This week, enjoy a bonus bumper Bookmarked episode. This is what we've enjoyed watching, reading and listening to this winter. Plus, what we're looking forward to consuming in August.

References:

Famesick by Lena Dunham 

Good Witch by Lucianna Tonti 

Hot History Podcast 

Frances Ha 

Who Is Lily Jay? The Australian influencer Accused of Using AI in Aid Videos

Australian influencer Lily Jay’s tangled web of AI manipulation

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Whistler by Ann Patchett

My Brilliant Career coming to Netflix August 13

The Invite

Let us know what you've been loving as well! Thank you for listening - Jas & Mags xo

This week, enjoy a bonus bumper Bookmarked episode. This is what we've enjoyed watching, reading and listening to this winter. Plus, what we're looking forward to consuming in August.
References:
<a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781460759431/famesick--lena-dunham--2020--9781460759431">Famesick</a> by Lena Dunham&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Good-Witch/Lucianne-Tonti/9781761634314">Good Witch</a> by Lucianna Tonti&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7sgmeekKERu0jUokTF25uG?si=3862f328bc0649f7">Hot History Podcast</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hbomax.com/au/en/movies/frances-ha/0de775c1-803b-480e-8926-88a252c494aa">Frances Ha</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FrYZ44c5RQrMjkZ7239fV?si=ab2f6b5f0c1a4fab">Who Is Lily Jay? The Australian influencer Accused of Using AI in Aid Videos</a>
<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-05/lily-jay-foundation-posts-ai-generated-misleading-videos/106866422">Australian influencer Lily Jay&rsquo;s tangled web of AI manipulation</a>
<a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781787702226/my-brilliant-friend--elena-ferrante--2020--9781787702226">My Brilliant Friend</a> by Elena Ferrante
<a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781037206498/whistler--ann-patchett--2026--9781037206498">Whistler</a> by Ann Patchett
<a href="https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81655060">My Brilliant Career</a> coming to Netflix August 13
<a href="https://www.palacecinemas.com.au/movies/the-invite">The Invite</a>
Let us know what you've been loving as well! Thank you for listening - Jas &amp; Mags xo

Culture Club is a weekly podcast analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet, hosted by writers and editors Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou.

Culture Club is a weekly podcast analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet, hosted by writers and editors Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou.

Culture Club

August Curriculum: What We’re Reading, Watching & Listening To

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/393a7893-9a33-4ab0-8bd7-b49b00ac0517/transcript

Cosy fantasy, famous fathers, and spinning fact into fiction, with author Naomi Ishiguro. Our guest today is British author Naomi Ishiguro.

She’s the author of the short story collection, Escape Routes, and the novel, Common Ground. If her name rings a bell, it could be because her dad is the Nobel Prize-winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro.

The first book from her new fantasy series, The Rainshadow Series, is now out in the world. Book one, The Rainshadow Orphans, is a cosy fantasy read blending magical whimsy with real-world political stakes.

In Bookmarked, Naomi recommends Nina Mingya Powles’ Tiny Moons: A Year of Eating in Shanghai and Small Bodies of Water.

Enjoy!

Follow Naomi Ishiguro here and Culture Club podcast here. 

Cosy fantasy, famous fathers, and spinning fact into fiction, with author Naomi Ishiguro. Our guest today is British author Naomi Ishiguro.
She&rsquo;s the author of the short story collection, Escape Routes, and the novel, Common Ground. If her name rings a bell, it could be because her dad is the Nobel Prize-winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro.
The first book from her new fantasy series, The Rainshadow Series, is now out in the world. Book one, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Rainshadow-Orphans/Naomi-Ishiguro/Rainshadow-Orphans/9781761633119">The Rainshadow Orphans</a>, is a cosy fantasy read blending magical whimsy with real-world political stakes.
In Bookmarked, Naomi recommends <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781912915347/tiny-moons--nina-mingya-powles--2019--9781912915347">Nina Mingya Powles&rsquo; Tiny Moons: A Year of Eating in Shanghai and Small Bodies of Water</a>.
Enjoy!
Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/naomiishiguro/?hl=en">Naomi Ishiguro</a> here and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cultureclubpod/?hl=en">Culture Club podcast</a> here.&nbsp;

Cosy Fantasy Fiction & Japanese Folklore With Author Naomi Ishiguro

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/25d0e1d2-5515-4a27-bda7-b4a200bee3ed/transcript

The history of the witch hunts, the devaluation of female power, and how to tap into your witchy side, with Good Witch author and journalist Lucianne Tonti. 

Lucianne Tonti is an Australian-based fashion expert, author, and journalist. She’s the fashion editor of The Saturday Paper, sustainability editor of ELLE Australia and a contributor to The Guardian.

In 2022, Lucianne published her award-winning book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion, which explores the garment industry and how regenerative fibre farming can help revolutionise the future of clothing. 

Now, Lucianne has written Good Witch, a brand new non-fiction book that explores how the witch hunts were the catalyst for much of what is wrong with our world today: climate change, our disconnection from nature, and the corrupt patriarchal systems we live under.

Good Witch looks back at the witch hunts that swept Europe and America in the 16, 17 and 18th centuries and explores how ‘witchy’ or ‘women’s work’ like gardening and textiles is regaining popularity in the current moment. 

We hope you enjoy this chat and if you want to see more of Lucianne's work, you can follow her on Instagram.

Watch this episode on YouTube and follow us on Substack. 

Jas & Mags xo

The history of the witch hunts, the devaluation of female power, and how to tap into your witchy side, with Good Witch author and journalist Lucianne Tonti.&nbsp;
Lucianne Tonti is an Australian-based fashion expert, author, and journalist. She&rsquo;s the fashion editor of The Saturday Paper, sustainability editor of ELLE Australia and a contributor to The Guardian.
In 2022, Lucianne published her award-winning book <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781760643164/sundressed-natural-fibres-and-the-future-of-fashion--lucianne-tonti--2022--9781760643164">Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion</a>, which explores the garment industry and how regenerative fibre farming can help revolutionise the future of clothing.&nbsp;
Now, Lucianne has written <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761634314/good-witch--lucianne-tonti--2026--9781761634314">Good Witch</a>, a brand new non-fiction book that explores how the witch hunts were the catalyst for much of what is wrong with our world today: climate change, our disconnection from nature, and the corrupt patriarchal systems we live under.
Good Witch looks back at the witch hunts that swept Europe and America in the 16, 17 and 18th centuries and explores how &lsquo;witchy&rsquo; or &lsquo;women&rsquo;s work&rsquo; like gardening and textiles is regaining popularity in the current moment.&nbsp;
We hope you enjoy this chat and if you want to see more of Lucianne's work, you can follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/luciannetonti/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.
Watch this episode on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CultureClubPod">YouTube</a> and follow us on <a href="https://cultureclubpodcast.substack.com/">Substack</a>.&nbsp; Jas &amp; Mags xo

Witch Hunts, Femininity & Capitalism, With Author Lucianne Tonti

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/02d71c47-2586-45f8-ab13-b49f00061c72/transcript

The rise of cool girl content, Shein’s UK rebrand, and Olivia Rodrigo’s new finance bro.

Olivia Rodrigo reportedly has a new beau and fans are talking about his "fake job". Who is the mystery man? 

In some fashion popcorn bits: Christopher Nolan banned uggs from his set, Zara has created "death" pants, and Shein has launched a brand named Musera to sell its cheap clothes without the tarred reputation. Ick. We reference Rachel Grif, Save the Planet Society and Women's Wear Daily.

In our new segment, 'Off The Record', we discuss the rise of Cool Girl Content that's flooding our algorithms at the moment. We hear from local content creator and stylist Joely Malcolm and read from Nylon's article on the new wave of Coolness titled The New Cool Looks A Lot Like Trying by Zara McIntosh and Sam Tracy. Who determines what's cool, and is it just a homogenous term for 'trend'? 

No Bookmarked this episode as we have an extended episode later this week! Stay tuned. Thanks for listening - Jas & Mags xo

The rise of cool girl content, Shein&rsquo;s UK rebrand, and Olivia Rodrigo&rsquo;s new finance bro.
Olivia Rodrigo reportedly has a new beau and fans are talking about his "fake job". Who is the mystery man?&nbsp;
In some fashion popcorn bits: Christopher Nolan banned uggs from his set, Zara has created "death" pants, and Shein has launched a brand named Musera to sell its cheap clothes without the tarred reputation. Ick. We reference <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbAkshuKxsE/">Rachel Grif</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbGDaNtgHIT/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">Save the Planet Society</a> and <a href="https://wwd.com/business-news/business-features/musera-shein-uk-sub-brand-led-by-gemma-dunne-1237108368/">Women's Wear Daily</a>.
In our new segment, 'Off The Record', we discuss the rise of Cool Girl Content that's flooding our algorithms at the moment. We hear from local content creator and stylist <a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-204047788">Joely Malcolm</a> and read from Nylon's article on the new wave of Coolness titled <a href="https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/field-notes/trying-is-cool-again">The New Cool Looks A Lot Like Trying</a> by Zara McIntosh and Sam Tracy. Who determines what's cool, and is it just a homogenous term for 'trend'?&nbsp;
No Bookmarked this episode as we have an extended episode later this week! Stay tuned. Thanks for listening - Jas &amp; Mags xo

Is ‘Cool Girl’ Content Cool? Shein’s Shady New Brand & Olivia Rodrigo’s New BF

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/ff876282-5614-4108-b247-b49400c8a582/transcript

August Curriculum: What We’re Reading, Watching & Listening To

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