Getting there?

For the first episode of season 2 (hi again!) we delve into uncharted territory: our own bodies. Confessing our expertly conducted abstinence from body talk, we dive into the absurdity (or value?) of this, where it might be coming from and how, at the end of the day, it’s really just (you guessed it) patriarchal. Do we really have to choose between being beautiful and brainy? Is there a productive and supportive way to talk about thighs? And, how do we bring back body talk without also resurrecting its 2000s toxicity?

Prompted by the apparent romantic sheen of Christmas time, we dissect romanticism in the 21st century. Inspired by Alain de Botton’s talk On Romanticism, we investigate romantic ideas’ ongoing influence on love, communication, and self-image. Are romance and honesty inherently incompatible? If your partner does not take off your shoes, should you dump them? And, if not, have we entered an era of post-romanticism?  References:  Alain de Botton On Romanticism The Loser Game by The School of Life Rupture and Repair by The School of Life Article on 'If he wanted to, he would' TikTok trend

For this week, we continue a conversation that has been re-emerging for the last month. Sparked by two cultural events – Ruben Östlund’s much-anticipated Triangle of Sadness as well as Greta Thunberg’s talk at the London Literature Festival – we try to wrap our heads around the nuances of calls for social change, or more specifically, their discourse, rhetoric, and intentions. Have we reached a point where ‘raising awareness’ – or ‘climate populism’ – just is not enough? Does a socialist critique from a middle-class director necessarily have to be hypocritical? And if so, aren’t we – having paid 20 pounds for the ticket – hypocritical in saying so? References:  Watch the live stream for Greta's talk at the Southbank Centre.  Greta Thunberg - The Climate Book as well as a review A Rolling Stone review for Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness that sums it up quite well:  “Instead, Triangle of Sadness seems hemmed in by its tastefulness — which feels strange to say about a movie whose central scene is a literal shitstorm, but this is precisely what merits the red flag. If not for that scene, how far would the movie appear to go? It’d rest on a few great elbows to the ribs, a few great punchlines (the best involving a grenade; the second-best involving the divvying out of some octopus) and a lot of filler. The actors try their best, but Östlund’s insistent conceptual droning overtakes them. “

In this week’s episode we venture into controversial discussions around “bad feminism”. Disclosing our love for sexist rap and other non-feminist guilty pleasures, we enter the realms of 2nd wave feminism, mommybloggers and compulsive heterosexuality. Do we actually enjoy spending the morning cleaning, washing and ironing (cause we do!), or are we giving in to oppressive gender ideas? Where do these holy laws of feminism come from? And, in the words of Roxane Gay, is it not better to be “a bad feminist than no feminist at all”? Disclaimer: this episode includes (a little more) offensive language than usual. Many of the opinions expressed are not our own but rather replocatopms of dominant patriarchal discourse. tons of references -  - Area Codes - Ludacris - Dein Lied - Kraftklub - Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo - Studies on stay-at-home mothers: here, here, and here  - Effects of stay-at-home parents on children: here and here - Adrienne Rich - Of Woman Born: Motherhood as experience of institutions - TED Talk: We Should All Be Feminists - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Roxane Gay - Bad Feminist - TED Talk: Roxane Gay - Confessions of a bad feminist - Twitter response of Beyonce's 2014 MTV VMA performance

In this week's episode, we dive into existentialist discussions around the new notorious social media app beReal. Confessing our love and simultaneous reservations for the platform, we feast on debates around reality, online life, and the true meaning of authenticity. How real is a wacky, not-at-all staged selfie? Where does the line between our online and physical lives blur? And does being “real” matter at all? References:  Google AI lamda BeReal TikTok by Stephen Brower

This week we are (again) baffled by the strangeness of British culture and the English language. By shamelessly dissecting Brits and their culture we might just expose our true wish of belonging to the (indeed very lovely) people of the new King Charles whilst desperately holding on to our beloved home countries. Is that balancing act possible? And if not, in what kind of national/cultural nirvana have we found ourselves?

