Hot and Bothered: Recent Episodes
Not Sorry Productions
Hot and Bothered is all about the power of romance novels. In Season 4, Live from Pemberley, we’re taking 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 will read through the book, talk with experts, and ask themselves the question 'is this still a story for our time?' Episodes release bi-weekly on Fridays.
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Well folks – we've arrived! Our tenth and final episode of our How To series about How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. We've puzzled over its messaging, marveled at its efficiency, and learned a lot about the mechanics of film-making. On today's episode, Vanessa shares her concluding thoughts on the movie and brings her lingering questions to the brilliant cultural critic Anne Helen Petersen. We end the episode looking at the HEA with our new co-host, Hannah McGregor.
In two weeks, we're starting the next chapter of Hot and Bothered with Sleepless in Seattle! We'll see you on the top of The Empire State Building.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis inspired by this episode.
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Vanessa is joined for a small bonus conversation by Margaret H. Willison, faculty on our upcoming Taylor Swift Pilgrimage on Cape Cod. They explore why Taylor's music is such a rich text for sacred reflection and share the things they're most looking forward to on this trip! If you're interested in joining us in November, you can sign up on our website!
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We can't wrap-up a deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days without talking about the most memorable part of the movie – the yellow dress Kate Hudson wears in the climax of the film. And while we're at it, it's worth obsessing over all the costumes in this film because this is a movie steeped in fashion. To help us unpack the craft of costume design, we're welcoming Colin Wilkes on the show.
Colin Wilkes is a costume designer who has designed theater, opera, puppetry, TV and film in many genres. She has her BFA in Costume Design from CalArts and her design work on rom-coms includes the 2020 Hulu movie Palm Springs and the 2022 Netflix movie Look Both Ways. She’s currently the designer for the Apple+ show Big Door Prize.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis inspired by this episode.
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The music of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days runs the gamut from country-pop songs to whimsical orchestrations. To the modern ear, it all sounds very specific to an early 2000s rom-com moment. This week, to help us understand that moment and the history of movie music more broadly, we have Julie Hubbert on the show.
Julie Hubbert is the LaDare Robinson Memorial Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina. She's the writer of Technology, Listening, and Labor: Music in New Hollywood Film (1967-1980) and Celluloid Symphonies: Texts and Contexts in Film Music History among other works.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis inspired by this episode.
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When watching at rom-com, have you ever noticed that the stars just kind of glow? That their skin looks silky smooth and their apartments are always sun-drenched? Lighting design and camera movement play a huge role in giving rom-coms their particular aesthetic, and those things (we're pretty sure) are part of the art of cinematography. This week, to help us understand the history of cinematography and the particular look of How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, we have Chris Cagle on the show.
Chris Cagle is an associate professor of film history and theory in the Film and Media Arts department at Temple University. His book, Sociology on Film: Postwar Hollywood's Prestige Commodity, examines the 1940s social problem film as both a form of popular sociology and a strain of middlebrow "prestige" cinema. Additionally, he has published essays in Cinema Journal, Screen, and Quarterly Review of Film and Video, and in a number of edited volumes, including most recently Cinematography and Middlebrow Cinema.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Chris.
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The success of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is built around the chemistry and star-power of its two leading actors: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. To truly understand this film, we have to understand the way movie stars operate in Hollywood, what casting these two actors meant in 2003, and what it means today.
Helping us in that task is Russell Meeuf, a professor in the school of Journalism and Mass Media at the University of Idaho. His work focuses on celebrity culture, popular cinema, masculinity studies and disability studies. He is the author of several books on media culture, including White Terror: The Horror Film from Obama to Trump, Rebellious Bodies: Stardom Citizenship, and the New Body Politics as well as John Wayne's World: Transnational Masculinity in the Fifties.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Russ.
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After talking about setting last episode, we wanted to dig even deeper into the physical space inhabited by Ben and Andie. How does the design of their workplaces, apartments, and date-nights affect how we perceive each of their characters?
To help us tackle this topic, we're joined by Production Designer Stuart Blatt. Stuart walks us through the role of Production Designer, how he works with other crew members, and what he noticed specifically when watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Eric.
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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, like many Rom-Coms, is set in New York City. It’s got fire escapes, taxi cabs, and a dramatic Manhattan Bridge scene.
In order to understand this film, we have to understand: What is it about New York that is so ripe for romance? And what parts of the city are highlighted in this movie and why?
To help us answer those questions, we’re joined by Eric Hynes, the Curator of Film at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Eric.
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For our annual fundraiser at Not Sorry, we are again supporting the wonderful organization On The Rise.
On The Rise’s work begins with individuals experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, Massachusetts and continues if and when they secure housing. From their origin as a women’s organization, their programs have evolved toward inclusion of those historically and structurally oppressed on the basis of gender.
In today's episode, Vanessa sits down with On The Rise’s Director of Clinical Services, Charyti Reiter to talk about misconceptions around homeless. We hear also from one of On The Rise's participants, JS.
You can help us reach our goal of $10k by donating here.
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For our next deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to better understand the story structure of a Rom-Com. We called up the delightful Hannah Giorgis, a film critic for The Atlantic, to help us break down the three-act structure and how it operates in this film.
Hannah brought some great citations and resources to the show:
- “You’re So Vain”: An Oral History of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- The Big Sleepover:The fatal flaw of How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- This tweet about romcom women being as annoying as possible
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Hannah.
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For our first deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to look at the history of the rom-com genre. To help us dig into it, we called up the incredible Kathleen Karlyn, the founding director of the Cinema Studies program at University of Oregon and author of The Unruly Woman: Gender and the Genres of Laughter.
We wanted to know: Where does the history of the rom-com start? What do people mean when they say something is a ‘battle of the sexes’ movie? and how do gender norms and ideals inform this particular movie?
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Kathleen.
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We make Hot & 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.
We're starting this season with 10 episodes on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, an iconic film of the early 2000s rom-com oeuvre. It has a perfect yellow dress. It has a karaoke battle. It has Matthew McConaughey on a motorcycle. It’s basically the epitome of everything people consider ‘silly’ about the genre. In the next ten episodes, Vanessa Zoltan will revisit How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in conversation with media experts and scholars to better understand the language of romance on film.
If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a close scene analysis with Hannah McGregor.
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Hot and Bothered is back for Season 5 with a brand new host! We're thrilled to be joined by Hannah McGregor to help us analyze all our favorite Romance movies. New episodes bi-weekly on Tuesdays.
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In August Vanessa and Margaret are taking a trip to Bath to go on long walks, read Northanger Abbey, and talk about questions like: how do I learn when to trust my gut and when to doubt it? Once someone has lost our trust, can confidence ever be restored, and how?
In celebration of our trip, we're sharing a conversation from our Patreon archive with Professor Lesley Goodman all about Northanger Abbey. We hope you enjoy, and consider signing up for our pilgrimage!
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In September of next year, Sanne Vliegenthart is leading our Wuthering Heights pilgrimage to West Yorkshire. In this bonus, hear Vanessa and Sanne talk about Wuthering Heights and the incredible village of Haworth, where the Brontës lived. If you're interested in joining the pilgrimage, you can sign-up at: https://www.readingandwalkingwith.com/wuthering-heights-2024
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This week we're sharing another special episode from our Patreon-only Austen mini series! Vanessa and Margaret H. Willison discuss disability representation in the text and why Persuasion is the most mature Austen novel. Check out our patreon to hear more episodes.
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This week we're joined by Nichole Perkins for a special conversation about her first romance novel experience and A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole. Nichole and Vanessa are co-leading an A Duke By Default pilgrimage in Edinburgh, Scotland in May 2024. Learn more (and sign-up) here!
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This week we're sharing a special episode of one of our favorite podcasts, Material Girls. Vanessa joins as a guest to discuss Bridgerton the book series and its move into the mainstream through the Shondaland adaptation on Netflix.
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While you're waiting for our new season, have you considered revisitingTwilight in Quarantine? It's the perfect time of year for vampires, werewolves, and angsty teen romance! This week we're re-publishing one of our favorite episodes from book one: Nightmare.
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While we're working away on the next season of Hot and Bothered, over on our patreon we're going to be exploring the other Austen books and adaptations! This is our first episode of the patreon exclusive mini-season: a conversation about Emma with one of our favorite Austen scholars, Professor Roxanne Eberle. Next week we'll be discussing the 2020 movie adaption – tune in on Patreon to listen along!
