Hopeless Romantics

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

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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

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

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

If our full episodes are a deep dive, consider this more of a dip of the toe. Maybe a waist-deep wade?

We are less than TWO WEEKS away from the return of 'Nobody Wants This', the show that was easily my watch of 2024. In this quickie, we deep dive what could possibly be the best kiss in recent TV history.

The full episode can be found in season 1 episode 21!



LINKS:

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Clint Randell is a very recognisable face and name here in NZ where he's fronted TV and radio shows for well over a decade. But when I think of Clint, the first word that comes to mind is 'family'. Clint is a man who takes any opportunity to talk about his beautiful wife and two kids, and it is a joy to watch him parent, and a joy to see his eyes twinkle every time someone mentions Jaime.

This is perhaps the most vulnerable and honest you've ever heard Clint, as we have a long conversation about finding his faith and his future wife in his early twenties, and how the two were inexplicably intertwined.

I want to thank Clint for being so honest about the joys and also the really tough parts of his 17 year marriage, and I want to thank his amazing wife Jaime for allowing their story to be told.

Ultimately, this conversation highlights the importance of doing 'the work', and how redemption is possible if both people are willing to get honest, raw, and commit to a better future.

I love you both very much, and I know this conversation will touch a lot of people, as it did me (I literally sob around thirty minutes in)

x

LINKS:

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