Style-ish Podcast Ep. "Unpacking the ‘Personality Type’ Obsession"

Host: Shameless Media
Date: November 25, 2025
Guests: Joanna Fleming (soon-to-be bride), Annika Joshi Smith

Overview

This episode of Style-ish blends lighthearted pre-wedding celebration and fashion/beauty chat with a deep-dive into the internet’s current fixation on personality types. Hosts and guests trade hilarious bachelorette anecdotes and swap practical beauty recommendations before digging into why we love sorting ourselves—and each other—into boxes like “Type A” and “Type B” (and C, D, etc!). The episode also addresses thoughtful audience questions about baby shower gifting, weaving in relatable and often laugh-out-loud realness throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hen's Party Highlights & Wedding Prep Vibes [00:21–07:13]

• Joanna Fleming shares her hen’s experience: unconventional, no bridal party, fun Italian lunch at Pepe’s in Melbourne with secret plans and a pink Hummer limo to a rooftop after-party.
• Despite her “Type A” reputation (“the most chill I’ve ever been about anything in my whole life” – Joanna, 04:57), Jo is taking a relaxed approach to wedding-week unpredictabilities.
• The team sets an enthusiastic, giggly tone, celebrating friendship over the typical wedding tropes.

2. Skincare & Beauty Product Swaps [07:13–14:56]

• Jo’s recommendation: Rejuran Skincare ampoule and sheet mask (“this is one of the things that I’ve been using… my skin feels really smooth, really calm.” – Joanna, 10:37).
• Annika’s recommendation: The Little Company’s Living Skin oil cleanser; extols the joys of double cleansing for easy makeup removal and skin clarity.
• Mads’ swap: instead of unnecessary gift purchases, advocates the Kmart Wishing Tree for donating gifts to families in need, sharing a poignant family tradition (“…it means way more than any overpriced onesie that I can drop off” – Mads, 36:15).

3. Skin Prep Before Big Life Events [11:03–12:47]

• Start skincare routines ideally nine months out, but three months is “achievable” for noticeable benefits.
• Realistic expectations: Topical treatments won’t provide the same effects as injectables, but can significantly help with texture/hydration.

4. Society’s “Personality Type” Obsession [14:56–27:20]

• Internet trend: people publicly claim Type A/B/C/D traits—often as virtue signaling or as building in-group identity.
• The panel breaks down the types (see below) and listens to a viral clip illustrating “type B” behaviors.
• Panel finds the trend both relatable and reductive—real people blur the lines (e.g., “I’m a type A with a type B rising!” – Madison, 19:13).
• Memorable moment: “Are humans really that simple? Like, we’re such complex creatures. How can it really just be, like, that simple? You’re this or that...” – Annika, 22:29.
• The group notes the comfort people find in community and belonging, but warn of the risk in using labels as bragging or as relational boundaries.

Personality Type Definitions (17:16):

• Type A: Competitive, ambitious, impatient, highly organized

• Type B: Relaxed, patient, easygoing, adaptable

• Type C: Conscientious, detailed, logical, sometimes reserved emotionally

• Type D: Dependable, often anxious, dislike change

• They play a comedic podcast clip (Amy Poehler x Kate McKinnon) which hilariously demonstrates the modern penchant for rapid-fire self-categorization.

5. Real-Life Complexity vs. Internet Labels [19:55–26:35]

• Hosts reflect on personal examples of “mixed” type behaviors—high-pressure work lives with mess rooms at home, Type B chill in personal life vs. business hustle.
• Discussion of how maturity and life events (e.g. pregnancy) can shift personality strategies and priorities.
• Ultimately, they see the popularity of the trend as about “craving community and connection and kind of wanting to feel like they’re part of a little club that not everyone gets to be in.” – Mads, 26:44.

6. Listener Dilemma: Baby Shower Gifting [28:14–39:55]

Submission:

Imani writes in worried about “how much” to spend on baby shower gifts, especially given she might not want to have kids herself (“Am I bitter for feeling a bit put out by this?” - 28:02).