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In our final episode of the season, Vanessa and Lauren return to some of their central questions about Pride and Prejudice, its popularity and its politics.
We'll be back in a few months with our next season, but in the meantime we'll be releasing regular bonus episodes on our Patreon. We'd love to have you join the community supporting our work!
For our final adaptation conversation of this season, we're talking to critic and writer Bedatri Choudhury about the film Bride and Prejudice. We explore how the class and gender dynamics of Georgian England transpose into 21st century India and discuss this question: is this a true Bollywood film?
Next episode, Vanessa and Lauren are back together to wrap-up the season.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Curtis Sittenfeld is one of Vanessa's favorite authors and in 2016 she published her own take on Pride and Prejudice, Eligible. Eligible transposes Lizzy and company from 19th century England to modern-day Cincinnati, Ohio. In today's episode, we talk to Curtis about Eligible and the inspiration behind her new book, Romantic Comedy.
Join us in two weeks for our discussion of Bride and Prejudice with Bedatri Choudhury!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
While we've been making Live from Pemberley, we've been blessed with a brand new Pride and Prejudice adaptation! We originally covered Fire Island when it was first released with guest Tobin Low. But this week, in honor of its recent Emmy nominations, we're revisiting the film with its writer and star Joel Kim Booster. From Joel, we learn about how Austen maps onto gay culture and hear about some of the behind-the-scenes decisions of the movie.
Join us in two weeks for our discussion of Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Though we've finished our reading of Pride and Prejudice, a true understanding of the text and its cultural impacts wouldn't be complete without a look at its many adaptations. Over the next few months, we'll be looking a few examples and asking the question 'what do these teach us about the original text?'
The first episode of this short series is all about Longbourn by Jo Baker, and we were lucky enough to get Jo Baker herself to speak with us about the book.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
All ends well in Chapter 61 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss where we leave each character and the true importance of Pemberley.
Dr. Claudia Johnson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss comedy and our takeaways from the whole book. Our next episode is June 30th, where we'll be interviewing Jo Baker about her book Longbourn.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Elizabeth and Darcy spread the news of their engagement in Chapters 59 and 60 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's different reactions and the delicious flirting between Lizzy and Darcy.
Dr. Sharon Marcus joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the model of sisterly love. Our next episode is June 16th, covering the final chapter – Chapter 61.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Mr. Darcy returns to Longbourn to propose (again) in chapters 57 and 58 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the romance that Austen leaves off the page and the deep self-reflection of these two characters.
Dr. Stephanie Paulsell joins us at the end of the episode to discuss her thoughts on the proposal. Our next episode is May June 22, covering chapters 59 + 60.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Lady Catherine makes a visit to Longbourn in Chapter 56 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss how Lizzy wins the argument and whether Lady Catherine is the true villain of the book.
Dr. Susan Fraiman joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Lizzy's obstinacy in this chapter. Our next episode is May 19th, covering chapters 57 + 58.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
As a special bonus we're excited to share this episode of Overdue, a podcast about the books you've been meaning to read. Vanessa Zoltan joined Andrew and Craig to analyze Sally Rooney's Normal People. We'll be back May 5th with our regular episode!
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Mr. Bingley finally proposes to Jane in Chapters 53 through 55 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the cyclical nature of the book, Jane and Bingley's love match, and whether Mr. Bennet has changed at all.
Dr. Laura White joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Jane Austen's Anglicanism. Our next episode is May 5th, covering chapter 56.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
As a special bonus episode, we're talking to our former host, Julia Argy, about the allure of reality dating shows and her new book The One. Just as many people dismiss romance novels as ‘trashy books’, there are a lot of TV shows geared at women that get dismissed as ‘trashy television.’ You know what we're talking about, shows like The Bachelor, Married at First Sight, Love is Blind. Shows that embrace and reproduce a fantasy about falling in love.
In this episode, Vanessa and Julia discuss what reality dating shows reflect about our own culture of love and surveillance. Julia's book is out today, be sure to check it out!
Lydia and Wickham are married and returned to Longbourn in Chapters 51 and 52 of Pride and Prejudice. With new information about how the wedding went down, Vanessa and Lauren re-evaluate Lydia’s power in the situation and discuss Pride and Prejudice as the ultimate fantasy.
Dr. Amy Harris joins us at the end of the episode to discuss sibling hierarchy and rivalry in Georgian England. Our next episode is April 21st, covering chapters 53 – 55.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Vanessa is joined for a small bonus conversation by Nathalie Folkerts, the director of our upcoming summer camp: Calling All Magnificent People. They explore how Nathalie's background in political organizing found a home in building our camp and discuss some of behind-the-scenes dreaming and decision making that's been happening. If you haven't yet signed up for camp, you can do so on our website!
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There is finally news of Lydia and Wickham in Chapters 49 and 50 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss and debate everyone’s reactions to the news. They tackle again a few favorite topics: Mrs. Bennet’s silliness, Mr. Bennet’s wry detachment, and Jane’s naiveté.
Dr. Alexander Wakelam joins us at the end of the episode to teach us about gambling and debt in 18th century England. Our next episode is April 7th, covering chapters 51 + 52.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership by 200 patrons. One of the wonderful things you can find on our Patreon is bonus interviews and extended interviews with experts! We're making this conversation with the brilliant Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre public so you get a sense of what that perk sounds like.
Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre is a historian of modern Britain, Ireland, and British imperialism at Trinity College. She's the author of the wonderful book Imperial Wine: The British Empire and the Making of Wine's New World.
If you're interested in hearing other fun perks like this, head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod
Lizzy and the Gardiners return to Longbourn in Chapters 47 and 48 of Pride and Prejudice. There is no news of Lydia and Wickham yet, but we are reunited with the rest of the Bennets and their theories and stress about the whole situation. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. Bennet’s self-deprecating humor and Mrs. Bennet’s obsession with clothes.
Dr. Kimberly A. Hamlin joins us at the end of the episode to teach us about age of consent laws in England and the US. Check out her wonderful book, Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and The Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardiner. Our next episode is March 24, covering chapters 49 + 50.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Vanessa and Dr. Stephanie Paulsell talk about the sacredness of Emily Dickinson and what she can teach us about solitude. Join them on pilgrimage from July 14 – 17th in Amherst, MA.
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Darcy and Lizzy’s budding friendship (or is it more?) comes to an abrupt end when Lizzy gets a letter from Jane in Chapter 46 of Pride and Prejudice. Lydia and Wickham have run away together and so Lizzy and the Gardiner’s must leave immediately for Longbourn. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether this plot point counts as a ‘kidnapping’ and whether marriage to Wickham is the best ending for Lydia.
Dr. Ellen Stockstill joins us at the end of the episode the trope of the ‘fallen woman’ in literature and how it maps onto real historical anxieties. Our next episode is March 10, covering chapters 47 + 48.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! We're taking time today to share a short interview with Charyti Reiter, Director of Clinical Services at On The Rise. Over the month of February, we're hoping to raise $10k to support their incredible organization. If you haven't already, please check out our fundraiser.
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We finally meet Georgiana Darcy in Chapters 44 and 45 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the awkwardness of the Darcy family and Austen's emerging definition of love as Lizzy begins to fall for Darcy at Pemberley.
Dr. Chloe Angyal joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the invention of the enemies to lovers trope and its imprint on more modern romcoms. Be sure to check out her upcoming romance novel, Pas De Don't! Our next episode is February 24th, covering Chapter 46.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Elizabeth and the Gardiners arrive at Pemberley House in Chapter 43 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the picture of benevolent aristocracy painted by Darcy's housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds. They also discuss Elizabeth’s reaction to Pemberley and to seeing Darcy again.
Darrick Borowski joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the architecture and aesthetics of Pemberley. Our next episode is February 10th, covering Chapters 44 + 45.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
We're taking a quick pause in reading Pride and Prejudice to deep dive into the life and ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft. We've been bringing up Wollstonecraft a lot throughout this series, wondering how Pride and Prejudice reflects (or rejects) the feminist ideas of the era. This week, Lauren talks to Dr. Charlotte Gordon, author of Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley. Lauren and Dr. Gordon discuss Wollstonecraft's life and radicalization, her influence on Austen, and why Wollstonecraft didn't become an enduring celebrity like Austen.
