Everything Is Content

Hello EIChloe Sevignys, this week, one of the big cultural talking points is: can AI ever replicate taste, and should we all be actively protecting our own, regardless of how good or bad it is?

In March, Kyle Chayka wrote a piece for The New Yorker titled: Why Tech Bros Are Now Obsessed with Taste. In it, he quoted several key tech figures who present taste as the final frontier for AI tech bros - almost like the one human trait they’re finding impossible to replicate.

In May, Trend forecaster and founder of the strategy firm Nemesis Global, Emily Segal, coined the term “tasteslop” to describe the repetitive, recycled visuals littering the internet that feel devoid of any human point of view, almost like gorgeous blandness. Lots of it, she points out, feels like this because it’s generated by AI and then replicated over and over.

And of course, last week, Polyester released ‘The Polyester Book of Bad Taste’, a collection of essays edited by its editor-in-chief Ione Gamble. The book is described as an antidote to ever-creeping homogeneity and bland tastefulness. “In a world constantly vying for our attention, having faith in your own (bad) taste is more than a small subversion – it's a rallying cry to live our lives unapologetically.”

We talk all things taste, with your help! Thank you so much for all of your takes on this topic we love being in conversation with you all! O, R, B xx

The Polyester Book of (Bad) Taste

TASTESLOP: Notes on technological anxiety

Why Tech Bros Are Now Obsessed with Taste
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Hello EICelestial beings! This week on the podcast - the world’s first trillionaire, unique celebrity baby names and Ruchira's terrifying folklore tidbit. Plus EIC headquarters went to a party, and some members might still be drunk (and it may just be that young lady's 33rd birthday the day this episode is released, everyone go and wish Beth(any) McColl a happy 33rd).

Firstly, it's been a big week! From North West's recent festival performance, to the Knick's winning the NBA and Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire. We take you through the standout headlines from the world of pop culture and beyond!

Next up, Tommy Fury and Molly Mae finally announced the name of their newborn son this weekend. The baby boy, who was born earlier this month is called… Midas. The couple revealed the name via Tommy’s boxing shorts, which he wore to a match on Saturday. We get into the names of it all!

We hope you enjoy listening, please do leave a rating, review, or Spotify comment and we will forever be grateful. O,R,B.

Oenone's been loving: David Hockney (general), Thirst
Ruchira's been loving: Disclosure Day
Beth's been loving: Everything by Patrick Radden-Keefe, Maternal Instincts, Should I Marry A Murderer

Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back

Tyra Banks Sues Netflix for Defamation, Alleges ‘Surgical Manipulation’ of Her ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ Interview

Looksmaxxing Influencer Clavicular Faces Criticism Over New Nose: ‘Too Thin for His Face’

Why F1 Fans Are So Upset With Kim Kardashian Following Martin Brundle Snub

‘The genie is out of the bottle’: parents react to UK under-16s social media ban

Married at First Sight Australia stars not told partners had drug and violence convictions

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Happy Wednesday EICrickets!

In today's episode we're joined by writer and novelist Jem Calder, whose debut novel I Want You To Be Happy was released last month. The three of us all separately recommended the book on the pod, and we're in good company as fans. Andrew O'Hagan called Jem his "new favourite writer" and Sally Rooney said it was an "irresistible novel that asks complex questions about contemporary life and refuses easy answers. I couldn't stop reading."

The book follows the unfurling, complicated relationship between Chuck, a 35-year-old copywriter working at a large ad agency, and Joey, a 23-year-old barista living payday to payday who nurtures a quiet ambition of becoming a poet.

We talk to Jem about the themes of his novel- don't worry, no spoilers- plus the writing process, what he thinks about modern dating, dating apps, men who refuse to grow up and being "discovered" by Sally Rooney. Plus plenty of book recs & writing advice. Thanks so much for listening! See you Friday! B, O, R x

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Penguin - Switzy by Emma Cline

Waterstones - I Want You To Be Happy by Jem Calder

Faber & Faber - Reward System by Jem Calder

Dazed Digital - I Want You to Be Happy: The Sally Rooney-approved book of the summer by Roisin Lanigan

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Hello EICrystals! This week on the podcast- shocking sex stunts, digital literary drama, surveillance for safety. Plus: a suspicious vibrating sound, Oenone losing her voice & Ruchira filing paperwork.

First up- provocateur and viral adult creator Bonnie Blue is back in the headlines after turning her baby shower into... well, a very different kind of shower. The 27-year-old has begun releasing footage from Saturday's event, where 112 attendees reportedly took part over the course of six hours. Is this an adult entertainer exercising her bodily autonomy or a huge safeguarding concern for her unborn baby? And are we complicit for covering it? Let us know in the comments/ our DMs if you think this should be the last time we say the words Bonnie or Blue on the pod.

Next up- we know that hot girls read, but do hot girls also file trademarks for widely used phrases they didn't invent? Last week business owner and BookTok creator Allie Mitrovich announced (in a now-deleted post) that she had officially secured the registration for the phrase "Hot Girls Read". We track the backlash, the outcome and ask why everyone online thinks they have to be a business owner.

And finally: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that tech companies must introduce in-built software that stops underage users from taking or sharing nudes. Apple and Google have both been given until September to comply or will face legislation to force them to do so. Is this a major win for child safety or a sly attack on all of our most fundamental privacy rights?

We hope you luuuurve today's episode because we luuuurved making it for you. If so, please leave us a rating or a review or share us on social media or in the group chat. O, R, B x

Ruchira's been loving The Invite (out July 3rd) and Backrooms, Beth's been loving Two Weeks In August on BBC iPlayer and The Comeback on NOW TV and Oenone's been loving Main Characters by Bobby Palmer (out July 2nd!) with special mention to Isaac and the Egg.

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Lad Bible - Bonnie Blue shares photos from 'disgusting' baby shower stunt

YouTube - "I'm not responsible for 13-year-olds...' Bonnie Blue x Shelagh Fogarty LBC

People - A Content Creator Filed to Trademark 'Hot Girls Read,' Then the BookTok Community Erupted Online

Lit Hub - A content creator tried to trademark "Hot Girls Read." BookTok clapped back.

NPR - 'Very demure, very mindful' trademark issue is 'handled,' TikTok influencer says

Substack - Hot Girls Don't Weaponize Trademarks Against Small Businesses: The Book Community Might Have a Greed Problem

Podcasts - Matilda Djerf on Creator-Led Brands, Secrets Behind 300% Growth and Tough Lessons in Entrepreneurship

Good Noticings - Patagonia vs. Pattie Gonia

The Guardian - Starmer gives tech firms ultimatum to block explicit images on children’s phones

The Times - Tech bosses threatened with prison if they fail to protect children

Big Brother Watch statement

Signal statement

GOV UK - New plans to stop children taking, sharing or viewing nude images

CBS - Musk fires outsourced content moderators who track abuse on Twitter

BBC - Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How does it work?

BBC - Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced

BBC - Mandatory digital ID launch called 'a fiasco' by scrutiny committee

Lad Bible - Sexual offences lawyer warns of 'explosion' of illegal images as ChatGPT plans adult content
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Hello EIChihuahuas, happy Pride month!

The NYT chose violence this Pride with an op-ed on why being straight is great, actually. They quickly changed the title to "There's Nothing Wrong With Wanting Men" – a possible response to rising criticism. Naturally, we (and you) had a few thoughts on the topic...

Thank you for your amazing thoughts and for listening to us <3 love O, R, B xxx

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There’s Nothing Wrong With Wanting Men

Chanté's TikTok
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