The Polyester Podcast

Recorded live in Sheffield, My Skin, My Creativity is the first of a limited two episode run our podcast series exploring modern identity. Our deputy editor Gina Tonic sat down with photographer Melanie Lehmann and activist Ben Pechey to discuss representation, creativity in the North, social media politics and how to harbour community following lockdown. Want to support the podcast? If you'r...

Missed us during our summer break? Surprise! We have an extra special The Skin You're In episode with Megane Mercur y - the winner of our Queer Creative Fund. Hosts Ione Gamble and Gina Tonic speak with Megane about the importance of queer community, how said community differs outside of the concept of 'global pride' and how the internet has changed how we reach out to others. From how to find you...

For our last episode before the summer break, we sit down with one of our FAVOURITE artists, Shona McAndrew. Shona is sharing her love for TikTok; from dueting, to the political content on the app, the obscure trends it leads us too and why TikTok is arguably a more productive place than any other social media platform. But for all the joy the app brings; TikTok isn't without it problems — from ce...

Are you dreading the day you find your first grey hair? Or maybe you've already spent hours in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling single silver strands from your head? This week, we're joined by illustrator Grace Miceli. The long-time contributor to Polyester and author of How to Deal is telling us all about how she shifted her attitude towards growing older. With the past twelve months meaning...

This week on The Sleepover Club, we sat down with Daniel Howell to discuss how the internet has changed, for better and for worse, throughout his career. The author, presenter, and YouTuber tells us how he developed boundaries when it comes to sharing online, why his inner cynic always wins out in the end, and how growing up in online spaces effected his sense of self. We'll also be chatting about...

Do you believe in ghosts? This week on the podcast we're joined by the amazing Emma Dabiri . The Sunday Times Bestselling author, academic, and broadcaster is telling us about her lifelong obsession with folklore and ghost stories. Growing up in Ireland, with folklore an integral part of her surroundings, we chat about how folklore and ghost stories have informed her work and life up until this po...

This week we're joined by the absolutely ICONIC Val Garland . The legendary makeup artist and judge of Glow Up is chatting to us about her many obsessions and what they mean to her. From vintage dolls, to car boot sales, Royal Worcester china and her penchant for a good jug. We discuss how to avoid cursed dolls and their negative energy when antique shopping, Val's brief stint as a car boot vendor...

This episode, we're so excited to be joined by the legend, Eliza Clark! The Boy Parts author will be telling us all about their love of Drag Race. Taking an adoring yet critical look at the TV franchise, Eliza will be chatting to us about why we should look beyond the US and UK versions and give the international iterations a chance. We'll also be discussing the shows handling of gender, class, an...

Over the past twelve months, respect for fat people has reached an all time low. With government schemes aiming to pin our coronavirus death toll on the plus size community; it feels like we’ve gone backwards when it comes to fat liberation. For the final episode of this season of The Skin You’re In, we’re joined by our fave Honey Ross . The Polyester cover girl, writer, and podcaster will be tell...

The world of work is rife with inequality and injustice. How can we shift power in the corporate world and prioritise the voices of those who need to be heard? This week on The Skin You’re In, we’re sitting down with Sonya Barlow - the entrepreneur changing the game when it comes to corporate diversity and inclusion programmes with meaningful mentoring and proper support. We’ll be chatting about h...

The Skin You’re In is back! With three special episodes exploring the biggest issues affecting our generation. First up, we’re joined by the wonderful India Ysabel - self confessed ‘accidental activist’ and founder of The Speak Up Space. Delving deep into the constantly changing world of internet activism, India will be chatting to us about cultivating safe spaces online, the pros and cons of educ...

This episode we're joined by Olivia's most played artist of 2020, Julia Jacklin! The musician will be telling us all about her twisted obsession with TV singing competitions. For the first time in the podcast's history, our guest - Julia - will be discussing an obsession that negatively effects her life; as her infatuation with talent shows leaves her isolating friends and family in her quest to t...

