Straight Up

The pop culture podcast with no filter, brought to you by besties and journalists Kathleen and Ellie. New episodes out every Thursday!

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

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256 episodes
Updated Thursday
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Episodes256

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Jul 24, 2025 · 52 min
Cheating ethics, sextortion scammers and Love Island’s manosphere
The Coldplay KissCam controversy has everyone talking about cheating, so this week we’re weighing in on affairs and internet sleuthing, as well as the scary rise of ‘sextortion’, investigated by Jordan Stephens’s brilliant new doc. Also on the show: Love Island’s toxic masculinity problem, Charli XCX’s wedding, yet more Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni drama and plenty of fab recs, from a fascinating memoir about the News of the World scandal and the new Jurassic World, to Eric Bana’s slick Netflix detective show and the funniest comedy you’ll see all year. We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Recs/reviews Jurassic World:Rebirth, in cinemas now Pulp Kitchen, Jurassic World Rebirth Could we make a real Jurassic Park? Why? with Emma Kennedy The Return of the Dire Wolf, Time Magazine Heads of State, Amazon Prime Lion, Amazon Prime Love Island 2025, brought to you by the manosphere, Glamour Hunting My Sextortion Scammer, Channel 4 Don’t Let it Break You Honey, Jenny Evans Untamed, Netflix Such Brave Girls, BBC iPlayer Sweet Bobby, Tortoise Media Why does Gen Z smell like sugar? Vox Yuka app Weleda Skin Food . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 23, 2025 · 53 min
Surgery, celeb gossip, dating and babies: your questions answered!
Today’s topics have all been chosen by you, huns, in our first ever ask us anything Q&A ep! From tweakments and our most embarrassing celeb encounters to dating, the apps and planning for children, nothing is off limits as we dive into your nosiest questions. We also weigh in on the Tattle Life debate and get into whether the influencer gossip forum is toxic or necessary, as well as advice for a listener going through it and the myth of having it all. Thank you sooo much to the hunnies who sent in questions, we’ll be answering some more in another ep v soon x We love hearing from you, so please DM us questions, recs or bonus ideas ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod on Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk.⁠ Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuppod! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going! Recs “Trolls on Tattle Life mercilessly tore me apart. The police told me there was nothing they could do” Grace Victory, Stylist The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore Choosing love over IVF, with Camille Charrière, Conversations on Love with Natasha Lunn, Substack . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 17, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
Lena Dunham's Too Much, the Salt Path controversy and a Beckham prenup
Lena Dunham remains one of the most controversial people in pop culture, but that hasn’t stopped a glittering roster of A Listers from appearing in her fun new London-based Netflix romcom Too Much. We assess some of her biggest online scandals, while looking at how autobiographical the show really is. Plus, an explainer of the Salt Path: the latest furore to rock the publishing industry. Are readers right to feel betrayed by writer Raynor Winn’s alleged lies and does publishing have a fact-checking problem? We’ve also got yet another juicy little Beckham family feud update for you, hunnies, plus a debate on whether prenups are feminist and two fab book recs! We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/reviews My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout The Tenant by Freida McFadden Too Much, Netflix Too Much: what film and TV get wrong about London, BBC Did the Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff Relationship Lore Inspire Too Much?, Marie Claire Will Sharpe went too hard on himself in the Too Much finale, Vulture Lena Dunham’s change of pace, New Yorker Too Much Is Full of Lena Dunham Lore, Vulture TALA founder: ‘We weren’t going to make payroll — so I sold my car’, Financial Times The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were spun from lies, deceit and desperation, The Observer The Salt Path revelations should be no surprise to anyone in publishing, The Observer . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 10, 2025 · 49 min
Brad Pitt’s PR tricks, the American Apparel cult and Charlize Theron
