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Hot and Bothered

Not Sorry Productions

Hot and Bothered is all about the power of romance culture. We analyze romance novels and movies to better imagine our own happy endings. Episodes release weekly on Tuesdays.


CURRENT SEASON: Jane Austen’s Persuasion


For Season 6, Hot and Bothered is returning to its roots with a classic romance: Jane Austen's Persuasion. Many readers consider Persuasion Austen's most romantic novel. As a podcast obsessed with romance (and Austen), it was only a matter of time before we answered its siren call.


Joining Vanessa Zoltan this season is her longtime mentor, Harvard Divinity School Professor Dr. Stephanie Paulsell. Together, they'll read Persuasion one chapter at a time, asking what Austen's timeless novel can teach us about grief, beauty, aging, and—of course—love.


 SEASON 5: Hot and Bothered (Movie Edition)

For our fifth season of the show, we turned our attention to romantic films. The season began with ten episodes on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, an iconic film of the early 2000s rom-com oeuvre. Following those episodes, Vanessa was joined by beloved academic and podcaster Hannah McGregor to dig into the canon of romantic films, from Titanic to Twilight to When Harry Met Sally, (just to name a few). We asked every movie “what does this believe about love?” And “do we agree?”


SEASON 4: Live from Pemberley

In Live from Pemberley, we continue our deep-dive into the classic texts of romance literature. This season we take a close look at the most famous Romance novel of all time: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Every episode, Vanessa Zoltan and Lauren Sandler read through the book, talk with experts, and ask themselves the question ‘is this still a story for our time?’


SEASON 3: On Eyre

Vanessa Zoltan and journalist Lauren Sandler embark on the English class you always deserved, diving deep into Jane Eyre through the themes of power and desire. Discussions range from ideas of class and colonialism to sex and gender as Lauren and Vanessa explore the roles of oppression and inequality, empowerment and rebellion in the text. 


SEASON 2: Twilight in Quarantine

You may remember BFFs Vanessa & Julia from their all-star advice giving in Hot and Bothered Season 1. In this COVID-19 quarantine they got on the phone three times a week to read and talk about Twilight. On Twilight in Quarantine, they worked their way through the Twilight saga one chapter at a time, giving brilliant well-informed advice to Stephenie Meyer’s characters along the way. Advice like: “maybe you shouldn’t kidnap people.”


SEASON 1: Writing Romance

Season one of Hot and Bothered followed ten first-time romance writers as they tried to write their own romance novels. Each episode explored a particular romance trope and why we love it so much. Along the way, Julia Quinn, writer of the Bridgerton series, gave weekly assignments so listeners could follow along in the process. Season one was made in collaboration with Spoke Media.


Hot & Bothered is produced by Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. Through community, rigor, and ritual, we treat traditionally secular things as if they were sacred. To learn more about what we do, visit https://notsorryworks.com/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Play
  • 31 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 49 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S5 · E103
    June 2 · 28 min

    Ending Of: Moonstruck

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Ariana Nedelman analyze the ending of Moonstruck. They discuss the confrontation between Rose and Cosmo, why Ronny doesn't have to kneel for his proposal, and the underuse of Cher as leading lady. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Ariana and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E102
    May 26 · 1 hr 5 min

    Moonstruck

    Vanessa Zoltan and our producer, Ariana Nedelman, meet-up at The Met to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Moonstruck. This week we discuss the specter of death, the gender dynamics, and the acting choices of the film. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Fred Gardaphé to get some context on Italian-American portrayals in film. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Ariana and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E101
    May 19 · 31 min

    Ending Of: Shakespeare in Love

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and podcaster/author Dana Schwartz analyze the ending of Shakespeare in Love. They discuss Viola's fate, the role of a muse, and how to execute a 'tragic' movie ending. Dana Schwartz has a new novel out TODAY, The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly. Order now! --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Dana and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E100
    May 12 · 1 hr 2 min

    Shakespeare in Love

    Vanessa Zoltan and podcaster/author Dana Schwartz meet-up in Elizabethan England to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Shakespeare in Love. This week we discuss this movie's fuckboi interpretation of William Shakespeare, the collaborative craft of writing, and the Oscar campaign surrounding this film. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Roberta Barker to understand more about the playwright Tom Stoppard. Dana Schwartz has a new novel out next week, The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly. Pre-order now! --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Dana and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E99
    May 5 · 31 min

    Ending Of: Roman Holiday

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Roman Holiday. They discuss the extreme constraint of Ann's life as a princess, why Joe lingers after the scene, and what is left unsaid between them. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of Roman Holiday with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E98
    April 28 · 1 hr 10 min

    Roman Holiday

    Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at Trevi Fountain to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Roman Holiday. This week we discuss Joe's moral character, exposure journalism, and whether we think these two characters actually fall in love. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Rebecca Prime to learn more about Roman Holiday's writer, Dalton Trumbo, and the Hollywood blacklist. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Hannah and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E97
    April 21 · 30 min

    Ending Of: Sense and Sensibility

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Julia Whelan analyze the ending of Sense and Sensibility. They discuss deleted scenes, sisterly affection, and Austen's obsession with the villainy of hot men. If you'd like to join Julia on her Sense and Sensibility pilgrimage in the Cotswolds this fall, you can find more information about that here. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of Sense and Sensibility with Vanessa and Julia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E96
    April 14 · 1 hr 10 min

    Sense and Sensibility

    Vanessa Zoltan and actress, author, and narrator Julia Whelan meet-up at Barton Cottage to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. This week we discuss the brilliance of Emma Thompson, whether Colonel Brandon is right for Marianne, and the dangers of casting older actors as teenagers. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Claudia Johnson to get some context on Georgian manners and norms. If you'd like to join Julia on her Sense and Sensibility pilgrimage in the Cotswolds this fall, you can find more information about that here. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Julia and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E95
    April 7 · 30 min

    Ending Of: The Phantom of the Opera

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of The Phantom of the Opera. They discuss the black-and-white frame narrative of the film, what makes the phantom hot (and not), and the show's similarity to Beauty and the Beast. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of The Phantom of the Opera with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E94
    March 31 · 1 hr 13 min

    The Phantom of the Opera

    Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in a Parisian opera house to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Phantom of the Opera. This week we discuss daddy issues, queer aesthetics, and Susan Sontag's definition of 'camp.' We finish the episode by calling Dr. Dominic Broomfield-McHugh to get his take on the film. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Hannah and Vanessa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • S5 · E93
    March 24 · 27 min

    Ending Of: Punch Drunk Love

    For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Mauricio Bruce analyze the ending of Punch Drunk Love. They continue their conversation about light and color in the film and discuss the relationship between humiliation and violence. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of Punch Drunk Love with Vanessa and Mauricio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 21–31 of 31 episodes