Culture Club

Kylie Jenner’s Meta Glasses, The Surveillance State, Rebranded And Taylor Swift’s Wedding 29.06.2026 38min

Hi friends, Olivia Rodrigo launches an all-women festival, A24’s AI deal, and the rebranding of the surveillance state is here. Reminder: you can join the Culture Club world on YouTube and Substack! First up – we have some pop culture popcorn bits for you, including another nostalgic adaptation and more rumours about Taylor Swift's imminent wedding. Olivia Rodrigo is adding festival organiser to her resume with the announcement of the all-female festival, Daisy Chain Fields.In film news, A24 and Google have struck an AI research partnership deal that will see the independent studio work to develop new AI-powered technologies for filmmakers. Cinephiles and Letterboxd-heads the globe over are not happy with the decision. Is this a step backward for the indie studio or a needed tool for research? Meta has partnered with Kylie Jenner to release a line of AI-powered glasses. Named the Meta Starfire Glasses, Kylie Edition, the sunglasses can take photos and videos, play music, take calls and offer voice controls for you to go about your day hands-free. The accompanying marketing has been praised for its style and fashion, proving that all the surveillance state needed was a little rebrand. We discuss the ethical implications of these AI-powered sunglasses and the rise of Ring camera content online, including this Instagram post from style icon Alex Chung herself.In recommendations, we have two TV series for you. Maggie recommends The Four Seasons, season 2 on Netflix, while Jas enjoyed Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV.Thank you for being here and for listening!!! We <3 you. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Aestheticisation Of Loneliness, Grammys’ Asian Award & Girl Math Hits Retail 22.06.2026 39min

The Grammys' new controversial category, Girl Math hits the retail sector, and the problem with aestheticised loneliness influencers.Reminder, we're on YouTube and SUBSTACK.Hi friends! In this episode, we kick off with some celebrity pop culture bits, including a revelation from TikTok user Jessmess69 regarding Sarah Pidgeon and one former Culture Club Chats guest!The Grammy Awards is adding five new categories: R&B collaboration or duo/group performance, best traditional pop vocal performance and best traditional folk album. But, the categories causing concern include best Asian pop music performance and best Latin song. Is this progress or a form of musical segregation?Australian fashion brand, Lioness, has come under fire this week after its graphic tees were accused of sexist language. A t-shirt, which is being sold in Myer as well as in their online store for $29 features a slogan on the front that reads: “I’m too pretty to do math”. We break down our thoughts, including the new wave of bimbo-fication that's now being sold to women. We reference this opinion piece for the Sydney Morning Herald titled What a Degrading T-shirt: Girls Told They’re ‘Too Pretty To Do Math’ by educator Allan Dougan.Next, have you noticed a certain type of social media content that’s focused on loneliness? Writer Rachel Pick wrote a piece for The Cut titled, “The Loneliness Influencers Inside The Luxurious Tedium Of “I Have No Friends” TikTok”. We discuss the influence of this type of content and if it's perpetuating or helping the loneliness crisis. We also read from Milk Fed by Caitlyn Richardson and her piece called Heidegger And The Illusion Of Aestheticized Loneliness.In recommendations, Maggie watched the Australian horror movie, Leviticus, while Jas read and loved Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden.Thank you for being here! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Winter Favourites: Books, Films, Music, Beauty & More 18.06.2026 20min

Our winter favourites, from hobbies and skincare to books and music. Cosy up with this episode on YouTube.Here are the links for our picks!Skincare Dr Jart Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair CreamClinique Clarifying Lotion 2 | Exfoliating Face Toner Aesop Sublime Replenishing Night MasqueMakeup MERIT Flush BalmBooks Tillinghast by Clare CavenaghThe In Between by Christos Tsiolkas Films The Airport Chaplain (series)2007 Films Lars and the Real Girl Music Daniel Caesar’s Son of SpergyOlivia Rodrigo's You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gwyneth Paltrow Sells Out, Dua Lipa’s Wedding & Olivia Rodrigo’s Best Album Yet? 15.06.2026 22min

Hi friends, This week is a shorter episode as we have a bonus ep coming later this week! Keep your eyes peeled for our seasonal winter recommendations. You can watch this episode on YouTube. Olivia Rodrigo is coming for the Queen of Pop title with her new album 'You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love'. We debrief and share our top picks (upon first listen). One of the most famous celebrity weddings of the year took place in both London and Palermo after Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner tied the knot. Maggie has a take on the first pictures and we share why locals aren't happy. The first trailer for The Social Network’s sequel, The Social Reckoning, has dropped. We debrief the plot of the Aaron Sorkin film and debate if it's the story they should be focusing on. Finally, Gwenyth Paltrow has come under fire after starring in ads for luxury apartments in Israel. Will this make even the tiniest dent in her career?There are no Bookmarked recs this week, as we have a whole episode's worth coming soon. Thank you for listening and if you enjoyed this episode (or any others), please share with a friend or give it a rate and review! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gen Z’s Horror Obsession, Taylor Swift Does Disney & The Rise Of Phone-Free Concerts 08.06.2026 42min

