Everything Is Content

Hello EICulture Vultures. Our gorgeous Beth is ill this week, everyone say get well soon Beth!So we were all rooting for this new Netflix documentary series to give us an unfiltered and balanced look into the unbelievably problematic world of America's Next Top Model. The question is…did it? So for anyone who hasn't watched it, Netflix released “Reality Check: America's Next Top Model” on the 16th of February, and in three separate hour-long episodes it dives into the creation of the show which was hosted by Tyra Banks and then briefly Rita Ora, the many scandals that happened during its 24 seasons- or cycles, as the show called them- and how it all fell apart. We hear from many former contestants, as well as former judges J “Miss J” Alexander and Nigel Barker, and creative director on set Jay Manuel. But most controversially, Tyra Banks also appears and has her say- something people are having a lot of feelings about, and which we will get into. More TV news! A new limited series from Ryan Murphy's anthology franchise has captured the minds and hearts of the internet, myself included, it documents the intense, whirlwind romance and subsequent tragic marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. played by Paul Anthony Kelly and Carolyn Bessette played by Sarah Pidgeon, Based on Elizabeth Beller's book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the show explores their rise as a 1990s "It Couple" while highlighting the immense, often suffocating pressure of fame, paparazzi, and legacy. We give our thoughts!Thank you so much to Cue podcasts for the edit.We hope you enjoy! O, R, B xRuchira's been loving : Alysa Liu, There Will Be BloodOenone's been loving: Derry GIrls, Museum Of Pop Culture with Josh WiddicombeWe were all rooting for Tyra Banks to give us some answers – but this America's Next Top Model documentary gaslights its audienceReality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model review – Tyra Banks comes across terribly in this exposéLove Story Is Doing Daryl Hannah DirtySecrets And Lies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Hump day EICrunchies! So last week an Instagram post by a child-free creator went semi-viral. The post explored the perspective of its child-free creator (Danni Duncan) and many other child-free people who have felt sad when a friendship has changed following a mate having a baby, and want spaces to express that freely. In the visuals for the post she writes: "I know your kids come first but I still believe friendship should go both ways so that makes me selfish. I understand you're busy but I still hope to hear from you, so that makes me needy. I don't expect the same time as before but I do hope for some effort, so that makes me unrealistic. I miss our friendship and I'll say that out loud, so that makes me difficult. Or maybe I'm not a horrible friend. Maybe I just believe friendship should survive life changes. And that both people deserve to be seen.”And we wanted to discuss this- with your help. We ask: is it fair for CF women to express their sadness when a friend has a baby? Is it on mothers to cross the divide or should those of us without kids do the heavy lifting? Are some friendships just seasonal? And where on EARTH are the dads in all this?Thank you all SO much for your takes on this- as empathetic, thoughtful and considered as ever. We luuuuurve being in conversation with you all. O, R, B xLinks:Danni's post Danni's follow up postWaterstones - Lessons from a Default Parent by Lou BeckettPsychology Today - The Ring Theory Book recs from listeners:Ghosts by Dolly AldertonSo Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good morrow EICinephiles!Apparently there's a new film out atm? Some kind of rom-com thing starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie? J.K. We've come home, let us in your windows i.e. your headphones. It's time to discuss the most divisive film of 2026 (and yes, we know it's only February). It's our bumper Wuthering Heights special. Join us on horseback as we ride through the film and share our takes before disembarking and take a promenade through the wild discourse of the film. We end with a balanced investigation into Emerald Fennell and how she became one of the most divisive filmmakers of our time.Thank you for listening and let us know your hot takes in the comments. Do you disagree with any of us? We'd love to know below!In partnership with Cue Podcasts.--------This week Oenone reccomended Wuthering Heights (the book). Beth loved Lord of the Rings and How To Get to Heaven From Belfast. Ruchira loved Sorry Baby and A Little Bit Fruity's episode with Ashley St Clair.Finally, a Smooth-Brained Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights review – Emerald Fennell's astonishingly bad adaptation is like a limp Mills & Boon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EIConversationalists. This week we ask, should everything be content?As of early February 2026, there are at least seven major television and streaming documentaries specifically focused on the case of Lucy Letby. The latest documentary The Investigation of Lucy Letby landed on Netflix earlier this month, featuring, in their words ‘never-before-seen footage as well as interviews with case investigators, a friend of Letby, and one of the victims' parents.'The words “digitally anonymised” popped up every time the grieving mother, or Letby's college friend, “Maisie”, appeared on screen, because although the documentary used their real voices, and real words they used Ai generated humans to represent them.In a piece for Newsweek H. Alan Scott writes, ‘On paper, the logic is sound. In practice, it is deeply unsettling. The closer you look, the more the illusion unravels. They are talking FaceTuned images—avatars trapped in the uncanny valley, mimicking sorrow without any of the soul, Instead of honoring the victims and grappling with the incomprehensible horror of Letby's crimes, we are left debating the ethics of a visual effect.'Netflix defended the decision to Esquire, stating the technology was used "to protect the anonymity of the contributors at their request." The evening standard said it was 'a morally egregious use of AI slop'Aside from the AI issue which we go into, we can't stop thinking about how many documentaries are popping up, seemingly constantly, about things that have just happened or are still happening.Do true crime documentaries need to have such a big place in our culture?Thank you so much for all of your opinions and takes on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all. O, R, B xxoxoThe Investigation of Lucy Letby review – this sensationalist take isn't what this awful case needsWhy The Investigation of Lucy Letby's 'Digitally Anonymised' Documentary is Causing ControversyLucy Letby's parents: Netflix show is an ‘invasion of privacy'Netflix's Use of AI Deepfakes is a Betrayal of True Crime Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICruisers! This week on the pod we're all over the map of pop culture, discussing everything from Brooklyn Beckham's tattoo cover-ups to cancelled RHONY stars to Taylor Swift's Croydon music video to France's open letter "reminding" 29-year-olds to have babies.We also get deeper into the newly released batch of Epstein files and discuss the fallout so far, how we're choosing to consume this news and why nobody can seem to easily frame this story.There's also some soul-searching to be had as the three of us ask... are WE performative? One commenter thought so after last week's episode. No hate to them (promise!) but it did make us think... where has this insult come from and what does it actually mean?Beth's been loving Schitt's Creek and a dognapping drama, Ruchira's been loving Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show and Oenone's been loving Industry and chatting to old men in Waterstones (more on her Substack here).Thanks so much for listening! If you've read this far could we pleeeeease be cheeky and ask for a rating, review or a share of the podcast on your socials? It really helps us grow and keep making EIC. Love you! O, R, BIn collaboration with Cue. Links:The Guardian - France's letter to 29-year olds to remind them to have babiesNasdaq - Ring Super Bowl Ad Promoting AI Pet Search Raises Privacy FearsHow to Survive the Broligarchy - We all live in Jeffrey Epstein's world by Carole Cadwalladr"Jmail" (Epstein Files Gmail mirror)Pod Save America The Guardian - So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it's about the mass abuse of women and girls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICheetahs,This week we're discussing the rise of male body image pressures, from increased testosterone use and right-wing pushes to get bigger, to cosmetic surgeons coming for male celebs online. Are we seeing a slow equalising between men and women? And why does this feel so depressing?THANK YOU to everyone who messaged in for this one as always.And thank you so much for listening, ORB xxx-----Beefcakes Are BackT-Maxxing Has Gone Too FarThe Toxic World of Perfect LooksThe Anti-Cosmetic Surgery Essay Every Woman Should Read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Friday EICritics. It's a full house of hosts again at EIC headquarters, hallelujah! This week, we're wondering if little pins add up to big outcomes? And why the internet has suddenly turned on Olivia Dean.A lot went on at this year's Grammy's which took place on Sunday night in LA. Kendrick Lamar won record of the year, Bad Bunny won album of the year and his reaction of disbelief and processing is already circulating as a meme, Olivia Dean was named as best new artist, and Billie Eilish won best song with Wildflower. But aside from the accolades, a big feature of this year's ceremony- and something that's been discussed a lot since- were the ICE Out pins that were worn by many attending - Kehlani, Billie Eilish and Finneas, both Justin and Harley Bieber, Joni Mitchell, plus a handful more. Should we be praising this, or questioning if celebrities scared to participate in true activism?Next up, in 2022, one of the internet's favourite culture writers Rayne Fisher-Quann coined a term when she tweeted, ‘Ottessa moshfegh is on the verge of getting woman'd | can feel it (woman'd is what I call it when everyone stops liking a woman at the same time)', we ask, is this happening right now to Olivia Dean?Beth's been loving - Bridgerton Ruchira's been loving - Oh,Mary! , PerfectionOenone's been loving - The Count Of Monte Cristo2025 was ICE's deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 people who died in custodyWhat the “Ice Out” Pins at the Grammys 2026 Meanthe one about whether celebrities should also be activistsDoes it matter when celebrities like Bad Bunny castigate Trump and ICE at the Grammys? You bet!Being ‘Woman'd' Is Becoming A Depressing Inevitability For Us All Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICrumpets! Welcome to Wednesday. For this week's Everything In Conversation we're talking about sex in films after actor and director Olivia Wilde responded to the statistic that almost half (48.4%) of Gen Z don't want to see as much sex in film and on TV. She said "I think the way that sex has been portrayed in film for a long time hasn't been particularly realistic. There's been this movement now towards authenticity, which is really good. So I choose to interpret that statistic maybe as Gen Z saying, ‘We don't want to see inauthenticity anymore. We want to see real relationships, and we want to have something that feels more genuine.” Is she right that Gen Z are only rejecting poor representations of sex OR are they in fact a truly prudish generation who won't be happy until all love scenes are abolished and everyone involved put in jail? Let's find out!Links:Spotify - Diabolical Lies Variety - Olivia Wilde Says Sex in Movies Hasn't Been 'Realistic' for a 'Long Time' LinkedIn - Heated Rivalry and the Rejection of Romanticised HarmThe Guardian - Almost half of gen Z viewers want less sex on screen study finds Ladbible - Gen Z Intimacy Statistics RevealedThe Guardian - Passages film reviewEverything Is Content Porn Deep Dive Part OneEverything Is Content Porn Deep Dive Party TwoThe Times - Gen Z want more realistic sex scenes. Here's whyThe Guardian - Pornhub to stop new UK users accessing site from next week Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EIChihuahuas,We're back with a hot, steamy episode... Yes it's Heated Rivalry time!! We bravely tackle the series everyone in the US has already spoken about for months now (thank you HBO for edging the UK with a delayed release). Next-up, Jameela Jamil has been drawn into the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni arena thanks to text messages between her and her PR agent becoming public knowledge. We weigh in on the situation and her response to it all.Finally we're back with some pop culture headlines and a live review of Cruz Beckham's music. Is he capable of becoming the most successful Beckham? THANK YOU for listening to us. Please could you gift us a review on your podcast player app and share us with a friend? Love O, R, B xxxIn partnership with Cue Podcasts.--------This week Ruchira reccomended Sentimental Value and Diabolical Lies. Beth reccomended Sorry Baby and Conclave.Do women love “Heated Rivalry” too much?Why Are Women Obsessing Over Gay Hockey Smut?Women are feral for Heated Rivalry. What does that say about men?So, my private texts were leaked to the world...What Jameela Jamil's Texts Say About Her FeminismCruz Beckham - Optics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICaramels,As promised we're wading into the grim world of student loans, specifically the Plan 2 nightmare for UK students. Were we scammed aged 17/18 when we signed up to these loans? It's clear we weren't told that the terms i.e. the interest rates could change over time and significantly impact the amount we're paying back for the majority of our working lives. Thank you as always to everyone who messaged in for this one. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and your loan situation. Love O,R,B xxxx---------Scandalous student debts are crushing the economyHow do student loans work and when are they written off? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey EICapulets! To Brooklyn, or to Beckham? That is this week's question.There was simply no way of doing this episode without discussing the biggest news of the week, which is a pretty big statement, all things considered. On Monday evening, Brooklyn Beckham took to his Instagram and posted a series of stories stating that he does not want to reconcile with his family. This comes after years of speculation about a rift between the Beckhams and Brooklyn and Nicola, a lot of which started after their 2022 wedding.We discuss how and why this has taken the internet by storm, and what we make of it all.Next up! Chloe Zhao's Hamnet is based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel of the same name. The fictional story follows Agnes Hathaway (played by Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal) as they lose their son Hamnet to the plague- and how this tragedy births the play Hamlet. Very little is known about Shakespeare's life, so this story has been compared to fan-fiction. But just a lil fact check: several other plays, including two comedies, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It came between the death of Hamnet and the creation of Hamlet, according to The New Yorker.Since the film's release there's been a lot of claims it's "grief porn". We get into it.And lastly, whoever is doing 2016's marketing needs a raise, after a nostalgia-based trend caused what feels like the entire internet to look back a decade to the days of Pokemon Go, Brexit, Beyonce's Lemonade, Trump 1.0, Kylie lip kits and chokers to name but a few big moments and trends. For those of us who were old enough to own phones and participate in the culture and social media back then, throwbacks are aplenty. For those who missed it the first time around, FOMO is in full force. Harper's Bazaar has called 2016 the “last good year”, and Glamour suggested it might be the last time we felt “hopeful”. According to TikTok, searches for 2016 surged by 454% in the first week of the new year and about 229 million posts have been made using their 2016 filter. But why?We hope you enjoy, as always please do rate, review & subscribe!Thank you to Cue for the edit.Beth's been loving: The Silence Of The Lambs (the book), Emily In Paris. Ruchira's been loving Stranger Things and Dying For Sex & Oenone's been loving A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, The Night ManagerBrooklyn Beckham's statement Ignore the awards – Hamnet is artificial and manipulative Shakespeare fan fiction"HAMNET" FEELSELEMENTAL, BUT IS IT JUST HIGHLY EFFECTIVE GRIEF PORN?Maybe You'll Hate This MovieWas 2016 The Last Good Year? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday! We hope your EIConcentration is feeling sharp as we dive into our conversation about a trend where boredom is the goal.In a piece for The New York Times, called “They Want to Influence You to Do…Nothing'' Alexander Nazaryan explores how boredom is the “unlikely star of a social media fad that has young people doing… absolutely nothing.” The rules? No screens, no talking, no music, no food, no games and no napping for a fixed amount of time. The point? Apparently to improve your attention span and break your addiction to scrolling on social media. And many people claim that it works, that after completing their challenge they feel energised, focused, creative and free. But there's some skepticism too, mostly about the fact that so many of the people doing this are also filming it and posting it online. Can you really be that serious about fixing the impacts of too much internet if you're still doing everything for the internet?Thank you so much for all of your opinions and takes on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all.O, R, B xxThe Guardian - Friction-maxxing: could less convenience lead to much more happiness?Observer - How knitting became my scrolling antidote NY Times - They Want To Influence You to Do... NothingHarvard Business Review - You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.The Guardian - Why it's good to be bored Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morning EICitizens! And welcome to the Republic of Content. On this week's docket...We head briefly over to Beverly Hills to discuss last Sunday's Golden Globes. What did we think of the winners and who do we deem the best dressed/worst behaved?Then we get stuck into Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie's new sports comedy-drama fronted by Timothée Chalamet. In it he plays ruthlessly ambitious Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman with grand plans to become the ping pong world champ. The film is getting rave reviews (and has just earned TC his very first Golden Globe)- but what did we think? Worth the hype or just another tired tale of a selfish man with big ambitions?Next up: Grok. 2026 started with mass digital violations, as huge numbers of women (and children) were targeted with deepfakes thanks to a new feature of Elon Musk's AI tool which allowed digital undressing of real photos. As of this Wednesday Grok will apparently now ignore instructions to generate sexualised images, but we argue that the damage is already done. What do we think is behind this trend (spoiler: it's misogny) and what else should be done?Finally we investigate if people online are growing tired of content about useless male partners, especially if their wives and girlfriends won't listen. Comment threads are now full of the same sentiment: if you're not going to leave him, then leave us out if it. Is this a fair response? And does it speak to a cultural divide or just a digital one?Thank you SO MUCH for listening- as well as for your lovely messages and reviews. Please keep them coming as we love hearing from you and it helps us continue making the podcast. Love B, R, O xIn partnership with Cue Podcasts.........This week Beth was loving The Golden Globes coverage (e.g. the outfits), Ruchira was loving Industry (available on iPlayer in the UK and HBO elsewhere) and Oenone was loving Marty Supreme (in cinemas now!).The Hollywood Reporter - Timothée Chalamet and Josh Safdie: How We Made 'Marty Supreme'BBC - X could 'lose right to self-regulate', says StarmerThe Telegraph - Elon Musk's X stops bikini bot undressing womenThe Guardian - 'Add blood, forced smile': how Grok's nudification tool went viralBBC - Malaysia and Indonesia block Musk's Grok over explicit deepfakesDistractify - TikTok "Butter Dish Woman" Complains About Fiancé's Small Gift TikTok - The Original Single List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Hump Day EICamels. This week we're delving into the world of male-led podcasts, specifically, Steven Bartlett's.Last week, Instagram account @notyourpolitefeminist posted a carousel titled ‘The Diary Of A Misogynist'. Meredith writes, ‘The Diary of A CEO is often framed as thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, and progressive. it presents itself as a space for growth, vulnerability, and "having the hard conversations." And on the surface, that's exactly what it looks like: reflective language, slow pacing, men talking about feelings. but here's my problem with Bartlett, it stays focused on men's inner worlds - their fear, their insecurity, their unmet needs without really interrogating the systems that still benefit men even when they're struggling. The podcast leans heavily on therapy language: trauma, attachment, healing, vulnerability. but stripped of any feminist analysis, those words lose their power.'Steven Bartlett released the first episode of DOAC in September 2017, but what started out as a hobby, and ‘way to learn from other business leaders', has grown to become one of the biggest podcasts in the world, last year it reached one billion streams. However alongside its astronomical success, has it slowly descended into something very different, and perhaps even dangerous?Thank you so much for all of your opinions and takes on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all.O, R, B xx@notyourpolitefeminist's post BBC InvestigationNew Statesman - Steven Bartlett's Empire of Bluff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back EICuties! We have so much to catch you up on re: Christmas TV binges. Also a meme has been travelling round TikTok about 365 buttons. Do you get it? Next-up, we dive into the sci-fi, genre-bending Apple TV series that everyone is obsessed with, Pluribus. And finally 2026 already has an internet villain in the shape of a dad who claims to struggle spending more than 10 minutes with his child. Thank you SO MUCH for your lovely messages and reviews. Please keep them coming as we love hearing from you

Happy Boxing Day EICarollers. We hope you had a delicious Christmas, and now, to get you through the gooch of the year, we present to you the things we've loved the most in 2025, and the things we can't wait for in 2026.Every week this year we've told you guys what each of us have been loving- literally dozens and dozens of film, TV, podcast, article and book recommendations for you all to get stuck into. And so we're ending the year with a “what we've been” loving round-up- some old, some new but all with the EIC stamp of approval. We'll also be helping you mark your content calendars for 2026, with a reminder of what's coming and what we literally cannot wait for. But just before we do that, we all want to say thank you so much to anyone who has listened to us, shared the podcast on social media or with a friend, left us a rating or a review, sent us a DM or commented, contributed to our Everything In Conversation eps or stopped us in the street to say you're a fan. It really means the world, so thank you. Thank you to Cue Podcasts for this edit.We love you all! O, R, BRuchira's picks:Blue MoonBugoniaThe Rehearsal s2Last One Laughing UKSearch Engine/search engine - dubai chocolateAdolescence Secret Lives Of Mormon WivesHacksBeth's picks:LA Women by Ella BermanThe Jack & Ash ShowToo MuchThe Baby Died, Whose Fault lIs It?FrankensteinWeaponsPlatonicThe Goon SquadOenone's picks:The Year Men Broke by Tell The BeesThe Anti-Cosmetic Surgery Essay Every Woman Should ReadFour SeasonsWhat Did You Do YesterdayThe Vegetarian Han KangBallad Of Wallis IslandIn MemoriamSlow HorsesThe Night ManagerSee you in 2026! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Christmas Eve EICherubs!

