Everything Is Content - 25 for 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 I'm Beth. I'm Rocherra and I'm Anoni. And this is a special episode of Everything is Content, where we bring you our 25 for 2025. Every week this year, we've told you guys what each of us have been loving, literally dozens and dozens of film, TV, podcast, article and book recommendations for you all to get stuck into. So we thought we'd end the year with a what we've been loving round up, some old, some new, but all with the EIC stamp of approval. We'll also be helping you mark your content calendars for 2026, with a reminder of what's coming up and what we literally cannot wait for.

Starting point is 00:00:41 But just before we do that, we just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who has listened to us, shared the podcast on social media or with a friend, left us rating or a review or a Spotify comment, sent us a DM or commented, contributed to our everything in conversation episodes, or stopped us in the street to say if you're a fan, it means the world. Thank you so, so much. We love what we do, and we love you guys. So I think we should just get stuck in with our 25 for 2025, Ruchera, take it away. What is your first pick? So I'm going to start with one that I have been pocketing for this very moment, which is Richard Linklater's newest film starring Ethan Hawke called Blue Moon.

Starting point is 00:01:21 It is so good, so good that it, not this film specifically, but Subway Takes with Ethan Hawke, has reignited this, like, insane crush that I now have on. him. And this film is amazing. It can be a parable for modern times and AI. I won't say too much on it. It's about a previous creative duo. They're falling apart, their attempt to get back together and just like the tragedy of that really amazing stuff. What about you and only? I did ask you both if I should mention this because I've brought up so many times. But if this was like my Spotify wrapped, my culture wrapped, it would say you have consumed, have many minutes of the Ballad of Wallace Highland. I just think it's the most beautiful film that I've seen this year. I'll probably watch it again. It's a great one to enjoy over the gooch of Christmas if you have nothing

Starting point is 00:02:03 to do during the perineum. It's Tim Key. It's Tom Bazden. It's Carrie Mulligan. It's feel good. It's a tear joker. And yeah, I really shouldn't recommend again. But there you go. What about you, Beth? So my first is a book which I recommended over the summer and probably about a million times since, which is LA Women by Ella Berman, which is about two women, Lane and Gala, both writers on the LA scene in, I think the 1960s and 70s, who meet, clash, become friends until one of them goes missing. It's about rivalry, misogyny, toxic female friendships. And if you like Taylor Jenkins Reid, then give this one a go. I have Bagonia, which I mentioned and said completely wrongly. And thank you for telling me,

Starting point is 00:02:41 everybody. But yeah, Bagonia by Yorgas Lanthamos. My favourite film of the past year, excellent, Emma Stone, excellent. You have to go see it. I now have a substack titled The Year Men Broke by Tell the Bees. I just thought it was really useful because I think it really concisely explained a lot of the conversations that we've had in this podcast this year about masculinity, manhood and men. And I'm interested to see how this conversation is shaped and changed in 2026. But I think as a kind of roundup, that is a great read. Next up for me is a podcast, The Jack and Ash Show, which is hosted by brilliant internet geniuses and best friends, Jack Remington and Ash Holmes, where they're discuss their lives, their hijinks, explain their shared vocab and give bad advice on purpose to listeners. New episodes at the moment just come out once a week on Fridays and are literally

Starting point is 00:03:33 pure serotonia boost every time 10 out 10. Oh, I have to listen to that. A TV show that I loved so much that changed me, I think, was the rehearsal season two by Nathan Fielder. So good. If you haven't seen it, you have to watch it. It is so excellent. I am coming in with the TV show, which I kind of forgotten about and I went back through all our recommendations, but it was four seasons which starred Coleman Domingo, Steve Carell, Tina Faye, and it's about a decades-long friendship group that experience different seasons of life and the changes they go through. I forgot how beautiful this show is that I might go back and watch it again. Mine is another Netflix show, but more divisive, especially on this podcast, but I loved it, and it's too much Lena Dunham's

Starting point is 00:04:13 autobiographical Netflix rom-com about a quirky American producer played by Meg Stalta, who I love, who moves to London for work and falls for a troubled musician played by Will Sharp. It's so funny, it's so weird. And as I say, Meg Stelter, is a star. So my next one, and I felt a bit cheeky stealing this, because this could have been all of ours, is Last One Laughing, UK. It just brought me so much joy. I was crying, laughing. I might rewatch it, you know, even though I know all the beats, because it was so good. It was, yeah, watch it over Christmas with your family. It's family friendly. It's so funny. I was going to have Last One Laughing is one of mine. It's so good. So next time, I've got a book, which is The Vegetarian by Han Kang, which is a

Starting point is 00:04:52 2007 novel by a South Korean author Han Kang, but it won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 24. And it's a story told in three parts about a woman who decides to go vegetarian and everything that unravels afterwards. It's pretty dark and absurd, but it's a really great read. Mine is also a read. It's an article called The Baby Died, Whose Fault Is It, by Emmy Neatfield, about a venture capitalist, a surrogate, the death of a baby in utro, and a long and twisted legal case. trigger warning, obviously, but it's brilliant reporting on this case and the failures in maternal care and it's one of the best things that I read all year. Wow. My next one, I mentioned this podcast called Search Engine and there is a specific episode with Ryan Broderick who does

