Straight to the Comments

Frances Farmer and Britney Spears. Two women, decades apart, who found out exactly what happens when you're famous, female, and having a breakdown in public. Today, from Victorian asylums to Instagram comments, we're talking about how easy it is to brand a woman "hysterical" or "crazy". And what are the consequences? We explore the treatment of women once labelled difficult - from lobotomies, to hysterectomies and conservatorships and ask: have we really moved on from the days when the mentally ill were seen as entertainment? Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover? We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast. -------------- Clips used in this episode: Lobotomy scene from film - Frances (1982)  Much Interview with Kurt Cobain (1993) Britney Spears - Oops I did it again   References: Kenneth Anger - Hotel Babylon (1972) William Arnold - Shadowland (1982) You Must Remember This Podcast:  Episode 4 - (The printing of) the Legend of Frances Farmer.  Episode 5 - The Lives, Deaths and Afterlives of Judy Garland. Janet Frame - An Angel at my Table (1984) The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears (2021) New Yorker article: Britney Spears Conservatorship Nightmare by Ronan Farrow & Jia Tolentino Crime Analyst Podcast: Episode 29 - Who Framed Britney Spears? With Dr Jessica Taylor. Dr Jessica Taylor - Sexy But Psycho: Uncovering the Psychiatric Labelling of Women and Girls Kevin Federline - You Thought You Knew (2025) Britney Spears - The Woman in Me (2023) Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me documentary (2022) Dr Jessica Taylor Talks About Stuff Podcast: Ep 2 - Medical and Social Model of Mental Health Part 2  

Demi Moore wins her first Golden Globe at 62 for The Substance. Pamela Anderson makes waves with her makeup-free red-carpet look in her late fifties. And L’Oréal’s Paris runway features Helen Mirren, Andie MacDowell and Jane Fonda – proof, we’re told, that fashion has finally embraced older women. But is this really a renaissance for women over 45? Or only for those who can afford to keep the years at bay, with wealth, access, or a skilled surgeon, like Kris Jenner? Because the “forever-young” face has become a status symbol. Agelessness now signals privilege, and when it goes wrong, the comments turn cruel. We look beneath the celebration to the billion-dollar anti-ageing and longevity industries and ask whether this new visibility for older women is empowerment, or simply the latest luxury good. And could we even face a future where ageing only happens to the poor?   Clips used in this episode: Straight to the Comments Episode - “I’m not sorry: The case of Madonna and Women Ageing” Nikki Glaser hosting the 82nd Annual Golden Globes Demi Moore’s acceptance speech at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes Pamela Anderson on The Drew Barrymore Show: Season 3, Episode 193 Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover? We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast.  

True Blood, Twilight, Buffy… so many of us can’t get enough of vampires and werewolves. But lately, our feeds have been flooded with full-on “Alpha” werewolf erotica — a darker, hungrier kind of fantasy. In this episode, we dig into how paranormal romance has shifted from seductive Draculas to dominant werewolves. Why is it everywhere now? Who’s creating it? And is this just Beauty and the Beast on steroids or something more unsettling? Join us as we indulge our love of all things supernatural, just in time for Halloween month.   Clips featured in this episode: Gary Oldman in “Bram Stoker's Dracula” (1992 film) Matt Bourne in “Interview With the Vampire, Anne Rice, & 150 Years of Gay Vampires” Craig Thomson in the TED-Ed video “The dark history of werewolves” Frans de Waal in his TED talk “The surprising science of alpha males” “Claimed By The Mega Size Alpha King No She-Wolf Dared To Mate” by Wattpad Dark Romance Fantasy Stories Reference to ContaPoints YouTube video on Twilight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqloPw5wp48   Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover? We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast.    

An alleged $9 million smear campaign. Text messages bragging they could “bury” Blake in hours. And the same team behind Johnny Depp’s media assassination of Amber Heard. In Part Two, the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni feud moves from smear campaigns to legal spectacle. With millions spent on crisis PR, celebrity countersuits, and Mummy sleuths treating the case like true crime, the courtroom has become content. We explore why big trials grip us, what happens when outrage is monetised, and whether justice can survive when it doubles as entertainment in the post-truth era. Clips featured in this episode: When Jimmy Carr interviewed by Stuart Goldsmith for “Before & Laughter” Matt Murphy talking on the panel “Are You Not Entertained? Unraveling the Legal Complexities of Reality Crime Shows” Nina Marino talking on the panel “Are You Not Entertained? Unraveling the Legal Complexities of Reality Crime Shows” Megyn Kelly on the Megyn Kelly Show Ep 28th Aug 2025   Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover? We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast.

