Explore every episode of the podcast Straight Up
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Day: pop culture, friendship and getting over the ick | 17 Apr 2025 | 01:29:54 | |
The queen of podcasting herself, Elizabeth Day, is on the show today to talk all things pop culture and we could not be happier about it huns! We get stuck into her three top recent recs across TV, film and books, the media’s obsession with first person pieces about ‘bad friends’ and the toll of maintaining a personal brand. We also chat about the psychic reading that changed Elizabeth’s life, reality TV, her daily routine and top pieces of dating advice for our single huns. We promise anyone currently jaded by modern dating will feel uplifted hearing her talk about her first Hinge date with now-husband! Check out Elizabeth's podcast How To Date here and pre oder her new book One of Us (out September 25) here Please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! DM us @straightuppod, or email at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com Reccs/ reviews:
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| Black Mirror, the Beckham feud and WhatsApp group politics | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:58:25 | |
Another week, another divisive op-ed from The Cut! This time about the fraught nature of WhatsApp groups: is it wise to use them to discuss such personal things as money, politics and parenting? First though, another op-ed, this time on the 'Singlehood Stigma', tackling why women feel like they are simultaneously being told by society not to want a partner, while also shamed for their singledom. It seems like we can't have it all - and maybe that's OK. Also on the show, we have a look at the new charges against Russell Brand, why Romeo Beckham is feuding with brother Brooklyn, a quick film rec and reviews of this week's top TV: Black Mirror and Dying for Sex. Enjoy hunnies! Please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! DM us @straightuppod, or email at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. We are blown away by how Sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet has improved our health, from skin and nails to sleep and energy. Get 15% off with code STRAIGHTUP at sisterlylab.co.uk Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com Recs/ reviews
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| Bridget Jones 4: grief, friendship and magical men | 19 Feb 2025 | 00:32:18 | |
It’s Bridget Jones season, huns, and so obviously we had to review the latest and fourth film in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy as a special bonus episode. We laughed, we cried, then dissected everything from Bridget's new boyfriends to Pandora Sykes' official podcast. Be warned, there are spoilers! And don't worry, we’ll be back here tomorrow with our usual pop culture debrief. Let us know what you thought of the film by DMing us @straightuppod, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Recs discussed:
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| Fleur East: surviving The X Factor and the secret to long-lasting love | 04 May 2023 | 01:01:48 | |
This week hunnies we have musician, The X Factor semi-finalist and Strictly finalist Fleur East on the show for a chat all about what it’s like to go through the often brutal churn of reality TV, and come out very much on top! She shared stories about how she almost pulled out of her big The X Factor audition, dealing with managers who wanted to lie about her age, and the wildest A-List party she ever attended. She also shared the cutest story about how she got together with her now husband Marcel, her secrets to a long and happy relationship, and what she’d like to set the record straight on. Plus we’ve got a fabulous bar review for you Londoners, having spent an excellent evening together at the city’s hottest new haunt, Stereo, the stunning cocktail bar, restaurant and live music venue from super chic the Experimental Group. It’s right in the heart of Covent Garden and for a night of killer cocktails, burgers and a little spin on the dance floor, this totally hits the spot. Stereo is at 35 The Piazza, London, WC2E 8BE, check out Stereo’s website at stereocoventgarden.com, or on IG @stereocoventgardenlondon. Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Leave us a little review, and rate us on Spotify, it helps boost us in the charts and then we can continue getting more fabulous guests and spending time curating juicy, informative content about all things celeb culture. And let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sofia Richie’s wedding, a Netflix sex scandal and Reese Witherspoon’s Hollywood reign | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:54:21 | |
We’re back with a thrilling culture debrief for you today, angels, and as you can hear from our unhinged giggling, we are really very excited to be reuinited with you all, gossiping about everything from Sofia Richie’s wedding at the infamous, ridiculously luxurious Cap Du Eden Roc hotel in France, to the explosive sex scandal gripping the cast of Netflix’s latest hit, Beef. We also get stuck into Lewis Capaldi’s Netflix documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, which highlights his struggles with Tourette’s syndrome, as well as the streamer’s latest surprise success, The Night Agent, a brilliant, pacy political thriller recently became its third most-watched show of all time, as well as, erm, it’s epic new series about chimpanzees. Also, why you need to read Curtis Sittenfield’s new novel Romantic Comedy about a famous male pop star falling for a TV comedy writer, inspired by Kim K’s hook up with Pete Davidson, as well as a deep dive into how Reese Witherspoon became the most powerful woman in Hollywood. Finally, for anyone planning a Mexico trip in the near future, Kathleen gives a very brief overview of her recent travels, from swimming with wild dolphins to street food hotspots. If you’d like to know more, be that on the route, AirbnB reccos or restaurants to book, shoot us a DM and Kathleen shall share! Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Mexico recommendations discussed:
Leave us a little review, and rate us on Spotify, it helps boost us in the charts and then we can continue getting more fabulous guests and spending time curating juicy, informative content about all things celeb culture. And let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Picture This’ Ryan: introversion, Irish stereotypes and why he doesn’t want kids | 20 Apr 2023 | 01:27:06 | |
Hello darlings, have you missed us? Kathleen is back from Mexico so Straight Up is back to business and we have an excellent celebrity interview for you today: Ryan Hennessy, frontman of Picture This, the childhood friends turned Irish mega band who flew to the top of the Irish charts with their debut album in 2017. If you go weak for an Irish accent and swoon over gorgeous introspective songs about love, breakups and existentialism then you are going to absolutely love em. We met Ryan one sunny afternoon in Kings Cross and chatted all about why they're the most 'egoless band out there', why young female fans should not be patronised, and why he might be the only artist that never drinks before a show. And his anecdote about a mental house party in LA - which also inspired a song - might well be one of the craziest stories Straight Up has heard to date. Plus: why he wasn't offended by controversial Irish film Banshees of Inisherin, the song inspired by his big existential crisis and his thoughts on masculinity and fatherhood. Leave us a little review, and rate us on Spotify, it helps boost us in the charts and then we can continue getting more fabulous guests and spending time curating juicy, informative content about all things celeb culture. And let us know what you think on Insta @straightuppod Check out Song To Myself here: https://songtomyself.lnk.to/PictureThis If you want to see Picture This live, they're headlining Koko on the 27th April, tickets here Follow the band @picturethis on IG and Ryan @ryanhennessy_ Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Celebrity journalism's big existential crisis | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:54:51 | |
Hi gorgeous ones! Today we round up our mini celebrity journalism series with the fourth and final part (listen to parts one to three by scrolling back in our archive - they’re super juicy!). And it’s all about celebrity journalism’s uncertain future: in an era in which celebs increasingly hold all the power, and publications are losing their relevancy, who needs who? After Ellie reveals a shock celebrity encounter that got her feeling all kinds of existential angst, we discuss why and how celebs are choosing to disrupt traditional media, from Dua Lipa's newsletter and podcast to the now ubiquitous A-List tell-all Netflix documentary. Whereas celebrity journalism used to be a highly calculated game paying dividends for both sides, today it seems to have become something a lot less strategic. But it's not all doom and gloom for the media huns, as we make the case for why the traditional interview still holds an important place in our culture, and why celebrity journalism more broadly is important in holding the powerful to account. Make sure you answer our themed question on Spotify! And let us know what you thin on Insta @straightuppod Ps we're off for a two-week break after this episode but don't go anywhere, we'll be back on April 20 with a VERY fun interview. See ya then! Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Jordan Stephens: sex on screen, male shame and Andrew Tate | 23 Mar 2023 | 01:07:11 | |
