Podcasts about Romance

Where were you when the “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” article dropped? Late last year when the piece dropped, it immediately took internet discourse by storm and had a lot of people in heterosexual relationships questioning and taking a deeper look into their relationships. This week we're joined by the woman behind the article, London-based writer and digital content producer Chanté Joseph, whose nuanced commentary on culture had all of us in a tizzy. Today, we’re unpacking the realities of dating in the digital age, and how women are redefining partnership as society shifts further away from patriarchy. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together. You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week. Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a question you'd like some feedback on, topics you'd like to hear covered, or want to suggest movies or books for us to review, drop us a message at memo.fm/therapyforblackgirls and let us know what’s on your mind. We just might share it on the podcast. Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Where to Find Our Guest Instagram Strangers In the City Instagram Article - “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?" Stay Connected​ Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession. Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis Producers: Tyree Rush & Ndeye Thioubou See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode originally aired on October 22, and I'm bringing it back because this is a conversation we simply cannot ignore.As explicit “romance” fiction and erotic content continue to become normalized—especially among women—it's important that we talk honestly about what it's doing to our hearts and our marriages.In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, Elise Orozco shares how so-called “romance” fiction slowly drew her in, how it impacted her marriage and her walk with the Lord, and how God led her to freedom.This isn't about shame. It's about guarding our hearts and remembering that God's design for intimacy is protective, beautiful, and life-giving.If you care about strengthening your marriage and living in freedom, don't skip this one.Prime Sponsor: No matter where you live, visit the Functional Medical Institute online today to connect with Drs Mark and Michele Sherwood. Go to ⁠homeschoolhealth.com⁠ to get connected and see some of my favorites items. Use coupon code HEIDI for 20% off!Lifestone Ministries | ⁠Lifestoneministries.com/heidi⁠Equipping The Persecuted Coffee | ⁠ETPcoffee.com⁠Show mentions: ⁠heidistjohn.com/mentions⁠Website | ⁠heidistjohn.com⁠Support the show! | ⁠donorbox.org/donation-827⁠Rumble | ⁠rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohn⁠Youtube | ⁠youtube.com/@HeidiStJohnPodcast⁠Instagram | ⁠@heidistjohn⁠Facebook | ⁠Heidi St. John⁠X | ⁠@heidistjohn⁠⁠Faith That Speaks⁠ Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Fan Mail Friday | ⁠heidistjohn.net/⁠fanmailfriday

Continuing our series on Romance Vibes, we're talking about Romance Wardrobe this week! We're talking corsets and chemises, falls and Hessian boots, Armani suits and underpants that rip right off. We also get to the bottom of the pronunciation of bliaut. Do we recommend books? Not really, but it's ok, we all deserve a week of goofing off sometime. All that, and Sarah saw “Wuthering Heights.”If you want more Fated Mates in your life, or more romance lovers who love music, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community (complete with a music channel)! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com.Next week, our read along is Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife by Julia Wolf. Find it in ebook or paperback, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited.NotesSarah went to see Scare Quotes Wuthering Heights, but Jen hasn't seen it yet. According to New York Magazine, you don't have to read Wuthering Heights to see “Wuthering Heights.” But the costumes sure are beautiful.Those Bronte sisters!Desmond Morris's 12 Steps to IntimacyAll about smelling salts.A woman and her baby stroller were blown into Lake Michigan last week! The Windy City is no joke! Am I to understand these are not historically accurate Kilts?

Today we're wrapping up our Romantic Travel series with a destination that can reset your nervous system and your relationship at the same time. We're talking Africa, from epic safaris and wildly romantic lodges, to the winelands, beaches, and adventures that make this continent feel like nowhere else on earth. Joining us today is one of my partners in the region, Tamsyn Fricker. Hailing from South Africa, Tamsyn has spent her career designing once in a lifetime journeys across the continent. We chat about what makes Africa so powerful for couples, our favorite regions and properties, and the moments that deepen relationships in a way only Africa can.  So get cozy, and come with us to Africa on Luxury Travel Insider.   Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Engagement season is in full swing, and with all those “yes” moments come big travel dreams. In this episode of The Travel Tidbits Podcast, Jamie is joined by Sue Kitsemble, Business Development Manager with Apple Leisure Group Vacations (ALGV), to break down what it really takes to plan romance travel the right way.From engagement trips and bachelor or bachelorette getaways to destination weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, and couple's escapes, this conversation covers it all. Sue shares insight into why this time of year is so busy for romance travel, the destinations couples are gravitating toward, and how expectations can vary from budget-friendly trips to full luxury experiences.You'll hear why all-inclusive resorts are often ideal for romance travel, how destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean, and iconic long-haul locations such as the Maldives and Fiji fit different types of couples, and why not all all-inclusives feel the same. Jamie and Sue also dive into the importance of working with a travel advisor, especially when emotions, timelines, and group logistics are involved.Whether you're newly engaged, celebrating a milestone, or just dreaming about a romantic escape, this episode is packed with practical advice, destination inspiration, and expert tips to help you plan with confidence and less stress.If romance travel is on your horizon, Pineapple Escapes Travel is ready to help make it seamless, personalized, and unforgettable. Travel makes life sweeter.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Queer joy, Hollywood theater, and why romance doesn't have to earn its happy ending.In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest Amy Spalding to talk about In Her Spotlight, her latest sapphic romance set at the intersection of celebrity culture, live theater, and second-chance love. We dig into why queer joy matters, how power dynamics shift when fame enters the room, and why it finally feels possible to tell coming-out stories without centering tragedy.We also chat about reading across genres, unexpected nonfiction rabbit holes, and Amy's favorite sapphic and bisexual romances to add to your TBR—especially if you love stories about ambition, community, and women figuring it out together.

Modern dating has started to feel like a second job, endless swiping, decoding mixed signals, managing situationships and trying to stay “chill” when you're absolutely not. In this episode we break down why 2026 is the year of intentional dating and why clarity, consistency and momentum are replacing confusion and dopamine driven chaos.With research showing that over half of Gen Z and Millennials are prioritising true love even above finances and career the dating landscape is shifting. Australians are increasingly dating with direction and commitment is making a comeback.This episode dives into what intentional dating actually looks like in practice, why ambiguity is emotionally expensive and how to stop repeating the same patterns with a different person.What You'll Learn:Why modern dating feels emotionally drainingThe difference between attention vs. intentionWhy ghosting happens (and what it really says)How ambiguity impacts your nervous systemWhy commitment is trending again in AustraliaHow some dating apps are redesigning for intentional behaviourThe role AI is playing in modern datingThe 4 Pillars of Intentional DatingThe practical four pillar framework to help you date with clarity and confidence:1. ClarityKnow what you're looking for and say it early. If you want a relationship, don't invest in someone who “just wants to see what happens.”2. ConsistencyLook for repeated behaviour not emotional spikes. Romance isn't disappearing for five days after a great date, that's emotional whiplash.3. BoundariesProtect your nervous system. Boundaries aren't about controlling others, they're about leading yourself.4. MomentumConnection should move forward in real life. If you've been texting for weeks without meeting, you're not dating, you're pen pals.The State of Dating in 2026Over 50% of Gen Z and Millennials are prioritising true love this year59% of Australians say they are dating to marry91% of people report modern dating apps as challengingAmbiguity and ghosting are major contributors to dating burnoutThe shift? From hustle culture to love culture. Connection is becoming the new form of success.Intentional Dating & App DesignDr. Lurve explores how some platforms including Coffee Meets Bagel are designing features that support healthy dating behaviour, including:Curated daily matches to reduce swipe fatigueAnti-ghosting chat expiration featuresIntentional first move promptsDetailed, values based profilesTransparency tools that encourage accountabilityThe takeaway: No app is magic but design influences behaviour.AI & DatingMore singles are using AI to craft messages and polish profiles. Used well, AI can reduce anxiety and support clarity but it can't replace authentic connection. If AI becomes your personality, you're not dating your algorithm is.Your Intentional Dating Checklist This Week:State your intention clearly in one sentence.Ask one value based question early on.Move toward a real life date within 7 - 10 days.Choose quality over quantity.Pick environments that match your intention.Intentional dating isn't about being rigid. It's about choosing clarity over confusion, connection over chasing and momentum over mind games. If you're tired of dating potential and crying in voice notes to your friends this episode is your reset. Share this with someone who needs it.See you on the next episode of Between the Sheets with Dr. Lurve. 

