Straight Up

Hey huns! Autumn is finally upon us so we recorded this among plenty of scented candles and some steaming mugs of tea, while sinking our teeth into yet MORE controversy, this time about much-talked about new Marilyn Monroe film, Blonde, which has been accused of 'torture porn' and exploiting Marilyn's life. Ellie went to see the film on Sunday and gives us the DL, while we both give our verdict on Don't Worry Darling, having seen it after our blow-by-blow account of all the drama last week. And guess what... there's yet more drama!! Kathleen also shares her top Manchester tips having just spent a weekend there, from the luxurious but affordable Dakota Hotel two minutes from the main station, to the incredible, ultra-trendy Spanish spot Canto and the rooftop cocktail heaven for sprawling city views.   Plus, why you all need to watch the best-written show of 2022: The Bear, about a f**ed up chef in the hottest white T-shirt you will ever see on a man, and his heart-warming attempts to rescue his late brother's bankrupt Chicago sandwich shop. We may have gone off on a tangent (as always) and ended up discussing a strange chef who once gave Kathleen a VERY inappropriate Secret Santa present.  Finally, what is it about women and jealousy? Why do we covet each other's 'lot' so much, and why don't men? These are the questions prompted by Anna Hope's book Expectation, and we get deep into our own personal jealousies and what they mean. Enjoy, leave us a review, and hop into our DMs to let us know what you thought of DWD and Blonde. We'd love to know! Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy

Ladies and gents, check your prudery at the door, because we have one hell of a cheeky little episode for you this week, jam-packed with stories about sex, sex and...more sex.  First up, a peek behind the curtain of what it's really like to be dating as a Gen Z in London right now, from vows of celibacy to sex positive sex parties and Feeld threesomes, as Ellie reveals alllll the juicy research she recently did for a Vogue article on whether young people are in the grips of a "sex recession". Then Kathleen gives us the lowdown on her favourite racy show right now, Uncoupled, which fans of Sex and the City are going to absolutely love – though does it revisit the same problematic tropes as And Just Like That? Plus, the brilliant book no one is talking about but absolutely should be: Trouble, by Marise Gaughan, who writes viscerally about the sexually destructive behaviour she experienced in the wake of her father's suicide, which included sleeping with older men for money. Ok, then the Netflix J Lo documentary Halftime isn't about sex at all, but it DID prompt a very lively discussion between us about J Lo's motivations: cynical branding or pure hearted sob story? And finally we both vent our ancient millennial bafflement at the "ironic" trends sweeping fashion right now, from Ketamine chic to coastal grandma. Ps: we are now taking a two week break as we go off and record with some amazing new guests, but we'll be back on September 8th, so don't go anywhere! Please leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod.  Don't forget that you can still redeem your 50% off your first Grubby vegan recipe box with the code STRAIGHTUP . Thank you so much to our amazing partner Grubby for their delicious boxes packed with more than 6 vegetables, we still cannot stop thinking about the onion bhaji burger we made earlier... Thank you also to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Yes huns, you read that correctly, we have got Aitch, man of the moment and one of the UK’s most adored musicians, on the show! We had Aitch over for some daiquiris (his fave) at our home at BRXTN Studios ahead of his debut album Close to Home coming out next Friday, and had one of our most mad, most chaotic chats yet which reveals a whole new unseen side to Aitch that will have you obsessed with him on a whole new level. It’s not often rappers really talk about how much fame has really affected them, but here Aitch reveals the highs and lows of becoming one of the world’s most recognisable stars, whilst also explaining why he tries hard never to complain about fame (until we made him, soz). We get deep on everything from privacy (his blue eyes give him away every time) and relationships (you won’t believe what some fans send his mum…) to the weirdest things he reads about himself on the internet and the misconceptions he wants to correct. PLUS what does Aitch get up to when he’s not being famous? He talks all about his fave restaurants, his secret nerdy love for one particular film franchise, and why he’s destined for Hollywood. And finally, this week we hit him with one particularly weird Straight Up SOS, which involves Kathleen and her dog’s balls. You'll have to hear it for yourself. Thank you SO much to our two amazing partners for this episode. First, Q Acoustics, where you can get the best quality, affordable speakers that will transform the way you listen to music AND watch films on your TV. Try the super sexy M20s. Second, Grubby, the UK’s first 100% plant-based, vegan recipe boxes, which not only taste banging, but have six portions of veg in every box and take just 30 mins to whip up after work for a super healthy meal. Use the exclusive and mouth-watering discount code STRAIGHTUP for a 50% off on your first box, and 20%  on your next three! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

