Hi listeners! A reminder that you can receive a few extra Bookmarked recommendations on our Substack, plus you can watch this episode on YouTube. Lots of pop culture popcorn this episode, so grab your coffee/ tea and settle in.

Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams has been accosted by Parisian paparazzi and is fed up. Is this warranted or is it one standard for celebrity women versus men? We reference this post by creator Susan Hyatt.

This past week, Marie Claire Australia was called out on the global stage (including on Saint Hoax) for an AI gaffe. We reference a report on it via Crikey's daily news column The Snoop, and ask if, rather than blaming the writer, it's a symptom of a systemic rot in the media industry worldwide. 

The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan is out now, and Zendaya has been STUNNING on red carpets during its press tour. One showstopping angel-inspired dress we reference is by French label Matières Fécales (aka Fecal Matter). Another was by Schiaparelli and had to be personally private jetted from Paris to London ahead of the premiere. We reference the original video by fashion creator ly.as. 

In Bookmarked, Jas enjoyed First Light, the debut feature from Filipino-Australian James J. Robinson. You can see it in select cinemas now. Maggie recommends The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder. 

Thank you for listening! 

Jas & Mags xo 

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Jas

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

Maggie and I are in a private book club that we talk about here and there but refrain from turning into another (intentionally) content-ified/ monetised aspect of our lives. This weekend, to celebrate the club’s fourth birthday, 10 of us headed up to Mount Dandenong, about an hour from Melbourne. We rented a big, beautiful house (it was giving 90s Nancy Meyer energy), got into our trackies and slippers, and spent two days hanging out. Our friend Hayley is an illustrator and designed the sweetest bookish jumpers with books we’ve read on the front.

We wandered into the town of Olinda for coffee and vintage shopping, made communal meals, drank wine, read books and crafted. Bliss. It was a lovely moment of female friendship and a reminder of how a seemingly small part of your life can turn into one of the most treasured if you invest time and care into it. You can see more bits of it on my Instagram.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to this week?

After getting back from book club retreat, I cosied up on the sofa with my husband, Laurie and finally (!!) watched Anatomy Of A Fall. I remember all of the hype around the film in 2023 but never got around to it. A Sunday afternoon was the perfect condition to contemplate the plot: a German writer living with her French husband and visually impaired son goes on trial after her husband is found dead outside their chalet having (seemingly) fallen from the third floor. It’s a beautiful autopsy of love, ambition, and family. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d highly recommend. It’s currently free to stream on SBS.

What are you looking forward to this week?

After having been in Sydney, then Brisbane, then Mount Dandenong, I’m looking forward to spending time at home pottering around – so boring, I know. There are also two events at the end of the week that I’m excited for (but I’ll have to give you the debrief in next week’s newsletter).

Maggie

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

Our book club retreat was such bliss! It reminded me that holidays and big group trips don’t have to be super expensive or overly planned out. We rented a house an hour away and had the loveliest, relaxing weekend. We mostly stayed in and leisured around. A favourite moment was when we were all parallel playing in the living room. People were reading, doing crosswords, book journaling, wedding day journaling, junk journaling, knitting, crocheting and jewellery-making. Wholesome!

What did you watch/ read/ listen to this week?

I’m (unintentionally) on my 2001 film bullshit. I watched Legally Blonde, then Amelie. Both, in their own way, are so zingy and fun. I love how visually rich these films are; the sets, costuming and film quality are so inviting.

What are you looking forward to this week?

I recently went to one of KICStudio’s somatic classes and found it invigorating and quite moving. I went to its Energise Pilates class, which plays with cardio, endurance, rhythm, breathwork and meditation. It was a glorious mix of hard work and tender inner work. I’m looking forward to going back!

On This Week’s Episode…

A sexist paparazzi double standard, an AI gaffe in the Australian media, plus Zendaya’s Odyssey looks (including one that created some headlines).

See you at 6am AEST Tuesday morning for Culture Club podcast.

Thanks for reading (and listening/ watching this week)! If there’s something in particular you’d love to see or hear from Culture Club, just let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share what you loved reading, watching or listening to this week. We LOVE hearing it and adding to our ever-growing lists.

Jas & Mags xo

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A reminder that we are on YouTube AND now Substack! 

Consisting of siblings William Gao and Olivia Hardy, Wasia Project was formed in 2019 and grew during the COVID lockdowns when Olivia and Will were just teenagers. After two EPs and a hit track that was picked up by Heartstopper, Wasia Project’s debut album Nocturne is dropping later this year, on September 18.