This week we (yes, again) dive into the never-ending topic of identity and expression. This time, through the lens of fashion. We dissect the impressions clothes make on the view of both self and others and the vital part this plays in making sense of the world. Is this tendency a destructive product of late capitalism or a useful tool for identity-coding? Are boobs free of bras necessarily feminist? Can a polo shirt be left-wing? And can we ever be free of this forced expression?

For this week's rant, we go meta and take full advantage of the podcast medium. We expose our love for opinionated people, discuss the hyper-polarised digital space, reflect on our identification through opinions, and how this might make us (aggressively!) unchill. Are hot takes the currency of social media? Would the Smith-slap sensation have caused such an outrage if not for our need to align with our opinion camps? And, who even are we without opinions? 

This week, we are knee-deep in thoughts about religion and spirituality, and how such values can coexist in today’s neoliberalist world. Reflecting on how work culture resembles the notion of faith today, we question what spirituality really is and how it fits into the backdrop for all of modern life: capitalism. Is Elon Musk scarily close to an actual prophet? When does finding purpose in work turn into wor(k)shipping? And is it really all that bad if work serves as spiritual guidance? References:  The Secret documentary NYT article: When Your Job Fills In for Your Faith, That’s a Problem

This week, our discussion is rooted in the new TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends. In reviewing the series we dive into feminism, modern concepts of love, and its (ever so present) connection to capitalism. Do Rooney’s Bella Swan-esque characters support or detract from her feminist agenda? Can Rooney’s marxism and authorship coexist? Is it really that wrong to illustrate love as a mere transaction? Sources:  Interview with Sally Rooney at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Sally Rooney on Marxist Novels Kathryn Dickel on transactional love Olisunvia on YouTube talking about how our conception of love is messed up

Fueled by our anger toward the new calorie law, we take on society’s obsession with finding the optimal path to health. In our rant about the reductionism, ignorance, and neoliberalism of the new legislation, we find ourselves lost for answers when it comes to the efficient communication and promotion of health to a diverse public. Are individualistic public health campaigns effective without systemic change? Is the democratisation of health education through social media really a good thing? And what the hell is health to begin with? References:  Government website and numbers on obesity Great opinion piece on the issue Statistics on eating disorders in the UK Review of all existing studies looking at menu labelling in the medical literature proving the ineffectiveness of calorie labeling in the US Researchers comment on new calorie labelling regulations in England

In this long-awaited episode we focus on focus: In a time where attention is treated as currency but our ability to focus is steadily decreasing we question how to regain agency over this scarce resource. Are meticulously planned morning routines the magic formula for a restored attention span? Why do we feel the need to skip 5 seconds of theme music? And finally, are we "medieval peasants begging at the court of king Zuckerberg for a couple of crumbs of attention"?  Resources:  - Ezra Klein with Johann Hari: It's Not Your Fault You Can't Pay Attention. Here's Why. - French workers’ "right to disconnect". - The Mind Explained on "How to Focus".

In this episode we approach the ethics of storytelling: At the intersection of identity politics and political correctness, the news are filled with shitstorms and controversies. How come it’s always the loudest and whitest voices that suddenly cry out for free speech? What happens to the notion of artistic freedom in contemporary arts? And from an intersectional perspective: who gets to tell whose story? References:  Anish Kapoor at the Museum of Modern Art Oxford.  Controversy around the translation of 'The Hill We Climb' by Amanda Gorman. Dana Schutz's controversial 'Open Casket' painting shown at the Whitney Biennial 2017. (Correction: 14-year old Emmett Till was lynched in 1955 Mississippi)

In today’s episode we uncover society’s hyper-realism through its prime example of the current #maincharacter trend.  Does everyone really have the tools to romanticise their lives? Are we self-obsessed for broadcasting our lives on Instagram? And finally, is our online narrative-building getting out of hand or innately human? References:  Our #maincharacter song picks: God Only Knows (The Beach Boys) and To Build A Home (The Cinematic Orchestra) Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle Social commentary on the #maincharacter trend by Leena Norms Day in my life in Ukrainian bomb shelter The Square by Ruben Östlund

