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Artwork for Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Sarah Wendell
Romantic Times Magazine
Romance Novels
Historical Romance
Fantasy Romance
Slavery
Romance Literature
Romantic Times
Romance Reader's Handbook
Romance
Fan Culture
Bibliography
Publishing Industry
Pseudonym
Book Reviews
Steve Ammidown
Romance Novel
Dollar Princesses
Narrative Therapy
Bibliotherapy
Romance Soundtracks

Each week on Smart Podcast, Trashy Books, Sarah Wendell interviews authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, publishing professionals, editors, and librarians about romance novels, which are among the most popular genres in fiction worldwide. Popular guests include: Ilona Andrews, Robin Bradford, NPR's Barrie Hardymon, Chuck Tingle, Sarah J. Maas, and Rachel Aaron. Amanda Diehl, co-pilot of the SS Sm... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes526Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Latest Episodes

We’re back with more Holiday Wishes! This week we’re talking with Rae A., Josephine, and Sneezy!

This week we are talking romance bookstores and road trips, luxurious bidets, webtoons, and, of course, books. And some ranting about women artists in h... more

We’re back with more Holiday Wishes! This week we’re talking with Garlic Knitter, Claudia, Christine, and Jo.

A few notes:

First, my voice is not great. Some of these were recorded when I had a dreadful cold, so I apologize in advance.

Second, if ... more

Ready for more wishes and recs? And bad jokes? I bet you are! This week we’re talking with Agnes, Emily, Sarah Jane, and Jenn – and Min the cat.

And in the outro, you’ll hear from ShoesforAll, aka Sarah.

And! Important announcement 1: thanks to you... more

It’s time for our annual Holiday Wishes episodes!

Every year I connect with listeners around the world, where we talk about books, wishes, and bad jokes. So this time of year, my guests are…all of you!

In this set of wishes, we’ve got classics, new... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Susie Felber
Comedian and podcast participant
Episode: 693. Holiday Wishes I with Susie, Elizabeth, Alanna
Amye Archer
Podcaster and commentator on soap operas
Little Miss Recap
Episode: 692. Soap Opera Nostalgia with Amye Archer from Little Miss Recap
Heather Graham
A prominent romance author with decades of experience, known for her work in horror and romance genres.
Self-published and formerly associated with major publishers
Episode: 691. Romantic Times Memories with Heather Graham
Lux Raven
Paranormal romance author based in Los Angeles and chronically ill.
Episode: 690. Disability in Romance with Lux Raven
Alexandra Vasti
Author of historical and paranormal romance
Self-published
Episode: 686. Ladies in Hating and Yearning with Alexandra Vasti
Holly Black
Author of fantasy novels, including Book of Night and Thief of Night
Episode: 684. Thief of Night with Holly Black
Valerie Bowman
A romance author who has written over 30 historical novels and is now pivoting to contemporary romance.
Episode: 682. Pivoting Between Historical and Contemporary Romance with Valerie Bowman
Molly Horan
YA author, playwright, and professor who writes on aromantic and asexual characters in YA literature.
Episode: 680. Aro and Ace YA Romance with Molly Horan
Kayleigh Donaldson
Pop culture writer and critic, head features writer at Pajiba
Pajiba
Episode: 678. The Osmanification of Fiction Covers with Kayleigh Donaldson

Hosts

Sarah Wendell
Host of the podcast, engaging with a variety of guests to discuss romance novels and related topics with humor and insight.
Amanda Diehl
Co-host and frequent contributor, known for bringing silliness to discussions particularly during vintage magazine episodes.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 137 ratings
  • Addictive and intelligent

    I have listened for years now and always enjoyed myself, smiled and learned new things. There’s a pleasure in hearing smart people enjoying things they are passionate about, particularly when the discussions are wide ranging but often circle back to writing and romance genre fiction. I also like the bad jokes the host likes to end each episode with.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RhodePVD
    United States7 months ago
  • Awesome show

    What a great listen. You don’t even have to be the biggest fan of reading to enjoy this show. They do so a wonderful job, that it will make you a fan of reading. Keep up the great work!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skilletbrew
    United States10 months ago
  • Love these seasonal episodes very much x

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jlk
    a year ago
  • Recently got into the romance genre and this podcast has been a great way of finding out what's what. There have been some fascinating guests and the discussions touch on so many aspects of life that I'm ashamed to say I've been rather ignorant of. As a bog-standard middle-aged man it has been a massive eye opener, as well as being very entertaining. Thank you to the hosts for making this.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Jambon
    a year ago
  • I've been listening since the beginning and this is my most favorite podcast ever! Always informative and entertaining,I highly recommend it.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DivineKittyCat
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the podcast for its engaging and humorous dialogues about romance literature, emphasizing its informative content and entertaining guests.
Listeners express appreciation for the blend of humor and serious literary critique, highlighting it as a refreshing and enjoyable listening experience.
The show is commended for its supportive community and insightful discussions about the romance genre, making it accessible for both avid readers and newcomers to the field.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#21
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#49
Norway/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#50
Sweden/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#151
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#152
Sweden/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#161
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

695. Holiday Wishes III with Garlic Knitter, Claudia, Christine, and Jo
Q: Please tell me about a book or books that rocked your world this year.
I really liked 'Atmosphere' by Taylor Jenkins Reid for its portrayal of pursuing opportunities rather than fixed goals.
695. Holiday Wishes III with Garlic Knitter, Claudia, Christine, and Jo
Q: What are your wishes for everyone in 2026?
My wish is for everyone to have access to good healthcare and to find opportunities that lead to hope.
693. Holiday Wishes I with Susie, Elizabeth, Alanna
Q: What is a book or books that you really enjoyed this year?
Susie shared that she enjoyed 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens and was impressed by how fresh it felt despite being a classic.
684. Thief of Night with Holly Black
Q: So what are the necessary elements for you when building vivid and believable sexual tension and attraction between characters?
The dynamic, definitely. Longing is a big part of what we all enjoy from a sex scene.
684. Thief of Night with Holly Black
Q: What are some of the darker elements that Charlie has to face in both Book of Night and Thief of Night?
She's a person who's running away from her past and has been trying not to work it out for two books.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast offers engaging conversations centered around romance novels, featuring interviews with a diverse array of guests, including authors, publishing professionals, and avid readers. Listeners can expect insightful discussions about the evolution of the romance genre, the intricacies of writing and publishing, and the cultural impact of romance literature. It's marked by a blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful critiques that keep the content lively and relatable. Notable segments include nostalgic deep dives into vintage romance magazines, celebrating both the genre's history and its future.

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How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 526 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Susie Felber
2. Amye Archer
3. Heather Graham
4. Lux Raven
5. Alexandra Vasti
6. Holly Black
7. Valerie Bowman
8. Molly Horan

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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