Straight to the Comments - podcast cover

Straight to the Comments

Straight to the Commentswww.straighttothecommentspodcast.com
Do you find yourself jumping Straight to the Comments only to wonder why online threads are so addictive? Join Lisa and Sarah, two longtime friends, as they dissect online comments, discuss pop culture and examine how it impacts their own lives. Straight to the Comments dives head first into both the comedic value and deeper meaning of gossip and why we can’t get enough. This is Gossip without the Guilt. Hosted by 2 Brits abroad, Lisa Williams, a communications consultant living in Oslo, and Sarah Illingworth, a psychology graduate and writer living in Cape Town. Produced by Emily Crosby Media. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
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Episodes

The Return of Reddit Roulette: Secret Money & Trauma Dumping

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...

Apr 25, 202448 minEp. 43

Elizabeth and Damian Hurley, boundaries and naughty cats

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 revie...

Apr 18, 202425 minEp. 42

Love, as an older woman: Sam Taylor-Johnson, Kylie Minogue and Drew Barrymore

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....

Apr 11, 202457 minEp. 41

Rebel's Revelations, Wino Forever and Lizzo Quits?

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 gue...

Apr 04, 202435 minEp. 40

“My Emotional Truth”: The Case of Hasan Minhaj, Prince Harry and Jay Shetty

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. ...

Mar 28, 202450 minEp. 39

Meghan Markle’s new brand launch and is Temu stalking us all?

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 ...

Mar 21, 202432 minEp. 38

Who do you think you are? The transformation of Geri Halliwell

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 ...

Mar 14, 202445 minEp. 37

Our situation with the Daily Mail, plus comments about International Women’s Day

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...

Mar 07, 202430 minEp. 36

Health Conspiracy Theories: Kate Middleton, Selena Gomez & Jamie Foxx

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...

Feb 29, 202444 minEp. 35

Jodie Foster vs Gen Z, Plato and Justin Timberlake's no-apology

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 stor...

Feb 22, 202425 minEp. 34

Criminals as Celebrities: Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Anna Delvey

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 rad...

Feb 15, 202451 minEp. 33

Our 2024 Predictions

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...

Dec 28, 202330 minEp. 32

Christmas Special: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Madonna, Alice Evans and Zac Efron

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 lo...

Dec 21, 202343 minEp. 31

Conspicuous Consumption at Christmas: From Kate Hudson to Kim Kardashian

'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 t...

Dec 14, 202346 minEp. 30

Update: The Case of James Corden & Ellen plus Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson

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...

Nov 16, 20231 hr 5 minEp. 29

Cosy Murder, Riot Rose, and a Government Run by Ocean’s 11.

In this week’s mini, we’re talking reboots and “cosy murder mysteries”. A massively popular genre, but can rebooting classics ever really capture the magic, and is this a place for AI to be put to use? We're also shimmying down the rabbit hole of Celebrity baby names, and what people are saying about Rihanna’s latest baby name: creative and cool or something that the kids will regret later on? Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stor...

Nov 09, 202320 minEp. 28

The Dark Side of a Former Golden Boy: Justin Timberlake

Last week, Justin Timberlake apparently turned off the comments on his Instagram because of the "hateful, disgusting things people were saying". The once golden boy has become the target of one of the biggest backlashes we've seen since starting the podcast. With the release of Britney Spears' book, 'The Woman in Me,' we're investigating why he's facing this reckoning. Did the superstar have it too good for too long? Did he really claw his way to mega-stardom at the expense of others, including ...

Nov 02, 202342 minEp. 27

The Rise of AI Girlfriends, Your 40s and a Christmas Fantasy

Today in our mini-episode, we are talking about the rise of AI girlfriends and the idea of creating a "dream partner" that fulfills all desires. We explore how these virtual partners are being promoted primarily as adult entertainment and their potential long-term effects on both men and women. That’s not all, we are also talking about Sarah turning the big 4-0 and how life can begin again at this age.

Oct 26, 202318 minEp. 26

Celebrity Witch Accusations: From Emma Watson to Beyoncé

The comment sections have been bubbling for years with claims that certain celebrities are secretly witches and are embracing the dark arts. But why? In this episode, we explore the modern-day concept of witches, from the rise of WitchTok to Emma Watson celebrating her 'coven.' Why are so many powerful women, from JLo, Beyoncé, Stevie Nicks to Kylie, accused of being involved in witchcraft and Illuminati activities? Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your quest...

Oct 19, 202341 minEp. 25

Classified information, lawsuits and Tom Cruise

This week's mini tackles 'the most important story ever,' which involves David Grush and allegations of government cover-ups. We also go into the recent fallout between the Sounds Like A Cult podcast hosts, Amanda Montell and Isa Medina. What caused Amanda to sue her co-host for half a million dollars? And last but certainly not least, we explore the prospect of a Tom Cruise theme park… Questions for us or comments you want us to review? We love answering your questions and analysing stories you...

Oct 12, 202323 minEp. 24

Goth Girl vs. Scream Queens: From Jenna Ortega to Kim Kardashian

Join us as we delve into the dark side of comments in our Halloween specials throughout October. Today, we explore the incredible rise of Jenna Ortega, from her role in the classic slasher franchise Scream to her viral performance in Tim Burton's Wednesday. Vogue has called Ortega the ultimate 'new-age goth girl,' but is this revival merely about fashion, or does it hint at something more sinister? On the other end of the spectrum, we explore the allure of the Horror Vixen, with Kim Kardashian's...

Oct 05, 202342 minEp. 23

Florence Pugh’s sheer dress backlash and is the BBC worth it?

This week in our mini-episode, Sarah tries to guess the comments to a big ongoing story. Then, we answer your questions, including Florence Pugh's daring red-carpet fashion choices and reminisce about the 90s trend of see-through dresses (remember that Kate Moss dress?). We also talk about overpaid stars and what Kim Kardashian's next career move could be… Join us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/ If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and a review...

Sep 28, 202319 minEp. 22

Playing the Victim: The Case of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

This week, we are talking about the breakup of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner and the PR wars that started even before the divorce papers were filed. The media started publishing an onslaught of rumours from “sources” close to Jonas, painting him as the victim in the relationship, and Turner as a runaway mother and wannabe party-girl. But not everyone is buying it. On social media some commenters have pushed back by calling out misogyny and mum-shaming in the media narratives surrounding the Game o...

Sep 21, 202335 minEp. 21

Introducing our Minis! School Stationery, Elon Musk and Etiquette

Introducing "Straight to the Comments Minis," our new series of bite-sized episodes that will drop in between our regular deep-dive episodes. Join us this week as we go back to 80s and 90s school and talk stationery, school uniforms, and whether Sarah actually was in a school or a secret monastery. Also, Lisa tries to guess from some comments, which story Sarah is talking about in our “out of context” guessing game and she gets it all wrong. Plus, we make our crazy celebrity predictions. Want to...

Sep 14, 202318 minEp. 20

Trophy Wives: The Case of Kevin Costner and Kanye West

Dive into the world of Trophy Wives with us this week. From the iconic Krystal Carrington in Dynasty to TikTok's latest obsession with #TrophyWifeGoals, we're unpacking the concept and asking the question: Is it ever ok to call someone a Trophy Wife? We go through lots of reactions to Kevin Costner's divorce drama with his estranged "trophy" second wife, Christine Baumgartner. We'll uncover their intense battles over child support, prenuptial agreements, and jaw-dropping plastic surgery expenses...

Sep 07, 202343 minEp. 19

The Case of Karen Hunting

The idea of being a “Karen” has become a major phenomenon in the last few years. From viral videos, halloween costumes, a movie, and themed diners it has become a term that is widely used. In this episode we’re trying to untangle - what does it really mean to be called a Karen? And why are so many people fixated on viral videos showcasing Karen behaviour? Since it first emerged, the Karen meme seems to have morphed and taken on a life of its own. So much so that content creators appear to be del...

Aug 25, 202346 minEp. 18

Not a Woman’s Woman? The Case of Ariana Grande and Megan Fox

Ariana Grande was recently called “not a girl’s girl” by Lily Jay, the estranged wife of her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, after finding herself embroiled in the middle of their messy breakup. But what is a girl’s girl or a woman’s woman? What is it about some women that rubs other women up the wrong way? And is it just jealousy? This week we’re diving into the current backlash towards Ariana, and the ongoing accusations that Megan Fox doesn’t appeal to women. We’re going to be breaking down the ...

Aug 10, 202340 minEp. 17

Barbie: The Nostalgia We Need or Another Agenda?

Today, we are undressing the layers of Barbie glitter and hype to explore what is really going on with her monumental comeback. Is this Barbie revival the nostalgic tonic we need, or simply a last-ditch attempt to resuscitate the Barbie brand from a bygone era? Can she ever really be a feminist icon? We talk about Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Ken, Margot Robbie's casting as Barbie, and the influence of "Legally Blonde," "Sex and the City," and even "Playboy" on the Barbie brand. We'll also be exa...

Jul 27, 202347 minEp. 16

Are Gossip Blinds Dangerous? From Hollywood Secrets to BBC Scandals

Today, we're diving into the world of blind gossip. Rumours that keep you guessing, but never reveal the subject's true identity. During last week’s anonymous BBC sex pic scandal a frenzy of online speculation included a range of well-known names, including Gary Lineker and Jeremy Vine, until Huw Edwards was publicly named. We’re also going to be looking at other anonymous accusations such as Ulrika Jonsson and John Leslie. Plus, we discuss the phenomenal rise of Gossip Blinds on social media, s...

Jul 20, 202342 minEp. 15

The Dark Allure of Tragedy: The Case of the Titan Sub Disaster

The world was gripped when OceanGate’s Titan submersible went missing on its descent to visit the Titanic wreck. Fuelled by relentless 24/7 news coverage, the internet went into overdrive with mocking memes and ‘eat the rich’ jokes at the expense of the 5 wealthy passengers, while a full-scale rescue mission was under way. With billions of views online, the Titan became the subject of what people were describing as "disaster voyeurism," with even calls for the Titanic film director James Cameron...

Jul 06, 202337 minEp. 14
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