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Artwork for Straight Up

Straight Up

Straight Up
Hollywood
Blake Lively
Social Media
Mental Health
Onlyfans
Motherhood
Bonnie Blue
Victoria Beckham
Sophie Turner
Sydney Sweeney
Taylor Swift
David Beckham
Brooklyn Beckham
Billie Eilish
Vogue
Maya Jama
Meghan Markle
Hen Parties
Lily Allen
Female Friendship

The pop culture podcast with no filter, brought to you by besties and journalists Kathleen and Ellie. New episodes out every Thursday!

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes251Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Straight Up

Latest Episodes

Did Brooklyn Beckham just blow up any chance of a family reunion with his controversial $1m Door Dash ad, or is it straight out of the Victoria Beckham playbook? Also this week: the increasingly fraught discourse about Ariana Grande's weight loss, an... more

Pregnant women are being unfollowed in their droves on social media, but at the same time, pronatalist messaging has never been harder to escape. So why is it that both the child-free community and parents alike feel so under siege? We take a look at... more

Did Dua Lipa just host the celebrity wedding ‘of the decade’? We rake over all the gossip from the three-day bash in Palermo and debate over whether Callum Turner’s status as ‘Mr Dua Lipa’ is reductive and career-damaging. Also on the show: how forme... more

Insecurities from body image in the Ozempic era to aging and whether we’d have cosmetic surgery are first up on the agenda today, huns, as we answer all your juiciest questions! We get deep into changing our minds about having children, gender disapp... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jackie Adedeji
Broadcaster, writer, documentary maker, body positivity advocate
Independent
Episode: Ariana Grande, Brooklyn Beckham’s ad and reporting a police officer
Emma-Louise Boynton
Author, journalist and broadcaster
Author of Pleasure, The Reclamation of My Body
Episode: Dua Lipa's wedding, the Alex Cooper backlash and sex therapy
Deborah Frances-White
Comedian, author, podcaster best known for The Guilty Feminist
The Guilty Feminist
Episode: Deborah Frances-White: dating apps, manosphere ideology and Steven Bartlett
Corinne Low
Behavioral economist and author of "Femonomics"
Wharton School
Episode: The myth of ‘having it all’ and how to break free
Caroline O'Donoghue
Podcaster and author of the novel 'The Rachel Incident'
Episode: Caroline O’Donoghue, stolen time and the problem with selling trauma
Elizabeth Day
Queen of British podcasting and author
Author of "How to Fail"
Episode: Elizabeth Day: pop culture, friendship and getting over the ick
Lucy Boynton
Actress starring in ITV's A Cruel Love, The Ruth Ellis Story
ITV
Episode: Millie Bobby Brown, ageing and Lucy Boynton on domestic violence
Louis Theroux
Documentary filmmaker and broadcaster known for his unique interviewing style.
Episode: The White Lotus, botox in cinema and Louis Theroux’s Armie interview
Armie Hammer
Actor previously accused of severe allegations including sexual misconduct.
Episode: The White Lotus, botox in cinema and Louis Theroux’s Armie interview

Hosts

Kathleen Johnston
London-based journalist and host of Straight Up with Ellie; often leads conversations on pop culture, feminism, and media.
Ellie Halls
London-based journalist and co-host, known for insightful takes on pop culture, books, and media.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Fab

    I listen every week and get so many tv, film and book recommendations from these gals!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EstefRey
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Becoming a weekly listen

    I really love a high-low esque mix of pop culture reporting and literary commentary from actual working journalists. I’m also an American Anglophile. So I love keeping up with British culture.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ShinyAndrea
    United States2 months ago
  • Straight up fabulous

    Love this show and their friendship!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rosie68123/
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Weekly Treat!

    I absolutely love your pod. The conversation, the recs and laughs , it’s just simply top tier.

    Was distraught when my beloved HighLow finished and searched high and low (😉) for something equally good. So when I discovered Straight Up I was delighted and to be honest it’s straight up better (sorry Dolly and Pandora!). Hope to see you both in Dublin for an in person event some time in the future 🫶🏻🫶🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pauline Corish
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Filling the gaping hole left by the demise of the High Low (rip)

    Love the banter and perspectives of these two thirty-something’s who care about the ‘culture’ in pop culture. I always learn and laugh listening to each episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L Daley
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the hosts' intelligence, warmth, and engaging banter.
Audiences appreciate the thoughtful feminist lens and strong book/TV recommendations.
Some critics note occasional pacing or scripting concerns but remain highly engaged.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dua Lipa's wedding, the Alex Cooper backlash and sex therapy
Q: How has sex therapy changed your relationship to your body and sexuality?
It reframed her understanding from a pathology focus to a body-centered approach, helping her unlearn harmful cultural myths and reestablish a healthier, more integrated sense of self.
Dua Lipa's wedding, the Alex Cooper backlash and sex therapy
Q: What motivated you to write Pleasure, The Reclamation of My Body?
Emma-Louise describes writing as a blend of memoir and cultural critique, using her own journey through sex therapy to explore how society conditions women's bodies and sexuality, and to offer a narrative arc that readers can follow as a path to reclaiming pleasure.
ASK US ANYTHING: Tweakments, body image and gender disappointment
Q: Have you had further thoughts on getting cosmetic surgery since you were last considering it on the pod?
Yes, both have contemplated it to varying degrees; one is leaning toward Botox after pregnancy, while the other remains cautious about fillers due to long-term commitment and potential regrets.
The best films of 2025 (LIVE from Curzon cinema)
Q: What are your recommendations for Thai food in London?
I recommend a New Mexican restaurant called Fonda, located on Head and Street.
The best films of 2025 (LIVE from Curzon cinema)
Q: What can people do to support the show as listeners?
Keep listening, come to more events, and look out for exclusive things on Patreon.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Straight Up

What is Straight Up about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two London-based journalist hosts deliver a weekly, candid take on pop culture, books, film, and celebrity news through a feminist lens. Episodes weave thoughtful commentary on current trends with sharp takes on media, gender dynamics, and online discourse, often pairing deep-dive discussions with personal anecdotes and highly shareable recommendations. The show stands out for its warm, witty banter, strong female friendship at its core, and a track record of engaging interviews and timely cultural critique. Listeners can expect intelligent, percolating conversations that mix criticism with lighthearted culture picks and audience Q&A.

Noteworthy strengths include a clear feminist frame, a robust book-and-TV recommendation engine, and an ab... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Straight Up?

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How many listeners does Straight Up get?

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How many subscribers and views does Straight Up have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Straight Up has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Straight Up?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Straight Up:

1. Everything Is Content
2. Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware
3. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
4. Shameless
5. SheerLuxe Podcast

How many episodes of Straight Up are there?

Straight Up launched 7 years ago and published 251 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Straight Up?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Straight Up?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Straight Up from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Straight Up?

Recent guests on Straight Up include:

1. Jackie Adedeji
2. Emma-Louise Boynton
3. Deborah Frances-White
4. Corinne Low
5. Caroline O'Donoghue
6. Elizabeth Day
7. Lucy Boynton
8. Louis Theroux

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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