We've got another culture fix for you this week gang, from why LSD and magic mushrooms are good for you (they could have even stopped the Vietnam war!) to the novel everyone is talking about, and Hollywood's latest controversy. Have you seen or read Where The Crawdad's Sing? Well hunnies, strap in for a wild ride covering the unfortunate miscasting of Daisy Edgar Jones, the real-life murder allegations surrounding the publication, and, in all honesty, the quite frankly sickening corniness of the tweeting eagle. Also, the novel of 2022, I'm Sorry You Felt That Way, by British author Rebecca Wait and how we much we loved it – despite it being fairly triggering to say the least. We hope you enjoy and please do let us know if you have any recommendations for us, we absolutely love to hear from you and would ask that you please keep the fans art  coming. Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

This week’s guest might just be our most favourite ever, not least because he carried our mics for us after this interview – how cute is that?! You guys are going to LOVE Bradley Simpson, frontman of The Vamps, as much as we do, as we dig deep in this wide-ranging chat covering everything from what it was like to become famous as a teenager in one of the biggest bands in British pop history (fun fact: they were the first band to headline the 02 Arena five nights in a row), to their frustration with female fans getting a bad rep, the wildest thing their fans have ever done and how he really struggled with the band going on a break.  The Vamps embark on a 10 year anniversary tour later this year and so we looked back on some of Brad’s fave tour moments:, from the advice they were given by Taylor Swift’s mum when they supported Taylor back in 2014, to how living on the road for the best part of a decade has shaped him and the other boys. Plus Brad revealed why, for all four members, The Vamps will always be “the mothership” — no matter their solo projects.  We also talk about his bar, his upcoming gin and the last time he had a little bit too much to drink (let’s just say it was a mortifying model-filled LA gig), having no “Plan B”, how toxic the music industry can be (especially for teenage artists) and why having a manager who was also a guardian was the best thing that ever happened to the band.  Plus, what it was like to go on Celebrity First Dates and what he’s currently looking for in a life partner (not to mention the juicy details on his recent house renovation). As you’ll hear here, Brad called this the most interesting interview he’s ever done! Just sayin’, gang... Enjoy! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston  Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

As promised gang, we've got a third instalment of our chat covering what it's really like to be a celebrity journalist – there were, after all, just too many hilarious, ridiculous stories (and actual analysis!) left out of the first two parts. From liaising with celebs directly via text to today’s thorny issue of copy approval, we look at how celeb journalism has changed since we burst onto the scene in 2015 as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed interns, starting with our first ever interviews, and the time El harassed Emma Watson with a cat (yes you read that right), all the way to stans, cancel culture and why writers are so scared these days. Expect trademark absurdity covering what it’s like to direct Brooklyn Beckham’s attempt at reading cue cards, interviewing Burna Boy while he has a pina colada in one hand and an unidentified lady friend in the other, buying Sienna Miller a sea bass on behalf of Vogue, the worst day of our professional lives, being trolled by Nicki Minaj's entire fandom, spying the fear in One Directioners' eyes and being told you're intense by none other than Wiley (LOL), having turned up an interview after a rather disorientating introductory spliff experience. As always, time totally ran away with us while we were recording this episode, so keep your eyes peeled for the fourth and final part! You asked, and we shall deliver.  Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