The rise of phone-free shows, Taylor Swift’s new Disney song, and what’s behind Gen Z’s horror movie obsession? You can watch this episode on YouTube.Taylor Swift has written a song for Toy Story 5 –– I Knew It, I Knew You marks Taylor’s return to the country genre and was inspired by the cowgirl, Jessie. Also in music news, Phoebe Bridgers has been playing a string of phone-free pop-up shows across small cities and college towns in America. The $1 gigs mark a return to tech-free shows and has us asking, are we all looking for an excuse to put our phones away?Next, have you noticed that so many TV shows and movies right now have the same villain? In a piece titled “‘Bogeyman of the moment’: Why every TV show seems to have the same villain” for The Age, Michael Lallo makes the claim that AI is the villain we’re seeing everywhere at the moment. It's also sparking a renaissance in human-made art, as seen in a viral tweet by producer Adam Faze. Two Gen Z horror directors are the talk of the internet and film world this month, creating conversations about a new era of filmmaking. Backrooms and Obsession, created by two Gen Z YouTubers, are topping box offices globally. We break down why the films are so popular and why Gen Z is obsessed with the horror genre. We reference an article for The Guardian, the ABC, and Why YouTubers Are Turning Hollywood Upside Down by Marlow Stern for Variety.In Bookmarked, Jas shares the three books she bought for her winter cabin retreat: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, Strangers by Belle Burden, and Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh. Maggie shares a music recommendation with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers' album, Glory.Thank you for listening! We appreciate you so much. Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dot Cakes, Pattie Gonia & The Demonisation Of Joy 02.06.2026 44min

Cynthia Erivo speaks out about Wicked, the Pattie Gonia lawsuit explained, and why are dot cakes creating discourse?Hi friends,We're back in the studio this week, so if you want to watch this podcast, head here.In today's episode, Cynthia Erivo speaks out about Wicked, the Pattie Gonia lawsuit explained, & why are dot cakes creating discourse?After a quick chat about Off Campus, we dive into pop culture bites, including Olivia Rodrigo's 90-minute interview with The New York Times’ Popcast. Cynthia Erivo is also on a new press tour and doesn't want to talk about Wicked. We reference this YouTube video and this Variety interview.In Culture Shock, American drag queen and activist Pattie Gonia is being sued by outdoor clothing brand Patagonia for trademark infringement. We break down the lawsuit and share a clip from fair fashion advocate, Venetia La Manna.Have you seen dot cakes on your FYPs lately? The dessert has gotten a lot of people riled up, so we wanted to break down where they came from and how they could intersect with the Diary of a CEO's latest viral gaffe. Are we demonising joy through optimisation culture? We reference content creator Tinx's video on the topic.In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends The Grill podcast, and Jas recommends Erika Veurink's Substack, Long Live.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Aura Karma, The Dystopian Enhanced Games & Are Artists “Purging” Fans? 25.05.2026 39min

Pete Davidson’s messy break-up, are Harry Styles and Charli XCX purging fans, and what the hell are the enhanced games?Hi friends! After a quick catch up we jump straight into music news. Olivia Rodrigo has released a brand new single titled ‘The Cure’ and we theorise on whether Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Charli xcx are trying to purge the fans they gained during their mega world tours. Comedian Pete Davidson has made headlines recently after his ex-partner and mother of his child, Elsie Hewitt, took to social media to share that she’s a solo parent of their five-month-old child. Yikes.In a Hunger Games turn of events, this weekend sees the inaugural Enhanced Games take place. We recommend and discuss the 7am Podcast’s reporting on the new billionaire-backed Enhanced Games that allow participants to take “performance-enhancing drugs” including testosterone, anabolic steroids and growth hormone. The art of the grifter persists. In Bookmarked, we have two cosy recommendations for you: Watching the Detectives, a rom-com from 2007, and the juicy Rivals Season 2 on Disney+. Thank you for listening! No video episode this week as we recorded remotely but we’ll be back in the studio next time. Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Moral Panic-ification Of Olivia Rodrigo’s Babydoll Dress, Shein Buys Everlane & The Endless Shilling of AI 18.05.2026 45min

