From The Diving Board
From The Diving Board is a show hosted by Charli Chats, dedicated to decoding digital culture by unpacking the hidden politics behind the screen.
Episodes
"Hyperfemininity does not equal submission to patriarchy" with Rosie Okotcha
Is there a difference between infantilisation and hyperfemininity? What is hyperfemininity from a fashion history perspective? Unpacking everything from fashion rumours and misinformation, to the origins of the babydoll dress during the second world war with fashion historian, Rosie Okotcha. So excited to bring in such an incredible guest today! Thank you for joining us on the pod xxTune into Rosi
Euphoria hysteria | The death of nuance in online discourse
Comment sections are sometimes the most aggressive places to be online right now. While we can blame this on declining literacy rates, poor education funding and keyboard warrior culture, perhaps the platforms themselves are more to blame than we think. If tolerance is the answer to misunderstanding, how do we get there? Unpacking the principle of charity, why comment sections get so heated &
Patagonia v Pattie Gonia | A legal deep dive
The legal deep dive you've been waiting for: Multi-billion dollar company with a purpose statement to protect the planet goes after drag queen and environmental activist for trademark infringement: both are named after a mountainous region in Chile & Argentina. Suddenly, everyone on the internet is a trademark lawyer. But what actually is happening here - is this a politicised use of the l
So...the media still hates outspoken women | Abbie Chatfield & Gamergate
Why are outspoken left-wing women like Abbie Chatfield attracting so much media attention and backlash right now? Let's take it all the way back to Gamergate - the online harassment campaign that some say led to Donald Trump's first presidency, and unpack whether these online gendered smear campaigns have far deeper influence than we might think. timestamps:00:00 the media & women03:42 Abbie C
"You can pry my babydoll dress from my cold dead hands" | Change My Mind
This week, we're diving into the Olivia Rodrigo babydoll dress discourse, moral panics around femininity, and why society remains obsessed with policing what women wear. This is a Change My Mind episode, a segment on the From the Diving Board podcast where you get to be involved too. Each episode I post a prompt on my Instagram (@ fromthedivingboard) and invite you to critique & offer a co
The political power of whimsy (absurdism, dadaism & imagination)
Why whimsy is more than an aesthetic, and right now - might even inspire fundamental political resistance! Getting serious by bringing out the Canva whiteboard in this one - let's dive in...Thank you for watching! Follow for video essays every Monday xxtimestamps:00:00 whimsy, creativity & imagination06:59 you are creative, I promise13:03 everything feels meaningless16:33 resistance art: d
Louis Theroux's "Inside the Manosphere" was theatre...
It's been a few months since Louis Theroux took us into the Manosphere, so I think it's time we talk about it. timestamps:00:00 intro02:47 the myth of red pill thinking06:09 the Louis Theroux of it all09:12 Inside the Manosphere13:03 masculinity under capitalism29:39 we need to stop blaming mothers⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺work with me: kitch@onedaydream.com.ausoc
Sex work as rage bait in Euphoria
Sam Levinson, we need to talk.timestamps:00:00 introduction08:23 is this feminist?13:00 this feels degrading22:36 America: my dream31:21 Hollywood & s** work43:21 final thoughts⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺work with me: kitch@onedaydream.com.ausocials!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthedivingboardTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlichatssSources on YouTube (Ch
Touching grass (to post about it online) ft. Jonah Lafferty
Let's unpack the irony of the offline trend - is posting about offline hobbies hypocritical? Who better to ask than a birdwatching content creator, Jonah Lafferty.This is a Change My Mind episode, a segment on the From the Diving Board podcast where you get to be involved too. Each episode I post a prompt on Instagram and you get to respond. In today's episode we set out to debate the foll
I dare you to slowmax (it's urgent)