Hello hello EICocoa pops, welcome back to another brand-new episode where we deep dive into the week's biggest talking points.This week on the podcast we're discussing Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery trial, as shown in the latest series of The Kardashians. We also dissect the latest in pop culture headlines, including Lily Allen's SNL performance where Dakota Johnson played her other woman character Madeline. And finally we dive into the alleged new trend... the celeb couples in swag gap relationships.Thank you for listening to us and pleeeease could you gift us a review AND share us with a friend this Chistmas? It would mean the world to us

Hello EICherries. We imagine you're all quietly quitting your work obligations right now, as we slither towards the end of 2025... but today we're going to be talking about the women who are quietly quitting their husbands.What is quiet quitting a marriage? It's the slow, silent retreat that often happens behind closed doors when one partner, often a woman in midlife, simply checks out. Despite the fact that divorce rates among older adults have climbed over the past few decades, countless couples are staying together, because separation feels too exhausting, too financially risky, or too disruptive to the lives they've built. And in many cases, their husbands don't even realise how far things have drifted until it's too late.Monica Corcoran Harel writes ‘Passivity came up again and again in my reporting: Husbands tune out their disenchanted wives like Charlie Brown deflects the monotonous drone of his schoolteacher. They make flimsy promises to engage more on an emotional level or to help out around the house. Maybe they vacuum for a month or two. Or act all intrigued when a partner vents about an incapable colleague. But eventually, the extra-credit effort falls by the wayside or just doesn't feel like enough. In some cases, the man's need to be lauded for taking on a fraction of the physical load only punctuates how much a woman has to accomplish every single day.'We get into it!Thank you so much for your takes on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all and hope you enjoy the episode, O,R,B xxThe Women Quietly Quitting Their Husbands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICongregation! Welcome to content church!This week we're going into the depths of the discourse so that you don't have to. Charli XCX is getting heat for the quality of her newest Substack essay, Sydney Sweeney seems to be doing a 180 on her recent public attitude, fridges may or may not be sending people into psychosis- and we're breaking it down right here.Also in this episode: Oenone's algorithm has been hijacked by a sharp-jawed looksmaxxer called Clavicular. Confused? We've got you. Looksmaxxing is a subculture that emerged in incel forums and focuses on teaching men and boys how to optimise their appearance through grooming, cosmetic procedures and sometimes extreme lifestyle changes. We discuss the implications of this kind of content as it expands into the mainstream.And finally a woman in America is getting roasted up, down and side to side on the internet after proposing to her boyfriend of 14 years. She said: "I really wanna get married. We've been together for 14 years already. He hasn't proposed....So why not?” The internet replied: BECAUSE WE SAID SO. We discuss her decision to flip the tradition and whether shaming her for getting down on one knee is just another way to police women and tell them if they aren't chosen with a diamond ring then they aren't worthy.We hope you enjoy this episode and if you do- please leave us a rating and a review on your podcast player app. Ciao! O, R, B xEdit in collaboration with Cue Podcasts. Thank you Cue!------This week Beth's been loving The Real Secret Lives of Secret Mormon Wives (or whatever it's called), Ruchira's been loving Coyote Ugly and Oenone's been loving The Night Manager and Eternity.Links Charli's Substack - The Death of Cool Dazed - The Death of Cool INDY100 - Did a Pluribus advert really trigger a psychotic episode? E! - Sydney Sweeney explains her "silence"The Tab - Who is Clavicular? VICE - Women Want One Thing in Men, and It's Hunter EyesChannel4 - UNTOLD: The Toxic World of Perfect Looks The Cut - You Could Not Waterboard Me Into Proposing to a Man BBC Woman's Hour - Why Don't Women Propose MoreVARIETY - Actors on Actors with David Corenswet & Jonathan Bailey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICarnivores* (consumers of meaty content, that is)This week we're asking: where are all the vegans? In this article for Dazed Laura Pitcher investigates the apparent decline in plant-based restaurants, food options, and people who openly identify as vegans, and asks whether this is related to a shift away from wokeness and empathy and towards conservatism and self-interest. Thank you so much for all of your amazing takes, we genuinely love hearing from all of you every week. If we can ask a final small(ish) favour, recommending us to a friend, leaving us a 5 star rating or writing a short review wherever you're reading this massively helps us to keep making the show. Lots of love O, R, B @ EIC xoxo ------------BBC - The UK Covid InquiryThe Guardian - How protein became the food industry's biggest crazeThe Week - Ozempic menus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey EICrackers, merry Friday...get ready for a magical, festive &... fatigued, episode!First up, Wicked For Good. We all went down the yellow brick road to the cinema to see the sequel. The story picks up after Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has fled the Emerald City and been branded the "Wicked Witch of the West" by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Glinda (Ariana Grande), now "Glinda the Good," struggles with her public role as the Wizard's associate while her friendship with Elphaba is tested. The film focuses on their final journey to see each other with empathy and change Oz "for good". We get into it.Next! We don't know if you've heard, but Christmas is coming. How do we know this? Because the annual supermarket/high street Christmas adverts have dropped in the UK. High street festive ads have become peak Christmas culture in the UK. For our non-UK listeners, Lena Dunham did a fairly good poke at this in Too Much with the John Lewis Rita Ora playing Santa ad. So this year, we're going to take a look at some of the big ones that have dropped.And finally... from Christmas Ads to CHRIST, not another ad. In a piece on Substack, Hannah Glenn explores her own fatigue with advertising, in a world where everything and everyone seems to be trying to sell her something. We hope you enjoy as always please do leave a review on your podcast player app, LY, O,R,B xxxThank you so much to Cue for editing this podcast!Beth's been loving: No One Is Talking About This, Patricia Lockwood, Oenone's Substack Ruchira's been loving: Wuthering Heights,BroadchurchOenone's been loving: Pluribus, Mother Mary TrailerWicked For Good - box office smash“Wicked: For Good” Is Very, Very BadCrisis At Christmas AppealTop 10 UK Christmas AdsJoel Goldby's Gift GuideNothing Feels Authentic Anymore Because Everything is an Ad, Hannah Glenn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday episode day, EIChuppaChups!

