What Women Are Talking About
Chappell Roan, The April Theory, Nikki Glaser, Gwyneth Paltrow, The Beatles, energy points, merch drop, conservative women's mags, Albo + polulu delulu, generational gymspo, kinks.
Welcome to What Women Are Talking About — your weekly curation of news and pop culture from Australia’s #1 women’s podcast Mamamia Out Loud. We’re all over the internet so you don’t have to be.
Has it really only been seven days? LET’S GO.
Pink pony creche.
The internet is upset with pop star Chappell Roan for suggesting that her friends, who are wiping the noses and bums of their children in suburban houses, aren’t happy.
On Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper, Chappell said “I actually don’t know anyone who has children and is happy… I literally have not met anyone… with light in their eyes.”
And you know what? From the outside, parenting doesn’t always look too hot. Certainly not hot to go. But Chappell poses a good question: is there a genuine happiness gap between parents and those without children?
Just kidding. We aren’t going to bore you with those here, because happiness is immeasurable etc etc, but if you’d like to hear us debrief about Chappell’s take in more depth (with only VERY INTERESTING and RELEVANT stats), you can listen below.
The pressure of January might ACTUALLY be avoidable.
You know that thing you committed to in the first week of January, when the new year held promise? Or maybe you missed the wave of New Year’s resolutions and thought, 'Oh shame, gotta wait until next year to get that gym routine sorted’.
Well, what if we told you that January is not the best time for new beginnings?
Honestly… we would be bloody relieved, because that pressure feels like a lot.
The April Theory is the idea that April is actually the beginning of the new year. It’s a season shift, for a start – in either hemisphere, you’re heading out of one of the big seasons, into a transitional one.
It’s also (according to the people who know things about the stars) Aries season, and that means we’re in a time of enthusiasm, growth, and embracing new beginnings.
So what are you going to have a second crack at in April? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️
Frothing over The Beatles in 2028.
In case you missed it: the most famous band of all time is getting back together.
Well, not really… but The Beatles biopic extravaganza has just been announced and it’s ALMOST as exciting as the real thing. Especially when you scroll through the cast announcement because wowza, those are some chiseled jaw lines.
Director Sam Mendes announced on Tuesday that he’s making four separate movies – one focusing on each of the four band members – and they will all be dropping in cinemas in April 2028. He’s called it “the first binge-able theatrical experience”.
Here are the stars who will feature on screen:
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney: Known for his roles in Normal People, Gladiator II and Aftersun.
Harris Dickinson as John Lennon: Previously appeared in Babygirl alongside Nicole Kidman, and Triangle of Sadness.
Joseph Quinn as George Harrison: Who gained recognition for his role in Stranger Things and is transitioning from Marvel's Fantastic Four.
Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr: Known for his performance in Saltburn and The Batman.
We’ll be marking our calendars.
Our favourite April Fool’s brand pranks.
How many energy points do you have?
Zoe Foster Blake has changed our lives. This time, the founder of the cult Go-To Skincare brand isn’t wowing us with a new product, but with an… energy chart? You heard that right. And it’s going to validate every day you’ve felt absolutely shattered this year.
To be clear: this chart has been developed by a doctor, it’s legit. No woo-woo in sight. Here’s how it works.
There’s a scale of 1-10, with three columns: Physical, Cognitive and Social.
Physical Points
The first column is relatively obvious: Physical energy.
10/10 might be running.
5/10 is mowing the lawn.
4/10 is housework etc.
But what we’re less likely to understand are the two other columns – the sliding scale of the cognitive and social load.
Cognitive Points
A 10/10 exertion of cognitive energy tires you just as much as a 10/10 exertion of physical energy.
10/10 energy exertion might include major decision making, or detailed calculations.
Reading a complex report? That’s a 9/10.
Paying attention to the TV, that’s a 5.
Social Points
The most interesting is the social points chart.
10/10 energy demand is socialising with 6+ people.
The emotion of frustration or anger is an 8/10.
Feeling anxiety is a 6/10.
If you want to read the chart in more depth, (or erm, if the writing is too small), you can find it on our Instagram.
And while you’re at it you can check out our new podcast Well. Australian women: welcome to your full body health check. ⬇️
READ MORE: The energy chart Zoë Foster Blake uses proves you're not lazy. You're exhausted.
Proud and Out Loud.
Have you seen our awesome new merch? Look at those grins. We’re quite the proud parents of this little venture. Get your tees and totes here.
Polulu delulu.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called his opposition “delulu with no solulu” in Parliament.
No, that’s not us paraphrasing. It’s a direct quote.
This man is 62. He’s in charge of government policy and *checks notes* leading the Australian nation. His Google calendar is probably quite full. So you might wonder, when does he have time to scroll TikTok and learn this Gen Z short-hand?
As it turns out, Albo was just… following through on a dare.
Is it a strange campaign play? Or just a bit of silliness? Love to hear your thoughts below.
Feminism was nice while it lasted.
Meet Evie, the conservative women’s mag and media brand in the US, that’s a celebrator of femininity over feminism.
On the surface, Evie carries a lot of the same kind of stories you’d see in any media aimed at women – including Mamamia. Nail trends. The White Lotus theories.
But inside, things are a little more ideological.
A beauty feature that pushes back against body positivity and celebrates ‘natural’ beauty. “Young women in the West have never been more confused about what it means to be beautiful. Too often they think letting themselves go and not taking care of themselves is just fine because we have ‘beauty at any size’ now.”
Sex tips but only if he put a ring on it as they’re “for married women only”.
A piece about rejecting feminism – “In my current state as a single woman, I need to provide for myself financially, but I try to make sure my career never comes above my womanhood or wellness. I’ve shaped my work life so that it’s mostly remote and allows for freelance projects in my downtime, which I see as the perfect training ground for ‘naptime income’.”
We had some… thoughts. Listen to our full discussion below.
Voyeurism is sooo in right now 👀
Kinks are having a moment. And we’re not just talking about the Fifty Shades of Grey hang-from-the-ceiling-in-a-sex-swing kinda thing (though each to their own). We’re talking about ‘regular’ people, sharing their proclivities on the internet.
Comedian Nikki Glaser – who hosted the Golden Globes to rave reviews earlier this year – has done an interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for her GOOP podcast where she talks about how during sex, she likes her boyfriend to talk about the other women he’s been with.
And it’s not just Nikki. Movies and TV shows are getting in on the (kinky) act too. This season of The White Lotus has seen creator Mike White explore some surprising fantasies including one character seeing his parents having sex and wanting to re-create that with his girlfriend and another man. Like ya do.
So friends, is the commentary and deconstruction of kinky taboos a positive thing?
READ MORE: 'When my partner told me his kink, I was shocked. Now I love it too.’
Ready to explore your own kinky fantasy? Check out Butter below, the new audio erotica podcast – where female pleasure comes first. 🌶️
Your gym-fit of choice is a dead giveaway of your age.
We love a good generational argument, so here it is for today: Athleisure.
Millennials apparently opt for tight on tight. Think: a cropped sports bra situation and tights. Gen Z, however, are all about tight on bottom and a baggy top.
Or maybe you’re a pyjama workout kind of girl? Check out MOVE: the exercise app for any body, anywhere. No equipment or active wear debates needed.