloane Reimagined a More Relatable ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ The Hollywood ReporterMaya Erskine: ‘I looked at Angelina Jolie and thought, well, I can’t be her’ Fiona Sturges for The GuardianAmerican Fiction, in cinemas nowEveryone’s A Sell Out Now by Rachel Jennings for VoxOne Day on NetflixRev on BBC iPlayerCat In Disbelief Of Dog’s Breath on TikTok

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 has been on the Louis Theroux podcast and, shocker, we’re still finding Louis’s narcissistic interview style annoying.   In the world of TV, Kathleen recommends Nicole Kidman’s glossy new Amazon Prime thriller Expats, where we debate why Nicole has received criticism over her work — professional and cosmetic. Speaking of cosmetic surgery, we get into the deeply disturbing reports of children’s 12-step anti-ageing routines.  Finally, we dive into Netflix’s latest true crime offering America Nightmare, which saw a kidnapping case tragically bungled by the media’s misogynistic obsession with Rosamund Pike thriller Gone Girl. Get in touch with thoughts, reccos and anything else you fancy by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta! We absolutely love hearing from you.  Thanks so much to our brilliant partner for this ep: Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale atm, so get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recommendations discussed: All of Us Strangers (in cinemas now) Paul Mescal on the Louis Theroux podcast Paul Mescal: I’m Not Just the Token Irish Hunk (The Times)Andrew Haigh interview (Substack, Evan Ross Katz)Expats (Amazon Prime) They Always Say the Younger You Start, The Better (The Cut)Why Does Gen Z Believe It's 'Aging Like Milk'? (New York Times) American Nightmare (Netflix)American Nightmare review in the Guardian by Leila Latif Griselda (Netflix) Euphoria S2 E1 (HBO)The Traitors S2 (BBC iPlayer)

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 coercive control, and whether it would have been described as grooming in our current era. Plus, everything we know about Jacob Elordi to date: from first roles and first loves to his thoughts on everything from handbags to celebrity interviews. Consider us obsessed.  Also, what the tween craze for Stanley Cups says about girls today (with a trip down memory lane to our own school status symbols) and whether the latest, hilarious Paul Mescal rumours could possibly be true.  Let us know what you thought of the film, and as ever us all your celeb intel, by sending us a DM @straightuppod on Insta! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: Flare Audio, whose incredible, studio-quality JET earphones are absolutely top-notch at a highly affordable price, and perfect for listening to our favourite film soundtracks during awards season. They're even on sale until the end of Jan, so head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from a swanky dinner at Frenchie to authentic Thai at Plaza! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠⁠

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. Cue discussions about everything from sexual taboos to consensual grey areas. Meanwhile Kathleen has been paying *particular* close attention to Hollywood’s unlikely leading men, from Barry Keoghan to Timothée Chalamet. Why is everyone so horny for ‘little freak energy’ as Barry neatly put it himself? We also get stuck into Calvin Klein’s month of thirst and furore: from the Jeremy Allen White ad that has people visiting its New York posters like holy monuments, to the ‘objectifying’ FKA Twigs ad that the ASA has bizarrely banned. And finally, why the explosive Chiara Ferragni cake drama suggests influencer culture really is eating itself.  Make sure you leave us a review on Apple and Spotify, and send us a DM with all of your thoughts, feedback, and celeb gossip to @straightuppod on Insta Reccos discussed: Saltburn's Barry Keoghan on flirting with Jacob Elordi and manifesting stardom (GQ)Jacob Elordi & Barry Keoghan on Hollywood, Future Films & ‘Making It’ (Vogue)⁠How French is Timothée Chalamet?⁠ (Vulture)Why Celebs Are Over Keeping Their Private Lives Private (Vogue)Poor Things (in cinemas now)How To Have Sex (Amazon Prime)How To Have Sex Captures The Unique Thrill – And Pain – Of The Rite Of Passage Girls’ Holiday (Vogue)The Brothers Sun (Netflix)Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix)How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby? Jean M Twenge for The Atlantic Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠⁠

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 at Yeezy, in light of the recent slew of semi-nude images posted by Ye in ‘honour’ of his wife’s 29th birthday.  Kathleen also tells us why Michelle Keegan’s new Netflix thriller Fool Me Once is the best thing on TV right now, and we debate why Michelle isn’t taken ‘seriously’ as an actress, and whether the media have a right to focus on her lifestyle over her work.And Ellie watches a controversial new black comedy, Sick of Myself, about a pathological liar who purposefully disfigures herself to get attention online. Is it a pertinently dark look at viral fame or is the satire too crude? And, in the wake of the recent news story about the rape of a minor in the metaverse, we finally share our thoughts on of our fave recent novels, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, covering everything from virtual utopias to video gaming culture. Recommendations discussed: Sick of Myself (Amazon Prime) Fool Me Once (Netflix) Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Tetris (Apple TV) Your Christmas or Mine 2 (Amazon Prime) The Worst Person in the World  Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com⁠