In two weeks, we return to Pride and Prejudice with Chapter 43, when Elizabeth's arrival to Pemberley.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Beloved co-host of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Matt Potts, released his book Forgiveness: An Alternative Account a few weeks ago and it is so! good!! We're very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book - read by Matt himself.
You can find the book wherever books are sold, or snag a signed copy from our website!
Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet butt heads about Lydia in Chapters 40, 41 and 42 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. Bennet’s parenting, the original sin of the Bennet marriage, and the power of secrets in these chapters.
Joanne Begiato joins us at the end of the episode to discuss regency ideas of parenting and family. Our next episode is on January 13th, when we’ll be reading Chapter 43 – Elizabeth’s arrival to Pemberley!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
This week we're sharing a special bonus interview with Dr. Emily Nagoski to talk about Lydia and the cultural norms around sexuality in regency England. Emily is a best-selling author, sex educator, and the host of a new podcast – Come As You Are. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an excerpt of her episode "The Science of Horniness."
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We’re finally headed back to Hertfordshire in Chapter 37, 38 and 39 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the way Darcy’s letter has changed Lizzy and Lydia’s vulgarity.
Kristin Samuelian joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the parallels between Lydia and Princess Caroline of Wales. Our next episode is on December 30th, when we’ll be reading Chapters 40 – 42.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Mr. Darcy finds Lizzy and hands her a letter in Chapters 35 and 36 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the ‘romance’ of Darcy’s letter and the way in which it triggers a change in Lizzy.
Joanna Rakoff joins us at the end of the episode to discuss coming-of-age novels and the history of letters in literature. Our next episode is on December 16th, when we’ll be reading Chapters 37 through 39.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Mr. Darcy is banging down the door to declare his love to Lizzie in Chapter 33 and 34 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the ‘civility’ of Darcy’s declaration and why it doesn’t work out with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lizzie.
Claudia L. Johnson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Jane Austen’s politics. Our next episode is on December 2nd, when we’ll be reading Chapters 35 and 36.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Vanessa is joined by Dana Schwartz to chat about their upcoming Rebecca pilgrimage and the theme of haunting. Find out more here.
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Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam have arrived at Rosings, bringing a little fun and intrigue to the Collins party. Colonel Fitzwilliam proves to be a charming new acquaintance while Darcy continues to be his awkward self. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether Darcy and Lizzy are flirting yet and Lady Catherine’s narcissism.
Margaret H. Willison joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the famous piano scene in chapter 31. Our next episode is on November 18th, when we’ll be reading Ch 33 + 34.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
We're taking a brief break from Pride and Prejudice, to read one of the most popular romance books of our current moment: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. Vanessa is joined by former co-host of Twilight in Quarantine, Julia Argy, to dive into the novel. Together they discuss the abuse narrative in the text, the love story at the heart of it, and why they think this book is having a moment.
This episode does contain spoilers, but we do our best to explain the book for those who haven't read it. And please be advised that the novel itself contains the topics of suicide, gun violence, sexual assault, physical assault, and domestic abuse – all of which we touch on in the episode.
The Hunsford party is invited to Rosings in Chapter 29 of Pride and Prejudice. Lizzy finally has the chance to meet the much-discussed Lady Catherine de Bourgh and must answer all of her impertinent questions. Vanessa and Lauren discuss whether to read Lady Catherine generously and what she reflects about the power of the rich.
Dr. Hannah McGregor joins us at the end of the episode to discuss sentimentality in the novel. Her book, A Sentimental Education, is available now! Our next episode is on October 21th, when we’ll be reading chapter 30-32.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Lizzy Bennet hits the road in Chapters 26 and 28 of Pride and Prejudice. Change is in the air in Hertfordshire – Wickham is pursuing something new, Jane is with her aunt and uncle in London, and Lizzy heads to Hunsford to see “the happy couple” (that is to say, Charlotte and Collins). In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore the difference between Charlotte and Wickham and role of ‘love’ in matrimony.
Dr. Natalie Hanley-Smith joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Wickham’s fortune hunting. Our next episode is on October 7th, when we’ll be reading chapter 29!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership to 1000 patrons. One of the wonderful things you can find on our Patreon is extended interviews with experts! We're making this conversation with the brilliant Claudia Johnson public so you get a sense of what that perk sounds like.
Claudia Johnson is the Murray Professor of English Literature at Princeton University. Her many brilliant publications on Austen include Jane Austen's Cult and Cultures, the Blackwell Companion to Jane Austen, and 30 Great Myths About Jane Austen.
You can get access to our 'extended interview' perk for $5/month at our Kitty tier. Head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod
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We're in the middle of a Patreon drive here on Hot and Bothered, trying to increase our membership to 1000 patrons. This is an example of our 'Postscript' perk, which you can get for $2/month at our Lydia tier.
If you're interested in hearing other fun perks like this, head over to our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod
Jane and Elizabeth have a heart to heart about Bingley in Chapters 24 and 25 of Pride and Prejudice. Caroline has written Jane a letter saying that her party won’t be returning to Netherfield. But you know who is in town? Everyone’s favorite Aunt and Uncle: Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren continue their conversations about class, love, and marriage and look closely at Jane’s optimistic philosophy of life.
Dr. Amy Hollywood joins us at the end of the episode to discuss Mrs. Bennet’s nerves and the history of hysteria. Our next episode is on September 23rd, when we’ll be reading chapters 26-28!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Vanessa is joined by Margaret H. Willison to discuss our upcoming Pride and Prejudice Pilgrimage! Find out more here.
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After Elizabeth’s refusal, Mr. Collins quickly turns his attention to Charlotte Lucas in Chapters 21 through 23 of Pride and Prejudice. And Lizzy isn’t the only Bennet sister who is suddenly lacking a suitor – Mr. Bingley an his party have left for London with no promise of returning. In this episode, Vanessa and Lauren explore Charlotte’s approach to marriage and poor Jane’s broken heart.
Dr. Briallen Hopper joins us at the end of the episode to discuss spinsterhood in Austen’s age and our own. Our next episode is on September 9th, when we’ll start volume two!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Mr. Collins finally makes his move in Chapters 19 and 20 of of Pride and Prejudice. He pulls Lizzy aside for his grand proposal… and can’t seem to understand it when Lizzy flatly refuses. Vanessa and Lauren explore different readings of Collins in this scene and discuss the ways that Pride and Prejudice offers a mirror for modern feminist readers.
Dr. Talia Schaffer joins us at the end of the episode to discuss historical perspectives on Collins as a potential romantic partner. Our next episode is on August 26th, when we’ll get a shock from Charlotte Lucas!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
We're taking a quick break from reading Pride and Prejudice to watch the 2005 movie adaptation with one of our favorite podcasts, Veronica Mars Investigations.
Vanessa is joined by Helen Zaltzman and Jenny Owen Youngs to dig through the movie, comparing it along the way to the BBC mini-series and, of course, the original text. They ask important questions like: How does Elizabeth hear Darcy's insult at the Meryton Ball? Is Mr. Bennet the true villain of Pride and Prejudice? And is Matthew McFadden wearing a wig in this movie?
Next episode, we're returning to our original format with chapters 19 + 20 - the Collins proposal!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
It’s time for the Netherfield Ball in Chapters 17 and 18 of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy finally asks Lizzy to dance and the whole Bennet family seems to be on a mission to embarrass themselves in front of everyone. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the undercurrent of class privilege that surrounds balls in general and Lizzy’s prejudice around Darcy specifically.
Dr. Amanda Calhoun joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the enemies to lovers trope from a psychological perspective. Our next episode is on July 29th, when we’ll squirm through Collin’s proposal.
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Last month, a new Pride and Prejudice adaptation dropped – Fire Island directed by Andrew Ahn. As your go-to place for all things Pride and Prejudice, we felt it was our duty to watch the film and report back on how it compares to the original. And we were lucky enough to get Tobin Low, the co-creator of the Nancy podcast and current editor at This American Life, in the studio to break it all down. We talk about our favorite moments and how the themes of family, class, and pride translate from the book to the film.