Jordan Stephens is in the studio today angels and this is defo one of our favourite chats to date – you are going to absolutely love this one! Jordan shot to fame as a teenager as one half of Rizzle Kicks, they disbanded in 2016 and he went on to pursue a super successful, incredibly varied career, from actor and painter to children’s book author (as well as still releasing music ofc). We sat down at Brixton Village studios to debrief on the rise of Rizzle Kicks and being thrown into fame overnight as a teenager, from the “delusion” that got him there in the first place, to the wild and ultimately unsustainable partying that came with such success. Jordan gets into what his subsequent five years of sobriety have been like and his myriad talents, including being an actor, and his views on everything from Penn Badgley's no intimacy rule for filming, to Andrew Tate and toxic misogyny. Plus, why he absolutely loves how famous his partner, Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix, is, how they complement each other, their creative intimacy, and their plans when it comes to getting married and having children. Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup And thanks VERY much to Shure for gifting us our sexy new mics, the MV7s, which we can highly recommend to any new or current podcasters. Grab yours at Shure.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fat suits, Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback and popping the Paul Mescal hype | 16 Mar 2023 | 01:06:46 | |
Welcome back angels! We’ve got a corker of a chat for you today, where first we quickly debrief on our favourite Oscar looks, before getting into The Whale, for which Brendan Fraser took home Best Actor, and Hollywood’s surrounding fat suit controversy. Is the portrayal of his character Charlie is ethical? And why are weight and morality all too often confused? Plus Jonah Hill’s life-long struggle with his weight and self-image, as portrayed in his Netflix documentary Stutz. Then, we pop the Paul Mescal hype after seeing his arthouse hit Aftersun, which we, unlike the rest of the world, unfortunately did not love. Also, the dreamy Austin Butler as Elvis in the new Baz Lurman film, Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback and Cara Delevingne’s recent renaissance post a much-documented ‘unravelling’. Plus, Kathleen’s favourite new bar discovery, a Mexican meets Japanese underground spot in Notting Hill, Viajante 87. Recommendations:
Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| SG Lewis: ‘songwriting camp’, fame freebies and Face-timing Elton John | 09 Mar 2023 | 01:02:47 | |
Hi darlings, we’re back today with a chat with the man who got us turning our kitchens into dancefloors over the pandemic, and has just released one of the most disco-tastic albums of 2023, AudioLust and HigherLove. SG Lewis (or Sam, to his friends) is, as Kathleen says, a pied piper of the party! Makes sense that he’s also super-producer to some of the world’s biggest stars, from Mabel to Dua Lipa, and has worked with icons such as Elton John. Sam Zoomed us from LA to talk about what his career spent working with some of music’s biggest stars has taught him about fame, money and success, as well as entertaining us with some excellent red carpet stories and revealing what the mysterious ‘songwriter camps’ are really like. Plus we have got all our cocktail loving Huns covered with a review of what might be our top new London bar: SOMA, in Soho. And Ellie gives us the lowdown on her favourite new female comedians for International Women’s Day, while we also both get stuck into the juiciest controversy of the moment, the explosive fallout from HBO’s upcoming show The Idol, which has been accused of ‘male torture porn’. How did a show satirising fame become the very thing it was meant to satire? And what does this mean for its very famous co-creator The Weeknd? Recommendations discussed:
Enjoy! Thank you to Huel for making this episode possible. Huel is a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake in a load of amazing flavours, and which has totally changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The epic Peltz-Beckham wedding fall out, Paris Hilton’s birth phobia and horror’s hottest actor | 02 Mar 2023 | 01:07:10 | |
First up today darlings is a whistlestop recommendation rundown for New York, where Ellie celebrated her 30th last week, followed by a blow-by-blow look at the car crash that is the Peltz-Beckham wedding lawsuit drama. Then, a further debrief on the unofficial first family of Britain, from whether we think Victoria Beckham is a nice person, featuring *alleged* intel from Kathleen, who once met one of the Beckham’s nannies, to Ellie’s experience of interviewing a rather handsy David. Also on the topic of weddings, we cover the rise of the “couple podcast” and debrief one of Kathleen’s fave new discoveries, Jaime Laing’s Nearlyweds, plus, our new celebrity crush, the actor Mia Goth who is currently starring in Infinity Pool, the new horror dubbed “White Lotus for sickos” and is the lead in two of Ellie’s favourite horror films, X and Pearl (out now). We also get stuck into Paris Hilton’s decision to use a surrogate because of her crippling phobia of childbirth, which was triggered, in part, by the abuse she experienced at boarding school, as well as the revelation that her sextape “One Night In Paris” was the first bit of porn either of us ever saw (we’re so sorry! We understand the ethics of this now!). Finally, a debrief of Selena Gomez’s documentary My Mind and Me, in particular the excruciating press day scenes and her incredible mental health advocacy. Then a hilarious look at former Elle Editor Farah Storr’s latest Substack newsletter, where she gives “the world’s best restaurant” a brutally honest review that reads just like the amazing chef thriller we recently recommended, The Menu. Recommendations discussed:
NYC recommendations:
Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode: Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Get 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ And thanks VERY much to Shure for gifting us our sexy new mics, the MV7s, which we can highly recommend to any new or current podcasters. Grab yours at Shure.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Mae Muller: body image, TikTok stardom and celibacy | 23 Feb 2023 | 01:14:35 | |
Hi gorgeous ones, this week we have the equally gorgeous Mae Muller in the studio, who many of you will no doubt recognise from her absolute belter I Just Came to Dance which was permanently on the radio just before Christmas, as well as her viral TIkTok hit Better Days which she even performed on Jimmy Fallon. Trust us when we tell you she’s gonna be a star! Over her fave drink, an Aperol Spritz, we had such a fun chat talking everything from first unglamorous jobs to dating in the public eye and her (now broken) year long celibacy journey. Plus, how fame has impacted her body image, why she’s built an all-female team around her and her most memorable ‘don’t you know who I am?’ moment. Another highlight was debating over the pros and cons of Stan culture, and we almost died laughing when Mae took the opportunity to beg her fans to change their fandom name from the.. ahem…Mullshitters. Check out Mae Muller's amazing music and her socials here: https://bio.to/MaeMuller Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod Thanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode: Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Brit Awards goss, Rihanna’s big reveal and Kourtney K’s vagina gummies | 16 Feb 2023 | 00:55:52 | |
Sorry about the hangovers, huns, because first up today we’re give you the full behind the scenes debrief on the Brit Awards, where we had a rather raucous evening on Saturday night, starting with drinks at the gorgeous Shoreditch bar Seed Library and culminating with the star-studded Universal Records party at Soho House’s 180 The Strand. We then get stuck into all the other biggest talking points of the past week, from Rihanna’s epic pregnancy reveal at the Superbowl, to the Chat GPT takeover, as well as our top TV and podcast picks right now, from HBOs’ zombie masterpiece The Last of Us, to Strippers In The Attic, a no-holds-barred series on what really goes down at strip clubs. Enjoy darlings and as ever please rate, review, subscribe and send this episode to a friend! Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod Recommendations discussed:
Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode: Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Get 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Dating advice, Apple Cider Vinegar and the return of horny | 13 Feb 2025 | 01:03:51 | |
