Ratbag with Mel & Sam

Hi bbys!Welcome to another Ratfood. Today we’re going IN on the Taylor Swift chatsssssssss. We’re unpacking ALL our thoughts on the album on everyone’s lips, what we liked, what we didn’t (spoiler alert!! It was a lot!!) and what we would’ve loved to have seen instead.Mel also chats briefly about her stint in the hospital - nee naw!! BBL alert!!!Let us know your thoughts on the album in the comments below.Lots of love, and big fat cheese cubes to you all.xxMel & Sam—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://youtube.com/@themelandsam?si=jzeN-E_-DcE-DGHSFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well ProductionsProduced by Thomas Zahariou

Buckle up cuties because it's time for another guest ep! If you have been to a mainstage musical in the last few years, odds are you would have seen this star on the stage, whether it be playing the role of Eliza in Hamilton or Catherine Parr in Six, she is a force in this industry and she's joined us today... it's Vidya Makan!In today's episode Vidya chats all about the process of writing her musical 'The Lucky Country' which is opening for Melbourne Fringe this October and for Melt Festival this November! We also chat navigating Australia's industry as a minority that isn't often represented on stage and how beautiful collaboration can be in the artistic process. Of course it wouldn't be a Ratbag without opening up our hotline for your questions, and then we get Vidya improvising her own spin off Hamilton-adjacent musical in our 'Hit It Toots!'. We are beyond grateful to Vidya for joinung us. Go and follow her / her work - she is brilliant!We hope you enjoy!See you on Thursday for another 'Ratfood'.Love Mel and Sam—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://bit.ly/MelAndSamYouTubeFollow Vidya here: https://www.instagram.com/vidyamakan/?hl=enBuy tickets to 'The Lucky Country' for Melbourne Fringe here: https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/the-lucky-countryBuy tickets to 'The Lucky Country' for Melt Festival (Brisbane) here: https://www.melt.org.au/events/the-lucky-country/Follow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!Buy tickets to our LIVE POD @ Cheerful Earful: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets?clientside_routing=true—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well

Hey there you rats!We soldier on into another week of pretending we aren’t hosting the biggest music-theatre-loser-pod of all time as Mel finally shares the long (one week) awaited story of the agent from hell! This story is absolutely WILD so get ready because what we are about to tell you, you will absolutely lose your minds over.This then leads into chats about the industry as a whole and just how vulnerable it can be when auditioning / when you put faith in the industry and it lets you down.We then launch a brand new segment called ‘Grass Rats!’ - aimed at showcasing grassroots projects whether they be theatre, music, film, tv, dance - whatever! We are very passionate about underground work, emerging work etc and thought it would be a perfect segment to throw in every now and again when there’s an artist working on something and we wanna shine a spotlight on them for a sec! Today we are joined by Leigh Lule, writer and actor in the new TikTok series ‘Ceebs’. We chat all about this project and much more, so stick around to the end of the ep for this!Thanks so much you hunnies and see you next week!Mel & SamLINK TO CEEBS : https://www.tiktok.com/@ceebsseriesLINK TO LIVE POD: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well ProductionsProduced by Thomas Zahariou

Hey hey dear listener and WELCOME to another 'Ratbag' episode!Have you ever wanted a deep unpacking of the Instagram Story Fonts? Well you're in luck because today we are doing the very necessary ranking of IG Fonts using Mel's important ranking scale. We then chat in our 'Kick Ons' about the items that would bring us back to life (someone get Mel her potato gems) and our 'Bring Bring Bitch!' hotline is a creative prompt sent in by a listener. We then improvise our creative pitch in our 'Hit It Toots' and the only word that you need to know for this is: The L Word.She's a super fun one (we think!) so enjoy you darlings!!Love ya guts and see you Thursdayas aaaalways for another '‘Ratfood!’Mel & Sam xx—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://bit.ly/MelAndSamYouTubeFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!Buy tickets to our LIVE POD @ Cheerful Earful: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets?clientside_routing=true—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well

Hello ratties!It wouldn’t be like us to not do SOME kind of music theatre deep dive once every now and again, so please enjoy today’s Ratfood where we unpack a video made by West End darling Carrie Hope Fletcher in which she talks about some of the more toxic sides of music theatre fandom.We chat about how strongly it feels like those within the entertainment industry are expected to ‘take’ more when it comes to public criticism - or even bullying - and we talk about the really interesting line that exists between constructive feedback and nasty, personal comments, and why people who grew up as theatre kids specifically feel such a strong inclination to make them loudly known.We also chat about the phenomenon of rage bait and the dangerous direction critique can lead to when everyone feels like they need to have a new and CRAYYYZY opinion from the last person.We end the episode talking about casting notes scandal that went down at St Michael’s, a personal nightmare of Sam’s and a hypothetical about whether or not we would all choose to have access to everything that’s ever been written about us.It’s a jam packed one, cuties! As always, all your thoughts are so welcome in the comments and let us know if there’s anything you want us to make an episode about.Lots of love, and big fat cheese cubes to you all.xxMel & Sam—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://youtube.com/@themelandsam?si=jzeN-E_-DcE-DGHSLIVE POD (Cheerful Earful, Melb) TIX HERE: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-ticketsFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well ProductionsProduced by Thomas Zahariou

Hey there rat! It's time for to another 'Ratbag' episode!Today is HOT TAKE HEAVY sowe hope you are ready for it! In this week's episode we chat everything from cars needing police sirens for when you're running late, to Sam's obsession with public pools. Mel also brings to the pod, a very fair observation about the 'reading glasses Olympics' and get ready because you may be read for filth.As always thanks for listening, we are v grateful you have this pod on your weekly rotation.Love ya guts and see you Thursdayas aaaalways for another '‘Ratfood!’Mel & Sam xx—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://bit.ly/MelAndSamYouTubeFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!Buy tickets to our LIVE POD @ Cheerful Earful: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets?clientside_routing=true—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well

Hello ratlings!!In today’s Ratfood, the girls unpack all things first concerts: the forever new tops, the floopsy-doopsy buns, the rogue artist choices and everything in between.Sam chats about her DESPERATE ploy for Ariana Grande tickets and Mel chats about an unbelievable musical she saw in Sydney this week. Thank you so much for joining us <3Lots of love and we’ll see you for another Ratbag this coming Monday!Big fat cheese cubes to you all.xxMel & Sam —You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://youtube.com/@themelandsam?si=jzeN-E_-DcE-DGHSLIVE POD (Cheerful Earful, Melb) TIX HERE: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets (https://youtube.com/@themelandsam?si=jzeN-E_-DcE-DGHS)Follow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to mailto:ratbagpod@gmail.com!—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well ProductionsProduced by Thomas Zahariou

Hey there rats!Thank you for joining us for another episode! Today we are putting our fav girl dad under the chopping block as we test him, quiz style with some photos of some popular 'women's*' products and see if he knows what they are. Our 'Bring Bring Bitch!' hotline is once again a dm from a listener, and this week we are building our hellscape musical theatre playlists.There's then a 'Kick Ons' where we chat all the things we would do if we woke up in eachother's bodies and of course our 'Hit It Toots!' provides the perfect opportunity to bring one of our hellscape music theatre songs, to life. We are so sorry for the largo. She's a very fun one rats, we hope you enjoy!See you Thursday for another '‘Ratfood!’Love Mel & Sam—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://bit.ly/MelAndSamYouTubeFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!Buy tickets to our LIVE POD @ Cheerful Earful: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-tickets?clientside_routing=true—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well

Hello sweet ratlings!! So happy to see you here for yet another Ratfood.Today - inspired by the recent news around the impending social media ban - we go on a deeeep nostalgia trip in to our earliest days on social media and what they looked like; the earliest emojis, the earliest scandals, our introduction to the concept of a digital footprint (life-changing info!!) our first forays in to bullying (oops) and the glory of My Space and MSN.Sam also tells a story from her week involving some ultimate rascal behaviour in a high ceiling-ed building, and the girls chat the niche experience and radical acceptance found within the changing room of a public pool.If you’re a member of the Richmond football team - Sam says sorry. And also. You’re welcome.Lots of love and we’ll see you for another Ratbag this coming Monday!Big fat cheese cubes to you all.xxMel & Sam—You can watch the full video form of this episode on YouTube HERE: https://youtube.com/@themelandsam?si=jzeN-E_-DcE-DGHSLIVE POD (Cheerful Earful, Melb) TIX HERE: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/ratbag-with-mel--sam---live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-4-oct-2025-ticketsFollow Mel & Sam on Instagram (@themelandsam) to keep up with all things pod, live shows and other nonsense. And remember, our Bring Bring Bitch hotline is always open! You can also send submissions to ratbagpod@gmail.com!—Mel & Sam would like to acknowledge that Ratbag is being recorded on Stolen Land.The original custodians of this land have had a rich history of storytelling for over 65,000 years, and we pay our respects to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation whose land we are recording Ratbag on.Treaties were never signed. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.—A Grouse House PodcastRecorded at Haven't You Done Well ProductionsProduced by Thomas Zahariou