Grab Her By The Mic

Litter Boxes, Military Dolphins & the Thermos That's Out to Get You [Episode 23]

This week on Grab Her By The Mic, a friend told Han that a local high school installed a litter box for students who identify as cats. Han lost her mind about it for a week, went down a rabbit hole, and came back with something way more sinister than a rumour about cats Philsy went full correspondent mode on the 2026 Met Gala - best dressed (Kris Jenner and Cara Delevingne), worst dressed (Heidi Klum, obviously), the Bezos controversy, Rihanna arriving after the red carpet had already closed, Blake Lively's energy, Katy Perry's six-fingers, and Beyoncé doing exactly what Beyoncé does.  In the Weekly Spiral: a missing woman in Mexico whose filtered Instagram photos made her unrecognisable to police, the Pentagon press briefing that became an Austin Powers bit when Iran was accused of deploying kamikaze dolphins, and the Thermos recall affecting 8 million containers after three people lost their vision opening their lunch.  The SideQuest was Silent Call, where it was proven why Philsy isn’t allowed to plan anything on her own. We wore headphones and had to navigate phone calls with no idea what was happening. Philsy’s Mum thought she was being held hostage while Han’s Dad huffed and puffed yet somehow knew Philsy was involved. A second caller announced she'd done a poo. It was exactly what it sounds like. Explicit, feral, occasionally educational, and accidentally the most thorough investigation of a local rumour the Southern Highlands has ever produced. See you next Tuesday. 💋 CHAOS CORRECTIONAL (FACT-CHECK CORNER) Stick around after the outro for Chaos Correctional - where Han cleans up the confident nonsense we said on air with just enough research to be dangerous. This week we correct:  * The Chinese plastic surgery lawsuit (it's almost certainly a hoax from 2004)  * Whether Mexico has social security (it does)  * What the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs actually is (we undersold how unhinged the Austin Powers moment was)  * Whether Australia has military dolphins (no, sadly)  * Anna Wintour's successor's name (Chloe Malle)  * The full Bezos Met Gala controversy (confirmed, and we undersold the fake urine)  * Lena Dunham's new show - is it autobiographical? (partially right) LINKS & THINGS WE MENTIONED 🍷 Recap & Rosé * Wine of the week: Rock Lobster 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand available at Dan Murphy's [https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_6034116?store=1795&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23673614531&gbraid=0AAAAADidTxBS9P4kbcZ3NmJXRYVpy-gdD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3J6i4anDW-l3Niz7Adw_BU82HZWWE2HVX2121Fnqu0CVYpTKrvY8_caAurMEALw_wcB]  * Burradoo Park Farm [https://burradooparkfarm.com/] - great setting, traffic chaos 🌀 Weekly Spiral * Missing woman / filtered photos: Mexico's National Search Commission's systemic issue with social media photos in missing persons cases - Oddity Central [http://odditycentral.com/news/search-for-missing-woman-hampered-by-her-excessively-edited-social-media-photos.html] * Litter box school hoax - Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litter_boxes_in_schools_hoax]  * Michael L. Brown opinion piece (2016): "Should We Provide Litter Boxes for People Who Identify as Cats?" - The Christian Post [https://www.christianpost.com/news/should-we-provide-litter-boxes-for-people-who-identify-as-cats.html]  * US Navy Marine Mammal Program: San Diego, est. 1959 - Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_marine_mammal] * Kamikaze dolphins / Pentagon briefing - Independent [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-iran-war-briefing-kamikaze-dolphins-b2970698.html] * Thermos recall: 8 million units, 2008–2024 - CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) [http://cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Thermos-Recalls-8-2-Million-Stainless-King-Food-Jars-and-Bottles-Due-to-Serious-Impact-Injury-and-Laceration-Hazards]  * Heidi Yeh / Taiwanese plastic surgery ad lawsuit - BBC, 2015 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34568674] * China plastic surgery lawsuit hoax - Snopes [http://snopes.com/fact-check/man-sues-wife-ugly-children/] 🎭 The Met Gala 2026 * Theme: Costume Art / Dress code: Fashion is Art - Marie Claire [https://www.marieclaire.com.au/fashion/fashion-news/met-gala-2026-theme-dress-code/] * Chloe Malle - Anna Wintour's successor at Vogue (appointed September 2025) - Al Jazeera [http://aljazeera.com/economy/2025/9/2/vogues-wintour-taps-successor-to-lead-editorial-at-the-iconic-magazine] * Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez Bezos as lead sponsors / Ball Without Billionaires protest - CNN [http://cnn.com/2026/05/01/style/the-met-gala-bezos-controversy] + Hollywood Reporter [http://hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/protest-movements-jeff-bezos-met-gala-2026-1236585809] * Lena Dunham's Too Much - Netflix, July 2025 [https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81671844], starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe 💄 Products We Mentioned * Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Lipstick - shade: Cheeky (available Priceline [http://priceline.com.au/product/189239/maybelline-superstay-vinyl-ink-longwear-liquid-lipstick-cheeky-4-2ml], Chemist Warehouse) * Brow Aesthetics by Tyler [http://browaestheticsbytyler.com] - Southern Highlands, Brow One Three — Tyler's product line, available on her website. * Brows by Charlotte's - book via Tyler - check out her Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/browaesthetics.charlotte/] Loved this episode? Hit follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future chaos Leave us a 5-star review if you cackled, cried, or felt seen Screenshot & tag us on socials so we know you’re listening 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday 👉 Follow us: @grabherbythemic 📩 speaktous@grabherbythemic.com