It’s Valentine’s week, hunnies, so ofc romance is top of the agenda on today’s show – kicking off with with a review of Elizabeth Day’s brand new podcast ‘masterclass’ How To Date, which she cohosts with MAFS’s Mel Schilling. Do you really have to be ‘healed’ to find love? And are we the only ones feeling a bit triggered by the ‘take your younger self for coffee’ TikTok trend? Plus: Netflix and Amazon Prime’s new rom-com efforts, Amy Schumer’s Kinda Pregnant and Reece Witherspoon’s You’re Cordially Invited, Jordan Stephens’ wonderfully refreshing take on male sexuality and the Bonnie Blue phenomenon, as well as life post-divorce in Amandaland. And, as promised, we’re getting stuck into Apple Cider Vinegar, the highly-anticipated Netflix series about Australian wellness scammer Belle Gibson. DM us @straightuppod, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.3% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at player.bfi.org.uk/ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com/ Recs/ reviews:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| RAYE: survival, songwriting and success on your own terms | 09 Feb 2023 | 01:17:31 | |
Gang we are so excited to have none other than RAYE on the podcast this week, one of our favourite artists and an absolute icon on the British music scene at just 25-years-old. The South London gal released her debut album independently on 3 Feb after a very public dispute with her label last summer – they’d stifled her and controlled her creatively for seven years – and now, is telling her story on her own terms and enjoying more commercial success than ever before (her most recent amaze single, Escapism, went to No1). Ellie was unwell for this one (*sob*) and so Kathleen sat down to talk to RAYE about her incredible journey and resilience, from surviving abuse at the hands of the music industry’s darkest figures, to thriving as an independent artist after calling out injustice. We get deep about forgiveness, standing up for artists, Black Mirror-worthy media events, the power of therapy and finally having your moment. Check out RAYE’s incredible album My 21st Century Blues here: https://raye.orcd.co/m21cb Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode: Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Get 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Pamela Anderson’s sex tape nightmare, Miley Cyrus’ revenge and fine dining horror | 02 Feb 2023 | 00:58:51 | |
Hi darlings, this week we get stuck into some VERY juicy topics, starting with, is the new Amy Winehouse biopic doomed to fail? Plus, having watched the brand new Pamela Anderson documentary on Netflix, how much did her sex tape colour the public view of her? And can sex tapes ever be empowering? Also, having both watched the very entertaining black comedy The Menu, about an acclaimed pompous (and murderous) chef starring our fave Anya Taylor Joy, we reminisce over some of our most absurd memories reviewing some of the world’s finest restaurants (it’s a hard life huns). Finally, is there more to J Lo’s new marriage romcom than meets the eye, and why Miley Cyrus’s Liam Hemsworth revenge song Flowers is the latest savvy mood in celebrity meta marketing. Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppod Thanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode: Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup Recommendations discussed: Pamela, a love story on Netflix ‘Pamela Anderson: The only man to treat me with respect? Hugh Hefner’, The Times The Menu on Disney Plus and in cinemas Shotgun Wedding on Amazon Prime An Attempt to Make Sense of the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial-Complex Canon, Vulture Miley Cyrus Flowers Miley thread: https://twitter.com/mileycyrusvibez/status/1614391250396012545 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Akon: celebrity greed, dealing with divas and taking Straight Up to the strip club | 26 Jan 2023 | 01:23:28 | |
Can’t quite believe we’re saying this huns but we had the man, the legend AKON in the studio with us recently to celebrate his new TikTok EP TT Freak and it was all we hoped and more. We had the most amazing chat about everything from growing up between New Jersey and Senegal and how his time in prison inspired his major hit Locked Up, to discovering Lady Gaga, working with Whitney Houston and becoming TikTok’s most streamed star. Plus Akon got real on our favourite topic of fame, revealing why so many stars are selfish, greedy and give nothing back to their communities. He also spoke honestly about why musicians like Kanye West need to care less about music, and why - controversially - he still stands by Michael Jackson. And, our favourite moment of the interview, he invites us to his favourite strip club! We shall attend and report back. Let us know what you think by leaving us a review on Apple or Spotify, or you can DM us on insta @straightuppod Thank you to our two incredible sponsors: Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup If you’re nervous about starting your therapy journey this year, then check out our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get 10% off your first month by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Prince Harry bombshells, family estrangement and frostnipped todgers | 19 Jan 2023 | 00:57:04 | |
We read Prince Harry’s memoir so you don’t have to, huns, and good grief do we have thoughts. We trawl through the juiciest revelations (especially the ones that haven't made the headlines) and debate over some of Spare's most contentious points, from Harry's obsession with the press and the royal family's strange dysfunction, to whether he'll eventually regret going into such microscopic detail about his sibling rivalry with William. Plus, has online discourse around cutting off ‘toxic’ people done more harm than good, and is it leading to an ‘estrangement’ epidemic? Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppod Thanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode: Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup If you’re nervous about starting your therapy journey this year, then check out our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get 10% off your first month by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Baby Queen: drugs, toxic managers and the ‘void’ of celebrity | 12 Jan 2023 | 01:18:15 | |
Happy new year huns! After a restful Christmas of pigs in blankets and Oatnog we’re suitably fattened up and raring to go for 2023 at Straight Up HQ, with plenty of juicy, eye-opening interviews about the murky world of celebrity. In this episode we’re joined by the fabulous Baby Queen, the 25-year-old South African born, London-based artist who many new fans might recognise from Netflix’s Heartstopper soundtrack, for what is perhaps our most revealing interview to date – like, EVER! Baby Queen, AKA Bella, spills the tea on just how twisted the music business actually still is, even in its green juice era, from toxic male managers and the prevalence of drugs, to abuse and manipulation, the sexism, the self-medicating and the mental health costs that are all practically part and parcel of being a performer. Bella digs deep into her own “bright lights syndrome” and the narcissism inherent in artistry, while talking through a recent identity-crisis, navigating ADHD, and her battles with depression, revealing how they are, for her, intertwined with being in the spotlight. Plus, we talk everything from therapy and why Bella says she is never, ever having children, to video games and why the name “Baby Queen” triggered an existential crisis. Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppod Thank you to our gorgeous sponsors for making this episode happen: Black-lines, the amazing bottled cocktail company behind our fave winter tipple Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here Huel, our January saviour helping us to get back into the gym, build muscle and save money with Huel Black Edition, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightup Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Christmas special: festive quiz, 2022's best celeb moments and top TV | 22 Dec 2022 | 01:07:08 | |
Hello angels, today we are bringing you an episode full of festive cheer and (slightly tipsy) merriment! Over a bottle of Straight Up’s fave winter drink Oatnog, we reminisce about our best and worst Christmas rituals and presents, the highs and lows of seasonal cinema, and Ellie even whipped up a truly scintillating Christmas quiz for us all to enjoy, of which the first question is: ‘What is Ellie’s favourite ingredient on the Christmas Day lunch plate?’ (Kindly note Kathleen’s eye roll). Also, we share our top celebrity moments of 2022, and why Billie Piper’s I Hate Suzie is THE show you all need to watch over the holidays. Plus we couldn’t resist debriefing the White Lotus finale too, obv. We’re taking a little two week break now, so see you next year on the 12 January for an incredibly exciting guest interview. We really do have some absolute corkers for you lined up in 2023, so get ready for even bigger and better juicy celebrity stories, fascinating analysis around what it means to be famous in this day and age, plus your usual cultural recommendations to keep you entertained and in the know. Happy Christmas and see you on the other side! Hunnies if you want the PERFECT Christmas/New Year's gift for your loved ones, or simply as a well-deserved treat for yourself, then look no further than amazing bottled cocktail company black-lines, which has launched quite literally the most delicious winter cocktail you will ever try: Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery East Rarer rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| First Aid Kit: touring with your dad, sexist journalists and the 'good girl' trope | 15 Dec 2022 | 01:05:46 | |