Feeling like someone turbo charged your hamster wheel without your consent? Constantly feeling a sense of urgency when doing mundane tasks? Wondering how you'll ever escape the constant need to go faster? Don't worry, same. Let's deep dive from a sociology lens - it's not just you.work with me: kitch@onedaydream.com.auInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthedivingboardTikTok: https://www.tikto
Coachella... when festivals create content, not culture
Let's talk about Coachella - how did we get here? Despite years of music festivals being inherently counter-cultural, Coachella feels different. From recent footage of crowds barely dancing, to the festival's heavy commercialisation, what does Coachella mean for our culture? And why does it feel so dystopian right now...timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:00 Brandchella06:55 Music festivals & coun
(VLOG) Pinterest apartment finds on a budget
moving to Melbourne & decorating my apartment using mostly secondhand finds! thank you for tuning in xxsocials:Instagram , TikTok & Substackwork with me: kitch@onedaydream.com.autimestamps:00:00 the Melbourne move!03:40 Pinterest inspo & checklist05:57 the empty living space07:31 bathroom storage hack08:45 5 secondhand shops, 1 day14:50 art, decor & more charity shops17:42 do you w
The surprising predictability of the wellness to alt-right pipeline
We're unpacking the horseshoe theory: is it actually possible to be so far right that you're left? How did the multi-billion dollar wellness industry seemingly flip from liberal leftist groups to right-leaning carnivores & tradwives? Spoiler alert: it's not as complicated as it seems, and many saw this coming from miles away... let's dive in!Source list on YouTube.Instagram: ht
Difficult women? Or a difficult system? | Female rage & shame in 2026
How is it that the words of Epstein are being taken more seriously than words of thousands of women victims? And by 'more seriously', I only mean fractionally. What do we do with all this rage? Why do we feel so numb? And how do we deal with the shame that comes with female anger?timestamps:00:00 female rage03:20 why we feel so numb10:22 “difficult women” or a difficult system?14:31 gender
(VLOG) Quitting in my 20s to start again
A week in my life! My 26th birthday, organising my life & musings on how to stay disciplined without the pressures of a 9 to 5...Thank you for being here and making this reality possible. I am so grateful!Charli's InstagramCharli's TikTokCharli's SubstackCharli's YouTube⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺contact: kitch@onedaydream.com.au
Are we entering a sexual revolution?
Deep diving into the 'Lesbian Renaissance' of 2024, Sabrina Carpenter & heterofatalism, and what sexual curiosity and exploration looks like in 2026.Learn more about FEELD here: https://feeld.onelink.me/TRZt/FTPDtimestamps:00:00 background06:33 the lesbian renaissance 13:36 Sabrina Carpenter & heterofatalism18:26 language & identity24:21 “Girl crush” & “lesbian chic” media3
The problematic business of True Crime
Welcome back to another episode of Change My Mind, the podcast segment where you get to have a say too!Today we’re discussing the ethics of true crime - why we’re so morbidly fascinated with unsolved mysteries, whether it teaches us important information about criminal behaviour, and whether it adequately addresses serious questions about the police and justice system that so many true crime cases
It's not you, it's minimalism.
Pantone chose ‘cloud dancer’ as colour of the year for 2026 - a shade of white. Most people are buying greyscale cars and neutrals have never been more in. In 2026, the 'new ugly aesthetic' suggests that vibrant colour and garish design is a rebellion. So what are the origins of minimalism? Spoiler alert: it’s fascist...socials!https://www.instagram.com/fromthedivingboardhttps://www.tiktok.com/@ch
Is it okay to listen to Chris Brown in private? ☆ [Change My Mind Ep. 1] with Peggy Holmwood ☆
Grab a tea, grab a coffee this ones a chill one to listen to as you clean, commute, shower etc etc. Thank you so much to all your responses, follow on Instagram (@fromthedivingboard) to contribute to next month's episode. And a hugeeee thank you to the wonderful Peggy for joining! Find Peggy on Instagram: @_peggyrose⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺business enquiries only: c
The TikTokification of Wuthering Heights | Is it pretentious to be annoyed?