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A new love interest has hit the scene in Chapters 15 and 16 of Pride and Prejudice. The handsome Mr. Wickham has caught Lizzy’s eye, and he has quite the story to tell about Darcy. Vanessa and Lauren discuss their first impressions of Wickham and what it means to trust a stranger.
Dr. Mary Jean Corbett joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the British marriage law and customs that surround Collins’ plan to marry his cousin. Our next episode is on July 15th, when we’ll attend the Netherfield Ball. (But look out for a little bonus episode on July 8th!)
We're cross-posting this special episode of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, which we've released today. This year in commemoration of Juneteenth, Not Sorry is spotlighting The Final 5 Campaign, a coalition working to close the final five youth prisons in Illinois. Vanessa is joined in conversation by one of their leaders, Alicia Brown, who tells us about what it means to be a prison abolitionist and her work with the campaign.
Please join us by making a donation, learning more about the failures of youth prisons, contacting your legislators about prisons in your state, and listening to their new podcast, Free The Youth.
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Mr. Collins, the Bennets’ horrible cousin, has arrived at Longbourn in Chapters 13 and 14 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren dig into Collins as a religious figure and the impact of his sermonizing on the Bennet daughters.
Dr. Sandra Macpherson joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the entail and British land law. Our next episode is on July 1st and we'll meet another exciting character - Mr. Wickham!
With Jane sick upstairs, Elizabeth is stuck navigating the drawing room at Netherfield in chapters 9 through 12 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the influence of The Enlightenment on Austen, continue their discussion about Caroline Bingley, and evaluate the budding chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.
Nell Stevens joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the ‘mean girl’ trope. You can pre-order her upcoming book here. Our next episode is on June 17th and we'll meet the wonderfully silly Mr. Collins!
Poor Jane Bennet has caught a cold in the rain in Chapters 7 + 8 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s moral compass, the value of reading, and the prototypical ‘mean girl' – Caroline Bingley.
Thanks to Dr. Tim Fulford for speaking to us this week about the military context of Austen’s England. Our next episode is on May 27th and we'll hunker down in the Netherfield parlor in Chapters 9 through 12.
The Lucases take center stage in Chapters 5+6 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the friendship between Charlotte and Lizzy and the way that historical and cultural ideas around masculinity might affect how we read Darcy.
Our next episode is on May 20th and we'll travel to Netherfield in Chapters 7 and 8.
If you plan to read along with us, we have a monthly zoom book club you can join on our Patreon!
It’s time for the Assembly Ball and Bingley and Darcy are on the scene in Chapters 3 and 4 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Darcy’s famously bad first impression on Lizzy as well as the socio-political dynamics of a ball in the 19th century and today.
Our next episode is out on May 6th and we'll spend some time with Charlotte Lucas in chapters 5+6!
Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon!
Vanessa and Lauren dive into Pride and Prejudice, starting with a close look at Chapters 1 and 2. They discuss the famous first line of the book, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and the brief glimpse of Lizzie we get in this chapter.
Our next episode is on April 22nd and we'll get our first glimpse of Mr. Darcy in chapters 3+4.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous and beloved novels of all time. It’s also, in many ways, the foundational text of the Romance genre.
In our quest to unravel the gifts, mysteries, and inner workings of romance literature, it seemed only right that we turn to Lizzy and Darcy next.
But before we jump into the first chapters, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Jane Austen, and why does everyone care so much about this book?
If you plan to read along with us, we have a small book club you can join on our Patreon!
We're proud to have collaborated with the folks over at Girl Tales to write this kid-oriented version of Pride and Prejudice for their podcast.
Written by women, non-binary, and trans male playwrights, Girl Tales offers a feminist twist on classic fairytales, fables, and myths. The girls in their stories take control of their own destinies, turning your favorite fairytales into exciting new adventures.
Be sure to check out their show, and stay tuned next week for our first episode of Live from Pemberley!
Welcome to our new season, where we're coming to you Live from Pemberley! Starting March 25th, Vanessa and Lauren will dive into Pride and Prejudice, investigating its power and legacy in the Romance genre and our hearts. This is your hand-lettered formal invitation to join us! Pack your corsets and pack your bait (because I hear if you're nice enough, Darcy might even invite you to fish on his property).
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Throughout our season of On Eyre, we've given you some small glimpses into the life of Charlotte Brontë. You probably know that she came from a literary family, that she attended a school very like Lowood, and that she died young. But before we put Jane Eyre back on the shelf, we wanted to spend some more time with dear Charlotte and her life in Haworth.
This episode we're joined by the incredible Brontë biographer, Dr. Juliet Barker. Juliet shares with us more about how the Brontë children grew up, their joys and tragedies, and what the success of Jane Eyre meant to Charlotte.
After visiting the land of Jane Eyre films, we’re returning to modern book adaptations with Re Jane by Patricia Park. We’re lucky enough to be joined by Patricia Park herself to discuss her feelings about "Reader I married him", how she re-imagined Bertha, and how her own experiences visiting Korea informed the book.
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When the wonderful women of the Heaving Bosoms podcast invited Vanessa on their show, we couldn't resist roping them in to our Jane Eyre adaptation project! This week, in a crossover episode, Vanessa, Erin, and Melody watch the 2011 film adaptation of Jane Eyre.
P.S. There's a lot of talk about Vanessa's book, Praying with Jane Eyre, in this episode. If you have yet to purchase your copy, just a reminder that we are selling signed and personalized versions on our website!
Thanks to the generosity of our listeners, we can afford to make our next season of Hot and Bothered on Pride and Prejudice! Over the next month we'll continue to release content about Jane Eyre, and then on March 25th we'll officially launch Live from Pemberley.
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When Jean Rhys published Wide Sargasso Sea in 1966, she took on a question we’ve been asking a lot throughout this podcast: what about Bertha?
This episode, we are lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Erica L. Johnson, co-editor of Wide Sargasso Sea at 50 and Jean Rhys: Twenty-First Century Perspectives to discuss the book. From Dr. Johnson, we learn about Rhy’s life, how to categorize and think about her work, and what it shows us about Jane Eyre.
Even though we've technically finished up our reading of Jane Eyre, we feel like the season isn't quite complete without a look at the many adaptations of the text. Over the next few months, we'll be looking a few examples and asking the question 'what do these teach us about the original text?'
The first episode of this short series is all about The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey, and we were lucky enough to get Margot Livesey herself to speak with us about the book. Vanessa and Margot discuss 'why do people keep coming back to this text?' and 'what are the hardest things in this text to modernize?'
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We hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th, but we need your help to do it! We're hoping to raise $4k by February 14th and we're almost at our goal. If you want Hot and Bothered to continue, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
We’ve been sitting on this lovely interview with Jasmine Guillory for a while, and we thought we’d share it with you as a special holiday treat! We discuss the personal and political as they relate to romance novels, and her latest book While We Were Dating.
We hope you’re taking care of yourself this season! To quote Jasmine in this episode “thinking of yourself as a person worthy of care is one of the hardest things.”
We'll be back in the new year with some episodes exploring adaptations of Jane Eyre, and we hope to launch or season on Pride and Prejudice on March 25th. If you'd like to help that season come to life, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
After months for reading the book together, Vanessa and Lauren return to their original question for this podcast: Is this a book we want to be passing on? We discuss the importance of critical reading and what we think this weird book is all about.
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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
Unfortunately we've run into some technical difficulties with the final episode of On Eyre! (Is this fate telling us that the season should never end?) While you wait, we have for you a short sermon Vanessa wrote about Jane Eyre.
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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
Vanessa and Lauren have finally finished the whole dang book! This week we read the very last chapter and discuss the hegemony of marriage, Bronte's descriptions of 'true love', and why St. John gets the last word of the novel.
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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
Vanessa and Lauren reach Ferndean in chapters 36 and 37 of Jane Eyre. This week we discuss Bronte's depiction of disability, Bertha's powerful exit from the novel, and how gossip spreads in the wake of tragedy.
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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
Vanessa and Lauren say 'no' to St. John, in Chapters 34 and 35 of Jane Eyre. This week, St. John proposes to Jane. We look at his behavior before and after the proposal, discuss his missionary zeal, and debate whether the supernatural elements of this book serve or hinder its message.
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As we approach the end of this book, we’d very much like to keep the show going and read Pride and Prejudice next! If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
Vanessa and Lauren enter Jane’s school room in Morton, in Chapters 31 through 33 of Jane Eyre. They continue to debate whether Jane should have left Rochester, and discuss St. John’s missionary aspirations and Rosamund’s beauty.
As you’ll hear in this week’s episode, we’re starting to think about the end of Jane Eyre! We’d very much like to read Pride and Prejudice next. If you’re excited about a trip to Pemberley, please help us out by supporting us on Patreon.
This week, we find that Jane has run away from Thornfield and is wandering the moors of England without a shilling to her name. Vanessa and Lauren discuss homelessness past and present and its tropes in literature. We also meet four brand new characters: The three Rivers siblings and their housekeeper Hannah.
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This week we're returning to Chapter 27 of Jane Eyre, this time zooming in on Jane and Rochester. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Jane's fears about becoming a mistress and compare it with the limitations of a Victorian marriage.
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With so much to cover in Chapter 27, we’ve decided to break it up into two episode. This week, Vanessa and Lauren focus in on Bertha and grapple with the racist and imperialist themes of Jane Eyre.
Many thanks this week to Dr. Rab Houston for consulting with us about the history of asylums in Victorian England. Check out his project Promoting Mental Health Through the Lessons of History.
Vanessa Lauren finally journey up to the third floor of Thornfield Hall in Chapters 25 and 26 of Jane Eyre. They dissect the character of Bertha Rochester and try to parse out Charlotte Bronte’s voice from Jane Eyre’s as the narrator.
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Vanessa and Lauren meet under the chestnut tree at Thornfield in Chapters 23 and 24 of Jane Eyre. They discuss Rochester's proposal (!) and continue to examine the many power differentials in this budding relationship.
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Vanessa and Lauren return to Gateshead in Chapters 21 and 22 of Jane Eyre. Mrs. Reed is dying, and Jane has come to sit by her bedside. But it's not a 'typical' death bed exchange – there's no great moment of redemption for Mrs. Reed, she dies a villain. Vanessa and Lauren explore what this dynamic reveals about Jane's growth over the course of the novel, and what it means about Jane's sense of home.
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Vanessa and Lauren and start to get closer to the secrets at Thornfield Hall in Chapters 19 and 20 of Jane Eyre. After we learned about a mysterious gypsy in our last episode, we finally have a chance to meet her and hear what she has to say about our dear Jane. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the trope of the 'gypsy' in Victorian literature, the ways in which it's harmful to Romani people, and how it's being used in this text.
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Vanessa and Lauren and settling in with the new party at Thornfield in Chapters 16 through 18 of Jane Eyre. After last week’s big bed burning scene, Mr. Rochester up and leaves Thornfield. But when we returns, he’s got a whole new cast of characters in tow. Our biggest introduction is to Miss Blanche Ingram, and Vanessa and Lauren debate whether she’s redeemable.
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Vanessa and Lauren set the bed on fire in chapters 14 and 15 of Jane Eyre. They take a close look at the character of Celine Varens and continue their debate on whether Rochester is a sexy hero or a manipulative boss (or both).
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Vanessa and Lauren get cozy with Jane and Rochester in chapter 13 of Jane Eyre. The two lovebirds have their first real conversation in this chapter and it is steamy... well at least to them it is. Vanessa and Lauren aren't as sure that Rochester's brand of flirtation is the healthiest for our dear heroine.
Special thanks this week to Dr. Rachel Teukolsky, who was interviewed twice for this episode. Check out her latest book Picture World: Image, Aesthetics, and Victorian New Media.
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Vanessa and Lauren have arrived at Thornfield Hall in chapters 11 and 12 of Jane Eyre. And who do they find on the road outside of Thornfield? Why Mr. Rochester himself, the 'hero' of our romance! This week they analyze Jane's restlessness in her new home, The Gothic as it appears in these chapters, and why women are attracted to brooding bad boys like Rochester.
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If for some reason you haven't heard (have you been living under a rock?), Vanessa wrote a book all about Jane Eyre! It's the inspiration for this podcast. After reading Chapter 10 last week, we realized there were some strong resonances between our conversation and the chapter of Vanessa's book on the theme of Destiny. We thought we'd take a week to share it with you and dig even deeper into chapter 10.
And if for some reason you haven't purchased Vanessa's book yet (have you been trapped in someone's attic?) you can do so here.
Vanessa and Lauren wrap-up their time at Lowood School in chapters 9 and 10 of Jane Eyre. They discuss Jane's peculiar perspective on dying in chapter nine ("what a drag to die" as Lauren puts it), the special tenor of Helen's death by tuberculous, and the power of female friendship.
Many thanks to Phoebe Judge for lending her voice to Helen this week. Phoebe read the entirety of Jane Eyre aloud on her podcast Phoebe Reads a Mystery last fall. We highly encourage you to go back and listen to her reading of the book as a companion to our show!
Vanessa and Lauren settle into the Lowood School in chapters 5 through 8 of Jane Eyre. They grapple with the role of Christianity in this book, paying special attention to how Charlotte Bronte's ideas are expressed through the character of Helen Burns.
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Vanessa and Lauren slow down again to look closely at just one chapter - chapter four of Jane Eyre. They discuss Mr. Brocklehurst and his Christianity, Jane’s powerful use of her own voice, and what Gateshead Hall represents in the context of the larger book.
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Vanessa and Lauren tackle chapters two and three of Jane Eyre, spending more time at Gateshead Hall. They discuss the famous 'red room' scene, explore Victorian sensibilities about sex and womanhood, and grapple with Jane's comparison to a 'rebel slave.'
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Vanessa and Lauren dive into Jane Eyre, starting with a close look at Chapter 1. They discuss the first sentence of the book, Jane’s abuse at Gateshead, and what it means to be a ‘precocious girl.’
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If you know anything about Vanessa Zoltan, you know that Jane Eyre is her favorite book. In fact, she just wrote her own book about it: Praying with Jane Eyre. But after spending so much time lovingly pouring over this text, it's time to take a step back.
Each week of On Eyre, Vanessa and Lauren Sandler will take a critical look at the text and ask themselves ‘does this old book still have something to say in our world?’
But before we jump into the first chapter, a few questions need to be answered. Questions like: Who is Charlotte Bronte, and why should anyone (who isn't Vanessa) care about this book?
If you plan to read along with us, we have several book club options launching on our Patreon!
Next week, we're launching our new series On Eyre. But before we jump into 19th century England, we wanted to spend some time introducing you to our new co-host Lauren Sandler. Lauren's recent book This is All I Got: A New Mother's Search for Home is recently out in paperback. We talked to her about the process of writing her book and the similarities she see's between Jane Eyre and the continued vulnerability of women on the margins .
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This week we're excited to share a conversation with Nichole Perkins about Romance Thrillers, the pleasure of competency, and her podcast This is Good For You. Stick around after our conversation to hear an episode of This is Good For You all about baking bread. And if you like the show, be sure to subscribe wherever you find your podcasts!
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We're between seasons of Hot and Bothered, so to keep you company we're bringing you interviews with our favorite writers and thinkers. This week, we're bringing you the wonderful writer and bookstore owner Emma Straub. Together we talk about how women's books are marketed, her love of writing hopeful endings, and why it's important to surround yourself with young people.
Her book, All Adults Here, is recently out in paperback. Go check it out!
We're following our interview with Julie Anne Long last week with someone else who Vanessa is obsessed with: Justine Eyre, the woman who reads Julie Anne Long's books.
Justine Eyre is a classically trained, multilingual actress who has narrated well over 400 audiobooks and received an Audie Award and multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. We talked to her about her process of preparing to record a book, the joys of romance, and whether listening to an audiobook counts as 'reading.'
We're between seasons of Hot and Bothered, but that doesn't mean we've stopped reading Romance novels. On the contrary, recently Vanessa has been binge reading The Pennyroyal Green Series by Julie Anne Long. And because Romance novelist are the nicest kind of people, we were lucky enough to get Julie on the phone. We asked her all of our questions about her books, how she got started writing, and regency romance. Enjoy this mini-episode!
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Vanessa and Julia have read all of Breaking Dawn and have some thoughts on imprinting, vampire sex, and best practices for vampire childbirth.