Hello EICupcakes

Hello EICritical Thinkers & happy humping day (or whatever the saying is).This week we're discussing the apparent mass-vanishing act of male authors, after a piece for The Guardian suggested that David Szalay's Booker win has "put masculinity back at the centre of literary fiction." Oh! Ok!In a rebuttal for Vogue, author and friend of the podcast Eliza Clarke argues that it's time to put this debate to bed. She writes: “Male writers still continue to dominate literary awards. They make up a large portion of our bestsellers, all the while continuing to be viewed as more worthy and deserving of critical plaudits. Bernadine Evaristo remains the only Black woman to have won a Booker Prize, ever, and she had to share that win with Margaret Atwood.”With your help and takes we ask: is there any truth to it? And if so: what's driving women's dominion in literary fiction?Thanks for all of your thoughts as ever! Follow us on IG @everythingiscontentpod. Love O, R, B xLinks:Vogue - It's Time To Put The "Where Are All The Male Novelists" Debate To Bed Compact Mag - The Vanishing White Male WriterCurrent Affairs - The White Male Writer Is Fine I PromiseGQ - Why men need to read more novels The Guardian - Do we need more male novelists?VOX - What happened to the bestselling young white man? Unherd - How to read like a man? Wikipedia - Performative MaleThe Guardian - The truth about boys and books Substack - The dawn of the post-literate society Books mentioned:Open Water by Caleb Azumah NelsonAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyBrooklyn by Colm TóibínAtonement by Ian McEwanNormal People by Sally Rooney Loren Ipsum by Andrew GallixFlesh by David SzalayCaledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICherries

Hey EIClass! Open your pencil cases, notepads, and ears!This week's episode is brought to you by Get Into Teaching, and we're joined by someone very special: Chemistry teacher Charlotte McColl… who also happens to be our very own Beth's big sister.We loved picking Charlotte's brain about what teaching actually looks like day to day, the creativity it demands, the surprises it brings, why 'six–seven' is so confusing (we're still confused), and so much more. There's even a little pop-culture pop quiz, so feel free to play along at home.Our conversation was a reminder that a career in teaching doesn't just shape the next generation — it transforms the teacher too.Turn your passion into your profession. Search Get Into Teaching. O,R,B x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey EIChihuahuas, happy Friday! To celebrate, we gift you a brand new episode, kisses.This week on the podcast it's just Oenone & Beth steering the content ship through the choppy waters of: The Real Housewives of London, the biblical new release from Rosalía, & a controversial new celebrity skincare line.First... Real housewives of London premiered this summer, with many curious as to how this beloved show would fare across the Atlantic. The series follows eight women navigating London's ultra-wealthy social circles, balancing old money, new money, & country piles. There's glamorous events, designer drama, & class tensions with the expected Housewives mix of alliances, gossip, & fallouts. The series sees the women get into blows over some dubious dentistry aka teeth-gate, renting outfits, not picking up the bill & the definition of ‘best friend'. We share our thoughts on the series & the explosive two-parter reunion.Next up, on November 6 Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell launched a new line of sheet masks for children. Everyone's writing about it from Glamour, to Marie Claire, The New York post & The Metro, & not an insignificant number of you guys in our DMs, too. So is this a dystopian nightmare, or just a bit of harmless fun that's been blown out of proportion?And last but by no means least, an album hotly anticipated globally, but also very much on this podcast, & that is LUX, the fourth record by Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía. According to Pitchfork it's “a heartfelt offering of avant-garde classical pop that roars through genre, romance, and religion”. The BBC called it “radical and riveting” & NME said it's “an arresting album of astonishing scope and ambition”. The 33 year old, who is a trained Flamenco singer, sings in 13 different languages on the album, including Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, Latin and Sicilian, and worked for a year writing the lyrics and working with professional translators to make sure they were just right. It is receiving an avalanche of five star reviews for artistry, composition, narrative, lyrics. The album is now out, we've both listened to it... We're by no means musical experts, but we give our thoughts.Thank you so much to Cue podcasts for the edit.Beth's been loving: Shirley Valentine, The Missing KayakerOenone's been loving: Loren Ipsum, Andrew GallixReal Housewives Of LondonShay Mitchell statement on RiniWhat Dermatologists Really Think About Sheet Masks for Toddlers - Rosalía Has Biggest Streaming Debut of Any Female Spanish-Language Artist on Spotify love ya O, R, B xx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICuties! This week it's something a little bit special- Everything Is Content went on tour! For this week's midweek episode we went to Sadler's Wells East in Stratford, a brand new theatre for dance, that is (in their words) "home to everything from hip hop to ballet, rave to rhumba and kathak to krumping."For this week's content school trip we were toured around Sadler's Wells East by dance artist Liam Riddick, who talks us through the basics of ballet, Sadler's Wells' ethos, the future (and past) of dance and why the aesthetics of this dance has been so pervasive in today's wider culture.Thanks for listening! We so appreciate it! O, R, B xxxxIn collaboration with Sadler's Wells. Show notes / Further readingWelcome to Sadler's Wells East Sadler's Wells- Academy Breakin' Convention FAQsSadler's Wells - What's On Barbican - The Seagull Instagram - ModelsDoingBallet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TGIF! This week on Everything Is Content... a viral article, chaotic reality TV and rumours of yet another celebrity face lift.First up, if you've not read Chanté Joseph's mega viral Vogue article titled Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? then you've definitely seen the discourse. Julia Fox has weighed in (she says it is) and now it's our turn. We ask: what did we make of the piece, do we think this is an IRL phenomenon or strictly an online shift, and what do we think is behind it?Secondly we're back in LA LA land for a brand new series of Selling Sunset. Ruchira finished it in 3 days, Beth in 2 and we're all obsessed. We discuss the inherent toxicity of reality TV, this series' houses and whether we like seeing behind the curtain on these kind of shows.And last but not least, rumours of cosmetic surgery have been swirling around Emma Stone for the last few months and people are feeling a type of way about it. But is that fair? Can we reasonably feel disappointed when our fav female stars decide to opt out of growing older naturally or is it simply none of our business?Thank you SO much for listening this week and every week. Pleeease could you gift us a review on your podcast player app so other people can find us? We adore everyone who has already. Love O, R, B xoxoxIn partnership with Cue Podcasts.