The Antoinettes

Feeling helpless and hopeless? Same here.  There’s this creeping feeling—once a whisper, now a roar—that things are spiraling out of control. Glaciers are vanishing, children are being murdered—roller blades still on—slaughtered while playing, in a world consumed by hatred. And our leaders? Useless. It’s enough to make anyone feel like throwing in the towel.   But hey, they say you *have* to hold...

Rap mogul Sean Comb’s fall from grace continues after his arrest and allegations that include violent crimes against women, grooming men to perform sexual acts with other men as well as trafficking. Now there’s concern pop star Justin Bieiber could have been one of his victims, as internet chatter goes into overdrive digging up old footage and audio and pumping out theories. And a broader conversa...

True crime podcasts, shows and books are going gangbusters. And it’s women who are its biggest audience. But do these grisly tales just glorify crime? How much is fact and how much is fiction? Netflix docu-series The Worst Ex Ever is topping charts and we have so many questions and suspicions.  Catcher of killers and true crime podcast extraordinaire Gary Jubelin joins The Antoinettes to unpack th...

We came. We watched. We cussed. We analysed. From Democrats killing babies, to migrants eating your pets and Trump only referring to the Vice President as "she" and "her" -- it was a wild debate.  The Antoinettes sat down and watched the U.S Presidential hopefuls go head to head.   Here are their takeaways (no cats were harmed or cooked in the making of this podcast). _____________________________...

As queer Australians demand being counted, in true Olympic spirit, Prime Minister Albanese has performed massive backflips over what will be asked in the next Census. Now some LGBTQI+ people will be included in the census — but not all.  One Antoinette unpacks why sex and gender identity need to be accurately measured and welcomes the move.  The other is not impressed and doesn't think counting ch...

There’s a push by Australian lobby groups and tabloid media to stop far-right African-American commentator Candace Owens from entering the country for her scheduled speaking tour. One Antoinette would stamp her visa, while the other believes she's dangerous and shouldn't be platformed. But is the real issue how the ‘character test’ migration law is subjectively applied and to who?  Other shit show...

Like many work/life balance hopefuls, several weeks ago one Antoinette announced she was unplugging from work and social media and having an extended digital detox.  The other Antoinette raised both eyebrows at whether this was ever going to happen, and in this episode we share what really transpired. It includes a fake virtual assistant and a concealed knife. It comes as Australia’s new laws on t...

In this bonus episode of The Antoinettes, one half of the duo flies solo to share her many thoughts on Olympic breakdancer Raygun. Azure’s initial reaction was laughter but now her feelings are far more complex.  She explores “having a crack” and African-American cultural appropriation plus the online blowback she’s received for airing her criticisms. This episode breaks it all down, and no kangar...

There are hundreds of pharmaceutical drug in short supply -- among them there are critical shortages of Vyvanse, an ADHD treatment and diabetes medication Ozempic. Hollywood stars have popularised Ozempic as a weight loss drug and Vyvanse, colloquially known as a ‘Dexie’ is no longer just a coveted study drug but now also popular in the party scene. What does this mean for people living with illne...

Childhood and parenting have radically changed in the past few decades. Far more children today struggle to manage their behaviour and grapple with poorer educational outcomes and more mental health problems than ever before.  As a parent is it OK to sometimes ask yourself: Is my kid just plain awful? And how much can parents blame themselves for this? Reflecting on their journeys as mothers and s...

Our first live show was sold out but thankfully we are not sell outs (yet) as we tackled a heap of topics in true Antoinettes style. From managing workplace dramas, to clashing opinions on what change means, and of course a dash of trauma and despair regarding Gaza. Never afraid of a gear change, The Antoinettes also surprised one another with very politically incorrect gifts which left the audien...

Imagining an internet without TikTok feels inconceivable for many. As the U.S government’s ultimatum to the Chinese owned platform draws closer, The Antoinettes dance their way through the highs, lows and weird pivots in the journey to ban TikTok. Are there valid security concerns or just questionable moral panics about the social behemoth? One Antoinette goes into bat for influencers and the othe...

