We’re going FULL FESTIVE ROMANCE this week with the brilliant country superstar Kaylee Bell, who drops in to talk Christmas music, big feelings and the joy of giving back.

Kaylee tells us the story behind her brand new Christmas single, written years ago in a Nashville flat full of fairy lights and mates who loved the season as much as she does. After her little one arrived earlier this year and spent time at Starship, she wanted to do something meaningful. So now every Spotify playlist add sends one dollar to Starship. Absolute angel behaviour.

We also dive into our favourite modern Christmas songs, why December turns everyone into a nostalgic romantic mess, and how the season forces us all to slow down, take stock and maybe even admit who we actually want under the mistletoe.

It’s cosy, it’s silly, it’s heartfelt and it’s very us.

LINKS:

Listen to Kaylee's new Christmas track here

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CREDITS

Host: Ash London

Producer: Ash London

Social Producer: Lily Gichard

Executive Producer: Anna Henvest

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We’re officially in Christmas mode, team. Alice James is back and we’re diving straight into Netflix’s newest holiday movie, A Merry Little Ex-mas.

This week we break down the Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson flick using our very scientific Hopeless Romantics scoring matrix. We talk daddy energy, vegan treacle tarts, snowstorms that don’t quite hit the mark, and the surprisingly relatable heartbreak of divorced parents trying to keep the peace at Christmas. Plus we unpack the chaos of their side characters, the lack of magic, and why Jameela Jamil’s character had us both yelling at the screen.

Stick around for our final score, what made us laugh out loud, and the big celebrity comeback energy that carried the whole thing. And yes, we manifest a Hilary Duff x Chad Michael Murray Christmas movie because the world deserves nice things.

LINKS:

Follow Alice on tikok

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

CREDITS

Host: Ash London

Producer: Ash London

Social Producer: Lily Gichard

Executive Producer: Anna Henvest

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Alice James is back (now with added newborn!) to debrief season two, and honestly… we have a lot of feelings. We still loved the show, but the spark wasn’t quite sparking, and both of us found ourselves grieving the loss of Noah’s Seth Cohen energy. WHERE DID THE RIZ GO?

We get into it all: the muddled editing, the sudden plot jumps, the confusing ex-girlfriend coffee, the necklace disaster, and the supporting characters who should’ve carried the whole season. Sasha’s glow-up, Esther’s softer edges, Morgan’s chaos… all the good stuff was right there, but so much of it felt under-used.

If you watched season two and felt both loyal and sliiiiiiiightly disappointed, you’re very much not alone.

LINKS:

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

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We’re officially in Christmas movie season and honestly, we could not be happier. Emma’s back with us this week and we fall headfirst into the festive films that shape our Decembers. From unrequited love and forbidden crushes to the heartbreakers that remind us death comes for us all, we realised Christmas movies are basically a mirror for every messy emotion we carry into the holidays.

We chat Love Actually, The Holiday, Happiest Season, While You Were Sleeping, The Family Stone, Little Women, Last Holiday and a whole lot more. There’s yearning, there’s awkward family energy, there’s loneliness, and there’s the full hero’s-journey chaos of trying to make Christmas perfect for the people we love.

If you’re building your December watchlist, or you just want to feel seen in your festive feelings, this episode is a warm, cosy hang with two people who love Christmas movies almost too much.

LINKS:

Follow Ash at @ash_london

See more from Hopeless Romantics at @hopelessromantics_xo

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

Find your next favourite show and see more behind the scenes content on rova’s Instagram @rova.nz

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With the return of Emily in Paris slated for December 10, we're looking back at this moment from our season 4 episode with the ever hilarious Alice James. How is it possible that such a promising lead male could turn into such a flop? Do you agree? #TeamAlfie for life, yo!

LINKS:

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Alice on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

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If you know Matt's music, you'll know that he is undoubtedly a hopeless romantic, so of COURSE I jumped at the chance to interview him during his recent Aus/NZ tour. We reflect on heartbreak, loving someone long distance and turning pain into art.

Love you, more than a friend x

LINKS:

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She was a popstar. He played football. The most famous couple on earth got married, had babies, weathered a couple (many) storms, and emerged after 26 years stronger than ever. So what is there to learn about love from Posh and Becks? Well, according to Damaris Treasure and I...we can learn a whole lot.

Love you, more than a friend x

LINKS:

Subscribe to Damaris' substack ⁠⁠⁠'Trying Things'⁠⁠

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

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Wine is something a lot of us enjoy, but not many of us feel super confident ordering. And given that wine can often play a big part in setting the mood when it comes to dating, love and romance I thought I'd invite my friend and co-host of Got Somme podcast Angus O'Loughlin on to help take the stress out of ordering and enjoying wine.

You'll learn some amazing tips and tricks for navigating a tricky wine menu, keeping within budget and ultimately avoiding a wine fail, whether you're at the bottle-o or a fancy restaurant.

Love you, more than a friend x

LINKS:

Follow the Got Somme podcast on instagram

Follow Angus on instagram

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

Angus' Aussie Go-To Wines:

Giant Steps Chardonnay (Yarra Valley)

Yarra Yering Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley)

Syrahmi Demi Shiraz (Macedon)

Arras Sparkling (Tasmania)

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This week, Australian writer Steph Vizard joins me to bask in our collective grief and gratitude as we mourn the loss of Diane Keaton, whose talent brought some of our favourite films to life. In particular, we discuss one of my all-time favourite films, 'Something's Gotta Give' - featuring the world's most unexpected and delicious love triangles. Hello Keanu and Jack.

Love you, more than a friend x

LINKS:

Order Steph latest novel 'A Smart Girl's Guide to Second Chances'

Follow Steph on instagram

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air

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You'd be forgiven for only associating the Disney film 'Frozen' with earworms, Elsa costumes and the 1hr 42 minutes of peace you can enjoy while the kids watch it

This week however, the clever and insightful Damaris Treasure returns to discuss the fact that FROZEN MIGHT BE THE ULTIMATE SELF HELP MANUAL FOR LOVE!

We also have an in-depth discussion at the end about the hottest male cartoon characters and I think it might be the most important moment in 70+ episodes of Hopeless Romantics.

Love you, more than a friend x

LINKS:

Subscribe to Damaris' substack ⁠⁠'Trying Things'⁠

Follow Ash on ⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠

Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠

Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠Love on the Air

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices