Culture Club

Neighbours is being re-released for vertical video, Taylor Swift and the cult of fandom, and the Cornell 7 case.
In today's episode, we begin with the news that the Australian soap, Neighbours, is returning to our screens. Our vertical screens, that is.
Pete Davidson is being dragged for not understanding the influencer economy in our big year of 2026. Does he have a point?
A trigger warning for sexual assault and rape in our first major segment as we discuss the Cornell 7 case. We reference a piece in the Women's Agenda titled, Cornell asked for essays from 7 students who allegedly raped a woman. Women are asking for accountability by Rita Nasr and the important student journalism work by Cornell's own paper, The Cornell Daily Sun.
If you'd prefer to skip ahead, the segment starts and ends at 14:40–25:07.
Next, Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl Encore tracks are officially out in the world. The internet has been ablaze with conversations surrounding it, including in our own comments section. We break down the criticism and discuss why fan culture has reached dizzying heights.
In this segment we hear from writer and musician Bianca Davino, who reads from her 2025 Refinery29 Australia piece titled Stan Expectation & The Allure Of Cultural Clout: Why Has The Reaction To The Life Of A Showgirl Been So Heated? and we hear her thoughts on the Encore discourse. We also play a TikTok from user Fa2Chainz who theorises why fans are becoming the industry experts online.
In Bookmarked, we hear from Holly, our first listener recommendation! Thanks for the idea, Holly. If you'd like to share your own Bookmarked recommendation, simply record a voice memo <90 seconds with something you've loved watching, reading or listening to to cultureclubmail@gmail.com to potentially be featured in an ep!
Jas recommends The Housemaid film while Maggie enjoyed The Ruiners by Ellena Savage.
Thank you SO much for listening! And remember, you can find us on Substack and YouTube.
Jas & Mags xo
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The generational interview debate, celeb burner accounts, and why are robots infiltrating fashion shows?
We kick off with popcorn celeb bits: Taylor Swift is back, Channing Tatum could be running a burner account, and Mary Beth Barone & Joe Awlyn are starring in a rom-com.
At both Vogue World in Milan and London Fashion Week, we saw robots take centre stage, so what does this say about where the fashion world is?
We reference Why Were There Robots at Vogue World? in The Cut by Olivia Craighead and The Story Behind the Runway Robots at Vogue World 2026: Milano by Emma Specter for Vogue US. In Bookmarked, Maggie recommends the series, Furious while Jas is loving Matilda Mann's new album Kismet.
Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Substack, Instagram and TikTok.
Jas & Mags
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Spring is here, and these are our seasonal favourites: from books and music to hobbies and beauty.
Let us know in the comments what you're loving as well!
Forest Therapy
Brat by Gabriel Smith
The Ruiners by Ellena Savage
Rebecca Daphne du Maurier
Pool House by Mary K. Choi
Alien
Minority Report
Sense and Sensibility
Industry
Widow's Bay
Fiona Apple
Triple Seven Wishy
Kath and Arun – Let Them Cook
Glutenberg Bible
The Ordinary’s Soothing and Barrier Support Serum
Go-To Soft and Creamy Hydrating Cleanser
Nars Soft Matte Concealer Pot
Katie Jane Hughes
YSL LoveNude Lip
Thank you for listening and you can follow us on Substack and YouTube. Mags and Jas xo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new season means a new Troye Sivan track, and we are sat for the medieval music video that came with it. We reference Gladys Lai's trend piece for Vogue Australia on the rise of the Renaissance Fair. Plus, Lena Dunham is officially Mother, having had a baby via surrogate.
In culture's biggest story of the week, Ed Sheeran is in strife after bowing to stadium owners and dropping Macklemore from his tour. We chart the story and dissect how Ed being Mr Nice Guy contributed to the controversy.
Sydney Sweeney is once again the face of a hugely controversial advert, having posed nude for sports prediction company Novig. Are we surprised? We read from an op-ed by Marina Hyde for The Guardian.
Next, it's apparently the year of the intellectual influencer. Dazed's Laura Pitcher wrote about the phenomenon happening on our algorithms, and we dissect why people are craving education on reels (hint: it's that damn phone).
We have a spring bumper Bookmarked coming to your podcast feeds later this week, so stay tuned for that!
Thank you for listening - Jas & Mags xo
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Wimbledon bans influencers, Australia might be opting out of social media algorithms, and unpacking the Stella Lefty nepo pop-star drama.
First up: Current SNL cast member Veronika Slowikowska (AKA Veronka is Cool) revealed a new singing project: Me As A Girl. Even local sleuth, Triple J presenter Abby Butler, made a TikTok on the subject.
Next, Nathan Fielder has made a documentary about Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes. We reference this Vanity Fair feature.
In world-breaking news, Australia might be the first to switch off social media algorithms. Thanks to the campaigning of local not-for-profit, Teach Us Consent, the Australian government may encourage an "opt-in" algorithm. Is this a positive? Or is the algorithm becoming a close comfort? We reference our own interview with Teach Us Consent founder, Chanel Contos, from 2023! And this piece in The Conversation by Rob Nicholls.
Wimbledon is banning influencers? Kind of. Wimbledon will not have any accreditation category for influencers or content creators, sparking a debate not just online but also in the Culture Club studio.
There’s a name that hasn’t left the internet’s lips this month, and that is Stella Lefty. Her country-pop song ‘Boston’ has gone super bonkers viral and, as a result, brought about a LOT of attention. We break down the plagiarism accusations and billionaire father claims. We reference a Yahoo article by Kelsey Weekman and a review by The Guardian: Boston singer’s debut is bland, boilerplate and beyond banal.
In recommendations, Maggie loved Sterling Point while Jas recommends the new A24 movie about Anthony Bourdain, TONY.
Thanks for listening! You can follow us on Substack and YouTube as well.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.