socials!https://www.instagram.com/fromthedivingboardhttps://www.tiktok.com/@charlichatsshttps://fromthedivingboard.substack.com/timestamps:00:00 the adaptation05:42 “the greatest love story”11:58 the red latex of it all15:40 rage bait, elitism & literacy⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺business enquiries only: charlichats@outlook.com
When Did Self-Care Become Labour? | Hyrox & Lock In Culture
Designed to go viral with a focus on intensity and ambition, Hyrox reflects everything that Gen Z craves right now: self-optimisation, a cult like community and extreme discipline. But... why? What is it about pushing ourselves that is so enticing to us? And what if our desire to self-optimise wasn't entirely our own, but influenced by decisions politicians made 40 years ago...⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆
Posting online about going offline (but we're all still here)
Everyone's talking about going analog, but are we ready to make the jump? Even if we are - how do we get there? In this episode we unpack where this trend came from, the rise in AI slop, the lack of ownership that we have over media when it's digitised, and whether we can ever really escape social media algorithms even if we do decide to log off... Let's dive in!Outfit from @coldwashonly_Get invol
(Rerun) What's in a suntan? The ugly history behind the trend
As us Aussies (& southern hemisphere friends) enter the Summer, I thought it might be a good time to reshare this episode on suntanning. We know suntanning is bad for our health, but why do we even want to tan our skin in the first place? Let's unpack where the trend comes from, and its links with race, class and health. Thanks so much for tuning in! See you next fortnight with a brand n
Rejecting the pressure to reinvent yourself for 2026
What are we locking in for? Unpacking the 'religion' of self-optimisation culture & locking-in as an aesthetic as we approach the new year. How to avoid burn-out & stay ambitious without having to set new year's resolutions that make us feel worthless... let's talk about it!& THANK YOU for all of the love this year!!! I truly am beyond grateful for your support. Make sure to follow the
AI friendship won't cure your loneliness
Earlier this year, Avi Schiffman’s poster campaign for his brand Friend—an AI-pendant promising to “listen, respond, and support you”—was vandalised almost as soon as it hit New York’s subway walls. Yet while critics mocked the idea of an artificial ‘friend,’ Schiffman smiled; the backlash was part of the plan. In this video, we unpack the loneliness epidemic, what friendship looks like under neol
This conversation isn't really about boyfriends
A few weeks ago, British Vogue did the impossible - she broke the internet with long form content. The article was called ‘Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?’ and everyone had something to say about it. Today we’re unpacking the theme of ‘decentering men’ from a slightly different angle - is it men we should blame, or systems of patriarchy & capitalism (& can it be both?)Huge thank yo
Can Tourism Ever be Ethical? The Myth of 'Finding Yourself' Through Travel
thank you for watching!! xxFollow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube & Tiktok <3Source list found on YouTube.Business enquiries only: charlichats@outlook.comtimestamps:00:00 intro04:16 Bali, the Paradise Myth & moral absolutism15:40 influencers in Afghanistan21:48 ‘self discovery’ through tourism 26:40 do travel boycotts work?33:50 final thou
Girl math is out, 'girl debt' is in? Buy now pay later's dark side
Why is it that women are far more likely than men to have 'buy now pay later' debt? From morally questionable 'girl math' advertising to rebrand debt as 'cute,' to regulatory loopholes and sneaky marketing - let's dive into the world of buy now pay later. We'll also unpack whether the buy now pay later industry has 'commercialised' social welfare payments, and take a look at recent regulatory amen
Cringe is the price you pay for success? Why cringe culture is holding us back
Ocean Vuong recently stated that cringe culture is holding us back from following our dreams - but why is the fear of being cringe so pervasive among young people right now? A chit chat podcast episode unpacking surveillance culture, our obsession with being 'nonchalant' and widespread apathy, and how these factors may influence our fear of judgment. Thank you for listening!! So curious to hear yo
The chokehold of the past: 2016 core to tradwives
Unpacking nostalgia as both a cultural coping mechanism and a political tool, to examine its role in shaping online identity as well as mobilising conservative political movements.Follow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube <3Source list found on YouTube.Business enquiries only: charlichats@outlook.com#tradwife #tradwives #2016core #nostalgia #genz #genalpha
content that will actually unrot your brain (what I’ve been reading)
What I've been reading recently & whether I think they're worth the hype (they are) xxxxFollow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube <3Source list found on YouTube.Business enquiries only: charlichats@outlook.com
Rage bait sells, but at what cost?
