Culture Club

Mahjong’s getting appropriated… again, a TikTok posits a new beauty standards theory, and is this male actor getting woman’d?You can watch this episode on YouTube!We're back with some chit chat about life and Emma Chamberlain's new furniture collab with West Elm.The New York Times published a story in March called Playing Games With The Decor. In the article, they profile the women behind Oh My Mahjong, an "elevated" Mahjong set made by... white women. We dissect the internet's reaction.TikTok user and host of Schauer Thoughts, Sarah Schauer, has posited a beauty standards theory about colour and texture that has us rethinking everything.Next, is Timothee Chalamet the first male celeb to be truly woman'd? The specific type of phenomenon (where the public, usually on social media, suddenly and collectively stops liking a female celebrity or influencer) often only happens to women. But is Timothee Chalamet the first man to experience this specific type of cancellation? We reference writer Otegha Uwagba's article for Grazia UK.In Bookmarked, Jas recommends The Drama in a round-about spoiler-free way while Maggie recommends The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

In this special solo episode of Culture Club Chats, Jas sits down with the Australian musician Courtney Barnett, who has just released her fourth album, Creature of Habit. The album is all about embracing change and journeying through self doubt in your thirties via Courtney’s signature poetic lyricism and instantly recognisable indie-rock melodies. In this chat, Courtney and Jas spoke about her process of writing the album in Joshua Tree, how her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit feels after ten years, harnessing her creativity, and getting “rigorously curious” about indecision and anxiety.Listen to Creature of Habit here. You can follow Courtney on Instagram here. Follow Culture Club on Instagram here.

The reboots we didn’t ask for, Hannah Montana’s nostalgic trip, and the world’s first major AI book scandal.Reminder, you can watch this episode on YouTube.In chit chat, Jas opens up about her week, including the media preview of KICStudio in Melbourne. In some popcorn culture news, we discuss the 13 Going On 30 reboot announcement, Strangers by Belle Burden is getting a film adaptation, You, Me & Tuscany is finally giving us an original rom-com, as well as our thoughts on the HBO Harry Potter trailer. Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana aired on Disney+ this week and is breaking records. Nostalgia is still thriving.The largest AI book scandal has rocked the publishing world recently. After allegations of heavy AI use, Hachette has withdrawn Shy Girl by Mia Ballad from shelves in the UK and has not been released in the US. We reference the YouTuber who helped uncover this scandal, Frankie's Shelf, and read from Facing Facts by Zowie Douglas-Kinghorn for Kill Your Darlings.In Bookmarked, Jas recommends video essays by Girl On Film, Rachel Barker, particularly Why Women Love Labyrinth Movies. Maggie is still on her horror reading grind and recommends Root Rot by Saskia Nislow.Thank you for listening! Jas and Mags xoPMDD Information.

Bonus ep time! Given it's a brand new season, we thought we'd sit down for a cosy chat to discuss what we're looking forward to diving into this autumn. Reminder, you can watch this episode on YouTube. Here are the links for our picks! Creativity: Milanote & 642 Things To Write AboutWhat we're reading: Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger Sisters In Yellow by Mieko Kawakami What we're watching: In The Mood For LoveMetropolis SBS MoviesWhat we’re listening to:Oracle Sisters Divinations albumClub Carter RadioMinari SoundtrackWhat recipe we're cooking: Molly Baz’ Mac n GreensZigs Mom bean saladWhat we're wearing:Radical Yes Thelma Shoes

Lorde goes independent, in defence of influencer red carpet hosts, and when does reality TV become too toxic? You can watch this episode on YouTube!Olivia Rodrigo is back with a new era, while Lorde has started her own by breaking away from her record label after over 15 years. Club Chalamet is also breaking away from Timothee Chalamet after that Oscars ceremony. Jas tells Maggie about #MomTok and the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives scandal that has created a new low for reality TV. Influencer and Therapuss podcast host Jake Shane is currently copping scathing criticisms over his red carpet shenanigans at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. We reference this scathing article from Variety, as well as a TikTok of Jake Shane being interviewed by Rolling Stone pre-Oscars. In recommendations, we have two Amazon Prime television picks: Overcompensating and Deadloch Season 2. This episode was sponsored by FEELD. Try the Reflections self-discovery tool here to help you think about your desires, boundaries, and relationship style.

