Pairings

This week, Amile & Phoebe venture further back in time with James Baldwin’s 1956 masterpiece, Giovanni’s Room. As they discuss the social climate that forced Baldwin & his characters into literal and figurative exile, they consider the extraordinary subversiveness of writing so openly about gay desire in the 1950s.But the conversation quickly becomes about more than sexuality. They unpack masculinity, respectability & the uncomfortable ways in which lovers can become collateral damage for those who are afraid to be known.From the claustrophobic sanctuary of Giovanni’s room to the tragedy of choosing belonging over honesty, they reflect on the familiar patterns of emotional detachment that run throughout the novel.This episode pairs well with:Giovanni’s Room by James BaldwinLooking for Lorraine by Imani PerryBrokeback Mountain (2005), dir. Ang LeePassages (2023), dir. Ira SachsPulling an all-nighter to watch the sun rise over the Seine.Wondering why the socially acceptable option feels unfulfilling.A French 75, of course.Happy listening,A&P

In the 2nd part of their dissection of MJ Corey’s Dekonstructing the Kardashians, Amile & Phoebe distil the family's media playbook down to its core. They examine what happens when hyper-visibility evolves into a self-sustaining corporate empire. They revisit some of the legendary conspiracies from the "Kardashian Curse " to Amile’s naive theory that Kanye’s demise was actually a piece of high-concept performance art. Along the way, they ask the hard questions. Just how far is Kim willing to go in service of the feed? Why has Khloé become the tragic, relatable figurehead of modern American anxiety? And did anyone actually buy Rob’s socks?This episode pairs well with:Dekonstructing the Kardashians by MJ CoreyFor the Culture by Marcus Collins The Society of the Spectacle by Guy DebordSuccession (2018, HBO)Aggressively organising your pantry into labelled glass containers.An ice-cold can of UPDATE, because even Kim’s energy has a personal brand.Happy listening,A&P

This week, the girls turn to MJ Corey's Dekonstructing the Kardashians to examine how one family transformed the mechanics of modern celebrity. For the 1st part of their dissection, Amile & Phoebe have no qualms admitting they've been Kardashian fans, passive consumers and occasional apologists throughout their 19-year reality television reign.They contrast an older celebrity culture built on mystery, distance and carefully controlled appearances with today's demand for constant visibility. Is hyper-visibility and (faux vulnerability) a form of empowerment—or the ultimate trap for a society obsessed with Keeping Up?This episode pairs well with:Dekonstructing the Kardashians by MJ CoreyWe by Yevgeny ZamyatinAll About Eve dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1950)The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016)Marrying for the network, not just the networth. A bone-dry, filthy Dirty Vodka Martini (à la Mother Kris)Happy listening,A&P

What does it mean to live in a tastefully decorated apartment, have good politics and know the best natural wine bar in town? And why did personal taste and aesthetic become such an important part of our identity.Amile & Phoebe respond to Vincenzo Latronico's scathing assessment of millennials in his translated novel Perfection.They discuss the strange emptiness of a lifestyle built around the right objects, opinions and experiences.This episode pairs well with:Perfection by Vincenzo LatronicoThe Lonely City by Olivia LaingAll Falls Down (2004) by Kanye WestDescribing yourself as a "creative” or “dot connector”.Citing Bourdain as your personal hero, but not knowing why.Unironically relating to Rick Rubin’s quotes on taste.A citrus-forward craft beer from the local brewery.Happy listening,A&P

With a star-studded Nigerian adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway on the horizon, Amile and Phoebe return to the novel's intimate world of parties, private thoughts and social performance.Despite its famously demanding stream-of-consciousness style, the novel opens up a conversation about what it means to be considered by someone we love and the ways we protect ourselves and others from difficult truths.From Clarissa's drawing room to the comment section, they consider how critique moves through society. They ask who gets to judge, who gets judged, and how quickly criticism can become cruelty. They ask what the general critique of Ariana Grande says about society.This episode pairs well with:Mrs Dalloway by Virginia WoolfAssembly by Natasha BrownClarissa (release date: Dec 2026), dir. Arie and Chuko EsiriLucky (2000) by Britney SpearsCalling it love when what you meant was security.Debating whether consideration is the highest form of love.Your favourite glass of Cabernet Sauvnon to help you mask.Happy listening,A&P

Fresh off another summer of record-breaking heatwaves across England, wildfires sweeping through Europe, and worldwide concern over the environmental cost of data centres, Amile and Phoebe turn to Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass.In this conversation, they discuss stewardship, reciprocity, and our responsibility to the natural world. Drawing on Kimmerer's unique perspective as a botanist & member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, they select the stories of indigenous wisdom that stayed with them. You will leave this episode thinking about how we can rectify things for the generations to come.This episode pairs well with:Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererIt's Not That Radical by Mikaela LoachWALL-E (2008), dir. Andrew StantonThat viral "Hacks" episode on AI (S5, Episode 6: QuikScribbl)Experiencing civic responsibility for the first time at Burning ManA mug of nettle tea brewed from whatever's growing nearbyHappy listening! What should we read next?A&P

Only one book can make for a conversation peppered with equal amounts of laughter and cringe. Yes, Tony Tulathimutte's Rejection.Across a series of 4 painfully funny essays, Amile and Phoebe discuss rejection in all its forms: romantic, social and self-inflicted. From the "nice guy" performing wokeness in exchange for companionship, to the young woman lost in an obsessive spiral of limerence, no one’s stories (including their own!) escapes unexamined.Perhaps the rejection itself isn't what we're most afraid of. Perhaps it's what the rejection reveals about our deepest insecurities.This episode pairs well with: Rejection by Tony TulathimutteSo You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon RonsonQueenie by Candy Carty-WilliamsWhy Did I Get Married? (2007), dir. by Tyler PerryHe's Just Not That Into You (2009), dir. by Ken KwapisBinge watching Chewing Gum or Fleabag over the weekend.Sending "No worries!" when there are, in fact, many worries.Seeking a partner who triggers your childhood wounds.One more drink than you planned on having.Enjoy listening!A&P

Fresh off reading Divya Maniar's soon-to-be-released novel After Care, Amile and Phoebe discuss the strange afterlife of reality television and the unspoken pressure to remain visible long after the cameras stop rolling.Through the story of Grace, a former reality star intent on clawing her way back into the public eye, they explore influencer culture, the attention economy, and the blurred line between authenticity and performance. They ask whether social media has turned all of us into our own publicists, carefully curating lives designed to be consumed.What happens when our identity hinges on being watched? And what responsibilities do the watchers have in return?This episode pairs well with:After Care by Divya Maniar [pre-order for Oct 2026]The Truman Show (1998), dir. Peter WeirBlack Mirror: "Nosedive" (Netflix, 2016)Miriam: Death of a Reality Star (Channel 4, 2024)Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth (2025)Commenting "what are they doing working at a checkout?"Wondering whether you're living for yourself or a personal brandChoosing the Montepulciano over the Tempranillo for social cloutHappy listening,A&P