Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

Thank you for joining me for a “from the vault” episode! This is episode 147, originally aired June 26, 2015, so almost 11 years ago.

Drs. Jen Lois and Joanna Gregson did a multi-year study on the community of romance authors and I have never stopped thinking about it. In this conversation, we’re talking about that study, what they learned about romance as a community, especially about gender dynamics.

You can find their published work based on this study in the following articles – these link to the abstract because I don’t have a membership to this academic database.

• Aspirational Emotion Work: Calling, Emotional Capital, and Becoming a “Real” Writer
• Sneers and Leers: Romance Writers and Gendered Sexual Stigma

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Amanda and I are traveling back to June 1997 to discuss:

• Touring inside author’s homes and whether we think it’s kinda intrusive and uncomfortable
• Neverending reader hate for “the F word”
• The fans used to blow back cover models’ hair
• And speaking of, what’s on the Cover Model Pageant contestant’s heads?

And more!

We DO have a video episode for this one with images – you can find it on your YouTube channel. And you can find the visual aids for this one below.

We have so many links! Are you ready!

• Mental Floss: The origin of “Live, Laugh, Love”
• Janelle James and Connor Storrie on the red carpet (Reddit link with video)
• Links from Steve Ammidown about Genesis Press:
• 1980-2000 Black Publishers – Black Romance Publishers: Representation vs. Exploitation by Sophie Kebret (Unsuitable/Duke University)
• Authors Cite Problems with Genesis Press by Calvin Reid | Sep 15, 2006, Publishers Weekly (Archive link)
• One Perfect Rose hardcover – eBay
• The Instagram account of Aureltattoo, who dances in front of a fan

Visual Aids are at SBTB!

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Kate Quinn’s new book, The Astral Library, is out this week and I was so excited to not only get an advanced copy but an opportunity to interview Kate Quinn.

We talk about the inspiration for this very magical book, and about books that are sanctuaries. We also talk about library advocacy, book banning, and the deadly threat of bureaucracy.

My favorite thing that Kate says: “When you love a book, it also loves you.”

You can find Kate Quinn at her website, KateQuinnAuthor.com. She’s on Instagram @KateQuinn5975.

We also mentioned:

• Patricia C. Wrede’s Fantasy Worldbuilding Checklist
• Sylvie’s Book Dresses on Instagram @sylviefaconcreatricefrance
• The Tumblr post about hope that became a poem and a parody of Dr. Seuss.

Music: purple-planet.com

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Amanda and I are back, deep diving into romance and pop culture history with issue 1997 of Romantic Times Magazine. The cover reads Love, Lust, Laugh, and we’ve got some vintage books to talk about. Then we talk about what books we’re most looking forward to right now, and what we’re currently reading.

In two weeks we will be back with the ads & features, and you know a magazine from the 90s has the most excellent collection of cover art.

And if you like video episodes, this episode is available in video format for everyone on Sunday at our You Tube channel.

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Major Trigger Warning in this episode: At 20:24 we have a brief conversation about an author featured in the magazine who was the victim of a family annihilation. Immediately following, the book I discuss contains mentions of child loss, infertility, and infidelity. Skip ahead 2 and a half minutes.

We also mentioned:

• Amanda’s TBR Takedown board game: “Gamify Your TBR”
• Greenland sharks! 
• Solved HaBO: “She Served as Head of Her Father’s Army”
• Romance History with Steve Ammidown: “Lest We Forget” (trigger warning: family annihilation)

If you or someone you know is in danger from domestic or intimate partner violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1.800.799.7233, or you can text START to 88788.

Music: purple-planet.com

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My guest this week is Julia Quinn and we are talking about, of course, JQ Editions, a new subscription service creating special limited editions of historical romances. I’ve been writing about this since it was announced, and so I got to ask all my questions – and some of yours.

Along the way we talk about the historical romance genre, administrative mayhem, and the practicalities of creating special editions of beloved books. Plus you get to hear my reaction when Julia shares some of the 2027 titles.

Thank you to Verity, Sue, and Alanna for the questions!

You can find Julia Quinn on her website, JuliaQuinn.com, and on Instagram @JuliaQuinnAuthor, and on Facebook at AuthorJuliaQuinn.

You can find out more about JQ Editions at JQEditions.com.

We also mentioned:

• Germ and Worm - a travel health podcast
• Every Library 
• Jeni's Ice Cream: Bridgerton Collection! 
• Julia Quinn on The Today Show 
• Episode with former romance author and CDC specialist Dr. Jennifer McQuiston
• 122. Ponies, Ebola, and Historical Romance: An Interview with Jennifer McQuiston
• 171. Once More with Ebola and Romance: An Interview Jennifer McQuiston

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Do you like to listen to your favorite podcasts on YouTube? 

Find our latest episodes at on YouTube @SmartPodcastTrashyBooks - and please subscribe. I had to start the channel over.

Music: purple-planet.com

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Kayleigh Donaldson is back! She is the guest on some of the most popular episodes, and I know what that is: she’s brilliant. We recorded this just before the Oscar nominations were announced, so Kayleigh is making (some pretty accurate!) predictions about Oscar nominations, and explaining what makes this year’s group of films so interesting.

Along the way we also talk about vintage Hollywood gossip, character actors who go weird gremlin, and the way actors shape public narrative with their project choices, their fashion, and their cosmetic procedures. And also – Scotland made the World Cup – woohoo!