Starting point is 00:05:37 the newsletter Garbage Day, excellent internet correspondent on Dubai Chocolate. And it starts off seeming as this innocuous investigation into Dubai chocolate. But what it becomes is this interesting criticism and analysis of how TikTok works now and what and how things get pushed forward and the impacts of that on everyday people and what that means for the new generation of young people coming up on that platform. It's so good. It also has taught me so much about the internet, really, really good stuff. I have another substack which again, I think kind of encapsulates we've had so many conversations this year about beauty trends, cosmetic trends, and it's the anti-cosmetic surgery essay that every woman should read by Father Corrine. And we spoke about it before,

Starting point is 00:06:21 but again, just as like a tying up of the bow of some of the biggest conversations of 2025, I think this is, as she states, an essay that every woman should read. My next one is Frankenstein on Netflix, which is not a perfect film by any means, but what it gets right, I think it gets really right. And I'm a huge fan of the book. I think the performances are amazing. The world building is so deft and careful and brilliant by Giamma Deltaro. and I just love seeing hot actors play weird old guys. I think watch this film and then read the book. Also, I feel cheeky again.

Starting point is 00:06:55 I hope I haven't stolen this one, but we have to talk about adolescence. It just was the top show, one of the top shows of the last year. People are still talking about it. We're still talking about it using it as an example. I'm sure everyone has watched it. Maybe it's time for a re-watch if you want a dark Christmas. I am now bringing, this is kind of cheating, but it's two, but it's okay. So I have been all of slow horses who will be pleased to know.

Starting point is 00:07:16 up to date and ready for the new season and the night manager. So these are two different but similar shows in that they both involve spies. And I'm really in my espionage era to the point where I did Google. Could I be a spy if I had been an influence previously? If I can, then I could be able to now that I've said on the podcast. And I now think everyone in my life is a spy. But anyway, great TV, really recommend. I forgot about slow horses. I will be watching. Mine is a film. I watched this yesterday. It is the mystery horror film, Weapons by directors Zach Kragher. And it's about the disappearance of 17 students from the same third grade class after all of them, except one, ran out of their homes at the same time early in the morning and vanished.

Starting point is 00:07:58 Even saying that is giving me the willies again. It is so good. It's terrifying. It is the stand-out horror of the past few years, I think, for me. Oh, I've had such good things. I have to watch that over Christmas. A bit of a U-turn. I am recommending secret lives of Mormon wives. It is just, it's taken over my life. I now am one of those people who needs to know what's happening to mom talk. I think if you have any space for reality TV series, this at the minute is just really getting to the top of the pile. It's so good. I can't believe that neither of you said this, but Sinners, which when I went to see it at the beginning of the year was one of my favorite films. Then actually, I kind of forgot about it. It's about these twin brothers who returned

Starting point is 00:08:34 to their Mississippi hometown to start again and something evil awaits them. And it's Michael B. Jordan. And it was such a good film, but I kind of, I had forgotten about it. This year's actually so good for culture. I have a TV pick, which we've never talked about on the podcast, I think, Platonic Series 2 on Apple TV, where Rose Byrne and Seth Rogan play best friends who have recently made up after a rift and are navigating the many pitfalls of midlife together. The first series is amazing. I'm halfway through the second. It's very funny. It will make you fall in love with both of them and also never want to fall out with your friends. Okay, so my final one. It shouldn't be a surprise. I'm going to recommend hacks. The last season wasn't my favorite season, but it's still

Starting point is 00:09:16 one of the most excellent shows on TV. And if you haven't watched it, I really, really urge you to it. It's one of the best, coziest, interesting, introspective shows I've seen in a while. It's such an interesting portrayal of friendship. Also, creative dynamics. I think about this all the time, especially with Blue Moon, what it is to be in a marriage of creative partnership and creativity. It's almost, it's almost like more aggressive than a friendship, more aggressive than a marriage, because you share stuff that is so vulnerable. You share your passions and your creative vision. It's so good. It makes me reflect on the world in an interesting way. I think everyone will love it. I'm coming in with the podcast that has really got me going this year,

Starting point is 00:09:52 which is, what did you do yesterday with Max Frashton and David O'Doherty, which again, I have recommended so many times. But I love these middle-aged men. I love that they interview people about their day. Standouts include Lou Sanders, Anya Magliano. They're all pretty damn good, to be honest. But if you want something cozy, silly, I'm actually really jealous if you haven't listened to it because you could just bing to the whole catalogue as you binge rose potatoes. Finally from me is an article called The Goon Squad by Daniel Collets which is about quote loneliness pawns next frontier and the dream of endless masturbation. If you don't know what gooning is the piece will tell you so you don't need to

Starting point is 00:10:32 Google it. It's exit writing. It's fascinating. It's funny about this subculture which is all around us. Very troubling. One of the year's best long reads I think by a mile. We could not wrap this up without our special mention, our final one of the year, the one that all of us, like a trifecta, hit within three consecutive weeks. It is, of course, Pluribus. We do not have time to get into this now, but we will. Once the series wraps, I think this week, maybe today even, we will come back in the new year and we cannot wait to talk about this. So we've not started, you've got time, it is your homework, watch Pluribus. Join us next year and get ready to discuss. So that's 2025 wrapped up neatly, but what about 2026?

