PODCAST · arts
Shallow
by Phoebe Whittle & Lucy Bell
Join us as we dive into the topics that keep us talking long after the group chat goes quiet. Each episode, your hosts Lucy Bell and Phoebe Whittle (two friends - yes, groundbreaking!) start in the shallow end, before deep-diving into the topic of the week. We hand-pick each subject, from our obsession with beauty and wellness trends to navigating ambition and careers, these are the conversations filling our WhatsApp inboxes and flooding our social media feeds. We’re here to break down pop culture moments and movements, question the trends we can’t seem to escape, and explore our thoughts along the way. So, are we all underplaying it… or is it really that deep? Let’s talk about it! Follow us at: Insta @shallowpod TikTok @shallowpod
Episodes
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Ep. 41 Diving into the Manosphere
The internet’s “manosphere” can seem like just another pocket of niche online culture. But lately, with algorithms pushing extreme voices and lonely young men searching for identity, what starts as curiosity can quickly spiral into something more influential and more dangerous. This week, we’re...
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Ep. 40 It's Not Me, It's UK (pt 2)
We're diving back into a conversation we had last year... it feels like everyone’s leaving the UK right now… right? From the cost of living and career burnout to the weather (we had to say it), more and more people seem to be packing up and moving abroad in search of something better. So we asked...
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Ep. 39 Wuthering Heights
This week on Shallow Podcast, we’re diving into Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights and the cultural storm surrounding it. From the casting debate and costume choices to the online backlash and endless think pieces, the loudest criticism has been the same: “It’s not like the book.”...
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Ep 38. Women Don't Want to Date Anymore
The Shallow Take? Women don’t want to date anymore. Joined by our first man(!!!) In this episode of Shallow Podcast, we unpack the growing conversation around women opting out of modern dating and ask if there’s truth behind it. Joined by our long-time friend, Arley Simpkins, we explore how…
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Ep 37. 29 going on 30
The Shallow take? 30 is just a number... Or is the lead up to 30 packed with an invisible checklist and a constant toe in comparison culture? This week, we’re diving into how turning 30, for most feels like a deadline - for success, for beauty, for babies and becoming that shining future self you...
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Ep 36. The Gender Pain Gap
The Shallow Take? Endometriosis is just bad period pain... But, really... Endometriosis affects around 190 million people worldwide (World Health Organisation). In the UK, 1 in 10 women live with it (that's about 1.5 million people - Endometriosis UK). And yet, the average diagnosis still takes...
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Ep 35. Review: Taylor Swift End of an Era Documentary
Taylor Swift: End of an Era... What the Doc Really Reveals This week we’re diving into the Eras documentary, what it shows, what it leaves out, and why it matters. From Taylor’s powerful reflections on feeling “hunted,” to the way the film quietly reframes her leadership and loyalty, there’s a…
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Ep 34. Skincare... for toddlers?!
The Shallow Take? What’s the harm in a face mask? Shay Mitchell has launched a children’s skincare line, and the internet has opinions. From “it’s not too late to delete this” to think pieces calling it dystopian, this release sparked a full-blown cultural debate. Is kids’ skincare just harmless...
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Ep 33. The London Girls Bookclub with Caitlin Curry
Book clubs are boring… right? Today’s shallow take says they’re stuffy, pretentious, and mostly an excuse to drink wine while pretending you got past chapter three. But what if book clubs are actually having a moment? This week, we’re joined by Caitlin Curry, founder of the London Girl’s Book...
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Ep 32. A Baby? In This Economy?!
The Shallow Take? Having a baby is just what adults do… right? Except in 2025, starting a family feels less like a life milestone and more like a luxury purchase. With the rising cost of living, climate anxiety, housing insecurity, and childcare prices that rival a second rent, the decision to…
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Ep 31. In Conversation with Trisha Avery
Oh, we are so back. Season 4 is officially here(!!!) and we’re kicking things off with someone very special. The moment we met Trisha Avery, we knew she had to open the season. Her story is powerful, unfiltered, and completely captivating, so we threw our usual structure out the window and just...
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Bonus Episode: The Life of a Showgirl Album Review
Nobody asked, but we had to. Welcome to The Life of a Showgirl album review... a dive into one of the most talked-about pop releases of the year. We break down how The Life of a Showgirl was marketed, the online backlash and praise, and the cultural conversation it sparked. Was it overhyped?...
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Ep 30. Be Quiet, Woman!
The Shallow Take? Internalised misogyny isn’t that deep… right? You’ve heard the jokes... “I’m not like other girls,” “She’s too emotional,” “Girls are just so dramatic.” But what if the punchline is actually the problem? This week on Shallow, we’re diving into the subtle, everyday ways...
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Ep 29. Underconsumption with Ashleigh Cameron
The Shallow Take? Overconsumption is out, and underconsumption might finally be in. After years of shopping hauls, fast fashion, and feeling like every outfit needs to be worthy of the gram', are we finally done with buying stuff we don’t need? This week on Shallow, we’re joined by fashion writer...
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Ep 28. Will I Have A Better Life If I'm Hot?
