We’re back with another very special paid subscriber only episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty by Jessica DeFino and I <3 Mess. For this installment, we invited Ochuko Akpovbovbo — writer of the must-read and oft-quoted (by us) newsletter as seen on — to join us.
Today we’re talking about: Bumble’s shift from celibacy ads to AI assistants (2:15), a new dating app that bans filters and says “if you’re ugly, be ugly” [8:30], Hinge’s just-launched Modern Love-esque Substack [16:15], The “womanosphere” [18:30], RFK’s fave bacteria-contaminated swimming hole [20:55], is Dear Media Joe Rogan for girls? [21:30], Skinny Confidential’s $33 toilet paper [26:25], MAHA teens [29:30], the sexlessness of “sexual wellness” brands [32:20], Gen Z and kink [38:10], Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico [39:30], a new indie press for male writers [49:10], and the Glennon Doyle Substack drama [53:00]. Plus more!
Reminder: Audio can be hit-or-miss when we invite guests to join us remotely! We value their insight more than a flawless listening experience and hope you do too, but are always working to improve audio quality when we can.
About the podcast: The Review of Mess is a podcast by Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick that takes a critical look at the dregs of pop culture. Jessica is the writer behind The Review of Beauty, which has been called the newsletter “the beauty industry fears,” and Emily is the creator of I <3 Mess, a weekly roundup of the best of the worst celebrity fashion. Together, they dissect the biggest and dumbest celebrity happenings every month and give their unfiltered opinion on everything going on in the world of fashion and beauty.
About the theme music: The Review of Mess theme song is “Hot Mess” by Carly Lind. Find more about Carly here and listen to her music here.
