Taboo on the Bus

Whatzaraloves

Sit down with Zara McIntosh to chat taboo topics from the front seat of the bus. Taking an unfiltered stance on pop-culture, society, culture, and queer issues, she candidly shares her opinion as passengers around her go about their every-day life, overhearing snippets of these unspoken taboos.

The viral TikTok series has launched on Spotify after demand for lengthier episodes, so you can tune in to taboos on your next bus journey.

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July 24 · 39 min
Meta glasses, surveillance fashion, and performing life for an audience
[Epsiode starts at: 11:18] Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice? Sit down with me today to discuss how these glasses pose threat particularly to women, children, and minority groups, and how smart yet harmful it is of Meta to target women with this launch. I’ll also give my thoughts on how I think the normalisation of these glasses in public will alter everyone’s behaviour from a lense of ‘performing for an audience’. Think of the way in which people don’t dance in the club anymore because of the fear of being recorded, now apply that to stepping outside. Let me know what your thoughts are on Meta glasses going mainstream? Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email: charlie@84world.com Reading list of articles mentioned: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/21/meta-smartglasses-child-filmed-ai-risk-technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87wqz0q9o https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/02/ai-chatbot-training-human-toll-content-moderator-meta-openai https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo
July 24 · 2 min
Meta glasses bus taboo
[Mini Bus Version - Full podcast episode also live] Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice? Sit down with me today to discuss how these glasses pose threat particularly to women, children, and minority groups, and how smart yet harmful it is of Meta to target women with this launch. I’ll also give my thoughts on how I think the normalisation of these glasses in public will alter everyone’s behaviour from a lense of ‘performing for an audience’. Think of the way in which people don’t dance in the club anymore because of the fear of being recorded, now apply that to stepping outside. Let me know what your thoughts are on Meta glasses going mainstream? Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Podcast – Taboo on the Bus Email: charlie@84world.com Reading list of articles mentioned: ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/21/meta-smartglasses-child-filmed-ai-risk-technology⁠ ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87wqz0q9o⁠ ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/02/ai-chatbot-training-human-toll-content-moderator-meta-openai⁠ ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo⁠
June 21 · 28 min
What the ‘dot cake’ trend says about gen-z and luxury goods – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate?
Sit down with me OFF the bus to dissect our consumption habits when it comes to viral food trends and ‘little treats’. In a backdrop of economic insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, generation Z are not purchasing as many luxury material goods. In turn, we are watching the status of foods like the ‘dot cake’ take the place of ‘luxury’ as for many, it is the highest point of access, desire, and justification. Let’s dissect it together and take a look at what this means for gen-z. Instagram: Whatzaraloves Tiktok: whatzaraloves6 Email: charlie@84world.com award vote (at the bottom): https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/vote/ Reading list / references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciapark/2024/07/17/designer-fashion-houses-are-struggling-in-the-first-half-of-2024-heres-why/ https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/toleho/article/1610640 https://www.forbes.com/sites/claraludmir/2024/04/25/why-fashion-retailers-are-opening-branded-cafs-and-restaurants/ https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20250603-housing-affordability-crisis-kyla-scanlon-katty-kay-interview https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmyouth/cost-living-crisis-young-people/report.html https://www.vogue.com/article/how-should-brands-navigate-gen-z-economic-nihilism https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michalis-Skordoulis/publication/381656145_Perceptions_of_environmental_sustainability_and_luxury_influences_on_organic_food_buying_behavior_among_Millennials_and_Generation_Z_in_Greece/links/66795fcc1dec0c3c6f9fbb94/Perceptions-of-environmental-sustainability-and-luxury-influences-on-organic-food-buying-behavior-among-Millennials-and-Generation-Z-in-Greece.pdf
June 21 · 3 min
Let's talk about the 'dot cake' – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate? [Mini bus version]
