Straight Up

Latest Episodes:

House of the Dragon, A Family Affair and the year of the cougar Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

House of the Dragon is the biggest show on TV right now huns, but how does it compare to Game of Thrones? Kathleen is a huge fan of both so gives us her verdict. And hot on the heels of The Idea of You, we now have Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron playing out a hefty on-screen age gap in a new Netflix rom-com A Family Affair. Are critics right to say Hollywood has entered its cougar era, and what’s driving it if so? Plus, Ellie debriefs on whether Disney’s new Karl Lagerfeld drama goes too easy on the highly problematic late designer. Finally, we pick apart Tom Bower’s new book attacking brand Beckham: assessing his motivations for writing such a snide book, and whether these ‘explosive’ revelations offer anything new.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠, and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

IF (2024 film)
House of the Dragon, HBO Max
The Last of Us, HBO Max
A Family Affair, Netflix
The Cougar Bites Back, Financial Times
The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime Video
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, Disney Plus
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Netflix
Business Barbie: Margot Robbie on how she built an empire, The Times
House of Beckham, Tom Bower

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

Taylor Swift’s killer strategy, Miley Cyrus and Kevin Spacey’s tears Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Taylor Swift’s tour has hit the UK and so of course we’re kicking things off with a debate on the queen of pop herself, most notably the recent suggestions that she is employing a calculated release strategy that keeps other artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX off the top spot. Is her Ed Sheeran-style obsession with having the best numbers admirable, or annoying? Next, we drill into Miley Cyrus’ interview with David Letterman last week, covering everything from her only celeb friendship (with Beyoncé no less) and her mum Tish Cyrus’ potent weed, to how she’s navigated fame since the age of 13. Plus, Kristen Stewart’s incredible new film Love Lies Bleeding, with a look back at her 2012 ‘affair’ scandal and public apology to Robert Pattinson, as well as her hilarious recent interviews and quite frankly iconic quotes. Finally, a recap of Kevin Spacey’s car crash interview with Piers Morgan, where the actor, despite having been found not guilty of sexual assault, seemed to incriminate himself, turning his previous supporters against him.

DM us your thoughts on Instagram ⁠@straightuppod⁠. And as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, lysm!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

Miley Cyrus on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman
Miley Cyrus Finally Gets Her “Flowers”, W Magazine
Love Lies Bleeding (film)
Kristen Stewart, Rolling Stone (May)
Personal Shopper (film)
Kevin Spacey on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored

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

Sabrina Carpenter, Hit Man and the Queenie adaptation Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter’s relationship is top of our hit-list today hunnies, since the singer released a music video all about an embarrassing boyfriend with a cameo from none other than… her 'embarrassing' boyfriend, Barry. Is he a secret scumbag, or is this all a PR ploy? Next, we revisit Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast, Miss Me?, specifically the episode on sabotage and the Billie Eilish interview, followed by a review of the eagerly-anticipated TV adaptation of Candice Carty Williams’ book Queenie, which has divided critics and audiences. Plus, an ode to Clarkson’s Farm, which has returned to Amazon for a third season. How does a man with an unsavoury reputation as Jeremy Clarkson manage to make such charming, hilarious TV? And finally, a fascinating interview with the founders of London Nootropics, longtime partner of the pod and makers of the best adaptogenic coffee on the market. With Shez and Zain, we cover everything from medicinal mushrooms and coffee to biohacking trends like barefoot shoes and life-extending supplements.

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!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner London Nootropics, our fave adaptogenic coffee that naturally boosts mental clarity and physical energy, while also easing anxiety, all without any of coffee's usual jitters. Get 20% OFF with the DISCOUNT CODE straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reccos discussed:

Sabrina Carpenter, Please Please Please
Dua Lipa Has No Lore, LA Times
Miss Me? Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast
Hit Man, Netflix
Hit Man by Skip Hollingsworth, Texas Monthly
Kiss The Ground, Netflix
Queenie, Channel 4
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (novel)
Rye Lane, Disney +
Queenie review – so half-baked it could have been made by AI, Guardian
Queenie Reminds Us That Black Women Have A “Right To Exist Messily”, Refinery 29
Clarkson’s Farm, Amazon Prime Video (season 3)
Vivobarefoot shoes

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

Ozempic, ‘nepo baby’ North West and Netflix’s Eric Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Ethical non-monogamy, platonic friendships and TikTok dating coaches: we get into all manner of divisive topics this week, huns, before a big old debate on North West, who has recently reignited the nepo-baby conversation with her controversial performance as Simba in the Lion King. Should adults be critiquing a child on the internet? And how does Kim and Kanye’s parenting approach figure? Speaking of, the Kardashians have returned to Disney for a new season and the elephant in the room is Ozempic. From Kylie and Kims’ shrinking frames, to scenes blatantly showing Wegovy in Scott Dissick’s fridge – are they now knowingly positioning themselves as the poster family for weight loss drugs? And how do we as a society navigate the glamorisation of Ozempic; can the benefits really outweigh the side effects? Next is a look at Will Smith’s upcoming comeback, why Brad Pitt’s daughter is dropping his surname and, finally, a review of the new Netflix series everyone’s talking about, Eric, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, a puppeteer in 1980s New York whose nine-year-old son goes missing. Is Eric the most divisive show of 2024?

