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
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up in Forks, Washington to play vampire baseball and record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Twilight
This week we discuss chivalry, cultural …
The Real Question: Should I Take an Art Class in 2025? (with Vanessa Zoltan)
While we’re in-between season, we wanted to share with you an episode of another Not Sorry podcast, The Real Question.
The Real Question is a show that holds space for life’s tough questions. Each ep…
Ending Of: She's All That
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Ronald Young Jr. analyze the ending of She's All That. They chat about what makes a proper grovel and the narrative reasons for heroines to be mothe…
She's All That
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Ronald Young Jr. grab their hacky sacks and meet at a performance art show to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about She's All That.
This week we de…
Ending Of: Easy A
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Easy A. They chat about intertextuality, grand gestures, and virginity.
Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production
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Easy A
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at the Lobster Shack in Ojai, California to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Easy A.
This week we discuss what makes a 'rom-com' a 'ro…
The Notebook x Melodrama with Vanessa Zoltan | Material Girls
We have a special treat for you today! Vanessa recently guested on Hannah's other pop-culture podcast, Material Girls, to talk about The Notebook with Hannah and Marcelle. It was so good, we wanted t…
Ending Of: Cruel Intentions
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Kristen Meinzer analyze the ending of Cruel Intentions. They chat about Cecil's moment of 'growing up' and whether death is enough of a punishment f…
Cruel Intentions
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Kristen Meinzer meet at their aunt's mansion in the Hamptons to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Cruel Intentions.
This week we discuss female…
Ending Of: Clueless
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Clueless. They chat about why young women love dreaming about their weddings and why they find bouquet tosses a little …
Clueless
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at a mall in Beverley Hills to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Clueless.
This week we discuss the charitable-industrial complex, popu…
Ending Of: She's The Man
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of She's The Man. The talk hairstyles, they talk gender politics, and they talk about our favorite 'freak' character, Euni…
She's The Man
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet on the soccer field to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about She’s The Man.
This week we discuss toxic masculinity, Amanda Bynes’ funny acc…
Ending Of: 10 Things I Hate About You
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of 10 Things I Hate About You. Vanessa reveals how little she knows about guitar and Hannah teaches us about different poe…
10 Things I Hate About You
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at Padua High School to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about 10 Things I Hate About You – our first movie in our high school adaptations s…
Love Actually: Part 2
We're continuing our exploration of Love Actually this week with three plot lines we consider the 'non-romantic' stories – the stepfather and stepson, the sister taking care of her brother, and the a…
Love Actually: Part 1
Happy holiday season! As a thank you to those who supported our Patreon drive last month we're bringing you a special bonus movie before the new year. Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at a sch…
Let's Ask Taylor Swift: Tim McGraw
Not Sorry has launched its first new podcast since 2020! Let's Ask Taylor Swift is co-hosted by Vanessa and podcaster, writer and cultural critic: Daniel Schroeder.
In each episode Daniel and Vanessa…
Ending Of: Pretty in Pink
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Pretty in Pink. They continue their analysis of Duckie as a queer icon and weigh the merits of Blane's apology.
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