Pairings

In this episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe explore the rise of the Manosphere and the appeal of the so-called red pill. They reflect on the promises offered by its figureheads, and the way that insecurity can harden into ideology, and at times extremism. From the pickup artists of the early noughties to the Looksmaxxers and Incels of present day, they trace the shifting language of online masculinity. In doing so, they consider the stories men are being told about themselves, and the world. This episode pairs well with: Lost Boys by James BloodworthThe Will To Change by bell hooksThe Matrix (1999), dir by The WachowskisAdolescence (TV series) dir by Philip BarantiniA smoky mezcalita in a Tajín-rimmed whiskey glass Striking up a conversation with a stranger in real lifeHappy listening, A&P

In this episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe talk through stories that could only come from this modern age: a married woman who falls in love with her chatbot, and an app that helps you pretend to be well read. Moving between intimacy, imagination, and society, they reflect on what technology is reshaping — and what it may quietly be replacing - across childhood and adulthood.This episode pairs well with:Fahrenheit 451 by Ray BradburyHer (2013), dir. Spike JonzeBlack Mirror, created by Charlie BrookerI Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan EllisonOryx and Crake by Margaret AtwoodA cold glass of Vermentino, and Salt & Vinegar crisps.Re-activating your library membership.Reading aloud to the kids in your life.Ten points if you spotted the em dash.Happy listening,A&P

In their very first episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe unpack the stories that shape modern womanhood. From picking up The Second Shift after a full day at work to the performance of beauty and emotional labour, they reflect on how cultural expectations and online life shape women’s inner worlds.This episode pairs well with:The Beauty Myth by Naomi WolfYour Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre LordeBarbie (2023), dir. Greta GerwigThe Second Shift by Arlie Russell HochschildA dry gin martini, with a twist.Speaking openly with your girlfriends about heteronormative relationshipsSetting expectations with your boyfriends from the get-go.Happy listening,A&P

Pairings is a conversation series about stories—on the page, on the screen, and in our heads. Moving between literature and pop culture, Amile & Phoebe explore how technology and online cultures are shaping everyday life. Matresence, Inceldom & Desire are just some of the topics they will get you thinking and laughing about.