It’s another glorious sunny Thursday and we have singer songwriter extraordinaire James Bay in the house! He has a brand new album out, Leap, which is all about his journey overcoming imposter syndrome and mental health struggles – despite his eight billion streams. He opened up to us about how he was affected by the more toxic aspects of fame and social media, and *cuteness overload* how his partner Lucy, whom he has been with since they were both 16 and with whom he now has a baby daughter, has been his North star throughout. No, you’re crying. It wasn’t just the deep stuff though, as we also got all the goss on what it’s like to attend the Met Gala and speak to our Queen and Saviour Beyonce, the one thing James takes on tour (clue: he got the inspo from Mick Jagger), and his favourite restaurant in London. Plus, we ask James to set the record straight on one thing that’s been bugging him, and whether he has ever had therapy. He was such a charismatic guest, we hope you feel as charmed as we were! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. We’ll see you same time same place next week! Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hello gorgeous listeners, this week we’re taking you to the Maldives! And, guys, it’s not just any private island hotel, it’s The Standard, our absolute fave for fun with friends, strong cocktails and enticing dancefloors (if you’ve not yet been to the Kings Cross outpost then consider this your PSA).  Recently we took ourselves away for a best friend baecation and we feel it is our public duty to tell you all about it. For one, it’s really quite affordable, as far as the Maldives goes – this isn’t a trip to save for your honeymoon, nor is it one you need a lover for!  We had the BEST time together and we’re going to share every juicy detail about this gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime, Instagram-perfect trip, including how to save your £, the food, the fish and allllllll  the fun.  Plus, our beach reads, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason and At The Table by Claire Powell, not to mention our plane picks: these two gals spent the entire 24 hour journey watching House of Gucci and J Lo’s Marry Me. Heaven!  Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Hi huns! This week we caught up with one of the UK's best-loved rappers and one of our fave musicians Krept, half of duo Krept & Konan, to talk about his incredible journey from making chart-topping rap songs to launching his game-changing baby skincare range Nala's Baby, stocked across 400 Boots stores and valued at £15m. Yep, rappers do babycare! Named after his ADORABLE two-year-old daughter Nala, the business is in partnership with his co-parent, influencer Sasha Ellese Gilbert, who became concerned about how toxic so much of the babycare on the market was while she was pregnant. Amazingly it is now the first 0 rated clean baby skincare range on cosmetics ratings app @thinkdirty and the products are so good even adults are lathering themselves with them... (yes, those adults are us...) We interviewed Krept quite a few times while working at GQ together so it was so nice to look back on his success and chat all about how his life has changed over the years. He made us laugh so much with his hilarious stories about Nala playing dead and one memorable poo explosion, plus we were left speechless at some of his wildest showbiz moments. We also asked him for advice on how to go into business with a friend, and got him to spill the beans on everything from the weirdest thing he's read about himself on the internet to the biggest misconception about him and what it's like to date as a single parent. Catch our lifestyle recommendations at the start too, from the books we've been reading to fun nights out in London and Ibiza, and let us know what you think! Leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1 Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

Back by popular demand, this week we embarrass ourselves once again by sharing more of our juiciest stories about the fame game, from the time we accidentally made a top Hollywood actor cry and how one wilts in Naomi Campbell's presence, to herding Richard Branson around Soho Farmhouse and how you navigate a phone call from Lady Gaga. There's also plenty of intel on how the celebrity machine actually works, including getting kicked out of Netflix press junkets (and what that even is), what publicists do and what glitzy press trips are like, wrangling ridiculous freebies, stalking stories, and just generally laughing until we cry. You’re going to love all this hilarious gossip hunnies, we ran out of time recording it all for you so promise to bring you a part three later this season! If you haven't head Part I, then just scroll on back a bit and take a listen too. Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod. See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Kathleen’s IG: @kathleen.m.johnston Ellie’s IG: @elliehalls1

