Podcasts about Chasing Liberty

“Le wokisme, which the French love to hate, traces its intellectual genealogy back to 1960s French intellectuals,” writes Politico, “…who analyzed and ‘deconstructed' the language and the symbolism of power, kickstarting a global campus movement.” So why are the French people now rejecting identity politics en masse? One reason could be found in French law: “Unlike in the United States, where people are commonly asked to self-identify as a given ethnicity, such questions are illegal in France and are seen as a form of racism.” Could similar laws repair the damage of identity politics and woke racism in the United States? Beatrice Rosen is a French-American actress known for roles in major films including The Dark Knight (2008) and Chasing Liberty (2004). She has appeared in numerous television series including Charmed, Smallville, Harry's Law, and Backstrom. A former brand ambassador for luxury house Lancel, Rosen has worked extensively in the US, UK, and French entertainment industries since 2004. Follow her at https://instagram.com/beatrice_rosen and https://x.com/beatrice_rosen 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at https://drdrew.com/sponsors  • FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15 • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at https://twc.health/drew 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://twitter.com/firstladyoflove). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod returns with a special focus on the Friday races, delivering expert insights from a lineup of knowledgeable guests. PTF and JK navigate through the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Juvenile races, featuring perspectives from Eric DeCoster, Maggie Wolfendale, Callum Helliwell, Acacia Clement, and Andrew Brown. Key contenders discussed include Aesterius, Lake Victoria, and Iron Man Cal, with each guest providing their analysis on the horses' strengths and potential strategies for this prestigious event. This year's Breeders' Cup promises to be particularly thrilling, with a mix of established favorites and intriguing long shots. Join us as we break down the races and discover valuable betting insights to enhance your Breeders' Cup experience.Brought to you by Twinspires.com, home of the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge where you can also play the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.It's one of our most popular shows of the year -- the Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod. We've divided it in half so the Friday portion is not THAT monstrous, but it's also very high on quality. If you are new to In the Money, here's the drill -- PTF and JK split hosting duties and then it's one guest per race.Here you'll find:Eric DeCoster of In the Money Plus on The Juvenile Turf Sprint (with thoughts on Aesterius, Big Mojo, Arizona Blaze, Chasing Liberty, Ecoro Sieg, Governor Sam, Whistlejacket, and more).Maggie Wolfendale on the Juvenile Fillies (American Bikini, Immersive, Scottish Lass, Quickick, Snowyte etc.)Callum Helliwell of Sky Sports Racing on the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Lake Victoria, Destino D'oro, Thought Process, Schythian, Virgin Colada et al.)Acacia Clement on the Juvenile (Jonathan's Way, Ferocious, Chancer McPatrick, East Avenue, Raging, and others.)Andrew Brown of Off to the Races Media on the Juvenile Turf (his own Iron Man Cal via Little Red Feather, Al Qudra, New Century, Henri Matisse, Mentee, Santoro Carnaval and more.)LONGER description:Listeners are treated to a thorough exploration of the Breeders' Cup Friday races, with expert guests providing insights into a range of critical contenders. Eric DeCoster leads the conversation on the Juvenile Turf Sprint, emphasizing the strength of the European entries, particularly the horse Aesterius, who shows promise against strong local competitors like Governor Sam and Big Mojo. DeCoster's detailed analysis dissects each horse's performance metrics and tactical advantages, highlighting the unique strategies that could unfold in this fast-paced race. He also notes the increasing competitiveness of the Japanese entries, such as Ecoro Sieg, adding an international flair to the event that fans should eagerly anticipate.The discussion then shifts to the Juvenile Fillies, featuring insights from Maggie Wolfendale, who presents a deep dive into the contenders vying for victory. With a focus on Scottish Lass and Immersive, she breaks down their form and the significance of their previous performances. Wolfendale also introduces fans to lesser-known runners like Snowyte and Quickick, who could surprise in the race. Her expert commentary provides a nuanced understanding of how each horse's background and training could impact their chances on race day, making it a must-listen for any serious bettor or fan of the sport.Next, Callum Helliwell brings a fresh perspective to the Juvenile Fillies Turf, emphasizing the standout performance of Lake Victoria. His enthusiasm for this horse's unbeaten streak is palpable as he discusses her potential to dominate the field. Additionally, he points out that Thought Process, with her impressive last race, could pose a significant threat to Lake Victoria's aspirations. Helliwell's insights are complemented by Acacia Clement and Andrew...

The Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod returns with a special focus on the Friday races, delivering expert insights from a lineup of knowledgeable guests. PTF and JK navigate through the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Juvenile races, featuring perspectives from Eric DeCoster, Maggie Wolfendale, Callum Helliwell, Acacia Clement, and Andrew Brown. Key contenders discussed include Aesterius, Lake Victoria, and Iron Man Cal, with each guest providing their analysis on the horses' strengths and potential strategies for this prestigious event. This year's Breeders' Cup promises to be particularly thrilling, with a mix of established favorites and intriguing long shots. Join us as we break down the races and discover valuable betting insights to enhance your Breeders' Cup experience.Brought to you by Twinspires.com, home of the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge where you can also play the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.It's one of our most popular shows of the year -- the Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod. We've divided it in half so the Friday portion is not THAT monstrous, but it's also very high on quality. If you are new to In the Money, here's the drill -- PTF and JK split hosting duties and then it's one guest per race.Here you'll find:Eric DeCoster of In the Money Plus on The Juvenile Turf Sprint (with thoughts on Aesterius, Big Mojo, Arizona Blaze, Chasing Liberty, Ecoro Sieg, Governor Sam, Whistlejacket, and more).Maggie Wolfendale on the Juvenile Fillies (American Bikini, Immersive, Scottish Lass, Quickick, Snowyte etc.)Callum Helliwell of Sky Sports Racing on the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Lake Victoria, Destino D'oro, Thought Process, Schythian, Virgin Colada et al.)Acacia Clement on the Juvenile (Jonathan's Way, Ferocious, Chancer McPatrick, East Avenue, Raging, and others.)Andrew Brown of Off to the Races Media on the Juvenile Turf (his own Iron Man Cal via Little Red Feather, Al Qudra, New Century, Henri Matisse, Mentee, Santoro Carnaval and more.)*The Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod returns with a special focus on the Friday races, delivering expert insights from a lineup of knowledgeable guests. PTF and JK navigate through the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Juvenile races, featuring perspectives from Eric DeCoster, Maggie Wolfendale, Callum Helliwell, Acacia Clement, and Andrew Brown. Key contenders discussed include Aesterius, Lake Victoria, and Iron Man Cal, with each guest providing their analysis on the horses' strengths and potential strategies for this prestigious event. This year's Breeders' Cup promises to be particularly thrilling, with a mix of established favorites and intriguing long shots. Join us as we break down the races and discover valuable betting insights to enhance your Breeders' Cup experience.Brought to you by Twinspires.com, home of the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge where you can also play the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.It's one of our most popular shows of the year -- the Breeders' Cup MONSTER pod. We've divided it in half so the Friday portion is not THAT monstrous, but it's also very high on quality. If you are new to In the Money, here's the drill -- PTF and JK split hosting duties and then it's one guest per race.Here you'll find:Eric DeCoster of In the Money Plus on The Juvenile Turf Sprint (with thoughts on Aesterius, Big Mojo, Arizona Blaze, Chasing Liberty, Ecoro Sieg, Governor Sam, Whistlejacket, and more).Maggie Wolfendale on the Juvenile Fillies (American Bikini, Immersive, Scottish Lass, Quickick, Snowyte etc.)Callum Helliwell of Sky Sports Racing on the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Lake Victoria, Destino D'oro, Thought Process, Schythian, Virgin Colada...

