Vanessa Guerrero (Producer, Writer, Unemployed Hot Person) RETURNS for a special holiday episode! Vanessa and Lena talk about the iconic smooch in the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Later, they talk about their personal experiences shooting kissing scenes. Stick around to the end to learn about the origin of kissing under the mistletoe! Wishing everyone a Smoochy Holiday season and a Smacky New Year <3

NOTE: This is the final episode of Season 1 of Smooch Fest, thank you SO much for listening and watching. Season 2 will be back next Spring!

Relevant Links:

It’s A Wonderful Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk

The Celluloid Closet documentary: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-celluloid-closet 

Follow Vanessa:

https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/ 

https://x.com/nessguerrero 

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Caitlin Alice Gilbert (Author/Screenwriter) RETURNS to discuss Wicked: For Good and the smooch between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). They compare the chemistry from the musical and the film, Elphaba’s sex cardigan, and Jonathan Bailey becoming People’s Sexiest Man Alive. It’s also holiday season, so Lena takes us back to A Moment In Kisstory: where we learn about the first gay kiss in a Hallmark Christmas movie, The Christmas House. She shares how queer representation in Hallmark has developed over the years. Enjoy this penultimate episode of the first season of Smooch Fest!

Follow Caitlin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/ 

X: https://x.com/caitlingilbs 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs 

Pre-Order her book here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-dolce-veto-caitlin-alice-gilbert/e72b30b236dc7af4?ean=9781923232310&next=t& 

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Photoshopped Shirt in Wicked: For Good  https://x.com/demboiii/status/1994185827870449927 

Wicked: For Good kissing scene - Because this is still in theaters, no legal clips are online, so I encourage you to see it in theaters or when it comes out on streaming!

The Christmas House kiss: No clips online but you can rent it on multiple platforms. Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUTa9QG9uQ 

LGBTQ Hallmark Article: https://www.girlsgonehallmark.com/lgbtq-hallmark-movies/ 

Paige Elson (Actor/Writer/Comedian) joins Lena to do a deep dive into Abbott Elementary! They discuss the two momentous smooches between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). The gals compare other sitcom slow burn relationships and give their predictions for the couple in future seasons. Paige shares a story about her best kiss (hint: it’s a New Year's smooch!) Stick around for the Smooch Fact to hear about your brain on smooching. School’s in session! Study up!

Follow Paige:

https://www.instagram.com/paigeelson/

https://www.instagram.com/anointedgreens/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@AnointedGreens 

Substack

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First Janinory Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBrVPX2HqGQ 

Second Gregine Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgKTD5q2Uw 

Weird Image of That Guy - Sensory Homunculus: https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/109358431327849124 
Book: The Science of Kissing

Nina Concepcion (Actor/Writer) joins Lena to talk about her favorite pop culture smooch: the kiss between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner on the airport tarmac in The Bodyguard (1992)!

(NOTE: the first few minutes of audio is lower quality than usual, luckily, it kicked back into gear by minute 5!)

The girls gab about Costner and Houston's chemistry and how 90s movies were just BETTER. Later, Nina shares stories about her worst and best kisses (and it features a marching band). Lena ends the episode sharing a Moment in Kisstory: the time Al Gore made out with his wife, Tipper, too long at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. They get into the difference between Boomers and the Silent Generation. You’re gonna love this ep! 

Follow Nina:

https://www.instagram.com/nina_concepcion/

https://www.instagram.com/obsessed_theshow/

https://www.instagram.com/ruthiejoinsadeathcult/ 

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The Bodyguard Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gynU1x2Lk 

Al & Tipper Gore Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0kAoEWS2o 

We have a special Halloween themed episode for you! Fiona Nova (Director, Content Creator) has joined Lena to talk about the teen horror comedy Jennifer’s Body (2009) starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. They go in depth on the layered complexity of Needy and Jennifer’s relationship - is it love or is it a demon succubus manipulation tactic?? You’ll also want to hear Fiona’s personal smooch story about her best kiss. The episode ends with a roundup of SPOOKY SMOOCH FACTS! Listen, if you dare…

Follow Fiona:

https://www.instagram.com/fiona_nova/ 

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Jennifer’s Body Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MdKI8kiXU

Kassem G (Ex-Coworker, Current Friend) joins the pod this week to discuss one of his favorite kisses in pop culture: the Upside-Down Spider-Man Kiss. Lena shares all the behind the scenes details from the historic shoot for 2002’s Spider-Man. Afterward, Kassem is kind enough to share a story about his first FRENCH KISS (teaser: it’s during Halloween!) But with a comic book and superhero aficionado like Kass, of course, they have to discuss the smooches in the new Superman movie. Listen all the way to the end to learn about how kisses affect your brain chemistry! Spooky!