Brad Pitt’s carefully crafted F1: The Movie promo run has us thinking about how celebrities script their own stories and how easily we buy into them. From Brad’s quiet erasure of abuse allegations by Angelina Jolie to Chris Brown packing stadiums despite a long history of violence, we’re diving into the messy, age-old question: can you really separate the art from the artist? Also this week: a gorgeously candid Charlize Theron interview, Tim Key’s rom-com of the summer The Ballad of Wallis Island and Netflix’s jaw-dropping exposé on the cult of American Apparel and the toxic founder Dov Charney. We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/ reviews: Birnam Wood, Eleanor Catton Charlize Theron, Call Her Daddy Brad Pitt is Fooling You, Vulture A Complete Timeline of Chris Brown’s Controversies, People Scooter Braun, Diary of a CEO Brad Pitt, GQ interview by Otessa Mosfegh, 2022 I think I'm done with being interviewed by women. Jameela Jamil Substack Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence, our March 6 episode Trainwreck:The Cult of American Apparel, Netflix The Ballad of Wallis Island, in cinemas now . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 3, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
The Bezos wedding, surgery transparency and a Glastonbury debrief
Billionaires, botox, and a newly single Orlando Bloom – this week we’re diving into Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s ultra-extravagant Venice wedding, a spectacle that’s reminded the internet that money definitely can’t buy taste. From the Hollywood attendees that made headlines like Sydney Sweeney and Leonardo DiCaprio to the inevitable backlash to the whole thing, we’re getting into it all. Also, as Khloe Kardashian follows in Kylie Jenner’s footsteps and comes clean about her plastic surgery, we’re asking just how much we should applaud the KarJenners for their new transparency. And Ellie reports back from Glastonbury! We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audiobooks using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/ reviews: The Affair with Anna Williamson Story Time with Kayla Jade Waterfront, Netflix The Shark Whisperer, Netflix The Shallows 47 Metres Down House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J Maas (Crescent City series) Deep Cover, Amazon Prime The Dark Poetry of the Bezos Wedding, Atlantic Vogue's Confidently Oblivious Lauren Sánchez Cover Story, Back Row, Substack Khloé Kardashian Is Talking About Her Plastic Surgery Too, The Cut . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 26, 2025 · 1 hr 52 min
NOUGHTIES IT GIRLS: feuds, falls and the reign of the tabloids
We’re on hols this week, hunnies, but ofc we weren’t going to leave you without an ep! So, we’ve dug into the archives and stitched together one of our very first specials: a *very* juicy two-parter on the iconic Noughties ‘It Girls’ Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Richie, which feels extremely relevant right now thanks to the publication of the amazing new book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves. In this deep-dive, we cover everything from the toxic rise of tabloid culture and the paparazzi, to how this era ended up shaping celebrity and pop culture as we recognise it today. We know most of you haven’t heard this one yet and so we want to rectify that, bc we’re very proud of it! We hope you enjoy and we’ll be back to usual business next week! We would love to hear your thoughts, pop culture recs and future special ideas so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 25, 2025 · 51 min
WEDDINGS: pop culture, tradition and marital myths
It’s wedding szn hunnies so we get into the bonkers and wonderful world of weddings, from the most absurd and insufferable wedding tropes to our favourite wedding pop culture, including two excellent book recs. Plus, a few top tips from recent bride Kathleen! We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things weddings or ideas for future bonus eps, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x Recs/reviews The Fence The Wedding People, Alison Espach You’re Cordially Invited, Amazon Prime The Materialists, in cinemas August The Ballad of Wallis Island Father of the Bride Bridesmaids The Bachelorette An Attempt to Make Sense of the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial-Complex Canon, Vulture Four Weddings and Funeral Shotgun Wedding Ticket to Paradise Crazy Rich Asians The Princess Diaries All Hail the New York Influencer Who Posted TikToks Throughout Her Wedding, The Cut The Happy Couple, Naoise Dolan Dear Dolly, Should we let a pet dog come to our wedding? . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 19, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Cooper and the new age of sexism
