Welcome to Smart Podcast, Trashy Books! Each Friday, I talk with authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, publishing professionals, editors, and librarians, or combinations thereof, and share the fun and mayhem with you. Frequent topics include romance fiction, the brilliant and interesting people who read, write, and produce it, and issues common among romance readers, along with a hefty side order of silliness. Plus, we always recommend some books we’re reading and really enjoying.
And speaking of recommendations, are you new to the podcast? Welcome!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, fear not: here are some of our most popular episodes – so far!
Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer are podcasting powerhouses with shows like By the Book and How to be Fine With Friends. This season they’re looking at friendship, the research behind sustaining friendships, ending relationships, and creating new connections with people – and they joined me to talk all about it. You can find their show, How to be Fine with Friends where you get your podcasts – like this one! TW/CW: short discussion of diet culture … Continue reading 632. Being Fine with Friends, with Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer→
We’re going back to September 2015, and I want to ease you into this knowledge, so take a breath, center yourself: that was nine years ago. I don’t get it either but apparently it’s true? JR Ward is on the cover, and there’s all kinds of good stuff inside! Come with us to visit some reviews that are word salad, and some that made me say, a few times, “Way harsh, Tai. Way harsh.” Don’t … Continue reading 631. RT Rewind: September 2015 Reviews→
Chris DeRosa is co-host of the podcast Fixing Famous People, and has been a reality tv producer for 11 years. We talk about his career starting with Food Network then moving into unscripted reality tv like the Real Housewives, how reality tv has changed, and how much of the narrative producers have influence over – and what parts they don’t. We’re also locating RH on the larger timeline of major television programs centering women over … Continue reading 630. Behind the Scenes of Real Housewives with Chris DeRosa→
Alison aka Fashionably Evil is back with us recapping the ads and features from Romantic Times’ October 1999 issue! There were leers, horny men, and nipples with personalities, and we explore effective friction and learn about The Douche Chills. The visual aids are amazing this week – don’t miss the horny covers!
Continuing my exploration of reality franchises that are favorites of romance readers, Shana joins me to talk about the Real Housewives franchise: her favorite Real Housewives locations and seasons, and what aspects of this reality franchise appeal to romance readers. We cover relationships, conflict, and the blend of fiction and “reality,” and some of the ethical considerations as well, especially with the Real Housewives of Dubai. Are you a Real Housewives watcher? Which ones? Do you … Continue reading 628. Real Housewives and Romance Readers with Shana→
We have a special guest! Alison, aka Fashionably Evil, won our Romancing the Vote auction to co-host this round of RT Rewind with us! Congratulations!! Alison picked our issue, October 1999, and wow, it’s just as weird as we’d hoped. And, as part of the auction, we offered a midroll ad, which we typically don’t run. Alison chose to use her midroll to promote a website we love and admire, Scarleteen.com. We start with a … Continue reading 627. RT Rewind: October 1999 Reviews!→
This month on the podcast, I wanted look more closely at the intersection of romance and reality tv, particular the Bachelor franchise and Real Housewives. There is only one place to start with that inquiry: with Dr. Jodi McAlister. Jodi McAlister is a scholar of romance and an expert on all things The Bachelor, and she’s the author of the Australia-set Marry Me, Juliet trilogy, which you may remember was available digitally in the US … Continue reading 626. The Bachelor and Romance with Dr. Jodi McAlister→
We’re going back to December 1997 to look at the Ads & Features from Romantic Times. We’ve got a cover with many, many fonts, several memorials for Princess Diana, and we find out what happens when you win an award and find out while you’re on the john. There are profiles of readers and romance reading book clubs, AOL chat rooms about romance for writers and readers, and the price of the Essence of Romance. … Continue reading 625. RT Rewind: December 1997 Ads & Features!→
Christine M. Larson is the author of the new book Love in the Time of Self-Publishing: How Romance Writers Changed the Rules of Writing and Success, published by Princeton University Press. This book is NIFTY – it’s about us! I was interviewed for it, and we are going to talk about ALL The Things, from identity-driven ethics of care to RWA to the need for “a collective unified body for creative people.” Come for the … Continue reading 624. Academic Research about Romancelandia with Christine M. Larson→
The book reviews in 1997 may be fewer in number but they are ample in wtfery. Prizefighter younger sons getting kicked out of brothels on their wedding night! Nicknames that follow you around the globe in the 1880s! Regency cats! We’ve got truly glorious covers, so do not miss the visual aids. They’re incredible.
Kirsty Greenwood’s book The Love of My Afterlife is out now, and it’s bubbly and charming and funny, with a lot of emotion, so we’re going to talk all about it. We also talk about making friends as an adult, and how there’s just about every genre inside this book. There’s even a heist. This might be why it’s the Good Morning America book club pick this month – congrats Kirsty! Then I learned she’s … Continue reading 622. The Love of My Afterlife with Kirsty Greenwood→