On today's episode of The Rizzuto Show, we prove once again that reality is undefeated.We kick things off with a story so unhinged it feels like it should be from Florida… but nope — Kentucky said, “Hold my deer.” A 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly being caught in a roadside situation with a deceased deer. Yes. That sentence is real. Yes. We all regret knowing it. And yes, we break it down in the only way a funny podcast can — equal parts disbelief, sarcasm, and “how is this even a charge?”From there, we spiral (as we do) into a round of Fake News or Florida, where headlines about sword fights in pools and hurricane target practice somehow feel believable. If you've ever wondered how many times Florida residents need to be told not to shoot at weather systems… this is your moment.But it's not all deer chaos and noodle duels. We also dig into the BAFTA controversy involving a Tourette's-related incident that sparked a serious debate about intent vs. impact. It's one of those rare moments where this funny podcast pumps the brakes just long enough to have a real conversation — before inevitably derailing again.And of course, no episode would be complete without:Moon explaining why he listens to educational podcasts at 1.8x speed like he's training for the Mental Olympics.Rock & Roll Hall of Fame arguments that will absolutely upset someone.Concert etiquette breakdowns (stop elbowing people during “Give It Away.” We hear it too.)And a heartfelt but mildly chaotic discussion about going to concerts alone.It's celebrity news, weird crimes, pop culture commentary, music debates, and just enough sarcasm to keep it all barely under control.If you love daily humor, entertainment gossip, ridiculous real-life stories, and a crew that roasts each other as hard as they roast the headlines, this is your new favorite funny podcast.And remember — if you're buying someone festival tickets… maybe get two.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.A mother went missing in 2001. She was just found 'alive and well'Owensboro man arrested in Muhlenberg Co. for sexual abuse of an animalWelcome to the Year of the CrackEverything you need to know about JeffingMan accidentally gains control of 7,000 robot vacuumsElementary teacher accused of using cocaine in school bathroom; white powder allegedly foundSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's episode of The Rizzuto Show, we once again prove that reality is the most unhinged writer in America.We kick things off with a story that made the entire studio question everything: a 32-year-old Kentucky man arrested after being caught having sex with roadkill. Yes. A deer. On the side of the road. At 7pm. In public. Pants around the knees. Covered in fur. It's the kind of headline that makes you pause and whisper, “We can't make this up,” because legally and emotionally, we shouldn't have to. The mugshot breakdown alone turns into a full forensic roast session, complete with thumb comparisons and psychic-level suspect sketch predictions.From there, we try to cleanse our brains with a round of Fake News of Florida — because nothing says healing like emotional support squirrels, hurricane target practice warnings, inflatable dolphins for morale, and drive-thru confessionals absolving tacos. Moon flexes his suspiciously solid Florida knowledge, callers put their dignity on the line, and we once again confirm that Florida doesn't need our help being weird.We also get unexpectedly wholesome when the conversation shifts to roadkill heartbreak and why some of us get genuinely sad over animals on the side of the road. (Yes, even the big biker truck driver dudes. We see you. We feel you.) It's emotional growth… immediately followed by someone saying “deer eye for the psycho guy.” Because balance.This episode is everything you expect from a funny podcast that thrives on weird news, sarcastic humor, and daily chaos. From Kentucky criminal headlines to Florida's annual “don't shoot the hurricane” reminders, it's your daily dose of absurdity wrapped in a comedy show that somehow airs on actual radio.If you love a funny podcast that blends unusual news stories, St. Louis attitude, and the kind of banter that feels like hanging out with your most unfiltered friends — welcome home. This is your daily comedy fix, served with zero dignity and maximum commentary.We're The Rizzuto Show — your favorite funny podcast that somehow keeps getting away with this.Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Tuesday which means there's a new Hallmark movie to review! ABOUT THE STARS BETWEEN US Seven years ago, Kim made a connection with a stranger during an eclipse event. Now a fledgling news reporter, Kim returns to Illinois for this year's eclipse, unaware that their paths may cross again. AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR THE STARS BETWEEN US February 21, 2026 | Hallmark CAST & CREW OF THE STARS BETWEEN US Sarah Drew as Kim Matt Long as Malcolm BRAN'S MOVIE SYNOPSIS 7 years ago, we're in Carbondale, Illinois and it's eclipse time! Malcolm is on top of a hill with his telescope, totally nerding out. His girlfriend isn't nearly as pumped as he is and she heads down the hill to snag some Rocket Dogs. While she's gone, a woman named Kim shows up. She's drawn to his telescope. They start talking and bond over their love of space. Right before the eclipse happens, her boyfriend Blake calls her. He's finally arrived, so she scurries off to meet up with him. 7 years later, Kim is now working for a news station. The person who was gonna go back to Carbondale to cover the eclipse bails so she volunteers to take on the case. Who knows, maybe she'll bump into the hunk from 7 years ago. And wouldn't you know it, they're both actually there. But somehow they keep missing each other. At a masquerade party, they get to talking but obviously they're rocking masks. Her first news spot is rocky but goes kind of viral. She ends up getting the invite for her eclipse spot to go national! She's freaking out! Her camera person and Malcolm's best friend end up meeting and really hitting it off. You'd think that would mean that Malcolm and Kim would end up meeting. Nope. They sure don't. They end up going multiple days without realizing they're both there. It's the day of the big eclipse and they were able to secure this GIANT scientist to come and be interviewed. When he ends up getting lost, they go and snag Malcolm. Naturally, they don't chat at all until they come face to face live on air. The chemistry is NUTS! After they go off air, they promptly go and chat and kiss and miss the eclipse. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When you're feeling unsure and emotionally fragile, nothing says “self-care” like pulling over for a romantic evening with a freshly flattened deer. …said absolutely no one in the history of humanity—except this one unhinged whackjob.Cane even surprised himself when his stew turned out to be a Michelin-star experience...watch out Gordon RamseyAnd of course, Jim Cantore is back - gleefully frolicking through the thundersnow, loving life!PLUS MUCH MORE!

Federico e Isabel comentan la actualidad del corazón con Paloma Barrientos y Beatriz Miranda. I

Welcome to Season of Aquarius, our book club season on Book Talk for BookTok, a fantasy and romantasy podcast centered on thoughtful discussion and literary analysis. This season is created for readers who want more than quick takes and star ratings, offering space to explore how and why stories work on the page. This is not a traditional book review podcast; it's an analysis and conversation. Each week, we share flash literary analysis that examines themes, authorial intent, character arcs, symbolism, world-building, and key plot devices. Our discussions move beyond initial impressions to unpack narrative choices, emotional resonance, and the craft behind fantasy and romantasy storytelling. We aim to bridge academic literary insight with the modern reading experience shaped by BookTok and online reading communities. This week, we discuss As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel. Season of Aquarius Book Club Reading List: Alchemized by SenLinYu Phantasma by Kaylie Smith Silver Elite by Dani Francis An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Blood & Brujas by Mikayla Hornedo Belladonna by Adalyn Grace As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli New episodes release twice weekly. Every Tuesday, we publish a book club episode focused on that week's featured novel. Every Thursday, we zoom out for deeper conversations about bookish culture, reading communities, genre trends, and the larger ideas shaping fantasy, romantasy, and BookTok today. If you're searching for a fantasy book podcast, romantasy podcast, or book club podcast that blends thoughtful literary analysis with a genuine love of reading, Season of Aquarius invites you to read, reflect, and discuss alongside us. How to participate: Send your theories and spicy takes by commenting on this episode, DMing us, or using the form on our website. The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  We're thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We're publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured. Sponsor: Liquid IV Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to LiquidIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code BOOKTALK at checkout. Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at ⁠www.vionicshoes.com⁠ when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show:  Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to switch off for the night? Join Geoffrey for a comforting bedtime story in Pennyworth Cove, where a long-planned proposal keeps going wrong - and love, as always, finds its own moment. If you'd like an extra touch of calm, you can also watch this episode on Spotify, complete with soothing visuals

Has the Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 Official Trailer riled you up??  The ire has definitely shifted from one Bridgerton who made a bad offer to two others Bridgertons.Join us as we discuss the official trailer for part two before Benophie take over our lives (again!) in a few days! Hosts – Toni Rose & Wendy Woo Email - bridgerton2000@gmail.com Follow - www.instagram.com/bridgerton2000 Shop - www.zazzle.com/store/lit_wallflowers/products Subscribe - www.youtube.com/channel/UCVbwzumQy5Gx1TKc-O4OCzQ Website - linktr.ee/bridgerton2000

AP correspondent Ben Thomas has the story of a weird flightless parrot in a rare mood for romance. ((opens with sound of kakapo booming))

Forgiving Infidelity: If, when, and how to forgive or apologize when a partner has been unfaithful - a short interview with Dr. Tara Smith. Listen to caller's personal dramas four times each week as Dr. Kenner takes your calls and questions on parenting, romance, love, family, marriage, divorce, hobbies, career, mental health - any personal issue! Call anytime, toll free 877-Dr-Kenner. Visit www.drkenner.com for more information about the show (where you can also download free chapter one of her serious relationships guidebook).

If someone says “we should hang out sometime,” do they really mean it? We decode the phrases people use when they secretly don't like you, help a listener stuck in a tough DM Dilemma about lending money, and expose the workplace habits that make people dislike you fast. Consider this your guide to reading between the lines.

Federico e Isabel comentan la actualidad del corazón con Paloma Barrientos y Beatriz Miranda. I

In honor of Valentine's Day it's time to celebrate a female screenwriter who managed to take bubble-gum parts for actresses and give them more gumption, gravitas, and giggles inside the light musical genre films she was assigned. Born in New York City in 1909, Dorothy Kingsley could be called a nepo-baby as her mother Alma … Continue reading "A Master of Musical Romances: The Screenwriting Career of Dorothy Kingsley – Dr. Rosanne Welch, Script Magazine, February 2026" Related posts: Trusted to Write for the Greatest Stars of the Silent Screen: The Screenwriting Career of Ruth Cummings – Dr. Rosanne Welch, Script Magazine, January 2026 Lois Weber: More than a Writer-Director She's the Auteur Activist of Early Cinema – Dr. Rosanne Welch, Script Magazine, April 2025 From Missouri to Musicals: The Screenwriting Career of Dorothy Yost – Dr. Rosanne Welch, Script Magazine, November 2025

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: A new bookish metaphor and book moms in the wild Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: Explaining a Currently Reading literary society Before We Go: our new segment featuring bookish friend posts and a sleeper hit you should read. Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . 1:44 - Bookish Moments of the Week 1:52 - Currently Reading Website 1:56 - Books We Want To Press Into Your Hands 3:03 - Best Books for Babies and Kids 3:42 - Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge 5:55 - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO Max 7:12 - Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin 7:16 - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin (all 3 Dunk and Egg novellas) 7:55 - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 8:33 - Current Reads 8:41 - The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon (Kaytee) 11:47 - The Book Wanderers by Anna James 11:50 - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 11:54 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 13:08 - Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Meredith) 15:10 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 15:11 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 15:45 - Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 22:27 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 24:10 - Six Feet Over by Mary Roach (Kaytee) 27:20 - Gulp by Mary Roach 27:21 - Bonk by Mary Roach 27:22 - Stiff by Mary Roach 28:51 - Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (Meredith) 32:06 - Agatha Christie's Marple by Mark Aldridge 34:18 - The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden (Kaytee) 34:33 - Charter Books 39:00 - Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Meredith) 42:28 - Dracula by Bram Stoker 45:21 - Turning Instagram into Bookstagram 47:25 - Sign up for the newsletter on our website 47:26 - Currently Reading Substack 50:48 - Currently Reading Instagram 50:54 - @HelloSunshine on Instagram 50:58 - @BookRiot on Instagram  51:00 - @NYTBooks on Instagram 51:40 - @Iamblackharry on Instagram 52:10 - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 52:28 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 52:42 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower 53:42 - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 53:48 - God of the Woods by Liz Moore 54:03 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 56:13 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 58:44 - Before We Go Meredith highlights a bookish friend post 59:34 - The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver 59:54 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Kaytee's Book She DNF'd: 1:01:22 - The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor 1:01:28 - Bookshelf Thomasville 1:02:57 - From the Front Porch podcast Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. February's list is a special romance curated list from Open Door Romance, The Novel Neighbor's Romance adjacent bookstore in Plainville, MA. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads | Substack | Youtube The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Prince William, Prince of Wales, appeared alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 — their first joint outing since Prince Andrew’s arrest — with sources saying the future king is “not in a calm state” as fresh turmoil grips the monarchy. In Hollywood, Rebecca Gayheart broke her silence following the devastating death of her husband, Eric Dane, who passed away at 53 after battling ALS, honoring him in a heartfelt tribute. Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston and boyfriend Jim Curtis sparked major romance buzz after being spotted touring luxury New York City apartments — hinting their relationship may be heading toward a serious new chapter. Rob’s latest exclusives and insider reporting can be found at robshuter.substack.com His forthcoming novel, It Started With A Whisper, is now available for pre-order See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Disclaimer* This episode contains adult content and is not recommended for young listeners.   284. DON'T MISS THIS! Controversial Sex Questions, Answered with Dr. Juli Slattery   1 Samuel 24:19b NIV “May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.”   *Transcription Below*   Bio: Instagram Facebook Authentic Intimacy Website Java with Juli Podcast   Thank you to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Questions and Topics We Cover: As Christ followers, should we use a friend's preferred names and pronouns? If one part of Scripture talks about turning the other cheek, is that the same as saying God expects you to stay in an abusive marriage? Is it reasonable to assume that once they have a smartphone, 100% of kids will be exposed to pornography?   Previous Episodes on Sexual Intimacy on The Savvy Sauce, Including Past Episodes with Dr. Juli Slattery: Fostering a Fun, Healthy Sex Life with your Spouse with Dr. Jennifer Konzen  Ways to Deepen Your Intimacy in Marriage with Dr. Douglas Rosenau  Ten Common Questions About Sex, Shared Through a Biblical Worldview with Dr. Michael Sytsma Hope For Treating Pelvic Pain with Tracey LeGrand Treatment for Sexual Issues with Certified Sex Therapist, Emma Schmidt Talking With Your Kids About Sex with Brian and Alison Sutter Natural Aphrodisiacs with Christian Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Douglas Rosenau Healthy Sexuality, Emotional Intelligence, and Parenting Children with Autism with Counselor, Lauren Dack Pain and Joy in Sexual Intimacy with Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese Identifying and Fighting Human Trafficking with Dr. Jeff Waibel Bridging the Gap Between Military and Civilian Families with Licensed Professional Counselor, Cuthor, Podcaster, and 2015 Military Spouse of the Year, Corie Weathers Enjoying a God-Honoring, Healthy Sex Life with Your Spouse with Certified Sex Therapist and Ordained Minister, Dr. Michael Sytsma Enjoying Parenting and Managing Conversations About Sex with Certified Sex Therapist and Author, Dr. Jennifer Konzen Conflict Resolution, Infidelity, and Infertility with Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese Hormones and Body Image with Certified Sex Therapist, Vickie George Passion Pursuit with Dr. Juli Slattery Female Orgasm with Sue Goldstein Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, and Treatments Available with Dr. Irwin Goldstein Turn Ons, Turn Offs, and Savoring Sex in Marriage with Dr. Jennifer Konzen Desire Discrepancy in Marriage with Dr. Michael Sytsma Answering Listener's Questions About Sex with Kelli Willard Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder Supernatural Restoration Story with Bob and Audrey Meisner Healthy Minds, Marriages, and Sex Lives with Drs. Scott and Melissa Symington Female Pornography Addiction and Meaningful Recovery with Crystal Renaud Day Building Lasting Relationships with Clarence and Brenda Shuler Healthy Ways for Females to Increase Sexual Enjoyment with Tracey LeGrand Pornography Healing for Spouses with Geremy Keeton Sexual Sin Recovery for You and Your Spouse (Part Two) Personal Development and Sexual Wholeness with Dr. Sibylle Georgianna  Our Brain's Role in Sexual Intimacy with Angie Landry Discovering God's Design for Romance with Sharon Jaynes Sex in Marriage and Its Positive Effects with Francie Winslow, Part 1 Science and Art of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, Part 2 Making Love in Marriage with Debra Fileta Mutually Pleasing Sex in Marriage with Gary Thomas Sex Series: God's Design and Warnings for Sex: An Interview with Mike Novotny Sex Series: Enhancing Female Pleasure and Enjoyment of Sex: An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Degler Sex Series Orgasmic Potential, Pleasure, and Friendship: An Interview with Bonny Burns  Sex Series: Sex Series: Healthy Self, Healthy Sex: An Interview with Gaye Christmus Sex Series: Higher Sexual Desire Wife: An Interview with J Parker Sex Series: Six Pillars of Intimacy with Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo 215 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part One with Dr. Kris Christiansen 216 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part Two with Dr. Kris Christiansen 217 Tween/Teen Females: How to Navigate Changes during Puberty with Dr. Jennifer Degler 218 Secrets of Sex and Marriage: Interview with Dr. Michael Sytsma 222 Pornography: Protecting Children and Personal Healing, Victory, and Recovery in Christ with Sam Black Special Patreon Release: Holy Sex: An Interview with Dr. Juli Slattery Special Patreon Release: His Desires and Her Desires in the Bedroom with Dr. Jennifer Konzen 224 Surprising Discoveries of Sex in Marriage: An Interview with Shaunti Feldhahn 252 Maximizing Sexual Connections as Newlyweds to Long Term Marriages and Recovering from a Sexless Marriage with Dr. Cliff & Joyce Penner 260 Sex After Cancer with Dr. Kris Christiansen 277 Breaking Through Addiction in Marriage with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:11 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 – 2:21) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook.   My returning guest for today is Dr. Juli Slattery.   She has authored another book entitled Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes Everything, and we're going to cover a few themes from this book, but I think what you're going to find most helpful are her candid responses to some really tricky questions related to dating and pornography, technology, thought life, shows that we watch as believers, divorce, and just intimacy in general as married couples.   So, I think this is an episode that you're going to want to learn from yourself, but you'll also want to share with others because Dr. Juli has offered us such a gift as she directs us back to the heart issues and wisely guides us into sexual integrity in our own lives.   Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Dr. Juli.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (2:21 – 2:21) Thanks so much for having me back. It's always a joy.   Laura Dugger: (2:21 – 2:22) Well, I love that you've been a repeat guest many times. So, we get to just dive right in today because I'm going to link all of your previous episodes in the show notes. But to dive in, I'm just curious, as believers, where does your heart break as you see us compromising on God's design for sex?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (2:22 – 3:31) Hmm. That's such a good question. You know, I think my heart breaks the most in that when we compromise God's design for sexuality, or even when we don't understand it or understand His goodness, it means that there is a breach in our relationship with God.   And so, I am so passionate about what I do, not necessarily because I love talking about sexuality, but because for a lot of people, sexuality represents a wall between them and God, like an issue they can't resolve, or a place of shame that they just can't quite shake free from, or battle with sin that they feel like they're enslaved to. And so, those things mean that there's a limit to how much they invite God into their lives.   And so, for me, that's where my heart breaks the most is, you know, ultimately, we were created for the greatest fellowship with God and anything that gets in the way of that is something that God cares about and something that I care about.   Laura Dugger: (3:32 – 4:03) You say that well, and you've written many books, but in this most recent one, you plainly state one issue when you write, “You will not be able to obey God with your sexual thoughts, while binging shows and music that continually display the exact opposite.”   And I love how practical that is. So, Juli, why do you think this has become so normalized? And I would say, especially in Christian marriages.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (4:05 – 5:58) Yeah, you know, I think a lot of it is that the church has been historically really quiet about sexuality, you know, like we might talk about save sex for marriage, and don't cheat on your husband and that sort of thing. But the gray areas about how we think about our sexuality and kind of what we have the liberty and freedom to engage in, there's kind of silence, or maybe there's legalism.   And I think in that space, what ends up happening is the culture is so forthright with a message about sexuality, like woven throughout every single show that you could stream on any platform, you know, your music on Spotify, even the news you consume, the Instagram feeds, whatever, it's consistently showing you a way to understand sexuality that is contrary to God's design, and the messaging can be so subtle, or so repetitive that we don't even realize we're ingesting it.   And so, it's normal to talk about with your friends, like the latest season of The Bachelor, or, you know, the latest thing that you're streaming that if you really look at it, there's probably 100 references to sexuality that are outside of God's design. And so, we end up just having our mind conformed to this world.   And the scripture says really clearly in Romans 12, that we can't offer ourselves to God while we're still thinking like the world thinks that it requires an act of transformation of our thinking. And I don't know that there's anywhere more than we need this than in the topic of understanding our sexuality.   Laura Dugger: (6:00 – 6:59) Okay, so for I'm thinking of married couples, because I was recently at a wedding shower. And I love a friend from church. Her name is Dawn Karius. And she was giving the devotional and just sharing. You know, it's very easy to get married and fall into this trap. She was talking about what you watch specifically.   And she said, so many couples will watch something together, watch a show before bed, but be really intentional. If that is what you choose to do, then the shows that you're watching, even though you're with your spouse, is that drawing both of you closer to Christ? Because if it's pulling you further away from Christ, it's also pulling you away from one another.   And so, with all of that, and with what you've studied and written about, if a couple's hearing that and or some single person just hearing this, what would be your practical advice or encouragement for them?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (7:00 – 9:29) Yeah, some of it is, we can't live in a bubble. You know, it's, I think that there are some couples will have the conviction that, you know, we're just going to get rid of all of our devices, we're going to get rid of every streaming service. And there's nothing wrong with that decision, you might feel convicted to do that.   But for most couples, I would say, they're like, okay, we live in this world, we need to understand even the world we live in. And so, it's not like we're going to completely be cut off. But are we being discerning about what we consume?   And what are the standards that we might hit where we might just say, “You know what, we don't need to be watching this.” You know, like I can think of one show in particularly that my husband and I were watching. And it was a well-written show. It was exciting. But there was just so much profanity and just gross kind of sexual content that after two or three episodes, we're both just like, “You know what, as good as the show is, we just, this isn't, we're not watching this. Like we need to stop.”   And I think you need to have those discussions and you might have a different level of conviction than your spouse does. And that's okay, but at least have those conversations and you need to follow your conviction.   But then the other thing I would say that is equally important, if not more important, what are you consuming that helps you get God's perspective of sexuality? And what I've found is that a whole lot of Christian married couples know very little about what it looks like to build a healthy sex life in their marriage. And they're not consuming anything that helps them know how to love each other better, how to overcome differences, even how their bodies work, how to focus on one another and enjoy sex in a holy erotic way.   And so, even if you're watching and consuming very little content from the world, but you're not actively pursuing anything that gives you a biblical perspective, you're still going to end up defaulting to what the world says. And so, I think that again, it's equally as important or not, if not more important to be pursuing what's true and what's right and what's good.   Laura Dugger: (9:31 – 9:53) I love that, how you flipped it. And that discernment piece is huge because we don't want to be desensitized to then that we're consuming and we also want to feed on the good. So, I think it even leads to a broader question, again, as Christ followers, how can we recognize if our conscience is being pricked?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (9:54 – 12:05) Yeah, we can start by asking the Lord. You know, I mean, I think it's in, is it Psalm 139, where, you know, David is basically saying, “Search me, oh God, and know my thoughts, you know, show me if there's any offensive way within me.”   I think that's a beautiful prayer as an individual and as a couple, like God, we want to honor you with what we consume in media, with what we think about, would you guide us and would you show us? And then I think we all have that experience of watching something or listening to something or reading something where we're like, “Uh, I don't know, like, this is sort of a gray area. Like, I'm uncomfortable here. I probably shouldn't be watching this.” Or “Wow, that's really, that's really in your face. Like that's really graphic.”   And it's heeding the Holy Spirit when you get those prompts, instead of just pushing through and being like, “Ah, it's not that big of a deal. It's not going to affect me.” Like when you feel that sense of prompting, you respond to it and you say, “All right, I'm going to put this down. I'm going to shut this off.”   And, um, you know, the scripture says that we can become callous to those promptings of the Holy Spirit if we are in a habit of just running right through that. But we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit when we yield and when we obey.   Um, and so, I think even just keeping track, you know, every day or every week, like where were the times regarding this or anything else that I really felt convicted by the Holy Spirit about maybe something I said about a friend, uh, or about a little white lie I told, you know, where were the times where I really felt the Holy Spirit nudging me and what did I do? Um, where do I need to confess that I didn't respond well? And where do I need to celebrate that? Yes, I listened, I obeyed, I yielded. Um, and so, I think that's a practice we get into of either ignoring that conviction or really yielding to it.   Laura Dugger: (12:06 – 12:28) Hmm. And that gets after the heart issue, which Jesus is so concerned about our heart. And that's a very softened heart approach. Yes. I hope we can have. And as it relates to sexual integrity, then what are some other ways that we need to be on guard so that we're careful not to be misled?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (12:29 – 13:37) Yeah, boy, I think there's just so much conversation. Um, again, even in Christian circles, sometimes around having a negative attitude towards sex, um, kind of accepting some forms of pornography as normal and even good, you know, husband bashing, wife bashing, you know, like complaining, kind of letting the thought feed in your mind of maybe I should have married somebody else.   Maybe that my life would be easier if I, I weren't married to this person. I wish they were this or that. So, sort of that discontent that is natural to feel in marriage. But the question is, what do you do with it? Do you give it space to grow and to nurture, or do you bring that before the Lord?   Um, so, I think those are some of the ways that we want to look at, like, how am I giving the enemy space in my life and in my marriage versus how am I inviting God to really reclaim what's broken here?   Laura Dugger: (13:38 – 14:01) Well, and then even thinking of the other side to guard ourselves from having a critical and judgmental spirit toward others or just having self-righteous pride. Can you educate us on some common reasons why some people may be predisposed to struggle with some certain sexual sins?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (14:02 – 17:20) Yeah, absolutely. I think that's so important, um, because the research really shows that some of us are more, I don't know if I'd say it that way, but we are going to be more predetermined maybe to struggle with things like pornography or same-sex attraction, or even hooking up.   And it's never like a one plus one equals two exactly. But there are what we might say indicators or risk factors that make you more vulnerable to those kinds of sexual struggles. And some of them might be unhealthy family dynamics growing up, you know, none of us had a perfect family, but let's say you grew up in a family where one of your parents was like overtly critical towards you all the time.   Maybe you went through a divorce with your parents where, um, you know, at a certain age, you just, your family fell apart and you're kind of looking for that stability and love. People who have experienced sexual trauma in childhood or the teen years are going to be more pre-dispositioned to want to understand that or act that out.   People who might struggle with anxiety. And, you know, some of it is we got to understand that sex, because it elicits dopamine in our brain and oxytocin and endorphins, which are all really feel good kind of experiences and hormones and neurotransmitters. When we had a sexual experience at a young age, our brain can learn, “Oh, this is how I deal with stress. This is how I deal with depression. This is how I deal with loneliness.”   So, a lot of times when you talk to somebody who has an ongoing struggle with a sexual temptation or sin, it's because they've learned as a pattern from maybe the time they were 10 years old or 12 years old or 15 years old, that this is how I dealt with the stress in my family. This is how I dealt with when my father died. This is how I dealt with when I was sexually abused. Like this was the way that I found to self-regulate and to self-medicate and to find comfort.   And that can be masturbation. It can be pornography or again, you know, acting out sexually. And so, for people who have that kind of story, and this might be your spouse, or this might be against somebody that you're looking at and judging to just say, “You need to stop that behavior,” is often not going to be enough. They need to do the work of really looking at what am I using sex for? What are the wounds that I'm using sex to cover up?   And how do I actually get the healing I need and find healthier and safer ways for me to cope with negative emotions? And that's why groups are really important for people who have sexual struggles. Counseling is really important. And again, that long journey of healing and freedom, not just a one-time decision that I'm going to try to never do this again.   Laura Dugger: (17:21 – 20:19) Love that word freedom, even because that hope is available. And just pointing out how you said this is not deterministic. That's not what we're saying is if you experience something, you will act out sexually. But I agree with you that it is fascinating and helpful to hear the correlation of certain things that happen, especially in childhood, and how that plays out long-term.   And I am blanking on which guest it was on The Savvy Sauce, but somebody was enlightening me. I think it was for females that if they were sexually abused, typically before a certain age, then they were more likely to struggle in marriage with wanting to completely avoid sex. But then if it was after a certain age, that it was completely opposite where they maybe used sex to medicate, or they were very aggressive and even would act out, let's say in single years, that they would sleep around with a bunch of partners if they had been wounded.   And so, I just think it just, it helps us to not be judgmental of one another. We don't know the full story.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (20:20 – 21:09) Yes. Yeah. There's always more there than we usually realize at first. And, you know, this plays out a lot in marriage because there are a lot of women who are married to guys who are addicted to pornography. And that's a deeply painful dynamic. That's really hard.   But to understand that your husband didn't want to have this struggle, often doesn't know how to get out of it, you know, gives you compassion. It doesn't mean that you look the other way, you need to get help, and you need to insist on getting help. But it does give you empathy and compassion that there's something underlying this and feeding it. It's not just, “Oh, I think I'm going to, you know, look at porn and hurt my wife again,” that there's always a deeper dynamic at work.   Laura Dugger: (21:10 – 21:50) Absolutely. And even an example from your book, I'll just read a quote where you said, “I spoke with a man who runs a sexual addiction program. He told me he had never met someone with sexual addiction, who did not also have significant sexual or psychological trauma in their past.”   And I think it goes along with what we're saying. But if we also then flip it and look at more of the positive side, how can we rightly prioritize connection and intimacy in marriage as God intended?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (21:53 – 24:24) I think first of all, we need to be convinced that this is worth it. You know, when we look at everything there is to do in life, there's so many worthy demands on our time. You know, from I want my house to look nice, and we need to make friends and we need to be an outreach to our community. And our kids are taking a lot of time and they should, and they've got all their activities and our church needs our help. Like when do you have time to do all this? And then, oh yeah, prioritize your marriage.   And I think we have to become convinced that if we're not working on our marriage, and specifically if we're not working on the sexual connection in marriage, then all those other things have the potential to fall apart. That the way I've learned it over time is that sex is never going to be a neutral issue in your marriage. It's either going to be something that is bonding you together and causing you to work on the deeper levels of intimacy, even as you talk through sexual difficulties, or it's going to be something not immediately, but over time, that becomes a wedge between you.   It might start as a wedge of resentment of my needs aren't getting met, or I feel like you're objectifying me or you're putting pressure on me. Or it might be a deeper wedge of a pornography addiction or something that's not being addressed. Or I don't trust my husband because of my trauma. And those things don't just stay dormant. The wedge becomes bigger and bigger and bigger until you get to the place where now you're not comfortable being in the same room anymore and you feel like roommates. And then now one of you is attracted to somebody else and the story plays on.   And there are very wonderful godly men and women who have gotten married with every purpose to stay together. But a wedge like this has grown over time to the point where they're now thinking about divorce or one of them has cheated on the other. And so, we have to be convinced that honoring God in our lives means prioritizing our marriage, and it means working on this intimate aspect of our marriage so that we can be a stable foundation for our families and our churches and our communities.   Laura Dugger: (24:26 – 24:39) And so, if we're getting as practical as possible, what are the best practices that you've seen in married couples who are happily married? How have you experienced that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (24:40 – 28:04) Yeah. I'll put it in kind of like a cliche sort of way because I think sometimes that's catchy. Number one, I would say they're couples who will resist the drift, who will repair the rift, and who will adjust to the shift.   So, I can kind of break that down a little bit. But you know, the first thing is resisting the drift of you can go weeks without meaningfully connecting with your spouse. And I don't just mean sexually, but I mean like eye to eye, you know, just loving touch, just connecting to their hearts. And so, couples who know how to resist that drift, like they have regular times built into their calendar where this is where we connect every day. Like even for 10 minutes, this is where we hold each other's hands, we look at each other in the eye, we really connect with what's in your heart, how are you? And they have regular rhythms of once a week or once every other week, we're going to go out and do something fun together, just the two of us. We've worked through what sex looks like in this season. Like how many times do we want to have sex? Are we scheduling that? How are we making sure that's a priority? And so, that's the resisting the drift.   And the second one is repairing the rift. And at every marriage, there are going to be things that tear you apart. And sometimes those things might be sexual in nature, like a temptation, an emotional affair, pornography use, sometimes it's going to be something else where you have a deep disagreement that you can't resolve on your own. And you need to be courageous enough to reach out for help and say, like, if we don't get help, if we don't address this issue, like it's going to become something that tears us apart. Any couple that you meet who is happily married for like 30 years or more, they can tell you a story of when they had a rift, and the kind of help that really address that.   And then I think the third thing is adjusting to the shift. And in even the normal stages of marriage, there are shifts that happen. Like, you know, I'm in the stage right now where me and the people my age are going through biological changes with menopause and with aging. And, you know, some people are going through becoming grandparents and retirement. And there's all these shifts that are happening even naturally. There's other couples that are younger who are going through the shift of pregnancy and battling infertility. And some people are going through cancer. And there are things that happen that require you to shift your expectations. And to not just wish that it is like it used to be. But this is the marriage we have now. Here are the circumstances we have now. Here are the bodies we have now. How do we learn to love each other and embrace this season, given the changes that we're experiencing?   And so, I think that's a framework that I've seen healthy couples navigate over time that really fosters intimacy.   Laura Dugger: (28:05 – 29:29) That is incredible. I love how you put that. And I've shared with you before that my background is in Christian sex therapy. So, sex is a topic that does come up a lot and people feel comfortable sharing or asking questions. So, just in regular conversation, I want to recap two conversations that kind of show stances on both ends of the spectrum. And I'd love to hear your wisdom on how to respond to each one.   So, first, there was a Christian married woman with children, and she was teaching younger women to say yes to every single sexual advance from their husband. And she said, “If your husband has the higher drive, and he wants to have sex twice a day, then consider yourself lucky. And don't ever say no, because your body is not your own.” Yeah, it's hard to recap. So, this is not my perspective. So, sharing both ends.   So, that was one person. And then on the other end, I've heard a woman tell me, “You know, I just didn't feel like having sex for about a year and a half after we had our baby. So, I just told my husband, you're going to have to wait.”   So, loaded question, but Dr. Juli, how would you respond to each of those?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (29:29 – 32:31) Well, Laura, I feel like you probably would have just as good of response as I would to those. Yeah, I like that you're presenting those as two extremes, because they are two extremes. And I think both extremes kind of miss the heart. We want to be able to say yes to sex and intimacy. And being able to say yes means also being able to say no.   In that first situation, essentially, what is going to end up happening is that that wife is going to start feeling like my husband wants me for sex. And I don't have the capacity to enjoy it twice a day. I'm starting to feel like an object or used. And the husband is never going to learn that covenant love requires self-denial. And at every level, you know, what did, what did Paul say to husbands in Ephesians 5, like love your wife as you love your own body and be willing to lay down your, your life for your wife. And that means being sensitive to the fact that she doesn't have the same sexual appetite as you do. She doesn't have the same biology you do, that it actually can be physically painful, emotionally traumatic for a wife to have sex when she's not physically ready. Really, that couple is not working on intimacy. They're, they're kind of reinforcing a pattern that sex is about the husband getting his needs and desires met only through the wife without considering her. And that might work for short term, but that's not building intimacy in the long term. And it's not teaching either of them. And that wife needs to learn her own sexual desires and patterns and be able to communicate those to her husband. So, that's what I would say in that first one.   And the second one, essentially, you have a wife kind of having that more selfish perspective of, I only have sex when I want it and on my terms, instead of considering the husband. And, you know, how do I focus on him? How do I work on experiencing sexual desire? How do I foster that? Because it's important for my husband, it's important for our marriage. And I don't want to be selfish.   And so, I think both of those situations are kind of approaching sex where one person gets to be selfish, and the other person has to sacrifice. That's ministry, that's not intimacy. And so, we really want to be at a place where both of us, the higher desire one and the lower desire one, are learning what does it look like to really love well, to love sacrificially and to communicate the ways that I feel loved. I don't know, what would you add to that or change?   Laura Dugger: (32:31 – 33:11) That's why I asked you, you said that beautifully, better than I could have responded. And again, you're getting back to the heart of it and pointing us back to Jesus with each answer. And, you know, commonly people do struggle with having a safe place where they can ask candid questions about sex.   So, I am going to throw some more at you. And some of these are ones that you wrote about. But just to give us a little taste, even of the book, or if somebody has a burning question like this, I'd love your healthy response.   So, how do you respond when people ask, “How far is too far to go in a dating relationship?”   