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The Polyester Podcast — Society & Culture
The Polyester Podcast

Is Blake Lively a bitch or being misconstrued? Will Elon ever stop cringing us out? And why is everyone using slurs again?

Every week Polyester’s head girlies Ione Gamble and Gina Tonic take you down a weekly rabbit hole of online discourse and pop culture – from trad wives and surrogacy to porn stars and unhinged press tours. Exploring the intersection of IRL and URL through a feminist lens, the Polyester Podcast is your weekly digest on absolutely everything everyone on the internet is talking about.

With guests like Tavi Gevinson and Sofia Coppola collaborator Stacey Battat, and special episodes beamed into your ears from cultural centres like London’s Tate Modern and Barbican Centre, every Monday we offer a down-to-earth take from the front lines of the internet, feminism, and the weird world of celebrity it has spawned.

Hosted by Editor in Chief Ione Gamble with Senior Editor Gina Tonic. Edited by Olivia Graham. Have faith in your own bad taste!

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

Polyester is a self published, intersectional feminist arts and culture publication aiming to bridge the gap of URL cyberfeminism with the IRL world.

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

Copyright: © Copyright Polyester zine 2019 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Why Kim Kardashian’s Pubic Wigs Are So Depressing Oct 19, 2025

Show notes

2025 has been the year of the pube, from bushtok going viral for promoting an overgrown mon pubis to the sold out SKIMS merkins that Kim Kardashian launched last week, we can't stop talking about our intimate hair - or lackthereof.

While some point to the Margiela couture show last year that promoted fake pubic freedom for the rise in intimate hair's popularity in the zeitgeist, this week's episode looks at the wider implications that the Kardashian pube thong represents. Tackling the fashion week shows that limited body types and compromised movement for models alongside the lingerie launch, hosts Ione and Gina ask whether there's been a worse time for feminism in fashion.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

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

On Taylor Swift's Biggest Flop To Date: ‘The Life Of a Showgirl’ Dissected Oct 12, 2025

Show notes

The reception to Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album has been markedly different than historic fan reactions; as Swifties and Swift haters unite to deliver the best meme about how bad the new music is.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina dissect the poorly received Charli xcx diss track, why the album’s lyricism has fallen flat,and whether just how rubbish The Life Of a Showgirl is indicates how an ardently capitalist point of view rots the joy out of good pop music.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

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

Is Harry Potter Worth Human Rights Violations? The Emma Watson Vs. JK Rowling Debacle Dissected Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

It doesn't take much to goad JK Rowling into a Twitter tirade these days (allegedly.) A fake news story about bra buying in Markses? Up for days raving about it? A former colleague gives a milquetoast response about differing opinions and expresses love towards her? Time to take advantage of the X Premium perk of no word count limit. Pronouns in bio? Great opportunity to go berserk.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina get to grips with the ongoing dissonance between actors signing up for Harry Potter related roles and their supposed ethical standards, whether or not we should want previous Potter stars to stand up in the press against Rowling's views and if we should promote the 'accepting differences and loving each other' rhetoric in such a politically dangerous time.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

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

Is Jimmy Kimmel A Martyr For Fascist America? Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

It's been an absolutely mental month for the US media and one face has emerged as the hero of free speech for the Left, a person none of us saw coming to the pulpit to expunge us of our sins: Jimmy Kimmel. The late night host was promptly reprimanded by being taken off the air after making light of Trump's lack of visible grief over the murder of Charlie Kirk, only to be quickly reinstated after mass boycotts across America following the firing.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina dig into the late stage capitalism that has monopolised media outlets in America, how conspiracy conversations are clouding our judgement and whether comparisons of the current Republican party to previous fascist regimes are eye opening or distracting.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

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

Are We All Doomed To Have AI Boyfriends? Sep 21, 2025

Show notes

If over half of gen z have interacted with an AI companion and dating apps are rolling out bots to date on your behalf - where is the line drawn between real love and falling for a fantasy?

In this week's episode, Ione and Gina dig into the growing romantic relationships people are having with Replika, how AI companies are ignoring queerness, whether or not bot love is legitimate and why everyone is ignoring the ecological impact of AI chat bots.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

Is Woke Cool Again? Why The Dirtbag Left Are Pivoting Sep 14, 2025

Show notes

Another day, another Cumtown alumni going viral for doing something politically sound - from Adam Friedland's interview with Ritchie Torres to Stavros Halkias challenging his podcast guest on transphobic rhetoric, the former courters of controversy have apparently done a complete u turn on their previous edgelord output.

This week, hosts Ione and Gina take a look at what's made the most famous male members of the dirtbag left change their tune on social justice, whether 'dark woke' is working in terms of making the left cool again and whether the overton window for acceptability in politics is shrinking.

Check out https://www.squarespace.com/POLYESTER10 to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code POLYESTER10.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

We’ve Had ENOUGH of The Performative Male Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

The newest evolution of softboi has just landed with the most on the nose name yet - the performative male. He reads Sylvia Plath outside indie coffee shops as he sips matcha. He has a Labubu and his Labubu has a cute nickname. He is a little bit Letterboxd famous and he calls his mother once a week. He's also the worst man you have ever dated in your life.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina get to grips with whether this new archetypal male is anything new, or if men have always manipulated what women want to get laid.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

Taylor Swift’s Engagement, Toxic Fandom, And The Death Of The Critic Aug 31, 2025

Show notes

It's been a bumper month for Taylor Swift - when is it not? - as she made her first ever podcast appearance, announced a new album and got engaged all within the space of a fortnight. As everyone online and off gears up for what will likely be a never ending news and meme cycle on the singer's upcoming nuptials, many quake in fear for what the Swift fandom are going to unleash on anyone who doesn't stan the songwriter in the upcoming months.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina use Swift/Kelce announcement to springboard a conversation on how pop music journalism died, when press tours became so sycophantic and what does it mean when even the most famous people alive can't be levied with any kind of thoughtful criticism.

Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3

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

Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

Ethel Cain vs. Lana Del Rey: Is This The Sad Girl Apocalypse? Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

Our favourite Americana girlies are fighting! Alligator wife Lana Del Rey aired her beef with American Teenager singer Ethel Cain to the public by sharing a snippet of an upcoming diss track entitled 'All About Ethel'. The lyrics call out Cain for hating her Instagram post, posing similarly with the pair's shared ex Jack Donoghue and trying to be the most famous girl at Waffle House. In the hours and days since, Nicki Minaj has waded into the beef, fans think they've worked out which Peter Griffin meme tweet pissed Lana off and Azealia Banks has accused every tongue that rises against Ethel of transphobia.

In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina get stuck into the nuances of stan wars, why certain artists get more leeway on being potentially problematic and whether or not the pair will work it out on the remix.

Buy tickets for our London issue launch here!

Check out https://www.squarespace.com/POLYESTER10 to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code POLYESTER10.

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

Why Does The Internet Keep Getting Worse? Ft. Slop Content, Brain Rot, & The Attention Economy Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

Slop content - AI generated videos and images created to bait engagement on social media content - is getting more and more unavoidable. Whether you’ve been duped by bunnies on trampolines or enthralled by a AI cat fronted soap opera; we face a social media landscape that's no longer fit for purpose.

This week, Ione and Gina dive into who benefits from the enshittification of the internet, why bots have taken over the comment section and how the bleakness of our feeds mirror the state of wider culture.

Buy tickets for our London launch here!

Read our Bad Taste Manifesto on WePresent here!

A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram.

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

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