<p>Hi friends!</p><br><p>To kick this episode off, we chit-chat about some celebrity headlines, including Olivia Dean being criticised for being... too nice, and Jason Bateman’s awkward Charli XCX kids moment. Was this an embarrassing Dad moment or a representation of where the culture is when it comes to reproduction?&nbsp;</p><br><p>Locally, Mecca has come under fire for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUFVmTZknIp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">using AI</a> in a social media post promoting its Australian Open pop-up. We review their statement and the feedback they received, and ask what it means for brands in general that are incorporating AI into their creative work.&nbsp;Maggie references <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/tech-ai-bubble-burst-reverse-centaur" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a> by Cory Doctorow in <em>The Guardian</em>.</p><br><p>Harry Styles has released worldwide concert dates “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” and he’s touring Australia later this year. But, despite the excitement for a new Harry era, many fans have taken issue with the price of the tickets. We explore this sentiment and ask how we got here.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Why is there a flood of people “becoming Chinese” online? Is this latest internet fad light-hearted cultural appreciation or something we should be challenging? Maggie references videos by creators <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTf-F6mkrvO/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caroline Ying Ouellette</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kalinaxkathy/video/7601991191147580727" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kathy Kalina Pham</a>. Jas references a piece for <em>Coveteur</em> titled <a href="https://coveteur.com/a-very-chinese-time-in-my-life-trend?utm_campaign=coveteur&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=feed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Who Gets to Be Chinese Now?</a> by <a href="https://coveteur.com/author/faithxue/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Faith Xue</a>.</p><br><p>In Bookmarked, Jas recommends the blockbuster, <a href="https://www.palacecinemas.com.au/movies/one-battle-after-another" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">One Battle After Another</a>, while Maggie recommends the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XzHbjPGdi3WIdOET5n0y9?si=9794141d1d9f40cd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Everything Is Alive</a> podcast.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Chat to you next time!&nbsp;</p><p>Jas &amp; Mags</p><br><p><em>This episode was brought to you by SAILY eSim! Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'cultureclub' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase. Or click the link here </em><a href="https://saily.com/cultureclub" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://saily.com/cultureclub</a> </p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>