Blake Lively says she was harassed and then “buried” with a sophisticated smear campaign. Justin Baldoni says he’s actually the victim. But the fiercest battle isn’t unfolding in court - it’s playing out in the comments. In this episode, we explore how online narratives can flip from #MeToo solidarity to “victim fatigue,” how smear campaigns are manufactured and spread, and why figures like Candace Owens seize on moments like this to stoke the rage economy. From astroturfing to viral edits, we ask what these culture wars reveal about power, gender, and the precarious value of reputation in the internet age.   Clips featured in this episode: Candace Owens on her YouTube channel, Ep 137 Sara Pascoe on High Performance Podcast, Ep 335   Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover? We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast Enjoyed the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast.  

In the last episode of Season 3, we bring back Reddit Roulette (from Season 1, episode 10) - our mashup of all things Reddit and Chatroulette . We spin the wheel to discuss who the a****** is in a relationship conflict, as well as discussing trauma dumping, how to navigate financial disparity in relationships, and the big topic of boundaries. Are they always healthy, or are they sometimes misused to manipulate and control? We also review this season, and cover some of the topics we’ve been asked about, but not managed to include so far, including Kate Beckinsale, and crystal baths.   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found.  Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.  

When Damian Hurley released his debut film, "Strictly Confidential," people were shocked that he directed raunchy scenes starring his own mother, Elizabeth Hurley. From critics labelling their relationship as "disturbing" to others dismissing them as mere "publicity hounds," we dissect some of the fierce responses to this erotic thriller and reflect on the discomfort it evokes. In our guessing game, we go into the wild comments around boundaries.   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found.  Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.  

Cougar, MILF, or even a tragic singleton like 'Bridget Jones', today, we are looking at all the comments used to describe older women when it comes to love and dating. Sam Taylor-Johnson, in the promotion of her new Amy Winehouse film, is facing renewed scrutiny over her marriage to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who is 23 years her junior. We talk about the internet's intense fascination with their relationship. We also examine the concept of 'unlucky in love Kylie,' even as she is riding a career high. We wonder why this label of romantic misfortune persists and if it is part of the idea of the female 'Oscar Love Curse'? Lastly, we explore the stories of women like Drew Barrymore, Linda Evangelista and Enya, who have all said they have 'had it' with romantic relationships. Join us as we discuss why older women often face so much scrutiny in their search for love or their choice to live without it. And are we ready to move past labels such as 'cougar' and 'spinster'?   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found.  Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.

A year on since we did our "Fatshaming" episode featuring Adele, Rebel Wilson, and Lizzo, we find the three women are once again the centre of attention due to discussions about their weight. With Lizzo announcing she is "quitting" due to body-shaming and Rebel claiming in her new memoir "Rebel Rising" that Adele "hates her" because they were both plus-sized women in the entertainment industry, we dive into the online reactions to these unfolding stories. But first, we start with our comment guessing game, which involves Sons of Anarchy and Angelina Jolie. Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.

Since Oprah brought self-help and therapy speak into the mainstream, more and more people have been talking about “speaking my truth” over telling the truth. From Prince Harry to Britney Spears, the celebrity memoir has often been sold as the chance to read their “personal truths”. But what does this really mean? And are there different types of truth?  When Hasan Minhaj was called out by the New Yorker for lying, he defended himself by claiming “emotional truths” were more important than facts. Then, just last month, The Guardian wrote an exposé, ‘Uncovering the Higher Truth of Jay Shetty,’ about Shetty’s alleged misrepresentation of his backstory in his climb to stardom. Today we are asking, has the rise of therapy speak brought us all self-awareness, or is it now being weaponised? And can anything be emotionally true if it significantly varies from the actual facts? Join us as we go straight to the comments to see if we can handle the (many) truths... Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is back with the launch of her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Today, we are examining the mixed (putting it mildly) reactions to her launch, particularly the responses to The Cut’s Instagram post, questioning the timing of her launch. Did Meghan really deliberately time her launch to divert attention from Kate Middleton? What exactly is her new brand and who is her target audience? Also, Sarah tries to guess which company is stalking Lisa online (maybe even you?). Get ready to find out about Temu, supposedly the fastest growing company in the world, which no one seems to know much about. Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

