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!
Episode 206. Proving Love: An Interview with Dr. Chuck Tingle
Episode 200. The Books That Made Us Romance Readers
Episode 229. Romance, Dating, and Very Real Expectations: An Interview with Alisha Rai
And here are our latest episodes so you can join in the fun!
We’re traveling back to April 2006 in this month’s RT Rewind! We take a look at the reviews in this issue and we’ve got some one-star reviews, and curiously paranormal is part of contemporary? It’s weird. Things I initially pronounce wrong: demesne TW/CW: mention of suicide in book reviews, plus snakes and rat infestations. Don’t miss the visual aids! Music: purple-planet.com
It’s our 600th episode!! Emily Nagoski is back to talk about her new book Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections. We talk about the genesis for this book, which is in part that writing a book is stressful and hard, and while writing Come As You Are, Emily noticed that her own interest in sex was missing. By diving headlong into all the research, she realized that people who sustain … Continue reading 600. Life is Too Short to Have Sex You Don’t Like, with Emily Nagoski
We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind, and we’re taking a look at the ads and features in this issue! We’ve got LONG series from Elizabeth Hoyt, Kresley Cole, and Shannon Stacey, plus SWAT team shifters, Navy SEAL Highlanders, and some memories, some not so great, of the 2016 RT convention in Vegas…at the Rio. And then! We have a supplement that only appears in the digital editions of RT at … Continue reading 599. Romantic Times Rewind: December 2015 Ads and Features
Mimi Matthews returns to the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lily of Ludgate Hill, which is the third book in her Belles of London series. Among the major themes of this book? PINING. SO MUCH PINING. Which I love. But this is also a book about grief: characters are pining for what was as much as other characters are pining for what could be. So we talk about grief, loss, hope, and … Continue reading 598. Historical Romances for Horse Girls with Mimi Matthews
We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind! We take a look at the reviews in this issue and along the way talk about audiobook series, historical romance, Jesus by Volume, and the ever-so-small range of grades in each genre. We also take a side trip into JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. You can find the visual aids for this episode right here!
Our final holiday wishes episode – thank you to everyone who makes these episodes such a treat. It’s an honor to connect with all of you! This week, Sneezy, Sandra, Tiffany, Lisa and Shana share recommendations, wishes, and terrible jokes. CW: we start off and end with some talk about anxiety brain gremlins, so FYI. Thank you again for making these episodes so fun! Happy New Year! Music: purple-planet.com
We’ve got books, wishes, and wonderful jokes from Amanda, GarlicKnitter, Alanna, and Claudia! We’re traveling around the world with this episode! We’ve got many, many books to tell you about, and also wishes for cozy light and joy. Music: purple-planet.com
More holiday wishes, book recs, TV recs, and bad jokes, with you as my guests! This week, I’m joined by Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, and we talk about So Much Entertainment! Verity and I chat about books, tv, and writing – so if you’re looking for some British tv shows, you’re in a lot of luck. We do start with some critique of the early 2000s language about women, bodies, body … Continue reading 594. Holiday Wishes and Recs from Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich
It’s July 2004, and the ads and features are a wild ride. I might say that every month but this month it is especially true. We learn about a bunch of different bookstore that are still in business – and encounter a lot of ads for small presses that are, alas, long gone. There’s a lot of romance history in this issue. Bonus: I solve a HaBO for Amanda! Live! I’m so proud of me. … Continue reading 593. Romantic Times Rewind: July 2004 Ads & Features
It’s time for holiday wishes, book recommendations, and absolutely dreadful jokes, with listeners and reviewers as my guests! Each year I invite the review team from SBTB and the members of the Podcast Patreon to connect with me to offer recs, wishes, and, if they wish, a bad joke. These episodes are so popular and are like weekly hugs for your ears and your brain, with some potential hugs toward your TBR, which is definitely … Continue reading 592. Holiday Wishes and Recs from Agnès, Sue, Jo and Varian
Thanks to Kay Sisk for sending us this issue! We’re taking a look at the book reviews from the July 2004 issue of RT Book Club – yup, the magazine had a different title back then. This issue predates the founding of SBTB, in fact! The genres are different, and so are the books inside. And! We have some one-star reviews! We’re going to talk about Color changing taffeta! Sex in department store fitting rooms! … Continue reading 591. Romantic Times Rewind: July 2004 Reviews