This is the final episode of Twilight in Quarantine ya'll! Thank you so much for being on this journey with us for the past year. We'll be back in June with On Eyre!
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us make our new Jane Eyre podcast!
Fact 1: Vanessa Zoltan has been the host of this romance novel themed podcast for almost two years now.
Fact 2: Vanessa Zoltan is a Jane Eyre evangelist. She’s literally written the book on Jane Eyre.
Fact 3: Vanessa has somehow never talked about Jane Eyre on this podcast???
Finally, we’ve come to our senses and one of life’s biggest contradictions is getting sorted. Coming June 1st 2021, our newest season--- Hot and Bothered: On Eyre. Vanessa will be joined by the brilliant journalist Lauren Sandler, and together with experts they’ll read through Charlotte Bronte’s seminal work and explore the questions and themes that emerge. If you want to read along, we’ll be starting with Chapters 1-4. Grab your SPF and your library card. This summer, we’re On Eyre.
Vanessa and Julia have officially finished Eclipse! Jacob wants to be a wolf full-time and we love that for him. Go Jacob, run like the wind and never come back. Seriously. Please don't come back.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us make our new Jane Eyre podcast!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 27 of Eclipse and need a whole closet of custom designed free clothing from Alice stat.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
CW: In this episode we discuss sexual assault and read an explicit scene of assault and emotional abuse from Eclipse.
Still reeling from the Jacob/Bella plot line, Vanessa turns to sex educator and author Emily Nagoski for some help in making sense of Eclipse. They discuss the history of women's sexualization, how Jacob's storyline plays upon real and toxic gender norms, and what to do with Romance novels that uphold the patriarchy.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out Emily's amazing books! She's the author Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, and two romance novels of her very own: How Not to Fall and How Not to Let Go.
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We at Not Sorry are making a new show! It's called The Real Question and the first episode is out today. We've already checked-in with Alice, and she has assured us that you're going to love the show. So go subscribe now!
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The Real Question is a weekly podcast exploring life’s questions through a surprising mix of pop culture and academic insight. Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile learned in divinity school about the art of paying attention. By paying attention to very specific things in our lives, we can begin to see something true about big, universal questions. In this podcast, they turn that attention to a variety of everyday scenarios in their own lives to see what’s really at stake. Questions about the tooth fairy can really be about the fear we have for our children. Questions about driving can really be about what it means to be a good partner. Each week, Vanessa and Casper walk each other through the process of figuring out what their ‘real’ questions are in conversations with texts ranging from movie musicals to theological treatises. In this intimate, thoughtful podcast we explore how friendship can be a tool for living a more intentional life.
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 26 of Eclipse and are still shaking off the horror of this whole Bella/Jacob situation.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 25 of Eclipse and they have a few special valentines to share with the class.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
CW: discussion of suicidal ideation, graphic violence, and abuse
We really only planned to skip one chapter in this book, but then Chapter 23 went and happened. Chapter 23 is a minefield of sexual and emotional abuse and we thought: 'You know what would be more fun than recording an episode on this nonsense? Not recording an episode on this nonsense.' So we moved on to Chapter 24. And don't worry, Chapter 24 still has plenty of problematic things to discuss! Topics include dismembering vampires and whether or not Bella actually stabs herself during the battle scene.
We also announce some extra Breaking News in this episode: We've decided not to read Breaking Dawn chapter by chapter. Honestly we can't keep subjecting ourselves to these books. Instead, we're going to do one episode covering all of Breaking Dawn, and then launch a new romance novel related mini-series in June. (More on that to come!) Until then, we'll be watching Eclipse and both Breaking Dawn movies with our patrons on Patreon and discussing all our feels in some bonus episodes. It's a bittersweet announcement, we know, but we hope you'll stay with us as we move onto new and exciting romance projects!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 22 of Eclipse and they have a lot of ideas about how to stay warm without inviting Jacob into your sleeping bag.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
CW: Because of the content of this chapter we spend a lot of time talking about sexual assault and emotional abuse.
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 21 of Eclipse and they don't know how anyone could be #TeamJacob.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 20 of Eclipse and do their best Richard Dawson impersonation in our Twilight version of Family Feud.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter nineteen of Eclipse and are continuing to explore the rich thematic questions that thread through these books: whether Bella is a cat vs. dog person, if Charlie is capable of any kind of parenting, and why nobody has acknowledged that Jasper being a confederate solider is super problematic.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
We were hoping to release a regular episode today, but unfortunately we ran into some technical difficulties! It was probably Werewolf Jacob using our wires as a chew toy again.
While you wait for next week's episode, please enjoy this blooper reel from our Chapter 18 episode!
We're taking one more week off before we're back to Eclipse. While you wait, here's a peak at what we've been up to over on Patreon!
Hi all! We're taking this week and next week off for the holidays. In the meantime, enjoy this Christmas poem from Julia and Bella. We'll be back on January 6th with Chapter 19 of Eclipse.
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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter eighteen of Eclipse and they're ready to hit the runway and Make It Work.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter seventeen of Eclipse and they're dreaming up business ideas for Alice's party planning company. First step: a suite of business tools where the Cullens can keep track of their revenue, as well as their blood grudges against other vampires. Technology can really do it all these days.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter sixteen of Eclipse and they've been chosen as the Forks High graduation speakers.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
CW: We discuss sexual assault when summarizing the events of this chapter. You can fast forward about 5 minutes to skip.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter thirteen of Eclipse, but they honestly can’t bear to talk about it. So Julia has used her one and only Uno Skip Card to save us from having to re-live Bella’s sexual assault. Instead, we turn our dial to see what’s happening at Forks High School. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s prom season! What hijinks do our favorite high schoolers get up to at prom? Eclipse doesn’t tell us. But fortunately Vanessa and Julia are here to fill in the details.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter fourteen of Eclipse and it turns out that Tom Hanks is a main character in these books.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter thirteen of Eclipse and Vanessa gives advice from her stint as a robber in the 1980s.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter twelve of Eclipse and they've finally figured out that Bella is a time traveller.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter eleven of Eclipse and they're uncomfortable with the amount of hot dogs in this chapter.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter ten of Eclipse and they are joined by special guest Hannah McGregor of the podcast Witch, Please. Hannah has a lot of the same questions we've had in the past: Why doesn't Bella have a cell phone? Why don't werewolves wear something more convenient to their lifestyle? And why aren't Charlie and Carlisle banging?
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter nine of Eclipse and are revisiting these books scariest monsters: Capitalism and The Patriarchy. Don't look now, they're under your bed! They're right behind you!
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter eight of Eclipse and they're doing all they can to not be sucked into the logic of these books.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter seven of Eclipse and they will always and forever be #TeamRosalie.... but Team Rosalie and who?
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter six of Eclipse and are joined by reporter Rachelle Hampton to discuss Bella's latest kidnapping.
Don't miss it: Rachelle did some top-notch analysis earlier this month about Midnight Sun.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter five of Eclipse and they are obsessed with Sam Uley's love life. Can someone say drama?
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter four of Eclipse and it's an episode full of harsh truths and crushed dreams for the characters this week.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter three of Eclipse and they're ready to pitch a CW adaptation of Twilight staring Chad Michael Murray.
Because we're switching our release schedule to once a week (on Wednesdays!) we're trying to make our episodes longer. To that end, we have a new rotating segment called Reality TV. In today's episode, we try out our 'Shark Tank' edition for the first time, in which Vanessa and Julia both propose a new product that could be useful to the people of Forks.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read the second chapter of Eclipse and they've final solved the mystery of why so many socks go missing in the laundry: Edward is eating them.
Because we're switching our release schedule to once a week (on Wednesdays!) we're trying to make our episodes longer. To that end, we have a new rotating segment called Reality TV. In today's episode, we try out our 'Survivor' edition for the first time, in which Vanessa and Julia both vote a character off the Twilight Island.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read the first chapter of Eclipse and are very interested to learn that Bella's favorite book is Wuthering Heights. They dive into the book-within-a-book relationship with some essential questions: Is Eclipse going to draw its themes from Wuthering Heights? Will Bella gets to become a ghost instead of a vampire? And, most importantly, why does Bella like the wrong Bronte book?