Honeys, we’re home!!! Did you miss us? We had not forgotten you – in fact over the last few months we’ve been working SO hard to bring you the biggest and best season of Straight Up yet, fuelled by our spiciest trademark margs, obv. And doing the launch honours for us today is none other than the ICON that is Sean Paul, one of the world’s most successful artists who has billions of streams to his name. I mean, if Temperature and Get Busy didn’t have a defining moment in your teens, then where TF were you?? Over his fave drink, a Guinness Foreign Extra, Sean had us both in stitches with stories about getting arrested and accidentally getting his 90-year-old grandmother high, the weirdest gift from his most adoring fan, his most surreal showbiz moment and the $25,000 freebie he still can’t believe he got away with…Plus, we talk about everything from cooking and travel to love and friendship, with some, ahem, interesting life lessons from Sean along the way.  Sean also reveals a whole new side to him by getting candid about the dark side of fame: how rumours circulated by the press have caused him angst, how the weight of always creating another hit can be so overwhelming, and why he’s needed marriage counselling.  Enjoy gorgeous listeners! And for anyone new here… allow us to introduce ourselves. Hosted by best friends and noseyest pop culture journalists on the planet Kathleen and Ellie, Straight Up goes behind-the-scenes with some of the world’s biggest celebs to hear what being famous in 2022 is really like. Are showbiz parties really as wild as we think? Do famous people ever embarrass themselves in public? How big are the freebies and how crazy are the fans? Plus, how does fame affect everything from your romantic life to your mental health? And are celebrities…normal?  We get our guests to answer all of this and SO much more, over their favourite drink (because the first rule of journalism school is to get your interviewee drunk….right?) Which basically means subscribing to Straight Up is like eavesdropping on the juiciest cocktail debrief with your favourite A-Listers.  Let us know what you think of the new episode and don’t be shy, leave us a little review, or DM us on our brand new Insta @straightuppod . See you next Thursday! Straight Up’s music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Find him on Instagram @MarlonPercy  Thank you to our longtime sponsor Q Acoustics for supporting Straight Up for another season and for being the best in the business when it comes to quality, affordable audio. Q Acoustics’ new product, the M20 HD wireless music system, is the most powerful, immersive and convenient way to enjoy music, movies and gaming sound anywhere at home. We love ours and know you’ll love it too. Snap it up at www.qacoustics.co.uk

It’s the last episode of S2 and, as sad as we are, we’re SO excited to be ending on a high with  this very special chat with one of our favourite artists, Mahalia. Fuelled by some gorgeous Whitley Neill gin and tonics, the 23-year-old, who was signed at 13, gets candid about everything from the myth of the overnight success story, to reframing the “crazy ex-girlfriend” trope and being friends with your first love. We also chat about her weekend rituals, what she likes to spend her money on (spoiler: globally successful artists aren’t as wealthy as you think) and the one thing she’d like to thank her therapist for. Follow Mahalia on all platforms @mahalia and find her epic merch store here: lnk.to/Mahalia-Store. Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy. Culture recommendations discussed: Don Toliver The Handmaid’s Tale Lost in Space Selling Sunset Desperate Housewives Modern Family Thank you so much to our amazing partners for this episode:  The delicious gin and tonics Ellie, Kathleen and Mahalia enjoyed during this episode were provided by Whitley Neill, the UK’s no1 premium gin brand which offers an amazing 15 flavours of luxury, hand-crafted gin, including blood orange and raspberry. Get yours at all major supermarkets, good independents or at WhitleyNeill.com Dame, 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. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co

No guest again this week, gang, but what we’ve got in store might just be even better! Instead, we chat all about the hottest cultural gossip of the year so far, from music, TV and film, to the biggest talking points that have had the internet in overdrive over the past week. Covering *that* Molly Mae interview on Steven Bartlett’s podcast, The Lost Daughter (Netflix’s most exciting new film) and why having children can be a huge, life-defining regret; we also get deep into The Weeknd’s excellent new album and one of our most mortifying, joint professional faux pas ever. Recommendations discussed: Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast The Lost Daughter (Netflix) Magpie by Elizabeth Day “This is what I tell friends who are torn about having children” by Hadley Freedman (Guardian) White Lotus (HBO) Euphoria S2 (HBO) Dawn FM by The Weeknd Max Martin on Table Manners podcast Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

We've got a real Christmas treat for you this week: a hilarious, insightful, thought-provoking interview from Dan Smith of Bastille. Eased along by some red wine, Dan spills the beans on what it's really like to be the frontman of one of the world's biggest bands – 11 million records sold and counting – while also having made the conscious choice to keep as far from the public eye as possible, ever since the four-piece broke through with "Pompeii" back in 2013. Highlights include the time he got spiked at the Brits and embarrassed himself in front Frank Ocean, a hilarious Guatemalan backpacking trip up a volcano, Dan's top culture picks (he's a big film fan) and where he likes to go out in London, plus how much he enjoys having songs that are far more famous than he is. Dan also opens up about his experiences with therapy, including his struggles with performance anxiety and imposter syndrome, as well as giving us a sneak-peek of the band's upcoming, sci-fi wonderland-set album Give Me The Future (out in Feb). Follow Dan on IG @bastilledan, Twitter @bastille and preorder the album here: https://bastille.lnk.to/BastilleGMTF Thank you to this episode’s amazing sponsor, the books and beer subscription service Books Plus Beer, a thoughtful and unique gift for Christmas for the book lovers in your life who need some quality R&R. Choose a DIY box as either a one off purchase or a subscription, and fill it with two amazing new releases across nonfiction and fiction, two cans of craft beer and some tasty snacks. Can you think of a more luxurious way to unwind at home? Head to booksplusbeer.com to order! Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Our guest today is HRVY, the 22-year-old pop sensation and former Strictly semi-finalist who is basically the British, Gen-Z answer to Justin Bieber. HRVY (real name, obviously, Harvey) has been in the music game since 13 and has amassed a crazily dedicated following of more than 4 million fans on Instagram and 4.4 million on Tik Tok. He, is as you might suspect, a big hit with the ladies, lusted after by everyone from the nation's population of teenage girls, to Strictly-watching nans. He recently switched record labels, having had the exact realisation so many young stars do, where he decided to take the reins and change his musical direction. Now, he's given up being a "yes man" and is doing it for himself. His new single "Talking To The Stars" is out NOW so make sure you go and check it out. We love it and you will too. HRVY made for the most hilarious, honest and vulnerable guest, opening up about everything from being a new-gen sex symbol and why he 100 per cent believes in the Strictly curse, to how the school-days mortification of being Facebook-famous has helped in finding the humour in hate comments, plus his thoughts on male objectification, cancel culture, toxic masculinity and what it's like to be on MTV Cribs. HRVY's album Views From The 23rd Floor is out in January. Thank you so much to our two amazing sponsors for this episode: Katie Mullally, the beautiful, independent luxury jewellery brand that is beloved by everyone from Niall Horan to Dua Lipa. From delicate wishbones to chic engraved coins, the gorgeous, vintage-inspired charms are a match made in heaven for anyone who cares about quality and sustainability (all of the pieces from her collections  are hallmarked at either the Dublin or the London Assay Office). To get yours, or to do some next-level Christmas shopping, head to katiemullally.co.uk. Check IG for exclusive discounts and styling inspo: @katiemullallyjewellery Manscaped , the male grooming brand revolutionising male personal grooming with its excellent and hilariously named body trimmers. Manscaped's best products come in one neat Performance Package, which is the perfect stocking filler! After all, 85 per cent of people prefer a man groomed below the waist. Get 20% Off and Free shipping with code STRAIGHTUP20 at ukManscaped.com Find HRVY @HRVY on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter. Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

We’ve got another departure from our usual format for you this week, where this time we chat culture recommendations, from the book everyone’s talking about to Netflix’s latest hits. Strap in for our thoughts on Emily Ratajowski’s collection of essays, My Body, and the furore around it, as well as Maid (starring Margaret Qualley and her mother Andie McDowell), Squid Game and Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You?. Over some spicy margaritas from Tom Savano, we cover how Emily’s book captures our own feelings about our younger-selves, looking back at the gendered power dynamics that shape teenagedom, how status and beauty intersect, the utterly brilliant gossip from one of the world’s biggest models, plus the male gaze, motherhood (hello, Maid), The Harry Potter reunion and why John Legend really needs to confiscate Chrissy Teigen’s phone. Thank you to our amazing sponsor for this episode, Tom Savano, from which you can get the tastiest bottled cocktails just in time for Christmas, from a spicy Mezcal Margarita to a Mai Tai and Mojito. Unapologetically strong, the cocktails are made with spirits sourced solely from craft distilleries - with sustainable, local links to the regions they are from - and are all inspired by Tom Savano’s travels across the world. Each beautifully presented Christmas delivery box includes a drinks menu, glassware, snacks and coasters, while each bottle holds a generous five serves. Perfect for a special seasonal gift to loved ones, or to enjoy a cosy night in at home! Head to tomsavano.com. *Please drink responsibly* Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

