Close Friends: The Podcast

In this episode we chat with Lauren Elise, pole dance instructor, performer and choreographer about all things pole dance. We talk about how the sport has evolved in recent years, its ties to strip clubs, what to expect from your first pole class and our advice on how to get started. We also branch into a wider conversation around stripping and sex work. (Note: Tara had a Zoom malfunction half way...

In this episode, we have two comedians on the show... plus two guests joining Lucy and Sarah! We’re talking dating fails with two real life men. Ali and Tom are stand up comedians from the London circuit, the hosts of ‘All I Do is Fail’ podcast and most recently, lockdown TikTok influencers. We chat about the ick, height differences and Sarah’s massive crush on Ali. As always, this episode is best...

It was only time before the Close Friends did a deep dive on dating apps. In this week’s episode we share our experiences with the apps, ridiculous date stories off the back of them, and call Sarah’s kind-of-ex for advice on how to curate your profile to get the best matches 🤌 Expect lots of laughs and awkward stories As always, this episode is best served with wine + an open mind! *** Contact us...

Much like Nelly & Kelly circa 2004, this week the close friends will be unpacking your juicy dilemmas. From splitting the bill to tips on how to ... you know 👀🍆, all cards are on the table and no topic is too random for the DMC queens. We are also excited to introduce you to our BRAND NEW FEATURE: ‘call a close friend’, which we know you’re going to love.  As always, this episode is bes...

It’s no secret that making and maintaining friendships gets harder as we get older. This week we discuss making friends, bringing friendship groups together and distancing ourselves from friendships that aren’t serving us anymore. We also touch on friends with benefits situations, which we’ll have to discuss in more detail again soon! As always, this episode is best served with wine + an open mind...

Yes, you heard that correctly. This week we spill all the juicy details on sex parties with our guest Poppy, founder of Self & More. We discuss how we found the parties we’ve been to, what we wore, what happened (!!!), how we felt and some funny stories along the way. As always, this episode is best served with wine + a (very) open mind! *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.com Follow...

This week we’re talking all things body image. Can you work on weight loss as a goal while also maintaining body image? How much are weight and health linked? How much are we brainwashed to believe that our weight is deeply linked to our worth? “Anyone who has healthy friendships knows that your weight is not a defining factor of that relationship. You know that, but it’s just the opposite of what...

This week, the close friends welcome an exciting guest to the pod to talk all things coming out: the good, the bad and the closet.   Tom Arden, Biologist turned creative entrepreneur, shares his story of discovering his sexuality and the many intricacies along the way. From navigating coming out conversations with friends to feeling comfortable experimenting with your sexuality, no topic is o...

Arguably one of the most taboo subjects there is, especially for women, this week we’re having an open an honest conversation about p*rn. What we watch (or listen to!), how we feel about our partners watching it, the impact that the industry is having on how we learn about sex when we’re younger and so much more. As always, this episode is best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: clos...

This week we are talking ‘cancel culture’. We dissect wtf even is cancel culture, how, when and if we should cancel people - and at what point does asking for accountability turn into moral bullying. We discuss our personal experiences being trolled online and the awkward balance of free speech vs the fear of offending people. Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepo...

This week we have our very first guest! Close Friends, meet the icon who is Rina, Tara’s mum. We answer your big life dilemmas which include 'should you stay in a safe relationship or risk it all for adventure', 'how to get over imposture syndrome' and 'when do you know when you’ve found the one?'. It’s a good’un. Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.c...

Let's talk about sex, baby. And in particular: contraception. This week we're chatting about our experiences of birth control and all the fun stuff that goes along with it- from awkward pharmacy conversations to accidentally sending your accountant a mystery box of condoms.  Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.com Follow us: @lucymountain @sarahb...

(Trigger warning: Sexual harassment) What a week it’s been. In today’s episode it only felt right that we address what’s been happening in the UK the past 2 weeks involving the tragic murder of Sarah Everard as well as the conversations being had around daily sexual harassment. We talk on our own experiences and dissect how we can create change yo make the world a safer place for women. It’s a hea...

This week, the close friends are talking all things dating. Is it ‘ok’ to f*ck on the first date? How should you deal with ghosting? And why did Tara end up having to call a carpenter after one particularly active third date? Tune in to hear our stories, learnings and discussion around the best and worst bits of dating. Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@g...

Beauty standards; we all feel them, whether consciously or subconsciously, whatever stage of life we're at. In this episode we dissect our own experiences and battles to conform vs reject beauty standards, as well as uncover some unrated truths like: what is Sarah's hidden talent? And where does Tara go when she puts fake work meetings in the diary?   Best served with wine + an open mind. ***...

Toxic hustle culture, the downsides of working for yourself, measuring success, and is ever okay to hate your job - this week we’re talking all things career-related. In a world which glamorises being freelance, we dissect the sh*t that happens behind-the-scenes which no-one really talks about. Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.com Follow us: @lucym...

No, we’re not talking about oranges… or Oreos. In this episode we unpick the orgasm gap, talk about research and our experiences faking orgasms with partners, introducing sex toys into partnered sex, how sex education needs a shake up and so much more. Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.com Follow us: @lucymountain @sarahb.london @movewithtara

How did we cope with a lockdown breakup? How do you know when your relationship is over? How do we feel about rebounds? Join our close friends for this first episode, as as we dissect the complexities of breakups.  Best served with wine + an open mind. *** Contact us: closefriendsthepodcast@gmail.com Follow us: @lucymountain @sarahb.london @movewithtara

The worst kept secret on social media is: we are starting our own podcast.  We are Close Friends: The Podcast - listen to me to hear about what’s to come...