Over the past few weeks, the internet has been overrun with yassified edits of our faves. Perhaps you've seen Toni Collette with smoothed out skin, Fiona from Shrek sporting a gorgeous smokey eye, or the 'oi mista, you me dad?' doll looking like she's about to head out for a night at Vodka Revs. But while we all become obsessed with yassifying our faves, Ione and Halima are going deep on what the meme really means, and how beauty standards have changed throughout the course of the internet. Most...
Dec 13, 2021•22 min
The second part of our limited run podcast series The Skin You're In is here! Recorded live in London, Ione is joined by journalist Kieran Yates and writer/researcher Maggie Matić . They'll be discussing everything from reassessing capitalism, if Covid has changed how we approach social-politics, the importance of rest, finding joy online, how feminism has been warped since the advent of fourth wave, and much more. The Skin You're In, a Polyester Podcast, is brought to you by Polyester's foundi...
Nov 04, 2021•47 min
Recorded live in Sheffield, My Skin, My Creativity is the first of a limited two episode run our podcast series exploring modern identity. Our deputy editor Gina Tonic sat down with photographer Melanie Lehmann and activist Ben Pechey to discuss representation, creativity in the North, social media politics and how to harbour community following lockdown. Want to support the podcast? If you're a brand or organisation that could help us continue the show, Please fill in this form . Can't wait to ...
Oct 28, 2021•38 min
Missed us during our summer break? Surprise! We have an extra special The Skin You're In episode with Megane Mercur y - the winner of our Queer Creative Fund. Hosts Ione Gamble and Gina Tonic speak with Megane about the importance of queer community, how said community differs outside of the concept of 'global pride' and how the internet has changed how we reach out to others. From how to find your people, to existing outside of the mainstream and creating your own opportunities; we cover it all...
Jul 28, 2021•23 min
For our last episode before the summer break, we sit down with one of our FAVOURITE artists, Shona McAndrew. Shona is sharing her love for TikTok; from dueting, to the political content on the app, the obscure trends it leads us too and why TikTok is arguably a more productive place than any other social media platform. But for all the joy the app brings; TikTok isn't without it problems — from censorship, to fatphobia and more. Ione, Gina, and Shona discuss how to navigate social media as an ar...
Jun 07, 2021•32 min
Are you dreading the day you find your first grey hair? Or maybe you've already spent hours in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling single silver strands from your head? This week, we're joined by illustrator Grace Miceli. The long-time contributor to Polyester and author of How to Deal is telling us all about how she shifted her attitude towards growing older. With the past twelve months meaning all of our beauty regimes have shifted, Grace decided it was time to stop living in denial about th...
May 23, 2021•31 min
This week on The Sleepover Club, we sat down with Daniel Howell to discuss how the internet has changed, for better and for worse, throughout his career. The author, presenter, and YouTuber tells us how he developed boundaries when it comes to sharing online, why his inner cynic always wins out in the end, and how growing up in online spaces effected his sense of self. We'll also be chatting about Daniel's progression from Youtube to publishing, and why he's putting mental health at the front of...
May 16, 2021•32 min
Do you believe in ghosts? This week on the podcast we're joined by the amazing Emma Dabiri . The Sunday Times Bestselling author, academic, and broadcaster is telling us about her lifelong obsession with folklore and ghost stories. Growing up in Ireland, with folklore an integral part of her surroundings, we chat about how folklore and ghost stories have informed her work and life up until this point. From her favourite films growing up, to the must-watch titles Emma recommends to us now, we're ...
May 09, 2021•39 min
This week we're joined by the absolutely ICONIC Val Garland . The legendary makeup artist and judge of Glow Up is chatting to us about her many obsessions and what they mean to her. From vintage dolls, to car boot sales, Royal Worcester china and her penchant for a good jug. We discuss how to avoid cursed dolls and their negative energy when antique shopping, Val's brief stint as a car boot vendor, her top tips for the car boot, and why she keeps her work space and her home completely separate. ...
Apr 25, 2021•28 min
This episode, we're so excited to be joined by the legend, Eliza Clark! The Boy Parts author will be telling us all about their love of Drag Race. Taking an adoring yet critical look at the TV franchise, Eliza will be chatting to us about why we should look beyond the US and UK versions and give the international iterations a chance. We'll also be discussing the shows handling of gender, class, and whether its time Ru let another queen take the top judging spot. Ione, Olivia, and Eliza will also...
