Podcast Summary: "Push-Up Contest" — Articles of Interest

Host: Avery Trufelman
Featured Story By: Zoe Kurland
Episode Released: January 30, 2026

Main Theme:

This episode presents the story "Push-Up Contest" by journalist Zoe Kurland, originally produced for the audio magazine Signal Hill. The story is a personal and cultural exploration centered on bras—specifically, the iconic "push-up bra" designed by Zoe's father, veteran costume designer Jeffrey Kurland, for Julia Roberts in the film Erin Brockovich. Through a blend of memoir, interviews, film history, and feminist reflection, Zoe examines the transformative power of clothing, public perceptions of femininity, and her own journey to inhabit her body with confidence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Jeffrey Kurland: The Costume Wizard

• [03:13] Zoe introduces her dad, Jeffrey Kurland, as a flamboyant, stylish, and influential costume designer, likening his style to "Tilda Swinton as Orlando or a Renaissance prince."
• He’s responsible for memorable costume designs in classics like My Best Friend’s Wedding, Ocean’s Eleven, and notably, Erin Brockovich.

Memorable Quote:

"It's probably the first thing that people notice about me is what apparel I happened to be wearing at the time."
— Jeffrey Kurland [03:53]

2. Transforming Julia Roberts into Erin Brockovich

• [05:36] Zoe shares a teenage memory of being enthralled by Julia Roberts’ portrayal of Erin Brockovich, especially her bold clothing and unforgettable cleavage.
• The movie was not simply about style; using sexuality and presentation became Erin's (and Julia’s) source of power.
• Zoe discusses her own teenage insecurities, relating them to the on-screen confidence of Erin Brockovich.

Memorable Quote:

"Some people write her off as a bimbo, but that's actually part of her power."
— Zoe Kurland [07:42]

3. The Birth of the Iconic Push-Up Bra

• [10:28] Zoe realizes she never asked her father about how he transformed Julia Roberts into Erin.
• Jeffrey reveals the process began "at the bust" because “it's the most noticed property of Erin.”
• 1999’s bra technology was inadequate for the film’s needs; fake breasts were not considered authentic.
• Together with seamstress Mary Ellen Fields, Jeffrey experimented with pads, gel cutlets, and specialized tightening to engineer the perfect look.

Notable Quotes:

"Regular bras didn't work."
— Jeffrey Kurland [12:15]

"Basically, her bosom sat on a shelf in the bra that lifted it and pushed it together."
— Jeffrey Kurland [12:55]

4. Cultural Impact and the Era of Cleavage

• [14:19] The “Erin Brockovich bra” became a pop culture phenomenon, frequently discussed in interviews and inspiring knock-offs and the push-up bra trend of the early 2000s.
• Julia Roberts, Cher, and others publicly marveled at the “beautifully engineered bra.”
• Controversy swirled as a British lingerie designer falsely claimed credit for the costume.

Memorable Exchange:

"Cleavage for days."
— Julia Roberts [14:55]

5. Personal Reflection: The Meaning of Breasts and Identity

• Zoe reflects on her ambivalence toward her own chest, shaped by cultural shifts and her father’s professional legacy.
• The bra was more than an undergarment—it was “a place that this amazing performance of confidence... could radiate out from.” [17:34]

Notable Quote:

"The character was created from underneath."
— Zoe Kurland [17:34], citing her dad

6. Zoe’s Modern Push-Up Bra Experiment

• [21:38] Zoe tries out a “Skims Ultimate Super Push-Up Bra” and shares humorous, honest reactions.
• The revealed result is awkward: "I thought it was going to make them look big, but they kind of just look long." — Anonymous boyfriend [23:34]
• Zoe experiences "blue body horror," realizing the chasm between transformation for film and everyday comfort.

Notable Quote:

"Walking around town with brought up boobs, I wasn't sure how to harness their power... they were enormous and felt like a malevolent parasite."
— Zoe Kurland [24:04]

7. Actors, Personas, and Occupying the 'Costume'

• Zoe attempts (unsuccessfully) to contact Julia Roberts to ask what it felt like inhabiting Erin’s “skin.”
• She pivots to interviewing the real Erin Brockovich.

Memorable Quote:

"What I really wanted to know wasn't what it felt like to be an actor... It was how to inhabit my own actual body."
— Zoe Kurland [27:00]

8. Interview: The Real Erin Brockovich

• [28:17] Erin is candid and self-assured, contrasting her true persona with the Julia Roberts depiction.
• Erin was surprised at being cast as Julia’s double, and shares a lighthearted anecdote about meeting Roberts (pre-bra) for the first time.
• In real life, Erin’s clothing was pragmatic: "it is very hot... so the less I had on, the more comfortable I was... there would be many days out there actually I didn't have on a bra." [31:25]
• The movie prompted Erin to reconsider her public image—but she ultimately returned to her own authenticity.

Key Quotes:

"I absolutely will not ever feel bad about who I was and how I dressed."
— Erin Brockovich [35:33]

"It's about the result I got and the lives that it changed."
— Erin Brockovich [36:00]

9. Lessons in Costume, Confidence, and Authenticity

• Zoe relates the process of costume design—each detail laden with message and intention—to her own struggle with identity transitions and public perception.
• She asks her dad if he ever feels burdened by his “look”; he admits he sometimes tires of donning all the accessories but ultimately finds joy in self-expression and others’ delight.
• Zoe sees echoes of her dad and Erin in herself: a confident, distinctive style derived from intention, not expectation.

Memorable Quotes:

"But most of the time, it's such a natural thing for me to do. Wake up and put everything on... And I like the choice that I can or I can't."
— Jeffrey Kurland [37:31]

Notable Quotes & Their Timestamps

• "Eclectic, in a word, I think probably is the best word today." — Jeffrey Kurland [03:41]
• "You see Erin Brockovich, you see Julia Roberts. You have to transform that into that. That's just the job. And if you're good at it, you can do it. And if you're not, you can't. You're either good or you're not. I'm good. I am good." — Jeffrey Kurland [10:10]
• "I wanted her to feel like that was her." — Jeffrey Kurland [14:04]
• "This amazing performance of confidence, ease, paralegalic, badassery could radiate out from...I need to buy a push up bra." — Zoe Kurland [17:34]
• "Fun. I don't know. You know, there's a great sense of intrigue. I would walk in and kind of look at my bed every morning and go, hmm, that's an approach. But then I got used to it. After a while, everybody got used to it." — Julia Roberts [26:17]
• "I wasn't focused on outfits or wardrobes...But I'd have on, you know, a T shirt, a black T shirt, short sleeved, with shorts because I was hot." — Erin Brockovich [31:43]
• "You get up in the morning, and you're like, I just don't want to be Jeffrey Kurland today?...there are off days...But most of the time, it's such a natural thing for me to do." — Jeffrey Kurland [36:45/37:31]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:13] Intro to Jeffrey Kurland and his style
• [05:36] Zoe’s teenage experience watching Erin Brockovich
• [10:28] The costuming challenge: Julia to Erin transformation
• [12:15] Technical work behind the push-up bra
• [14:19] Bra becomes a cultural phenomenon
• [21:38] Zoe trials a Skims push-up bra
• [28:17] Interview with the real Erin Brockovich
• [36:04] Reflections on costume, intention, and authenticity

Episode Tone & Style

Wry, candid, and deeply personal, Zoe Kurland blends humor and honesty with cultural criticism and feminist theory. The episode moves from affectionate family portrait to sharp self-inquiry, amplifying the voices of both her father and Erin Brockovich. The story is as much about bras and costume as it is about the shared struggle to feel at ease—and powerful—within our clothes, our bodies, and ourselves.