Described as “turning coming-of-age angst into catharsis”, Nocturne is a ballad-filled, soaring pop album that explores growing up in a fractured digital world, all backed by the siblings’ classical music training.

We sat down with the British band when they were on their small world tour to chat about their first album, Heartstopper's impact, and how to collaborate when you work with your sibling.

In recommendations, Will enjoyed Heretic on the plane over to Australia, while Olivia recently picked up A Philosophy of Walking by Frederic Gros.

Thank you for listening and being a part of the Culture Club world <3 

Jas & Mags xo

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When the pandemic’s lockdowns forced the siblings into even closer proximity, Wasia Project grew and now has EPs and singles with streams in the tens of millions. Around the same time, Will was cast as Tao Xu in the hugely popular Netflix series, Heartstopper.

Wasia Project’s debut album Nocturne is out on September 18, which feels like way too long to wait (especially now that we’ve heard it for ourselves). The album marks a turning point for the siblings, who are now in their early twenties, and explores relationships, identity, and leaving your childhood behind to chase your dreams.

The pair were in Sydney last month for two sold-out piano shows at The Vanguard, as well as a VIP fan listening event that your girls themselves (Culture Club podcast) hosted. It was a joy to chat with Will and Olivia about the creative process and stories behind a handful of songs and to interview them on the podcast, which you can watch or listen to on Culture Club tomorrow morning.

Our interview is a behind-the-curtain look at the endlessly cool (and chilled) siblings and a chance to learn more about their relationship to fans (theirs and Heartstoppers), growing up in London, and what they hope for with the release of Nocturne.

Ahead: a quickfire teaser (and Substack exclusive interview) with the band to get you ready for our full chat that will be in your inboxes at 6am AEST. Enjoy.

What's a non-negotiable when on tour?

Olivia: Headphones or earphones. I need to drown out the yap of my family. That's a must, as I discovered halfway through a very long tour, and I just dropped like £500 on some headphones because I was desperate. Desperate times.

What’s your favourite city in the world?

Will: London.

Olivia: I prefer the countryside. All kinds, but I very much like the English countryside.

What’s a must-do when you’re in London as Londoners?

Olivia: Go to a gallery (the Tate Modern or National), a museum, or a show of any kind because there is an amazing cultural arts community there and it’s very accessible. England has so many good bookshops, especially in London. Hatchard’s in Piccadilly or Foyles in Soho.

Will: My favourite is Waterstones in Islington. (Laughs)

What’s your ideal Sunday morning?

Will: Coffee, sun, go for a walk. Enjoy the views of the water source that’s nearby my apartment.

What’s your death row meal?

Will: Apple crumble.

Olivia: It might be Thai food. That could also be because I had an amazing Thai meal recently. And it was just… life-changing. Also being in East Asia. Like, a Bintang beer, crab fried rice, curry. Perfect.

Thanks for reading (and listening/ watching this week)! If there’s something in particular you’d love to see or hear from Culture Club, just let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share what you loved reading, watching or listening to this week. We LOVE hearing it and adding to our ever-growing lists.

Jas & Mags xo

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Hi listeners! A reminder that we are on YouTube AND now Substack! More Culture Club, woo hoo!

In this week's episode, we start with Maggie's Zoella update and the TikTok comment that had her bf Tom blushing. We also chit chat about Ashley Tisdale's Toxic Moms TV show (inspired by her public friendship drama earlier this year), as well as the cringe marketing tactics brands posted after the Empire State proposal.

After our Kylie Jenner Meta glasses post popped off, in this week's episode, we chat about the rise of celebrity Finstas. In The Finsta Renaissance Is Here for Nylon, the writer Sam Tracy shares some examples of the finstas and asks why people are creating second (yet public) accounts. Lizzo is back in the headlines after her latest album Bitch failed to chart after dropping on June 5. During an interview with "Swiftologist" last week, Lizzo reflected on the poor sales and discussed the phenomenon of the Khia Asylum. We break down the internet space and read from Sending Women To The ‘Khia Asylum’ Is Music’s Latest Cruel Trend. But It Reflects An Old Historical Bias by James Hall for The Conversation, as well as The Guardian's 2/5 star review of Bitch. We also hear from PhD candidate Sascha Samlal, whose research focuses on fan culture and shame and had a differing perspective on the Khia Asylum than James/ The Conversation did. You can hear her full take in our Substack this week.

In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the Chinese family drama film, Dear You, while Jas recommends the new Australian history podcast from the ABC, The Dead Can't Sue.

