Straight Up

Welcome back angels! We’ve got a corker of a chat for you today, where first we quickly debrief on our favourite Oscar looks, before getting into The Whale, for which Brendan Fraser took home Best Actor, and Hollywood’s surrounding fat suit controversy. Is the portrayal of his character Charlie is ethical? And why are  weight and morality all too often confused? Plus Jonah Hill’s life-long struggle with his weight and self-image, as portrayed in his Netflix documentary Stutz.Then, we pop the Paul Mescal hype after seeing his arthouse hit Aftersun, which we, unlike the rest of the world, unfortunately did not love. Also, the dreamy Austin Butler as Elvis in the new Baz Lurman film, Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback and Cara Delevingne’s recent renaissance post a much-documented ‘unravelling’. Plus, Kathleen’s favourite new bar discovery, a Mexican meets Japanese underground spot in Notting Hill, Viajante 87.Recommendations: The Whale Stutz on Netflix by Jonah Hill Elvis (Baz Lurman film) Austin Butler on Mark Maron’s podcast Jennifer Lawrence BuzzFeedNo Hard Feelings (JLaw film) Planet Sex on BBC iPlayer with Cara Delevingne Viajante 87 bar, 87 Notting Hill Gate Mae Stevens “If We Ever Broke Up” Miley Cyrus “Endless Summer”Thank you to Huel for supporting this episode. In case you haven't heard, Huel is the game-changing, high protein nutritionally complete meal you can have in a shake that has got both of us into the best shape of our lives, and feeling our healthiest, too! Our fave is the Black Edition – get a free shaker and a T-shirt when you order at huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi darlings, we’re back today with a chat with the man who got us turning our kitchens into dancefloors over the pandemic, and has just released one of the most disco-tastic albums of 2023, AudioLust and HigherLove. SG Lewis (or Sam, to his friends) is, as Kathleen says, a pied piper of the party! Makes sense that he’s also super-producer to some of the world’s biggest stars, from Mabel to Dua Lipa, and has worked with icons such as Elton John.Sam Zoomed us from LA to talk about what his career spent working with some of music’s biggest stars has taught him about fame, money and success, as well as entertaining us with some excellent red carpet stories and revealing what the mysterious ‘songwriter camps’ are really like.Plus we have got all our cocktail loving Huns covered with a review of what might be our top new London bar: SOMA, in Soho. And Ellie gives us the lowdown on her favourite new female comedians for International Women’s Day, while we also both get stuck into the juiciest controversy of the moment, the explosive fallout from HBO’s upcoming show The Idol, which has been accused of ‘male torture porn’. How did a show satirising fame become the very thing it was meant to satire? And what does this mean for its very famous co-creator The Weeknd?Recommendations discussed: SOMA Dans Le Noir? Guilty Feminist Podcast ( IWD episode not yet out!) Comedian Helen Bauer Comedian Michelle de Swarte  The Rolling Stone expose on The IdolEnjoy!Thank you to Huel for making this episode possible. Huel is a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake in a load of amazing flavours, and which has totally changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up today darlings is a whistlestop recommendation rundown for New York, where Ellie celebrated her 30th last week, followed by a blow-by-blow look at the car crash that is the Peltz-Beckham wedding lawsuit drama. Then, a further debrief on the unofficial first family of Britain, from whether we think Victoria Beckham is a nice person, featuring *alleged* intel from Kathleen, who once met one of the Beckham’s nannies, to Ellie’s experience of interviewing a rather handsy David.Also on the topic of weddings, we cover the rise of the “couple podcast” and debrief one of Kathleen’s fave new discoveries, Jaime Laing’s Nearlyweds, plus, our new celebrity crush, the actor Mia Goth who is currently starring in Infinity Pool, the new horror dubbed “White Lotus for sickos” and is the lead in two of Ellie’s favourite horror films, X and Pearl (out now).We also get stuck into Paris Hilton’s decision to use a surrogate because of her crippling phobia of childbirth, which was triggered, in part, by the abuse she experienced at boarding school, as well as the revelation that her sextape “One Night In Paris” was the first bit of porn either of us ever saw (we’re so sorry! We understand the ethics of this now!). Finally, a debrief of Selena Gomez’s documentary My Mind and Me, in particular the excruciating press day scenes and her incredible mental health advocacy.Then a hilarious look at former Elle Editor Farah Storr’s latest Substack newsletter, where she gives “the world’s best restaurant” a brutally honest review that reads just like the amazing chef thriller we recently recommended, The Menu.Recommendations discussed: Homefire by by Kamila Shamsie Big Vogue Still Trying to Push the Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Agenda, Gawker Nearlyweds podcast with Jaime Lang and Sophie Haboo Jaime Lang on Elizabeth’s Day’s How To Fail Infinity Pool starring Mia Goth X and Pearl both starring Mia Goth Paris Hilton’s Glamour cover story Diary of a CEO episodes with Romesh Ranganathan, Richard Hammond and Charlie Sloth Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, Apple TV The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Dave Farah Storr’s review of “the world’s best restaurant” Noma, Substack Jay Rayner’s Le Cinq review for the GuardianNYC recommendations: The Williamsburg Gotham Comedy Club The Book Club in East Village The Sex Museum Lafayette for brunch Misi for brown butter pasta Sunday in Brooklyn Tompkins Square Bagels Dante bar in Chelsea for $10 martinis Little Ned cocktail barThanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightupGet 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/And thanks VERY much to Shure for gifting us our sexy new mics, the MV7s, which we can highly recommend to any new or current podcasters. Grab yours at Shure.