Mar 28, 2021•34 min
Over the past twelve months, respect for fat people has reached an all time low. With government schemes aiming to pin our coronavirus death toll on the plus size community; it feels like we’ve gone backwards when it comes to fat liberation. For the final episode of this season of The Skin You’re In, we’re joined by our fave Honey Ross . The Polyester cover girl, writer, and podcaster will be telling us where she sees the current body positivity movement; from commodification, to the watering do...
Mar 25, 2021•32 min
The world of work is rife with inequality and injustice. How can we shift power in the corporate world and prioritise the voices of those who need to be heard? This week on The Skin You’re In, we’re sitting down with Sonya Barlow - the entrepreneur changing the game when it comes to corporate diversity and inclusion programmes with meaningful mentoring and proper support. We’ll be chatting about how to deal with discussing workplace trauma, performative allyship in the professional world, moving...
Mar 18, 2021•30 min
The Skin You’re In is back! With three special episodes exploring the biggest issues affecting our generation. First up, we’re joined by the wonderful India Ysabel - self confessed ‘accidental activist’ and founder of The Speak Up Space. Delving deep into the constantly changing world of internet activism, India will be chatting to us about cultivating safe spaces online, the pros and cons of educational infographics, and why speaking your truth is more important than ever. Want to support th...
Mar 11, 2021•29 min
This episode we're joined by Olivia's most played artist of 2020, Julia Jacklin! The musician will be telling us all about her twisted obsession with TV singing competitions. For the first time in the podcast's history, our guest - Julia - will be discussing an obsession that negatively effects her life; as her infatuation with talent shows leaves her isolating friends and family in her quest to talk about them as much as possible. Julia, Ione and Olivia will be discussing how these show misrepr...
Mar 08, 2021•36 min
This week we're joined by the incredible Julia Armfield ! The author will be telling us about her love of shark movies. A self confessed connoisseur of the genre, Julia, Olivia and Ione will be chatting about why shark films are the perfect escapist genre, how all couples have a 'shark person' and a non shark person, why we shouldn't consider these films guilty pleasures, and lots more. Julia will also be telling us about how nostalgia and our lust for summertime plays into our societal obsessio...
Feb 22, 2021•31 min
This week we're joined by Tavi Gevinson ! The actor, writer, and founder of Rookie will be chatting to us about what makes good advice. Inspired by her new podcast, Life Skills By Rookie , we're discussing how the advice we give and receive must be informed by the socio-political context we live within, what we're missing in discussions around self care, how Instagram infographics are warping how we view advice, and much more. Tavi, Ione, and Olivia will also be chatting about whether the emotio...
Feb 15, 2021•39 min
This week on Obsessions we're joined by Bolu Babalola , author of Sunday Times Bestseller Love in Colour ! Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, the author and screenwriter is telling us all about her fascination with Youtube series The Skin Deep . Bolu will be chatting about why watching people open up to each other is so compelling, how honesty, communication, and trust are integral to healthy relationships, and why we should expect more from the romance we ...
Jan 25, 2021•31 min
This week on The Sleepover Club, we're joined by artist and photographer Maisie Cousins ! After facing the first year of motherhood in the midst of a global pandemic, Maisie sits down with us to discuss how becoming a mum has changed her creative process. From what mainstream discourse misses out on when it comes to juggling raising kids and being an artist, to how the idea of 'having it all' has evolved in the age of the girlboss, and if conversations surrounding inclusivity leave motherhood of...
Jan 18, 2021•33 min
We're back!! And so excited about this episode. Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the inspiring Autumn de Wilde . The director of Emma (2020 ), and an iconic photographer responsible for some of our fave ever photos, is telling us about her obsession with the ultimate subject of all: obsession itself! We'll be chatting about a life spent obsessing, from spending her formative years convinced she has super powers yet to be unleashe...
Jan 11, 2021•31 min
Using the end of the year to reflect on things? Thinking of becoming an activist, or wondering what different types of socio-political movements are out there? Then you’re in luck! We’re back with a special episode of our podcast The Skin You’re In, to discuss how 2020 has changed us all, and what we can do to create the future world we want to live in. Joined by two very special guests - illustrators Anshika Khullar and a youth activist from Plan International - we’re picking apart the stat...
