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The High Low

Pandora Sykes and Dolly Alderton

A weekly conversation between writers Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, that covers highbrow and lowbrow culture.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

An Author Special with Graham Norton - And Some News
Nov 24 2020
An Author Special with Graham Norton - And Some News
We are so thrilled to have the one and only Graham Norton on today's episode, talking all about his new novel, Home Stretch, his favourite celebrities to interview on his chat show, and the weird wonderfulness that is Eurovision. Graham is The High Low's last ever author special - because the High Low will be coming to a close next week, after 4 joyous, life-changing years for us both. But before we go, we have one last LIVE show for you: the High Low Christmas LIVE will be live streamed on Vimeo at 7pm on December 8th, with all proceeds going to Blood Cancer UK, a charity that is very close to both of our hearts, in memory of Florence Kleiner and Enzo Saunt. We promise a festive extravaganza featuring a VERY special musical performance. Tickets start at £10, please book yourself a ticket at: https://www.fane.co.uk/high-low.With special thanks to Fane Productions, and our sponsor, the eco-friendly brand Method (and their delicious pink grapefruit cleaning spray) for making this live show possibleWe will see you next week for our last ever podcast!E-mail (while the inbox is still open!) thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com where 100% profits go to Fare ShareLinksHome Stretch, by Graham NortonWintering, by Katherine MayLaurence Llewelyn-Bowen inteview by Chris Godfrey for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/nov/23/laurence-llewelyn-bowen-ive-been-trying-to-get-sacked-from-television-for-years Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Maggi's Mary Wollstonecraft, Princess Diana and A Plunge Into The Christmas Ads
Nov 17 2020
Maggi's Mary Wollstonecraft, Princess Diana and A Plunge Into The Christmas Ads
Brace yourself: Emily in Paris is back for a second series. More importantly: the Christmas ads have dropped! We discuss some of them, and why a great Christmas ad doesn't actually.... have to have anything to do with Christmas.Also today, we discuss Maggi Hambling's controversial nude statue of founding feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, Rupert Everett's new autobiography, a documentary about Vivienne Westwood and the punk movement, and we deep dive into the Princess Diana content of the last week: the two-parter on ITV, with staggering allegations made against Martin Bashir, and the new series of The Crown, starring the magnificent Emma Corrin as Diana. E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits for November go to Fare Share LinksTo The End Of The World, by Rupert EverettThe Crown series 4 now on NetflixThe Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess, on ITV PlayerWhat I've learned from 7 years of being single, by Camille Charriere for Harper's Bazaar https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a34587107/camille-charriere-love-in-your-30s/How long Covid forced me to confront my past and my identity, by Kathryn Bromwich for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/08/how-long-covid-forced-me-to-confront-my-past-and-my-identityVivienne Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Candice Carty-Williams on The Adam Buxton Podcast, Glenn Close on WTF, Keir Starmer on Desert Island Discs and What Trump Might Do In His Remaining Weeks in Office on Fresh Air  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Southern Charm of Matthew McConaughey; Free School Meals; & The Web Server That Slows Down Information Overload
Oct 28 2020
The Southern Charm of Matthew McConaughey; Free School Meals; & The Web Server That Slows Down Information Overload
From a naturally green puppy called Pistachio, to a charming and surprising memoir by Matthew McConaughey, this week is your usual mixed bag -- including discussion of the government's abhorrent decision to stop funding free school meals for vulnerable children outside of term time (see a petition you can sign and charities you can donate to, below) and some television that has moved us. Also! A book that made Dolly's week, and Pandora's new favourite podcast.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% profits go to charity, 50% to Black Minds Matter and 50% to The Freedom Charity. For November, all profits will be going to Fare ShareLinks ReadingElle Hunt on Matthew McConaughey's memoir, Greenlights, for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/26/greenlights-matthew-mcconaugheys-guide-to-life-livin-hollywood-starWhat happened when me and Kim Kardashian both turned 40? By Eva Wiseman, for The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/25/what-happened-when-both-me-and-kim-kardashian-turned-40-joint-partyHelp Yourself, by Curtis Sittenfeld Quite, by Claudia WinklemanWatchingEnslaved on BBC iPlayerMaggi Hambling on BBC iPlayerOut Of Her Mind, on BBC iPlayerListeningYou're Wrong About podcastDawn French on Table Manners podcastElvis Costello on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcastTimothy Leary on Fresh Air podcastSign and donate for free school mealsSign Marcus Rashford's petition for free school meals for vulnerable children, here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554276Charities to donate to:Fare Share fareshare.org Feeding Britain feedingbritain.orgKitchen Social mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/kitchen-social/The Trussell Trust trusselltrust.orgMagic Breakfast magicbreakfast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cow Hugging, Daddy by Emma Cline & An Exclusive Clip from Joan & Jericha