Thank you for being a part of the Culture Club world <3 We appreciate you!

Jas & Mags xo

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Welcome back to Culture Club’s Substack. If you’re new here, we’re a weekly podcast by two writers and editors analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet. Here’s a little insight into what we’ve loved watching, reading and listening to this week, as well as a sizzle for this week’s ep…

Maggie

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

I’m reporting back on the cheese festival I mentioned last week! I had a couple of lovely followers and listeners come up and say hi. I’m very glad we are in this cheese Venn diagram together. My favourite cheeses I picked up include: Stone & Crow’s Nightwalker, Milawu’s Blue and Long Paddock’s Banksia. A soft cow, a blue and a semi-hard Italian. Not the start of a bad joke, but a snapshot of the cheese I love.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

Search Engine is one of my favourite tech culture podcasts. I think it’s at its best when it deep dives into a human-centric dilemma. Case in point, its episode “Why doesn’t anybody come to my parties?” is a compelling and voyeuristic look at why one woman can’t seem to get the party attendees she wants. Though awkward and uncomfortable at times, it’s an episode you won’t be able to pause.

What are you looking forward to this week?

My friend Hayley is famous for throwing gorgeous parties. She turns it up – making delicious food and cocktails, and decking her sharehouse out. This week, she’s throwing a Winter Solstice party (never mind it’s a fortnight after the actual solstice). The theme? Dark and moody, winter witchy chic. I’ve been getting into witches recently (sizzle for a future ep…), so this aligns perfectly.

Jas

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

I’ve spent the weekend in Brisbane visiting friends and family and spending a lot of time on the couch, so, for the sake of Content, will share a highlight from earlier in the week. Maggie and I hosted Wasia Project’s fan listening party in Sydney ahead of their one-night-only piano show. It was a joy to be in a room full of fans. A highlight (aside from getting to chat with Wasia Project) was staying at Ace Hotel (who also have their own Substack) and having a meal at Kiln Sydney! It felt like we were in New York, sipping on martinis and celebrating a career highlight with a delicious meal together. If you’re in Sydney, definitely plan a trip to the hotel-restaurant.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

Being hungover on Sunday meant a smattering of films half-watched whilst plastered to the couch. Not very highbrow, but I thought it was the perfect mindset for watching Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did films one and two. Maybe it was my lack of brain cells, though. It’s an easy watch and I’m absolutely obsessed with Millie Bobby Brown eviscerating Louis Partridge in the press tour.

What are you looking forward to this week?

I’m in Brisbane for a while longer, so am looking forward to a pilgrimage to Idle Bakery for a coffee and pastry while reading my non-fiction book, Good Witch, by Lucianne Tonti, which is out later this month (cough, Culture Club Chats, cough).

Breaking Out Of The Khia Asylum

ICYMI, last week our post and podcast about the Kylie Jenner Meta Glasses and tech surveillance went off. Properly viral. We’re so glad we weren’t alone in feeling suspicious about the AI marketing that directly targets young women.

This comment by Teach Us Consent got us thinking as well.

On this week’s episode of Culture Club, we discuss Lizzo’s new album Bitch and her interview with the Swiftologist where she references being in the Khia Asylum.

If you haven’t heard of the Khia Asylum, it’s a metaphorical space (that’s said to have roots in fan twitter), for people who have lost their public “relevance”. The name stems from American one-hit wonder Khia, known for her 2002 track, My Neck, My Back (Lick It).

In this week’s episode, we reference an article in The Conversation titled Sending Women To The ‘Khia Asylum’ Is Music’s Latest Cruel Trend. But It Reflects An Old Historical Bias by James Hall.

We also hear from Sascha Shamal, a PhD candidate from the University of Melbourne who commenced her research project Shame and the Figure of the Fangirl: The Social Dynamic of Shame in Popular Music Fandom Online in 2023.

In the episode, we play a snippet of her take, but if you’re a pop culture fan like us, you can listen to Sascha’s 10-minute voice note below. Be sure to download the ep tomorrow!

Thanks for reading (and listening/ watching this week)! If there’s something in particular you’d love to see or hear from Culture Club, just let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share what you loved reading, watching or listening to this week. We LOVE hearing it and adding to our ever-growing lists.

Jas & Mags xo

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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.

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Welcome back to Culture Club’s Substack. This is a space where we can connect further with our loyal listeners, share what we’ve loved watching, reading or listening to, and a little insight into our weeks.