I love talking to people who think about their favorite aspects of popular culture the way I think about romance fiction, and I already know you love when Kayleigh is a guest. Don’t worry, she will be back.

Technical note: we had some connectivity issues and delay during the recording, so I don’t have a full video episode for this one, though I do have clips, so watch for them on social media. You might hear some muddy audio, and I apologize. Please know I did all the things I could.

CW/TW: At about 2 minutes in, we talk about Elizabeth Taylor’s abusive first husband. We also talk about body and beauty standards in Hollywood.

Patreon folks, you have an extended episode inside your Patreon feed with a whole extra hour of discussion about the Beckhams, the industry of celebrity children, and more.

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You can find Kayleigh Donaldson at her website, KayleighDonaldson.com, on Bluesky, and on Pajiba.com. You can also sign up for her (excellent) newsletter, Gossip Reading Club.

We also mentioned:

• The New Yorker: “Amanda Seyfried’s Epiphanies”
• Reddit: Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun in Central Park 
• Reddit: Sydney Sweeney and Christy Martin in Sports Illustrated
• Tom and Lorenzo: Sydney Sweeney’s hair on Jimmy Fallon
• The New York Times: Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom on the “Enduring Invisible Power of Blondeness” (Archive link)
• The Wrap: Kayleigh reviews All’s Fair
• The List: Bradley Cooper’s Face and Resulting Rumors
• The Wall Street Journal: Club Chalamet/Simone Cromer profile
• Wikipedia: The Leveson Inquiry 

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Candy recapped Heated Rivalry, and is that enough? No, of course not. We had MANY things we wanted to exclaim at each other about, so why not podcast about it?

We’re going to talk about the show, the acting, the adaptation, and the fact that this show could never have been made in the US. Jacob Tierney is a genius, and we have many a rabbit hole of research to explore.

If you’ve been thinking about this show nonstop, come hang out.

You can find Candy Tan @beautifulduckweed on Bluesky and on Tumblr.

And you can find the podcast with video on YouTube!

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It’s never too late for Holiday Wishes, right? We had such a record number of interviews for the Holiday Wishes episodes this year, and I truly love doing them. Thank you.

But many of you asked about Amanda’s recs and wishes, so to wind up our holiday extravaganza, Amanda and I are talking about the books that we loved in 2025, our wishes for everyone in 2026, and of course we talk about a LOT of other things. One of Amanda’s favorites was about a songwriter and so we discussed our music tastes, which, total surprise, are entirely different. We also look back at the most popular content on SBTB in 2025, and what posts and podcasts had the most engagement.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Smart Podcast Trashy Books YouTube Channel! 

We also mentioned:

• YouTube: Electric Callboy – “Elevator Operator”
• Webtoon: Villains are Destined to Die
• Podcast: The Sticky Bun Boys
• IG Reel: “Dating Grok”
• SBTB: Unhinged Bingo! 

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Happy 700th Episode!! 

Amanda Matta is a debut author (her book is coming in 2027!), media commentator, royal analyst, and an art historian. I’ve mentioned Amanda, and her podcast Art of History, which I love. In that show, she focuses on one particular piece of art and explains the history, context, symbolism, and even the details of how it was made. I like it. So I thought, why not have Amanda Matta give the Art of History treatment to some classic romance covers?

We also discuss royal watching, racism, influencing and commentating on popular culture, Henry VIII’s codpiece, art history, and more.

This is our 700th episode – woooo! – and it be both video and audio. The audio will be available on your regular podcast feeds, and you’ll hear us discuss and describe the covers in question. However, on the video, you get to see both of us, and the covers!

Want to watch on YouTube? Here you go!

Speaking of YouTube – did you know the podcast has a YouTube channel? It’s true! Each new episode is automatically uploaded, so if you prefer your podcasts on the ‘Tube, we’ve got you covered. Also, this channel is brand spanking new (I had to recreate it after YouTube deplatformed my last one without explanation. I presume bitches are to blame) so I’d appreciate it if you’d be so kind as to subscribe! If we hit 100 new subscribers, Amanda and I will live broadcast something very fun and silly to thank everyone.

Thank you for being part of the podcast community as we reach 700 episodes! This is a big milestone, and I’m so thankful you’re here.

You can find Amanda Matta at her website, AmandaMatta.com, on TikTok, and on Instagram.

You can find the show notes with all mentioned books and links at SBTB.com, and you can find our podcast on YouTube, or wherever you get your shows!

Want more romance commentary? Come hang out at Smart Bitches Trashy Books (https://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com)

We also mentioned:

• Steve Ammidown’s post about Robert McGinnis, who passed away in 2025
• Windsor Castle: A Royal Year
• The Infamous Three Armed Cover 
• The Art of History Podcast
• Off with Their Headlines Podcast
• Northern Disclosure Podcast
• The Midtown Scholar bookshop
• The Vulgar History Podcast
• Bachelor Lady Butts.

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Happy New Year!

This week we are talking with Katie, Kate, and Adam – we’ve got book recs, wishes, spreadsheet discussions, dungeons, and some wishes that don’t violate the Hatch Act.

There’s also rather appalling poo adventure immediately after my first interview. Pew pew!

Check out the complete show notes at SBTB.com!

Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads are now turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!

You can gift a Patreon membership if you’re so inclined! A lovely gift for someone you know who loves the show.

AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is available now for a limited time – until January 5, and boy, howdy, does Wax Cabin Candle Company ship fast. 

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