------This week Beth was not really loving Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson (though she remains a lifelong devotee and fan), Oenone was loving Zadie Smith's appearance on Adam Buxton's podcast and Ruchira was loving Rosalía's interview on Popcast and season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.The New York Times - Shibboleth Vogue - Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?Substack - is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? yes and that's why we're hiding them Spotify - Call Her Daddy x Spencer Pratt Substack - I Feel Sad About Emma Stone's New Face Timestamps:15:00: Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?41:41 Selling Sunset57:37: Emma Stone's face Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICuties! Due to circumstances beyond our control we were unable to release our planned episode, and so we've wound the clock back to April 2024 with a re-release of one of our favourite topics... age gap discourse and the time the internet was set alight by an essay in The Cut about a relationship between a younger woman and a slightly older man. What's our general perception of age gaps in relationships, is the tide changing and what did we think of the piece itself?Thanks so much for your understanding and don't worry- we'll be back with you on Friday as usual with some juicy new takes and topics. Rolling Stone - Aaron Taylor Johnson The Independent: There's a reason we love to talk about age gap relationships The Cut: The Case For Marrying An Older Man Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back EICherries,We have been FLOODED with messages to review Lily Allen's album. Your wish is our command (sometimes). We dive into the raw, confessional, genre-bending – almost musical diary – where Lily narrates the breakdown of her marriage. In an emotional whiplash, we then discuss the beloved cosy rom-com series Nobody Wants This after it returned for a second series.Thank you so much for listening. Pleeease could you gift us a review on your podcast player app so other people can find us? We adore everyone who has already. Love O, R, B xoxoxIn partnership with Cue Podcasts.------This week, Oenone has been loving The Woman in Cabin 10 and A Simple Favor. Ruchira reccomended House of Dynamite and Beth has been loving the James Bond movie universe.West End Girlwest end doll (Shon Faye)BLAME MONSTER: WHO DARES TO TAKE DAVID HARBOUR'S SIDE AS LILY STRIKES AGAIN?Nobody Wants ThisDespite Its Best Efforts, Nobody Wants This Still Seems Stumped by Jewish Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICookies,This week we're diving into a morally ambiguous issue: can you cheat on a human partner with AI? A fascinating Cut piece spoke to several couples where one partner is simultaneously dating a chatbot. One argues she's in a poly relationship, others say it's just code... what do you think?Thanks for all of your thoughts as ever, love R,O,B xxxxIs It Cheating If It's AI? Couples are negotiating what counts as infidelity when one partner has a ChatGPT sidepiece. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EICupcakes! We have a very special episode this week. Earlier this month we were blessed to do our very first live event at Cheltenham and this is everything we spoke about...First-up, are we the slop? A Substack essay piqued our interest as it argued outside of AI, our special moments – engagements, pregnancies, grief – have been reduced to someone else's low quality content. Secondly, are we heading for a post-literate society? Reading rates are down significantly. What do we lose if we lose reading?Finally, welcome to CougarTok – a new world for 30-somethings dating men in their 20s and *loving* it. TYSM for listening, love R, O, B xxxxxxIn collaboration with Cue Podcasts.Victoria Beckham docThe dawn of the post-literate society‘He has this crazy passion for me': The millennial women of CougarTok on their 20-something boyfriendsWe Are The Slop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've talked about age gap relationships on the pod before... but what about wage gap relationships? For this week's extra episode we read this piece by Elle Hunt for The Guardian and asked you all at home if you had ever been in a relationship with a sizeable gap in personal wealth and earnings. As it turned out- many of you had. For some, a daydream turned total nightmare, for others a non-issue solved by communication and compatibility. We discuss the realities of mismatched earnings, the way it presents across gender divides and whether looking for a man in finance is the solution or a potentially very expensive mistake...Thank you so much for your thoughts, comments and personal stories on this topic. We love love love being In Conversation with you all. Please do give us a follow on your podcast player app and perhaps a lovely review- we want to keep making this podcast with you forever & that helps make that happen!Catch you Friday,O,R,B xoxoxLinks / Further readingUtopia For Realists by Rutger Bregman Are You In A Wage Gap Relationship? by Charley Ross Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest faithful EIC listeners, happy Friday, it's time for a round table discussion to dissect the biggest stories from the week.The UK's first ever celebrity Traitors is here, following beloved series across in the US. This cohort include huge figures like Stephen Fry, Claire Balding, Jonathan Ross, Charlotte Church, Alan Carr and Nick Mohammed to name a few. The show, which was recorded earlier this year at Ardross Castle in Scotland, features 19 celebrity contestants competing for a prize of £100,000 for a charity of their choosing. We talk about whether or the beloved show is executing this new famous format.Next up, sugar daddy finances. We recently read a piece for Bustle by Camille Soheet Pesha called Even The Sugar Daddies Are Feeling The Squeeze: As costs of living climb, high earners who once had money to burn on their sex lives are cutting back.” And in the piece she explores a troubling trend where the men who were once willing and able to splash the cash on sugar babies are now struggling to keep up. Sugar dating, for anyone not aware, is a type of transactional relationship where sugar daddies, typically older and wealthier, would offer gifts and money and a better quality of life to often younger, very beautiful women who offer companionship and intimacy. We discuss our thoughts on the piece.Lastly, last year we had Brat girl summer, but the season of green might not be over yet, are we potentially having Zack Polanski autumn? The Green party has reached over 110,000 members at the time of recording, for the first time. In England and Wales the party has had over a 55% rise in membership since Polanski took over last month. Polanski has had an unconventional path to politics, previously working as an actor, hypnotherapist and mental health counsellor. And yet is proving to be one of the most effective communicators we've seen in a very long time. One of Polanksi's slogans is ‘Let's make hope normal again', is this stratospheric new interest in the Green Party making us feel hopeful?We hope you enjoy listening, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and a rating on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts, love, O,R,B xxRuchira's been loving: RoofmanBeth's been loving: Better ManOenone's been loving: Game Of ThronesThe Celebrity TraitorsEven The Sugar Daddies Are Feeling The SqueezeGreen Party over 100k membersThanks so much to Cue for editing this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Hump Day EICrayons! This week we're diving into the ongoing rehashing of Harry Potter and whether we should all... just give it up. The conversation is based on an article titled 'Harry Potter and the deathly rehash culture', and the upcoming HBO series, audiobooks and fanfics.Thank you for all of your amazing thoughts and comments. Please give us a follow on your podcast player app and a lovely review.Catch you on the Friday episode

Hello content fans! Let's start the day off right with some pop culture convos. How about the explosive new Paul Thomas Anderson film, a much-maligned activist and getting back together with your ex?First (and with no major spoilers we promise!) One Battle After Another, where Leonardo Di Caprio plays Bob, a washed up revolutionary who has to dust off his go-bag and try to remember his code words to save his teenage daughter (Chase Infiniti) from an unhinged white nationalist (Sean Penn) who is on a clean-up mission. Right Wing pundits are calling for its cancellation while critics are stoking Academy Awards buzz- and we get into the lot.Up next we talk about Greta Thunberg's recent detainment by Israel and why we think she's been ripe for critique, hate and suppression ever since she picked up her very first protest sign.And lastly we're asking whether Bennifer are back on, just pals or a secret third thing that we couldn't possibly begin to comprehend?Oenone's been loving Steve.Beth's been loving Marina Abramović's Balkan Erotic EpicRuchira's been loving nothing because she's been a poorly baby this week :( We miss her wisdom and wit and can't wait to have her back next week!Thank you so much for listening, as always please do leave us a rating and a review on your podcast player app, love you byeeeee O,R,B xxMiller's Girl Global Sumud FlotillaDazed - How To Date When They're Your Ex One Battle After Another Is a Powerhouse of Tenderness and FuryIn collaboration with Cue Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an emergency broadcast from the EIC newsroom, on the third of October 2025 Taylor Swift released her twelfth studio album, The Life Of A Show Girl.Here at EIC headquarters we had been warming to Taylor after a collective indifference, but it seems we may have potentially picked a bad time to enSwifticate ourselves. TLOAS tracks were leaked just before release, and immediately, the drama began.The album was recorded in Sweden with the producers Max Martin and Shellback, who she made "22," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "Blank Space," "Style," "Shake It Off," "…Ready For It?" and "Delicate."with, mostly during the European leg of the Eras Tour in 2024.The album consists of 12 tracks, with one featuring Sabrina Carpenter. It sold 2.7 million copies in traditional album sales — which include physical and digital formats — in its first day in the U.S. That's according to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, breaking her previous record for most first week sales with TTPD.In the now infamous episode of her American Football playing fiance's podcast, Taylor described the album as “What was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour, which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant. It just comes from like the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life.“And so that effervescence has come through on this record' she said ‘that the goal of the album was “melodies that were so infectious that you're almost angry at it” and also lyrics that “are as vivid, crisp, focused, and completely intentional.”‘This is the record I've been wanting to make for a very long time. Every single song is on this album for hundreds of reasons … It's just right.” she said.Controversy started with Actually Romantic, which is rumoured to be about Charli xcx, but that isn't her only eyebrow raiser. Some are upset at the highly sexualised nature of tracks like ‘wood', some are critcising her for releasing multiple variants with bonus tracks, or different recordings, to appeal to collectors and boost album sales by counting each variant as a separate purchase; some of the promo videos that used QR codes or other interactive elements were flagged by people online as possibly being made partly with generative AI, which has caused a stir not least because Swift has been vocal about artists needing control of their work and masters, but also because of the awful instance when people made a deepfake of her. However that is unconfirmed.What is confirmed is that for the first time potentially in Swift's career, it's her own fans saying they don't like the album, or are disappointed.We try to see the wood from the trees... see what we did there ;)Thanks so much for all of your takes on this topic, we appreciate you all! O,R,B xxPitchfork reviewRolling Stone reviewTaylor on Travis podcastGuardian reviewNME review BBC review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Content Pups, strap in, seatbelts ON, we're going on a content road trip. This week on the podcast we're talking about Emma Watson's Jay Shetty interview (and the subsequent fall out), the way that GLP-1S, have democratised thinness - and what that means for body trends, and perhaps the biggest divorce in recent pop culture history It's been a hefty week for celeb and pop culture stories, so yes you're exactly right, we're bringing back the EIC headlines; from Nicole Kidman's divorce, to Lola Young's statement and Super Bowl Sunday.Next up, last Wednesday an interview between podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty and actress Emma Watson was released. At time of recording the video of the interview on YouTube has almost 3 million views and over 6000 comments. It's the only podcast she's ever done and her first long form conversation in over five years. They get pretty candid about her recent driving ban for speeding, her complicated relationship to film promotion, sensitivity, fame, if she'll return to acting, Harry Potter- all sorts. But the part that is hitting the headlines most this week is a part towards the end of the interview where Jay asks her about JK Rowling and the relationship between the two women. We get into it.And lastly, Christiana Mbakwe Medina for her Substack, Pop Syllabus, writes, ‘Right now, Ozempic and other GLP-1s are rapidly democratizing thinness, making it attainable to whomever can afford it. As a result, the value of thinness as a status symbol is diminishing, and I believe we're about to enter a significant shift. Be prepared for The Sculpt'. Are we about to enter into a new body trend craze?Ruchira's been Loving - The ShiningOenone's been loving - The News Agents, The Rest Is Politics, Ta-Nehisi Coates on Ezra KleinBeth's been loving - The Housemaid Series, The GirlfriendEmma Watson Jay Shetty EpisodeUncovering The Truth Of Jay ShettyGoodbye Thin. Hello SculptHow Toned Arms Became a Status Symbol—And an Impossible StandardThank you so much for listening, as always please do leave us a rating and a review on your podcast player app, love you byeeeee O,R,B xx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Wednesday EICollective! This week we're getting high and mighty in a conversation about whether making elitist attitudes unfashionable has actually harmed the culture. As Rachel Aroesti investigated in a recent piece for The Guardian... in an era of AI slop and mid TV, is it time for cultural snobbery to make a comeback? With your help we puzzle over issues of misogyny and classism in assigning labels of high and low brow, if phone addictions are making us less interested in good art and whether it's up to us to challenge each other to get more intellectual and curious in what we consume. As always thank you so much for listening and sending us your thoughts. If you'd like to take part in future episodes just follow us on Instagram @everythingiscontentpod See you Friday for more! O, R, B xThe Guardian - Is it time for cultural snobbery to make a comeback? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy EIChicks! It's Friday, which means we're attempting to sail through the sea of Tiktok trends, mass hysteria and major headlines...This week on the podcast, we're diving into why parts of TikTok were prepping for an apocalypse this week, America's dystopian censorship of Jimmy Kimmell and queuing in pubs – should you?Thank you so much for your love thus far. You can follow us @everythingiscontentpod on IG and the Tok. Also please could you give us a review – we'd be so grateful!In partnership with Cue Podcasts.