Straight Up

Primetime is being hailed as a career-best role for Robert Pattinson, yet his portrayal of real-life ‘paedophile hunter’ Chris Hansen has proved wildly divisive. Is the film’s satire of controversial noughties reality show To Catch a Predator turning public humiliation into entertainment all over again? Also this week: Halloween costume controversies, The Celebrity Traitors finale, ACOTAR 6 and Jennifer Lawrence’s latest publicity blitz for her new haircare range. Does the world really need another celeb beauty brand? Join the waitlist for our Netflix film screening and live ep recording event here.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastGet your 10% discount code for Swyft Home at swyfthome.com/pages/straightupFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/reviewsFatherland, in cinemas nowPrimetime, in cinemas nowTonight on Dateline, This Man Will Die, EsquireThe Idiot podcast, New York TimesA Court of Splintered Harmony, Sarah J. MaasSarah J. Maas Gave Us Part of a Book, VultureJennifer Lawrence Hopes You Won't Hate Her New Project, The CutJennifer Lawrence: Hunger Games, Hot Takes & Online Hate, Call Her Daddy . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ‘dazzling’ new film about disgraced Silicon Valley entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes has become one of the buzziest and most controversial documentaries ever made. Why is there so much hype, and what does it say about our fascination with famous fraudsters? Also on the show: how the serious allegations against Meghan Markle’s father could change public opinion around her, and our thoughts on the three finalists in the running to become the next James Bond. Plus: a five-star review of Disney’s comedy-mystery Phoney and our verdict on Channel 4’s star-studded series, It Gets Worse, about Gen Z disillusionment.Book your (free!) tickets to our exclusive Netflix film screening and live ep recording here.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastGet your 10% discount code for Swyft Home at swyfthome.com/pages/straightup Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/reviewsPhoney, Disney+It Gets Worse, Channel 4Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex PassWill the public change its mind about Meghan? BBCYou Can See Everything, in UK cinemas Nov 20You Can't See Everything: Release delays are killing movie culture in the UK, GQ‘A cultural moment’: smash hit doc You Can See Everything continues to dazzle America, GuardianElizabeth Holmes is Literally Just a Man, Liz Plank, SubstackThe New Stanford Prison Experiment, Netflix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is back and seemingly more popular than ever, just years after it was dismissed as sexist and outdated. So how did we get here, and why are we suddenly celebrating a version of femininity we thought we’d left behind? Also this week: the newly-announced reboot of Lena Dunham’s Girls and whether it can capture the zeitgeist again, the controversy surrounding Sally Rooney’s book ban, plus reviews of Florence Pugh’s East of Eden adaptation and Ben Affleck’s new Netflix thriller.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/ reviews: East of Eden, NetflixAnimals, NetflixJon Ronson on The Louis Theroux PodcastOffice Romance, Netflix The Sheep Detectives, Amazon PrimeSo, Girls is coming back for 5 fresh eps… Lena Dunham’s substackWho Exactly Is The Victoria’s Secret Show For? Otegha Uwagba for GraziaWhy terrorism laws stopped Sally Rooney selling books in the UK, Today in Focus . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Day’s bestselling novel The Party has been turned into a glossy new TV thriller with Luke Evans, exploring toxic friendships and the dark side of the British upper classes. Plus, a comedian has sparked a furious backlash after calling women in gym shorts “whores” on SNL. Is misogyny being repackaged as edgy comedy? Also on the show: the must-watch new series of prison drama Time starring David Tennant and the questions it raises about our broken criminal justice system, a gripping new investigative podcast about an LA couple who had 21 children via surrogacy, a review of Jeremy Strong’s turn as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning and Nara Smith’s “sexy rebrand”. Get your ticket to our ACOTAR 6 virtual book club via Ticket Tailor here.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/ reviewsHoneybloom jewellery (IG @honeybloomstore)The Journey, New Yorker podcast Time s3, BBC iPlayerCriminal: How Our Prisons Are Failing Us All, Angela Kirwin Sing Sing, Netflix The Party, ITVxElizabeth Day: How I finally got my book The Party on TV, The TimesThe Social Reckoning, in cinemasThe Interview, NYT, Aaron Sorkin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sienna Miller and Dominic West play a celebrity couple at war in Sky’s hyped new divorce drama, so this week we’re getting into some of Hollywood’s messiest breakups – not to mention the stars’ own experiences with relationship scrutiny – from Halle Berry’s current custody battle to how Olivia Wilde and Tom Cruise were both “blindsided” by their exes. Also on the show: The Celebrity Traitors is back and we couldn’t be more thrilled, why contestant Richard E. Grant has our hearts, the Fourth Wing prequel and a review of Daisy Edgar Jones’ Sense and Sensibility. Plus, we reveal all the details of our first ever virtual book club! Get your ticket to our ACOTAR 6 virtual book club here. Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected] / reviews: Sense and Sensibility, in cinemas nowWar, Sky / Now TV‘I’d strip for £100!’ Dominic West and Sienna Miller on nudity, narcissism and their juicy new show War, GuardianThreshing Day, Rebecca YarrosThe Celebrity Traitors, BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miquita Oliver went on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place pod this week, marking the end of a decades-long feud fuelled by the toxic tabloid culture of the early noughties. We debrief on their heart-warming reconciliation and how female rivalry is so often rooted in insecurity. Also on the show: Amelia Dimoldenberg hosted SNL, Taylor Swift has upset fans and critics alike with her latest release Encore (despite cleaning up at the VMAs on Sunday) and Vogue is engulfed in yet another controversy after the company behind Mounjaro sponsored its latest event. Plus: Colin From Accounts season three, Anne Hathaway’s dinosaur movie and a couple of great recs for weekend watching. Enjoy huns! Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/reviewsSNL UK, NOWTVColin from Accounts, iPlayerLast Seen, AppleTVWasteman, NetflixEnd of Oak Street, AppleTVTaylor Swift Is Losing Us, Vulture Taylor Swift’s Shrinking World, SubstackMiquita Oliver on The Happy Place podcast‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event, Guardian I was hurt. It was spiteful: Alexandra Shulman on life after Vogue, The Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Lena Dunham announcing the birth of her baby girl via surrogate in a fashion piece for Vogue, to Ed Sheeran’s PR disaster over Palestine and free speech, this week both celebs have found themselves at the centre of debates they’d tried to side-step. Is commercial surrogacy inherently “anti-feminist”? And can stars really be apolitical in this day and age? Also on the show: we review Sharon Horgan’s brilliant new series YOUTH, all about ageing anxiety and dating in your 50s.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/reviewsYOUTH, HBO MaxSharon Horgan: My sexual shelf life and dating over 50, The TimesLena Dunham Is a Mother! The Sweet, Singular Story of How She Prepared, VogueWhose Babies Are These? A Chinese man hired a Florida surrogate, then didn’t pick up his kids, sparking a custody battle that could upend the industry, The CutWhen Political Reality Collides With Ed Sheeran, New York TimesEd Sheeran wants to stay out of politics. By quitting his tour, his support acts have exposed the hollowness of neutrality, Guardian ‘With Gaza, I Couldn’t Not Speak Out’: Ms. Rachel on Controversy, Fame, and the Future, Rolling Stone . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re revisiting our ep on the dark side of the therapy boom, from unqualified therapists planting false memories in vulnerable people and an obsession with labels to ‘therapy boasting’ on Hinge and the weaponisation of ‘therapy speak’. Plus, what makes a good therapist, and can AI offer an accessible alternative to what has become a luxury? We’ll be back with our usual pop culture debrief next Thursday!Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]:Dangerous Memories podcast My therapist told me Mum had abused me. She hadn’t, TimesThe therapist who planted false memories, Pandora Sykes, SubstackHow the language of therapy took over dating, NYTNobody has a personality anymore, SubstackOpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns users not to trust ChatGPT agent with sensitive or personal data, Decoder Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens, NYTHe Had a Mental Breakdown Talking to ChatGPT. Then Police Killed Him, Rolling StoneWhat does bad therapy actually look like? StylistCan AI therapists really be an alternative to human help? BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mega-influencer Alix Earle’s new reality show has dropped on Netflix and so we’re unpacking it all, from all the details of her feud with Alex Cooper to the family’s bizarre dynamics. Could Earle Meets World be Gen Z’s answer to The Kardashians? Also this week: series two of The Gentlemen starring Maya Jama, as well as the brilliant film spin-off of French comedy Call My Agent! featuring an excellent cameo from George Clooney.   Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/ reviews: Where Are The Kings, Donal Ryan The Gentlemen, NetflixCall My Agent! The Movie, Netflix Earle Meets World, Netflix . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ali G is back after more than 20 years, sparking a backlash over the character’s racist stereotypes with cinemas saying they’ll boycott the new film. And speaking of controversial comebacks, the planned John Galliano exhibition at the Met has been pulled, so this week we’re discussing cancel culture, second chances and when some things are better left in the past. Also on the show: the sky-rocketing of push-up bra sales, breastfeeding in public, Bonnie Blue’s baby announcement and Olivia Wilde’s new film, plus the Lindsay Clancy trial.Join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes plus early access and ad-free listening at patreon.com/straightuppodcastTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at ⁠⁠[email protected]/reviewsGet our book club pick Where Are the Kings hereFRIENDSHIP BREAKUPS: ghosting, group dynamics and comparison culture (our ep) Outcome, AppleTVToy Story 5, SkyTVFurious, Disney PlusI Want Your Sex, in cinemasEyes Down Here: Push-up bras are back with a vengeance, The Cut Not My G, More Brit (ish) Than Ever Substack, Afua HirschThe Metropolitan Museum of Art Is Making a Very Bad Mistake, New York TimesLucky Boy, Tortoise Investigates . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.