Dec 28, 2020•38 min
It's our penultimate sleepover club of the year, and we've got a very special collaboration in store for you all. Teaming up with the collective Girls in Film , we sat down with director of The Love Witch , Anna Biller , to discuss the ins-and-outs of being a woman in the film industry. From misconceptions of the industry, to how to get your foot in the door, Anna's journey from art school to feature films, and how she made our favourite film of the last five years. We're also joined by Becs Rai...
Dec 07, 2020•38 min
Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the INCREDIBLE Arlo Parks . The London based singer-songwriter, and one of our personal fave artists of 2020, is talking to us all about The Beat Generation. From discovering their poetry at aged fifteen, to what the work taught her about her own craft, why we need to smash misconceptions around who poetry is for, and much more. Arlo will also be telling us how she sees subculture and collectivism...
Nov 30, 2020•25 min
Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the amazing Jamila Woods . The singer, songwriter and poet is chatting to us about how journaling has transformed her creative process; from clearing her mind each morning, to clarifying her thoughts, and ridding her of writers block when she needs it most. Ione, Olivia, and Jamila are also chatting about the parts of ourselves we share online, how the internet has changed from an archiving perspe...
Nov 15, 2020•29 min
Over lockdown, we’ve been thinking about how best to connect with our community in online spaces, the often-hostile environment that is social media, and how to make Polyester a sustainable platform for the team and contributors alike. Now, we need our communities help to continue our work providing safer spaces for creative, intersectional conversations to live. That's where the Dollhouse comes in; and why Ione is jumping on with this bonus mini-episode to chat to you today. The Dollhouse is a ...
Nov 06, 2020•3 min
Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the ever-inspiring Miranda July. Miranda, Ione and Olivia will be discussing what everyday acting is, how we should all embody other people in our day-to-day lives, why role play infiltrates our everyday experiences, how men playing make believe is more accepted than women doing so, and much more. Also, watch Kajillionare! We love it so much and you will too. Every other week we'll be picking the ...
Nov 02, 2020•33 min
With period products being declared 'non-essential' by the Welsh supermarkets during their most recent lockdown, it's become clear that menstruation is still heavily stigmatised in our society. This week on The Skin You're In, we're chatting to activist Amika George about her work campaigning for free tampons across schools in the U.K, why gender inclusivity is so important when discussing menstruation, what we can all do to break down the stigma, and lots more. We'll also be discussing how to ...
Oct 29, 2020•28 min
The internet is harder to navigate than ever before. From fake news and hateful vitriol, to censorship and shadow-bans, sometimes spending all our time online feels impossibly claustrophobic. We sat down with @awardsforgoodboys — aka Shelby Lorman to discuss how the URL world is mutating into a strange, dark place. We delve deep how the way we interact with each other within the online world is changing, what it means to perform 'goodness' online, and how do we differentiate between honest int...
Oct 21, 2020•42 min
Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the one and only Dorian Electra . The queer pop icon will be taking us through the a-z of the fedora hat. From it's first iteration as a queer symbol, to a mid 00's pop-star fave, to it's current connotations with the alt-right. We'll be chatting to Dorian about their work reappropriating symbols from the right through a radical queer lens, the importance of arming yourself with knowledge of those...
Oct 18, 2020•34 min
With so much pressure placed on marginalised people to advocate for their existence at all times in URL spaces, how can we make more room for joy online? This week on The Skin You're In we are joined by the incredible Maya Spencer-Berkeley , a model and disability activist. Maya told us all about her refusal to be a diversity hire, advocating for change in a meaningful way, and why she took a step back from sharing all parts of her condition — and life — online. Ione, Olivia, and Maya also ch...
Oct 15, 2020•25 min
Welcome to our brand new limited podcast series, The Skin You're In! Each week, for six weeks, we'll be exploring what it means to be alive today, and the biggest issues affecting our generation. From period poverty to body positivity, gender, disability, feminism and race, we want to know where the conversations are at, and what we can do to move them forward. And this week, we are joined by the ever-inspiring icon, self described trans girl next door Ivana Fischer . Iv sat down with us to disc...
Oct 08, 2020•31 min