The backlash against Sabrina Carpenter’s new album cover supposedly satirising the male gaze has left us grappling with difficult questions, from how much moral responsibility Sabrina owes her young fans to whether this satire serves any greater purpose. Tying in with the release of Laura Bates’s brilliant new book The New Age of Sexism, we debate everything from how messy female ‘empowerment’ has become and what misogyny actually looks like in our terrifying age of AI. On theme, too, is our review of Alex Cooper’s new documentary about her meteoric Call Her Daddy fame: how does her sexual agency compare to Sabrina’s? And on a lighter note we start off with a juicy debrief on Dua Lipa’s new British Vogue cover. Enjoy hunnies! We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Recs/review Dua Lipa, British Vogue Dua Lipa, SkinnyTok and the Labubu doll craze Pop Culture Takes Up Smoking Again, New York Times Why Are People Mad at Sabrina Carpenter Again, The Cut How Sabrina Carpenter Dream-Come-True'd Her Whole Life, Rolling Stone The New Age of Sexism: how the AI Revolution is reinventing misogyny, Laura Bates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Conversation With Lana Del Rey, Pitchfork Girl on Girl, Sophie Gilbert Call Her Alex, Disney+ There's more to Alex Cooper than the 'Call Her Daddy' documentary suggests, Washington Post . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 12, 2025 · 57 min
Bonnie Blue’s petting zoo, Billie Eilish and Blake Lively’s big win
It’s a big week for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with the judge dismissing Baldoni’s $400m countersuit against Lively and his $200m defamation suit against the New York Times. Who is now winning and where does that leave the trial in March? We bring you up to speed with all the latest developments, as well as news of another legal drama: nine women have accused Jared Leto of sexual impropriety. Now his ‘Mars Island cult’ feels very disturbing indeed. First up, though, we’re talking babies: from Nara Smith’s fourth pregnancy announcement to Jamie Laing’s podcast rebrand. Plus, a primer on Billie Eilish’s new boyfriend, as well as a much overdue debrief on Maya Jama’s adorable hard launch with Ruben Dias. And is the fallout from Bonnie Blue's now cancelled sex stunt valid? Finally we review BBC’s What It Feels Like for a Girl, which might just be the best show of 2025! Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Reviews/ recs: Chicken tarragon lasagne, So Good by Emily English Pearl, Netflix Sinners, AppleTV Newlyparents podcast What It Feels Like For a Girl, BBC iPlayer 'All of us felt like we had touched gold': What It Feels Like for a Girl, the BBC’s electric coming-of-age tale, Guardian Jake Dunn Is Fiercely Protective of BBC Trans Drama ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’, Hollywood Reporter What It Feels Like for a Girl star Ellis Howard on frank sex scenes, that toilet brush moment, and the emotional finale, British GQ Paris Lees and What It Feels Like For An Icon, Polyester Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400m defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, BBC How Many Times Will Blake Lively Have to Beat Justin Baldoni in Court for It to Matter?, Slate . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 11, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
FRIENDSHIP BREAKUPS: ghostings, exes and group politics
A friendship ‘breakup’ is an experience more than 80% of women have been through and it can be even more gut-wrenching than ending a romantic relationship. Yet in our society that prioritises romantic over platonic love, there’s no social script for dealing with it. We dive into a topic that still feels like a taboo despite its clear universality, with the help of many of your deeply honest and moving DMs, which proved to us just how devastating – and common – friendship break-ups can be. We cover everything from ghostings and estrangement to boundaries and therapy-speak, as well as how politics, exes and different life stages can lead to rifts and resentment. Hopefully, if you’ve been through something similar, then this ep will help you feel less alone! We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things friendship, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x Recs Bad Friend, Michelle Elman Bride Wars We Need to Talk about Our Ex Best Friends, Elle Bad Friend, Tiffany Watt Smith The Lingering Wounds of Friendship Breakups, Elle The White Lotus S3 E8, HBO Will Our Friendship Survive Your Baby, New York Magazine . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 5, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Sydney Sweeney’s bathwater, the ‘literary man’ and a Beckham feud update
On today’s show: BookTok is engulfed in controversy after an Australian rugby star was seemingly handed a book deal after just a month of posting on BookTok and with no former writing experience or manuscript to his name. We discuss the accusations of white male privilege, the inner workings of influencer publishing and whether we need more ‘literary men’ in our age of incel culture. Plus, is Sydney Sweeney selling droplets of her used bath water to male fans genius marketing or normalising objectification? And, following the news of Bella and Gigi Hadid’s secret sister, how wise is genealogical testing? Finally our usual film and TV recs (including a very honest And Just Like That review), and a highly revealing update on the Beckham feud. Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/reviews Sydney Sweeney, Dr Squatch ad The Elysian, Elle Griffin, Substack The disappearance of literary men should worry everyone, New York Times Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver The Principle of Moments, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson Evenings and Weekends, Oisín McKenna (audiobook on BookBeat) The Gift, BBC Radio 4 podcast You’ve found a lost relative. Now what? Vox The Better Sister, Prime Video Long Bright River, c4 Overcompensating, Netflix And Just Like That, NOWTV The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Disney + Mormon wives on swinging scandals, friendship fallouts and religious backlash, BBC . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 29, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa, Sirens and the Hollywood facelift
Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa’s *very* hard launch and rumours of multiple joint TV projects has got us wondering: is this a rare example of a PR relationship? We dive in! Plus, an explainer of TikTok’s Odd Muse drama: can founders get called out without it being bullying? Also, a little look at Kris Jenner’s face lift and how one surgeon seems to be becoming the most popular man in Hollywood. And of course we had to debrief on the Netflix show starring Julianne Moore and Meghann Fahy that everyone is talking about: Sirens. Why are we so obsessed with eat the rich satire and gorgeous cult leaders? Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0% APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/ reviews Pure flourish sleep tape My brain finally broke, New Yorker How to fix your focus and stop procrastinating, Johann Hari Aimee Smale on Working Hard, Hardy Working podcast Nine Perfect Strangers, Prime Video Sirens, Netflix Maid, Netflix Netflix’s Sirens will leave you with questions, Hollywood Reporter ‘Sirens’ Creator on the Power of Lilly Pulitzer, Michaela’s Bird Obsession and Turning Greek Myth Into New England Nightmare, Variety It must be nice to be a West Village girl, The Cut . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 28, 2025 · 51 min
ONLYFANS: Bonnie Blue, sex stunts and the rise of the porn 'influencer'
From Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips to Kayla Jade and Ari Kytsya, OnlyFans influencers are everywhere. In this bonus ep, we’re deep-diving into the porn star meets social media matrix. How did OnlyFans become such a cultural and economic powerhouse? And who are ‘bops’ and ‘mattress actresses’ taking over TikTok? This special covers it all: sex stunts, stigma, empowerment, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, the celebs making millions on OF, explainers on our fave creators and the problem with sex extremism. We really hope you love this bonus special! We would love to hear your thoughts on all things OnlyFans, so DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠. Plus follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! And please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x Recs ‘We’re not influencers’: Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips tell us why anger over their sex stunts is ‘misdirected’, Brit Dawson for Cosmo Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Everyone's a sellout now, Vox Kayla Jade on TikTok, @blueeyedkaylajade Story time with Kayla Jade podcast Ari Kytsya on TikTok @notburnttoasthehe I Slept With 100 Men in One Day | Documentary by Josh Pieters Keily Blair, OnlyFans: ‘We are an incredible UK tech success story’, Financial Times OnlyFans and the Myth of Owning Your Own Hustle, Vanity Fair I’m an Ex Playboy model. My son 12 was banned from a sports team because of my job. 7 top OnlyFans creators on how it changed their lives, GQ Why are we shaming Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips, but not the masked men queuing up to have sex with them? Glamour Virgin Island, Channel 4 From Bonnie Blue To Boysober: Why Sex Extremism Is Doing No One Any Good, Elle . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 22, 2025 · 51 min
The Diddy trial, Jameela Jamil and why your phone is making you unsexy
The Diddy trial has been dominating the pop culture convo this week and so on today’s show we debrief, from the horrendous victim-blaming of Cassie Ventura to her husband’s beautifully powerful response. First though, we’re getting into a fascinating piece about how our phones are killing our ability to feel sexy, Bella Hadid’s Vogue interview and Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s new film about early parenthood. Also: controversial comments abound as Jameela Jamil gets heat for her views on how women need to step up in the fight against toxic masculinity and Lorde has been interviewed about coming off the Pill. Is this really Right-wing propaganda? We discuss! Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 66.0%APR var. T&Cs apply. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk Reviews/recs Breath, James Nestor Forever, Netflix Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Your phone is why you don't feel sexy, Catherine Shannon Substack The DumbPhone Boom is Real, New Yorker Bella Hadid On Self-Love, Navigating Megastardom And Meeting Her Cowboy, British Vogue Was Diddy a 'mastermind'? How ex Cassie's testimony builds the sex trafficking case against him, BBC Jameela Jamil, Wrong Turns podcast Sommer Tothill, TikTok Jameela Jamil on Mamma Mia’s No Filter podcast Lorde: 'I'm an Intense Bitch', Rolling Stone Lorde is not a MAGA tradwife for going off birth control, Dazed Murderbot, Apple TV . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 15, 2025 · 1 hr
Dua Lipa, #SkinnyTok and the labubu doll craze
Dua Lipa has been hailed as ‘the best literary interviewer’ for her forensically researched Service95 author chats and so ofc we had to weigh in, huns, from the rise of celebrity book clubs (and even book stylists) to why people are so reticent to acknowledge a beautiful woman’s intelligence. Also this week: celebrity couples from Kylie and Timothée to Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, the labubu doll craze and the ‘kidultification’ of culture, plus a deepdive into the disturbing world of #SkinnyTok. Is this the end of body positivity or just recycled fatphobia, emboldened by the Ozempic era? Finally, a few TV recs, including our review of Molly Mae: Behind It All part two. Enjoy and have a fab weekend! Please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuupod too! 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 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for free for 60 days (w 40 hrs of listening) and stream millions of audio using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk Recs/ reviews Is Dua Lipa the best literary interviewer? The Guardian Dua Lipa versus the literary landscape, YouTube Still Born, Guadalupe Nettel Why countless guys are obsessed with those weird and wild Labubu dolls, GQ The £13 cuddly toys now being sold for thousands thanks to a celebrity craze, Telegraph Flow, in cinemas and to rent on YouTube Who’s Afraid of #SkinnyTok? Airmail SkinnyTok Isn’t A Trend — It’s The Latest Iteration of Diet Culture & Fatphobia, Refinery29 From fashion to the food industry: 11 ways that weight-loss drugs have changed the world, Guardian Molly Mae: Behind It All pt II, Amazon Prime I thought Molly-Mae Hague was self-absorbed – her documentary changed my mind, Metro Malpractice, ITV . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 14, 2025 · 50 min
AMBITION: does anyone enjoy their job anymore?
Ambition feels very complicated in 2025. On the one hand, hustle culture, 5am wake-ups and 'productivity bros' dominate our social media feeds, yet post-pandemic it seems like many have redefined what constitutes ‘success’ through finding purpose, setting boundaries or simply ‘quiet quitting’. So what does ‘making it’ even mean anymore? In this special bonus ep, we’re unpacking everything from side hustles, the girlboss era and softgirl trends to money anxiety, career disillusionment and Emma Grede’s controversial Diary of a CEO interview. Enjoy hunnies and let us know if there’s a special topic you’d love for us to tackle! DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going x⁠ Recs/ reviews: What We Lose When We're Priced Out of Our Hobbies, Atlantic Side hustles, Zoom waves and the Great Casualisation: how Covid shaped new ways to work, FT I burned out chasing money and hustle culture's standards. Now, I'm taking a 'no shame' approach to my business, Business Insider Emma Grede on Diary of a CEO Some side hustle ideas to help you with all that money anxiety, The Cut The rise of the side hustle, Guardian Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman If Books Could Kill podcast on Lean In Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 8, 2025 · 55 min
The Beckham family fallout, Met Gala drama and Dolly Alderton on friends
The Beckham family feud is making headlines again, huns, after Brooklyn missed David’s starry 50th bash – the latest in a long line of similar ‘snubbed’ events. He didn’t even post about his dad’s big day, so might this genuinely be more than tabloid rumour? Obvs we’re debriefing on the Met Gala too, from Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal to the apparent fall out between Anna Wintour and Naomi Campbell. Also this week: Dolly Alderton’s new quotes on friendship, Tina Fey’s ‘mid-life’ comedy The Four Seasons and our review of the first ep of the final series of The Handmaid’s Tale. Enjoy and please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify – it really does help keep us going! We love hearing from you, 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. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for 60 days for free and stream millions of audio and e-books using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Get better skin and sleep with sisterly's amazing Elevator powder multivit sachet and use our code STRAIGHTUP for 15% off at sisterlylab.co.uk Recs: Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth Naomi Campbell’s charity ended in disgrace. She wants to talk about why, Financial Times Sally Rooney, Naomi Campbell and Nobody Wants This, Straight Up ep Oct 24 The Four Seasons, Netflix The Handmaid’s Tale, Amazon Prime/ C4 As the curtain falls on Gilead, is The Handmaid’s Tale too close to the bone? The Independent The MaddAddam Trilogy, Margaret Atwood Make Christianity cool again: Why Gen Z is flocking to church, The Independent . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 1, 2025 · 48 min