The Shallow Take? Looking good is a fast track to success. But is pretty privilege actually real, or just another way we justify chasing impossible beauty standards? In this episode of Shallow, we’re diving into the link between appearance and opportunity. Does looking your best really make you...
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Ep 27. Reality TV with Lottie Somers
The Shallow Take? Reality TV is the ultimate guilty pleasure. Fake fights, mystery “sources,” chaotic edits, we know it’s not real, but we still can’t stop watching. From Made in Chelsea to Real Housewives to Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the past decade has been a binge-worthy mess… and we’ve...
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Ep 26. Only Fans: Is The Price Tag Worth The Payout? (Pt 2)
The Shallow Take? OnlyFans is rebranding exploitation as liberation. But is it really that simple? In this episode, we’re diving into the world of OnlyFans... The platform often painted as either empowering or exploitative, depending on who you ask. Critics say it profits off women’s bodies…
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Ep 25. OnlyFans Is The Price Tag Worth The Payout? (Pt 1)
The Shallow Take? OnlyFans is where people take their clothes off for cash. But what if it’s actually rewriting the rules around sex, money, and women’s control? For some creators, it’s not just about content - it’s about power. A platform where women set their own terms, own their audience, and...
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Ep 24. 'I Went Sober For A Year' - Was It Really That Deep?
The Shallow Take? Going sober is the obvious healthy choice… but is it actually that deep? This week on Shallow, we’re picking up where our sober-curious deep dive left off, with a real-life test. We’re joined by our friend Jordan Fores-Higgens, who gave up alcohol for an entire year leading up…
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Ep 23. The Fashion Industry with Christine Lindebak
The Shallow Take: Fashion is frivolous. This week on Shallow, we’re joined by designer and entrepreneur Christine Lindebak (founder of Sewing in the City) to talk about what really goes on behind the scenes of the fashion industry. From self-expression to identity, politics to power, fashion…
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Ep 22. Shallow Book Club: ACOTAR
Shallow Book Club kicks off with a romantasy giant - Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. We’re diving headfirst into the fae-filled world of ACOTAR: from plot twists and politics to wingspans and spice levels. Whether you’re deep in the Night Court or just curious about the hype, this is...
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Ep 21. Do Celebs Owe Us The Truth About Plastic Surgery?
The Shallow Take: Celebs are lying about plastic surgery. In a world where beauty is currency, what happens when the people setting the standard won’t admit they’ve had a little work done? Are celebrities protecting their right to privacy, or selling an impossible ideal the rest of us can’t…
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Ep 20. Its Not Me, It's U.K
The Shallow Take: We're catching flights, not feelings ✈️ To close out Season 2, we’re talking about the big one: moving abroad. Whether it’s chasing the sun, starting over, or escaping the grind, the idea of packing up your life and heading somewhere new is more popular than ever (thanks,...
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Ep 19. Are We All Dressing The Same?
The Shallow Take: We’re all dressing the same. From that Uniqlo bag to white socks and loafers… is the algorithm dressing us? With TikTok trends and Pinterest-core aesthetics leading the charge, has personal style become harder to curate? We’re diving into the death of individuality, revisiting...
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Ep 18. The Pill x Bethan Walters
The Shallow Take: The pill is just a contraceptive… In our very first guest episode (!!), we’re joined by menstrual health advocate @bethanwalters to unpack the real story behind the pill. We’ve been prescribed it young, for cramps, acne, “regulating” our cycles - often without questioning what...
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Ep 17. The Glow-Up
The Shallow Take: What's the harm in self-improvement? This week, we’re talking about the glow-up trend. Those before-and-after videos flooding our feeds with beauty tips, routines and transformations. Some of it’s inspiring, sure. But a lot of it? Kind of exhausting. We’re asking: when does...
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Ep 16. Friendship Break-Ups
The Shallow Take: Your friendship group only gets smaller We all know the playbook for romantic breakups, but what happens when a friendship feels “over”? Do we face it head-on or let it fizzle out? A serious sit-down conversation might feel childish, ghosting could do more harm than good... or...
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Ep 15. Who's Bringing Skinny Back?
Is thin back in... or is it just not that deep? 🙃 We unpack the rise of Ozempic and ask: should celebs be honest about using it? From the Kardashians quietly shedding their signature curves to a full-blown return of '90s and 2000s skinny-era fashion, we trace the cultural shift that’s bringing...
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Ep 14. I cant, I'm busy...
Sorry, I can't. I'm busy! In this episode we dive into the grind of hustle culture - from working multiple jobs to stay afloat, to the constant pressure to do MORE. Is being busy a badge of honour or a sign of something more broken beneath the surface? Shallow Socials! Instagram TikTok Hosted on...
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Ep 13. Just... Taylor Swift
Grab a bottle and brace yourself for many shots - Lucy’s birthday wish came true, and we’re dedicating an entire episode to none other than Miss Taylor Swift. What happens when the guitar-toting girl next door becomes a global billionaire? We’re breaking down her epic journey: the meteoric rise,...