Slow Living, Suspicious Date Nights & Ronnie the Crayfish Who Didn't Make It [Episode 22]

Episode 22 of Grab Her By The Mic opens with a debrief that goes places. Han's husband planned a date night and she immediately suspected she was being broken up with. Philsy went to the Hunter Valley, drank a lot of wine, and returned a self-declared expert. One of them relaxed into a genuinely slow weekend. The other one is still processing it. Classic. The Weekly Spiral covers the three stories you need to know about this week: Harry Styles reportedly engaged after eight months (we have stats and opinions), Trump pausing a live televised speech to tell Melania their marriage won't last (with the King of England in the room), and an activist who stole a pet crayfish named Ronnie from a restaurant to liberate him - and killed him instantly by throwing him into cold saltwater. RIP Ronnie. You deserved better. Han's Hyperfix digs into the slow living trap - why opting out of hustle culture feels like another full-time job with a mood board. Spoiler: your nervous system is confused, rest feels like a threat, and the linen set is not going to fix it. Philsy brings Hunter Valley hot takes and the science behind why April specifically destroys everyone. The SideQuest is Worth It or Cooked - both hosts rule on self-care behaviours and admit to things they probably shouldn't. The chaos twist delivers.  Chaotic, occasionally educational, and somehow accidentally therapeutic. See you next Tuesday. 💋 Chaos Correctional (Fact-Check Corner) Stick around after the outro for Chaos Correctional - where Han cleans up the confident nonsense we said on air with just enough research to be dangerous. This week we correct: * How to actually pronounce Pokolbin (we were all wrong, all of us) * Whether refried beans are made with pork fat (they are, Philsy was right, we're grieving) * The average time people date before getting engaged vs. Harry Styles' eight months * The movie Zoë Kravitz directed, who she met there, and the subsequent romantic chaos * Whether Ronnie was a lobster (he was not, and ignorance of species is not a defence) Links & Things We Mentioned 🍷 Recap & Rosé * Hunter Valley Wine Country (official tourism site) winecountry.com.au [https://www.winecountry.com.au] * Pokolbin visitor info visitnsw.com [https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter/hunter-valley/pokolbin] * Greg's Espresso Bar, Pokolbin - the Hunter Valley coffee stop with "killer toasties" named things like Pig Jam, Are You Takin' The Pesto?, Sweet Baby Cheesus, and The Devil's in the Béchamel. Yes, really. Open 7 days from early. 2188 Broke Road, Pokolbin - gregsespressobar.com.au [https://gregsespressobar.com.au] 🌀 Weekly Spiral * Harry Styles & Zoë Kravitz engagement confirmed hollywoodreporter.com [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/harry-styles-zoe-kravitz-engaged-engagement-ring-photo-1236578086/] * Trump tells Melania their marriage won't last - King Charles state visitEntertainment Weekly via Yahoo [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/donald-trump-pauses-televised-speech-165218549.html] * Activist steals pet crayfish Ronnie, kills himLADbible [https://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-news/activist-steals-lobster-from-restaurant-968872-20260418] * PETA responds to Ronnie situationLADbible [https://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-news/peta-responds-pet-lobster-activist-death-animals-917129-20260428] 🐰 Research Rabbit Hole * Blink Twice (2024) - Zoë Kravitz directorial debut imdb.com [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14858658/] | Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video * Average engagement timeline data The Knot 2024 Study - theknot.com [https://www.theknot.com/content/hot-topic-how-long-should-you-date-before-getting-engaged] * Autumn burnout / seasonal fatigue — general wellness research (no single source — keep vague in show notes) 💖 Obsession of the Week * The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson - the never-before-told true story of Evelyn Marsden, the only Australian-born survivor of the Titanic. A nurse, a champion rower, a love story, and one of the most extraordinary nights in history. Out now via Hachette Australia - hachette.com.au [https://www.hachette.com.au/lisa-wilkinson/the-titanic-story-of-evelyn] * Lucette, Bowral - French café-meets-bistro in the heart of the Southern Highlands. Open seven days for breakfast and lunch, dinner Thursday to Saturday. From the team behind Franquette Crêperie, with a two-hatted chef in the kitchen. 310 Bong Bong Street (High Street Bowral) - lucettebistro.com.au [https://www.lucettebistro.com.au] Loved this episode? Hit follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future chaos. Leave us a 5-star review if you cackled, cried, or felt seen Screenshot & tag us on socials so we know you’re listening 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday 👉 Follow us: @grabherbythemic 📩 speaktous@grabherbythemic.com