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi gorgeous ones, this week we have the equally gorgeous Mae Muller in the studio, who many of you will no doubt recognise from her absolute belter I Just Came to Dance which was permanently on the radio just before Christmas, as well as her viral TIkTok hit Better Days which she even performed on Jimmy Fallon. Trust us when we tell you she’s gonna be a star!Over her fave drink, an Aperol Spritz, we had such a fun chat talking everything from first unglamorous jobs to dating in the public eye and her (now broken) year long celibacy journey. Plus, how fame has impacted her body image, why she’s built an all-female team around her and her most memorable ‘don’t you know who I am?’ moment.Another highlight was debating over the pros and cons of Stan culture, and we almost died laughing when Mae took the opportunity to beg her fans to change their fandom name from the.. ahem…Mullshitters.Check out Mae Muller's amazing music and her socials here: https://bio.to/MaeMuller Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppodThanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode:Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sorry about the hangovers, huns, because first up today we’re give you the full behind the scenes debrief on the Brit Awards, where we had a rather raucous evening on Saturday night, starting with drinks at the gorgeous Shoreditch bar Seed Library and culminating with the star-studded Universal Records party at Soho House’s 180 The Strand. We then get stuck into all the other biggest talking points of the past week, from Rihanna’s epic pregnancy reveal at the Superbowl, to the Chat GPT takeover, as well as our top TV and podcast picks right now, from HBOs’ zombie masterpiece The Last of Us, to Strippers In The Attic, a no-holds-barred series on what really goes down at strip clubs. Enjoy darlings and as ever please rate, review, subscribe and send this episode to a friend!Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppodRecommendations discussed: Seed Library at 100 Shoreditch ( our fave bar discovery of 2023!). Book via seedlibraryshoreditch.com Watch RiRi at the Superbowl via NFL's YouTube The Last of Us on HBO Happy Valley Next Level Chef on ITV X Strippers in The Attic podcast 'The Last of Us’s gay love story breaks new ground for an entire genre' The IndependentThanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightupGet 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gang we are so excited to have none other than RAYE on the podcast this week, one of our favourite artists and an absolute icon on the British music scene at just 25-years-old. The South London gal released her debut album independently on 3 Feb after a very public dispute with her label last summer – they’d stifled her and controlled her creatively for seven years – and now, is telling her story on her own terms and enjoying more commercial success than ever before (her most recent amaze single, Escapism, went to No1). Ellie was unwell for this one (*sob*) and so Kathleen sat down to talk to RAYE about her incredible journey and resilience, from surviving abuse at the hands of the music industry’s darkest figures, to thriving as an independent artist after calling out injustice. We get deep about forgiveness, standing up for artists, Black Mirror-worthy media events, the power of therapy and finally having your moment.Check out RAYE’s incredible album My 21st Century Blues here: https://raye.orcd.co/m21cbLet us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppodThanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting, and is helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money. huel.com/straightupGet 10% off your first month of therapy with our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get your discount at https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi darlings, this week we get stuck into some VERY juicy topics, starting with, is the new Amy Winehouse biopic doomed to fail? Plus, having watched the brand new Pamela Anderson documentary on Netflix, how much did her sex tape colour the public view of her? And can sex tapes ever be empowering?Also, having both watched the very entertaining black comedy The Menu, about an acclaimed pompous (and murderous) chef starring our fave Anya Taylor Joy, we reminisce over some of our most absurd memories reviewing some of the world’s finest restaurants (it’s a hard life huns).Finally, is there more to J Lo’s new marriage romcom than meets the eye, and why Miley Cyrus’s Liam Hemsworth revenge song Flowers is the latest savvy mood in celebrity meta marketing.Let us know what you think by reviewing the episode on Spotify or dropping us a DM on Insta @straightuppodThanks so much to our amazing sponsor for this episode:Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightupRecommendations discussed:Pamela, a love