We are wrapping up our Twin Films/lightly political month with First Daughter – a movie that has the same plot as Chasing Liberty but is worse and she's coded as a princess???? Whyyyy?! Join our Patreon: patreon.com/chartsandheartsclub

Welcome to lightly political month (aka our first Twin Films month). We are kicking things off with the better of the two (spoiler alert): Chasing Liberty! Hope you enjoy the Matthew Goode swoon ???? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/chartsandheartsclub

This week our starlet is Mandy Moore. It's time to take a Walk to Remember and Chase Liberty. Take a listen, Because We Said So. Follow LTP on Social Media

To celebrate Independence Day, Dan and Brian watch three movies about dating the president's daughter: My Date With the President's Daughter, a Disney TV movie from 1998; plus two 2004 films, Chasing Liberty and First Daughter. Join as they discuss various fictional presidents, the long history of "twin films," the good vibes of Disney TV movies, the weird recurring themes across the films, and an all-time earworm theme song. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/

This week, we are comparing Chasing Liberty (2004) and First Daughter (2004), two films about the teenage daughter of the US President trying to find some freedom and fall in love.-----The Movies:Chasing Liberty (2004)Directed by Andy CadiffWritten by Derek Guiley & David SchneidermanIMDb Rating: 6.1First Daughter (2004)Directed by Forest WhitakerWritten by Jessica Bendinger, Kate Kondell & Jerry O'ConnellIMDb Rating: 5.1-----Find us on:Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPodInstagram - @ItTakesTwo_podFacebook - @ItTakesTwoPodYoutube - @ittakestwonzOur website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz-----

https://youtu.be/0WAxXLr116M For this essential acceptance, the majority must be persuaded by ideology that their government is good, wise and, at least, inevitable, and certainly better than other conceivable alternatives. Promoting this ideology among the people is the vital social task of the “intellectuals.” For the masses of men do not create their own ideas, or indeed think through these ideas independently; they follow passively the ideas adopted and disseminated by the body of intellectuals. The intellectuals are, therefore, the “opinion-molders” in society. And since it is precisely a molding of opinion that the State most desperately needs, the basis for age-old alliance between the State and the intellectuals becomes clear. - Murray N. Rothbard, Anatomy of the State Jeff Charles is the host of "A Fresh Perspective" podcast. He is a contributor for RedState, Newsweek Opinion and also has a Substack called "Chasing Liberty." Article discussed: The Case for Making Local Government Sexy Again by Jeff Charles Watch on BitChute

Jeff Charles is the host of "A Fresh Perspective" podcast. He is a contributor for RedState, Newsweek Opinion and also has a Substack called "Chasing Liberty." The Case for Making Local Government Sexy Again by Jeff Charles: https://www.libertychasers.com/p/the-case-for-making-local-government The Voluntaryist Handbook: https://libertarianinstitute.org/books/voluntaryist-handbook/

This week we are shocked to learn who one of the writers of First Daughter is (Not a Rob Thomas/Rob Thomas situation), Carrie channels a real housewife of New Jersey and we ask the important question: should all teen rom coms be based on Shakespeare plays?

What do you get when two movies come out in 2004 about the Presidents daughter falling in love with a secret secret service agent? Chasing Liberty(2004) Directed by Andy Cardiff. Starring Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode and Mark Harmon. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tyAA22yuJc First Daughter(2004) Directed by Forest Whitaker. Starring Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas and Michael Keaton. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsLHkNDaiMg Twitter: @DoubledFeature Instagram: DoubledFeature Email: DoubledFeaturePodcast@Gmail.com Dan's Twitter: @DannyJenkem Dan's Letterboxd: @DannyJenkem Max's Twitter: @Mac_Dead Max's Letterboxd: @Mac_Dead Executive Producer: Koolaid --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/doubledfeature/message

Hop on your scooter and come with us as we go Chasing Liberty (2004)! We discuss human anatomy, overprotective fathers, and Shelby’s capacity for forgiveness. Oh, and don’t forget our boy Matthew...

Why fix something that isn't broken? Or should we say, why make a new movie plot when you have almost the same one? This time, Marie & Coni talk about First Daughter. Another president's daughter movie about the struggles with independence and a good looking stranger (secretly body guard) to fall in love with.While we do enjoy Michael Keaton as president, it's hard to love this movie with its vanilla flavor sexiness and lack of chemistry throughout. Please enjoy Coni's rants on the lack of "Take Me On the Piano" moments and Marie doing her best to grasp at positive straws. If you've seen both First Daughter and Chasing Liberty, do you actually have a favorite??? Only want to listen to certain segments? We gotchu boo. Take Me On The Piano: 18:39Why Are You Like This?!: 22:39Final Thoughts/Ratings: 29:05Support the show

We're getting a little patriotic and jumping into a movie about the hard life of being a president's daughter. WOE IS ME. Our leading lady Samantha is your classic spoiled teenager living a tough life of constant security guards cramping her lifestyle. We have zero sympathy to be honest. But here we are supporting this character who's name isn't even "Liberty". Join us as we talk about Coni's secret service code name and all the romantic dates Marie has done for her. Marie also talks about a good 'ol fashion plot twist and  her discovery of food play to spice things up. Only want to listen to certain segments? We gotchu boo. Take Me On The Piano: 23:17Why Are You Like This?!: 30:14Final Thoughts/Ratings: 38:13Support the show

Laura Marie has a confession: this recording is the first time she had ever seen Mean Girls all the way through AND not edited for tv. She's ashamed. Jessica Marie saw this movie in the theater and, rightly so, has been obsessed ever since. While the entire movie is a meme, is quotable, and unforgettable, you might be surprised how much was taken out for TV and how much ick there is. There's a bit more homophobia, fat shaming, and sexism than we all remembered which is unfortunate. What isn't unfortunate is that this movie stays relevant every October, every time we hear Jingle Bell Rock, every time someone gives a compliment, and every time we remember what high school Valentine's Day was like. You go Glen Coco. TW / CW: Discussions surrounding bullying, microagressions in marginalized communities, sexual assault with minors, eating disorders, various traumas, fatphobia, slut-shaming, incest, AAPI hate For additional TW/CW information for your future reads, head to this site for more: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/ Spoilers: No spoilers to our knowledge Mentions: References to popular movies from early 00s including: Saved, Eurotrip, Garden State, i Heart Huckabees, Shrek 2, Team America, 50 First Dates, Shaun of the Dead, Confessions of a Drama Queen, Confessions of a Shopaholic, 13 Going on 30, Princess Diaries 2, NY Minute, Cinderella Story, Chasing Liberty, Ella Enchanted *Thank you for listening to us! Please subscribe and leave a 5 star review and follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/acofaepodcast/) at @ACOFAEpodcast and on our TikToks! TikTok: ACOFAELaura : Laura Marie (https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaelaura?) ACOFAEJessica : Jessica Marie (https://www.tiktok.com/@acofaejessica?)

Special Guest: Chasing Liberty and the Texas high school self defense event --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/notareallibertarian/message

22 year old Gabby Petito was on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie across the country. Cops were called. Brian left Utah, went back to Florida, only to return to get his van and drive it back to Florida alone. 10 days later, Gabby was reported missing. Brian refuses to cooperate with authorities. Gabby Petito is missing. Liberty Line Radio is determined to find the truth.

Rene and Max watched 2004 Romcom Chasing Liberty and they discussed how well done the multiple kisses in this film are and how cool Europe is. They also discuss the similarities between this film and the Romcom Roman Holiday. This is a good one, so give it a listen!

Public Intellectuals' Teka Lo speaks with Dr. Carl L. Hart. Dr. Hart is a psychologist and neuroscientist. He is a professor of psychology at Columbia University. Hart is known for his research in drug abuse and drug addiction. Hart is one of the first tenured African American professors of sciences at Columbia University. In this interview, we discuss his latest book, Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear.

We're sorry but not actually sorry for laughing so much at the beginning of the ep! Abbey discusses why she thinks we got food poisoning and we dive into the latest Hot Gosling. Our rom com is Chasing Liberty, starring Mandy Moore. We share stories of running away with a complete stranger and how lucky we were with the outcomes we had. Subscribe - Rate - Review @romcomedianspod @abbeyfinch @_jennyjennings

First Draft Episode #309: Casey McQuiston Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue, talks about her latest queer rom-com, One Last Stop. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hadestown (musical) The Royal We and its sequel The Heir Affair, by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks, the writing duo otherwise known as Fug Girls. Hear their First Draft interview here. Louise Rettison, author of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson and many more YA novels Eddie Izzard, actor and comedian A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hilary Rodham Clinton by Carl Bernstein My Date with The President's Daughter (movie) Chasing Liberty (movie) Derry Girls (TV show) Happy Endings (TV show) New Girl (TV show) Veep (TV show) Parks and Recreation (TV show) How I Met Your Mother (TV show) VIcki Lame, editor at St. Martin's Press The You're Wrong About podcast's series about Princess Diana Susie Q (movie) Doctor Who (TV show) LOST (TV show) TVTropes.org Oceans 11 (movie) Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett (hear her First Draft interview here) Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian (hear his First Draft interview here) “I'm Not Your Hero” by Tegan and Sara 10 Things I Hate About You (movie) co-written by Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, hear her First Draft interview here Elana K. Arnold, author of YA books Damsel, What Girls Are Made Of, Infandous, and Middle Grade series A Boy Called Bat, and many more. Listen to her First Draft interviews here and here.  

Meghan Hetfield and Jarmichael Harris share harm reduction approaches to supporting people who use drugs in improving their quality of life with host Kristen Harper. Visit c4innovates.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for more resources to grow your impact. Learn More Meghan Hetfield, WEconnect Jarmichael Harris, Engage Recovery Drug Use for Grown-ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Dr. Carl Hart Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens from the Drug Policy Alliance Volitional Social Interaction Prevents Drug Addiction in Rat Models SMART Recovery mutual support meetings Recovery Dharma Refuge Recovery NEXT Distro Harm Reduction Works Access a transcript of Meeting People Who Use Drugs Where They Are

Meghan Hetfield and Jarmichael Harris share harm reduction approaches to supporting people who use drugs in improving their quality of life with host Kristen Harper. Visit c4innovates.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for more resources to grow your impact. Learn More Meghan Hetfield, WEconnect Jarmichael Harris, Engage Recovery Drug Use for Grown-ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Dr. Carl Hart Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens from the Drug Policy Alliance Volitional Social Interaction Prevents Drug Addiction in Rat Models SMART Recovery mutual support meetings Recovery Dharma Refuge Recovery NEXT Distro Harm Reduction Works Access a transcript of Meeting People Who Use Drugs Where They Are

It's our date with the President's daughter. Our date with the President's daughter, oh yeah. Jonelle and Eliza sit down with romance novelist Kate Kerns to discuss Chasing Liberty (2004), including the underdiscussed Presidential daughter subgenre; surprisingly nuanced vacation love stories; and why this movie doesn't deserve its 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/romcomkilljoys)

The Columbia professor, scientist, and author discusses his latest book. For more information visit DrCarlHart.com

Hop on board the nostalgia train yet again because we found another excuse to hang out with our dad Colin Firth! This week we're exploring another classic piece of teen girl culture that Kirstie missed in the early aughts, What A Girl Wants. This film is jam packed with flare jeans, hijinks, and Colin Firth dancing in leather pants. We explore some latent feelings about Vespas, wonder what the writers knew about the House of Windsor, and are compelled to say this movie is Not That Bad? Thank you to our very kind listeners who have been sending us content suggestions, keep them coming!

In this episode, Jessica and Amy discuss the 2011 film Leap Year staring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode in honor of St. Patrick's Day and Leap Year and just because they wanted to.Thank you for listening! If you are up for leaving a rating or review, we would be super grateful!Find us -Instagram @OHGPodcastTwitter @OHGPodcastEmail: obstinateheadstrongpodcast@gmail.com

This week @UpTownTone and @BourneFresh have a REALLY good conversation with good friend Nojyar Black AKA "The WB." Ted Cruz is WILDIN!!! The intro and song is an Ode to him and decision making in the face of adversity. We meet a college professor who uses heroin to assist with his work/life balance. Yea...you read that right. Also, Judas and The Black Messiah breakdown, The Philly Black Ice Challenge and MUCH MUCH MORE! Don't forget to check out @ThaLateBloomers and @FoFoFoPodcast as well. Lets get into it!

On this week's episode, Marc is in conversation with professor of neuroscience and psychology at Columbia University, Dr. Carl Hart; discussing his book "Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear". Dr. Hart discusses his views on drug use and liberty; and explains why they don't go hand and hand. He is transparent about his personal drug use, and shares his beliefs on why we should consider revising our view on illegal drug use in the US.

Suleikha and Allie discuss the intricacies of a first daughter romance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/romanceeverafter/message

Voting day in America, so the boys watch the 2004 films “Chasing Liberty” and “First Daughter”, after casting their ballots of course! www.battleremake.com

Well folks, it's Election Week 2020, and what better time than the present to (1) come to you with breaking news about Celine Dion, and (2) revisit some patriotic content from a simpler election year. For those of you who haven't trained Google to push notify you with news about Sam Heughan, we spend more time than we ought to (and yet not nearly enough time???) discussing his new film Text For You/SMS Fur Dich/Text For Dick. Then it's time for a Romcomducation History Lesson™️ about teen romcoms from the early aughts, a time when we were all apparently CLAMORING for movies about teenage presidential daughters. The important takeaway from all this is that Chasing Liberty is the better of these films based on the ~Matthew Goode wearing men's bell bottoms~ factor alone.

As we head into the final stretch of one of the most important elections of our lifetimes, we take a look into the White House and what's going on with the presidential offspring!As is our custom until things improve, we are still encouraging listeners to visit blacklivesmatter.com and/or donate at any of the following:Get Mitch or Die TryingCOVID-19 Mutual Aid Network - Los AngelesBLM LAACLUWorld Central KitchenIf those don't float your boat, you could always support us:https://ko-fi.com/twinemacinema

Our Agents are traipsing through Europe in this Virtual Vacation, trailing after the president’s daughter Anna in Chasing Liberty (2004). While we like the scenery (Hello Matthew Goode and Mandy Moore), we question whether Anna should be quite so careless with her wallet and her wellbeing. Follow us on this caper through the countryside with side trips into Canadian and Newfoundland accents, the Good Wife, and COVID era travel (or the lack of it). Our Agents offer valuable travel safety tips to keep you safe on your own romantic virtual vacation. Annette Wierstra with Quinn Rose and Erika Ensign.

