Pairings

Amile and Phoebe discover one of the most provocative protagonists they've encountered in Imani Thompson’s debut, Honey. After a seemingly ordinary bee sting becomes a life-or-death trolley problem, they unpack Ysra's relationship with revenge and the men who cross her. From childhood memories of learning about "bases" to the everyday realities of misogyny and misogynoir, they explore the limits of male allyship. In Ysra, they encounter a woman who is equal parts principled, unhinged, and charming: someone determined to distance herself from what she percieves as the weaknesses of femininity, whilst imagining herself as a quasi-heroine of a deeply patriarchial world.If you're in need of a summer read, look no further.This episode pairs well with:Honey by Imani ThompsonMen Who Hate Women by Laura BatesCurry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (Netflix), 2023Gone Girl (2014), dir. David FincherKeeping a spreadsheet of all the people who hurt youStealing your protégés work whilst having an affair with herCounting a Pimm's as 1 of your 5 a dayHappy listening,A&P

Beginning with the biblical story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Amile & Phoebe trace the ways in which women’s choices have long been shaped by patriarchal forces.Phoebe reflects on her experience of growing up culturally Catholic in Ireland. She shares personal insights from her time volunteering with the Repeal the Eighth campaign and the stories that shaped public understanding of abortion access. They also turn to America, drawing parallels between Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries and Liberty University’s Godparent Home.Through the character of Bill Furlong in Clare Keegan’s Small Things Like These, they discuss what it means to act morally within systems built upon silence. Can small acts of courage ever truly be enough?This episode pairs well with:Small Things Like These by Clare KeeganThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodThe Quiet Girl (Irish title: An Cailín Ciúin), 2022Liberty Lost (Audible Original podcast)Remembering Savita HalappanavarLighting a candle for someone you never metHappy listening,A&P

Turning to Kennedy Ryan’s Reel, Amile & Phoebe discuss romantasy & the male romantic leads who populate these worlds. Alongside the fantasy of emotionally intelligent billionaires and artistically gfted providers, they discuss the blackness of Reel & the importance of specificity and lived experience in storytelling.Through Neevah’s health battles and Dessi Blue's adventures, they delight in the ways in which the characters are written with texture, vulnerability, and interiority. They ask whether the fantasy of the “perfect man” is really about romance at all or whether it’s simply about being seen.This episode pairs well with:Reel by Kennedy RyanScore by Kennedy RyanThe 40 Days of Dating Social ExperimentMen wearing slutty little reading glasses non-ironicallyA lychee martini with a single rose petal floating on topHappy listening,A&P

Set between Martha’s Vineyard and New York’s Upper East Side, Strangers by Belle Burden initially feels worlds away. But as Amile & Phoebe unpack its themes of marriage, compromise, and reinvention…familiar pressures emerge.Alongside the practical realities of divorce and prenups, they interrogate the public response to Belle’s story, and the tendency to dismiss certain experiences. They discuss the pursuit of becoming “wifey” & whether it's ever worth losing yourself for love.This episode pairs well with:Strangers by Belle BurdenBEEF, Season 2 (2026, Netflix)Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing? Chanté Joseph, British Vogue.Knowing Klay Thompson because of Megan Thee StallionLooking in the mirror and saying, “Stand up, girl!”A glass of Provençal rosé, grown the same year you got married.Happy listening,A&P

Amile and Phoebe continue their deep dive into Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Spoilers included this time!Using the novel as a springboard, they explore the tension between modern femininity and masculinity.Beginning with the backlash surrounding Emma Grede’s promo tour for Start With Yourself, they consider the pulls (pitfalls!) of girlboss messaging. As the conversation unfolds, they turn to the pressures placed on men to perform a version of “traditional” masculinity that may not come naturally to them, and the consequences of building family life around rigid ideals.This episode pairs well with:Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeEducated by Tara WestoverKeep Sweet: Pray & Obey (2026, Netflix)Watching someone slowly rebrand their entire life online.Searching for tinctures instead of antibiotics.Leave us a 5 star rating (and a comment) please!A&P

For their first foray into fiction this season, Amile and Phoebe turn to Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Through the character of Natalie, a self-styled tradwife, they explore what it means to perform the role of the “perfect” woman, and why some versions of femininity are so addictive to consume online.As they unpack her story, they revisit themes from earlier episodes through a refreshed lens...from the second shift to motherhood and of course, the manosphere.This episode pairs well with:Yesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanUnchosen (2026 TV series)Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025, Hulu)Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (2025, Netflix)Swapping your wholemeal loaf for sourdough.Praying that your raw milk is free from listeria. Make sure to read the book!A&P