Oct 20 2020
Cow Hugging, Daddy by Emma Cline & An Exclusive Clip from Joan & Jericha
Today we discuss a love story in Venice, the new "wellness" trend of cow hugging, Matt Hancock's personal app (???) and listeners tell us what they think makes "a good deed". And some things we've been loving, including the feel good Love Life on Netflix. Plus! An exclusive, filthy extract from Joan and Jericha's new book, out on the 29th October.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity, 50% to Black Minds Matter and 50% to Freedom CharityLinksMax Woosey's fundraising page for North Devon hospice https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/max-woosey1Daddy, by Emma Cline, out nowLuster, by Raven Leilani, out in January 2021 and available for pre-order nowLove Life, on BBC iPlayerNigella Lawson on the fallacy of guilty pleasures for The Guardian: https://amp.theguardian.com/food/2020/oct/10/peanut-butter-chocolate-cake-and-vegan-gingerbread-five-new-sweet-recipes-from-nigella-lawson?__twitter_impression=trueThe role of food in Jewish celebration for Radio 4’s The Food Programme: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-food-programme/id342927791?i=1000495160731How My Mother and I Became Chinese Propaganda, by Jiayang Fan for The New Yorker (listen to the audio on the same link) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/14/how-my-mother-and-i-became-chinese-propagandaDear Joan and Jericha: Why He Turns Away, Do’s and Don’ts from Dating to Death, out on the 29th October Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Progressive Penguins, Emily in Paris, & What Makes A Good Deed?
Oct 13 2020
Progressive Penguins, Emily in Paris, & What Makes A Good Deed?
We continue our conversation about sharing grief in the aftermath of a still birth or miscarriage, with a special contribution from the grief psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE. We also discuss penguin and seahorse reproduction, a delicious piece of Hollywood gossip involving Cary Grant and Clark Gable, and - mais bien sûr - we plunge into Emily and Paris aka 2020's answer to Sex And The City and all its associated controversy.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet@thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshow.com - 100% profits go to charity, 50% Black Minds Matter and 50% to Freedom CharityLinks10 Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, by Jaron Lanier summarised on BlinkistWhat to say to women going through miscarriage and baby loss, by Alexandra King for CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/09/health/miscarriage-what-to-say-wellness/index.htmlI find myself apologising for the complex nature of my motherhood, by Sophie Beresiner for The Sunday Times Style https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sophie-beresiner-i-find-myself-apologising-for-the-complex-nature-of-my-motherhood-thqdl0b92Follow Sophie @motherprojectofficial and pre-order her book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mother-Project-Sophie-Beresiner/dp/0008456860Titting About, an Audible podcast series by French and SaundersEmily in Paris, on NetflixEverything that's wrong with Emily in Paris by an actual French person, by Marie Telling for Buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/emily-in-paris-reviewed-by-french-personWould Emily's Bot actually go viral? By Rachel Handler for Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/emily-in-paris-instagram-influencers.htmlOn The Rocks, at cinemas nowSamantha Morton on Desert Island Discs, Radio 4Floella Benjamin on Desert Island Discs, Radio 4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Grief Around Miscarriage, The Social Dilemma & The Phrases Dying Out With Gen Z
Oct 6 2020
Grief Around Miscarriage, The Social Dilemma & The Phrases Dying Out With Gen Z
We discuss Chrissy Teigen's social media posts about the death of her baby Jack, and the judgement around public grief. Also today, we dissect a list of words and phrases facing expiration (40% of under 30s don't know what "getting sozzled" means) and the fascinating docu-drama, The Social Dilemma. Plus, Pandora falls in love with a film called Rocks, and Dolly has a(nother) Springsteen moment.