Follow Kass:

https://www.instagram.com/gmessak/

https://www.youtube.com/@KassemG

https://www.youtube.com/@BroughtYouThisThing 

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Kissing Scenes:

Spider-Man -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TD2oxFBnns 

Superman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3_KTfb3_s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBpwrORhKWU 

Spider-Man Article: https://www.theringer.com/2022/05/03/movies/spider-man-kiss-tobey-maguire-kirsten-dunst

Dana Handleman (Actor/Comedian) joins Lena to share her favorite smooch from the 2005 queer rom com Imagine Me & You. They gush about their crushes on Lena Headey and Piper Perabo. Then Lena pressures Dana to share a personal kissing story (hint: it takes place at a middle school dance!) Next, they discuss the SUMMER SMASH HIT Netflix show,The Hunting Wives, starring Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman. What is it about Margo’s character that is so alluring to Sophie? Listen to find out. And you won’t want to miss the Smooch Fact at the end 💋💋💋

Follow Dana:

https://www.instagram.com/jewfro_and_specs/

https://www.instagram.com/dana_slings_drinks/ 

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Kissing Scenes:

Imagine Me & You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT3wW7gZKLo&list=PLwfktJH9i4NR5tYyIbKX_cTbQQZXvXr2I&index=14 

The Hunting Wives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHVcRcETgqk 

Author/Screenwriter Caitlin Alice Gilbert joins Lena Olson to discuss her favorite smooch in pop culture: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams accepting the Best Kiss Award for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. They talk about their roles in The Notebook (2004) and how that led to their real-life romance. Caitlin shares an epic story about one of her best kisses (hint: it takes place in Italy!)

Then the gals get to the main event: Bridgerton! They discuss the three main couples from each season, Daphne & Simon, Kate & Anthony, and Penelope & Colin. They compare each of their first kisses and rank which couple smooched the best! The pop culture analysis you didn’t know you needed.  As always, we end with a Smooch Fact.

Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod  

Follow Caitlin here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/ 

X: https://x.com/caitlingilbs 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs 

Pre-order Caitlin’s book, La Dolce Veto: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/La-Dolce-Veto/Caitlin-Alice-Gilbert/9781923232310

Kissing Scenes:

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGle4xRNPSM&t=73s 

Daphne & Simon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBhi-O63BHE 

Kate & Anthony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ7zUws8LeU 

Penelope & Colin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeMO7Bhr4rA 

Article: Oldest Kiss Recorded on Mesopotamian Clay Tablet https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/humanitys-first-kiss-was-earlier-than-we-thought-180982206/

This week, Lena Olson is joined by Melissa Flores for a special episode of Smooch Fest we are calling, the Smooch Smackdown! In this episode, the gals compare multiple smooches between the power couples of the worldwide sitcom sensation, Friends (1994-2004). Who will emerge victorious? Ross and Rachel? Monica and Chandler? Listen and find out how Lena and Melissa judge the competition. You may get some fun behind the scenes tidbits as well. Lena also shares juicy details about the longest kiss ever recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records. Check it out!

Follow Melissa:

https://www.instagram.com/melissaflo/

Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod

Kissing Scenes:

Ross and Rachel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVRmfWT84ME&t=13s 

Monica and Chandler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRVueBoZjEA

Phoebe and Mike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awxZaqzp31w 

Rachel and Joey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2dtMUGMEh4 

Lena is joined by Ruby Kostur (Queer Matchmaker, Cat Mom) to talk about the kissing scene between Brittany Snow and Sophia Bush in the teen romp, John Tucker Must Die (2006). Ruby also tells Lena about her first kiss. Lena then shares her research into animals and if they kiss like humans. She shares perhaps a bit too much graphic information about the love lives of bonobos. Lastly, they learn about the first kiss recorded on film! You can’t call yourself a smooch expert unless you listen to this episode.

Follow Ruby:

https://www.instagram.com/kangarubyyyyy/ 

Follow Kostur & Brown:

https://www.kosturandbrown.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/kostur.and.brown/ 

Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod 

Kissing Scenes:

John Tucker Must Die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHIg0d4KQMc 

Edweard Muybridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJQbyCo024