Pairings

013: Love Made Me Do It

Set between Martha’s Vineyard and New York’s Upper East Side, Strangers by Belle Burden initially feels worlds away. But as Amile & Phoebe unpack its themes of marriage, compromise, and reinvention…familiar pressures emerge. Alongside the practical realities of divorce and prenups, they interrogate the public response to Belle’s story, and the tendency to dismiss certain experiences. They discuss the pursuit of becoming “wifey” & whether it's ever worth losing yourself for love. This episode pairs well with: * Strangers by Belle Burden * BEEF, Season 2 (2026, Netflix) * Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing? Chanté Joseph, British Vogue. * Knowing Klay Thompson because of Megan Thee Stallion * Looking in the mirror and saying, “Stand up, girl!” * A glass of Provençal rosé, grown the same year you got married. Happy listening, A&P ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

012: After the Fantasy

Amile and Phoebe continue their deep dive into Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Spoilers included this time! Using the novel as a springboard, they explore the tension between modern femininity and masculinity. Beginning with the backlash surrounding Emma Grede’s promo tour for Start With Yourself, they consider the pulls (pitfalls!) of girlboss messaging. As the conversation unfolds, they turn to the pressures placed on men to perform a version of “traditional” masculinity that may not come naturally to them, and the consequences of building family life around rigid ideals. This episode pairs well with: * Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke * Educated by Tara Westover * Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey (2026, Netflix) * Watching someone slowly rebrand their entire life online. * Searching for tinctures instead of antibiotics. Leave us a 5 star rating (and a comment) please! A&P ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

011: Playing House

For their first foray into fiction this season, Amile and Phoebe turn to Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. Through the character of Natalie, a self-styled tradwife, they explore what it means to perform the role of the “perfect” woman, and why some versions of femininity are so addictive to consume online. As they unpack her story, they revisit themes from earlier episodes through a refreshed lens...from the second shift to motherhood and of course, the manosphere. This episode pairs well with: * Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke * Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman * Unchosen (2026 TV series) * Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025, Hulu) * Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (2025, Netflix) * Swapping your wholemeal loaf for sourdough. * Praying that your raw milk is free from listeria. Make sure to read the book! A&P ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

010: How Far Will You Go?

In the second of their Pixel Flesh deep dive, Amile and Phoebe turn to the idea of beauty maintenance. Comparing their TikTok algorithms, they discuss the shift towards more intensive, expensive and invasive forms of upkeep. They reflect on the ever-growing rejection of ageing and fatness, and the pressures that sustain these insecurities. Moving between viral advice, personal dilemmas, and cultural expectation, they consider what it means to invest in the face and body over time. From skincare and fitness to medications and injectables, how far are we willing to go? This episode pairs well with: * Warning (poem) by Jenny Joseph * The Year All My Friends Got Botox by E.Clein (The Cut, April 2026) * The Substance (2024), dir. Coralie Fargeat * Getting a blepharoplasty without telling anyone * An iced matcha with added collagen Happy listening, A&P ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

009: What Is Pretty Worth?

In the first of a two-part series inspired by Ellen Atlanta’s Pixel Flesh, Amile and Phoebe explore the evolving landscape of beauty in the digital age. From size zero to “slim-thick”, and video vixens to the Kardashian era, they trace how beauty standards have intensified online. Reflecting on their different experiences growing up and what they thought of the Olsen Twins. Most apparent is the tension between critique and participation. How does one resist beauty ideals while still engaging in the rituals that sustain them? From filters and fitness to neurotoxins and aesthetic treatments, the list is endless. Join them as they discuss what it means to perform beauty in a world where being seen has never mattered more. This episode pairs well with: * Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta * "Pretty Hurts" (2013) by Beyonce * "Unpretty" (1999) by TLC * Checking your reflection in the front-facing camera * Saying “it’s just maintenance” and half-believing it * A Belvedere vodka soda with three lemons Happy listening, A&P ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.