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% proceeds go to charity (50% to Black Minds Matter, and 50% to The Freedom Charity)LinksIf Chrissy Teigen wants to share the agony of losing her baby, let her, by Barbara Ellen for The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/03/if-chrissy-teigen-wants-to-share-the-agony-of-losing-her-baby-let-herWhy Chrissy Teigen's story is so helpful to other women, by Jennifer Handt for WBUR https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2020/10/06/miscarriage-pregnancy-loss-chrissy-teigen-jennifer-handt The Social Dilemma, on NetflixRocks, on general release and now on NetflixTen Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, by Jaron Lanier (2018)A Life in The Day interview with Tom Hollander for The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tom-hollander-on-sleeping-pills-and-hugging-pillows-jrg892zl9Bruce Springsteen: From My Home To Yours, on BBC Sounds Once Were Brothers on Amazon Video Robbie Williams on The Adam Buxton Podcast The Duchess on NetflixCheltenham Literature Festival 2020 on demand https://cheltenhamliteraturefestival.com/box-office/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Plunge Into The Body Politics and Choice Feminism of An Instagram Age
Sep 22 2020
A Plunge Into The Body Politics and Choice Feminism of An Instagram Age
Doll's Polls is back, with a strange fact about what heterosexual women most look for, in a man. A handsome face? A tight tush? Nope -- quite frankly, you'll never guess. We also discuss a beautiful ode from a coupled-up woman to her single friends, Matt Haig's new book about finding hope in the lives you could have lived, and a couple of our favourite comedy shows by women.And - deep breath - we dive into the issues raised by a personal essay penned by the model and actor Emily Ratajkowski, that blew up certain parts of the internet this week, about who owns a public image. We address women's bodies and the ethics of sharing in the age of Instagram, with a side order of choice feminism. You can share your thoughts with us via e-mail -- we're sure you'll have a few.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity, currently Black Minds Matter and Freedom charityLinksEmily Ratajkowski on reclaiming her own image, for New York magazine https://www.thecut.com/article/emily-ratajkowski-owning-my-image-essay.htmlThe Emily Ratajkowski effect, by Haley Nahman for her Maybe Baby newsletter https://haleynahman.substack.com/p/24-the-cult-of-emily-ratajkowskiThe Duchess, on NetflixRBG, on NetflixRuth Bader Ginsberg's death means pro-choicers have a fight on their hands, by Zoe Williams for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/22/ruth-bader-ginsburg-pro-choicers-abortion-us-presidential-electionTracks, on BBC SoundsThe Midnight Library, by Matt Haig, out nowThis Way Up on All4 Seven Pledges to My Single Friends by Caroline O’Donoghue https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-40048532.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Joy of A Buffet, Zadie Smith's Lockdown Essays & Ofcom's Diversity Problem
Sep 15 2020
The Joy of A Buffet, Zadie Smith's Lockdown Essays & Ofcom's Diversity Problem
In today's episode we discuss news of the telly: decade-defining reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, is ending after 20 seasons; US soap The Bold & The Beautiful are using dummies in their snogging scenes; and most depressingly and shamefully, Ofcom have received 22,000 (15,600 at the time of record) complaints over dance troupe Diversity's moving dance rendition of George Floyd's death on Britain's Got Talent. Also today, we discuss the joy of a buffet (with an excerpt from new book In The Kitchen read by Joel Golby), the world's first ever A.I. model agency and the emergence of lockdown literature, featuring Zadie Smith's booklet of essays, Intimations. E-mail us thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet us @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity: Black Minds Matter and Freedom CharityLinksIntimations by Zadie SmithZadie Smith on Adam Buxton podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-130-zadie-smith/id1040481893?i=1000487206444?i=1000487206444In The Kitchen: essays on food and life https://www.waterstones.com/book/in-the-kitchen/yemisi-aribisala/joel-golby/9781911547662Is this the end of the buffet? by Joel Golby https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/sep/13/joel-golby-end-of-the-buffet-in-covid-19Keeping up with the Kardashians is ending. What does it all mean? by Rosa Lyster https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/13/keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-ending-reality-tv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wiley’s Anti-Semitism, Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age & An Author Special w/ Nesrine Malik
Jul 28 2020
Wiley’s Anti-Semitism, Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age & An Author Special w/ Nesrine Malik