What do Sydney Sweeney & American Eagle's 'good jeans' advert and Jojo Siwa's constant rebranding suggest about personal branding, outrage marketing, and the commodification of identity? Is there ever anything harmless about profiting off of anger and outrage? And how does this look in an era of increasing political polarisation, echo chambers and rising intolerance? Follow along on Instagr
gen z are designing their lives around friendship (& you should too)
Why do relationships feel so strained right now? Let's unpack the capitalist history of marriage, the nuclear family, and why centring platonic friendship could be the solution we all need right now. Also... we have been selected as a Spotify RADAR Creator!! THANK YOU for supporting FDB - so much love!Follow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube <3Source list found on YouTube.Busine
The world burns, billionaires get married. Where to now?
What does the Bezos-Sanchez wedding represent in an era of major wealth inequality, and what's the solution? Let's unpack whether charitable donations by the extreme wealthy are enough, what taxing the rich really means, and whether billionaires should exist...at all.Based on the incredible theory of limitarianism by Dr Ingrid Robeyns. Follow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube <3Source
And just like that, we hate Carrie...(again)
Gen Z have decided that Carrie Bradshaw is the ultimate villain & should be booted off SATC. Yet without her flaws, would Carrie even be worth watching? Let's unpack the unrealistic standards that we hold female protagonists to, and why now, more than ever, we need more flawed female characters on screen.Follow along on Instagram, Substack, YouTube <3Source list found on YouTube.Busines
Who Gets to be Naked? From Red Carpets to Protest
The Cannes Film Festival decency rules brought a conversation about 'decency' in fashion, and whether celebrities have gone 'too far' in revealing their bodies on the red carpet. Is this just another case of policing what women wear? Or does the conversation run deeper - how are women's bodies portrayed in public spaces, and who gets to undress?
Read this instead of doomscrolling.
I quit TikTok! So I'm sharing the long form media I've been consuming instead of (or in addition to... let's be honest,) doomscrolling. Listen to hear my recommendations on books, substack pieces & articles to read at the moment!Follow me on Instagram, Substack & YouTube!
gossiping is good, actually.
Psst! Did you hear? Gossip may not be AS bad as you think it is - well... in certain contexts, and depending on whose talking... actually I just heard this on the grapevine & may not have the facts straight so you should probably just listen to find out more...From rumour spreading & slander to whisper networks that exist to support oppressed people in society - what do we actually mean wh
gen alpha is buying anti-aging products, feel old yet?
Why are teens using wrinkle cream before they have wrinkles? Why is baby botox booming before 25? How does politics shape our views about beauty? From anti-aging influencers to a total erasure of older women in media, this video unpacks how our culture turned aging into a crisis... and why we’re so scared of it happening to us. socials!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charli.chats...TikTok: ht
does the skinny trend re-emerge when women get too powerful?