Because we're switching our release schedule to once a week (on Wednesdays!) we're trying to make our episodes longer. To that end, we have a new rotating segment called Reality TV. In today's episode, we try out our 'Bachelor' edition for the first time, in which Vanessa and Julia both come up with dates for the characters in Eclipse.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read the Epilogue of New Moon and they're starting a petition to bring RBG to Forks, Washington.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 24 and they're rooting for Bella to say yes to the dress.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book three!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 23 and they think that some bunk beds and a Daniel Craig shaped pillow would solve a lot of Bella’s problems.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 22 of New Moon and they want to celebrate Edward for his self-control in several categories. Blood-thirst for Bella? Completely under control. Public displays of affection? Generous, yet tasteful. We can honestly say for once: Good job Edward.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 21 of New Moon. Though they've been giving advice for a while now, in this chapter it feels like there are two pressing pieces of advice that can supersede all that came previously:
- DON'T murder
- DON'T start romantic relationships with literal children
These are surprisingly difficult concepts for many characters to grasp.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 20 and urge Bella to jump into EMERGENCY MODE because she's far from home, wading barefoot and frantic through some deep trouble in Italy.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 19 of New Moon and they're starting to wonder if they should have read Fifty Shade of Grey instead.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 18 of New Moon and they want to hear from you! Write in if you:
- Also didn’t realize that this book was an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet
- Have an idea of a sound effect for our genuine enjoyment section
- Have a private jet and want us to come to your wedding
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 17 of Eclipse and have come to the conclusion that tough love is maybe the truest love of all. #TeamBalice anyone?
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 16 and are scheming to unionize the poor werewolves who are clearly working too hard.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 15 and, true to type, Vanessa has to explain to Julia some 90s culture while Julia has to explain to Vanessa some modern technology.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please consider reaching out to the Crisis Text Line, National Suicide Prevention Hotline, or National Domestic Violence Hotline.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 14 and they are demanding a feminist uprising against the werewolf patriarchy.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 13 of New Moon and feel it's necessary to do a deep dive into the psychology of Bella's attractions.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 12 of New Moon, and are having flashbacks to book one. We know that Jacob is the middle of a transformative time - we just didn't realize he was transforming into Edward.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 11 of New Moon, and between bad policing, white savior complexes, and gas-lighting, Charlie and Bella are hitting a home run on sucking this week.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 10 of New Moon, and they're starting to learn the ups and downs of parenting a teenager.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 9 of New Moon, and they're ready to give Jacob 'the talk' about his growing and changing body.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 8 of New Moon, and want Bella to hop on the #TeamJacob bandwagon and off the motorcycle (or at least wear a helmet).
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 7 of New Moon, and they have some notes for Sam Uley on how to be a good cult leader. Pro tip: try to be less scary.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 6 of New Moon, and need to introduce some high-level terms to Bella like 'internalized misogyny' and 'racism.'
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 5 of New Moon, and give Bella some much needed financial advice about saving for college.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 4 of New Moon, and have some thoughts on how to get Bella through this break-up.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 3 of New Moon, and they are THRILLED that Edward and Bella have finally broken up. We've been waiting for this moment for so long ya'll and it's finally here.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 2 of New Moon, and are thoroughly in the weeds with some big questions: is there a god? Is there such thing as a consensual rocking chair experience in the bedroom? How can we empower Bella's bodily autonomy? So buckle up, Twihards, it's a bumpy ride.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 1 of New Moon and they have a lot of advice on proper birthday etiquette and how to best take advantage of your astrological moment.
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We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have watched the Twilight movie and give a thorough review of all the most important parts: the weather, the fashion, and our favorite minor characters.
Please Note: We've decided to not talk about Charlie Swan in this episode. We've given Charlie a lot of love throughout this first season of Twilight in Quarantine, but in this political moment we're thinking a lot about how police narratives are centered and celebrated in popular media.
We encourage you to donate to one of the many organization raising money in support of Black lives and the current protests. If you donate $25 or more, send us a receipt and Julia and Vanessa will record a voicemail message just for you.
Vanessa and Julia have read ALL of the first book of the Twilight series! Before they move on to New Moon, they take a look back at the whole book and give their final impressions and advice.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read the Epilogue, and they're organizing the After-Prom party for Bella and Edward.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 24, and they finally get to meet the elusive Renée. Unfortunately, she was not worth the wait.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 23, and are joined by Maren of the Remember Twilight podcast. Together, they discover that there's a gap in the market for Vampire Therapy and that maybe there's hope for true love after all.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Doo doo doo doo - We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you breaking news from Patreon: We've hit $3k!
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us on Patreon! Because of your generosity we get to keep making this ridiculous show that brings us such joy. Who knew we would love talking about Twilight so much??
We know, we know, it's a terrible time to leave you hanging. Bella is on the floor bleeding! Her leg is broken and her head is bashed in. Is she dead? Well, we'll have to wait another few days to find out. We're taking the day off for Memorial Day! We'll be back at you with Chapter 23 on Wednesday. 😘
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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 22 and feel greatly betrayed when it turns out that Bella is not actually from Phoenix.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 21 and are amused by the quaint technologies of the early 2000s like 'drawing' and 'writing.' Bella's gonna have her mind blown by photoshop and snapchat.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 20 and they're feeling as trapped in Bella's hotel room as she is.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 19 and they are starting to understand why the Cullens treat Bella like a toddler.
If $2/month doesn’t feel like a vampire sucking your blood, we’d love it if you could support us on Patreon. Your support will help us help Bella through book two!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 18 and they want you to JUST SAY NO to kidnapping.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 17 and have an important sports update: baseball is dumb.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 16 and they think that you should always pack an umbrella. Or at least not laugh at those who do.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 15 and are blowing the whistle on creepy rocking chair dynamics. If you see something, say something.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 14 and they applaud Bella for living her best quarantine life.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
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Vanessa and Julia have read chapter 13 and they're already planning their Edward/Bella Halloween costumes.
If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 12 and they continue to find Edward's outfits better than his behavior.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 11 and they finally find out why this book is called Twilight.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 10 and they realize that everyone really wants to smell like vegetables. They also both come to a very important conclusion: using your dog to get a message to your boyfriend is a fool's errand.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
This episode, Vanessa is joined by our friend Meredith Goldstein of the Love Letters podcast. Meredith is an actual advice columnist and an actual fan of Twilight, so it's a real treat to have her on. Vanessa and Meredith discuss chapter 9 and recommend some moral philosophy to Edward.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 8 and they are #TeamAngela.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
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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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 6 and they have different takes on the character of Lauren.
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If you're enjoying Twilight in Quarantine, please consider supporting us on Patreon!
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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Note: We've relaunched our Patreon! If you're enjoying our advice for the characters of Twilight, please consider supporting us in our work!
Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 4 and they're ready to start casting for Twilight the Musical.
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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 3 and, surprisingly, they're actually starting to like this book!
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Vanessa and Julia have read Chapter 2 and they have some questions about the weather patterns in Forks, Washington.
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 Zoltan & Julia Argy from their all-star advice giving in Season 1. In this mini-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’ll work their way through the Twilight saga one chapter at a time, giving brilliant well-informed advice to Stephenie Meyer and her characters along the way.
In this episode, Vanessa and Julia read Chapter 1. They meet Bella and Edward for the first time and they are concerned about them.
We're gearing up for Season 2, but in the meantime enjoy this episode of the Love Letters podcast hosted by our friend Meredith Goldstein.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 trust in her relationships.
Meanwhile, Ariana interviews Vanessa about the importance of happy endings, how romance novels have helped her through her own life, and why she and Ariana started this podcast anyway.
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 talks with journalist Lauren Sandler about her research on Christian Romance Novels and their writers. At the heart of their discussion lies the question: how religion can affect romance? They discuss how religion can bring some people closer, and can tear others apart.
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 upbringing, and confronts the familial urge to marry within the religion.
Vanessa, whose partner is non-Jewish and German, examines what it means to love someone outside of the community she was raised in. She turns to her brother, who married a wonderful Jewish woman, to discuss how important it really is to marry within your own religion. Vanessa comes to terms with her own happy ending as Liz writes an HEA for the widowed virgin of her story.
We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with Lauren Sandler.