Shein buys sustainable brand Everlane, celebrity women are shilling AI, and unpacking the moral panic of Olivia Rodrigo’s babydoll dress.Hi friends! In today's episode, we have a quick chat about Australian Fashion Week and our trip to Rarotonga, Cook Islands with Jetstar. Want to see it for yourself? Jetstar has officially begun direct flights to Rarotonga from Brisbane. Check those and other affordable flights out here!In pop culture, we chit chat about a new celebrity couple in Cannes and a TikTok star who is starting his own fashion label. Also in fashion news, Lauren Sherman of Puck has reported that Shein has bought sustainable fashion label Everlane. In the US, two university commencement speeches have gone viral after they shilled the future of artificial intelligence. We read from The Cut's article 'The Girlbossification of AI' by Angelina Chapin.Next, should adult women wear babydoll dresses? That’s the conversation the internet has been having around Olivia Rodrigo’s recent outfits. We break down the discourse, fashion history, and reference 'The Outrage Over Olivia Rodrigo Was Never Really About A Babydoll Dress' by Elizabeth Whitehead for Refinery29.In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the novel 'Just Watch Me' by Lior Torenberg while Jas recommends 'Perfection' by Vincenzo Latronico.Thank you so much for listening! There's no YouTube video this week as we recorded remotely. Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Truths & Monstrous Myths of PMDD, With Author Emma Hardy 11.05.2026 38min

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, the myths and taboos of menstruation, and what happens when a mood becomes an illness, with author Emma Hardy.A few weeks ago on the podcast, you may have heard Jas' tears as she struggled to cope in the midst of a hard premenstrual dysphoric disorder (or PMDD) week. PMDD is a severe, chronic medical condition similar to PMS, causing debilitating mood and physical symptoms in the 1–2 weeks before menstruation.In perfect timing, Melbourne author Emma Hardy published Periodic B*tch, a narrative memoir exploring the myths and culture surrounding the cyclical mood disorder. In this vulnerable chat, Emma shares her experience with the illness that led her to write the literary memoir and why PMDD is shrouded in cultural stigma.Buy Periodic B*tch here. You can follow Emma's work here. And, if you are also struggling with PMDD, you're not alone.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Styles’ Taxi Cab Theory, Meryl Streep’s Money Advice & Rebel Wilson’s Court Case 04.05.2026 39min

Harry Styles’ taxi cab engagement theory, the latest on Rebel Wilson’s lawsuits, and Meryl Streep’s pay rise energy. Hi friends! One of the biggest engagement stories of 2026 has landed: Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz are betrothed after just eight months of dating. We break down the details and ask if the Sex & the City Taxi Cab Theory has anything to do with it. We reference the Harry Styles and Zane Lowe interview from earlier this year. This week, Taylor Swift was featured in The New York Times Magazine as one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. The NYT polled more than 250 music insiders and gathered six Times critics to select the songwriters. We question some contradicting statements. Never has an Australian film been faced with this much controversy. After first speaking about this in 2025, we have more to unpack about the messy lawsuits around Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, which has bombed its Australian cinematic release. While doing press for Devil Wears Prada 2, Meryl Streep revealed on the US Today Show that she asked to double her salary in 2006 for the first film. We discuss our own thoughts around pay transparency and advocating for your worth. We reference Anna Mackenzie's substack, and her Shoot Your Shot Wednesday initiative. In Bookmarked, Maggie shares a recent Modern Love x NYT episode (and shares a hack), and Jas recommends The Pitt on HBO Max. Thanks for listening! Jas and Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anti-Capitalist Creativity, Quitting Their Music Label and Family Estrangement With Musician Montaigne 27.04.2026 43min

Today’s guest is Jessica Cerro, AKA Montaigne. Montaigne is one of Australia’s most distinct and exciting musicians. The 30-year-old has a certified platinum hit, an ARIAs Breakthrough Artist of the Year title, and represented Australia on the Eurovision stage in 2021. They also compose music for video games. Montaigne released their fourth studio album It's Hard to Be a Fish last year, and is about to head out on the Glorious Heights 10th anniversary tour across the country this August. You can buy tickets here and follow Montaigne on Instagram here. You can watch the interview on YouTube here. Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex VS Alix, Tween Culture Revived, Clavicular & Looksmaxxing Go Mainstream 20.04.2026 50min

Tween media is back, the battle of the Alexs/Alixs, and how looksmaxxing has hit the mainstream media. You can watch our episode on YouTube!Cosy season is here! After a catch-up, we discuss new media news. Glamour is launching in Australia, and W Magazine is launching WYouth, its teenage sister publication. We discuss a recent study that finds that Gen Z is the most active cinemagoing demographic.What’s going on with the two Alexs/Alixs of the internet? We break down the big internet drama of the week between Alex Cooper and Alix Earle. We fill you in on all the details and read from this NYT article. Australian news has made global headlines when Clavicular, a looksmaxxing leader, walked out of a 60 Minutes interview. We reference BBC’s article ‘Inside looksmaxxing, the extreme cosmetic social media trend’ and podcast In Red With The Right’s episode on looksmaxxing. We highly recommend reading Crystal Andrews’ piece for Zee Feed, ‘Clavicular is a media lolcow’.In Bookmarked, Jas recommends the TV series Celebrity Traitors UK and Maggie kinda recommends The Drama, but uses this segment as an excuse to chat about the film more deeply (spoilers ahead!).Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parasocial Fans, Coming Out Online & Being A Private Public Figure With Louis Hanson 14.04.2026 43min

Today’s Culture Club Chats guest is Louis Hanson. Louis is a Melbourne presenter, writer, podcaster, columnist, and comedic content creator. He’s known for his internet comedy sketches, podcast co-hosting duties on Everybody Has A Secret, and writing in publications like The Guardian, GQ, SBS and The Sydney Morning Herald. Now, he’s taking his charismatic self on the road with his first-ever international solo show, Good Boy. In this chat we discuss the inspiration behind his comedy show, the struggle of leaving something you love for your dream, and what it's like being a private public figure. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. Thanks for listening! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tradwife Irony, The Devil Wears Vogue & Man Repeller Slop 13.04.2026 39min

Anna Wintour’s in her personal brand era, leave Aubrey Plaza alone, and the irony of the tradwife movement. You can watch our episode on YouTube!We start off the ep with a chat about the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Repeller's tragic Instagram AI slop buyout. Anna Wintour has fronted the cover of Vogue, alongside Meryl Streep, for the first time ever. Is this a new moment for the famous editor as she departs the ship? Or simply clever marketing for The Devil Wears Prada 2? The Hannah Montana of the publishing industry has been unwigged. Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid, has publicly come out with her true identity. Actress Aubrey Plaza is pregnant and expecting her first child with actor Christopher Abbott, and the internet has thoughts.In Culture Shock, we go to the international influencer community as legacy YouTuber and content creator, Elena Taber has been caught out posting about herself in the infamous r/NYCinfluencersnark Reddit thread. Is this proof that even the most "successful" online creators are affected by being perceived?Next, is the online trad wife trend dying down, or has it reached a new level of normalcy? Nara Smith's 2025 interview with Jay Shetty has resurfaced on X as she rejects the trad wife label, despite profiting from it. The trad wife is also being analysed in the hotly anticipated novel, Yesteryear, by Caro Claire Burke. We read from the ELLE US interview with her.In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the movie I Swear and Jasmine recommends Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A New Beauty Standards Theory, Mahjong's Rebrand & Are Men Getting Woman'd? 06.04.2026 38min

Mahjong’s getting appropriated… again, a TikTok posits a new beauty standards theory, and is this male actor getting woman’d?You can watch this episode on YouTube!We're back with some chit chat about life and Emma Chamberlain's new furniture collab with West Elm.The New York Times published a story in March called Playing Games With The Decor. In the article, they profile the women behind Oh My Mahjong, an "elevated" Mahjong set made by... white women. We dissect the internet's reaction.TikTok user and host of Schauer Thoughts, Sarah Schauer, has posited a beauty standards theory about colour and texture that has us rethinking everything.Next, is Timothee Chalamet the first male celeb to be truly woman'd? The specific type of phenomenon (where the public, usually on social media, suddenly and collectively stops liking a female celebrity or influencer) often only happens to women. But is Timothee Chalamet the first man to experience this specific type of cancellation? We reference writer Otegha Uwagba's article for Grazia UK.In Bookmarked, Jas recommends The Drama in a round-about spoiler-free way while Maggie recommends The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creativity In The Desert & Embracing Change & Self-Doubt With Courtney Barnett 03.04.2026 35min

In this special solo episode of Culture Club Chats, Jas sits down with the Australian musician Courtney Barnett, who has just released her fourth album, Creature of Habit. The album is all about embracing change and journeying through self doubt in your thirties via Courtney’s signature poetic lyricism and instantly recognisable indie-rock melodies. In this chat, Courtney and Jas spoke about her process of writing the album in Joshua Tree, how her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit feels after ten years, harnessing her creativity, and getting “rigorously curious” about indecision and anxiety.Listen to Creature of Habit here. You can follow Courtney on Instagram here. Follow Culture Club on Instagram here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The AI Book Scandal, Hannah Montana Forever & Reboot Fatigue 30.03.2026 40min