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!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner 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

Reccos discussed:

Sentimental Garbage, Caroline O’Donoghue
Aubrey Marcus on the dark side of open relationships, Diary of a CEO
Where Have All My Guy Friends Gone? The Cut
Gone Girl (the ‘cool girl’ monologue)
The Case for Marrying an Older Man by Grazie Sophia Christie, The Cut
The Cult of the Provider Man, The Cut
The Kardashians Season Five on Disney +
Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs by Johann Hari
Our review of Jada Pinkett’s memoir (19 Oct 2023 episode)
Eric, Netflix
Eric review – Benedict Cumberbatch will win awards for this wildly ambitious drama, The Guardian
Eric review: Benedict Cumberbatch excels as a weirdo in dark, misanthropic missing-child drama, The Independent
Eric Shows Everything That’s Wrong With Mid TV, The Atlantic
Dark Days (2000 documentary film)
Machinal at The Old Vic

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

The Bennifer drama, AI gone wrong and Ryan Gosling’s rom-com May 30, 2024

Show notes

Jennifer Lopez’s latest film has arrived on Netflix and, phew, do we have thoughts! From its botched messaging around AI, to J.Lo’s absurd (if admirable) commitment to her role as a serious scientist, we review Atlas in all its ridiculousness before debriefing on the latest Bennifer drama. Are the reports suggesting that Jen and Ben are separating after less than a year of marriage really true? And can Ben Affleck possibly be claiming temporary insanity as grounds for divorce? Also this week, we recommend The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, a charming rom-com meets action thriller about a stuntman that promises good vibes and classic Gosling unlikely leading man energy. And finally, an update on Sarah Jessica Parker, whose recent podcast appearances show an intriguingly different side to the ‘cruel’ one we’ve read about amid all the SATC drama.

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!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner 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

Things discussed:

MOTH Drinks and Vinca Wine
The Mother, Netflix
Atlas, Netflix
The Fall Guy
Babylon starring Margot Robbie
A Quiet Place
Glad We Had this Chat, with Caroline Hirons
Ruthie’s Table with Sarah Jessica Parker
This Is Not A Pity Memoir, Abi Morgan
Eric (Netflix)

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

Sophie Turner, ‘sluts’ and the sexiest film of 2024 May 22, 2024

Show notes

Sophie Turner has given a tell-all interview to Vogue all about her explosive divorce from Joe Jonas, her experience of mum-shaming, her mental health, and becoming friends with Taylor Swift. We have MANY thoughts (and a few hot takes), which prompted a look at how so much mum-shaming online in the UK is linked to classism and slut-shaming. Plus, Ellie has seen Challengers and reveals whether it's up to the hype.

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!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner:

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

Sophie Turner Talks Mum-Shaming, Misogyny And Why The Best Is Yet To Come, British Vogue
Joan (coming to ITV in Autumn)
"My abortion story went viral - because even though I wanted it, the process was still painful", Cosmopolitan
Nelly London’s reel
‘I joined the childfree movement - and discovered its dark side’, Beth Ashley for Inews
Sluts: The truth about slutshaming and what we can do to fight it, Beth Ashley
Nicholas Galitzine interview, GQ
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, Netflix
All anyone wants is a hot rodent boyfriend, Dazed
Eudelo inaugural facial, Eudelo Sloane Avenue London
Mr Bao and Daddy Bao, Peckham and Tooting

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

Piers Morgan’s Baby Reindeer interview, Kate Moss and celebrating singledom May 15, 2024

Show notes

Fiona Harvey, the woman unearthed as 'the real-life Martha' by internet sleuths following the wild success of Baby Reindeer, gave a highly controversial interview to Piers Morgan on his YouTube channel last week, so of course we had to debrief. Was she lying? Was Piers wrong to interview her? What are the ethics of all this? Plus, since we love an age gap, we discuss Kate Moss holding hands with a 27-year-old Skip Marley, while Ellie has read a brilliant memoir on living a single life and has many wise nuggets to share with us all.

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!