From Ozempic to the pilates body to the AI chubby filter on TikTok, it's no question that our social media feeds are starting to give mid-2000s (in the worst possible way). It feels like we're collectively unlearning any efforts to achieve body positivity and neutrality, and I want to know why. Are beauty trends a microcosm for what's happening in the political and social zeitgeist, and if so, wha
gen z is hitting their quarter life crises & its not pretty
Let's get chatty about the quarter life crisis. Are you in it? Or are we just living in an era of excessive self-optimisation culture, cost of living increases and an obsession with anti-aging... Instagram: @charli.chatsTikTok: @charlichatssSubstack: https://charlichats.substack.com/#quarterlifecrisis #genz #selfoptimisation #tiktoktrends
The Popification of Politics is Weird... lets talk about it
Kamala is brat, Trump has weird vibes and Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl half time performance was political commentary. Today we're unpacking how pop culture & politics are barely distinguishable, whether modern media has shaped this, and what the 'attention economy' means for culture. This episode was inspired by OliSUNvia, "drowning in entertainment: the age of distraction", https://www.youtub
The Left is Eating Itself While the Rich Cosplay Poverty
From Victoria Beckham’s working class childhood to gentrification in the streets of Fitzroy Melbourne… what’s with the obsession with appearing less wealthy than you really are? Let's unpack quiet luxury, 'homeless chic', Naarm-core and what this all means in the context of an oligarchy & increasingly splintered leftist spaces...timestamps:00:00 intro02:42 quiet luxury in different fonts10:31
In Defence of Weak Tie Friendships
Welcome back to From The Diving Board!
In this episode I reflect on my experience solo travelling & unpack what loneliness means, and how it differs from solitude…
Follow me on Instagram.
#loneliness #solotravel #alone #lonely #lonelinessepidemic
Overconsumption or Collector Culture? Stanley Stampedes & FOMO Marketing
From Sonny Angels to Stanley Cups, gen z has a new(ish) obsession with collecting things. But when does collecting become overconsuming, and who do we blame for its impacts? Is overconsumption always bad? Let's dive in!Follow me on Instagram & TikTok.
Burning for aesthetic? Let's talk about tanning culture
Why are tanlines trending on social media, where does this beauty trend come from, and what does it suggest about race, class & health?
Follow me on Instagram.
#Tanning #SkinCancerAwareness #BeautyStandards #Blackfishing #ArianaGrande #Kardashians #TanlinesTrend
2025 Bingo Card (but it gets progressively unserious)
Welcome back to From the Diving Board!
What’s on my bingo card for 2025? We’re talking pop culture, internet trends, politics and media.
A big shoutout to Nicky Reardon for the inspiration, you can find his video linked here.
Follow me on Instagram.
#trendpredictions #media #fashion #internetculture #jojosiwa #narasmith
The Fashion Industry Has a Problem, & Influencer Brands Aren't Helping
Welcome back to From The Diving Board!In this video, we use the recent controversy surrounding Matilda Djerf and Djerf Avenue as a diving board to investigate the world of influencer-led fashion brands at large.With a rising sense of disillusionment about influencer-led fashion brands, we take a deeper look at the challenges these brands face in meeting customer expectations. Is it possible for an
We're Dehumanising Ourselves: Gender Essentialism, Mormon Trad Wives and 'Girl' Culture
Welcome to From The Diving Board!
In this episode we explore the intersection of conservative values, choice feminism and traditional gender roles across mormon trad wife content and ‘girl’ culture on social media. Is it okay to enjoy this content under the guise of irony? Or are we dehumanising the experience of womanhood? Let’s dive in.
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#tradwives #narasmith #ballerinaf
The Return of Recession Pop?
Welcome back to From The Diving Board!
In this episode we unpack why we're craving upbeat music while our economies remain...in the gutter. Are Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter pioneering a new wave of recession pop? Let's dive in.
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#charlixcx #chappellroan #sabrinacarpenter #recessionpop
The Relatable to Luxury Influencer Pipeline
Welcome back to From The Diving Board!
In this episode we dive in and ask why so many relatable influencers attended fashion week, and question whether luxury fashion brands are using relatable influencers to hide scandals, lies and exploitation.
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#luxuryfashion #emmachamberlain #fastfashion #olivianeill
Why is Gen Z So Obsessed With Crochet? (crochet-tok and quiet activism)
Welcome to From The Diving Board!
In this episode we're unpacking the obsession with crochet, its history and the feminist politics that underpin its success as a cult favourite hobby.
Follow me on Instagram
#crochet #fastfashion #genz
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