Everything Is Content

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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Hello EICornettos! It's been a hefty week in the world of pop culture, so grab a lolly and let's get into it.

Oenone is away at a wedding... very unusual timing because Mr and Mrs Dua Lipa legally tied the knot last week. But the internet had some choice words about the singer's white suit. EIC Fashion Police LTD. are wading through the mess to share our searing hot takes for you.

Ruchira did some on the ground reporting from SXSW, which hit headlines this week after speakers Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur were barred from entering the UK by the Home Office, who said their "presence would not be conducive to the public good". We dive into the difficult debate around free speech, authoritarianism and our fears of rising antisemitism.

And finally Euphoria 3: Over For Good. Sam Levinson has done what he did, meaning EIC had to do what it does best. We gave our honest reviews and (of course) didn't hold back.

Thank you for listening to us this week <3 love O,R,B

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This week Ruchira shared some thoughts from her time at SXSW. She also read The Lost World. Beth loved the incredible story of Tim Payne's rise to social media superstardom and Fruit Fly.

(SXSW Talk) The Authoritarian Creep: How Far Right Rhetoric Impacts Culture

Free speech activists condemn UK entry ban for Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur

Hasan Piker on antisemitism, America's support of Israel & the need for trust in mainstream media

Labour MP Calls on Home Office to Ban Hasan Piker From the UK

Why ‘Euphoria’ Had to End This Way. For Good.

The Mess Was the Point

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Hello EIComrades, happy Pride month 🎉

In today’s episode we speak to Maxine Heron. Maxine is the online comms officer at Not a phase a registered, trans-led British grassroots charity dedicated strictly to supporting and uplifting transgender and gender-diverse adults across the UK, as well as being a model, creator, writer and public speaker, and friend of the pod.

A couple of weeks ago, the The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ruled that single-sex changing rooms and bathrooms in England, Wales and Scotland must exclude trans people. The guidance issued to public bodies, businesses and other service providers, has been approved by ministers. It’s such a dark time in UK politics, we speak to Maxine about the real world implications on trans people, how we got here, and what we can do to help.

Sending lots of love to every trans person out there, we love you & so do all of our mates. O,R,B xoxoxx

Write to your MP

Maxine Heron

Not A Phase

Toilets and changing rooms must be used on basis of biological sex, guidance confirms

Trans lives survey 2021: Enduring the UK’s hostile environment

Where does the British public stand on transgender rights in 2024/25?

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