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Ep 12. Beauty Breakout
From sobriety to skincare… who said we don’t have range?! 👀 We’re keeping it light this week, chatting about the everyday (kinda boring, unsexy, but very essential) skin and hair products we swear by, our thoughts on clean beauty - plus, how a bag of sea salt saved Phoebe's face..? Annnnnd, we...
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Ep 11. Sobriety
Oh, we are back, baby! It's the 1st episode of season 2 and we are diving into... Sobriety. With the sober-curious movement on the rise, people are starting to choose Hyrox over hangovers, and run clubs over, well… THE club - but… is ditching the booze really that deep? We dive in! Shallow…
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Ep 10. Ghosting
The SEASON FINALE, guys and gals... and this time, we’re tackling the ultimate digital-age dilemma: ghosting. It’s become all too common from friendships to dating, but why do we do it? Is there ever a reason it’s okay to just... vanish? We’re unpacking the psychology behind ghosting, sharing…
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Ep 9. Skin Conditions
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of skin conditions - and trust us, this is way more than just a surface-level conversation. While many dismiss it as...eh hem* a ‘shallow’ issue, the truth is, the emotional toll of dealing with skin issues can be heavy, often way beyond what people...
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Ep 8. Sleep!
Mouth tape! Silk pillowcases! Sleep scores! The morning ‘shed’…? Is 'sleep hygiene' going way too far? In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the latest sleep trends - from calming pillow sprays to high-tech sleep trackers, and asking the big question: Are they genuinely improving our rest…
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Ep 7. Do We Give a Sh*t What Celebs Wear Anymore?
Has Celeb Fashion Lost Its Grip? In the latest episode of Shallow, we’re asking: Are we over celebrity fashion? With influencers and social media shaping our style choices more than ever, are A-listers losing their influence? Back in the pre-internet days, magazines, TV, and celebrities (plus our...
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Ep 6. Hair Loss
Hair loss... it really is that deep? For a lot of women, hair loss is one of the scariest topics around. For most of us, our hair is a big part of our identity. But what happens when we are faced with losing it… Does our identity go with it? In this episode of Shallow, we unpack Lucy’s personal...
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Ep 5. It Feels Like Nobody Wants To Work These Days!
This week, you better get your f*cking ass up and work! Or.. should you? In this ep of Shallow, we’re diving into university, career paths and work culture 🎓 Once upon a time, a degree + a good job = a comfy middle-class life. Fast forward to 2025? Yeah, not so much. We're unpacking everything,...
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Ep 4. Why Are You So Hot & Cold?
This week, we’re diving into saunas and cold plunges. They’re everywhere - TikTok, Instagram, and that one friend who suddenly won’t stop talking about Wim Hof and longevity. But is the hot/cold practice truly game-changing or are we just being sold another pricey wellness trend? We dive in to…
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Ep 3. 2024: The Year of The Pop Girlie
With the Grammy’s around the corner, we HAD to dive into the pop girlies of 2024! The gals dominated. From Charli to Chappell, it was a HUGE year for females in pop... Was the 31-song Tortured Poets Department too much for the general public? Was Sabrina Carpenter TOO sexualised? Did BRAT have…
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Ep 2. Are Influencers Making Us Broke?
Are we just easily influenced… or is it deeper than that? This week, we're diving into social media and influencer culture. From seasonal car hauls to influencer ‘farms’ and ropey brand launches, influencers are the (not so) new marketing tool being utilised by brands and followed in the…
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Ep 1. Pillow Face
It's the first episode of Shallow, and we're diving into the rise of facial treatments, 'tweakments' and aesthetic procedures! We all just want to look our best, right? But what if it's deeper than that... From fillers and Botox, to Gen Z’s obsession with ageing, we’re exploring how facial...
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Welcome to Shallow!
Join us as we dive into the topics that keep us talking long after the group chat goes quiet. Each episode, your hosts Lucy Bell and Phoebe Whittle (two friends - yes, groundbreaking!) start in the shallow end before deep-diving into the topic of the week. We hand-pick each subject, from our...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join us as we dive into the topics that keep us talking long after the group chat goes quiet.
Each episode, your hosts Lucy Bell and Phoebe Whittle (two friends - yes, groundbreaking!) start in the shallow end, before deep-diving into the topic of the week.
We hand-pick each subject, from our obsession with beauty and wellness trends to navigating ambition and careers, these are the conversations filling our WhatsApp inboxes and flooding our social media feeds.
We’re here to break down pop culture moments and movements, question the trends we can’t seem to escape, and explore our thoughts along the way. So, are we all underplaying it… or is it really that deep?
Let’s talk about it!
Follow us at:
Insta @shallowpod
TikTok @shallowpod
HOSTED BY
Phoebe Whittle & Lucy Bell
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Shallow have?
Shallow currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Shallow about?
Join us as we dive into the topics that keep us talking long after the group chat goes quiet. Each episode, your hosts Lucy Bell and Phoebe Whittle (two friends - yes, groundbreaking!) start in the shallow end, before deep-diving into the topic of the week. We hand-pick each subject, from our...
How often does Shallow release new episodes?
Shallow has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Shallow?
You can listen to Shallow on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Shallow?
Shallow is created and hosted by Phoebe Whittle & Lucy Bell.
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