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Taboo on the Bus

Taboo on the Bus

Whatzaraloves 57 Episodes Sep 30, 2026

Zara McIntosh hosts a candid podcast from the front seat of a bus, discussing taboo topics related to pop culture, society, and queer issues. The show originated as a viral TikTok series and has expanded to longer episodes on Spotify. Listeners can tune in to hear unfiltered opinions while observing everyday life on public transport.

Episodes

The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities?
The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities? Sep 30, 2026 00:36:23 Sit down with me today to discuss the fallout from Ed Sheeran dropping Macklemore from his tour over his public support for a free Palestine. What started as a conversation centred on Palestinian liberation has warped into memes, weighing up of celebrity ‘sides’, drags of Ed Sheeran’s tattoos, and somewhat of a ‘Morality Olympics’ at play online.   What I have noticed is that amid conversations ce
The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities? [Mini Bus Version]
The ‘Morality Olympics’ of Ed Sheeran’s Tour – why do we make celebrities the end-point of our advocacy on world atrocities? [Mini Bus Version] Sep 30, 2026 00:02:52 [Long-form deep dive episode at home is also live]Sit down with me in the front seat of the bus to discuss the fallout from Ed Sheeran dropping Macklemore from his tour over his public support for a free Palestine. What started as a conversation centred on Palestinian liberation has warped into memes, weighing up of celebrity ‘sides’, drags of Ed Sheeran’s tattoos, and somewhat of a ‘Morality Olym
“Divas hate data centres “- on racial gentrification, Brick Lane, and the harm of big tech infrastructure
“Divas hate data centres “- on racial gentrification, Brick Lane, and the harm of big tech infrastructure Sep 2, 2026 00:38:30 Sit down with me today to dissect the harms of AI data centres on a micro and macro level, looking at their local, racial, environmental, and social impacts. From Sophia and Cinzia promoting Google Gemini for AI pasta recipes, to Open AI taking influencers on a ChatGPT nature retreat, to the Save Brick Lane coalition, let’s unpack the current AI landscape and the powerhouses behind this force.Emai
AI Data Centres really are that bad - on racial gentrification, ChatGPT brand trips, and the harm of big tech infrastructure
AI Data Centres really are that bad - on racial gentrification, ChatGPT brand trips, and the harm of big tech infrastructure Sep 2, 2026 00:03:03 [Mini Bus version. Long episode is also live]Sit down with me today to dissect the harms of AI data centres on a micro and macro level, looking at their local, racial, environmental, and social impacts. From Sophia and Cinzia promoting Google Gemini for AI pasta recipes, to Open AI taking influencers on a ChatGPT nature retreat, to the Save Brick Lane coalition, let’s unpack the current AI landsca
Meta glasses, surveillance fashion, and performing life for an audience
Meta glasses, surveillance fashion, and performing life for an audience Jul 24, 2026 00:39:20 [Epsiode starts at: 11:18]Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice?  Sit down with me today to discuss how these glasses pose threat pa
Meta glasses bus taboo
Meta glasses bus taboo Jul 24, 2026 00:02:58 [Mini Bus Version - Full podcast episode also live]Meta have immersed themselves into the fashion realm with a line of trendy smart glasses and line-up of ‘IT-girls’ to promote the launch. Surveillance meets fashion in this collab, and we’re going to start seeing every-day recording and documentation become ‘normal’ in our society, or will we even notice?  Sit down with me today to discuss how the
What the ‘dot cake’ trend says about gen-z and luxury goods – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate?
What the ‘dot cake’ trend says about gen-z and luxury goods – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate? Jun 21, 2026 00:28:26 Sit down with me OFF the bus to dissect our consumption habits when it comes to viral food trends and ‘little treats’. In a backdrop of economic insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, generation Z are not purchasing as many luxury material goods. In turn, we are watching the status of foods like the ‘dot cake’ take the place of ‘luxury’ as for many, it is the highest point of access, desire, an
Let's talk about the 'dot cake' – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate? [Mini bus version]
Let's talk about the 'dot cake' – are viral foods the new status good in our economic climate? [Mini bus version] Jun 21, 2026 00:03:05 Full deep-dive episode OFF the bus is also live!Sit with me on the bus to dissect our consumption habits when it comes to viral food trends and ‘little treats’. In a backdrop of economic insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, generation Z are not purchasing as many luxury material goods. In turn, we are watching the status of foods like the ‘dot cake’ take the place of ‘luxury’ as for many, it
Social media is a breeding ground for classism [mini bus version]
Social media is a breeding ground for classism [mini bus version] Apr 27, 2026 00:02:47 [full deep-dive long episode is live]Social media is a breeding ground for poor-shaming working-class mockery, and I’ve been collecting evidence for the past 4 months to prove that. What we are seeing is the re-invention of the harmful working-class stereotypes present in early 2000s/10s media regurgitated in our algorithms right now. We can look at how deeply intertwined identity and consumption
Social Media is Classist - why people favour the wealthy and shame the poor online
Social Media is Classist - why people favour the wealthy and shame the poor online Apr 26, 2026 00:35:15 Social media is a breeding ground for poor-shaming working-class mockery, and I’ve been collecting evidence for the past 4 months to prove that. What we are seeing is the re-invention of the harmful working-class stereotypes present in early 2000s/10s media regurgitated in our algorithms right now. We can look at how deeply intertwined identity and consumption habits to begin understanding why soc
The girls are emotionless - discussing the politics of numbness and stoic femininity [Taboo OFF the bus]
The girls are emotionless - discussing the politics of numbness and stoic femininity [Taboo OFF the bus] Apr 2, 2026 00:53:15 Rachel Sennott preaching “numb is in”, " Botox is rising, the girls are emotionless, and lobotomy chic is looming in the air. Sit down with me to dissect what it means for stoicism, deadpan, and numbness to become intertwined in our perceptions of beauty and femininity. Let’s discuss whether this can be viewed as a potential clapback to the patriarchal expectations of women’s behaviour, or in
The Politics of Numbness and Femininity [Taboo ON the Bus]
The Politics of Numbness and Femininity [Taboo ON the Bus] Apr 2, 2026 00:03:16 [Full OFF the bus podcast version is also live for a longer deepdive] Rachel Sennott preaching “numb is in”, botox is rising, the girls are emotionless, and lobotomy chic is looming in the air. Sit down with me to disect what it means for stoicism, deadpan, and numbness to become intertwined in our perceptions of beauty and feminity. Let’s discuss whether this can be viewed as a potential clapback

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