story on Netflix‘Pamela Anderson: The only man to treat me with respect? Hugh Hefner’, The TimesThe Menu on Disney Plus and in cinemasShotgun Wedding on Amazon PrimeAn Attempt to Make Sense of the Jennifer Lopez Wedding Industrial-Complex Canon, VultureMiley Cyrus FlowersMiley thread: https://twitter.com/mileycyrusvibez/status/1614391250396012545 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can’t quite believe we’re saying this huns but we had the man, the legend AKON in the studio with us recently to celebrate his new TikTok EP TT Freak and it was all we hoped and more. We had the most amazing chat about everything from growing up between New Jersey and Senegal and how his time in prison inspired his major hit Locked Up, to discovering Lady Gaga, working with Whitney Houston and becoming TikTok’s most streamed star.Plus Akon got real on our favourite topic of fame, revealing why so many stars are selfish, greedy and give nothing back to their communities. He also spoke honestly about why musicians like Kanye West need to care less about music, and why - controversially - he still stands by Michael Jackson. And, our favourite moment of the interview, he invites us to his favourite strip club! We shall attend and report back.Let us know what you think by leaving us a review on Apple or Spotify, or you can DM us on insta @straightuppodThank you to our two incredible sponsors:Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightupIf you’re nervous about starting your therapy journey this year, then check out our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get 10% off your first month by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We read Prince Harry’s memoir so you don’t have to, huns, and good grief do we have thoughts. We trawl through the juiciest revelations (especially the ones that haven't made the headlines) and debate over some of Spare's most contentious points, from Harry's obsession with the press and the royal family's strange dysfunction, to whether he'll eventually regret going into such microscopic detail about his sibling rivalry with William. Plus, has online discourse around cutting off ‘toxic’ people done more harm than good, and is it leading to an ‘estrangement’ epidemic?Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppodThanks so much to our amazing sponsors for this episode:Helping us to get back to the gym, build muscle and save money is Huel, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightupIf you’re nervous about starting your therapy journey this year, then check out our new paid advertiser BetterHelp: the flexible and affordable online therapy service which can match you with a therapist within 48 hours, with video or phone sessions starting from £50 a week. Get 10% off your first month by visiting https://www.betterhelp.com/straightup2023/Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercyKathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnstonEllie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy new year huns! After a restful Christmas of pigs in blankets and Oatnog we’re suitably fattened up and raring to go for 2023 at Straight Up HQ, with plenty of juicy, eye-opening interviews about the murky world of celebrity.In this episode we’re joined by the fabulous Baby Queen, the 25-year-old South African born, London-based artist who many new fans might recognise from Netflix’s Heartstopper soundtrack, for what is perhaps our most revealing interview to date – like, EVER!Baby Queen, AKA Bella, spills the tea on just how twisted the music business actually still is, even in its green juice era, from toxic male managers and the prevalence of drugs, to abuse and manipulation, the sexism, the self-medicating and the mental health costs that are all practically part and parcel of being a performer. Bella digs deep into her own “bright lights syndrome” and the narcissism inherent in artistry, while talking through a recent identity-crisis, navigating ADHD, and her battles with depression, revealing how they are, for her, intertwined with being in the spotlight. Plus, we talk everything from therapy and why Bella says she is never, ever having children, to video games and why the name “Baby Queen” triggered an existential crisis.Let us know what you think by replying with a comment on Spotify or sending us an Insta DM @straightuppodThank you to our gorgeous sponsors for making this episode happen:Black-lines, the amazing bottled cocktail company behind our fave winter tipple Oatnog. A dairy-free take on the Eggnog, it’s made with Minor Figures oat milk, buttery rum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, and you can serve it hot or cold. We are obsessed! Try it for yourself by using the code STRAIGHTUP15 at checkout for 15% off. Check them out hereHuel, our January saviour helping us to get back into the gym, build muscle and save money with Huel Black Edition, a high protein, nutritionally complete meal that you can have in a shake and which has changed the game for us since we started weight lifting. Vegan, naturally-flavoured, free from nasties, complete with 26 vitamins and minerals and, most importantly, extremely tasty, it’s the easiest way to up your protein intake and make those gains. huel.com/straightupDame, the world’s first climate positive period brand, making products that are both healthier for you and the planet and which has already saved hundreds of millions of pieces of plastic from going into landfill. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.