Full deep-dive episode OFF the bus is also live! Sit with me on the bus to dissect our consumption habits when it comes to viral food trends and ‘little treats’. In a backdrop of economic insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, generation Z are not purchasing as many luxury material goods. In turn, we are watching the status of foods like the ‘dot cake’ take the place of ‘luxury’ as for many, it is the highest point of access, desire, and justification. Let’s dissect it together and take a look at what this means for gen-z. Instagram: Whatzaraloves Tiktok: whatzaraloves6 Email: charlie@84world.com Reading list / references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciapark/2024/07/17/designer-fashion-houses-are-struggling-in-the-first-half-of-2024-heres-why/ https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/toleho/article/1610640 https://www.forbes.com/sites/claraludmir/2024/04/25/why-fashion-retailers-are-opening-branded-cafs-and-restaurants/ https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20250603-housing-affordability-crisis-kyla-scanlon-katty-kay-interview https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmyouth/cost-living-crisis-young-people/report.html https://www.vogue.com/article/how-should-brands-navigate-gen-z-economic-nihilism https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michalis-Skordoulis/publication/381656145_Perceptions_of_environmental_sustainability_and_luxury_influences_on_organic_food_buying_behavior_among_Millennials_and_Generation_Z_in_Greece/links/66795fcc1dec0c3c6f9fbb94/Perceptions-of-environmental-sustainability-and-luxury-influences-on-organic-food-buying-behavior-among-Millennials-and-Generation-Z-in-Greece.pdf
April 27 · 2 min
Social media is a breeding ground for classism [mini bus version]
[full deep-dive long episode is live] Social media is a breeding ground for poor-shaming working-class mockery, and I’ve been collecting evidence for the past 4 months to prove that. What we are seeing is the re-invention of the harmful working-class stereotypes present in early 2000s/10s media regurgitated in our algorithms right now. We can look at how deeply intertwined identity and consumption habits to begin understanding why social media creates a hierarchy of lifestyles that shames those as the bottom and analyse the key theme of ‘distinction’ driving a lot of the hate and ‘humour’. I’ve pulled examples from my ongoing to prove just how social media fuels and reinvents the mockery of the working class. Email: charlie@84world.com Insta – whatzaraloves TikTok – whatzaraloves6 YouTube: Whatzaraloves Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Kyey references: Books: Chavs by Owen Jones Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.5153/sro.1814 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01634437231185966 https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/output/3176889 Articles: https://www.vice.com/en/article/chav-caricature-comeback-tiktok-2020/ https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2021/09/02/how-the-medias-selective-idealisation-of-the-working-class-perpetuates-inequality/ https://consequence.net/2025/12/ricky-gervais-working-classes-mock-mortality/
April 26 · 35 min
Social Media is Classist - why people favour the wealthy and shame the poor online
Social media is a breeding ground for poor-shaming working-class mockery, and I’ve been collecting evidence for the past 4 months to prove that. What we are seeing is the re-invention of the harmful working-class stereotypes present in early 2000s/10s media regurgitated in our algorithms right now. We can look at how deeply intertwined identity and consumption habits to begin understanding why social media creates a hierarchy of lifestyles that shames those as the bottom and analyse the key theme of ‘distinction’ driving a lot of the hate and ‘humour’. I’ve pulled examples from my ongoing to prove just how social media fuels and reinvents the mockery of the working class. Email: charlie@84world.com Insta – whatzaraloves TikTok – whatzaraloves6 YouTube: Whatzaraloves Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Kyey references: Books: Chavs by Owen Jones Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.5153/sro.1814 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01634437231185966 https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/output/3176889 Articles: https://www.vice.com/en/article/chav-caricature-comeback-tiktok-2020/ https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2021/09/02/how-the-medias-selective-idealisation-of-the-working-class-perpetuates-inequality/ https://consequence.net/2025/12/ricky-gervais-working-classes-mock-mortality/
April 2 · 53 min
The girls are emotionless - discussing the politics of numbness and stoic femininity [Taboo OFF the bus]
Rachel Sennott preaching “numb is in”, " Botox is rising, the girls are emotionless, and lobotomy chic is looming in the air. Sit down with me to dissect what it means for stoicism, deadpan, and numbness to become intertwined in our perceptions of beauty and femininity. Let’s discuss whether this can be viewed as a potential clapback to the patriarchal expectations of women’s behaviour, or in fact just caging us further. Sit down with me to analyse the politics of numbness, the privilege of emotional suppression, and the tool of numbness.
April 2 · 3 min
The Politics of Numbness and Femininity [Taboo ON the Bus]
[Full OFF the bus podcast version is also live for a longer deepdive] Rachel Sennott preaching “numb is in”, botox is rising, the girls are emotionless, and lobotomy chic is looming in the air. Sit down with me to disect what it means for stoicism, deadpan, and numbness to become intertwined in our perceptions of beauty and feminity. Let’s discuss whether this can be viewed as a potential clapback to the patriarchal expectations of women’s behvaior, or in fact just caging us further. Sit down with me to analyse the politics of numbness, the privellage of emotional suppression, and the tool of numbness. email: charlie@84world.com instagram- whatzaralovestiktok - whatzaraloves6podcast - Taboo on the Bus
March 1 · 39 min
Trust me, you don't want to become reliant on AI - discussing the domestication of humans by artifical intelligence - Taboo OFF the bus
Sit down with me today to discuss the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in comparison to that of humans and pets. Is it making our lives easier to become reliant on this technology, or are we domesticating ourselves and becoming sub-serviant to AI?? Shout out to Gresham College lectures for inspiring this episode. Instagram - whatzaraloves Tiktok - whatzaraloves Email: whatzaraloves@gmail.com Links and media references: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ai-pet https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/19/dont-ask-what-ai-can-do-for-us-ask-what-it-is-doing-to-us-are-chatgpt-and-co-harming-human-intelligence https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2025/10/02/construction-and-consequences-the-human-impacts-of-artificial-intelligence-data-centers/
March 1 · 3 min
Are we becoming domesticated by AI? - Taboo on the Bus
MINI bus version - full version off the bus is also live. Sit down with me today to discuss the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in comparison to that of humans and pets. Is it making our lives easier to become reliant on this technology, or are we domesticating ourselves and becoming sub-serviant to AI??Shout out to Gresham College lectures for inspiring this episode. Instagram - whatzaralovesTiktok - whatzaralovesEmail: whatzaraloves@gmail.com
S2 · E1
January 16 · 40 min
Physical media and the fate of 'micro-trends' (everyone is going 'analog') - Taboo OFF the Bus
Physical media will not replace your phone (is ‘analog’ the next internet micro-trend…) Taboo OFF the Bus is back! Woo! `Sit down with me today to discuss the rapid rise of the 'analog' trend and return to physical media. We're watching rising consumption of DVDs, CD's, resorts back to old generation Apple IPods and IPhones, and all it says is that we are fed up with the current state of technology, AI, and brain-rot content. But will this rising consumption lead to overconsumption? Will physical media fall to the same 'micro-trend' fate of Labubu's, or Stanely cups - hyped, over-consumed, then discarded on to the next trend? Let's discuss the fate of physical media, and where it I think this is heading... Instagram - whatzaraloves Tiktok - whatzaraloves Email: whatzaraloves@gmail.com
January 16 · 3 min
The trend of 'physical media' and getting offline [Taboo ON the Bus]
Sit down on the bus with me for the mini digest of physical media, 'analog', and going offline. (Long episode OFF the bus will be live today) We're watching rising consumption of DVDs, CD's, resorts back to old generation Apple IPods and IPhones, and all it says is that we are fed up with the current state of technology, AI, and brain-rot content. But will this rising consumption lead to overconsumption? Will physical media fall to the same 'micro-trend' fate of Labubu's, or Stanely cups - hyped, over-consumed, then discarded on to the next trend? Let's discuss the fate of physical media, and where it I think this is heading... Instagram - whatzaraloves Tiktok - whatzaraloves Email: whatzaraloves@gmail.com
Sep 23, 2025 · 39 min
Why do we hate ageing women? Let’s talk “retired baddies”, the anti-ageing industry and how “old” became an insult
I cannot escape the deep, seething hatred and humour online surrounding women ‘looking old’. Girls feel pretty and post online only to be attacked for ageing and appearing older than they are. It is an inescapable trap that we all fall to as women, yet we are continuing to tear down each other instead of challenging these expectations within wider society and from the very capitalistic anti-ageing industry. Let’s sit down today to discuss why we are so scared of ageing as women, how society treats ageing women, the paradox of ‘natural’ Botox, and unpicking the anti-ageing industry. I really loved dissecting this topic, it feels like a very fitting follow up to the episode I previously did discussing whether we can view cosmetic procedures and Botox from a feminist lense. Email – ⁠⁠whatzaraloves@gmail.com⁠⁠ Reading list/mentions: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a38813523/baby-botox/Facing Age: Women Growing Older in Anti-Aging Culture - By Laura Hurd Clarke Holstein, M. B. (2001). A feminist perspective on anti-aging medicine. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 25(4), 38-43. https://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/treatment/serums/c-firma-fresh-day-serum-MUK200031988.html
Sep 23, 2025 · 3 min
Why do we hate ageing women? "retired baddies" and the insult of "old" - mini bus version
Join me on the bus for the mini-deep-dive version of this week's topic. Full 40 min version is live too! I cannot escape the deep, seething hatred and humour online surrounding women ‘looking old’. Girls feel pretty and post online only to be attacked for ageing and appearing older than they are. It is an inescapable trap that we all fall to as women, yet we are continuing to tear down each other instead of challenging these expectations within wider society and from the very capitalistic anti-ageing industry. Let’s sit down today to discuss why we are so scared of ageing as women, how society treats ageing women, the paradox of ‘natural’ botox, and unpicking the anti-ageing industry. I really loved dissecting this topic, it feels like a very fitting follow up to the episode I previously did discussing whether we can view cosmetic procedures and Botox from a feminist lense. Reading list/mentions:https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a38813523/baby-botox/Facing Age: Women Growing Older in Anti-Aging Culture - By Laura Hurd ClarkeHolstein, M. B. (2001). A feminist perspective on anti-aging medicine. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 25(4), 38-43.https://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/treatment/serums/c-firma-fresh-day-serum-MUK200031988.html
Sep 12, 2025 · 37 min
My boyfriend is AI - dissecting the ethics of relationships with chatbots (is ChatGPT the new hinge?)
A reddit forum titled: ‘My Boyfriend is AI’ recently gathered a lot of attention, leading me down the rabbit hole of relationships with humanised chatbots. Millions are forging intimate, emotional connections and relationships with artificially intelligent chatbots, creating boyfriends, girlfriends, best-friends, deceased replicas, and more, and today I sat down to analyse it. Is it ethical to build apps and systems that sell relationships to potentially vulnerable or lonely users? Users who will never own that connection, and rest solely upon tech companies not stripping that away now… We’re fashioning towards a society where the elderly will cure loneliness with chatbot partners, and women are ditching Hinge and failed talking stages for the chatbot man of their dreams. Let’s deep dive this from both and ethical and moral perspective, considering the risks, the harms, and the alternatives to artificial connections. Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-171924338 Instagram: Whatzaraloves Tiktok: Whatzaraloves6 Podcast: Taboo on the Bus Email: collective@bricksmagazine.co.uk Reading/Referance List: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-023-00348-8 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/15/she-helps-cheer-me-up-the-people-forming-relationships-with-ai-chatbots https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/30/replika-ai-chatbot-update/ https://www.npr.org/2024/08/27/nx-s1-5073962/exploring-concerns-around-users-building-emotional-dependence-on-ai-chatbots https://jamesmuldoon.org https://www.reddit.com/r/MyBoyfriendIsAI/
Sep 12, 2025 · 4 min
My boyfriend is AI - dissecting the ethics of relationships with chatbots [Mini bus version]
Join me on the bus for a mini version of this episode as we dissect the ethics and harms of forging relationships with artificially intelligent chatbots. Longer episode is also live for a fuller, broader deep dive. A reddit forum titled: ‘My Boyfriend is AI’ recently gathered a lot of attention, leading me down the rabbit hole of relationships with humanised chatbots. Millions are forging intimate, emotional connections and relationships with artificially intelligent chatbots, creating boyfriends, girlfriends, best-friends, deceased replicas, and more, and today I sat down to analyse it. Is it ethical to build apps and systems that sell relationships to potentially vulnerable or lonely users? Users who will never own that connection, and rest solely upon tech companies not stripping that away now… We’re fashioning towards a society where the elderly will cure loneliness with chatbot partners, and women are ditching Hinge and failed talking stages for the chatbot man of their dreams. Let’s deep dive this from both and ethical and moral perspective, considering the risks, the harms, and the alternatives to artificial connections. Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-171924338 Instagram: WhatzaralovesTiktok: Whatzaraloves6Podcast: Taboo on the BusEmail: ⁠collective@bricksmagazine.co.uk⁠Reading/Referance List:⁠https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-023-00348-8⁠⁠https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/15/she-helps-cheer-me-up-the-people-forming-relationships-with-ai-chatbots⁠https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/30/replika-ai-chatbot-update/https://www.npr.org/2024/08/27/nx-s1-5073962/exploring-concerns-around-users-building-emotional-dependence-on-ai-chatbotshttps://jamesmuldoon.orghttps://www.reddit.com/r/MyBoyfriendIsAI/
Jul 9, 2025 · 44 min
You are what you can afford: the privilege of a healthy diet, and the broken UK food system
Consider this an expansion to one of my recent episodes: Food as a Status Symbol, where I discussed how food is increasingly becoming a luxury item as it becomes more inaccessible. Today I HEAVILY deep dive the broken UK food system, discussing how healthy eating and foods remain a privilege as opposed to a right amid our current climate. Join in for a discussion about the barriers to healthy foods, food poverty, the appeal of ultra-processed foods, and what the government is trying to do to improve the UK’s diet. Thank you so much for listening and creating space for this important discussion. Unless something upstream is done to tackle access to healthy, nutritious food then we will see widening health and nutrition gaps between those who can and can’t afford these items. Some notable references from this episode are: - Food Fight by Stuart Gillespie - Source quoting Wan et al., (2014) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615300629 - Broken Plate 2025 https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2025 - https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/food-insecurity-tracking#tabs/Round-16 - The Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/30/obesity-crisis-uk-healthy-food-affordable-government-prices?utm_source=chatgpt.com Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Taboo on the bus Email – ⁠whatzaraloves@gmail.com⁠
Jul 9, 2025 · 4 min
You are what you can afford: the privilege of a healthy diet [mini bus version]
Full deep-dive episode is also live, join me on the bus for a mini discussion. here. Consider this an expansion to one of my recent episodes: Food as a Status Symbol, where I discussed how food is increasingly becoming a luxury item as it becomes more inaccessible. Today I HEAVILY deep dive the broken UK food system, discussing how healthy eating and foods remain a privilege as opposed to a right amid our current climate. Join in for a discussion about the barriers to healthy foods, food poverty, the appeal of ultra-processed foods, and what the government is trying to do to improve the UK’s diet. Thank you so much for listening and creating space for this important discussion. Unless something upstream is done to tackle access to healthy, nutritious food then we will see widening health and nutrition gaps between those who can and can’t afford these items. Some notable references from this episode are: - Food Fight by Stuart Gillespie - Source quoting Wan et al., (2014) ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953615300629⁠ - Broken Plate 2025 ⁠https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2025⁠ - ⁠https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/food-insecurity-tracking#tabs/Round-16⁠ - The Guardian article: ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/30/obesity-crisis-uk-healthy-food-affordable-government-prices?utm_source=chatgpt.com⁠ Find me online: Instagram – Whatzaraloves TikTok – Whatzaraloves Taboo on the bus Email – ⁠collective@bricksmagazine.co.uk⁠
Jun 18, 2025 · 31 min
Is it queerbaiting or is it just biphobia? On celebrities, pride month, fanfic, and the real definiton of ‘queerbait’
I have seen too many queerbaiting accusations fly around recently, during pride month of ALL months, and wanted to give my input on the topic. So so many times I see ‘queerbait’ accusations against celebrities there is real undertones of biphobia and the reinforcement of labels and boxes. Do these accusations do more harm than good? Are they just pushing the idea that we others an explanation of our sexuality? Sit down with me and let’s discuss queerbaiting, celebrities, and the real origins of the term. Queerbaiting actually stems from a media realm, which I discuss with reference to Sherlock, and the pipeline from queerbait to fan fiction. Thank you always for the support! Instagram: Whatzaraloves Tiktok: whatzaraloves6 email - whatzaraloves@gmail.com
Jun 18, 2025 · 3 min
Queerbait or biphobia? On celebrities, pride month, and the harm of queerbait accusations [mini version]
[Mini bus bus episode, full deep dive is also live] I have seen too many queerbaiting accusations fly around recently, during pride month of ALL months, and wanted to give my input on the topic. So so many times I see ‘queerbait’ accusations against celebrities there is real undertones of biphobia and the reinforcement of labels and boxes. Do these accusations do more harm than good? Are they just pushing the idea that we others an explanation of our sexuality? Sit down with me and let’s discuss queerbaiting, celebrities, and the real origins of the term. Thank you always for the support! Instagram: Whatzaraloves Tiktok: whatzaraloves6 Email: collective@bricksmagazine.co.uk

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