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 Romance advocate and critic Jen Prokop, of @JenReadsRomance on Twitter, about romance novel covers and why they should (or shouldn’t) change. We also hear a clip from Vanessa’s interview with Nichole Perkins who talks about representation in romance covers, and how they could improve.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
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 to True Love” to explore what her daughter’s future relationship might look like as a powerful, self-actualized woman in the modern world. When it takes a creepy turn, Vanessa wonders what sort of message Jen is hoping her daughter will hear. With the help of The New York Times’ romance columnist Jamie Green, they explore the line between pretending and lying in the dating world, and how growing up under society’s gaze affects our quest for a happy ending.
We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with Jen Prokop, @JenReadsRomance on Twitter and cohost of the Fated Mates podcast.
This episode uses Good Bones with permission from Tupelo Press.
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 and Julia struggle with how to give the best advice. For advice on advice giving, Julia turns to advice columnist, podcaster, and writer, Steve Almond. Together, they discuss the patriarchal problem of male rage, and what lies between the lines of love advice questions.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
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 re-write her parents failing marriage with a happy ending. But the more Elizabeth writes, the more Vanessa wonders if Elizabeth is carrying some of the worst parts of the trope into her own life. She and Vanessa explore: how parents can inform our own idea of love, what it means to settle versus what it means to compromise, and what exactly is a happy marriage?
We also get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with writer and columnist, Steve Almond.
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 find an answer, Vanessa and Katie call Katie’s mother, romance novelist Pam Mingle. Together, they revisit a question from earlier in this season: whether love at first sight exists. Pam, Katie and Vanessa consider the difference between romantic love and motherly love, the failures of monogamy, and whether Pam will write another romance novel.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
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 characters, she and Vanessa explore the vulnerability of explicit sexuality, and wrestle with the freedom and the oppression of coded sexual language.
Vanessa turns to writer, romance-novel reader, and co-host of Thirst Aid Kit Nichole Perkins to understand what we talk about when we talk about throbbing members.
We also get our next (steamy!) writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
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 to divulge.
For insight into the most mysterious relational secrets, Vanessa turns to advice columnist, entertainment reporter, and paranormal romance novel reader Meredith Goldstein. Together, they explore the boundaries of privacy, paranormal intimacy, and what we keep in drawers.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
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 writing, Brigid reckons with the way love changes in the transition from friendship to partnership. Together, Vanessa and Brigid wrestle with what they share with friends, what they share with their partners, and the intimacy born from shared pain.
Along the way, Rev. Dr. Matthew Potts returns to shed light on how we ask for care from our partners, and we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with advice columnist and entertainment reporter Meredith Goldstein.
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 conflict, Vanessa turns to feminist and religious scholar Amy Hollywood. Together, they explore the religious history and origins of virginity, and the implications of how virginity is portrayed today.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
Vanessa and her sister-in-law Suzanne agree: love-at-first-sight is questionable at best. Even still, Suzanne wants to explore a love-at-first-sight romance novel while anticipating the birth of her first child.
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Love at First Sight.” Suzanne considers how a parent’s “supposed” to feel upon first sight of their newborn child, and how love grows and evolves over time. Vanessa considers the limitations of love-at-first-sight stories in a world full of bad men.
Along the way, Vanessa’s friend Sasha weighs-in with her own high-risk, high-reward experience with love at first sight, and we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with feminist and religious scholar Amy Hollywood.
It’s no secret Olivia and Molly would love to have a baby. Vanessa thinks she might want a baby, but isn’t so sure.
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope of “Secret Baby.” Olivia and Molly have been patiently hoping and working to bring a baby into their life. In the meantime, they craft their own vicarious happy ending, baby and all. Vanessa considers her ambivalence about having a baby, and invites a chorus of loved ones to weigh the pros and cons of her bringing a child into the world.
Additionally, we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with one of Vanessa’s favorite novelists, romance superstar Beverly Jenkins.
That’s right! You work on your writing, we’ll work on other people’s love lives!
This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy offer their support and unsolicited advice to an especially distraught Redditor wondering what to do with a husband who claims he’s no longer sexually attracted to her because of her past trauma.
In addition to the obvious answer (divorce him!), Vanessa turns to sex educator and NYT best-selling author Emily Nagoski to better understand the nuances around attraction, sexual connection, and how to live confidently and joyfully in our bodies.
Don’t forget to check out Emily’s new book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle https://www.amazon.com/Come-You-Are-Surprising-Transform/dp/1476762090
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
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Vanessa has been faithfully holding onto her old love letters. Her friend Sejal, however, has decided to burn her own memorabilia and never look back. Which one is right?
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Reunited Lovers.” Sejal has made peace with her past and seeks a vicarious happy ending for two fictional former flames. Vanessa, on the other hand, is forced to confront the reality of a former toxic lover and what it means to doctor the evidence of her romantic history.
Along the way, Rev. Dr. Matthew Potts weighs-in on how much of forgiveness is forgetting, and we get our next writing assignment from #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton , Julia Quinn.
Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and send us your romance advice questions for future episodes to hotandbotheredrompod@gmail.com.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with mind-blowing sex educator and NYT best-selling author, Emily Nagoski.
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Another week to work on your next writing assignment? You’re welcome! This week, Vanessa and friend Julia Argy offer more unsolicited advice to a romance-fraught Redditor caught between the love she has in her arms and the love she’s read about in books.
Torn between fantasy and reality, Vanessa turns to librarian, pop culture expert, and America's Next Top Best Friend Margaret H. Willison to discuss the power of fantasy, and how imagining the love we could have helps us get the love we deserve.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
Ariana Nedelman wants to write a romance novel, no matter how much it hurts. Vanessa Zoltan loves her friend Ariana, and doesn’t want her to do things that hurt!
This week on Hot & Bothered, we explore the trope “Enemies to Lovers.” Ariana confronts her own enemy, writing, in hopes she may grow to love it again. Vanessa reckons with letting a toxic enemy near her dearest friend.
Additionally, we get some guidance from Professor Stephanie Paulsell at Harvard Divinity School, and our next writing assignment from writer’s-block-busting, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and send us your romance advice questions for future episodes to hotandbotheredrompod@gmail.com.
Next week: More love advice and a conversation with your new best friend and cultural critic Margaret H. Willison.
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Haven't finished the first writing assignment? No problem! We know writing takes time, so you'll have two weeks for each of Julia Quinn's assignments. In the meantime, Vanessa and her friend Julia Argy will buy you some time and turn to Reddit romance questions to offer their unsolicited (but solid) dating advice. This week’s advice? Dump Him.
As Vanessa and Julia consider how power and money work negatively in real dating relationships, Vanessa turns to award-winning romance novelist Alyssa Cole to explore why it is she likes the power imbalances in Cole’s love stories - as well as feminism, bailing on dates, and the restorative pleasure of masseuses on planes.
Send us your own romance advice questions for future episodes on our website at https://www.hotandbotheredrompod.com/advice
Vanessa Zoltan thinks that happy endings are the best part of romance novels. Bryce Gilfillian is writing his first romance novel and refuses to write a happy ending.
This week on Hot and Bothered, we explore the trope of “Updated Fairytale.” Bryce sets out to write the gay fairytale he never had growing up. Meanwhile, Vanessa wrestles with her own princes, witches, and dragons.
Along the way we get a little help from Professor of Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University, Maria Tatar, and receive our first writing assignment from our own fairy godmother, #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Bridgerton series, Julia Quinn.
Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and send us your romance advice questions for future episodes to hotandbotheredrompod@gmail.com.
Next week: Love advice and a conversation with award-winning romance novelist, Alyssa Cole.
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Here is an Anti-Valentine from Vanessa and Ariana.
All 20 episodes of Hot & Bothered will be launching weekly, on Tuesdays, starting July 16th. In the meantime, we wanted to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day. Really! Happy Valentine’s Day! Or at least, happy Emma’s birthday.
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A closer look at Season One of Hot & Bothered, coming early 2019.
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Romance novels are the publishing industry’s dirty little secret. They make up 34% of the U.S. fiction market, yet there's still so much stigma around reading them. Join Vanessa Zoltan in October 2018 as she investigates the joyful, feminist, sacred space of the Romance genre. Every episode, Vanessa challenges one of her friends to write their first romance novel. With the help of N.Y. Times Best Selling Novelist Julia Quinn of the Bridgerton series, we'll be falling in love again and again.
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