The reboots we didn’t ask for, Hannah Montana’s nostalgic trip, and the world’s first major AI book scandal.Reminder, you can watch this episode on YouTube.In chit chat, Jas opens up about her week, including the media preview of KICStudio in Melbourne. In some popcorn culture news, we discuss the 13 Going On 30 reboot announcement, Strangers by Belle Burden is getting a film adaptation, You, Me & Tuscany is finally giving us an original rom-com, as well as our thoughts on the HBO Harry Potter trailer. Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana aired on Disney+ this week and is breaking records. Nostalgia is still thriving.The largest AI book scandal has rocked the publishing world recently. After allegations of heavy AI use, Hachette has withdrawn Shy Girl by Mia Ballad from shelves in the UK and has not been released in the US. We reference the YouTuber who helped uncover this scandal, Frankie's Shelf, and read from Facing Facts by Zowie Douglas-Kinghorn for Kill Your Darlings.In Bookmarked, Jas recommends video essays by Girl On Film, Rachel Barker, particularly Why Women Love Labyrinth Movies. Maggie is still on her horror reading grind and recommends Root Rot by Saskia Nislow.Thank you for listening! Jas and Mags xoPMDD Information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autumn Favourites: Books, Films, Habits, Fashion & More 26.03.2026 27min

Bonus ep time! Given it's a brand new season, we thought we'd sit down for a cosy chat to discuss what we're looking forward to diving into this autumn. Reminder, you can watch this episode on YouTube. Here are the links for our picks! Creativity: Milanote & 642 Things To Write AboutWhat we're reading: Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger Sisters In Yellow by Mieko Kawakami What we're watching: In The Mood For LoveMetropolis SBS MoviesWhat we’re listening to:Oracle Sisters Divinations albumClub Carter RadioMinari SoundtrackWhat recipe we're cooking: Molly Baz’ Mac n GreensZigs Mom bean saladWhat we're wearing:Radical Yes Thelma Shoes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#MomTok Won't Survive This, Olivia Rodrigo's New Era & The Influencer-fication Of Red Carpet Hosts 23.03.2026 51min

Lorde goes independent, in defence of influencer red carpet hosts, and when does reality TV become too toxic? You can watch this episode on YouTube!Olivia Rodrigo is back with a new era, while Lorde has started her own by breaking away from her record label after over 15 years. Club Chalamet is also breaking away from Timothee Chalamet after that Oscars ceremony. Jas tells Maggie about #MomTok and the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives scandal that has created a new low for reality TV. Influencer and Therapuss podcast host Jake Shane is currently copping scathing criticisms over his red carpet shenanigans at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. We reference this scathing article from Variety, as well as a TikTok of Jake Shane being interviewed by Rolling Stone pre-Oscars. In recommendations, we have two Amazon Prime television picks: Overcompensating and Deadloch Season 2. This episode was sponsored by FEELD. Try the Reflections self-discovery tool here to help you think about your desires, boundaries, and relationship style. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside Louis Theroux's Manosphere, Internet It Girls Are Acting, Plus How Linked Are Class & Taste? 16.03.2026 45min

Billie Eilish’s acting debut, Louis Theroux infiltrates the manosphere, and how linked are class and taste? In this week’s episode, we start with Cody Simpson’s recent podcast episode and discuss why all of the It Girls are using acting as a career shift. From Billie Eilish up for a role in The Bell Jar to Emma Chamberlain and Kylie Jenner in The Moment, a whole host of young It Girls are heading to the film medium. We reference Kylie Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover article. Next, Timothee Chalamet has the internet heated after his ballet and opera comments. We touch on the backlash and discuss art and class in the current moment. We reference another Vanity Fair article by Chris Murphy. Louis Theroux has brought the Manosphere to Netflix in his new documentary, Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere. We reference Jess Bacon for Stylist UK and her article, Instead of spotlighting the manosphere, should we not be interrogating how this misogyny translates into the real world?” as well as a review for The Guardian, by journalist Lucy Mangan. We also read from Esquire Magazine’s article, Louis Theroux Wields The Ultimate Weapon: Pity by Miranda Collinge and an interview with Louis Theroux by David Gilbert for WIRED.A joint Bookmarked this week – we both recommend watching Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere. Thanks for listening! We appreciate you <3 Jas & Mags Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.