
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


This week, Tommy is joined by bestselling author Rachel Reid, the writer behind Heated Rivalry and the Game Changers series. The series is beloved for redefining queer romance in the world of professional hockey. What began as a passion project quickly became a phenomenon, earning Rachel a devoted global fanbase and cementing Heated Rivalry as a modern romance classic.
She opens up about the origins of Heated Rivalry, how Shane and Ilya’s story evolved from a side romance into something much bigger, and why readers connected so deeply to its emotional honesty. Rachel discusses why Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams were the only choices for Ilya and Shane, if more Ilya and Shane books are coming, and what we might see in Season 2 of the hit series. She also talks about fandom culture, online communities, and the unexpected life-changing success of her books, as well as what it’s like to create characters that live far beyond the page. Plus, she shares what she’s learned as a writer, what inspires her storytelling, and why romance (especially queer romance) matters now more than ever. And she is answering YOUR burning fan questions!
Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before
Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network
Follow us on socials!
Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore
YouTube: @neversaidthisbefore
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
By iHeartPodcasts4.9
180180 ratings
This week, Tommy is joined by bestselling author Rachel Reid, the writer behind Heated Rivalry and the Game Changers series. The series is beloved for redefining queer romance in the world of professional hockey. What began as a passion project quickly became a phenomenon, earning Rachel a devoted global fanbase and cementing Heated Rivalry as a modern romance classic.
She opens up about the origins of Heated Rivalry, how Shane and Ilya’s story evolved from a side romance into something much bigger, and why readers connected so deeply to its emotional honesty. Rachel discusses why Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams were the only choices for Ilya and Shane, if more Ilya and Shane books are coming, and what we might see in Season 2 of the hit series. She also talks about fandom culture, online communities, and the unexpected life-changing success of her books, as well as what it’s like to create characters that live far beyond the page. Plus, she shares what she’s learned as a writer, what inspires her storytelling, and why romance (especially queer romance) matters now more than ever. And she is answering YOUR burning fan questions!
Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review if you enjoy this conversation! Tune in every week for new episodes of I’ve Never Said This Before
Executive Producers: iHeart Media and Elvis Duran Podcast Network
Follow us on socials!
Instagram: @neversaidthisbefore
YouTube: @neversaidthisbefore
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1,284 Listeners

8,850 Listeners

1,211 Listeners

4,643 Listeners

244 Listeners

17,411 Listeners

165,152 Listeners

6,187 Listeners

25,602 Listeners

7 Listeners

7 Listeners

350 Listeners

3,115 Listeners

64 Listeners

383 Listeners

250 Listeners

142 Listeners

237 Listeners

1,549 Listeners

352 Listeners

839 Listeners

63 Listeners

276 Listeners

1,048 Listeners

159 Listeners

1,033 Listeners

18 Listeners

191 Listeners

936 Listeners

541 Listeners

61 Listeners

1,072 Listeners

34 Listeners

148 Listeners

31 Listeners