From her iconic Union Jack dress and Girl Power persona to her current all-white dress code and role as the “devoted wife”, today we are exploring the online reactions to Geri Halliwell’s transformation. Has she really abandoned her working class roots by “marrying up”, or is this just part of growing up and evolving? And are commenters justified in questioning her authenticity and “girl power” values, based on rumours she may have ‘stolen’ her husband? We also touch on what Saltburn has to say about class, and discuss the trend of roughing up your “backstory” to tap into mass appeal and acceptance as an artist. Join us as we go straight to comments and discuss the complicated topic of class in the UK today Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Right in time for International Women’s Day and our one year anniversary, the Daily Mail launches a new podcast, called "Straight to the Comments!" - fronted by 2 young male presenters. We go into it in today’s episode. Plus, we have our comments guessing game about a funny topic and discuss the importance of Women’s Day in 2024. How much has changed in the past year? How much more needs to be done? And does it really make a difference? Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.  

Today, we are discussing the internet's relentless speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's recent surgery announcement. From genuine concern to mind-bending conspiracy theories, we explore the reactions to this news. We also investigate the trend of celebrities, like Selena Gomez, openly discussing their medical issues. On the flip side, we delve into Jamie Foxx's decision to keep his health matters private, leading to significant medical speculation, even claims of cloning. We ask: Why do some people leap to conspiracy theories when details are kept private? Is it a case of frustration or genuine concern for transparency? Should celebrities feel compelled to share all their health information with the public?  Let's go Straight to the Comments.    Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.   43f727846c375156d07819bd1585593a2c1db37d 

Welcome back to Season 3's first Mini! We're kicking things off with our comment guessing game, a topic that we believe will stir up strong emotions among Gen Xers (and perhaps even millennials). Then, we'll dive into Justin Timberlake's no-apology stance on the Britney Spears drama and explore the phenomenon of apology tours. Finally, we'll wrap it all up with our crazy celebrity predictions.  Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.  

Today, we are exploring the "celebrification" of criminals in the age of social media, particularly that of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Anna Delvey. Gypsy Rose Blanchard, recently released from prison for the murder of her mother, and Anna Delvey, a con-artist currently under house arrest in New York, have become prime examples of how criminals can now capitalise on their notoriety in the digital era. Whereas historically, a criminal might be jailed, do their time, and disappear from the public radar, now they can brazenly evade the law and even flaunt their lifestyle on social media, like the Tindler Swindler. So why are we so captivated by certain crimes? And is it ok for people to profit from their conviction? Let’s go straight to the comments to find out.   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Happy New Year! It’s almost the end of 2023, and we are talking today about our predictions for 2024. Will we see a rise in deepfake content? Will Barbie dominate Oppenheimer at the Oscars? Will it be the end of superhero films? What happened to Brie Larson? We also discuss what we cannot wait to see in 2024. Plus, possibly the worst idea for a music festival ever. Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.  

We have a jam-packed, tinsel-draped Christmas bonanza episode for you today. We're talking about the cult of Taylor Swift, why Swedish fans were left cold by Beyoncé, and Madonna's big tour comeback. We also have an update on Alice Evans, who recently stated she might have to work at Starbucks to make ends meet after her divorce from Ioan Gruffudd. Plus, we discuss the reactions to Zac Efron getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which were all about his new face. We ask why are good looking men getting cosmetic surgery? Grab a drink or mince pie as it's tiiiiiiime to go Straight to the Comments!   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.  

'Tis the season for Instagram-perfect Christmas posts, and today we're focusing on Kate Hudson and Kim Kardashian, who love to showcase their picture-perfect holiday celebrations. But why do their extravagant displays often spark comments calling them out of touch and vain?  Join us in this episode as we unravel the allure of conspicuous consumption during Christmas, exploring the deeper meaning behind the festive season and questioning whether the pursuit of perfection on social media reflects the true spirit of Christmas. Show links: Spending coach Paige Pritchard: https://instagram.com/overcoming_overspending?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.    

Before we return in December with our Christmas specials, enjoy a re-run of our most popular episode of 2023, 'When the Mask Skips: The Case of James Corden & Ellen.' We introduce the episode with the latest news about James Corden's new SiriusXM radio job and break down some of the online reactions. Also, we ask why have we seen the downfall of so many TV presenters this year. Can even TV's new relatable faces like Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson live up to their everywoman magic? Join us as we go Straight to the Comments.   Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple. This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.