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Artwork for Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered

Not Sorry Productions
Romantic Comedy
Jane Austen
How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days
Love
Persuasion
Feminism
Brokeback Mountain
Dirty Dancing
Romantic Relationships
When Harry Met Sally
Meg Ryan
Pretty In Pink
Kissing Jessica Stein
10 Things I Hate About You
She's the Man
The Devil Wears Prada
Twilight
27 Dresses
Bisexuality
French Kiss

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 o... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes331Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Hot and Bothered

Latest Episodes

In Chapter 17 of Persuasion, we meet another new character, Anne's old school friend Mrs. Smith. She's poor and sick and also really great.

This week we're joined at the end of the episode by Dr. Laura Mooneyham White to talk about how Austen's Chr... more

In Chapter 16 of Persuasion, the Elliot house is aflutter with the news of Lady Dalrymple's arrival to Bath – their fancy Viscountess cousin. Anne is embarrassed about the fuss her family is making.

This week we're joined at the end of the episode b... more

Anne has her first night in Bath in Chapter 15 of Persuasion. Her father and Elizabeth are less awful than anticipated and Mr. Elliot stops by for a late night visit.

This week, Julia Argy, author and past host of our show, joins us at the end of t... more

It's Christmas in Chapter 14 of Persuasion and Anne and Lady Russell do their last round of visits to Uppercross before heading to Bath.

This week, Dr. Jane Gregory joins us at the end of the episode to discuss misophonia.

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Hot and Bothered is ... more

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Recent Guests

Claudia Johnson
Murray Professor of English Literature at Princeton University and Jane Austen scholar
Princeton University
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 17: A Widow Mrs. Smith
Margaret H. Willison
Literary commentator and leader of the Pride and Prejudice pilgrimage.
NPR
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 16: Our Cousins in Laura-place
Julia Argy
Author and former host of Hot and Bothered
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 15: It Was All Bath
Hannah McGregor
Associate professor, author, and co-host of Witch Please and Secret Feminist Agenda.
Simon Fraser University
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 14: A Little Quiet Cheerfulness
Natalie Hanley-Smith
Historian, Oxford Brooks University faculty
Oxford Brooks University
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 13: Anne Was to Leave Them
Amy Hollywood
Dr. Amy Hollywood, Elizabeth H. Monrad Professor of Christian Studies at Harvard
Harvard Divinity School
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 12: The Horror of The Moment
Briallen Hopper
Writer and critic focused on spinsterhood and feminist literary analysis
Queens College, Yale (previously) / Briallen Hopper
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 11: All Wild to See Lyme
Jenny Davidson
Professor of English
Columbia University
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 11: All Wild to See Lyme
Susan Zlotnik
Professor of English
Vassar College
Episode: Persuasion, Chapter 11: All Wild to See Lyme

Hosts

Vanessa Zoltan
Host of the show and co-host; long-time collaborator focused on romance literature and cultural analysis.
Stephanie Paulsell
Co-host and scholar; mentor to Vanessa and Harvard Divinity School professor contributing close-reading and scholarly perspective.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Smartest and most thoughtful host talks with cool people about your favorite romances!!

    I listened to Harry Potter and the sacred text and was devastated when it ended (and when JKR turned out to be awful). I was ECSTATIC to learn that Vanessa had another podcast going over some of my favorite books, and I have not been disappointed! The discussions are funny, thoughtful, and well produced. Definitely subscribe.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gefremede
    United States21 days ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    I never was able to read P & P before this show deconstructed it and showed the feminism behind it and I could peer into what life was like in regency England. Their discussions of Jane Eyre were just as enlightening. I also liked their movie discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pinkbikecolorado
    United States5 months ago
  • Super Helpful! 😊

    On Eyre helped SOOOO much with my English class! Thanks for making it fun and interesting!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EllaBelle;)
    United States7 months ago
  • So original!

    Smart, funny, and insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sometime Listener
    United States8 months ago
  • A must listen

    Hot and Bothered has been one of those podcasts that’s just always been part of my life. From the early days talking romance novels and Jane Eyre, to Twilight in Quarantine, rom-coms, LGBTQ+ love stories, and even the deep dives into the American wedding complex — every version of it has been a treat. The hosts are so sharp and funny and thoughtful, and Vanessa Zoltan is just the best. I would, and do, happily listen to anything she’s involved in. There’s something so comforting about hearing sm... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EmmyGal22
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and hosts are described as sharp, thoughtful, and engaging, with strong scholarly backgrounds.
Some listeners note the show's rigorous approach as both a strength and occasionally a critique of modern academic buzzwords.
Listeners praise the show's blend of smart, accessible analysis with warmth and humor.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#117
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#86
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#91
Germany/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#166
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Philippines/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Persuasion, Chapter 17: A Widow Mrs. Smith
Q: Could you give us a brief overview of how academics think about Jane Austen's politics?
Claudia Johnson says modern labels such as progressive and conservative do not map neatly onto Austen's time. She sees Austen as affirming women's autonomy and rational decision-making while criticizing privilege, without advocating revolution.
Persuasion, Chapter 16: Our Cousins in Laura-place
Q: Does this feel like a conversation that has romantic potential in it?
Margaret H. Willison says Darcy repeatedly meets Elizabeth's barbs with wit and attention, creating an unusual energy between them even if Elizabeth does not yet recognize it as attraction.
Persuasion, Chapter 16: Our Cousins in Laura-place
Q: What actually jumps out to you about that sentence?
Lauren Sandler says Darcy's view reveals his privilege: women have to charm and perform to survive, while he can choose whether to engage.
Persuasion, Chapter 14: A Little Quiet Cheerfulness
Q: Do you read her as a villain? Do you read her and have an emotional response to her that feels like revulsion or hatred or resentment?
McGregor says she finds Lady Catherine mostly funny and is drawn to badly behaved women. She adds that Lady Catherine's class and race give her room to behave badly, while other women are more likely to be punished for doing so.
Persuasion, Chapter 14: A Little Quiet Cheerfulness
Q: First, I'm so curious about your interest in sentimentality, and actually, could you even define the word sentimental as you understand it in this context?
McGregor describes sentimentality as a tradition that values emotional knowledge and the ability to imagine and care about other people's perspectives. In literature, it often depicts young women receiving a moral education, while Austen's novels also question the tradition's assumptions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hot and Bothered

What is Hot and Bothered about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends literary analysis of romance with cultural context, pairing close readings of beloved romance texts with scholarly commentary and pop-culture film discussions. Episodes mix intimate conversations about love, aging, grief, and social expectations with interdisciplinary guests—from literary scholars to historians and film experts—often expanding the discussion into historical eras, class, gender, and media studies. A notable strength is the panel format that brings diverse expert perspectives, plus a host dynamic that balances warmth, rigor, and accessibility. Listeners can expect thoughtful takes on romance across books and films, with episodes that model how to read romance critically without losing its emotional heart.

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Which podcasts are similar to Hot and Bothered?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hot and Bothered:

1. Material Girls
2. The Thing About Austen
3. If Books Could Kill
4. Maintenance Phase
5. The Real Question

How many episodes of Hot and Bothered are there?

Hot and Bothered launched 9 years ago and published 331 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Hot and Bothered?

Recent guests on Hot and Bothered include:

1. Claudia Johnson
2. Margaret H. Willison
3. Julia Argy
4. Hannah McGregor
5. Natalie Hanley-Smith
6. Amy Hollywood
7. Briallen Hopper
8. Jenny Davidson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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