Our Agents are traipsing through Europe in this Virtual Vacation, trailing after the president’s daughter Anna in Chasing Liberty (2004). While we like the scenery (Hello Matthew Goode and Mandy Moore), we question whether Anna should be quite so careless with her wallet and her wellbeing. Follow us on this caper through the countryside with side trips into Canadian and Newfoundland accents, the Good Wife, and COVID era travel (or the lack of it). Our Agents offer valuable travel safety tips to keep you safe on your own romantic virtual vacation. Host Annette Wierstra with Quinn Rose and Erika Ensign.

This week the hosts discuss the 2004 movie "Chasing Liberty" starring Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode. Intro and outro music: Life of Riley by Kevin McCloud (InCompetech) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of Rom Bombs, we discuss Chasing Liberty, the teen rom-com that… wait, this can’t be right… we actually ENJOYED? Mandy Moore helms this 2004 movie about the president’s daughter falling in love — not to be confused with First Daughter, the 2004 movie about the president’s daughter falling in love — and we couldn’t help but be charmed. Join us as we question the protagonist’s situational awareness, perv on Matthew Goode (just a little), and reminisce about how terrible early 2000s fashion and music was. Follow us on Twitter: @rombombsMusic: “Our Big Adventure” by scottholmesmusic.com

In 2001's "The Princess Diaries" was brought to life by Garry Marshall, with hilarious, hapless, unsuspecting PRINCESS Mia Thermopolis played by then newcomer Anne Hathaway. The movie set off a new trope in teen movies that cut straight to the heart of 11 -16 year olds everywhere - what if you really were a princess, but no one knew it? We talk about Princess Diaries, as well as the charming "What a Girl Wants" (2003) and drudgery of "Chasing Liberty" (2004).