Our guest today is Pandora Sykes, the author and podcaster who also happens to be one of our absolute *favourite* journalists ever (top fangirls over here). Pandora got her first big break at The Sunday Times Style magazine and has been one of the most beloved voices in the UK since – you’ll likely know her from No1 podcast The High Low and more recently, her BBC Radio 4 podcast Pieces of Britney. She’s written for everywhere from Vogue and GQ to The Cut and The Observer, her book How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? Is a Sunday Times bestseller and she also hosts podcasts The Missing and Doing It Right, as well as IRL book events. We sat down for a fascinating, wide-ranging chat about everything from friendship, motherhood and anxiety to Britney, how she and Dolly made The High Low so successful (including the possibility of another joint project!) and what her working day looks like. Over some insanely delicious lychee martinis from Bottle Bar and Shop, Pandora also spoke about balance, her flute phase, first heartbreak, how she’s grown from an anxious child to a contented adult and carving out her own space, plus musical bluffs, The Spice GIrls and why she doesn’t do spon con. Thank you so much to our two amazing sponsors for this episode: Bottle Bar and Shop, one of our favourite bottled cocktail brands, which makes delicious, small batch natural blends in South East London. Winner of a whopping four Great Taste Awards, these cocktails are made by husband and wife duo Natalie and Xhulio on site at their cocktail bar of the same name in Catford. Visit IRL or buy online for nationwide delivery at www.bottlebarandshop.com Dame, 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. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products with the exclusive code UP25 at wearedame.co Find Pandora on IG @pandorasykes, listen to series two of Doing It Right here and order her book from Waterstones here. Find Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1 and drop us a DM, or reach out via email hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you! Our music and editing is by Marlon Percy, who you can find on IG @marlonpercy.

This week, Kathleen and Eleanor put themselves in the hot seat, and talk all about what it’s really like to chat to celebrities for a living and becoming best friends while working at British GQ. Expect hilarious and juicy gossip about everyone from Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid to Stormzy and Tom Jones. We don’t hold anything back!

Tanya Burr, who first found fame uploading makeup tutorials to YouTube in 2009 that reached millions of views and made her one of the UK’s very first “influencers”, comes on Straight Up to talk to Kathleen and Eleanor all about her pivot to acting and the launch of her lifestyle brand Authored. As well as recommending her favourite beauty products and explaining their sustainability, Tanya also reveals how her anxiety as a teen stopped her from pursuing her love of drama, but how hours of therapy gave her the confidence to take up acting classes in her mid-twenties and become a professional actress across theatre, TV and film. Over some gin cocktails from Lockdown Liquor, Tanya also talked battling body image issues and why she never reads reviews, as well as finding love in her thirties after going through a divorce at 29. Plus, the music that reminds her of her best memories with friends as well as of her new relationship. Thank you to our two amazing sponsors for this episode: Lockdown Liquor, which sent Straight Up and Tanya the gorgeous Pepino cocktails to enjoy on air. Lockdown Liquor’s range of nine pre blended cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists and include everything from Espresso Martinis to a killer Old Fashioned. Perfect for gifts, nights at home with friends or special events. Order yours from lockdown-liquor.com  Dame, 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. This female founded green brand is changing the game with its amazing products including the reusable tampon applicator, tampons and reusable pads – and we are never going back. Enjoy 25 per cent off Dame products at wearedame.co. with the exclusive code UP25!

What's it like to quit a seven-year medicine degree to chance it on a music career? Over some spicy margaritas, the lead singer, writer and producer of psych-pop band Glass Animals tells Straight Up all about how he swapped a career as a neuroscientist to launch a No1 band with a record-breaking one billion streams for their 2020 single Heat Waves. Also in this episode, Dave busts some myths around life as a musician, including how the band had to wash their own underpants while on a major tour, how he spent the band's minimal advance from their record label, and his escape strategy for when fans recognise him in public. Plus, Dave recalled his funniest drunken story, his strangest conspiracy theories and the one internet black hole he always falls into. Thank you to our two amazing sponsors: First up, hometipple, which provided the amazing Ambhar Tequila Plata for Dave's spicy margaritas, and is the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.com VOX, which has everything any amateur or professional guitarist needs for the home and studio, from noise-cancelling headphones to retro-looking electric guitars and amps. Check their brand-new VOX Bobcat V90 & S66 semi-hollow body guitars and VH-Q1 smart noise-cancelling headphones for guitarists voxamps.com Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnston Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy