The Polyester Podcast

Olivia Rodrigo is the subject of the internet's ire for *checks notes* allegations of pedobaiting. The star's music video and stage outfits - consisting of babydoll dresses, bloomers and ruffles - are causing controversy as the 'drop dead' singer is accused of simultaneously sexualising and infantilising herself and indoctrinating her young audience into pandering to the male gaze.In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina question if the outfits are problematic in and of themselves and ask what happens when women are blamed for society's sexism.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order The Polyester Book Of Bad Taste here!Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

Celebs are no longer monoliths, Instagram is my diary and you no longer need to buy a memoir to know the intricate details of a public figure’s life. Across PR campaigns, podcast appearances and TikTok lives, influencers, musicians and actors alike push to seem authentic and relatable. With those in the public eye sharing more and more, why does the incredibly personal art still manage to shock us?In this week's episode, join hosts Ione and Gina for an extra special live episode at Tate Modern as they discuss their incredible exhibition Tracey Emin: A Second Life and explore the ways classism, ableism and sexism intersect within the work of one of Britain's most notorious artists. This episode is in partnership with Tate Collective, Tate's young people scheme for 16-25 year olds. It's completely free to sign up and gives you access to £5 tickets to see shows like Tracey Emin: A Second Life. The Tracey Emin show is open until 31st August and you can get in late to see it Friday and Saturday at 9pm, and 8pm on Sundays!Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order The Polyester Book Of Bad Taste here!Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

Why are manosphere influencers, Hinge bios and cast members of Love Is Blind requiring 'doing pilates' from their potential beaus? In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina get to grips with the pervasion of this particular exercise in pop culture, the potential abuse inherent in men's preferences towards women's exercise and whether or not we should consider the fascist implications of influencers selling fitness.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order The Polyester Book Of Bad Taste here!Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

While the biggest audience for true crime content is young women, it's not often that anyone considers the every growing cultural phenomenon through a feminist lens. What do podcasts, documentaries and tv shows get right about revealing the reality of crime against women? And do we benefit from being more about what violence can (and has) happened against women throughout history?This week, our hosts Ione and Gina are joined by The Polyester Podcast editor and host of Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead, Olivia Graham, to explore the complex feelings surrounding the genre from behind the mic, as a consumer and as a society that often depersonalises femicide.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order The Polyester Book Of Bad Taste here!Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!

Did Girls shape a generation (or two) of women? Yes. Is Famesick a great memoir? Yes. Should we be more forgiving of the writer considering everything she has (and hasn't) been through? Maybe.This week, hosts Ione and Gina get to grips with one of the most controversial figures of our lifetime - the inimitable over-sharer Lena Dunham. It's undeniable that the multi hyphenate has had an indelible impact on culture and as the 2010s icon reflects on the highs and lows of a life shaped by a HBO deal at the age of 23, this episode charts the hits and misses of the much anticipated memoir.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

As we’re slowly learning more about drugs like Ozempic, we’re also finding out more about their side effects. Does botox reduce our ability to empathise? Are we all just numbing ourselves from the world in the pursuit of self optimisation?In this week’s episode, hosts Ione and Gina dig into how people are using tweakments not just for their advertised effects - but for the ways they change our emotions and habits.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

It's that time y'all! The Polyester Podcast is wading into the discourse deep end about another widely critiqued movie but this time, there's a twist: We're actually enjoyed the film!In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina dig into the subtext of Kristoffer Borgli's new dark comedy The Drama. Is the Zendaya and Robert Pattinson fronted flick a failure at analysing such a sensitive subject matter? Does the film fail to take into consideration its casting? And will the culture ever move past needing movies to make their politics unequivocally clear?Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

We're back and the world has gone ape in our absence! Between X discourse about Slut Walks and criticism of Lindy West's new memoir Adult Braces, it's time for a full retcon of the past and present state of Millennial Feminism.In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina reflect on 2010s sex positivity, the commodification of feminism throughout the ages and the nihilistic point of view gen z feminists are left to reckon with. Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Please note this was recorded and released prior to the release of series four of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the cancellation of The Bachelorette and the news regarding Taylor Frankie Paul.Growing up, Mormonism's pop culture imprint belonged solely in South Park jokes and the occasional mention in American politics. Now, it feels like we can't move without a new Mormon influencer - from Nara Smith to MomTok - taking over our feeds.This week, hosts Ione and Gina explore what Mormonism actually is, how the new wave of Mormon influencers have changed how the Latter Day Saints are perceived and whether or not reality telly can truly sugar coat the toxic problems within the religion.Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.