Panel Responses:

• Registry is queen: For non-parents or low-experience people, registries take the guesswork out (Jo: “As a woman that doesn’t have babies, I don’t know what the fuck to buy.” – 31:32).
• Joint gifts: Joanna’s friend group does pooled gifts for first babies and smaller subsequent gifts.
• Practicality and sentiment over designer excess: Passing down baby clothing with meaning is valued; group agrees expensive baby clothes are silly (“Often, like, no offense to anyone who’s bought me baby clothes… we’ve got a vibe going on over here.” – Annika, 32:05).
• Thoughtful gestures count more than money: Food, time, and care matter more than flashy presents (“It means way more than any overpriced onesie that I can drop off…” – Mads, 36:15).
• Show up for all life milestones, not just traditional ones: Suggest celebrating promotions, business launches, and other “non-traditional” milestones for friends not wanting kids/marriage. (“As a society we tend to over-celebrate traditional life milestones like babies and weddings and we under celebrate the non-traditional things like getting a promotion…” – Joanna, 30:15).
• Emotional support is invaluable: Validating new mums with supportive texts/calls has bigger impact than expensive gifts.

7. Wrapping Up & Notable Moments

• Loads of in-jokes about bridal accessories (“I never thought I’d get to see Joanna Fleming in Hobby Hot pink and a bedazzled bridal cowboy hat, iconic, sucking a dick straw.” – Mads, 41:03).
• Heartfelt well wishes for Jo’s wedding week (“We adore you and we love Adrienne and we wish you nothing but health and happiness. Dare I say it? No rain, perfect hair…” – Mads, 06:45).
• Teasing about returning with a “wedding report card” and drunken exploits (“Who got the drunkest? Spoiler: It’s Maddie.” – 41:26).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joanna on wedding mindset:
  “This is probably the most chill I’ve ever been about anything in my whole life. I feel like… I’m just so sure about it. I have nothing to be concerned about. If it rains, whatever. Can’t control that.” – [04:57]

• Mads on personality boxes:
  “You’re allowed a junk drawer. You’re allowed a junk room. You can be someone who’s perpetually three minutes late and still be an incredibly organized, goal-oriented, your life and your shit is together person.” – [20:58]

• Annika on online tests:
  “Are humans really that simple? …We're such complex creatures. How can it really just be that simple? You're this or that, which is kind of like what I don’t like about it.” – [22:29]

• Joanna on gifts and villager philosophy:
  “There’s this sentiment going around online …that everyone wants a village, but they don’t want to be a villager… You’ve got to show up for your friends for them to show up for you as well. Like, it’s a very reciprocal thing.” – [31:00]

• Mads on meaningful gestures v. gifts:
  “I really want to be a villager, but I don’t think that has to mean spending money. …Finding time to drop off a chicken sandwich…means way more than any overpriced onesie that I can drop off.” – [36:15]

• On being seen:
  “It’s not about platonic love, it is that to be loved is to be seen. And so there is no designer swaddle that you will be given at your baby shower that will make up for the girlfriend that answers your phone call at 8 pm if you’re having a shit night and who drops off Bolognese in the morning.” – [38:35]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Hen's Party Recap & Bridal Vibes: 00:21–07:13
• Skincare & Beauty Swaps: 07:48–14:56
• Personality Types Trend Intro: 14:56
• Type A/B/C/D Deep Dive & Critique: 17:16–27:20
• Listener Dilemma: Baby Shower Gifts: 28:14–36:50
• Genuine Friendship, Non-Traditional Celebrations: 36:50–39:55
• Fun Closing, Pre-Wedding Hype: 39:55–End

Final Thoughts

This episode is a fun, candid mix of insightful advice (on skincare, friendship, gifting) and playful reflection on pop psychology, all wrapped in the warm, irreverent “girls’ group chat” energy that defines Style-ish. The takeaways: people—and personalities—are more complex than any label, showing up for friends matters more than any price tag, and community isn't about keeping score, but about being seen and cared for, through every life milestone.