Pairings

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 BurkeEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanUnchosen (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 for more information.

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 JosephThe Year All My Friends Got Botox by E.Clein (The Cut, April 2026)The Substance (2024), dir. Coralie FargeatGetting a blepharoplasty without telling anyoneAn iced matcha with added collagenHappy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TLCChecking your reflection in the front-facing cameraSaying “it’s just maintenance” and half-believing itA Belvedere vodka soda with three lemonsHappy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores grooming in childhood. Drawing on cultural touchpoints from My Dark Vanessa to Lolita and Cat Person, they examine the archetype of the “inappropriate adult” and the subtle ways in which boundaries are pushed.Alongside this, they consider the idea of the “imperfect victim”. Who do we protect? And who do we turn a blind eye to? With a focus on British and Western culture, they reflect on how narratives are shaped, mobilised, and oftentimes, weaponised to serve wider agendas.This episode pairs well with:My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellHalf His Age by Jeanette McCurdy“Cat Person” (2017), The New YorkerCharlene (The Crime Desk podcast)Lucky Boy (Tortoise Media podcast)Pandering to power instead of trusting your gut.A cup of tea gone cold.Happy listening!A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of their Chums deep dive, Amile and Phoebe turn to the figures and cultural touchpoints that continue to shape Britain’s class system. From Jacob Rees-Mogg to Princess Diana and The Crown, they reflect on how class remains deeply embedded in British life, and why access to its upper echelons is rarely as fluid as it first appears. Phoebe shares why Brexit was the worst referendum of all time. Amile explains why she’s never read the Metro. They end by reflecting on the tension between disillusionment and hope & what it might mean to stay engaged in a system that doesn’t always feel built for you.This episode pairs well with:Chums by Simon KuperThe Crown (TV series)A Gin & Dubbonet served over ice à la the late Queen Elizabeth IIRemembering where you were when Princess Dianna diedSkipping past eh newspaper headlines to get to the crossword Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special two-parter, Amile and Phoebe turn to Simon Kuper’s Chums to explore the networks shaping Britains political elite. They trace the shared paths of those in power, asking why our last 6 prime ministers were Oxford educated. From the college dorm rooms to Downing Street, they reflect on how belonging is signalled, and why entry to these spaces is rarely accidental. Along the way, they discuss the enduring question of who the system is really built for.This episode pairs well with:Chums by Simon KuperEngines of Privilege by David Kynaston & Francis GreenSaltburn (2023), dir. Emerald FennellA cup of Early Grey, with a splash of milk. No sugar.Pretending not to care which college people attended.Realising the same surnames keep reappearing.Happy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

it feels like the landscape of relationships have changed in recent years, especially for us millennials. it's a time of contradiction. the girls want independence, but a man that's richer than them. the boys are getting more conservative, yet seeking non monogamous relationships. perhaps everyone is being genuine, but it seems that even the most cis heteronormative amongst us are cherrypicking language from from those whose lives centre around nonconformity and queerness. we talk about lily allen, bronywn (rhoslc) & that time my ex told me he was into polyamory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode begins with a story of being spotted reading Gillian Anderson’s Want in public, opening into a conversation about the ways women construct intimacy when no one is watching.Between a Nigerian Christian and an Irish Catholic, the conversation around fantasy quickly unfolds. Amile & Phoebe explore confession, contradiction & cultural taboo. They also discuss the complexity of desire & the various tropes (ergo moments of cringe) that shape it.This episode pairs well with: Want by Gillian AndersonThree Women by Lisa TaddeoThe Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa SekyiamahMy Secret Garden by Nancy FridayA dark negroni, with a single maraschino cherry.Finally booking that boudoir photoshoot for your birthday.Using your journal to write down the thoughts you were never meant to say out loud.Happy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe explore the rise of the Manosphere and the appeal of the so-called red pill. They reflect on the promises offered by its figureheads, and the way that insecurity can harden into ideology, and at times extremism. From the pickup artists of the early noughties to the Looksmaxxers and Incels of present day, they trace the shifting language of online masculinity. In doing so, they consider the stories men are being told about themselves, and the world. This episode pairs well with: Lost Boys by James BloodworthThe Will To Change by bell hooksThe Matrix (1999), dir by The WachowskisAdolescence (TV series) dir by Philip BarantiniA smoky mezcalita in a Tajín-rimmed whiskey glass Striking up a conversation with a stranger in real lifeHappy listening, A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe explore the cultural scripts shaping modern motherhood and the word every new mother seems to be whispering: Matrescence.They reflect on the myths that romanticise motherhood, the physical and emotional realities often left unsaid, and the quiet pressures that continue to define what a “good” mother should be.Along the way, they consider judgment and the burdens that women are still expected to carry.This episode pairs well with:Matrescence by Lucy JonesNightbitch by Rachel YoderMotherland, series on BBC & NetflixA cheeky shot of Irish cream in your hot chocolate.Switching jobs for the maternity benefits.Choosing the right godparent for your kid.Happy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe talk through stories that could only come from this modern age: a married woman who falls in love with her chatbot, and an app that helps you pretend to be well read. Moving between intimacy, imagination, and society, they reflect on what technology is reshaping — and what it may quietly be replacing - across childhood and adulthood.This episode pairs well with:Fahrenheit 451 by Ray BradburyHer (2013), dir. Spike JonzeBlack Mirror, created by Charlie BrookerI Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan EllisonOryx and Crake by Margaret AtwoodA cold glass of Vermentino, and Salt & Vinegar crisps.Re-activating your library membership.Reading aloud to the kids in your life.Ten points if you spotted the em dash.Happy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In their very first episode of Pairings, Amile and Phoebe unpack the stories that shape modern womanhood. From picking up The Second Shift after a full day at work to the performance of beauty and emotional labour, they reflect on how cultural expectations and online life shape women’s inner worlds.This episode pairs well with:The Beauty Myth by Naomi WolfYour Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre LordeBarbie (2023), dir. Greta GerwigThe Second Shift by Arlie Russell HochschildA dry gin martini, with a twist.Speaking openly with your girlfriends about heteronormative relationshipsSetting expectations with your boyfriends from the get-go.Happy listening,A&P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pairings is a conversation series about stories—on the page, on the screen, and in our heads. Moving between literature and pop culture, Amile & Phoebe explore how technology and online cultures are shaping everyday life. Matresence, Inceldom & Desire are just some of the topics they will get you thinking and laughing about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.