Dr. Juli Slattery: (33:14 – 36:32) Yeah, I think people are looking for a line, you know, like, as long as I don't cross this line, are we good? And of course, I think their traditional line would be as long as you're not having intercourse. But I think that misses the larger context of the purpose of sex. I've had to be convicted of this in my own life. And we talked very early in our conversation about how we've just sort of ingested messages from the culture. And the culture says that healthy sexuality is an expression of how I feel, right? So, so if I feel safe with you, if I feel romantically connected to you, if I feel sexually attracted to you, then it would be healthy for me to engage sexually with you. And then Christians would come and say, yes, but as long as you don't cross this line. So, that's sort of the narrative that I think a lot of us have heard in the church.   But if we look at, from a biblical perspective, God did not design sex to be an expression of how I feel. Okay, let that sink in for a minute. God did not design sex to be an expression of how I feel. He designed it to be a seal and a celebration of covenant, of the choice that a man and a woman make to covenant their lives to one another. And for them to say, just like I give you my whole life, I promise faithfulness to you. I promise that we are becoming one as a family. We have now a physical way to symbolize that in becoming one with our bodies. And so, even if I feel romantically attached to somebody I'm not married to, I don't act on that. Or even if I don't feel romantically attached to my husband, we work on our sex life because we're in covenant.   And so, when you begin to understand sex from that standpoint, you answer that question differently of how far can I go? Why are you sharing your body with another person when you haven't shared your life with them? And, you know, I think that the standard is not legalistic, but the heart of the question is a lot, that's a harder question. You know, like it says, and I think 2 Thessalonians or 1 Thessalonians, you know, Paul says, the will of God is that you do not engage in sexual immorality. Don't take advantage of a brother or sister.   And how many times in dating relationships do you look back and you're like, “Wow, I gave too much of myself to that person or I took too much of myself from that person. Like we engaged in things that now we're broken apart. Like I wish I could take back.” And so, what does it look like to honor each other? What does it look like to honor the Lord? So, I think those kinds of questions help you get to the heart of how do we steward dating relationships a lot better than looking for a line we're not supposed to cross.   Laura Dugger: (36:33 – 37:31) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world.   So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.   As Christ followers, should we use a friend's preferred names and pronouns? So, how would you respond to that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (37:32 – 39:20) Boy, this is a hot topic. There are people who have really strong opinions on this. You're saying, do I use a friend's preferred names and pronouns?   And I think the fact that you have a friendship means that you can have a deeper conversation about the meaning of the names and pronouns. And I think that deeper conversation needs to happen. Because, you know, ultimately we don't like, we don't want to just say, “Oh yeah, whatever you want to call yourself is fine with me. Truth doesn't matter.” But on the other hand, we really want to get to the spiritual issue underneath this. And there's a, there's a big difference between somebody who doesn't know the Lord, doesn't know where you stand on any of this, and somebody that you can engage in a conversation with and seek wisdom on.   I think there, there's probably more latitude to use somebody's preferred name than pronouns. And I think in friendships, sometimes you can work that through and just say, you know, “Hey, I love you. I understand where you're coming from. I'm going to try my best to use the name that you're asking. But the pronoun is something that I'm not comfortable with. And here's why. And just like I'm, I want to understand where you are. I hope that you would have grace and understand where I am.” So, in a friendship, you're able to have those kinds of conversations. Whereas if it's a coworker or it's a stranger or a neighbor, sometimes we can't have that level of conversation. And so, I, we might choose to handle the situation a little differently.   Laura Dugger: (39:21 – 39:36) That's good. A hundred percent truth, a hundred percent love or kindness. And what if somebody asks, how much attention should we be giving these secondary issues as believers?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (39:39 – 41:03) Boy, I, I think first of all, the secondary issues come out of the primary issues. So, the primary issue, and you know, the issue I wrote Surrendered Sexuality is about is if my life belongs to the Lord, then my whole life needs to belong to Him, including how I think about cultural issues, including how I treat my neighbor.   And so, I don't see them as secondary issues. I see them as an outgrowth of the primary issue. I think when they become secondary issues are when we argue with other believers about it and it becomes the most important thing. Like I put you in a category based on, will you use preferred names and pronouns? And then I think we're missing what God calls us to.   The primary issue is that we want to honor God and we want to love each other. And so, let's keep going back to that primary issue. How do I love my neighbor well? How do I honor God's truth well? How do I pursue unity within the body of Christ well, as we're navigating some of these secondary issues? So, you know, like if we're going back to the primary issue, it means that we have to talk about the secondary issues, but we talk about them in light of what's primary.   Laura Dugger: (41:04 – 41:17) I like that. And I just have three more of these kind of tricky questions. So, another one, does pornography addiction qualify as reasons for a biblical divorce?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (41:20 – 42:50) I would say, first of all, technically, if we look at the word for sexual immorality in the scripture, which is porneia, we would say, yeah, you know, pornography does qualify for that.   But for the person who's asking this, maybe the woman who's asking this, I would say, why do you want to get out of the marriage? And what Jesus said is Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of your heart. And I think a more important question is where's your heart and where's your husband's heart? Because I've seen people with pornography addictions who have really open hearts towards healing, and they're willing to get the help that they need. They're repentant. They're willing to do the work. They're willing to go through even a time of separation to show that they're serious about that work.   And then there are people who have very hard hearts of, “This is who I am. I might go through the motions, but I'm really not interested in change.” And so, I think the pornography addiction is less the issue than the posture of the person's heart and their willingness to work. And if your spouse is willing to work, then I think it's on us to have soft hearts too, and to be open to the work that God can do.   Laura Dugger: (42:51 – 43:34) That's good because saying you have to zoom out and see more of the story in that stance, because that's very different. Somebody who's working on it and hates the struggle and is wanting to break free versus being married to a narcissist who is abusing you and treating you in a certain way and addicted to pornography. So, you point out well that all of these questions have more to them.   Okay. So, two more, if a spouse has had an emotional affair in the past with a coworker, but they still work with this person, what is the wise thing to do and how should they handle it if their spouse is uncomfortable with them still working there?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (43:36 – 44:33) Yeah, boy, that's something that I would want to seek counseling on. You and your spouse really need to get with a counselor and talk that through. The generic advice in that situation would be to get a different job, to not have that relationship still a temptation or available.   But there are sometimes very extenuating circumstances where that's not a possibility, or at least for now, that's not a possibility. And so, I would really encourage you to meet with a third party to sort through the details of your particular situation. Because it could be that your spouse isn't willing to take that hard step of cutting off that relationship, or it could be that they're willing, but again, there's extenuating circumstances. And I would really want a wise person who is engaging with you to help you navigate that.   Laura Dugger: (44:34 – 44:44) But I love that, how you highlight that something to look for though, is that you would hope your spouse would be willing to make that right, especially if they were the offending.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (44:46 – 44:46) Okay.   Laura Dugger: (44:47 – 45:00) And then also, Juli, because scripture does talk about turning the other cheek, does that mean it's the same as saying God expects you to stay in an abusive marriage?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (45:02 – 47:41) Absolutely not. If you were in an abusive marriage, you are not doing your spouse any good. You are allowing your spouse to be in a place where they're destroying their own life and they're destroying the people that they love.   Now you say, okay, where biblically do we see this? We see that Jesus, he says in John, he says, “I laid down my life for my sheep. I lay it down willingly. No one has the authority to take it from me. I have the authority to lay it down and I have the authority to take it up again.” And we see Him living that out with religious leaders who were after Him all the time, who wanted to stone Him, who were accusing Him of things. It says over and over again that Jesus escaped from them. He just got out of there until it was time that the Father said, now is the time for you to give yourself for the world.   So, we take that principle and we say, Jesus was not abused. Jesus did not let Himself be abused. He gave Himself as a lamb to the slaughter as a sacrifice for the Father and for the world. But that's very different. Up until that time, we see Him have great boundaries. We see Him not get, it even says He didn't entrust Himself to man because He knew what was in their hearts. I mean, He had boundaries with people that could have hurt Him.   And I also love when we see this in the story of King David and Saul, when Saul is chasing David, Saul is abusive, right? He wants to kill David. And so, David escapes. And there's a situation where David has the power or the opportunity to kill Saul and he doesn't do it. And then Saul just is struck by his conscience, and he comes back to David. He goes, “You're a better man than I am. I'm so sorry. You know, come back with me and I'll treat you well.” And even though David doesn't take revenge, he doesn't go back with Saul. He's still, he's like, “You go your way. I'll go my way. I'm going to let the Lord judge between us.”   And I think that's a great model. If you're in any kind of abusive relationship, you don't take revenge, but you also don't stay in that situation. You go your way, let them go their way, and you let God judge between you. And I think we see that over and over again in scripture.   Laura Dugger: (47:42 – 48:19) I think that is so well said. And it reminds me of a somewhat recent conversation in 2025 with Stacey Womack who's saying with domestic violence, really the way God would see it is child abuse. And that kind of helps our paradigm because we are His child.   And she elaborates on that. So, I said that that was the last one, but I actually thought of one more as it relates to our children.   So, is it reasonable to assume that once a child has a smartphone, 100% of them will be exposed to pornography?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (48:21 – 49:15) Yeah, it is. And I would say not just once they have a smartphone, because I know with one of my kids, we delayed the smartphone decision, but he had a learning disability that required him to have an iPad for school. And somehow, even though we locked down all the apps, somehow he's able to access it through that. Or it can be a gaming system, or it can be a friend's phone. And so, having a smartphone or device like that certainly makes it more probable.   But you know, like our kids are surrounded by screens and technology, not just what's in our home, but in other people's homes and at school. And so, I think it's safe to assume, unfortunately, that yes, 100% of our kids are going to be exposed to pornography, probably by the time they're 13 or 14.   Laura Dugger: (49:16 – 49:31) And sadly, some much younger than that. But even if there's parental controls, or filters put on, it is just something on my heart that we have to be so vigilant against.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (49:32 – 50:12) Yeah, no, I felt like when, you know, I have three boys, and when they were all three kind of in those teen years, I felt like I was trying to plug holes in a boat, and there'd be new ones popping up all the time. Whether it's like apps, or you know, things that you think are completely safe. Somehow, pornography can get through.   And our kids are smart, like they know the workarounds to the parental things. And that's why we just need to have conversation after conversation, just discipling them, not just protecting them from pornography, but discipling them through what they're inevitably going to be exposed to.   Laura Dugger: (50:13 – 51:05) That's a great point that not just being reactive, but proactive. I think why I have such a heart for this is because practicing and doing therapy and having so many people come in those wounds, that if that addiction gets a stronghold, and that pornography use, it just can wreak havoc in people long term. And so, if we can do that hard work of discipling early on, it is such a blessing to our children, to the generation.   So, I'm just so grateful for your candid responses. And I think it's also a helpful reminder just to never take on a burden that was never meant for us to carry. So, are there any ways that God has taught you to not try and do His business?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (51:07 – 52:16) Yeah. Boy, that's such a great question. I've had to come to the conclusion that I can't convince anyone of right and wrong. You know, like, I can't convince anyone that pornography is wrong, or gay marriage is wrong, or you know, like, that's not my job. My job is to walk with the Lord with integrity and faithfulness and to testify as to who He is.   And so much of this work, whether we're talking about marriage or our friends or our children, so much of this work has to be the Lord's work. And you reach a stage with your kids when they hit those teen years, where you realize the things my kids most need, I can't give them. I can't give them a relationship with God. I can't give them the desire to follow and seek the Lord. Like, I can model that for them. I can encourage them. But that is between them and the Lord. And if I try to control that, I'm just getting in the way of the work that God wants to do in their lives.   Laura Dugger: (52:18 – 52:33) Goodness, I will need to write that down and reflect on that. That is so good, Juli. And there's still so much more that you could share with us.   So, where is your preferred place that we can go online and continue learning from you?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (52:34 – 52:48) Yeah, I would say two places. Number one, our website is authenticintimacy.com. And the second one is the podcast that I do called Java with Juli. It goes along with The Savvy Sauce, you know, like they kind of go together.   Laura Dugger: (52:49 – 53:11) Yes, absolutely. We will certainly link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode.   And you're familiar, I've asked you many times before, because we are called savvy, because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or discernment. So, as my final question for you today, Dr. Juli, what is your savvy sauce?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (53:13 – 53:58) Oh, I don't even remember how I answered this the last few times. I think I may have said this before, but I think reading the dead old guys is one of my savvy sauce, like reading people who didn't live in this generation who loved the Lord.   And learning from them is just, that's probably taught me more discernment than anything, because they just cut right through the cultural noise that I think sometimes can blind us. And they really help me see my heart for what it is and help me really want to pursue God at a deeper level.   Laura Dugger: (53:59 – 54:03) Wow. Any specific recommendations that have been personal favorites there?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (54:04 – 54:22) Yeah, I love A.W. Tozer. I love many of Andrew Murray's books, particularly Humility and Absolute Surrender. And C.S. Lewis is another great one, Mere Christianity. So, those are some that I would recommend you start with.   Laura Dugger: (54:23 – 54:44) That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Juli, it's just always such a delight to get to share an hour of conversation with you. And you are just this beautiful mixture of bold and gentle and humble, all combined into one. So, thank you for being my returning guest today.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (54:44 – 54:49) Oh, thank you. And it's such a pleasure to be with you. Thanks for your great questions.   Laura Dugger: (54:51 – 58:33) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Esta semana nos ponemos romanticones (cue saxophone) con una conversación acerca del género más apasionado de todos.