Scroll to the end of the letter to see what’s in store for this week’s episode as well!

Jas

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

On Friday night, Saturday lunch and Saturday evening I went to three different friends' houses to hang out. Friday night was originally pitched as going out to a restaurant to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen in over two months but she suggested I just go round to her house and we eat a home-cooked meal in our comfy clothes without the pressure of a $40 main and $89 bottle of wine. Saturday, I spent a few hours on a friend’s sofa drinking tea and cuddling her new baby and Saturday night was a housewarming party. My point is that sometimes the best hangouts aren’t where you go to the coolest wine bar but instead rock up on your friends’ doorstep without a plan or a time to leave. Bring back casual hangouts.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

I found so much great new music last week. A highlight was discovering the single Whatever You Wanna by Annabelle Dinda. I think it’s currently blowing up on TikTok and I love the indie-folk style to it, and her harmonies scratch my brain. I loved it so much I made my own wedding FanCam edit on Instagram. You can just do that, you know.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Maggie and I are flying up to Sydney this week for a very exciting Culture Club opp (more to come!) and I’m excited to stay at the Ace Hotel and get brunch from Paramount Coffee Project. It’s a must-do when in Surry Hills.

Maggie

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

I had a Very Chinese Day on Saturday. Nine of my extended family members went out to our favourite yum cha in the city, Secret Kitchen, before watching a new Chinese film released this week in Australia. It’s called Dear You, and it’s super special because it’s in the dialect my family speaks, called Teochew. I really loved it. It was gut-wrenchingly sad, but also had elements of sweetness and humour. I particularly loved how it portrayed so many different types of love. Afterwards, Tom and I went to a mahjong party. Although, to be honest, I was just by the snack table.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

I just listened to From The Diving Board’s episode, Hyperfemininity Does Not Equal Submission To Patriarchy with Rosie Okotcha. It was such a great crossover – I love FTDB’s take on digital culture through a considered, progressive and critical lens, and I love fashion historian Rosie Okotcha’s nuance and knowledge. The conversation was based on the Olivia Rodrigo babydoll controversy, but it travelled far past that. They asked what rebellion looks like in the face of counter-culture, how celebrities communicate via fashion, and whether hyper-femininity has to be tied to the patriarchy.

What are you looking forward to this week?

I’m going to a cheese festival! I went last year; it’s called Mould. I picked up some really good cheese last time, and I’m excited to find new faves. I’ll just have to eat the many slabs of cheese already in my fridge before then…

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

In this week’s pop culture episode, we take a look (ha) at Meta’s rebranding of their AI glasses. The tech company has released a range of AI-powered sunglasses and partnered with Kylie Jenner for the launch. The Meta Starfire Glasses, Kylie Edition start from AUD $629 and allow users to ask questions, get recommendations, manage daily tasks, and receive help based on what the glasses can see.

They’re also voiced by Miss Kylie Jenner herself which Women’s Wear Daily described as a “husky, seductive, slightly lilting voice”… okay….

Was all it took for the tech overlords to infiltrate society even more simply putting their product on a Kar-Jenner? The marketing girlies would say yes.

Thanks for reading (and listening/ watching this week)! If there’s something in particular you’d love to see or hear from Culture Club, just let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share what you loved reading, watching or listening to this week. We LOVE hearing it and adding to our ever-growing lists.

Jas & Mags xo

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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

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Hello, lovely listeners.

Welcome to Culture Club’s Substack! This is our space to share even MORE of what we’ve been loving watching, reading and listening to, as well as a preview of what’s on this week’s episode.

We know you lot love a curriculum, so we’re giving subscribers a reading list ahead of the weekly pop culture episodes, a behind-the-scenes look at our weeks, plus recommendations straight from the mouths of our Culture Club Chats guests.

We run Culture Club alongside our other work and invest any money we earn from the podcast back into the business (studio hire, audio editing costs). If you’ve ever enjoyed an episode of Culture Club, shared one of our posts or learnt something from us, then please consider becoming a Founding Member, AKA a Culture Club bestie.

For $8 a month (less than buying us our daily oat flat whites), you’ll receive the free, weekly Culture Club newsletter (containing even more Bookmarked recommendations and a little sizzle of what we chat about in the upcoming eps before they’re published on Tuesday mornings). You’ll also have first access to any bonus episodes, IRL events or ticketed panel events. Once a month, Culture Club besties will receive an alternating essay from Maggie and Jas as well.