Sinners, Louis Theroux’s new doc and the latest Blake Lively ‘feud’
Celebrity Traitors, five-star sexy horror Sinners and Penn Badgley’s You finale are all on the agenda this week, huns, as well as Louis Theroux’s return to top form with new doc The Settlers. Is this his most important piece of work yet? We’re also getting stuck into the latest Blake Lively updates, from her ‘feud’ with A Simple Favour 2 costar Anna Kendrick, to the recent Baldoni-related developments. And why are celebs like Blake and Ryan all buying into football teams atm? Plus, Chappel Roan ‘pushing’ her assistant, the problem with ‘POVS’ and Kaitlyn Dever’s heart-wrenching The Last of Us interview. Enjoy and please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! We love hearing from you, 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. Get 20% off the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives, London Nootropics, using our code straightup at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠londonnootropics.com⁠⁠⁠ Try BookBeat for 60 days for free and stream millions of audio and e-books using our code straightup at bookbeat.com Recs/ reviews: ‘I was sexualised, patronised and ridiculed’: how Charlotte Church survived the tabloids to become an earth mother, Guardian Love Life, BBC iPlayer Blake Lively Is on the 2025 TIME100 List, Time Magazine You S5, Netflix Podcrushed ep with Penn Badgley and Domino Badgley- Kirke How ‘You’ Star Penn Badgley Set Out to Deconstruct His Romantic Icon, Hollywood Reporter A Court of Mist and Fury, Sarah J. Maas Sinners, in cinemas now Sinners Is Bold, Ambitious, and Just Misses Greatness, Vulture Louis Theroux: The Settlers, BBC iPlayer The Settlers review – this vital film forces Louis Theroux to do something he’s never done before Louis Theroux On Returning To The West Bank After 15 Years For BBC Doc ‘The Settlers’ & Being “Perpetrator Focused, Deadline It Broke Her, Too: Kaitlyn Dever on The Last of Us, Vulture . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 30, 2025 · 48 min
HENS: the most divisive hallmark of female friendship?
Hen szn is here hunnies and so as promised here is our special deepdive! With the help of your excellent DMs, we assess the good and bad of this increasingly divisive topic: from money anxieties and the growing consumerism of the hen-do ‘aesthetic’ to how this tradition can provide a much-needed opportunity to celebrate and make time for those you love. Plus, the single gal perspective, hen ‘etiquette’, pop culture horror stories,, and whether hens are ultimately progressive or regressive for women. If you enjoyed this please do leave us review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify - it really does help keep us going! We absolutely LOVE hearing recommendations for Thursday topics or bonus eps too, so please do DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ Recs All the Behind-the-Scenes Debauchery From Writer Tish Weinstock’s Bachelorette, Cosmo Bring back tacky hen do’s, the I paper Why I wanted a one-night only hen-do, The Times Why I’m no longer going on hen weekends, New Statesman From penis straws to puppy yoga: Inside the ‘zen do’ revolution, Independent Henpocalypse!, BBC iPlayer Bachelorette, Prime Video Bridesmaids, Prime Video Everything I know about love, Dolly Alderton Stag and hen parties swap binges for good clean fun, Times Are You the Only One Who’s Broke? Or Is It ‘Money Dysmorphia’? NY Times Over and out: why hens, stags and their parties should be put out to grass, Guardian Hens with Heart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 24, 2025 · 44 min
The Last of Us, ACOTAR and touchy-feely friendships
Are Big Brother’s Jojo Siwa and Chris Hughes just friends or something more? We discuss what is ‘normal’ within platonic relationships and whether Chris is really who he appears to be on screen. In other celeb news: a debrief on the Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas rumours, and why Liz Hurley’s new romance is rather concerning. As promised hunnies Kath reports back on her first foray into ACOTAR and how it compares to Fourth Wing, and we have some excellent recs across theatre and TV, including Disney’s The Stolen Girl and whether sleepovers should have parents worried. And last but not least… The Last of Us! We’ve kept our review to the first episode only to avoid spoiling ep two’s shocking (gahhhh!!) twist. See ya next time! 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 A Court Of Thorns And Roses, Sarah J. Maas Powerless by Lauren Roberts I Who Have Never Known Men, Jaqueline Harpman Retrograde, Apollo Theatre London The Stolen Girl, Disney + The Stolen Girl is here to make us think twice about sleepovers, Stylist Your Friends & Neighbours, Apple TV Jon Hamm Runs Deep, L’Officiel The Last of Us, Sky/ HBO Moya McLothian Lean, The Chaff Substack Bel Priestley, YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.