Hot and Bothered
Hot and Bothered is all about the power of romance culture. We analyze romance novels and movies to better imagine our own happy endings. Episodes release weekly on Tuesdays.
CURRENT SEASON: Hot and Bothered (Movie Edition)
We make Hot and Bothered because we are interested in the way that love stories have impacted our lives and culture. For our fifth season of the show, we’re turning our attention to romantic films. Vanessa and Hannah McGregor dig into the canon of romantic films, from Titanic to Twilight to When Harry Met Sally, (just to name a few). Every other week they do a close scene analysis of how each movie ends, always asking the question ‘what does this movie believe about love?’
SEASON 4: Live from Pemberley
In Live from Pemberley, we continue our deep-dive into the classic texts of romance literature. This season we take a close look at the most famous Romance novel of all time: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Every episode, Vanessa Zoltan and Lauren Sandler read through the book, talk with experts, and ask themselves the question ‘is this still a story for our time?’
SEASON 3: On Eyre
Vanessa Zoltan and journalist Lauren Sandler embark on the English class you always deserved, diving deep into Jane Eyre through the themes of power and desire. Discussions range from ideas of class and colonialism to sex and gender as Lauren and Vanessa explore the roles of oppression and inequality, empowerment and rebellion in the text. Major “Eyreheads” and first-time readers alike are invited into Lauren and Vanessa’s conversation as they grapple with this complicated work—and as they try to figure out if Jane Eyre is a book they want to pass on to their daughters, and to future generations.
SEASON 2: Twilight in Quarantine
You may remember BFFs Vanessa & Julia from their all-star advice giving in Hot and Bothered Season 1. In this season they’re sheltering in place in different cities, but they’re getting on the phone three times a week to read and talk about Twilight. On Twilight in Quarantine, they work their way through the Twilight saga one chapter at a time, giving brilliant well-informed advice to Stephenie Meyer’s characters along the way. Advice like: “have you considered talking to each other about your feelings?” and “maybe you shouldn’t kidnap people.”
SEASON 1: Writing Romance
Season one of Hot and Bothered follows ten first-time romance writers as they try to write their own romance novels. Each episode explores a particular romance trope and why we love it so much. Along the way, Julia Quinn, writer of the Bridgerton series, gives weekly assignments so listeners can follow along in the process. Season one was made in collaboration with Spoke Media.
Hot & Bothered is produced by Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. Through community, rigor, and ritual, we treat traditionally secular things as if they were sacred. To learn more about what we do, visit https://notsorryworks.com/
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- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 34 minutes
- Episodes
- 271
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Twilight in Quarantine: Port Angeles
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 8 and they are #TeamAngela.
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Twilight in Quarantine: Nightmare
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 7 and beg Bella Swan to do literally anything else but wait by the phone for a boy to call. Bella--take a nap, eat a banana, pet your goldfish and call your mom!
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Twilight in Quarantine: Scary Stories
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 6 and they have different takes on the character of Lauren.
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Twilight in Quarantine: Blood Type
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 5 and they'd like to teach the residents of Forks some things about consent.
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Twilight in Quarantine: Invitations
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Twilight in Quarantine: Phenomenon
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Twilight in Quarantine: Open Book
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 2 and they have some questions about the weather patterns in Forks, Washington.
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Twilight in Quarantine: First Sight
Is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer the best book of all time? No it’s not. Is it the kind of cotton candy escapism joy we need during these uncertain times? Hell yes it is.
You may remember BFFs Vanessa …
Epilogue
This week Vanessa talks about how the Friends-to-Lovers trope reflects the love she has for her real life partner, and how writing her own romance novel has allowed her to discover the importance of …
Let This Drive a Wedge Between You: Lauren Sandler
Vanessa and Julia deal with a Reddit question from a woman whose boyfriend has recently found religion. Should his attempts to convert her end their relationship?
To explore this question, Vanessa tal…
Extra-Virgin (Like Olive Oil)
This week, Vanessa’s friend, Liz, writes on the “Widowed Virgin” trope, telling the story of a Jewish widow who finds sexual awakening after her husband’s death. Vanessa reflects on her own Jewish up…
Delete Your Social Media: JenReadsRomance
This week Vanessa and Julia discuss a boyfriend’s jealousy of his girlfriend’s dream man. Can someone’s fantasy life be threatening to their relationship?
To get answers, Vanessa talks with popular R…
Treat Today Like No One is Watching
Jen wants to write a romance with her daughter as the main character. Vanessa just doesn’t understand why it has to be so...creepy.
This week on Hot & Bothered, Jen uses the trope “Fake Relationship t…
Stay Safe: Steve Almond
This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy tackle one of the most intense Reddit questions yet: a girlfriend considering leaving her boyfriend -- a serial drunk driver.
With the stakes high, Vanessa an…
A Really Solid 60% Guy
Elizabeth and Vanessa’s parents both got married fast, and fell in love after.
This week on Hot & Bothered, Elizabeth writes about the trope “Marriage of Convenience.” She’s taking this opportunity r…
Monogamy Isn’t Working: Katie and Pam Mingle
This week, Vanessa is joined by Katie Mingle from 99% Invisible. They explore this week’s Reddit question written by a woman in a 10 year relationship who’s experiencing feelings for another man.
To …
Mom, Don't Listen
Marissa Martinelli is writing a real sex scene. Vanessa is READY.
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Mistaken Identity.” As Marissa tries to write a good sex scene for her mistaken ch…
It’s Eyeballs: Meredith Goldstein
This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy marvel over their favorite Reddit dating advice question yet: a girlfriend curious about her boyfriend’s LOCKED DRAWER containing a secret object he refuses t…
In the Next Exam Room
Vanessa and Brigid share everything with each other - their thoughts, their feelings, even their endometriosis diagnosis.
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Friends to Lovers.” In her …
Questionable Man: Amy Hollywood
This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy fight over the appropriate unsolicited advice to give a Redditor who just discovered his girlfriend lied to him about her virginity.
To make sense of their con…