Straight to the Comments
Ever notice how comment sections reveal more than the headlines?
Lisa Williams and Sarah Illingworth dive into the internet's most revealing threads, from the biggest celebrity scandals to niche online subcultures, exploring what our online reactions say about the culture we are living in right now.
Each episode, they decode the psychological motivations and deeper media narratives of online comment culture, all with a good dose of 90s nostalgia and Gen X British humour.
Shortlisted for Best Arts & Culture Podcast by the Independent Podcast Awards and an International Women's Podcast Award.
Episodes

Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
'Tis the season for Instagram-perfect Christmas posts, and today we're focusing on Kate Hudson and Kim Kardashian, who love to showcase their picture-perfect holiday celebrations. But why do their extravagant displays often spark comments calling them out of touch and vain?
Join us in this episode as we unravel the allure of conspicuous consumption during Christmas, exploring the deeper meaning behind the festive season and questioning whether the pursuit of perfection on social media reflects the true spirit of Christmas.
Show links:
Spending coach Paige Pritchard: https://instagram.com/overcoming_overspending?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Before we return in December with our Christmas specials, enjoy a re-run of our most popular episode of 2023, 'When the Mask Skips: The Case of James Corden & Ellen.' We introduce the episode with the latest news about James Corden's new SiriusXM radio job and break down some of the online reactions.
Also, we ask why have we seen the downfall of so many TV presenters this year. Can even TV's new relatable faces like Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson live up to their everywoman magic?
Join us as we go Straight to the Comments.
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
In this week’s mini, we’re talking reboots and “cosy murder mysteries”. A massively popular genre, but can rebooting classics ever really capture the magic, and is this a place for AI to be put to use? We're also shimmying down the rabbit hole of Celebrity baby names, and what people are saying about Rihanna’s latest baby name: creative and cool or something that the kids will regret later on?
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Last week, Justin Timberlake apparently turned off the comments on his Instagram because of the "hateful, disgusting things people were saying". The once golden boy has become the target of one of the biggest backlashes we've seen since starting the podcast. With the release of Britney Spears' book, 'The Woman in Me,' we're investigating why he's facing this reckoning. Did the superstar have it too good for too long? Did he really claw his way to mega-stardom at the expense of others, including his *NSYNC bandmates and Janet Jackson? Or is there more to this controversy?
Join us as we go Straight to the Comments.
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Today in our mini-episode, we are talking about the rise of AI girlfriends and the idea of creating a "dream partner" that fulfills all desires. We explore how these virtual partners are being promoted primarily as adult entertainment and their potential long-term effects on both men and women.
That’s not all, we are also talking about Sarah turning the big 4-0 and how life can begin again at this age.

Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
The comment sections have been bubbling for years with claims that certain celebrities are secretly witches and are embracing the dark arts. But why? In this episode, we explore the modern-day concept of witches, from the rise of WitchTok to Emma Watson celebrating her 'coven.' Why are so many powerful women, from JLo, Beyoncé, Stevie Nicks to Kylie, accused of being involved in witchcraft and Illuminati activities?
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Thursday Oct 12, 2023
This week's mini tackles 'the most important story ever,' which involves David Grush and allegations of government cover-ups.
We also go into the recent fallout between the Sounds Like A Cult podcast hosts, Amanda Montell and Isa Medina. What caused Amanda to sue her co-host for half a million dollars?
And last but certainly not least, we explore the prospect of a Tom Cruise theme park…
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Join us as we delve into the dark side of comments in our Halloween specials throughout October. Today, we explore the incredible rise of Jenna Ortega, from her role in the classic slasher franchise Scream to her viral performance in Tim Burton's Wednesday. Vogue has called Ortega the ultimate 'new-age goth girl,' but is this revival merely about fashion, or does it hint at something more sinister?
On the other end of the spectrum, we explore the allure of the Horror Vixen, with Kim Kardashian's debut in American Horror Story's 'Delicate'. Will this be her breakthrough role like Lady Gaga's? What do the 'rules of horror' reveal about society's view of women? And what dark secrets lie in the appeal of horror? We also discuss our love for 90s Gothic and Horror films and tv shows, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, and why Hollywood loves Halloween.
Full episode transcript here.
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
This week in our mini-episode, Sarah tries to guess the comments to a big ongoing story. Then, we answer your questions, including Florence Pugh's daring red-carpet fashion choices and reminisce about the 90s trend of see-through dresses (remember that Kate Moss dress?). We also talk about overpaid stars and what Kim Kardashian's next career move could be…
Join us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and a review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
This week, we are talking about the breakup of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner and the PR wars that started even before the divorce papers were filed. The media started publishing an onslaught of rumours from “sources” close to Jonas, painting him as the victim in the relationship, and Turner as a runaway mother and wannabe party-girl.
But not everyone is buying it. On social media some commenters have pushed back by calling out misogyny and mum-shaming in the media narratives surrounding the Game of Thrones star. Even the women on the view accused the Jonas camp of deliberate “spin” and a “smear” campaign.
So today we’re going to be asking - why do we frame relationship breakups as a winner and a loser? In PR terms, why do celebrities play the victim? And why are we no longer buying it so easily?
Click here for the full episode transcript.
Questions for us or comments you want us to review?
We love answering your questions and analysing stories you have found. Send them to us over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast/
If you enjoyed the show, please give us a 5* review on Spotify and review on Apple.
This series is produced by Emily Crosby Media.