This week we're joined by the incredible Julia Armfield ! The author will be telling us about her love of shark movies. A self confessed connoisseur of the genre, Julia, Olivia and Ione will be chatting about why shark films are the perfect escapist genre, how all couples have a 'shark person' and a non shark person, why we shouldn't consider these films guilty pleasures, and lots more. Julia will...

This week we're joined by Tavi Gevinson ! The actor, writer, and founder of Rookie will be chatting to us about what makes good advice. Inspired by her new podcast, Life Skills By Rookie , we're discussing how the advice we give and receive must be informed by the socio-political context we live within, what we're missing in discussions around self care, how Instagram infographics are warping how...

This week on Obsessions we're joined by Bolu Babalola , author of Sunday Times Bestseller Love in Colour ! Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, the author and screenwriter is telling us all about her fascination with Youtube series The Skin Deep . Bolu will be chatting about why watching people open up to each other is so compelling, how honesty, communication,...

This week on The Sleepover Club, we're joined by artist and photographer Maisie Cousins ! After facing the first year of motherhood in the midst of a global pandemic, Maisie sits down with us to discuss how becoming a mum has changed her creative process. From what mainstream discourse misses out on when it comes to juggling raising kids and being an artist, to how the idea of 'having it all' has...

We're back!! And so excited about this episode. Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the inspiring Autumn de Wilde . The director of Emma (2020 ), and an iconic photographer responsible for some of our fave ever photos, is telling us about her obsession with the ultimate subject of all: obsession itself! We'll be chatting about a life...

Using the end of the year to reflect on things? Thinking of becoming an activist, or wondering what different types of socio-political movements are out there? Then you’re in luck! We’re back with a special episode of our podcast The Skin You’re In, to discuss how 2020 has changed us all, and what we can do to create the future world we want to live in. ⁣ ⁣  Joined by two very speci...

It's our penultimate sleepover club of the year, and we've got a very special collaboration in store for you all. Teaming up with the collective Girls in Film , we sat down with director of The Love Witch , Anna Biller , to discuss the ins-and-outs of being a woman in the film industry. From misconceptions of the industry, to how to get your foot in the door, Anna's journey from art school to feat...

Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the INCREDIBLE Arlo Parks . The London based singer-songwriter, and one of our personal fave artists of 2020, is talking to us all about The Beat Generation. From discovering their poetry at aged fifteen, to what the work taught her about her own craft, why we need to smash misconceptions around who...

Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the amazing Jamila Woods . The singer, songwriter and poet is chatting to us about how journaling has transformed her creative process; from clearing her mind each morning, to clarifying her thoughts, and ridding her of writers block when she needs it most. Ione, Olivia, and Jamila are also chatting...

Over lockdown, we’ve been thinking about how best to connect with our community in online spaces, the often-hostile environment that is social media, and how to make Polyester a sustainable platform for the team and contributors alike. Now, we need our communities help to continue our work providing safer spaces for creative, intersectional conversations to live.   That's where the Dollhouse...

Delving deep into the minds of our favourite people's deepest obsessions, this week we're joined by the ever-inspiring Miranda July. Miranda, Ione and Olivia will be discussing what everyday acting is, how we should all embody other people in our day-to-day lives, why role play infiltrates our everyday experiences, how men playing make believe is more accepted than women doing so, and much more. A...

With period products being declared 'non-essential' by the Welsh supermarkets during their most recent lockdown, it's become clear that menstruation is still heavily stigmatised in our society.⁣ This week on The Skin You're In, we're chatting to activist Amika George about her work campaigning for free tampons across schools in the U.K, why gender inclusivity is so important when discussing menstr...

The internet is harder to navigate than ever before. From fake news and hateful vitriol, to censorship and shadow-bans, sometimes spending all our time online feels impossibly claustrophobic. ⁣ We sat down with @awardsforgoodboys — aka Shelby Lorman to discuss how the URL world is mutating into a strange, dark place. We delve deep how the way we interact with each other within the online world&nbs...