April was our most downloaded month ever. Thank you to our listeners! Jeff and Will discuss their upcoming travel schedule. They will be at the Romance Writers of America national conference, Podcast Movement, Dreamspinner’s Author Conference and GayRomLit. Jeff reviews Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy and Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Jeff interviews Casey about her debut novel. They talk about the inspiration for Red, White & Royal Blue and the impact the 2016 election had on the story.  In addition, they discuss the recently announced movie adaptation, what got Casey into writing romance and what she’s working on next. Complete shownotes for episode 187 along with a transcript of the interview are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Here’s the text of this week’s book reviews: Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. Reviewed by Jeff. I’ve been a huge fan of Sarina Bowen’s for some years now. Her Understatement of the Year is among my favorite books of all time and I also love Him and Us which were co-written with Elle Kennedy. Sarina and Elle are back with their first m/m romance in three years with Top Secret. They’ve written an extremely satisfying enemies to lovers romance that sizzles but also has some extremely sweet parts as well. Keaton’s a college junior from a privileged family whose been with his girlfriend since high school. For her birthday, she announces that she wants a threesome. After brief thought Keaton agrees. He lives in a frat house where one of his frat brothers is Luke. Luke basically keeps to himself barely gets along with anyone in the house. Luke’s a townie, going to school on an academic scholarship and as a despicable mom and older brother who only want to take advantage of him. He lives in the frat because it’s cheaper than a dorm and he’s running for president because that means free room. Keaton looks to an app to help find the right guy for this birthday present. He signs in as LobsterShorts and soon ends up talking to SinnerThree. Once SinnerThree finds out it’s Keaton’s first three way, he wants to make sure Keaton would be cool with him in the mix and to start considering what the rules would be. SinnerThree even gives sexy homework. This gets Keaton thinking because he’s buried his feelings about guys for a long time. Of course, SinnerThree is Luke, who lives right across the hall. What makes this book work so extraordinarily well is the two sides of Luke and Keaton we see between their public personas and their chats on the app. Luke wants to escape the town and the life he’s known growing up. He strives to excel in school so he can get the high-paying job and never be reliant on anybody again. Meanwhile, Keaton knows he’s got all the privilege but he also chafes at the expectations that his family and friends put on him and he keeps all that to himself because it’s what he’s supposed to do. When they’re chatting as SinnerThree and LobsterShorts the conversation occasionally drifts from figuring out what Keaton’s boundaries actually are to discussing their realities and what they want out of life. Their emotional shields fall away. The way Sarina and Elle transition from sexy to sweet and back again is perfect. Of course, the night finally comes and Keaton and Luke find out they’ve been talking for weeks. The night doesn’t go as planned, but they don’t stop exploring their sexual feelings or sharing closely guarded secrets. Both guys have great growth as Keaton comes into his own, embracing his true sexuality and the career he wants after college. I’m particularly happy this wasn’t a gay-for-you story but rather about a young man figuring out who he is. The battle for Luke is about his sexuality at all–he’s proudly bisexual. He can’t fathom that anyone could love him because of his terrible family. He’s been so battered by them, that he’s hesitant to accept help from anyone because it would surely come with strings. Thankfully, even though Keaton bungles quite a few things with Luke, he also works to make it right. It’s a credit to Sarina and Elle that they have created such fully fleshed out characters who evolve so much through the story. I was invested in so much more than the romance because I wanted these guys to find their way too. The motley crew of frat brothers also brought some great depth to the story as they were a mix of those who were genuinely kind and others were douchey. The parents were also an interesting contrast between Luke’s trailer trash and Keaton’s very well-to-do. Keaton’s father and mother are far more than meets the eye too. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but I have to call out them out too. It’s an example of Sarina and Elle creating multi-dimensional characters. Another extraordinary part of the story for me was how the black moment played out. A lot of stuff goes down and there were plenty of opportunities to cheapen the story. The way the last twenty percent of the book played was perfect even while it provided me with quite a few moments of stress. We’re headed into summer and this book is perfect for vacation reading. I highly recommend Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Reviewed by Jeff I knew this book would be exactly right for me. I have a thing for the royal trope and the idea of an American first son and a British prince getting together made this a must read. What I didn’t expect was how Casey McQuiston elevated the material putting this enemies to lovers romance on the list of my all time favorites. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the first son. Henry is the prince. They have secretly crushed on each other for years. They developed an enemies vibe at the Rio Olympics when they had a less than good encounter, especially from Alex’s point of view. Move forward to today and a near international incident set off by the two at a royal wedding. As part of PR disaster control, a story is created that Henry and Alex are actually the best of friends. After some forced outings to appease the press they start talking to each other more and get past their public personas. One of the things that makes this story works so well is Casey has created an alternate history that many of us would like to see. Claremont took office from Obama so the Trump nightmare never happened. And it’s wonderful that her son is Mexican-American given the current hate filled climate around immigrants. There’s even a couple of lines in the book about how it’s not lost on Alex that there are some people who hate that a Mexican-American took the job of first son. Alex and Henry talk a lot about the lives they want. They’re both expected to meet family obligations and be leaders for their countries–it’s not really what they want though. The texts, emails and phone calls as Alex and Henry reveal more and more of themselves are absolutely priceless. At times funny and others heartbreakingly honest, they talk about how they feel trapped. As the first sparks of romance blossom between them their enemy side is quite fiery as they have rage filled kisses before succumbing to the fact that this is something that they both desperately want. The back-and-forth between sweet romance and the slightly angry romance enhanced the story as they fight against their feelings. The reality stays firmly rooted throughout the story and I loved that. Sometimes the royal trope, as much as I enjoy it, is far more fantasy than reality. It’s part of what makes the trope so good–that chancea prince might be your neighbor. This world could exist–a prince and a member of the first family. Casey gives them all the trappings, including secret rendezvous’s that are partially orchestrated by their security teams. Of course, as must happen the romance is horribly revealed and damages them both. The guys had to really work for the happy in this book, which makes the ending so sweetly satisfying. There were a lot of ways the end could’ve played out, but I can’t imagine one that would’ve been more perfect than what Casey gives us. I haven’t felt as overall thrilled by a book as I have by Red White & Royal Blue in quite some time. It reminded me of reading Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and the wonder of such rich, vivid characters in a charming story that deserves to be real. Casey captured not only an America that I desperately want to live in but a romance that was everything that I ever wanted. I could gush on and on about this book, and will more in the upcoming interview. For now I’ll leave this by saying that I beyond highly recommend Casey McQuiston’s Red White & Royal Blue. This interview transcript is sponsored by Dreamspinner PressDreamspinner Press is proud to publish Hank Edwards and Deanna Wadsworth’s new book Murder Most Lovely. Check it out, and all the new mystery and suspense titles from your favorite authors like Amy Lane, KC Wells, Tara Lain, and Rhys Ford, just to name a few, and find a new favorite author while you’re at it. Go to dreamspinnerpress.com for everything you want in gay romance. Jeff: Casey, welcome to the podcast. Thanks so much for joining us. Casey: Thank you so much for having me. I’m very excited. Jeff: So, before we got to this segment, I spent a ton of time just going over “Red, White & Royal Blue” as being one of the best things I’ve read this year and one of my top books maybe in the “ever” category because it’s everything I needed in a romance with the prince trope and essentially royalty in the U.S. with the first son. And, I mean, Alex and Henry are so awesome. Tell us what your inspiration was behind this book? Casey: Yeah. So I first started…actually, it’s weird. A couple of days ago, I was going through my Timehop which shows you, you know, what you tweeted two, three, four years ago, and I realized that, a few days ago, which is April 13th, was the day that I tweeted, “Hey, I just had this idea for a book.” And it took me back to that moment of the exact lightning strike moment when I knew what I wanted to write. And this is a question we’ll get into later, but it was one of many attempts at a book I had started and none of them had really taken hold of me like this one did. So it was early 2016, I was obsessively following the presidential election, which, you know, we all were at the time with a lot of optimism. And, at the same time, I was reading two books. I was reading “The Royal We,” which is by Heather Morgan and Jessica Cocks, and it’s basically almost a novelization of Will and Kate with a bunch of different things changed about it. So I was reading that. And I was also reading a super dry Carl Bernstein Hillary Clinton biography, which was a fun little juxtaposition. And I had this idea in my head of I want to do… I’ve seen so many sub-versions of prince charming trope, but I feel, as a queer person, I’ve never seen one that seems the most obvious to me, which is, you know, what if, he wasn’t the perfect, going to produce a million heirs, prince, you know. And then on the other side, I was I loved “Chasing Liberty” when I was growing up and “My Date with the President’s Daughter” and I was really into the idea of a rom-com starring this rebellious first kid, and I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to do first, and I was like, “Wait a minute. If I put them both in the same story, I don’t have to pick.” So, honestly, it was me being indecisive that led to that decision. And on a wider scale, a bigger scope, I just really was looking for the perfect, fun escapist tropey rom-com that was so undeniably fun that the fact that it was also queer wouldn’t keep it out of the mainstream, you know, because a big thing that I want to do as an author and as a queer person is push those stories into the mainstream and be like, hey, you know, it’s kind of what they say in “Love, Simon,” everybody deserves to have a great love story, you know. And so everybody deserves to have a big shiny tropey, fun rom-com, you know. So, yeah, that was kind of where it came from for me. Jeff: And there is so much rom-com-y goodness floating in this book. I think you pulled a little bit from everything. Without giving spoilers, because there could be some depending on what you pick for this, what are the rom-com moments that just sticks out for you as one of your favorites among all of them? Casey: Wow, that’s a good question. I have pulled so many tropes from so many of my different favorite rom-coms. But there is this one thing that I love in every rom-com which is the gratuitous karaoke moment, which is actually if you ever watch “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” it’s a song on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” like “Shake Me Up.” Okay, yeah, that. So it’s like “27 Dresses” does it, and “10 Things I Hate About You” does it where it’s like somebody gets up and sings a song in front of a bunch people for no reason. And it’s like, “No, this doesn’t happen in real life, but it’s super fun.” And so writing the whole karaoke scene, which I don’t think is a spoiler, that was so much fun for me because I was, you know, as musical theater kid in high school, we all were, and so I got to be so indulgent with that, and it was such a blast. I loved it. Jeff: I think you picked a great one right there because you’re right, there is that moment. There’s even that movie, which of course I’m blanking out on right now, that was like…it was a Rebel Wilson movie earlier, I think this year, that she’s, like, there’s always the karaoke moment that she ends up trapped in the karaoke moment in her own little thing. Casey: I love the karaoke moment. Jeff: That says a lot about people, the songs they pick. Casey: It does. It’s character shorthand for sure. Yeah. Like when Bea gets up and sings “Call Me” by Blondie in the book I’m like, “This is what she’s about, you know.” Jeff: Yeah. There have been so many accolades on this book before it even got published. I mean, we were reading about it, I think in “Blush” almost two months ago now. What’s resonating so much with all these pre-readers? Casey: God, you know, I mean, just to start off, I’ve been, completely blown away by the response to it. When I wrote this book I was like, “This is so niche.” It’s a queer political rom-com with royal elements. And also we talk about gerrymandering in it, and I was like, “This is so niche,” no one’s gonna care, no one’s going to publish it. I was like, “I’m going to try and query this for a month, and then I’m just going to self-pub,” you know. And the fact that people have engaged with it so much and that it has gotten, I think three-star reviews now which is just blowing my mind completely, so beyond grateful for those. It’s just been so staggering and incredible. But, I don’t know, I think that right now the world is really depressing. We live in a world right now that is at times literally on fire, you know. And it is so important to have these little oases or moments of respite and little escapist things because when I first started writing this book, I’m so neck deep in the news cycle and I really couldn’t finish it until I pulled out of it because I realized that wasn’t what it needed to be. It didn’t need to be mired in all of the negativity and all of the darkness that was going on in the world. It needed to be this spark of hope, you know, that would kind of feel… I think about when Obama won re-election in 2012, and I was with my friends. I was in college at the time and we went out on the balcony, and popped a bottle of $60 French champagne, and I think about how I felt in that moment and I was like, “I want this book to feel like that moment,” you know. And I think that a lot of people have been missing that feeling. I think that we have so few things, especially when we look at the political sphere right now, to be excited about and to be hopeful about. And I think that we’re all just nostalgic almost for when we had hope. And I think that what this book does is it lives in the space of being here and now and still having hope, you know, and I think that’s really resonating with people. And then I also think that people are just excited to see…we’re seeing it with Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory who are writing romances that are integrating, you know, neurodiverse characters and just racially diverse characters. I think a lot of people are tired of seeing, you know, the same two straight white cisgender, neurotypical people falling in love, you know. And so I think that people are hungry for something that’s different in rom-com that can show that different types of people can have that same big, huge, escapist magical love story. So that’s kind of where I think it comes from. Jeff: You noted that you started writing this in 2016, essentially before the election happened. Do you think you would have written the same book had Hillary won? Casey: That’s a great question. And the book I had planned to write before the election went the way that it did was a different book. There were so many threads that I ended up dropping. I, at one point, had…and this was before anything about Russia had come up. I, at one, point had… a Russian double agent involved in the campaign and I was like, “This is too unrealistic. No one’s going to buy this. I’m cutting this,” you know. And now I’m like, “God…” But, yeah. I mean, it definitely…I think it would have been more lampooning the Democratic Party…not that I have anything against the Democratic Party as someone who is registered as Democrat, but it would have been more of “Veep” style, you know, that we’re all on the same side here, so we’re going to send each other up kind of thing. And instead it’s still very tongue in cheek, and it still has that “Veep” side to it, but it needed to have more of…. it needed to be less cynical, basically, you know, because I don’t think that we can really afford a lot of cynicism right now beyond what, you know, roasting the President on Twitter is cynical, I guess. But, yeah, I think that there are certain things that happen in the plot that never probably would have been explored if the results of the election had gone differently because I don’t think I would have felt as much of an urgency to put those into the story. So, yeah, it definitely would have been different. It definitely would have been a lot different. But the President was always the same. President Claremont was the same character from the moment I came up with the idea for the book. She’s like Tami Taylor, from “Friday Night Lights” meets Wendy Davis, the politician from Texas, meets a tiny bit of Selina Meyer from “Veep” and probably every strong female in my life, you know. So, yeah, long story short, yes, it would have been different.  Jeff: One of the things I like about it so much, and you touched on this a little bit, is that it’s not two white guys getting together because Alex is Mexican-American. And certainly given how things have played out under the current administration, having that element in the White House as first son, it says a lot. And Alex comments on this, you know, periodically as he’s kind of going through things and how that aspect of his heritage plays into things. Did you have that set early on or did that kind of manifest as we saw how immigrants were being treated post-election and even during the election cycle for that matter? Casey: Sure. Well, the minute…it kind of was, like, the plot itself that informed what Alex would be because, like I said, the first character I came up with was the president and everything kind of formed around her. And I’m from Louisiana, and I have this huge chip on my shoulder about democrats, and liberal people, and progressive people in red states because I was one for so long. I live in a purple-y state now. But, you know, I feel they’re so often written off and discredited, and I can probably count on one hand the number of actual presidential candidates who came and campaigned in my hometown, which is the capital of Louisiana. And people just don’t see anything worth investing in. So I wanted to do a southern Democrat. I didn’t think that a Louisiana Democrat was that realistic, so I did a Texas Democrat. And from the minute I knew she was from Texas, I was like, “Well, it would make sense for her to have married a Mexican man, or a, you know, a first or second generation Mexican man.” And it just kind of went from there where I was, like, “You know, I really do like that idea of that.” I spent so much time in Texas, I know so many people from Texas, I know so many Tejanos and people… it just made sense to me. And then, you know, the more that the rhetoric kind of got really vitriolic about Mexican immigrants around the election, I was like, “Yeah, fuck you. Actually, I am gonna put some Mexican people in the White House.” Yeah, that’s what’s gonna happen. I did as much as I could with it. Obviously, I’m white, and I did a ton of research, I talked to a ton of Mexican friends of mine, and especially Tejano first or second generation people. And then what I’m really excited about with the movie is that we have the opportunity to bring in more people on the creative side who are Latino who can offer more of that voice, that can go farther than I could go with it and that can explore more things with it. So, yeah. It just felt really natural to me, he’s from Texas, of course, he could be half Mexican. That’s just so typical there. So, yeah, it was a very natural progression of the character for me. Jeff: And in a weird twist, I’m actually interviewing you from Dallas. Casey: Yes, I know. I was just thinking about it. That’s so funny. Yeah. I feel like that’s appropriate. I feel the stars aligned to have you interview me from Texas. Jeff: And finish the book while I’m in Texas. It was kind of crazy. Casey: Yeah. That’d be so appropriate. I’m really excited because my second tour stop is in Austin, and I’m so excited. I haven’t been to Austin, like, a year or two, and it’s just feels so right to go back with this book. So I’m so excited. Jeff: There is a ton of history in this book. Henry goes into a lot of history of the monarchy. And one of the things I loved is in the emails that Alex and Henry are trading, they end up and quote a lot of literature or other letters of historical people. How much of that was in your head, and how much was “I need to go off and do a ton of research?” Casey: So, for me, a lot of…when I was talking about… there’s parts where after Alex starts figuring stuff out, he starts, like, develops independent research of, like, let me remediate myself on queer American history, and reconnect with it, which I think is something that a lot of queer people in their 20s do. Especially for me when I was 20, 25, and then I started to figure myself out, I was like, “Wow, I need to know the first thing about my own community.” And so I went back and really read a lot and educated myself. And so a lot of the American history, American queer history was stuff I was already familiar with because that’s something that I felt was my responsibility to learn in the past. But, yeah, I definitely didn’t know a lot about queer British history at all. And so that was a lot of reading for me, a lot of, you know, finding history threads on Twitter, and then okay, I’m gonna go look up all these stories individually, and find out what’s the real truth, because things get twisted online. But, yeah. The letters kind of started with…and this is gonna date when I started writing this, but I was really coming off the “Hamilton” high, you know, which I think we all were in early 2016. It was like, “Oh, man, I’ve been mainlining Alexander Hamilton history for six months, you know.” And, you know, I was really interested… I love all of Hamilton’s love letters with Eliza, but there was also his letters with Florence that were really fascinating to me, and I had started looking into that and that was how I found this book called “My Dear Boy” by Rictor Norton. And I found that because I was researching the Hamilton Lawrence letters, and that was where I found a lot of the letters that are featured in the emails. And then I also was looking into Virginia Woolf, and Eleanor Roosevelt, and all those figures from history who also have a lot of archive letters that are very interesting. And, yeah, honestly, it was almost…I had a blast with it because it was just a queer history, like Easter egg hunt. And, you know, I intentionally did that in the book because I pictured this book…I pictured it being something that a lot of people at different points in their journey with queerness would read, and I would want…let’s say some 19-year old who’s just figuring things out, and they don’t really know anything about queer history, I’m like, “Well, here’s the name of something that you should go look up.” “Here is ‘Paris Is Burning,’ go watch it,” you know, kind of thing. And so it was, it’s really, a bunch of sneaky history lessons. I’m a nerd, and I was like, “You should know this, too.” But, yeah, I had a blast doing that. And then just research, in general, was just so much fun. I spent so much time poring through the royal collection archives online, just for throwaway jokes and stuff. I was a journalist for six years before I quit to do this full time. And so, yeah, I’m a huge nerd and I love historical context for everything because that’s just what I’ve been wired to do for so long. So, yeah, that’s kind of where it all comes from for me. Jeff: And my musical theater geek self loves that “Hamilton” had a play in that because I kind of felt that I was reading some of it’s like, “This seems very ‘Hamilton’ in some ways that they’re using this.” Casey: I battled with myself over whether “Hamilton” was a thing that existed in this universe, and if I should mention it in the book, and I was like, “I’m not gonna,” because it’s still so fresh and I feel it’s gonna date the book a lot. But it’s definitely, like, there’s this undercurrent of we’re doing colonial rap battles under the text, you know. Jeff: That’s one of the things I like about this so much is that it is current revisionist history, you know, because, I mean, most of it, and this doesn’t get to a spoiler, most of it is leading into the 2020 election, with Claremont being President in the here and now and having succeeded from Obama. Yeah, its current revisionist history. It’s very interesting how that plays itself out. Now, I think we mentioned that this is your first book that’s out there in the world. What got you into writing romance and specifically m/m romance? Casey: I mean, I have always consumed all types of media and this is my one sacrilegious answer that I give in interviews which is I’m really more into movies and TV than I am into books, and that is the most media that I consume. It’s not what I write, I’m not a screenwriter, I’m not good at that type of writing, but it is where I pull most of my influences from, and what I consumed the most as a kid, I mean, unless you count “Harry Potter,” which everybody read… Jeff: Which does very much exist in the “Red, White & Royal Blue” universe, which I also love. Casey: Oh, yeah, very much so. But what I engaged with about all of those things was the relationships in them. I’ve watched “Lost” and I was like, “I don’t care about Dharma, or the clues or what this island actually means to the polar bear,” I was like, “I care about that everybody’s gonna end up together that I want to end up together in the end, you know,” and it was always like that with everything I watched. I’ve watched “Buffy,” and it was always about that for me. It was like, “This is cool, mythology is cool, whatever, but, like, Spike,” you know. And it really that was just what grabbed me, and so I knew that was what I was always gonna wanna write. And I tried to write other genres. Every other book I tried to start writing was young adult, magical realism, or young adult fantasy, which is clearly not my genre. And I tried a bunch of different false starts in those genres, and it didn’t pan out for me. And this was, like I said, the first time, I had an idea that completely grabbed me. And I think, like I said earlier, I gravitate to writing queer fiction for the same reason that straight people gravitate to writing straight fiction which is that I’m a queer person, and it’s my experience, it’s what I know. I didn’t really come into this book with an idea of what the gender should be more than what the story would be and it formed around that because I didn’t think that the story would take on all of the same qualities. If it was two women, you know, I thought that it would be a little different tone. I felt if it was two women there’d be a porn parody within 15 minutes of it coming out, you know. And so it’s just, there’s just different ways that lesbian couples and gay men couples are perceived by the world I felt, and for this story it made more sense with two men, and I also wanted to do that prince charming trope sub-version. And so it just kind of told me what it wanted to be. But my next book is…it’s about two women, and it’s a completely different story. And so, yeah, I really…honestly, it’s just me trying to make queer rom-coms a mainstream thing more than anything else. Jeff: More power to you. And, so far, it looks like you’re doing a great job with that. Casey: Thank you. Thank you so much. Jeff: This question may not have a good answer based on what you just told us about your kind of TV and movie thing, but are there authors who influence you? Casey: Well, yeah, I mean there are definitely authors that influence me. I loved Oscar Wilde growing up which is, you know, I was 15, my sisters, I remember being at my sister’s college graduation with highlighter and sticky tabs going through “The Importance of Being Earnest.” So, yeah, I did my term paper in high school on “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and I was like, “This is straight behavior.” But, yeah, Oscar Wilde was a huge influence on me. The “Harry Potter” books, yes, of course, they influenced me. I read a lot of non-fiction and a lot of memoirs actually because I love the voice of them, and I think that’s what helps me to have a good narrative voice. So I love Carrie Fisher’s writings, I love…Nora Ephron’s memoirs are all incredible, Mary Karr. Let’s see, what else. I’m looking at my bookshelf right now. What else do I read? Jane Austen, obviously, the classics of romance, you know. And then more recently, my favorite author right now is Taylor Jenkins Reid. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is my favorite book I’ve read in the past couple years and definitely has earned a spot on my all-time faves shelf. And so that’s definitely… And I loved how she does a lot of…she does a lot of what we call in journalism alternate story formats, so epistolary style things that are threaded into the book, which is something that obviously I really love too. And then yeah, that’s…I mean, I read a lot…at least I read a lot of non-fictions like Rebecca Traister and Roxane Gay, those are those are all my faves. But then I pull from a lot of a lot of TV and movies. The biggest influences on this were “Veep,” “Parks and Rec.” There is this web series called “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo” that I love, and it’s so millennial absurdity that it really kind of like… there’s a shout out to it in the book because they play the song, “Loco In Acapulco” by The Four Tops in that show, and I put that in the book. Yeah. So I’m kind of all over the place. I have a lot of influences and a lot of things that kind of all feed into what comes out of my brain. Jeff: So let’s talk movie. You hinted that a little bit ago. Amazon and Greg Berlanti picked this up before, you know, again before it’s even published out to the world. What was your reaction when you first heard that that was a done deal? Casey: Well, I mean, it was so many stages of reaction because what people don’t see behind the scenes is that the process is crazy. It starts with I have a Hollywood agent, and she sends it out to people and then one producer expresses interest and then more producers can if they want to, and then it turns into you’re on the phone with, you know, such and such from whatever huge production company, and it’s like, “I’m not qualified to do this.” And you talk to those and you pick your producer, and that’s how I picked Berlanti. And I was just really excited to even have a chance to work with them because I’ve loved so much of their work, not even just looking at “Love, Simon,” and going back to “Political Animals” which was a six episode series that’s on Netflix. It’s got…honestly, I have to say one of my touchstones too because it’s got Sigourney Weaver is the president in that which is just amazing, and they’ve got Sebastian Stan as one of the president’s kids, and he’s very tortured, and recovering from addiction, and he’s gay, and he’s Sebastian Stan so he’s crying, you know, and very beautiful. But, yeah. So I just knew that he had the range for it and I also knew that based on “Love, Simon” that production company had the chops to get an unapologetically queer rom-com into the mainstream. But also it was on a personal level, I just remember going to see “Love, Simon” in the theater and that was probably a week after I signed my book deal. And I showed up with an entire eight-inch Jimmy John’s sub in my purse because I knew I was going to cry and I like to eat my feelings. So it was literally me alone. I had to drive 15 minutes out of my city because I was living in Louisiana at the time to find a theater that was playing it, and it just me alone in the theater with my sandwich and was just weeping to Jennifer Garner, you know. And I just remember getting in my car and thinking if my book could make people feel half as seen as I just felt by watching that movie, then I will be so, so happy. And so I’d have the chance to do, to kind of pay forward what that feeling was for me to the next round of people, especially queer people, meant so much to me. And then yeah, Amazon, they just care so much about the project. They’re so passionate about it. They want it to, you know, really…they’re actually really invested in diversifying what is in the market, and taking some risks, and doing projects like this. And it’s just so incredibly mind-blowing, and it really doesn’t feel real yet to have people want to invest those kinds of resources in a story that I wrote. More than anything, I’m just so excited about what it could represent and what it could mean to people. I think about like…and not to at all compare the histories of these communities, but I think about “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians” and what those movies meant to have as big cinematic events geared around a demographic that wasn’t usually catered to by the mainstream, you know, and what it meant for those people and what it represented for the future of storytelling for different groups. And I like the idea of being able to make any kind of similar impact with movie is incredible. And I really hope that we can do that, and I really hope that it can be the beginning of a lot more queer rom-coms, you know. So, yeah, it’s amazing. I’m so, so humbled, and amazed, and really excited to see what comes next with it. Jeff: As you were writing, I think all authors tend to cast their books to some degree. Do you have in mind, and knowing this is totally separate from anything that Amazon and Berlanti might do… Casey: Sure. Sure. Jeff: …do you have in mind who Alex and Henry are, at least in your head, as you were writing if you had to assign them an actor? Casey: Well, it’s so hard because…and this is kind of an indictment of the state of Hollywood and that is slowly beginning to change, but there really aren’t a lot of young Latino actors out there choose from, you know. And so it was… there really wasn’t a definitive Alex in my head because I have looked and looked and it was so hard to find someone that fit. And that’s what’s exciting to me about the movie is I think that we will get a chance to kind of give a star making role to some young unknown Latino actor, which would be amazing, and I would love to do that. And Henry is just very elusive. There’s five million charming white British men, but in my head, he’s just so specific-looking, and I have not yet found anyone that matched him. But the parts that were, I think, easiest for me to assign an actor to were like… I always pictured Daniel Day-Lewis as Richards with like the silver foxy and then, Ellen Claremont in my head from day one has been Connie Briton. And then, I mean, Rafael Luna in my head is Oscar Isaac for sure, you know. Jeff: Oh, yeah. I like that. Casey: There’s some characters that I came up with the character first and then tried to figure out what they looked like, and there are other characters where… with Rafael Luna I was like, “I want a character who looks like Oscar Isaac. What’s he going to be?” you know, and that was kind of how that came to be. But, yeah, I’m really excited casting is going to be so much fun, and I’m very excited about it. And I’m really, really excited about just getting to see, you know, what we can do for some…I think there’s gonna be a lot of unknowns in the lead roles, and that’s going to be amazing because they’re going to be able to really step into and embody those characters without it being distracting, like, “Oh, that’s like so and so. I look at them and all I see is the character they played in ‘Game of Thrones’ or whatever.” Yeah. so I think that’ll be, you know, a fun thing. But, yeah, that’s kind of it for that. Jeff: Do we get to see more of Alex and Henry in the future do you think? Casey: I think that I would not rule that out, and that’s all I can really say about that. Jeff: Sure. Casey: Yeah. I think that that would be amazing. I would love to do that. Jeff: And you mentioned your next book is going to be a female pairing. Casey: Yeah. Yeah. So it’s completely different from this. It’s a much smaller scope of a world. It’s just a girl who moves to New York, and she’s from the south. I don’t think I will…I don’t know if I will ever write a protagonist that’s not from the south because that’s just so deeply ingrained in me and in my voice. But she’s from south, she moves to New York, and she kind of stumbles into this roommate situation where it’s just sort of ragtag band of misfits kind of thing. And she develops this huge crush on this hot chick who’s on her subway commute every day. And it’s kind of based on the idea of that way that you fall in love with something on public transit for like 20 minutes, and then you step off, and it’s like they never existed anywhere other than the train. They’re just there for 20 minutes, and you never see them again. But the thing is that she sees this girl every single time she’s on the train. And there’s kind of a twist as to… I will say there’s some light rom-com-y style time travel shenanigans that happened, and the girl on the train is not exactly everything that she seems. And so the whole book is about their relationship and at the same time trying to figure out what’s going on with this girl. But it is rom-com, and it’s super fun, and, of course, it has a gratuitous karaoke moment. Jeff: Excellent. Casey: Well, it’s more of like there’s a gratuitous karaoke moment, and there’s a gratuitous drag show moment. Yeah, so, range. But I’m really excited it. I’m hoping…I mean, obviously, we haven’t set a date for it yet, but it is super, super personal, book of my heart for me, and I’m really excited for people to read it. Jeff: Fantastic, definitely looking forward to that. Casey: Yeah. Yeah. It’ll be awesome. I’m excited. Jeff: What’s the best way for folks to keep up with you online so they could track your progress with what’s up with Alex and Henry and also the new book and everything else? Casey: Yeah, Twitter for sure. I’m kind of been taking a step back lately because since we announced the movie my notifications have been busted, you know. But, yeah, I’ll definitely be back on more especially during tour. I tweet out playlists and a lot of little trivial information like their birth charts and things like that on there, and then also Instagram. That one is more for like I’m here for this tour date kind of thing. So yeah, those are my big two ones. It’s casey_mcquiston on Twitter, and then casey.mcquiston on Instagram. Jeff: Very cool. Well, we will put the links to all of that in the show notes. Casey: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Jeff: “Red, White & Royal Blue” comes out on May 14th, and we wish you just continued success because it’s been so much already and look forward to seeing the movie and everything else that comes from it. Casey: Yeah, thank you so much. I’m so, so grateful, and it’s been so much fun. So thank you so much for having me on.