Thanks so much to our amazing partner:

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 this week:

This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
The Split, BBC
Dark Matter, Apple TV
Arrangements in Blue by Amy Key
Sex and the City Season 6, Episode 9: A Woman's Right to Shoes
Dear Dolly: ‘My boyfriend of 12 years doesn’t want to get married’, The Times
One Pot, One Portion by @good_food_mood__ on TikTok
Piers Morgan Uncensored interview with Fiona Harvey
New Moth cocktails – Paloma and Cosmopolitan, www.mothdrinks.com

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

The Idea Of You, Dua Lipa and Pandora Sykes’ podcast May 09, 2024

Show notes

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 potential? And how authentic is her media empire, Service95, At Your Service podcast and her new production company Radical22? Plus, we’ve both watched the much-hyped new Anne Hathaway rom-com, The Idea of You, which explores the relationship between a 40-year-old divorcee and the 24-year-old frontman of a superstar boyband (Nicholas Galitzine), based on the hit 2017 novel of the same name. And finally, Kathers gives us the lowdown on the new season of Pandora Sykes’s new podcast, How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right.

Thanks so much to our amazing partners:

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 London reservations app that finds you incredible restaurants and bars in real time, tailored to you, from vibe to cuisine to cocktails and live music! Search Ambl in the App store;⁠ ambl.co

Recs discussed

Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism (album)
Dua Lipa, Service95 (newsletter)
Dua Lipa, At Your Service (podcast)
Dua Lipa Manifested All of This, Time magazine
Dua Lipa on pop, psychedelics and proving her haters wrong, The Guardian
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (book)
The Idea of You, Amazon Prime
Anne Hathaway Is Too Hot for 'The Idea of You', The Cut
The Mother (2003), Amazon Prime
Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self, Vanity Fair
How Do We Know If We’re Doing it Right podcast, Pandora Sykes
Decolonising My Body, Afua Hirsch
Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, Afua Hirsch
Omnilux contour face mask

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

Billie Eilish’s erotic advice, Zendaya and Bridget Jones 4 May 02, 2024

Show notes

Bridgewill 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 is talking about the steamy new psychosexual film Challengers, and why its star Zendaya is becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Also: our thoughts on Billie Eilish’s highly candid Rolling Stone interview, why J Lo’s is having some personal PR problems, and a debrief on Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper’s wedding.

Thanks so much to our incredible 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

Bridget Jones Diary 4: Spoilers, cast, trailer and plot, elle.com

Zendaya talks Challengers, talks to Serena Williams and considers her future, Vogue

Jimmy Carr: "There's A Crisis Going On With Men!", Diary of a CEO

Challengers, in cinemas now

Dune: Part Two, Netflix

'Challengers' Star Josh O'Connor Is Filthy in Every Movie, Vulture

3 Body Problem, Netflix The Last of Us, HBO

Blue Lights, BBC

Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself, Rolling Stone

Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut, Netflix

Meet Emily English, the nutritionist everyone’s talking about, The Times

The Truth About Nutrition With Em The Nutritionist, Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast

Yuka app

The Call Her Daddy breakup, Shameless podcast

Inside Alex Cooper And Matt Kaplan’s Intimate Beachside Wedding In Riviera Maya, Vogue

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

Baby Reindeer, Nicola Peltz Beckham’s mortifying movie and The Tortured Poets Department Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

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 of stalking is tempting, but is it fair to speculate when Richard Gadd has asked us not to? Ellie has also watched Nicola Peltz Beckham’s toe-curlingly vain attempt at filmmaking, Lola, and we mull over whether it could ever be OK for a billionaire’s daughter to write a screenplay from the perspective of a working class stripper. And of course we had to give our verdict on Taylor Swift’s new record, including an inside look at the power moves of her longtime publicist Tree Paine.

Please do send us a DM @straightuppod or email hello@straightuppod.co.uk. We absolutely LOVE hearing from you and so appreciate it. LYSM!

Thanks so much to our amazing podcast partners:

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

Reccos discussed this week:

Baby Reindeer, Netflix
‘I was severely stalked and severely abused’: Richard Gadd on the true story behind Baby Reindeer, the Guardian
Baby Reindeer review – Richard Gadd's solo theatre debut is a haunting hour, the Guardian
Richard Gadd: how I turned my stalking nightmare into a Netflix drama, The Times
Nicola Peltz Beckham, a billionaire’s daughter, made a movie about abject poverty. It’s as bad as you think, the Guardian
Memmo Alfama terrace bar, Lisbon
Magnolia restaurant, Lisbon
Mama Shelter rooftop, Lisbon
Praia da Adraga beach (one hour from Lisbon)
Nat's nourishments harissa potatoes
There Are Plenty of Power Publicists. But Only One Works for Taylor Swift, Wall Street Journal

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

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