Touching Grass

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball takes us through the online right’s reaction to the Fairford 5 and its descent into madness, and Lucy Reade unpacks how a KFC advert has prompted accusations of cannibalism. KFC/Conspiracy theories:https://x.com/_truthzone_/status/2101834492793016780?s=46https://x.com/lilithblack25/status/2102442825409298911?s=46https://x.com/Igi_POLCOM/status/2103291436691030459?s=20https://x.com/roadto80pct/status/2102830745467408826?s=20Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week Lucy Reade unpacks the latest Gen Z discourse: is it unprofessional to drink iced coffee in a job interview? And James Ball asks whether internet hustle culture is getting out of hand…Gen Z iced coffee:https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeyoufindyourdad/video/7688085006572326157?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7629351219308676630 (first 20 seconds)https://x.com/CuriousBunnie12/status/2102147885995278440?s=20 https://x.com/4LeafOddity/status/2101781791707398502?s=20 https://x.com/chloeevansj/status/2102218640254722133?s=20 https://x.com/chrryboyhunter/status/2101121452992876739?s=20https://x.com/shipsposting/status/2102037310913098013?s=20Hustle culture:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012927775589.htmlhttps://www.thegoldbullion.co.uk/buy-gold-bars/credit-suisse-gold-bars/credit-suisse-1-oz-gold-bar/https://www.tiktok.com/@abbysellsss/video/7668217142084390157 https://www.sellmeapen.net/Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball inflicts upon us a strange cocktail of Aella, AI doomerism and Harry Potter fanfiction. Meanwhile, Lucy Reade discusses why BookTok has changed how people read and… also gets on to the topic of Harry Potter fanfiction.Warning: this episode contains material of an adult nature!Aella:https://x.com/Aella_Girl/status/1763383809284731208 https://bsky.app/profile/bluser12.bsky.social/post/3mv4z6ycoks2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stejormur.bsky.social/post/3mvdjiy32pc24Books:https://x.com/bookslattess/status/2096580249232269563?s=20 https://x.com/diatribadism/status/2097211649073545583?s=20https://x.com/stargirlBaird/status/2097316740749234649?s=20https://x.com/hexprax/status/2097192722767700087?s=20https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdQy1X5A/Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week Lucy Reade discusses the tragic case of Lindsey Clancy and the horrendous internet reactions it has spawned on all sides of the debate. James Ball, meanwhile, asks the age-old question: are GLP-1 drugs are inherently fascist?Lindsey Clancy:https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrime_central/video/7668324431713864991?q=lindsey%20clancy%20husband%20conspiracy&t=1788852477246https://www.tiktok.com/@sisters.uncensored/video/7673872121063394574?q=lindsey%20clancy%20husband%20conspiracy&t=1788852477246https://x.com/NickJFreitas/status/2094843531718262973?s=20 https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2095963187422056854?s=20 https://x.com/DeepBlueCrypto/status/2095500027166699983?s=20https://x.com/Bdubs1776/status/2096958652976365815?s=20 https://x.com/CGroyper12400/status/2095904656396337548?s=20GLP-1s:https://x.com/thestustustudio/status/2096379112093016241 https://x.com/kane/status/2096836146802085966?s=46 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/20/john-goodman-weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-fat-people-cannot-win Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersSubscribe to The New World for just £5 for five weeks here

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball discusses right wing pick me influencers, and Lucy Reade dives into dating app discourse. Pick me influencers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBenSXzMqyMhttps://archive.ph/q1j7qhttps://youtu.be/W-N6XRhqXf0?si=lkRE5N4Cz8LqoOYN&t=1261 https://youtu.be/W-N6XRhqXf0?si=aZfdDgeJ3RdE5jKQ&t=1332 Dating app discourse:https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/sex-relationships/article/is-it-inappropriate-to-use-linkedin-as-a-dating-app-i-do-g2cxxsfs3https://x.com/graveair/status/1862142683260551365?s=20 https://x.com/SchrodingrsBrat/status/2093075305799791097?s=20Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersSubscribe to The New World for just £5 for five weeks here

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week Lucy Reade unpacks the latest discourse over Harry Potter fans, whilst James Ball tells us about the strange world of boyfriend simulator games.Harry Potter and Dobby’s grave links:https://x.com/kennixonette/status/2086887412433625294?s=20https://x.com/search?q=from%3Agregthesorcerer%20dobby&src=typed_queryhttps://www.tiktok.com/@arielleblack9/video/7627889810245504274?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7629351219308676630Love and Deepspace links:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qpkgenf7XtJWJLCnWrW1VN6_AFR2bn22MBBzHcuOJTg/edit?usp=sharing https://www.themarysue.com/love-and-deepspace-is-a-period-tracker-really-necessary-in-an-otome-game/ https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveAndDeepspace/comments/1uihl89/i_dont_think_valko_climbing_through_the_window_is/ https://x.com/ByteStix/status/2071599339068170662 https://www.polygon.com/love-and-deepspace-backlash-new-love-interest-valko-canceled/ https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/im-boycotting-love-and-deepspace-for-killing-my-virtual-boyfriend-and-so-are-251-000-other-loyal-widows/ Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for your first month.https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/touchinggrass/

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball discusses the very silly film that the internet has dubbed The Sex Purge Movie, whilst Lucy Reade dives into the controversial world of To Catch a Predator. One Night Only links:https://bsky.app/profile/dinfontay.com/post/3msdym6unbk2s https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3msfvhd36tk2r https://bsky.app/profile/jessehawken.bsky.social/post/3msjm5cggzs2p https://bsky.app/profile/thenumbers.bsky.social/post/3msld7r7pf22e https://bsky.app/profile/discussingfilm.net/post/3msjtq2bbn225 https://bsky.app/profile/luxalptraum.com/post/3mshfk5akdc2w https://bsky.app/profile/spavel.bsky.social/post/3mskwcskjvs22 https://bsky.app/profile/gregpak.net/post/3mskax4mdb22p To Catch a Predator links:https://x.com/airbagg3d/status/2085467442491326737?s=20 https://x.com/TheJakeChristie/status/2085387796282249343?s=20https://x.com/souljagoyteller/status/2085398957375582220?s=20Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for your first month.https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/touchinggrass/

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week Lucy Reade discusses the infamous ‘kissing lawyers’, our world of constant surveillance and trial by internet. Meanwhile, James Ball dives into how and why the influencers behind the ‘Magaverse’ are quietly losing their audiences.Kissing lawyers links:https://x.com/CasterNL/status/2080321741222518893?s=20https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8dPE8EJ/https://nypost.com/2026/07/30/us-news/lawyer-caught-canoodling-in-central-park-stands-to-lose-millions-as-lucrative-job-offer-reneged/https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/gen-z-age-gaps-relationships-dating-opinion-5HjdZZx_2/Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for your first month.https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/touchinggrass/