In this episode Kaylee and Lauren celebrate the holiest of holidays: Goode Friday. It's a time to worship Matthew Goode and all the gifts of Chasing Liberty. Keep up with the conversation onInstagram @RomComversationsTwitter @RomComversation

In the very first episode of 2018, Janine and Kate discuss the absolute plethora of early 2000s media centering around romance in the White House as they consider their hardest decision yet: whether to watch First Daughter (2004) or Chasing Liberty (2004), two movies that are nearly identical in plot.

How many films are there about the President's daughter trying to go out on a date like a normal person? Clearly, not enough! We resurrect Chasing Liberty for a reboot - this time with Allison Janney, Australian lesbians, a secret service team for the ages, and a shoehorned cameo from Mandy Moore. And, as always, we finish with recommendations for each other.

Ostrolenk continues with part II of being interviewed by Kiki Weingarten, covering topics including government overreach, the 4th amendment, transpartisan coalitions, and his larger strategic plan for the Liberty Coalition. Ostrolenk begins by explaining his libertarian sensibilities, which differ from being a libertarian in title. His views on the 4th amendment are shaped by the fact that the founding fathers created our country with libertarian principles; Although they were not aware of the technological changes we would someday see, any reinterpretation of the 4th amendment to today's realities must still be done with the same intention to protect privacy and liberty. Lastly, his libertarian sensibilities shape his overall mindset; Ostrolenk distinguishes between a liberty mindset and a security mindset, and why he identifies with the former. Different mindsets can, however, still collaborate for progress. Ostrolenk discusses his training as a transpersonal therapist and how it has helped him with his work on transpartisan coalitions by humanizing the political process, ultimately creating the space for political dialogue. Lastly, Ostrolenk touches on several issues including education and health, and how an open political dialogue can help solve many of the issues we face.

Hop premiere, the dangers of pleeples and the popularazzi, Rich's whereabouts, living wills, green carpet interviews, Easter egg hunts, Jordy Bogguss and the Hunt for the Golden Egg, Rain Wain, Rice Krispie nests, Chasing Liberty, Jordy's Doggy Corner, Nate Dogg, narrative movie songs, learning about death, stingers, no-buts, MC Skat Kat, freshman year at college, DVD interviews, makeup, Pee-Wee Herman, Source Code, Insidious, Rubber, and Leighton Meester News.