*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 Moore as said teacher, Gracie, who we find living married with the former student she raped, 20 years after the crime. The film - loosely inspired by a real case from the 90s - has received rave reviews, so we get into its many, very thorny ethical dilemmas.  Then, more on age gaps and power dynamics in relationships as we debrief on how Nara Smith, the 22-year-old wife of the biggest male model in the world, Lucky Blue Smith, has become one of TikTok’s standout stars, with commentators upset about everything from their (quite frankly insane) baby name choices, to Nara’s conversion to Mormonism and ‘trad wife’ content.  Finally, a look at the seminal 90s book The Journalist and the Murderer, and how extremely relevant it feels today when considering the murky ethics of true crime reporting, as well as two article recommendations by fashion writer Camille Charrière, whose accounts of IVF and infertility have recently gone viral. Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we LOVE hearing from you. Thanks so much to our brilliant partner Flare for this ep: Flare is the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reccs discussed: May December (available on NOW TV)The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm Loch Henry (Black Mirror episode) The Staircase on HBO My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Camille Charrière: We Need To Be Having More Honest Conversations About Fertility – And Not Just With Our Girlfriends in British VogueThey told me IVF would be fine. But it left me in a hole of despair by Camille Charrière in The Sunday Times Style

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 but equally entertaining was Kathleen’s culture pick this week: Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller  starring Julia Roberts. We get into why it’s so realistic for 2023 and why everyone’s talking about its secret Friends references. And as an extra Christmas treat in this episode we also have a fabulously fun interview with two amazing women: Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton, the cofounders of our favourite charity and ‘movement’ Choose Love, which supports displaced people across the world. Everyone from Olivia Colman to Phoebe Waller Bridge have lent their stardom to promote its incredible message, which proves celebrity philanthropy is not to be sniffed at. So we were so excited to be invited to Choose Love’s stunning Soho pop-up boutique to chat  to Dawn and Josie, getting off to an excellent start by bumping into Dawn’s husband Chris O’Dowd wielding a Choose Love placard just outside.  We talked all about the highs and lows of a celebrity marriage, the hilarious fails of being a ‘celebrity plus one’, how Josie began her career in management for Coldplay, top tips for a fabulous dinner party and Dawn and Josie’s best foodie spots in London.   We’re having a little festive break next week gang but we’ll be back with an episode on Jan 4 full of culture recommendations to brighten up our gloomy Januaries.  Happy Christmas to our wonderful listeners, we have absolutely loved growing this amazing community of smart, hilarious, fabulous huns - we’re still sobbing over our latest outrageously cute Apple review - so thank you very much for listening, and until next year!  E&K x Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you Shop for someone who needs it via choose.love, visit the store at Carnaby Street (open until xmas eve) and follow @chooselove on instagram! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

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 route to fame via reality TV trailblazer the Simple Life.   Then, we continue to chart the toxic noughties and our then-treatment of women in the public eye, from the shameless obsession with their bodies, to the outright bullying and manipulative tactics of the tabloids. We also look at how Paris Hilton, Linsday Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Richie carefully crafted their own celebrity personas, from Paris’ decades-long dedication to wearing blue contacts, to Lindsay’s breast-focussed SNL skit at the age of just 18.  Finally, where are they now, and are any of them even nice people? We spill all the tea on Linsday’s new life in Dubai and debate whether Paris’ image revamp of recent years is actually legit.  Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

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 the height of Paris and Lindsay’s tabloid-fuelled feud. The picture, which was plastered on the cover of the New York Post with the headline ‘Bimbo Summit’ went viral, and its backstory has been contested ever since, but one thing is clear: the media was toxic, and it ruled the noughties.  In the first of this scandalous two-parter episode, we analyse how the rise and fall of Hollywood it-girls Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was charted, and largely caused, by these blood-thirsty tabloids and their packs of hungry paparazzi, who could sell pictures for over $20,000 a pop. We look at what drove the media’s frenzied hatred for successful young women, and how complicit, we, as consumers, really were.  Ellie also gives us a bite-size travel guide to her recent trip to Goa. If you want to borrow her itinerary, here are her favourite hotels across north and South Goa: Ashiyanya Yoga, Cabo Serai, Turiya Villa and Silva Heritage. And Kathleen heartily recommends a winter getaway at the Pig in Devon. Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com

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 everything, including, of course, his relationship with the press. He tells us exactly how he managed his decision to go public with his HIV diagnosis in 2021, and why he feels obliged to be political. Plus: what's it like being catapulted to global celebrity aged 49? Billy reveals all, as well as his top fashion tip, favourite London nights out, and who he was going on a date with straight after our recording. Listen to Billy's INCREDIBLE new album Black Mona Lisa here: https://billyporter.lnk.to/BlackMonaLisa-album Follow Billy on IG @theebillyporter Please leave us a review on Apple, rate us on Spotify, and drop us a DM @straightuppod on Insta, we adore hearing from you! Thanks so much to our brilliant partners for this ep: London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally actually boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. We are obsessed and you will be too! Get 20% OFF YOUR BOX  with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flare, the cutting edge company behind the Calmer earbuds, which soften horrible sounds like chewing, tapping and loud breathing for sensitive souls like us (misophonia!). If you’re someone who gets distracted easily then you absolutely NEED these in your life. Grab a pair for £15.96 in the Black Friday sale with 20 per cent off side wide at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flareaudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Yonder, the super cool lifestyle credit card that’s ideal for London Huns who want to get huge discounts and freebies across food, drink, and fitness. Every point you spend is then redeemable against amazing experiences in the capital, from top restaurants to the swankiest gym classes incl Boomcycle and Kobox this month! Sign up today at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠yondercard.com