Mystery boxes, collectible plushies, $100 keychains and the infamous labubus have taken internet by a storm and counterintuitively, the target consumer isn’t children - it’s adults.In an age where life-changing milestones such as buying a property have become unattainable to an average 20-something, we turn to more accessible “luxuries” to signify our material status and give us (if only a very brief) sense of accomplishment.In this episode we explore how toys have fallen into this category of small luxuries and explore how this phenomenon reflects the current economic state and public sentiment towards wealth and material possessions. 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#27 Unboxing Nostalgia: collectibles, toys and capitalist dreams

Once upon a time, fame was reserved for the few - actors, pop stars and super models graced us from the glossy pages of Cosmo and occasionally waved at us from the TV screens. Fast forward to today, your ex’s cousin just landed a brand deal for filming her morning matcha routine and a random girl from your secondary school just got invited to fashion week. Social media has democratised fame to an extent we never thought possible. The once unattainable red carpet dream seems just one step away - just keep posting often enough. So many celebs have sprung to fame that they’ve become a social class of their own, but in the age where almost anyone can have their 15 seconds of stardom, is anyone a star anymore? This week, we untangle the fame hierarchy, from Oscar-winners to TikTok queens and wonder what truly defines a celebrity. Is it about talent, taste, or just who got there first? Does democratisation equal devaluation, or is the uber-famous club so exclusive no outsider can join the vip section?Tune in to find out! 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#26 Democratisation or devaluation? The politics of fame in the age of social media

When Timothée Chalamet proclaimed his dream of being ‘one of the greats,’ the internet swooned — but what does it even mean to want to be great? Raised on a steady diet of romcoms and Disney films our generation was promised we could be anything - our main character syndrome flourished. But somewhere between unpaid bills, unemployment crisis and the never ending online popularity contest the whole idea started to feel more like a pipe dream. In a world where success is measured in followers and selling your youth to land on the Forbes 30 under 30 list is the epitome of living your life to the fullest - is there still space for healthy greatness? This week, we peel back the pressure, unpack the privilege, and ask: what if greatness isn’t a title — but a feeling? 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#25 Always falling behind: chasing greatness in the age of cynicism

There was a time when logging on social media meant, reconnecting with your online friends, sharing the sandwich you had for lunch and checking the comments on you retrica-filtered holiday photos? Today, social media is omni present, accompanying us in every moment and yet it feels more distant and impersonal than ever. In a time when one post can earn more than a year of work in an office, it is no wonder that the platforms have become a full time job for many.In this episode, we meet with Mónica, tattoo artist and foreced-to-be influencer, who relies on social media to promote her work. From Meta monopolising buying the entirety of the internet, Twitter morphing into Musk’s personal megaphone, and TikTok caught in the crosshairs of political agendas we discuss what went wrong with our beloved apps. We revisit, tumblr dashboards, the six-second fever dream that was Vine and discuss what the future holds for social media.So join us, and our guest as we ask the ultimate existential question of the internet age: if we log off, do we even exist anymore? Mónica’s socials:IG <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chaotic.tattoos/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@chaotic.tattoos</a>TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chaotic.tattoos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@chaotic.tattoos</a> 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#24 Scrolling through chaos: the crisis of social media

When the world stops revolving around men, do they start spinning out? In a universe where men once dominated our lives, bank accounts, and romantic narratives, a shift is happening. Disillusioned with the male-dominated structures around them, women are not only rejecting them but dismantling them completely, creating female only spaces, rejecting heterosexual relationships and effectively decentralising men from their lives. But what happens when the male ego meets female autonomy, is there any room left for a healthy dialogue or is the only response hatred and rage? In this episode we discuss where does this decentralisation stem from and whether it can pave the way to bridging the gender gap. 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#23 Are women opting out on men? Exploring the rise of female-only spaces

It’s 2012 and you’re on a family holiday in Paris with your family. You’re trying to take a picture of the Eiffel tower but all you can see is hundreds of metal poles with people’s phones glued to them. But you’re not worried. You take out your own selfie stick, extend it 1 meter long and take a bird’s eye view selfie with the fam. Does that sound familiar? Today, although influencers are spread far and wide and self-content creation is more popular than ever, no one really talks about using a selfie stick anymore, although one could argue that it was the gadget that started it all. Is it because creating amateurish content simply isn’t cool anymore? In an era where content creation has become a professional sport for which you require at least 3 camera lenses, 2 lights and 3 tripods, perhaps there’s just no space for a humble selfie stick anymore. In this episode we discuss the cultural significance of this gadget and the wider thoughts around self-creation that it’s disappearance sparks. 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#22 The Rise and Fall of the Selfie Stick: The origins of the influencer era

How to get away with murder? Be attractive, apparently. The hottest (alleged) criminal of the moment - Luigi Mangione - has become TikTok’s latest heart throb. Whereas it’s because of the subject of his crime or his young age and good looks, he has been proclaimed the hero and martyr of the Gen Z population. But why are women so attracted to him and other men who landed on the wrong side of the law? Perhaps it’s because they’re ambitious, driven and just get shit done? Or maybe because, behind bars, they’re finally not the ones in power? Tune in to this episode as we discuss the craze of the criminal and more! 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#21 Is he innocent or is he just hot? The Luigi Mangione craze 

Serene lighting, cottage core dress, soft voice and homemade butter are the perfect ingredients that make an online trad wife. These women have taken social media by a storm and amassed a faithful following. From lavishly overdressed Nara Smith to modestly clothed housewives all of them create aesthetic videos that glorify domestic labour with pretty cakes and floral dresses. In this episode we discuss how the trad wife trend originated and what implications does it have for women worldwide. 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

#20 Back to the kitchen: how the Trad Wives took over the Internet

Everyone knows that Christmas isn’t the same without an advent calendar. This year is special as we’re not only counting down 25 days of Christmas but also approaching 25 and both turning 25 years old! To mark this occasion, for each day of the advent we share one thing we’ve learned by 25. From silly life hacks to some profound thoughts, tune in for part two of this special episode! 💌&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcometoheavenpodcast@gmail.com</a>

A Heavenly Christmas: 25 Things We’ve Learned by 25 Pt. 2

Heaven is the podcast where Raquel Alves and Julia Kibilda discuss the struggles of womanhood, politics, sociology, fashion and everything in between over a glass of wine. If you want to hear us talk about all the things that amuse and annoy us, pour yourself a glass and join us in Heaven!

Heaven

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