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Artwork for Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered

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

We make Hot and 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 attenti... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes310Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RelationshipsSociety & CultureArts

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Artwork for Hot and Bothered

Latest Episodes

Vanessa Zoltan, Hannah McGregor, and Stephanie Paulsell meet at Rick's Café Américain to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered – our last movie of the season, Casablanca.

This week we discuss why this movie is an enduring classic, the sexua... more

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.

more

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 fin... more

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... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ariana Nedelman
Producer and co-host, guest on Moonstruck discussion
Not Sorry Productions
Episode: Moonstruck
Fred Gardaphé
Distinguished professor of English and Italian American studies
Queens College, CUNY / John D. Calandra Italian American Institute
Episode: Moonstruck
Dana Schwartz
Writer and author discussing Shakespeare in Love and Tom Stoppard
Author, The Arcane Arts (pseud. SD Coverly)
Episode: Shakespeare in Love
Rebecca Prime
Author and scholar on Hollywood history
Haymarket Books / academic scholar
Episode: Roman Holiday
Claudia Johnson
Professor of English literature at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Sense and Sensibility
Dominic Broomfield-McHugh
Musical-film guide, professor of musicology
University of Sheffield
Episode: The Phantom of the Opera
Stephanie Paulsell
Professor at Harvard Divinity School, scholar of religion and literature
Harvard Divinity School
Episode: Special Edition: Why Do We Love Mystery Novels?
Mauricio Bruce
Host of The Real Question, Not Sorry Productions collaborator
The Real Question / Not Sorry Productions
Episode: Punch Drunk Love
Laura Barraclough
Chair of the American Studies Department at Yale University
Yale University
Episode: Punch Drunk Love

Hosts

Vanessa Zoltan
Co-host of Hot and Bothered; primary interviewer and voice behind many season analyses.
Hannah McGregor
Co-host; contributes scholarly and conversational depth, especially on Austen/Eyre seasons.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • 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 States20 days ago
  • Super Helpful! 😊

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EllaBelle;)
    United States2 months ago
  • So original!

    Smart, funny, and insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sometime Listener
    United States4 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 States4 months ago
  • Love

    I love love love this podcast.

    It is so fun and I feel like I learn so much about things that bring me so much joy, without having to defend liking them.

    I love the whimsy, I love the depth, I love that it doesn’t ever take things too seriously while also taking them very seriously.

    You have no idea how important this has been to me personally over the past period.

    Love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sophie Mer
    Netherlands5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Co-host dynamics are praised but occasional notes on fit exist.
Thoughtful, witty analysis that deepens how we view romance media.
Scholarly yet accessible; guests bring credible context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#62
Philippines/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#212
Argentina/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#217
Denmark/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Shakespeare in Love
Q: Why do you think Stoppard's voice feels so integral to Shakespeare in Love?
Stoppard's metatheatrical sensibility and love of canon-busting storytelling shape the film's structure, theater-world jargon, and playful reimaginings, making the romance feel inseparable from how theater works and how histories are told.
Ending Of: Roman Holiday
Q: What is your take on how this ending redefines love in the context of duty and social expectation?
Love is transformative and meaningful, but it operates within real constraints; the ending suggests growth and sacrifice rather than a guaranteed fairy-tale resolution.
Roman Holiday
Q: When did the Hollywood blacklist begin and what triggered it?
The blacklist began officially in December 1947, after studio heads met and agreed not to employ anyone connected to communism; it was reinforced by investigations and the contempt findings against the Hollywood Ten, including Dalton Trumbo.
White Christmas
Q: Dominic, I had a big reaction to the song choreography. I'm wondering if you can just tell us anything you know about it.
The choreography number is racist in its use of racialized staging, linking it to a broader history of minstrel tropes, while also illustrating the shift from traditional American dance forms to a more European-influenced style; it's a problematic, historically situated moment that the film uses to comment on changes in performance culture.
The Phantom of the Opera
Q: What do you think Spielberg's (sic Schumacher's) Phantom of the Opera believes about love, in contrast to more conventional romances?
It treats love as an overwhelming, spectacular force that is more about music, spectacle, and danger than about practical life or moral depth; it's about experience and mood rather than a grounded future.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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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?

A thoughtful, critique-forward show that analyzes romance through both pop culture and scholarly lenses. Episodes blend close readings of beloved romance films with historical, musical, and cultural context, often featuring guest experts from literature, film studies, and religion. Across seasons, the hosts explore how love stories reflect industry dynamics, gender norms, and social power, while celebrating wit, accessibility, and the joy of reinterpreting familiar romances for modern audiences. A standout is the consistent use of archival and scholarly perspectives to illuminate how story, market forces, and ethics intersect in romance media, making it useful for listeners who want both entertainment and deeper understanding of love narrat... more

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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 Real Question
3. The Thing About Austen
4. You Are Good
5. Overdue

How many episodes of Hot and Bothered are there?

Hot and Bothered launched 8 years ago and published 310 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. Ariana Nedelman
2. Fred Gardaphé
3. Dana Schwartz
4. Rebecca Prime
5. Claudia Johnson
6. Dominic Broomfield-McHugh
7. Stephanie Paulsell
8. Mauricio Bruce

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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