Billie Eilish’s acting debut, Louis Theroux infiltrates the manosphere, and how linked are class and taste? In this week’s episode, we start with Cody Simpson’s recent podcast episode and discuss why all of the It Girls are using acting as a career shift. From Billie Eilish up for a role in The Bell Jar to Emma Chamberlain and Kylie Jenner in The Moment, a whole host of young It Girls are heading to the film medium. We reference Kylie Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover article. Next, Timothee Chalamet has the internet heated after his ballet and opera comments. We touch on the backlash and discuss art and class in the current moment. We reference another Vanity Fair article by Chris Murphy. Louis Theroux has brought the Manosphere to Netflix in his new documentary, Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere. We reference Jess Bacon for Stylist UK and her article, Instead of spotlighting the manosphere, should we not be interrogating how this misogyny translates into the real world?” as well as a review for The Guardian, by journalist Lucy Mangan. We also read from Esquire Magazine’s article, Louis Theroux Wields The Ultimate Weapon: Pity by Miranda Collinge and an interview with Louis Theroux by David Gilbert for WIRED.A joint Bookmarked this week – we both recommend watching Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere. Thanks for listening! We appreciate you <3 Jas & Mags

Today’s guests are Leandra Earl and Kylie Miller from Canadian rock band, The Beaches. The four-piece band also features Eliza Enman-McDaniel and Kylie’s sister Jordan Miller. They formed in 2009, and have released three albums, Late Show, Blame My Ex, and their most recent, No Hard Feelings. You can also watch today's interview on YouTube.The Beaches' single, Blame Brett, launched them into global fame, with performances at Coachella and Tiny Desk now under their belt. They've also recently been on a national tour with Aussie artist, G Flip. In this chat, we discuss their rise to fame, dating rumours, and the delayed gratification of pursuing your passions, plus so much more.In recommendations, Kylie recommends Alex Coles' album 'When The Lights Go Out' while Leandra recommends Nickelodeon shows, including Fairly Odd Parents.Chat soon!Jas & Mags xo

Harry Styles drops his new album, Justin Timberlake experiences the Streisand effect, and should you tell your partner your friends’ secrets? Reminder: You can now watch our podcast on YouTube. In this episode, we have a smattering of pop culture news stories from the week. To begin, Jas recommends Harry Styles' interviews with Zane Lowe and Brittany Broski's Royal Court. Next, we love when corporate CEOs accidentally go viral for being so cringingly awkward... we chat about the McDonald's burger gate and read a think piece on it from The Atlantic by Ellen Cushing. Justin Timberlake is trying to stop body camera footage from his 2024 drunk driving arrest from being released. We discuss the Streisand effect and also reference a recent one that's close to home.In Culture Shock, a number of local businesses in Melbourne had Ed Sheeran visit them while on his tour. Only, a number of them were fake. We discuss the ethics surrounding this and why a "harmless" piece of content may be a slippery slope in our precarious AI world. Here's the local organisation Ed actually visited.Next, should we be regulating blind boxes like gambling? In Singapore, lawmakers and consumer advocates are pushing to regulate blind boxes due to the gambling risks they carry. Is this warranted or a chance to make tax on a female-dominated market? Is it ever okay to tell your friends' secrets to your partner? This is something Hannah Ewen asked in British Vogue recently in her article, Please, Stop Telling Your Partner My Secrets. In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends, It's Not You, It's Minimalism a podcast episode and video essay by From The Diving Board. Jas recommends (and reviews) The Moment, Charli XCX's new mockumentary film. Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

Topshop’s Australian Comeback, Hilary Duff’s opens up on Call Her Daddy and why are we all obsessed with sexy period dramas?Reminder: We’re on YouTube! Hilary Duff’s “Luck… Or Something” album has dropped – and she’s riding the wave of her press tour. We listened to her ep on Call Her Daddy where they dived into her nostalgic child star years as well as her career comeback now and share our thoughts. Coming November 10, the former co-host of Call Her Daddy, Sofia Franklyn’s, memoir Daddy Issues will delve not only into her time on the podcast but the emotional and physical result of her fallout with co-host Alex Cooper, dealing with feelings of betrayal, and learning how to reinvent herself. British retailer, Topshop has returned to Australia, signing with MYER as an exclusive stockist both in-store and online. We discuss our thoughts on the return at Melbourne Fashion Festival and delve into the brand’s history. We reference multiple pieces, including an article by Rose Marroncelli for The Conversation, another in ELLE UK by Rebecca Jane Hill and Nostalgia Alone Can’t Save Topshop by Madeleine Reid for Bricks Magazine.  After the fever of Wuthering Heights, a number of other period drama adaptations have been announced and are in the works. Dolly Alderton’s “progressive” Pride & Prejudice got a teaser trailer this week, while Aimee Lou Wood has signed on to play Jane Eyre in the titular role. We discuss why everyone’s so horny for period dramas right now and reference a Cosmopolitan UK article by Brit Dawson as well as ‘Bridgerton’ Only Pretends to Be Progressive by Kat Rosenfield for the Free Press. In recommendations, Jas also recommends a sexy period drama (surprise, surprise) in the 2022 British fictionalised romance of Emily Bronte’s life, Emily (on SBS). Maggie recommends a podcast on Gisèle Pelicot by The New York Times titled, The Woman at the Centre of the Rape Trial That Shocked The World.Thank you for listening!!! Jas & Mags xo