Madonna, Migraines & A Dog On A Bus [Episode 21]

This week on Grab Her By The Mic, we're spiralling through the headlines, hyperfixating on what's actually going on in Australia right now, and playing a game that Madonna definitely inspired. In our brand new segment, the Weekly Spiral, we unpack Kim K and Lewis Hamilton's beach snog, Madonna rising from under the Coachella stage in a twenty-year-old corset (that someone then lost on a golf cart), and Trump picking a fight with the actual Pope. The Pope's approval rating is nearly double his. We have thoughts. Han's Hyperfix this week is the ANU study that confirmed Australians are now officially sadder than during COVID lockdowns - and the 35 to 54 age bracket is the most miserable group of all. That's us. Science said so. Han also unpacks what life was actually like for women in 1976, the year 59% of Australians apparently want to go back to. Spoiler: it wasn't great. Philsy brings us her Hyperfix on Coco, her deeply unhinged dog, who this week got on a school bus, caused a kitten heel incident, and may or may not be getting a taser collar.  We also play Age Against The Machine for the SideQuest - where we settle once and for all what women are too old for. The answer, mostly, is nothing. Then we wrap with our brand new Obsession of the Week: Philsy recommends Italo in Bowral, Han recommends Big Mistakes on Netflix. Don't go anywhere after the outro - Chaos Correctional is up, where we fact check ourselves and find out exactly how wrong we were. See you next Tuesday. 💋 CHAOS CORRECTIONAL Stick around after the outro for Chaos Correctional - where Han cleans up the confident nonsense we said on air with just enough research to be dangerous. This week we correct: * Whether you should ask your kids what they learned at school straight away (Philsy was right) * What a "head" of yarn is actually called * Where Kim K and Lewis Hamilton went carpet shopping (not Coachella) * Whether Madonna just released a new song * How her Coachella outfits actually went missing * Whether Trump brought in anti-abortion legislation * Whether the Pope is anti-abortion (it's complicated) * Whether dog taser collars are legal in Australia * How long the ANUpoll has been running * Who Australia's Prime Minister was during Obama's presidency LINKS & THINGS WE MENTIONED 🍷 Recap & Rosé * Between Friends Rosé - only $10 at Dan Murphy’s [https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_247038/between-friends-rose] 🌀 Weekly Spiral * Kim K & Lewis Hamilton - search on your socials, you won't miss it, but see the story here on News.com.au [https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/lewis-hamilton-snapped-with-kim-kardashian-in-pdapacked-beach-date/news-story/71a17b11999812b6d4686e770b84c653] * Madonna at Coachella - details on the feedback [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/madonna-s-coachella-cameo-sparks-praise-backlash-and-costume-theft/gm-GM1B2B9C2B?gemSnapshotKey=GM1B2B9C2B-snapshot-110] * Madonna’s missing outfit - details on News.com.au [https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/music-festivals/madonna-issues-public-plea-after-backstage-coachella-mishap/news-story/255d881d5932224c9f53549c081d60e2] * Confessions II - out July 3 - find the album page with countdown on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/4ycSWVO8qE6auKr9LTStuC?si=f9f08047fbb14171] * Trump vs Pope Leo XIV - Truth Social (if you dare) or details on the ABC [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-19/trump-pope-leo-relationship/106575088] 😢 Australia is Sad & The ANUpoll * ANU [https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/most-australians-believe-life-was-better-50-years-ago-anupoll] official release:  * SBS [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/a-country-under-strain-australians-life-satisfaction-hits-record-low/u69wd9mge] News article  🤤 Obsession of the Week * Italo Bowral - The Mill, 6/210-224 Bong Bong Street, Bowral NSW 2576 | Instagram: @italobowral [https://www.instagram.com/italobowral/] * Big Mistakes on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81734605] LOVED THIS EPISODE? * Hit follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future chaos * Leave us a 5-star review if you cackled, cried, or felt seen * Screenshot & tag us on socials so we know you’re listening 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday 👉 Follow us: @grabherbythemic 📩 speaktous@grabherbythemic.com