-----This week Oenone has been loving Caledonian Road and The Hunger Games. Ruchira has been loving Top Boy: Summerhouse.Why are TikTok conservatives predicting the rapture this week?The Rapture Didn't Happen, And The Internet Is DisappointedWhen Did Cancel Culture Become ‘Consequence Culture'?Trump criticises countries' migration and climate policies in scathing UN speechBrits Undecided About Queuing At The Bar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop your card into the EIC-ATM and get ready to withdraw some content- because this week we're talking all about the rise of "cute debt" and whether buy-now-pay-later schemes are really targeting the girls.In a recent piece for The Atlantic, Annie Joy Williams explores how female shoppers are being heavily marketed to by the likes of Klarna and Afterpay, who are drawing on fun, girly aesthetics to sell their services and make debt seem fun, silly and generally NBD! We share our own experiences and hear from you at home about why so many of us are falling victim to a splash of pink, a celeb endorsement and a cute Y2K moment.Thank you for all of your messages this week! If you're really in the mood to spoil us, how about a five star rating wherever you're listening right now? Thank you so much! Lots of love,R, O, B xoThe Atlantic - The Rise of 'Cute Debt'The Guardian - Where did it all go wrong for Wonga? Emma Budget App Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Friday to all who celebrate. This week we're serving up part two of our two part friendship deep dive, first discussing affirmation culture and how avoiding tough love can rob us of growth within relationships. Then we get into the meat of modern friendship and how influencers can further the idea that we're all better alone. Finally we ask whether we think more people should consider reinventing the family pursuing a platonic marriage.Thank you to Cue Podcasts for production.We hope you enjoy, thank you for listening O,R,B xx--------Is Affirmation Culture Sabotaging Our Friendships and Ourselves? Dunbar's Number: Why we can only maintain 150 relationships Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kisses from EIC – we're back with a spicy episode...The Bop House is a content creator house made up of OnlyFans creators with 3.6m subscribers on TikTok. They've had tonnes of controversy because lots of the creators who range from 18-24 exaggerate their baby faces and present what some say is a barely legal fantasy with braces they don't need, girly voices and cartoon PJs.Are they the natural amalgamation of reality TV, TikTok virality and online sex work? What is their impact? Thank you for all of your messages! Would you consider giving us a rating pleeeease? Thank you, love O, B, R xoThey Make Millions Acting Like Sexy Babies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Friday EIC-heads, this week on the podcast we're delivering part one of our two part friendship deep dive, sharing our favourite fictional friendships, before discussing how friendships change as we get older and the myth of being a low-maintenance mate. From low maintenance and medium friends to friendship and motherhood, how does the modern world shape our friendships, and how do we navigate friendships as we get older?Thank you to Cue Podcasts for production.We hope you enjoy, thank you for listening O,R,B xxI Thought Being The Low Maintenance Friend Would Set Me Free. Instead, It Made Me Lonelier Than Ever- Chante JosephThe Vexing Problem Of The Medium Friend - Lisa Miller Why Is It So Hard To Maintain Friendships From Your 20s In Your 30s? - Carola LoveringIf babies are ruining your friendships, the problem is probably you - Olivia Petter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello QTS, we're back with a not very cute subject, let's go to the dark side...Last week we read a piece on Substack called “We Have To Talk about Dark Romance” by Stella Tate, in which she grapples with a problematic literary genre. Dark romance, for anyone not aware, is a subgenre of romance literature, that features characters, relationships and dynamics that are typically taboo in other genres, often involving violence, obsession, stalking, emotional abuse and sexual assault. Basically the romantic heroes of these stories would often be the clear villain in any other story. And as Stella writes: “from the perspective of a highly non-judgmental book lover (or at least that's who i aim to be), dark romance is mainly a romance that takes the shape of a horror story, or possibly a horrific tale dressed up as a romance. dark romance is a genre bender, with elements of romance and horror, not always in equal parts… dark romance doesn't seem to be one thing or another; instead, it seems to me like a wide spectrum, where you can find all 50 shades of grey and more, from the lighter vampire love stories to the harder to swallow stalker romances with sexual abuse and all sorts of triggering content.” We delve in!We Have To Talk About Dark RomanceThanks so much for all of your takes and comments on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all! O,R,B xx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EIC school is in session – get your notebooks out!This week on the podcast we're tackling Elizabeth Gilbert's wild promo ride for her new memoir All the Ways to the River, which is out on 9th September. As part of it she shared some excerpts for The Cut in a long read titled, ‘My Once-in-a-Million-Years Love Story When my best friend was diagnosed with cancer, I promised to be there until the end. Then all hell broke loose.' Oh what a read...Next we tackle Rylan's misinformed and dangerous comments over immigration and asylum seekers. How was he allowed to spread right-wing falsehoods on national TV?Finally the biggest stories across pop culture from a new celeb hook-up, to one viral star's unexpected pivot to modelling fast fashion...In collaboration with Cue Podcasts.This week Oenone loved Calvary, Black Books and Sorry, Baby Beth loved Real Housewives of New York Ruchira loved The Summer I Turned Pretty and Christian Girl Autumn.The Cut pieceThe Big Issue: Are asylum seekers 'living it up' in luxury hotels like Rylan says? Here's the reality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello EIC heads, happy Wednesday, happy September, and happy Everything In Conversation day...Earlier this month Niamh Duffy wrote a Substack titled, ‘I've protected my peace so much, I've accidentally made myself boring.'She writes, ‘I've been so busy safeguarding my mental health and pruning my life of stress that I seem to have pruned myself of… fun. I'm not even sure I remember how to have it anymore. Not the kind of fun that comes with bubble baths and to-do lists and reading about attachment styles, but the messy, impulsive, human sort that happens at 2am over chips and existential conversations with someone you met that evening.'In it she details how in the pursuit of self care, boundaries and rest, she has lost a vital part of herself, her sense of spontaneity, community and perhaps, humanity? We seem to value right now, above all else, performance, productivity and ‘health', but at what cost?Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and takes on this topic, we love being in conversation with you all! O,R,B xxxI've protected my peace so much, I've accidentally made myself boring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy EICelebrations! This week on the podcast we've got... an analysis of the backlash to Millie Bobby Brown's adoption, our review of Netflix's latest reality TV retrospective and Celine Song's love triangle romcom The Materialists. Thank you so much for listening. Could you please gift us a review on Apple or Spotify and vote for us in the British Podcast Awards

A dream guest has joined the EIC studios... this week we're joined by actor, singer and dancer Alyson Stoner. Any child of the 90s and 00s will have grown up with Alyson on their screens. They were in Step Up, Cheaper By The Dozen, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Camp Rock and have since become a sharp analyst on the fame and the entertainment industry online. They've just released a memoir of their upbringing as a child star and (for the first time) shared details of acting from aged three, developing and seeking help for an eating disorder and having their finances mismanaged by their team.It's an incredible conversation and we feel so honoured to have had it. If you enjoyed this episode please consider giving us a rating on your podcast player app AND voting for us in the British Podcast Awards. Thank you