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Rebel Ever After

Ella Dawson
Historical Romance
Romance Novels
Queer Representation
Sapphic Romance
Publishing Industry
Queerness
Romance Genre
Paranormal Romance
Trans Identity
TJ Alexander
Abortion
Community
Winging It With You
Queer Joy
Passion Project
Emotional Abuse
Romantic Comedy
Smut Discourse
Indie Publishing
Female Empowerment

Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After, a new romance podcast. Join sex & culture critic and BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY author Ella Dawson as she interviews her favorite authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes59Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Rebel Ever After

Latest Episodes

My guest this week is Shirlene Obuobi. She is a general cardiologist, an artist, and the author of several novels. Her latest is the outstanding paranormal romance Die For Me, published this summer by Penguin Books. We talked about how we are sociali... more

This week's guest is Sophia Benoit, author of the historical romance The Very Definition of Love and the essay collection Well, This is Exhausting. I asked her about putting her own spin on the "rake accidentally compromises a bluestocking" historica... more

This week my guest is Alicia Thompson, the author of five adult romance novels including With Love, From Cold World and Never Been Shipped. We talked about balancing magical realism with grounded characterization in her new book In Every Possible Way... more

In her upcoming sophomore novel Let's Kiss and Tell, Joss Richard explores sex-positive topics like sex work, vasectomies, and childfree happily-ever-afters. In this episode of Rebel Ever After, we dug into what romance genre conventions are made to ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Shirlene Obuobi
General cardiologist, author, and artist
Self/Various affiliations discussed in episode
Episode: Is true love with your apex predator possible? With Shirlene Obuobi
Sophia Benoit
Author of The Very Definition of Love and Well, This is Exhausting
Episode: Vintage filthy vocab with Sophia Benoit
Alicia Thompson
Author of five adult romance novels, including In Every Possible Way
Author
Episode: Alicia Thompson on magic, music and men worth loving
Joss Richard
Romance author
Episode: Let's talk about sex, ft Joss Richard
Erin Baldwin
Joined for event announcements
Episode: Big, wild news about Rebel Ever After
Adib Karam
Joined for event announcements
Episode: Big, wild news about Rebel Ever After
Emma R. Alban
Author of queer historical romances and Happily Ever Afterlife
Episode: The queer happily-ever-after with Emma R. Alban
Leni Kauffman
Romance cover illustrator
Independent / Illustrator
Episode: Creating romance cover art with Leni Kauffman
Laura Piper Lee
Romance author of Pot Shot and Doomsdayt
Independent author
Episode: Stoner rom-coms & chronic illness with Laura Piper Lee

Host

Ella Dawson
Host of Rebel Ever After; NYC-based sex and culture critic; interviewer of progressive romance authors

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Happy to support REA

    Fantastic host and interesting guests make this a joy to listen to. Smart progressive authors for the win!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    name cannot be bIank
    Canada3 months ago
  • An INCREDIBLE author pod!

    I have never written a podcast review in my life—but I love this show so much that I need to!! I look forward to it every week, and Ella is an amazing interviewer. If you’re looking for a fun, thought-provoking new bookish pod about writing, stories, and authors’ lives, definitely give Rebel Ever After a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kristen Vale
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ella Dawson is amazing!

    Her questions are so succinct, her humor is adorable and her shows are just fun!! Give them a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jenn2074
    United Statesa year ago
  • Simply the best

    This should be required listening! Such amazing conversations—fun and thought-provoking. Love!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bookfan1112
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thoughtful, fun podcast for romance readers

    If you like to think about how romance as a genre can work towards better representation and what the work of a romance author is, this is a great podcast! Really interesting guests and great topics for anyone who loves romance.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarah Cottrell
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests consistently bring insightful, craft-focused perspectives on romance and representation.
Fans appreciate progressive takes on romance and the rigorous discussion of ethics and consent.
Listeners praise the host for thoughtful, precise questions and engaging interviews.
Audience notes the show blends industry critique with warm, personal storytelling.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Alicia Thompson on magic, music and men worth loving
Q: What was it like to incorporate magical realism and set the book in Dublin?
She explains that magical realism in this book was a new challenge, balanced with a strong, grounded narrative set in Dublin; she wanted the mechanism of how the protagonist ended up in Ireland to feel secondary to character and emotion, and she emphasizes that some questions about the magic intentionally remain unanswered to preserve perspective and tension.
Alicia Thompson on magic, music and men worth loving
Q: How did you come to romance as a reader and as a writer?
Thompson describes growing up reading Harlequin Presents, being inspired by the genre's beats, and then writing her first romance in high school. The discussion emphasizes how early genre exposure shaped her understanding of story structure and the beats she now plays with in her own work.
Hollywood romance after #MeToo with Amy Spalding
Q: What made you decide to incorporate this part of Me Too and Hollywood culture into the story?
I wanted the romance to unfold in a context where power dynamics are real and visible, and where a director-cast relationship could illuminate the complexities of consent, control, and professional risk without sugarcoating the consequences.
Alexandria Bellefleur won't stop writing queer romance
Q: Can you share more about The Devil She Knows and how Bedazzled inspired your approach to a sapphic demon romance?
The Devil She Knows drew from Bedazzled but reimagined it with a sapphic lead, a demon romance premise, and a stronger focus on character motivation and growth, using the elevator setting as a core stage for Sam's emotional journey.
Alexandria Bellefleur won't stop writing queer romance
Q: What was it like to publish sapphic romance in the trad space, and did you feel a burden to represent a community?
She felt a mix of wonderful and scary feelings, acknowledging that indie publishers had long paved the way but that trad publishing gradually embraced sapphic romances; she emphasized the need to represent diverse experiences rather than a single identity and noted the relief of having more books and characters to share varied stories.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rebel Ever After

What is Rebel Ever After about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners get a candid, industry-savvy look at romance writing that centers progressiveness, representation, and behind-the-scenes craft. Episodes frequently tackle topics like queer romance, consent, stigma in publishing, and the business side of indie versus traditional publishing, all through in-depth author interviews. A standout thread is the focus on ethical storytelling, diverse characters, and the intersection of love with sociopolitical issues, making it valuable for readers, writers, and brands aiming to reach engaged, culture-forward audiences.

Noteworthy is the host's consistent emphasis on inclusive romance and real-world industry observations, plus occasional forays into craft, fandom culture, and publishing realities that sh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rebel Ever After?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rebel Ever After:

1. I Hate Bill Maher
2. Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel People
3. ICYMI
4. Reading Glasses
5. A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein

How many episodes of Rebel Ever After are there?

Rebel Ever After launched 2 years ago and published 59 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 Rebel Ever After?

Recent guests on Rebel Ever After include:

1. Shirlene Obuobi
2. Sophia Benoit
3. Alicia Thompson
4. Joss Richard
5. Erin Baldwin
6. Adib Karam
7. Emma R. Alban
8. Leni Kauffman

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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