Starting point is 00:11:16 Here are the things we are looking forward to the most. First up, industry will return, continuing the high-stakes lives of Harper and Yasmin, with new characters and a glow-trotting adventure. The eight-part series will air weekly from the 11th of January. The night manager is back for series two. Ten years later, the car's promise danger, espionage, Betrayal, love, heartbreak, drama and suspense, as Tom Hiddleston's Jonathan Pine returns on January the 11th. Same as industry actually, same day, big day.

Starting point is 00:11:46 Jeanette McCurley's debut novel, Half His Age, is coming out on the 20th of January. Good January. Following the huge success of her memoir, I'm glad my mum died, and follows a teenage girl's obsession and yearning for a much older creative writing teacher. Bridgeton is back on the 29th of January and will be focusing on Benedict Bridgeton's love story with Sophie Beck, and we'll get new characters like Lady Araminta by Katie Lung, joining the cast. The season promises a shift in visuals with more full settings as Benedict pursues Sophie after meeting her at a masquerade ball. Charlie Axiax will play a version of herself in mockumentary, The Moment, where a rising pop star navigates the complexities

Starting point is 00:12:26 of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut. US release on Jan 30th and UK expected to be around the same time. Next up, we'll be so, that for this one. It's Emerald Fennells, or Emerald Fennells, Wuthering Heights adaptation, which is out on the 13th of Feb, Galantines Day, and reportedly covers the novel's first half and takes a lot of liberties with the original text. This is starring Marga Robby, Jacob Lordy, Hong Chow, and Owen Cooper from adolescence. Cannot wait. We also have the book Kinn by Tiari Jones, which is out 24th of February, about two motherless daughters raised in honeysuckle, Louisiana, who have been best friends and neighbours since earliest childhood,

Starting point is 00:13:04 but are fated to live starkly different lives. And only a couple of days later on the 26th of February, she wanted more by Pornabelle will be available to buy. It's a part memoir and part exploration, a call to arms for women of all ages and a radical rejection of the belief that we should be grateful for what we've been given. Yet another book, we're so spoiled,

Starting point is 00:13:24 from Mieko Kawakami, International Book of Pride's shortlisted author of Breast's and Eggs, which I loved. Her new novel, Sisters in Yellow, is out on the 17th March and follows 15-year-old Hannah, whose life in Tokyo is turned upside down by the arrival of an older girl, Kimiko. 20 years later, Kimiko is on trial, and Hannah is wrestling with her own actions.

Starting point is 00:13:43 I'm very excited for this one. Mormon Wives' Dance Stand Up. The Bachelorette, Season 22, features Taylor Frankie Paul from Mormon Wives and is out on the 22nd of March. If you've watched the show, you know she is due a good, respectful man. Euphoria is back for Season 3, and this time it features a five-year time jump, which moves the story away from high school and into early adulthood. Most of our faves are returning and there are some new faces too.

Starting point is 00:14:09 April for HBO Max in the US and it's expected to be the same time in the UK. I think Jacob Lordy was held at gunpoint to say yes for that. But anyway, next up, the drama, which is an A24 film with Robert Pattinson and Zendaya playing an engaged couple whose wedding week is derailed after quote, an unexpected turn. Described as a rom-com dram, the drama is out on the third of April. Another great book, up on the roster, described as the Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid's Tale. Yesterday by Caro Claire Burke is about a tri-wife influencer who wakes up one day having travelled back in time and is out on the 9th of April. God, I hope you're all readers, because on the 14th of April, we will be treated to FAMSIC by Lana Dunham, which chronicles the tumultuous decade between the premiere of girls to her 2021 wedding.

Starting point is 00:14:55 She gives readers a peep behind the scenes of her emerging from her 20s and the life lessons she learned along the way. way, exploring whether the pursuit of her creative ambitions has been worth the physical and emotional pain it caused. A huge one for millennials, The Devil We're Prada 2, is out on the 1st of May. I don't think we know too much about the plot yet, but Meryl Streep is returning and Hathaway is coming back, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, although the OG Wellsworth boyfriend, Nate, I forget the actor's name, Adrian Brodie, Adrian Greer, don't know, is nowhere to be seen, so bye, take your girl cheese with you.

Starting point is 00:15:24 Also, we will be so sat and hung over on the 1st of January because the Traitors is back, in 2026 with series four civilian version, watch it on BBC One and IPlayer. Thank you so much, genuinely, for listening to Everything is Content this year. We would not have been able to do it without you. Please also give us a follow if you haven't already on Instagram and TikTok at Everything is Content Pod. And by leaving us a review wherever you listen, if you haven't already. We will see you bright and early in 26. Bye.

Starting point is 00:15:58 Bye. Bye

Everything Is Content - 25 for 2025

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