Hiiii huns, this week we have one of our fave bands on the show: First Aid Kit! The Swedish, Brit-nominated sisters Klara and Johanna are adored around the world for making the most beautiful country music, which had Ellie swooning into her wine last Friday at the Eventim Apollo. This episode is a cracker, with such fun, hilarious sisterly energy as Klara and Johanna recall their drunkest moments, touring together as children (with their dad in tow) and the most outrageous thing a journalist has ever said in an interview. Plus, they share a very moving and spiritual story behind their amazing new album Palomino, and get candid about everything from the pressures of performing to pleasing fans. Shoutout to the gorgeous pop-up bar we reviewed in the intro too, which is just ideal for snug winter cocktails on a beautiful alpine rooftop! Book your table at Laurels on the Roof here! A huge thank you also to our incredible partners for this episode: Amazing bottled cocktail company black-lines has just launched quite literally the most delicious Christmas cocktail you will ever try: Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here Ever feel totally bamboozled by everything from investing to crypto and your pension? Juno is an amazing educational platform and app that is helping to close the financial literacy gap that affects women and non binary people. Use the code STRAIGHTUP to get 30% of a premium subscription, which brings the cost down from £4.15 to £2.91 per month – less than a cup of coffee! Search Your Juno in the App Store or visit www.yourjuno.co Q Acoustics is the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk As ever, please do let us know what you think by shooting us a DM at our newly launched Straight Up IG @straightuppod Brands with collab enquiries, please feel free to email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The White Lotus, wealth and the explosive truth about celeb gossip giant DeuxMoi | 08 Dec 2022 | 00:58:38 | |
Get ready for some rip-roaring recommendations this week angels, because we're debriefing on everything from infamous celebrity gossip IG account DeuxMoi's thinly-veiled new autofiction, Anon Please, to the second season of the bonkers, totally brilliant HBO series The White Lotus, set in a luxury hotel in Sicily. We get stuck into debates on privilege, power, hypocrisy, stalking and celeb privacy, plus lots of laughs on A-list lookalikes, astrology (and the legitness of it) and the inherent sexism in "icks". We also have a good old debrief on the alleged Maya Jama and Stormzy reunion (including our take on the incredible new album This Is What I Mean and the thorny question of whether you should ever take an ex back), the ethics of paparazzi and the tabloid story exchange game, plus why clickbait headlines simply reflect our own worst instincts. Recommendations discussed:
Thank you so much to our fantastic new partner Juno for supporting this episode. Ever feel totally bamboozled by everything from investing to crypto and your pension? Juno is an amazing educational platform and app that is helping to close the financial literacy gap that affects women and non binary people. Use the code STRAIGHTUP to get 30% of a premium subscription, which brings the cost down from £4.15 to £2.91 per month - less than a cup of coffee! Search Your Juno in the App Store or visit www.yourjuno.co As ever, please do let us know what you think by shooting us a DM at our newly launched Straight Up IG @straightuppod Brands with collab enquiries, please feel free to email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Dermot Kennedy: music biz myths, embarrassing moments and terrifying stalkers | 01 Dec 2022 | 01:10:02 | |
Hi darlings, if, like us, you love peeling back the glossy layer of the celebrity machine and digging beneath the sparkle of the music industry, then you are going to absolutely adore this episode with Dublin megastar Dermot Kennedy. He’s sold out the O2, counts Taylor Swift among his fans and in 2019 released Ireland’s best-selling debut album of this millennium. Now he's just released an amazing new album, Sonder. But, as Dermot told us in this very moving and honest chat over some gorgeous Oatnog from our new partner black-lines, he hates celebrity, and does everything he can to protect himself from the trappings of fame, from not checking what’s in his bank balance to keeping his dad on his payroll. Refreshingly down-to-earth, he offers some serious debunking when it comes to the music business, revealing how little money he makes when he’s on tour. And of course it wouldn’t be Straight Up without some eye-popping anecdotes, from Dermot pranking his friends in front of Muse’s Matt Bellamy and being dared to drink his own piss (yes, really), to a quite frankly terrifying fan experience. Thank you to our amazing new partner, bottled cocktail company black-lines, which has just launched quite literally the most delicious Christmas cocktail you will ever try. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out here Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Plastic surgery, James Corden’s cheating drama and Julia Fox’s radical celibacy | 24 Nov 2022 | 01:08:51 | |
We’ve got a full free-wheeling festival of recommendations for you this week angels, from our thoughts on Em Rata’s new podcast HighLow – which prompted a big old debate on tweakments, the intersection of cosmetic surgery and feminism, body image and Julia Fox’s belief that aging is hot – to Amazon’s latest big hitter, Mammals, a dark comedy all about cheating and monogamy, starring James Corden. We also get stuck into the problem with the term ‘punching’, our personal insecurities and the radical weight-loss injections that all the A-listers are suddenly using. Plus, our review of the most festive bar in London, at the gorgeous Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, a deep-dive into the six forces of friendship, and, the best theatre production of 2022. Thank you so much to our fantastic new partner Juno for supporting this episode. Ever feel totally bamboozled by everything from investing to crypto and your pension? Juno is an amazing educational platform and app that is helping to close the financial literacy gap that affects women and non binary people. Use the code STRAIGHTUP to get 30% of a premium subscription (usually £4.15 per month if bought annually), which offers super fun and bitesize courses on how to be smart with your money, as well as access to the app’s incredible community section, where you can ask other Juno users questions and share your own experiences around money. Search Your Juno in the App Store and remember to use our discount code STRAIGHTUP. www.yourjuno.co Recommendations
Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Timothée Chalamet, the Romantasy craze and the ‘real’ Ryan Reynolds | 06 Feb 2025 | 01:03:27 | |
We finally got swept up in the Romantasy craze huns! Following the news that Rebecca Yarros’s latest novel Oynx Storm has become the fastest selling adult novel in 20 years, we’re giving her first book in the series, Fourth Wing, a whirl. What is it about these fantasy romances that has millions of women hooked? Plus, our reviews of Timothée Chalamet’s Oscar-tipped turn as Bob Dylan, an excellent book about building your own boyfriend (if only), Disney’s latest dystopian murder mystery, and Khloe Kardashian’s new podcast. Also, is Mel Robbins’s self-help mantra ‘Let Them’ helpful or just classic therapy speak? And how much weight do these rumbling Ryan Reynolds rumours have: is he the real villain of the It Ends With Us saga? DM us @straightuppod, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.7% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at player.bfi.org.uk/ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com/ Recs/ reviews:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Roman Kemp: life as an A-list radio presenter, from cleaning toilets to celeb parents | 17 Nov 2022 | 01:21:24 | |
Hello darlings, this week's fabulous Straight Up guest is the radio presenter and DJ Roman Kemp, who has just released a memoir, Are You Really Ok?, and who opened up to us about everything from his lifelong struggle with mental health and losing his best friend to suicide, to his surreal celebrity upbringing as son to Martin Kemp (Spandeau Ballet) and Shirlie Kemp (Wham!). It's a very inspiring chat that also peels back the layers of one of the UK's most famous faces, with Roman admitting that he actually hates attention so much he can't even stand friends singing him Happy Birthday. Plus, Roman talks about his difficult years spent in the fashion industry, and reveals what it's really like to work in radio, from disaster interviews to dealing with trolling. Oh, and his extraordinary Harry Styles impression is NOT to be missed! Enjoy! Get Roman's book Are You Really Ok? here and follow him on IG at @romankemp A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode: Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Black Cow, the world's first sustainably made pure milk vodka that is made by a dairy farmer in West Dorset, which we enjoyed in our extraordinarily delish cocktails with Roman. While chatting, we drank the ready to drink Negroni, a smooth, delicious, absolutely pitch-perfect take on the classic. Get your negronis (and some seriously excellent strawberry vodka) at blackcow.co.uk. Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Britney’s shocking family history, Matthew Perry’s memoir and celeb couple age gaps | 10 Nov 2022 | 01:08:18 | |
Hi lovely listeners, this week’s episode is absolutely brimming with recommendations spanning everything from romantic autumn minibreaks to the memoir everyone’s been talking about – did you know that Matthew Perry (Chandler from Friends) almost died from drug addiction and once dumped Julia Roberts? We also deep dive into the sordid affairs of Britney Spears’s late grandfather, who, according to an incredibly juicy new New York Magazine article, is horribly relevant when it comes to questioning why Britney’s dad put his daughter in a conservatorship. Speaking of sordid things, there's a new serial killer film on Netflix starring Eddie Redmayne that's based on a true story – Ellie gives her verdict. Plus, we debate our fave Julia Roberts film after Kathleen reviews her new romcom Ticket to Paradise and we assess the controversy around Billie Eilish’s boyfriend. Dig in and let us know what you think! Recommendations
Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tove Lo: female pleasure, narcissism and monogamy | 03 Nov 2022 | 01:08:29 | |
Gorgeous ones, are you ready for one saucy lil episode from none other than the extraordinary, Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling star Tove Lo? And we really do mean saucy: Tove might just be one of the most sexually liberated women in pop, with a vagina tattoo on her arm, a history of flashing her lucky fans at gigs, and lyrics to make a grown man blush. And of course, it wouldn’t be Straight Up without some highly nosy questions about fame, and what she gets up to when she isn’t being famous, from her favourite cocktail to her must-watch TV. A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode: Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The dark side of superyachts, Stormzy’s heartbreak, Draco’s memoir and House of Dragon sex scenes | 27 Oct 2022 | 00:46:18 | |
Hi angels! This episode is an absolute cultural smorgasbord (yes that is the first time we’ve used that word), covering everything from what real life luxury hotel concierge think of hilarious super rich satire The White Lotus and crew members revealing the 1%’s wildest demands in light of superyacht comedy Triangle of Sadness, to the tea from Stormzy’s Louis Theroux interview and Piers Morgan’s car crash Kanye interrogation. Plus! Why you need to watch Netflix’s creepiest drama The Watcher (inspired by real events) and why House of Dragon is so deliciously feminist. And finally, all the juiciest behind-the-scenes intel from the memoir of Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) about what it was like to grow up as one of Hollywood’s most hated characters. Come to chat to us in our DMs on @straightuppod, and see you next week! <3 Recommendations
Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Caggie Dunlop: sobriety, self-worth and the chaos of her Saturn's Return | 20 Oct 2022 | 01:25:38 | |
Hello gorgeous ones, this week’s guest is the wonderful podcaster, musician and author Caggie Dunlop, whose dulcet tones some of you might already have heard on her own podcast Saturn Returns, which makes sense of our chaotic lives using astrology and amazing interviews with experts across everything from dream therapy to tarot. Caggie tells us all about how she became sober-curious after realising she had an addictive personality and was using alcohol as a way of masking vulnerability, and dives deep into what she calls her “cosmic coming of age” after her life fell apart in unpredictable ways. She also reveals how her stint in reality show Made in Chelsea contributed to self-destructive behaviour, with producers “puppeteering” her life. But, she tells us she fought against a “victim mentality” and has now reshaped her life around authenticity, spirituality and self-kindness. And excitingly, not only has she just launched the sixth season of her very successful podcast, next year she will release a new book, Saturn Returns, and release an EP. You can pre-order the book here. She was full of the most brilliant insight and life advice – we hope you come away from this chat as energised and inspired as we did. Enjoy huns! And please leave us a review, and send this episode to a friend. Please do hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think! Thank you SO much to our two amazing partners for this episode. First, Q Acoustics, where you can get the best quality, affordable speakers that will transform the way you listen to music AND watch films on your TV. Try the super sexy M20s. Second, Grubby, the UK’s first 100% plant-based, vegan recipe boxes, which not only taste banging, but have six portions of veg in every box and take just 30 mins to whip up after work for a super healthy meal. Use the exclusive and mouth-watering discount code STRAIGHTUP for a 50% off on your first box, and 20% on your next three! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Industry, 2022's funniest film and true crime’s morality problem | 13 Oct 2022 | 00:35:33 | |
Get ready for another cultural debrief gang, because this week our guest once again cancelled at the last minute. Celebs, ey? Don’t fear however, hunnies, because to make up for it we have an extra fast-paced and fun one for you all. First up, we chat Industry, the HBO drama about young, ruthless bankers that has arrived on BBC iPlayer for a second season. As big fans of the first season, we just have to ask: why are the characters suddenly so predictable? Why is Harper so unlikable? And why have they gone so hard on the sex scenes? The New Statesman called it “ porn posing as prestige TV” and we think they’ve got a point (although that’s not to say we didn’t really quite enjoy it). Then, Ellie fills Kathleen in on Triangle of Sadness, the new, absolutely hilarious, pitch-black comedy from celebrated Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund about a yacht that sinks, leaving the super-rich survivors – including a fashion model celebrity couple – trapped on an island. It’s Östlund’s English language feature film debut and El’s is calling it the funniest thing she’s seen this year. Finally, we turn our attention to the murky world of true-crime, as Netflix’s Dahmer, a dramatisation of the life and crimes of serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, continues to stir up controversy. Is the genre as morally indefensible as the journalist Anna Leszkiewicz argues? Recommendations discussed:
Enjoy, leave us a review, and please do hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kanye vs the world and what the Kardashians did next | 08 Oct 2022 | 00:53:00 | |
Sorry for the late episode this week hunnies… the kitten ate our homework. Ok, not quite – though Kathleen does have a new kitten – but actually we had our celeb guest reschedule last minute. And, instead of leaving you all in the lurch (because obv you can’t get through the weekend without us), we did recorded a spontaneous deep dive into the topic EVERYONE is talking about this week: Kanye’s disastrous Paris fashion week, in which he wore and presented a White Lives Matter T-Shirt. And then, because Kathleen is actually a Kardashian academic (ok, not really, but almost), we thought we would also treat you to a thorough dissection of the Kardashian Klan: from Kimye's twisted mythology (ft an excellent The New Yorker piece on why their trajectory is modelled on The Incredibles by @Kardashian_Kolloqium's MJ Corey) to Kourtney’s work ethic and Khloe’s body positivity. Plus, important questions: is Kim a good role model? Is money her main motivator? Are Kanye & her in a secret business partnership? And was her relationship with Pete scripted by Hulu? Dive in! Enjoy, leave us a review, and hop into our DMs @straightuppod to let us know what you think of the whole wild saga. We'd love to know! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Blonde's 'torture porn', female envy, and a hot new restaurant drama | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:50:12 | |
Hey huns! Autumn is finally upon us so we recorded this among plenty of scented candles and some steaming mugs of tea, while sinking our teeth into yet MORE controversy, this time about much-talked about new Marilyn Monroe film, Blonde, which has been accused of 'torture porn' and exploiting Marilyn's life. Ellie went to see the film on Sunday and gives us the DL, while we both give our verdict on Don't Worry Darling, having seen it after our blow-by-blow account of all the drama last week. And guess what... there's yet more drama!! Kathleen also shares her top Manchester tips having just spent a weekend there, from the luxurious but affordable Dakota Hotel two minutes from the main station, to the incredible, ultra-trendy Spanish spot Canto and the rooftop cocktail heaven for sprawling city views. Plus, why you all need to watch the best-written show of 2022: The Bear, about a f**ed up chef in the hottest white T-shirt you will ever see on a man, and his heart-warming attempts to rescue his late brother's bankrupt Chicago sandwich shop. We may have gone off on a tangent (as always) and ended up discussing a strange chef who once gave Kathleen a VERY inappropriate Secret Santa present. Finally, what is it about women and jealousy? Why do we covet each other's 'lot' so much, and why don't men? These are the questions prompted by Anna Hope's book Expectation, and we get deep into our own personal jealousies and what they mean. Enjoy, leave us a review, and hop into our DMs to let us know what you thought of DWD and Blonde. We'd love to know! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Don’t Worry Darling drama, freaky premonitions and our obsession with status | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:54:08 | |
Darlings, you won’t believe how juicy this episode is. Tomorrow sees the release of the film the world has been talking about for weeks on end: Don’t Worry Darling, the psychological drama fronted by none other than Harry Styles. But unfortunately for poor Hazza, and the film’s excellent director Olivia Wilde, everyone seems a lot more interested in the behind-the-scenes – from on-set feuds to sex and #spitgate – than what’s actually on screen. So, we’ve put our sleuthing hats on and taken you through every step! Also in this week’s episode, Kathleen recommends Will Storr’s excellent new book The Status Game, and explains why our obsession with status helps us live longer (yep, really), while Ellie dives into the freaky history of the Evening Standard’s Premonitions Bureau, after reading an also excellent book by Sam Knight. Please leave us a review or hop into our DMs to let us know what you think! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Amber Rose Gill: romance, representation and the truth about reality TV | 15 Sep 2022 | 01:26:56 | |
This week we’re rolling out the red carpet for queen of the internet Amber Rose Gill, the 2019 Love Island winner turned TV personality, podcaster, content creator and now debut author, with romance novel Until I Met You having been published by saucy fiction titans Mills & Boon earlier this summer. We had the best time over at her place drinking Ginger Strawberry Cow cocktails courtesy of our fab partner Black Cow, covering everything from her childhood in Newcastle, choosing beauty over uni and being approached by Love Island, to finding her purpose, navigating the public eye (including *those* Jack Grealish headlines and her recent “coming out” tweet), the importance of representation, reiki, property, owning being an “average” influencer and why women get cancelled more than men. Not to mention, of course, the juiciest behind the scenes look at Love Island, from how it’s actually all filmed and why for Amber it was really just a fun free holiday, to what she spent her prize money on and the therapy provided afterwards. We also dig deep into the problem with the reality TV bimbo stereotype and the quarter life crisis, as well as laughing like loons about red flags, the ick-factor, and why Amber is not a girl boss! Please leave us a little review on Apple or Spotify, and do DM us with any feedback or thoughts on our brand new Insta @straightuppod A huge thank you also to our partners for this episode: Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Black Cow, the world's first pure milk vodka that is made by a dairy farmer in West Dorset, which we enjoyed in our extraordinarily delish cocktails with Amber at her place. While chatting we drank tall, refreshing Strawberry Ginger Cows, which use the all-new Black Cow + English Strawberries vodka – made from wonky strawbs, because Black Cow care about sustainability – and all three of us are now obsessed. Get your bottle (and some serious excellent Cheddar cheese) at blackcow.co.uk. Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Traitors, Holly Willoughby’s return and our splintered 'selves' | 30 Jan 2025 | 00:50:53 | |
The Traitors finale was so juicy we HAD to have a big old debrief: was Charlotte robbed? Did it all get too personal? What are the funniest The Traitors tropes? We also discuss Holly Willoughby’s first interview since a terrifying plot to kidnap and kill her was foiled a year ago, as well as Jameela Jamil’s unique ‘protection method’ against misogyny. Plus: has Angelina Jolie been snubbed by the Oscars because Hollywood favours Brad Pitt, despite her abuse allegations? We’re also sorry to report that our honey Leo Woodall’s ‘maths thriller’ Prime Target is... not thrilling. But luckily we do have plenty of other excellent recs for you to get stuck into! Make sure you leave us your books recs in Spotify comments, DM us @straightuppod, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.7% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at player.bfi.org.uk/ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com/ Reviews/recs A Good House, Royal Court Theatre FKA Twigs did this for herself, Vulture FKA Twigs, Eusexua Central Cee, Can’t Rush Greatness Holly Willoughby: ‘It’s been tough. There’s no way of sugar-coating it’, Times Jameela Jamil, The Making of Me, the i paper Prime Target, Apple TV There had never been a sillier thriller about maths, Vulture High Potential, Disney Plus 100 Years of Solitude, Netflix What I Learned Visiting the Set of Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, Vogue Why Do TV Title Sequences Have So Much… Stuff, The Beast ‘Severance,’ ‘The Substance’ and Our Increasingly Splintered Selves, NYTimes We Run The Tides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Funny women and the fall of Armie Hammer | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:50:52 | |
Hi angels! We're so happy to be back with another cultural debrief for you all, covering the absolutely wild new doc on controversial Hollywood actor Armie Hammer, House of Hammer; an original debut story collection by 80-year-old Jane Campbell, Cat Brushing; Sharon Horgan's brilliant new Apple TV show, Bad Sisters; the best erotic novel, Insatiable, by Daisy Buchanan; and finally House of Dragon (the Game of Thrones prequel). We also chat about why men don’t find women funny, murderous dreams, polyamory, and what we've been up to recently – from Lost Village festival to a v v special proposal! Please leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. Don't forget that you can still redeem your 50% off your first Grubby vegan recipe box with the code STRAIGHTUP . Thank you so much to our amazing partner Grubby for their delicious boxes packed with more than 6 vegetables, we still cannot stop thinking about the onion bhaji burger we made earlier... Thank you also to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Inside the sex lives of Gen Z, J Lo's divisive documentary and our new Netflix binge | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:43:26 | |
Ladies and gents, check your prudery at the door, because we have one hell of a cheeky little episode for you this week, jam-packed with stories about sex, sex and...more sex. First up, a peek behind the curtain of what it's really like to be dating as a Gen Z in London right now, from vows of celibacy to sex positive sex parties and Feeld threesomes, as Ellie reveals alllll the juicy research she recently did for a Vogue article on whether young people are in the grips of a "sex recession". Then Kathleen gives us the lowdown on her favourite racy show right now, Uncoupled, which fans of Sex and the City are going to absolutely love – though does it revisit the same problematic tropes as And Just Like That? Plus, the brilliant book no one is talking about but absolutely should be: Trouble, by Marise Gaughan, who writes viscerally about the sexually destructive behaviour she experienced in the wake of her father's suicide, which included sleeping with older men for money. Ok, then the Netflix J Lo documentary Halftime isn't about sex at all, but it DID prompt a very lively discussion between us about J Lo's motivations: cynical branding or pure hearted sob story? And finally we both vent our ancient millennial bafflement at the "ironic" trends sweeping fashion right now, from Ketamine chic to coastal grandma. Ps: we are now taking a two week break as we go off and record with some amazing new guests, but we'll be back on September 8th, so don't go anywhere! Please leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. Don't forget that you can still redeem your 50% off your first Grubby vegan recipe box with the code STRAIGHTUP . Thank you so much to our amazing partner Grubby for their delicious boxes packed with more than 6 vegetables, we still cannot stop thinking about the onion bhaji burger we made earlier... Thank you also to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Aitch: fame, relationships and next stop Hollywood | 11 Aug 2022 | 01:30:01 | |