Most importantly, you’ll be supporting independent media and helping to give us more resources to keep doing what we LOVE. AKA breaking down the internet’s latest pop culture and arts conversations and reminding everyone that yes, it is actually That Deep. So, subscribe, share it with a friend, and please let us know in the comments what YOU’VE loved recently.

If you’re completely new here, welcome! Culture Club podcast is a weekly podcast analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet, hosted by Melbourne-based writers and editors Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou.

We’ve been publishing episodes since 2020 and have covered everything from the moral panic-fication of Olivia Rodrigo’s babydoll dress to the manosphere and Gen Z’s obsession with indie horror films.

We’re both writers, editors and content creators by trade with bylines across Refinery29, ABC, frankie, RUSSH, ELLE, Dazed, VICE and more. This means we take an editorial and journalistic approach to every celebrity headline and TikTok trend that falls across our FYPs.

Outside of our regular pop culture episodes, we also host our interview series, Culture Club Chats. We’ve interviewed guests including Louis Hanson, Jessica Mauboy, Hannah Ferguson, The Beaches, authors Bri Lee and Mona Awad, and many more.

Check them out here. Thanks for being here and we hope you enjoy being a part of the Culture Club world.

First up, some recs from our weekend:

Maggie

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

A lovely long potluck lunch at my friend Hayley’s house. There was no purpose behind it, nothing we were celebrating, but it turned out to be the perfect way to spend a cold winter’s day. I made this yummy dill pickle salad (it’s vegan and gluten free) and we talked on the couch for hours.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

I went to the movies! I forgot that with an Uber One membership, you can get $12 Hoyts tickets, so I’m now abusing that. I saw Disclosure Day, directed by Steven Spielberg. The best part about it was Emily Blunt’s acting. She’s incredible.

Favourite meal you ate in the last week?

I made homemade pizza when my friend Allie came over on Saturday night. We watched The School of Rock and ate it on the couch. Nothing fancy at all, just flatbread bases and a lot of cheese. Delish.

Jas

What was your favourite moment over the weekend?

My Aunt held a long Sunday lunch to celebrate the winter solstice. We’ve passed the darkest and longest day of the year, Southern Hemisphere friends! The lunch started at 1pm, went on until 6pm and ended with Cluedo and watching home movies by the fireplace. Heaven. My aunt bought traditional American homemade pies (apple and blueberry) from Cherry Pie in Docklands, Melbourne. They were insanely good and it’s going to be hard not to buy one for every Sunday meal.

What did you watch/ read/ listen to?

I had Saturday night alone house and dog sitting for my best friend’s parents so I binge-watched Margo’s Got Money Troubles. I started watching it for Elle Fanning and the Only Fans alien story, and stayed for the gripping family drama and tragic custody battle. It also reminded me how good Rico Nasty is and confirmed my belief that Elle Fanning can play any character. You can watch it on Apple TV.

Favourite meal you ate in the last week?

Outside of the aforementioned family lunch, Maggie kept me company housesitting on Thursday night and we ate Thai food while prepping for this week’s episode, which you can get a preview of below…

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

In this week’s pop culture episode, we dive into the rise of social media content that’s focused on loneliness. You’ve probably seen it on your FYP – women making aesthetic POV videos titled “you live alone in NYC and have no friends so your nights look like this” or “you’re single, have no friends, live alone and won’t be having kids so this is your Friday night.””.

In The Cut, writer Rachel Pick investigates the rise of this type of content and asks if it’s healthy or perpetuating the ongoing loneliness crisis. Hear our thoughts on tomorrow’s episode and read Rachel’s article titled Loneliness Influencers Inside the Luxurious Tedium of “I have No Friends” TikTok”.

We also reference a Substack article titled Heidegger and the Illusion of Aestheticized Loneliness by Caitlyn Richardson of Milk Fed.

Thanks for reading (and listening/ watching this week)! If there’s something in particular you’d love to see or hear from Culture Club, just let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share what you loved reading, watching or listening to this week. We LOVE hearing it and adding to our ever growing lists.

Jas & Mags xo

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Here are the links for our picks!

Skincare

Dr Jart Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 | Exfoliating Face Toner


Aesop Sublime Replenishing Night Masque

Makeup

MERIT Flush Balm

Books

Tillinghast by Clare Cavenagh

The In Between by Christos Tsiolkas

Films

The Airport Chaplain (series)

2007 Films

Lars and the Real Girl

Music

Daniel Caesar’s Son of Spergy

Olivia Rodrigo's You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Thank you for listening! Jas & Mags xo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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