Slow Motherhood, Megxit 2.0 & A Petrol Panic - Welcome to 2026 [Episode 20]

This week on Grab Her By The Mic, Philsy is fresh from Byron with a tan, a gland infection and a bag of antibiotics that have wrecked her gut. Han spent the second week of school holidays selectively pretending she didn't have children, then got sinus-infected mid-Sudafed-license-handover and survived to tell the tale.  Han's hyper fix dives headfirst into "slow motherhood" - we unpack the privilege problem, the gentle parenting hangover, and the actual peer-reviewed research that says the guilt is doing more damage than the missed bath. Philsy goes full body-language analyst on Megxit 2.0 - the "press tour that's not a royal tour," what Harry and Meghan are actually here for, and why every confident woman in public life still gets shredded for breathing. Plus: a SideQuest called Slow or Feral, a Weekly Manifest that includes fuel under $2 a litre, and Philsy’s genuine threat to buy a Nokia 3210 from Big W. See you next Tuesday. 💋 Chaos Correctional (Fact-Check Corner) Stick around after the outro for Chaos Correctional - where Han cleans up the confident nonsense we said on air with just enough research to be dangerous. This week we correct: * Philsy’s claim someone burned down the Geelong oil refinery (there’s no evidence of this). * The pronunciation of Hoka. It's Ho-kah. We were close-ish. * Plenty of WTF Harry and Meghan moments. * Whether Australia genuinely only has two oil refineries left (yes, and that's the real story) * The all important debate over potpourri. Links & Things We Mentioned 🍷 Recap & Rosé * Vinaceous 'Salome' Rosé - Good Pair Days [https://www.goodpairdays.com/au/wines/details/vinaceous-salome-rose-2023/?srsltid=AfmBOoqd5wIjbUyRNeF-M72FN4hvJJs12kiExmIWuGOzdKQH74KNS4gN] 🤱 Slow Motherhood * Pinterest 2026 Parenting Trend Report - slow motherhood up 310%, no phone summer up 340% [https://newsroom.pinterest.com/news/parenting-trend-report-2026/] * Beyond Blue - 1 in 2 Australians facing burnout, with caregivers and unpaid work leading the trend [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/about/media/media-releases/1-in-2-Australians-Facing-Workplace-Burnout] * "Trying to remain calm…but I do reach my limit sometimes" [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307492]- peer-reviewed study on gentle parenting and burnout (PLOS One) * Psychology - New Research Finds That a Parent's Presence Really Matters [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202405/new-research-finds-that-a-parents-presence-really-matters] 🚗 Petrol Panic * Viva Energy Geelong Refinery incident statement [https://www.vivaenergy.com.au/media/news/2026/geelong-refinery-incident] * The Conversation - what the Geelong refinery fire reveals about Australia's fuel supplies [https://theconversation.com/what-does-the-geelong-refinery-fire-reveal-about-australias-fuel-supplies-280793] * SBS - Bowen on the refinery blaze and emergency Brunei + South Korea diesel imports [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/oil-refinery-fire-australia-fuel-supply-impact/g7mtm24k6] 👑 Harry & Meghan * CNN - Harry and Meghan's Australia tour (just don't call it a royal tour) [https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/17/australia/harry-meghan-australia-tour-intl-hnk] * SBS - what are Prince Harry and Meghan doing in Australia? [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/what-are-prince-harry-and-meghan-doing-in-australia/un2gel4ro] * Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal - Briefcase Model #24 [https://deal.fandom.com/wiki/Meghan_Markle] 🇳🇿 New Zealand * Bloomberg - Jacinda Ardern joins the Kiwi exodus to Australia [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-26/new-zealand-ex-pm-jacinda-ardern-joins-kiwi-exodus-to-australia] 🌀 Products We Spiralled About * Martha Stewart's Organizing [https://www.amazon.com.au/Martha-Stewarts-Organizing-Bringing-Routines/dp/0307954889] - the planner that tells you when to clean every window * Nokia 3210 [https://www.nokia.com/phones/en_int/nokia-3210]  the brick phone Philsy wants to buy at Big W for emotional regulation * Toe-cleavage loafers [https://www.vogue.com/article/peep-toe-loafers-trend]- the trend Han hope Philsy doesn’t catch wind of 🦠 COVID * PubMed - Making waves: Lessons learned from COVID-19  [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9348808/] * Wikipedia - Anthropause [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropause] 👪 Father-Child Rough-and-Tumble Play * University of Newcastle Study - The relationship between father-child rough and tumble play and motor development: an exploratory study [https://openresearch.newcastle.edu.au/articles/thesis/The_relationship_between_father-child_rough_and_tumble_play_and_motor_development_an_exploratory_study/29010392] * University of Cambridge Study - Playtime with Dad may improve children’s self-control [https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/playtime-with-dad-may-improve-childrens-self-control] Loved this episode? 👉 Hit follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future chaos ⭐ Leave us a 5-star review if you cackled, cried, or felt seen 📱 Screenshot & tag us on socials so we know you’re listening 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday 👉 Follow us: @grabherbythemic 📩 speaktous@grabherbythemic.com