Yes huns, you read that correctly, we have got Aitch, man of the moment and one of the UK’s most adored musicians, on the show! We had Aitch over for some daiquiris (his fave) at our home at BRXTN Studios ahead of his debut album Close to Home coming out next Friday, and had one of our most mad, most chaotic chats yet which reveals a whole new unseen side to Aitch that will have you obsessed with him on a whole new level. It’s not often rappers really talk about how much fame has really affected them, but here Aitch reveals the highs and lows of becoming one of the world’s most recognisable stars, whilst also explaining why he tries hard never to complain about fame (until we made him, soz). We get deep on everything from privacy (his blue eyes give him away every time) and relationships (you won’t believe what some fans send his mum…) to the weirdest things he reads about himself on the internet and the misconceptions he wants to correct. PLUS what does Aitch get up to when he’s not being famous? He talks all about his fave restaurants, his secret nerdy love for one particular film franchise, and why he’s destined for Hollywood. And finally, this week we hit him with one particularly weird Straight Up SOS, which involves Kathleen and her dog’s balls. You'll have to hear it for yourself. Thank you SO much to our two amazing partners for this episode. First, Q Acoustics, where you can get the best quality, affordable speakers that will transform the way you listen to music AND watch films on your TV. Try the super sexy M20s. Second, Grubby, the UK’s first 100% plant-based, vegan recipe boxes, which not only taste banging, but have six portions of veg in every box and take just 30 mins to whip up after work for a super healthy meal. Use the exclusive and mouth-watering discount code STRAIGHTUP for a 50% off on your first box, and 20% on your next three! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Magic mushrooms, Crawdads' controversy and this summer's hottest book | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:48:03 | |
We've got another culture fix for you this week gang, from why LSD and magic mushrooms are good for you (they could have even stopped the Vietnam war!) to the novel everyone is talking about, and Hollywood's latest controversy. Have you seen or read Where The Crawdad's Sing? Well hunnies, strap in for a wild ride covering the unfortunate miscasting of Daisy Edgar Jones, the real-life murder allegations surrounding the publication, and, in all honesty, the quite frankly sickening corniness of the tweeting eagle. Also, the novel of 2022, I'm Sorry You Felt That Way, by British author Rebecca Wait and how we much we loved it – despite it being fairly triggering to say the least. We hope you enjoy and please do let us know if you have any recommendations for us, we absolutely love to hear from you and would ask that you please keep the fans art coming. Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Vamps' Brad: What it’s like to front one of the world’s biggest boy bands | 28 Jul 2022 | 01:20:55 | |
This week’s guest might just be our most favourite ever, not least because he carried our mics for us after this interview – how cute is that?! You guys are going to LOVE Bradley Simpson, frontman of The Vamps, as much as we do, as we dig deep in this wide-ranging chat covering everything from what it was like to become famous as a teenager in one of the biggest bands in British pop history (fun fact: they were the first band to headline the 02 Arena five nights in a row), to their frustration with female fans getting a bad rep, the wildest thing their fans have ever done and how he really struggled with the band going on a break. The Vamps embark on a 10 year anniversary tour later this year and so we looked back on some of Brad’s fave tour moments:, from the advice they were given by Taylor Swift’s mum when they supported Taylor back in 2014, to how living on the road for the best part of a decade has shaped him and the other boys. Plus Brad revealed why, for all four members, The Vamps will always be “the mothership” — no matter their solo projects. We also talk about his bar, his upcoming gin and the last time he had a little bit too much to drink (let’s just say it was a mortifying model-filled LA gig), having no “Plan B”, how toxic the music industry can be (especially for teenage artists) and why having a manager who was also a guardian was the best thing that ever happened to the band. Plus, what it was like to go on Celebrity First Dates and what he’s currently looking for in a life partner (not to mention the juicy details on his recent house renovation). As you’ll hear here, Brad called this the most interesting interview he’s ever done! Just sayin’, gang... Enjoy! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Emma Watson, Brooklyn Beckham, Sienna Miller: What it's really like to be a celebrity journalist Pt III | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:57:21 | |
As promised gang, we've got a third instalment of our chat covering what it's really like to be a celebrity journalist – there were, after all, just too many hilarious, ridiculous stories (and actual analysis!) left out of the first two parts. From liaising with celebs directly via text to today’s thorny issue of copy approval, we look at how celeb journalism has changed since we burst onto the scene in 2015 as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed interns, starting with our first ever interviews, and the time El harassed Emma Watson with a cat (yes you read that right), all the way to stans, cancel culture and why writers are so scared these days. Expect trademark absurdity covering what it’s like to direct Brooklyn Beckham’s attempt at reading cue cards, interviewing Burna Boy while he has a pina colada in one hand and an unidentified lady friend in the other, buying Sienna Miller a sea bass on behalf of Vogue, the worst day of our professional lives, being trolled by Nicki Minaj's entire fandom, spying the fear in One Directioners' eyes and being told you're intense by none other than Wiley (LOL), having turned up an interview after a rather disorientating introductory spliff experience. As always, time totally ran away with us while we were recording this episode, so keep your eyes peeled for the fourth and final part! You asked, and we shall deliver. Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| James Bay: tackling misconceptions from mental health to the Met Gala | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:59:10 | |
It’s another glorious sunny Thursday and we have singer songwriter extraordinaire James Bay in the house! He has a brand new album out, Leap, which is all about his journey overcoming imposter syndrome and mental health struggles – despite his eight billion streams. He opened up to us about how he was affected by the more toxic aspects of fame and social media, and *cuteness overload* how his partner Lucy, whom he has been with since they were both 16 and with whom he now has a baby daughter, has been his North star throughout. No, you’re crying. It wasn’t just the deep stuff though, as we also got all the goss on what it’s like to attend the Met Gala and speak to our Queen and Saviour Beyonce, the one thing James takes on tour (clue: he got the inspo from Mick Jagger), and his favourite restaurant in London. Plus, we ask James to set the record straight on one thing that’s been bugging him, and whether he has ever had therapy. He was such a charismatic guest, we hope you feel as charmed as we were! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Inside our best friend baecation, from beach reads to cocktail chaos | 07 Jul 2022 | 00:34:50 | |
Hello gorgeous listeners, this week we’re taking you to the Maldives! And, guys, it’s not just any private island hotel, it’s The Standard, our absolute fave for fun with friends, strong cocktails and enticing dancefloors (if you’ve not yet been to the Kings Cross outpost then consider this your PSA). Recently we took ourselves away for a best friend baecation and we feel it is our public duty to tell you all about it. For one, it’s really quite affordable, as far as the Maldives goes – this isn’t a trip to save for your honeymoon, nor is it one you need a lover for! We had the BEST time together and we’re going to share every juicy detail about this gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime, Instagram-perfect trip, including how to save your £, the food, the fish and allllllll the fun. Plus, our beach reads, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason and At The Table by Claire Powell, not to mention our plane picks: these two gals spent the entire 24 hour journey watching House of Gucci and J Lo’s Marry Me. Heaven! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Krept: fan madness, fatherhood fails and a £15m baby business | 30 Jun 2022 | 01:15:50 | |
Hi huns! This week we caught up with one of the UK's best-loved rappers and one of our fave musicians Krept, half of duo Krept & Konan, to talk about his incredible journey from making chart-topping rap songs to launching his game-changing baby skincare range Nala's Baby, stocked across 400 Boots stores and valued at £15m. Yep, rappers do babycare! Named after his ADORABLE two-year-old daughter Nala, the business is in partnership with his co-parent, influencer Sasha Ellese Gilbert, who became concerned about how toxic so much of the babycare on the market was while she was pregnant. Amazingly it is now the first 0 rated clean baby skincare range on cosmetics ratings app @thinkdirty and the products are so good even adults are lathering themselves with them... (yes, those adults are us...) We interviewed Krept quite a few times while working at GQ together so it was so nice to look back on his success and chat all about how his life has changed over the years. He made us laugh so much with his hilarious stories about Nala playing dead and one memorable poo explosion, plus we were left speechless at some of his wildest showbiz moments. We also asked him for advice on how to go into business with a friend, and got him to spill the beans on everything from the weirdest thing he's read about himself on the internet to the biggest misconception about him and what it's like to date as a single parent. Catch our lifestyle recommendations at the start too, from the books we've been reading to fun nights out in London and Ibiza, and let us know what you think! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Naomi Campbell, Richard Branson, Lady Gaga: What it's really like to be a celebrity journalist Pt II | 23 Jun 2022 | 01:08:02 | |
Back by popular demand, this week we embarrass ourselves once again by sharing more of our juiciest stories about the fame game, from the time we accidentally made a top Hollywood actor cry and how one wilts in Naomi Campbell's presence, to herding Richard Branson around Soho Farmhouse and how you navigate a phone call from Lady Gaga. There's also plenty of intel on how the celebrity machine actually works, including getting kicked out of Netflix press junkets (and what that even is), what publicists do and what glitzy press trips are like, wrangling ridiculous freebies, stalking stories, and just generally laughing until we cry. You’re going to love all this hilarious gossip hunnies, we ran out of time recording it all for you so promise to bring you a part three later this season! If you haven't head Part I, then just scroll on back a bit and take a listen too. Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cameron Diaz’s comeback, the Molly Mae doc and Lively vs Baldoni (again) | 23 Jan 2025 | 00:58:24 | |
We were not expecting to be weeping over the glossy Molly Mae Amazon doc hunnies, but it got us!! We discuss all the revelations and ‘the Molly Mae paradox’. We also had to dive into the latest explosive lawsuit in this increasingly wild It Ends With Us saga, which has now pulled in Taylor Swift and, er, Game of Thrones. Does the flippant public reaction suggest the worrying end of the MeToo movement? And we’ve got a veritable spy extravaganza of reviews and recommendations this week, including Cameron Diaz’s first return to acting in over a decade. Plus, is We Live in Time up to the hype? DM us your thoughts on Instagram @straightuppod, or email us at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and as ever please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify, lysm! Huge thanks to our sponsor Yonder, the incredible lifestyle rewards credit card packed with rewards you’ll actually *want* to use. Find out more at yonder.com/straightup Borrow responsibly. £15 a month. 18+ and UK only. Rep 66.7% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get an extra month free on top of BFI Player’s 14-day free trial using our code STRAIGHTUP at player.bfi.org.uk/ Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at londonnootropics.com/ Recs/ reviews
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sean Paul: handcuffs, spacecakes, and a $25,000 suit | 16 Jun 2022 | 01:14:03 | |
Honeys, we’re home!!! Did you miss us? We had not forgotten you – in fact over the last few months we’ve been working SO hard to bring you the biggest and best season of Straight Up yet, fuelled by our spiciest trademark margs, obv. And doing the launch honours for us today is none other than the ICON that is Sean Paul, one of the world’s most successful artists who has billions of streams to his name. I mean, if Temperature and Get Busy didn’t have a defining moment in your teens, then where TF were you?? Over his fave drink, a Guinness Foreign Extra, Sean had us both in stitches with stories about getting arrested and accidentally getting his 90-year-old grandmother high, the weirdest gift from his most adoring fan, his most surreal showbiz moment and the $25,000 freebie he still can’t believe he got away with…Plus, we talk about everything from cooking and travel to love and friendship, with some, ahem, interesting life lessons from Sean along the way. Sean also reveals a whole new side to him by getting candid about the dark side of fame: how rumours circulated by the press have caused him angst, how the weight of always creating another hit can be so overwhelming, and why he’s needed marriage counselling. Enjoy gorgeous listeners! And for anyone new here… allow us to introduce ourselves. Hosted by best friends and noseyest pop culture journalists on the planet Kathleen and Ellie, Straight Up goes behind-the-scenes with some of the world’s biggest celebs to hear what being famous in 2022 is really like. Are showbiz parties really as wild as we think? Do famous people ever embarrass themselves in public? How big are the freebies and how crazy are the fans? Plus, how does fame affect everything from your romantic life to your mental health? And are celebrities…normal? We get our guests to answer all of this and SO much more, over their favourite drink (because the first rule of journalism school is to get your interviewee drunk….right?) Which basically means subscribing to Straight Up is like eavesdropping on the juiciest cocktail debrief with your favourite A-Listers. Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod . See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @MarlonPercy Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Maya Jama on imposter syndrome, creepy DMs and Drake's name-drop | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:53:17 | |
From the song that soundtracked her first dance with a boy to her bad bitch breakup anthem, Maya Jama shares the music that means the most to her in this extremely cute episode. We also chatted about Maya's struggles with imposter syndrome and finding a work life balance after three years of no holidays, her ambitions to get more women behind the camera, her funniest radio fails and her top tips for success. This episode of Straight Up has three wonderful sponsors. First up Vivir Tequila, which we drank in our Paloma cocktails with Maya. It's also perfect in margaritas! Fans of Straight Up can get a 10 per cent discount with the code MAYAJAMA10 via vivirtequila.com Then we have Chick n Sours, who make the best fried chicken burgers and sour cocktails in London that are loved by everyone from Mike Skinner to Usher. They've just launched a range of DIY meal kits for delivery across London, which are utterly delicious. Order yours from chicknsours.co.uk And finally the independent jeweller Katie Mullally, whose gorgeous handmade collections are all hallmarked at either the London or Dublin Assay Office and are therefore an investment for life. Check out her designs at katiemullally.co.uk Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Mahalia’s lessons in love, life and money | 04 Feb 2022 | 01:07:46 | |
It’s the last episode of S2 and, as sad as we are, we’re SO excited to be ending on a high with this very special chat with one of our favourite artists, Mahalia. Fuelled by some gorgeous Whitley Neill gin and tonics, the 23-year-old, who was signed at 13, gets candid about everything from the myth of the overnight success story, to reframing the “crazy ex-girlfriend” trope and being friends with your first love. We also chat about her weekend rituals, what she likes to spend her money on (spoiler: globally successful artists aren’t as wealthy as you think) and the one thing she’d like to thank her therapist for. Follow Mahalia on all platforms @mahalia and find her epic merch store here: lnk.to/Mahalia-Store. Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy. Culture recommendations discussed: Don Toliver The delicious gin and tonics Ellie, Kathleen and Mahalia enjoyed during this episode were provided by Whitley Neill, the UK’s no1 premium gin brand which offers an amazing 15 flavours of luxury, hand-crafted gin, including blood orange and raspberry. Get yours at all major supermarkets, good independents or at WhitleyNeill.com Dame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||