Boyzone, cosy murder-mysteries, and all the regular chaos you’ve come to expect from us this week, plus we discuss whether we even enjoy half the things we do, or are we just good at them?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Want a taste? Here’s the bonus episode from March where we’re talking about Gwen Stefani, her right wing values and the discourse around that.

Recommendations

Boyzone Documentary on Now TV

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

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We’re mixing heavy recommendations with a sprinkle of lighter ones this week, and we’re chatting all about Soft Life…

The Soft Life Aesthetic is supposed to be the antidote to Hustle Culture, the idea is to have more self-compassion, more intentionality, slow mornings and effortless routines. But the very nature of this curated trend means there is a lot of hypocrisy and privilege in what the soft life aesthetic stands for and the nature of creating content online means it is far from effortless. But there are some fundamentals of this trend that are important and speak to a wider craving of our generation for a more gentle, slower and compassionate lifestyle.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

IYCMI podcast – Have Influencers Become to Normalized to be Mocked?

Louis Theroux: The Settlers on BBC

Also mentioned

Bad Influence on Netflix

Ransom Canyon on Netflix

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You know when you’re about to make the big scary decision, and you know it’s the right one and that you’re being brave and courageous, but it feels the total opposite? Well that’s what we’re discussing this week. People are always quick to tell you to make the brace decision but fail to mention that when you’re making the decision it can feel pretty terrifying. We’re looking into why that is, how to overcome it and how you can take comfort in knowing that you have great things waiting for you on the other side.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Will & Harper on Netflix

Complicating The Plastic Surgery Conversation 

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After we’ve both had wholesome Easter bank holiday weekends, of course we’re back with chaos! And this week we’re talking about how real self care is not sexy, content-worthy or “aesthetic” like the wellness and self-care we’re sold online. Instead self-care is boring, it’s effective, it’s preventative. But the online aesthetic over-complicates it and creates the pressure to do it “right”, rather than doing it genuinely for you. The self-care we’re sold online is very privileged and assumes that journalling, meditation, skin care and morning routines are a one-size fits all, without taking into account the unique needs of everyone.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Franks RedHot Fire Roasted Jalapeno Sauce

A Case for Stagnant Summers

Also mentioned:

https://sabrinamolu.substack.com/

Back to the Future

Nosferatu

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Helli is back from a Bahamas cruise and Charlotte has booked a trip to Antibes so it’s safe to say we’re both ready for summer! But before then, we’re chatting about how to embrace cringe. You need to embrace cringe and be seen trying (and possibly failing) to reach success and the things you want, but so often the fear of failing or looking stupid or feeling embarrassed is a barrier that stops us persisting and going after what we really want.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Last One Laughing on Amazon Prime

Toxic Town on Netflix

Also mentioned:

Adolescence on Netflix

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

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This week we’re taking about the seemingly insignficant moments that end up being key in your life’s trajectory and what could have happened if things were ever so slightly different. We’re both utterly obsessed with the idea of “sliding doors” moments (no, not that dodgy Gwenyth film from the 00’s) and how things could have been, or maybe never would have been, different if things had panned out in slightly different ways.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

The Lego App

Michelle Andrews on The Inherited Podcast (spoiler, I’ve since listed to the Vicky Andrews ep too and it’s wonderful)

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Seriously, asking for a friend, because we constantly tell each other to “trust the process” but when you’re going through that process it can be frustrating, infuriating, anxiety-inducing and just generally not all that enjoyable. Yes, that’s where e grow. Yes, it’s good to be uncomfortable sometimes. And OF COURSE we know we can’t just expect success and everything we want overnight, but that isn’t to say it isn’t sometimes kinda lonely. We’re sharing how we navigate these in-between phases, the reminders that keep us sane and how you can be a bit gentler on yourself when you’re in limbo.

If you liked the sound of the bonus episode reacting to this episode of A Bit Fruity and all of our thoughts on Gwen Stefani’s transformation/return then you can sign up to be a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

What Is Analog Wellness by The Good Trade:

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Most of us complain about getting older but between the two of us, we so often talk about how ageing is the ultimate privilege. That’s not to say ageing is easy and it certainly comes with its challenges, but ageing is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience and we live in a society, particularly as women, where we’re sold anti-wrinkle creams, wellness is commercialised and we praise people who look younger than their years. So why are we all striving for longevity, but we’re all still running away from what ageing actually looks like?

Did someone say Substack?

Click here to subscribe to our ✨brand new✨ Substack (we’ve got a free and a paid version so everyone can join!). Come for newsletters, rec wraps, more thoughts on the big topics, bonus podcast content and an insight into our (somewhat chaotic) conversations.

Recommendations

The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

Break Point on Netflix

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Oh we’re getting deep into it this week discussing success, is there such a thing as *too much* success and is it greedy to ask for more when you already have so much? We live in an always-on society where striving for more seems to be the default. Where we always want to seek more the next big thing, but in doing so, are we being a bit greedy? Should we just be happy with what we have?

Did someone say Substack?

Click here to subscribe to our ✨brand new✨ Substack (we’ve got a free and a paid version so everyone can join!). Come for newsletters, rec wraps, more thoughts on the big topics, bonus podcast content and an insight into our (somewhat chaotic) conversations.

Recommendations

The Heart of Dad Culture on the Culture Society Podcast

Low Energy Habits That Changed My Mental Health by Milk and Cookies

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