It’s our last episode of the season - and boy, do we have a bumper episode for you. In this week’s show we discuss what Twitter’s failure to suspend Wiley says about our failure to combat anti-semitism (and what you can do to help), the graphic and glorious podcast of the year, Brown Girls Do It Too, Kiley Reid’s incisive and compulsively readable novel Such A Fun Age and an author special with the inspiring and thought-provoking columnist and author of We Need New Stories, Nesrine Malik about why we must resist cultural myths. Plus, some newsletters to subscribe to right now, and an Ask The High Low question about dating after cancer. We’ll be back in early September! E-mail: thehighlowshow@gmail.com (but please do note the inbox will be unmanned for August)Tweet: @thehighlowshowShop: thehighlowshop.com where 100% proceeds go to charity - 50% to Black Minds Matter and 50% to Freedom Charity LinksFollowing/ signing@geraldstratfor3 on Twitter Sign the petition for Wiley to have his MBE removed https://www.change.org/p/parliament-remove-wileys-mbe?recruiter=136977510&recruited_by_id=853bea40-b288-0130-c64a-3c764e051fd7-23699423-en-gb%3A2Write to honours.cabinetoffice@gov.uk to request the removal of Wiley’s MBE ReadingThe Waiting Room, a newsletter by Amelia Tait https://t.co/K354wEstO1?amp=1Sidenotes, a newsletter by Sophie Wilkinson https://t.co/8Tktq491Lh?amp=1The Red Hand Files, a newsletter by Nick Cave https://www.theredhandfiles.comThe Meander, a newsletter by Dolly Alderton https://t.co/1oQyVWIXz4?amp=1Such A Fun Age, by Kiley ReidWe Need New Stories, by Nesrine MalikHot Little Hands, by Abigail Ulman Listening/ watching Brown Girls Do It Too, on BBC SoundsIn Writing podcast, by Hattie CrisellCall My Agent, on Netflix  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Deep Dive Into The Child-Free Vs Motherhood Dialogue
Jul 14 2020
A Deep Dive Into The Child-Free Vs Motherhood Dialogue
Today we discuss how motherhood and child-free women are culturally discussed and pitted against one another, referencing podcasts, a journalistic series and Emma Gannon's new novel, Olive, along the way. We also answer an Ask The High Low from a woman whose partner wants children, but she's worried about how pregnancy, birth and motherhood may affect her mental health.Also today, we talk about a candid interview with Thandie Newton, where the actor reflects on a 30 year career often rife with micro-aggressions and misogyny, Nick Hornby's new novel and recommend two social and mentorship networks: City Girl Network and The Black Agents and Editors Group, for people of African descent working in publishing or media.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity, 50% to Show Racism The Red Card and 50% to Women's AidLinkshttps://www.goclimate.com ReadingOlive by Emma GannonJust Like You by Nick Hornby Thandie Newton interview by E Alex Jung for Vulture https://www.vulture.com/article/thandie-newton-in-conversation.htmlMichaela Cole interview by E Alex Jung for Vulture https://www.vulture.com/article/michaela-coel-i-may-destroy-you.html'Am I willing to risk my mental health to have a baby?' by Bella Mackie for The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bella-mackie-am-i-willing-to-risk-my-mental-health-to-have-a-baby-36pvzdl50Guardian US series on being child-free https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/childfreeListening/ watchingHelen Mirren on WTF with Marc MaronSian Harries and Grace Dent are ambivalent about motherhood https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jd32dNetworks, petitions and mentorshipCity Girls Network https://citygirlnetwork.comThe Black Agents and Editors Group https://blackagentsandeditors.comSign the petition to protect free hospital parking for NHS staff https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-free-parking-at-work-for-all-nhs-staff?recruiter=60114810&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=11bcc65d09ce4da697c7beddfbe0a4f7&recruited_by_id=2c992f50-ed5e-0130-e2cf-3c764e044346 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Glastonbury That Never Was; & Ruby Tandoh on The Art of Quitting
Jun 30 2020
The Glastonbury That Never Was; & Ruby Tandoh on The Art of Quitting
Wishing you were at Glastonbury? Get stuck into Zing Tseng's piece, instead. Ruby Tandoh reads us an excerpt of her beautiful piece on quitting, and we discuss why quitting is not just a physical act - but a state of mind. Also today: a Doll's Polls on first date turn-offs (verdict: most of them are unavoidable), a hilarious analysis by Diyora Shadijanova of what Gen Z'ers really think about millennials (verdict: old and boring), plus a great primer on white privilege by Robin DiAngelo and Channel 4's documentary, The School That Tried To End Racism. E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% profits go to charity (50% Show Racism The Red Card, 50% Women's Aid)LinksZing Tseng on festivals for Vice https://www.vice.com/amp/en_uk/article/4ayagj/what-i-miss-festivals-glastonburyRuby Tandoh on the art of quitting for WePresent https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/story/work-sucks-i-know-ruby-tandoh/Eat Up, by Ruby TandohWhat Gen Z'ers think about millennials, by Diyora Shadijanova https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/4ay3gw/what-gen-z-thinks-of-millennials?Why “I’m not racist” is only half the story, by Robin DiAngelo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzLT54QjclA&feature=emb_title  The School That Tried To End Racism, on Channel 4odOprah's SuperSoul Conversations: Ellen DeGeneres Comes Out https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ellen-degeneres-comes-out/id1264843400?i=1000475900203Desert Island Discs - Chili Bouchier https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0093nxc  The Great Godden, by Meg Rosoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.