Coming at you from a stunning Danish Airbnb surrounded by beautiful objects, we discuss our packing habits, the symbiotic relationship between humans and the stuff they own, and the false promise of minimalism.  Are we our possessions? Does Maja need ten shirts for three days? And is minimalism just an airbag for the white middle class (aka us)? References:  The Minimalists Youtube Channel Our new intro song: Buchanan Hammer by Los Tones

To celebrate our 10th episode we invited our dear friend Sofia Gobet to some Saturday morning confusion.  Delving into our childhood experiences we discuss gender expression, identification, and the paradoxes of self-perception. Do we have an intrinsic need to perform our gender? Is there a male equivalent to a tomboy? How do we navigate the gender spectrum and what can‘t we know as cis-gender women? Half an hour is not nearly enough time to talk about this! Do you have similar experiences to share? Is there anything you disagree on? Let us know in the Q&A below or message us on Instagram @gettingthere.pod!  References:  Children and social identity by Mark Bennett, 2004 Divine femininity and the feminine urge to be ... feminine? 

In this covid-laced episode the statement "What you like is more important than what you are like" leads to a mind-boggling discussion. Is what you like a channel to who you are? If it's not on instagram, has it even happened? Is life a spectacle and the self a construction? References:  Binge-watch High Fidelity (& Zoë Kravitz) too The Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord

For this week’s episode, we explore our childhood dream jobs, meritocracy, and the trap of having a calling. Why do we automatically associate what do you want to be when you grow up? with a profession, is work-life balance outdated, and why the hell are we not being paid as creatives?  (We do accept donations *wink wink*). Resources:  Alice Cappelle on the aesthetics of trauma. Lisa's book reference that is not called The Narrative Trap but: Happy Ever After. The TikTok trend I Do Not Dream of Labour.

This week, we pick up the discussion where we left off: in the depths of mind-frying discussions around choice feminism. We (ecstatically) present your contributions and discuss the ins and outs of body-centrism, what empowerment actually is and how vulva mythology might provide a hopeful outlook. Sit back and enjoy our (continued) confusion and attempt at an answer. Billie Eilish’s short film - NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY More information on Anasyrma

If you are able to donate money for Ukrainian families in need of humanitarian assistance you can do so here: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/ukraine-emergency  In this week’s episode, we venture into dangerous feminist battlegrounds. Do we have to renounce sexualized images in order to reverse sexist beauty ideals? What might be problematic about Victoria’s Secret’s move towards inclusivity? Is feminist radicalism the only way to get to true equality? A difficult discussion calls for more than two voices! Let us know your opinions on choice feminism. Might we have reached a state of post-feminism? We want to hear all of your unfiltered thoughts and recommendations. DM us @gettingthere.pod on Instagram and we’ll have plenty to discuss for next week’s part 2 of this episode!  Emily Ratajkowski, My Body BBC Woman’s Hour podcast with Ratajkowski Pay gap in modelling industry The High Low Podcast on the rise and fall of Victoria’s Secret

For this week's episode we are once again indulging in our own (binational) experiences. We try to understand how nationality informs our identities, perspectives and self-expression, how being abroad conjures a (lost) sense of belonging, and how our cyber-personas fit into all of this. Also: tune in for Lisa's eloquent discovery of being a Swedish fish in foreign waters. 

One month after the (relative?) failure of COP26 we discuss the movie “Don’t Look Up”, calming our collective consciousness, pandemic powerlessness, and managing adulting in a world heading towards ecological dystopia. "Don't Look Up" Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbIxYm3mKzI  David Attenborough's attempt at VR nature: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1TYl7ock_/?utm_medium=share_sheet

Fueled by our irritation towards "that girl" we discuss how lifestyles form the basis of identity in the 21st century, our (un)healthy obsession with routine, and whether we can ever escape stereotyping ways of living.

In this episode we question our belonging to Gen Z based on our shared TikTok phobia: Are we on turning into grumpy old women? Or maybe it's all pandemic-related? Finally, we learn that it might be best to just enjoy the ride into our (hopefully) many years of ignorance. Pew Research Center Article + Graphical representation in NYT