Persisting isn’t always healthy or beneficial so what are the signs that it's time to quit? One Antoinette gets real about her social media addiction and the other wants to quit caring.  The Antoinetes explore the science of stopping -- whether it’s calling time on a job, drinking, vaping or even a friendship. Don’t expect inspiring quotes and feel good affirmations, this episode is loaded with re...

Who gets to decide what is considered brave? And how do you determine which rules are worth breaking? Senator Fatima Payman is being lauded a hero for crossing the floor by her supporters, and a bad team player by others. Similarly Julian Assange is a free speech icon for some, and a reckless criminal according to his critics.  History is littered with examples of people who changed trajectories b...

If you didn’t watch the whole 90 minute U.S Presidential debate, The Antoinettes have you covered. We are still deciding whether to laugh or scream over what transpired. American Antoinette has many thoughts and some pressing questions about why exactly golf, porn stars, and name calling played such a big role in the debate. The other Antoinette is a former debating coach and university debating c...

The latest cult making headline is a fascinating mixture of TikTok, popular dancers and a church and the fallout is playing out real time.  It is also alleged that ‘cults’ grew during COVID and some spread anti-vaccination ideas. It’s easy to be judgy about people who get caught up in a cult, and make generalisations about who is most likely to be lured.  But you may be surprised about who is most...

The Antoinettes have hit the six month probation mark as workmates so it’s time they give one another a performance review for your listening pleasure.  And while they’re at it, they are going to unpack common pitfalls women experience when navigating the workplace - from negotiating pay rises to dealing with sexist behaviour.  You’ll hear from other listeners who share horror pay negotiation stor...

There are more billionaires than ever before. This comes at a time when the poor are getting poorer. In ‘Loot’  comedian  Maya Rudolph‘s character gives away all her billions and helps save the world and her soul. So why don’t we do this IRL and banish billionaires? Cutting their economic and political power is a popular idea among plebs like us, but how could it be done? And would innovation and...

Big news and a significant win this week in Antoinette Lattouf v Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The development is being beamed over TV and online here and abroad, but how does it feel to be at the centre of such a public legal feud? And is Antoinette celebrating this win? Azure Antoinette takes over as journalist in charge, and for once is the one handing out the tissues to her co-host. Cli...

There have been widespread and prominent failures of western media in its coverage of the October 7 attacks and the unfolding genocide in Gaza. From the meek reportage of the killing of journalists in Gaza, the circulation of unchecked war propaganda to punishing and muzzling of journalists who raise concerns about unfair reporting. Truth is often seen as a casualty of war, but has audience trust...

If you’re struggling to find happiness given the state of the world or even the state of the economy -- you’re not alone. So what can you do to elevate your mood? How much control do we really have over emotions? Azure thinks the person who said money can’t buy happiness, simply doesn’t have enough of it. While Antoinette has read a bunch of research papers on the science of happiness, because she...

The default patient in medical research has typically been a white, heterosexual man from Pennsylvania. Let’s call him Andrew. So where does that leave everyone else in medicine? There’s increasing evidence of the way women’s symptoms and conditions are downplayed or ignored in healthcare. But move over medical misogyny - medical gaslighting is here not only to borrow therapy speak, but to broaden...

What was meant to be a funny hosting gig, spiralled when one of The Antoinettes joined two renowned feminists and television pranksters The Inspired Unemployed. Let's talk about it. Before the Daily Mail uses the over the top cliche, we want to get there first - Antoinette Lattouf has 'broken her silence' over the prank that didn't go as planned. ( insert dramatic music!) WTF happened? Was it real...

Commissioned poet and the more teary half of The Antoinettes - Azure - studio recorded the poem she wrote and performed at the No More Violence Against Women rallies in Melbourne and Sydney. It's a rallying cry for boys to be raised to respect women. It's a plea for the killing of women from shopping centres to refugee camps to stop, Azure also shares her experiences as a three time sexual assault...

We are living through a golden age of public protest. So, what do protests achieve, if anything? In many arenas, it seems inequities and injustices are getting worse, not better. Recent anti-protest laws are also making mass assembly harder. Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets demanding #NoMore violence against women. University students in cities across Australia set up encampmen...