Teeth Dreams, Toe Cleavage & the Capsule Wardrobe I'm Definitely Building [Episode 19]

This week on Grab Her By The Mic, Han deep dives into the meaning of dreams after crying at an Easter girls' lunch because of a dream she had about Philsy quitting the podcast. Yes, really. Spoiler: Philsy isn't going anywhere. The dream was fake. The emotional damage was very real. Philsy weighs in from a Byron Bay holiday, reports that she has purchased parachute pants and toe-cleavage ballet flats in what she is calling - with a completely straight face - a capsule wardrobe. This episode covers: dreams and what your subconscious is actually doing while you sleep, attachment anxiety and the friendships that survive it, selling a Tesla because Elon ruined everything, Net World at Treetop Adventures in Canberra, capsule wardrobe goals vs. execution, ballet core, thrifting with restraint (questionable), donating to Pop In in the Southern Highlands, and siblings - organised chaos with shared trauma and the same mum. No SideQuest this week (RIP to the vibes), but the Manifest more than made up for it. See you next Tuesday 💋 Chaos Correctional (Fact-Check Corner): Stick around after the outro for Chaos Correctional - where Han cleans up the confident nonsense we said on air with just enough research to be dangerous. This week we correct: * What the Jewish Talmud actually is (Han cited it correctly, just didn't fully explain what she was citing) * Freud and Jung were psychiatrists, not psychologists - and here's what they were actually known for * What balletcore actually is * The toe cleavage ballet flat was Miu Miu, not Balenciaga. A formal apology has been issued. * Pop In is not a women's shelter - it's a daytime drop-in refuge for women and children experiencing DV. The distinction matters. popin.org.au Links & Things We Mentioned: 🍷 Recap & Rosé 🍷 * Net World at Treetop Adventures, Canberra [https://treetopsadventure.com.au/new-networld-at-canberra/] * Ardour at Milton Park, Bowral [https://www.worldsapart.club/ardour/miltonpark] (formerly Milton Park - recently redone, as mentioned) * The Iconic [https://www.theiconic.com.au/] 🐰 Research Rabbit Hole 🐰 * What betrayal dreams actually mean [https://allintherapyclinic.com/when-dream-betrayal-sparks-conflict-in-reality/] * Teeth falling out dream meaning - Sleep Foundation [https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams/dream-interpretation/teeth-falling-out] * The Jewish Talmud and teeth dreams - Chabad [https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2842585/jewish/What-Does-It-Mean-When-You-Dream-Your-Teeth-Are-Falling-Out.htm] * Dream interpretation in Judaism - My Jewish Learning [https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/dreams-dream-interpretation/] * Sigmund Freud - Britannica [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud] * Carl Jung - Britannica [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Jung] * Attachment anxiety explained - Cleveland Clinic [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/anxious-attachment-style] 🌀 Products We Spiralled About 🌀 * Miu Miu ballet flats [https://www.miumiu.com/us/en/shoes/ballerinas/c/10210US] (the toe cleavage culprit - not Balenciaga) * Balletcore: the trend explained [https://www.whowhatwear.com/balletcore-trend] * Blundstone Australia [https://www.blundstone.com.au/] * The Iconic [https://www.theiconic.com.au/] (boots + jeans haul) 👩 Support This 👩 * Pop In - Moss Vale [https://www.popin.org.au/] (daytime refuge for women and children experiencing domestic violence, Southern Highlands NSW) Loved this episode? * Hit follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future chaos * Leave us a 5-star review if you cackled, cried, or felt seen * Screenshot & tag us on socials so we know you’re listening 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday 👉 Follow us: @grabherbythemic 📩 speaktous@grabherbythemic.com