Send a textOn the podcast this time, Steven and Sean are swinging through the jungle to save our lady love. We watched the 1997 film from Sam Weisman, George of the Jungle.You know him. You love him. He's the one, the only, the certifiable King of the Jungle: it's Viscount Greystoke himself! Give it up for the greatest to have ever swung from a vine, everyone!Hold on, I'm being told now that Greystoke is Tarzan, and George is definitely not Tarzan. Hey, I won't hear any unkind thing said about our George, though. Who better to feature for this month's B-movie episode?(Recorded on January 05, 2026)Links to Stuff We Mentioned:George of the Jungle - The Movie Database (TMDB)George of the Jungle trailer - YouTubeBrendan Fraser — The Movie Database (TMDB)Leslie Mann — The Movie Database (TMDB)Thomas Haden Church — The Movie Database (TMDB)John Cleese — The Movie Database (TMDB)Titanic (1997) — The Movie Database (TMDB)The Matrix Reloaded (2003) — The Movie Database (TMDB)Wings (TV Series 1990–1997) — The Movie Database (TMDB)Follow Us:Give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!Sean's Letterboxd profile!Steven's Letterboxd profile!Our Buzzsprout site!Our Instagram profile!Support the show

This episode goes from romance to rinse-and-spit real fast. We talk about the right time to get engaged, break down how to actually brush your teeth correctly, and call out the phrases people use when they don't like you (but pretend they do). It's helpful, honest, and just a little savage.

What if your favorite TV show or movie series didn't end when the credits rolled? That's at the heart of fanfiction: the social, collaborative, and imaginative community of amateur writers creating new adventures – and new love interests – from established stories and franchises. We kick off our new series, How We Love, with a conversation about the intersection of romance and fanfiction.Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

Ramen, travel stories, childhood nostalgia… sounds like a solid first date, right? Dominic thought so too. He calls us confused after Aria ghosts him following what he believed was a great night in Sunnyvale. He says she was beautiful, hilarious without trying, and the conversation just flowed. He walked her to her car fully expecting round two. Instead? Radio silence. Let's investigate.

John Maytham speaks to Rakhee Dullabh, who specialises in technology and data privacy law at ENS Africa, about the legal implications of AI-driven catfishing, the enforcement challenges under the Cybercrimes Act, and what individuals and platforms should be doing to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated romance scams. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The romance renaissance here. From Wuthering Heights & Heated Rivalry, to romantic aesthetics on runways & the never ending content on how to romanticise your life, we dissect why romance as a genre, concept & lifestyle has been trending up over the last few years. Plus, we share a bunch of book, tv & movie recs to sprinkle some much-deserved romance into your life.

Aquiles and Liz interview Mackenzie Miller about Denver Violins. Special Guest: Mackenzie Miller .

When Love Gets Easy and Everything Else Gets Complicated This week opens with abundant love and generosity as Venus harmonizes with Jupiter, then shifts into revision mode when Mercury stations retrograde in Pisces on Wednesday. By Friday, Mars clashes with Uranus, bringing restless energy and the urge to break free from anything that feels restrictive. Last week of February Limited Offerings www.cardsyb.com/galentines readings & More: www.cardsyb.com daily energy updates: www.instagram.com/CardsyB  

RMR 0353: Special Guest, Brett Rubenstein, joins your hosts, Dustin Melbardis and Russell Guest for the Retro Movie Roundtable as they revisit Fierce Creatures (1997) Genre: Comedy, Romance, British Comedy   Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Ronnie Corbett, Carey Lowell, Robert Lindsay, Bille Brown, Derek Griffiths, Cynthia Cleese, Richard Ridings, Maria Aitken, Michael Percival,, Fred Evans, Flamingo Keeper, Lisa Hogan, Choy-Ling Man, Tim Potter, Jenny Galloway, Kim Vithana, Sean Francis, Julie Saunders   Directed by: Fred Schepisi & Robert Young Recorded on 2025-01-08

On this episode of Buzzing about Romance, join Leah, Amanda, and Becky as they revisit Hockey Romance, the evergreen sub-genre.

Matt Stanton (Funny Kid series, The Odds series) and Sarah Ayoub (The Yearbook Committee, The Cult of Romance) have a laugh and reminisce on their relationship, their children and how they write books. Learn more about the two authors, how Matt wrote his latest Funny Kid novel, the different challenges Sarah faces when writing novels and kids picture books, and as always, the publishing industry in this new episode of Authors on Authors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scalda i motori Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026, in programma dal 26 al 29 marzo, appuntamento numero uno al mondo per il beauty e professional care, giunto quest'anno alla sua 57esima edizione. Un mercato che supera i 587 miliardi di euro a livello globale (dati Euromonitor International) e in Italia supera i 41, con le esportazioni che coprono ormai il 50% del comparto posizionando il nostro Paese come quarto esportatore al mondo (dati Cosmetica Italia). Riconosciuta come hub globale dell'industria della bellezza, la manifestazione si conferma una piattaforma strategica per l'incontro tra tutti i protagonisti della filiera cosmetica mondiale e un punto d'osservazione straordinario per individuare le nuove tendenze e interpretare i cambiamenti del mercato. Ne parliamo con Enrico Zannini (direttore generale di BolognaFiere Cosmoprof), Gianpiero Calzolari (presidente di BolognaFiere), Benedetto Lavino (presidente di Cosmetica Italia) e Lorenzo Galanti (direttore generale Agenzia ICE).Focus sui trend dedicato alla tendenza "dark romance", sulla scia del fenomeno cinematografico del momento "Cime tempestose", alla scoperta delle declinazioni più sorprendenti, che includono anche il mondo dei viaggi e del cibo.Riflessione finale dedicata invece all'arte e alla sua fruzione, che ci insegna come il meccanismo dell'attenzione e della distrazione funzioni come nuova leva d'ingaggio anche nel mondo dei consumi.

Don't have time for terrible ❤️ books? Kim and Aimee review ‘Emma of 83rd St'' by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (a contemporary adaptation of Jane Austen's ‘Emma') and discuss what makes an adaptation of Jane Austen novels great, and why ‘Clueless' might be the best one ever. (With reference to our reviews of: ‘Emma', ‘Longbourn', ‘The Independence of Miss Mary Bennett', and the ‘Bridgerton' novels: Daphne and Anthony and Colin's stories.) Want to recommend a book? Send us a text!We LOVE it when our listeners ask us to read books! Please hit us with your suggestions via Instagram @trash.or.treasure.podcast, or email trashortreasurepodcast@outlook.com.

Send a text On this episode of the Cinemondo Podcast, we react to the explosive first trailer for  Bloody Valentine DC Glimpse, directed by visionary filmmaker Arun Matheswaran.  Romance, revenge, stylized violence, and a pulse-pounding aesthetic collide in what looks like a bold MatheswaranSupport the show

This episode was edited by author Cody Ray George, links below! Welcome back to Cryptic Chronicles, where we explore the arcane, the hidden, and the forbidden. I'm your host, and this is Part Three of our deep dive into the enduring mysteries of the Knights Templar. In previous episodes, we peeled back the layers of history to uncover the origins of the Order, their meteoric rise to power, and the cataclysmic fall that birthed centuries of conspiracy. From sacred relics and secret rites to whispers of forbidden knowledge passed down through clandestine bloodlines, the Templars have never truly vanished—they've simply retreated into the shadows of myth and legend. But the rabbit hole goes deeper. In this episode, we'll explore the post-suppression theories: tales of Templar fleets escaping to unknown shores, of secret societies preserving their legacy in coded symbols and esoteric traditions. Did they really die out in the flames of 14th-century persecution? Or did they evolve—becoming the hidden hand behind revolutions, spiritual movements, and perhaps even the shaping of the modern world? So, steel your mind and open your third eye. The Templar enigma is far from over. Follow me on X: https://x.com/CrypticChrncles BUY MERCH! https://httpscrypticchroniclescom.creator-spring.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/crypticchronicles Magic Mind: https://magicmind.com/CRYPTICCR20 Use code: CRYPTICCR20 SOURCES Gaia - https://www.gaia.com/series/mysteries-of-the-knights-templar The Ceremony of the Grail - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60190928-the-ceremony-of-the-grail The Templars - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4548398-the-templars From Ritual to Romance - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1410532.From_Ritual_to_Romance?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=DCEDB2Fgd3&rank=1 Cryptic Code: Templars America - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45035092-cryptic-code The Way of the Templar - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28055724-the-way-of-the-templar?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=E4alSTXLDg&rank=8 The Cremona Document - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42819197-the-scrolls-of-onteora---the-cremona-document?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=eS953qztL7&rank=1 Cody Ray George: YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUwokE3_URWJc_5cQY7rm6Q Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/ggghhhost Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/CodyRayGeorge PayPal- https://www.paypal.me/mymusicisawful Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/spirittravelplaza/ LinkTree- https://linktr.ee/codyraygeorge Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0952D335W

Listen to this full episode now on Apple or Spotify. The Spill has launched a TV-binging podcast called Watch Party, where we unpack the biggest shows and movies everyone’s obsessing over. Right now, we’re deep in Bridgerton Season 4 — and this is your perfect mid-season catch-up. We’re reflecting on everything that’s happened so far, revisiting the scandals, slow burns and blink-and-you-miss-it moments, and getting fully prepped (and emotionally unstable) for Part 2. If you need a refresher before the drama resumes — or just want more tea behind the ton — make sure you’re following the Watch Party feed. Your ultimate binging companion awaits.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quintin, Andrea, and Sush rank the 12 greatest romance films from the 1930s. Which films out of It Happened One Night, Gone With The Wind, and The Awful Truth will end up on the list? Find out now!

Comedian and drag queen Nicholas Scheppard (Very Gay Paint, Art to Me) is fresh out of a breakup. He joins Nicole for a chat about the uphill climb out of it, why working with an ex-boyfriend is absolute torture, and the haunting theory that your partner will tell you exactly how they'll break your heart in the first week. Nicole shares the messy story about a situationship who didn't believe in monogamy, and her obsession with her Ninja Creami.Watch this episode on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@WhyWontYouDateMePodcastCheck out Nicole's episode of ART TO ME. Follow Trudy Tective's journey to catch her sister's murderer at @trudy.tective.Support this podcast and get discounts by checking out our sponsors:» MeUndies: Right now as a listener of my show, you can get to get 20% off your first order, plus free shipping at MeUndies.com/DATEME, promo code DATEME.» Squarespace: Head to squarespace.com/DATEME to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code DATEME.» IQBAR: Text DATE to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.» Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.» Equip: Learn more about Equip's virtual eating disorder treatment at equip.health/dateme» Planned Parenthood: Donate to support Planned Parenthood now at plannedparenthood.org/defend.Follow:All Links: linktr.ee/whywontyoudatemeTour Dates: linktr.ee/nicolebyerwastakenYouTube: @WhyWontYouDateMePodcastTikTok: @whywontyoudatemepod Instagram: @nicolebyerX: @nicolebyerNicole's book, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: indiebound.org/book/9781524850746This is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Why Won't You Date Me? via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BEDUCATED: Kick off your journey by taking the Quiz! https://beducate.me/pd2608-cocktalesThis week we're joined by producer and BET host Brian “B-Mac” McIntosh for an honest conversation about modern dating, boundaries, emotional growth, and what healthy relationships actually look like.We talk about how dating changes in your 30s, why moving too fast in relationships can create chaos, and how men and women often misunderstand each other when it comes to vulnerability and emotional needs. The conversation dives into casual dating vs commitment, love languages, communication, and the importance of boundaries in modern relationships.B-Mac opens up about fatherhood, co-parenting, career growth, and learning how to be emotionally available in a world where social media and public opinion never stop talking. We also discuss the pressure to share your life online, handling criticism, and the reality of building relationships while still healing.If you've ever struggled with situationships, dating boundaries, emotional attachment, or figuring out what healthy dating looks like, this episode is for you.In this episode we discuss: • Dating in your 30s vs your 20s • Boundaries in relationships • Casual dating vs commitment • Emotional maturity and vulnerability • Love languages and communication • Co-parenting and modern fatherhood • Healing while dating • Social media and relationshipsFollow Our Guest! Brian "B-Mac" McIntosh Instagram @_iambmacWatch For The Fellas! on Watch Here on YouTube or Find it One Bet+SPONSORED OFFERS FOR OUR LISTENERSFor all promo codes and links for promotions in the episode and other current offers, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/cocktalesadsERIKALUST Check out ERIKALUST and use our promo code COCKTALES for 45% off! http://erikalust.com/ BROOKLYN BEDDING: Go to brooklynbedding.com and use OUR promo code COCKTALESPOD at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This offer is not available anywhere else. BEDUCATED: Kick off your journey by taking the Quiz! https://beducate.me/pd2608-cocktalesFollow Our Guest! Brian "B-Mac" McIntosh https://www.instagram.com/_iambmac/Watch For The Fellas! on  @BETNetworks  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJHDZGUl8Ilq6qOqxdBP84d7i012RIwFp&si=Puaspv6kCmZDphDNContact Us!Advice: advice@cocktalespod.com Cocktales: cocktales@cocktalespod.comWeird Sex: weirdsex@cocktalespod.comShow Sponsorship: sales@cocktalespod.comGeneral Inquiries info@cocktalespod.comJoin Patreon! www.patreon.com/cocktalesGet Your Merch & Order Your Card GamePurchase Merch And Card Game at www.imcurioustoknow.comGet Klassy Baste! Learn to Cook with Kiki www.klassybaste.comJoin Kiki's Book Club www.patreon.com/kikisaidsoTravel With Medinah! https://linktr.ee/MedinahMonroeDONATE TO MEALS ON WHEELS ATLANTA- https://www.mowatl.org/donationsCONNECT WITH US Follow the hosts and join the conversation after the episode:Kiki Said So (Kiara Walker) Instagram: @kikisaidso TikTok: @kikisaidsoMedinah Monroe Instagram: @coffeebeandeanTikTok: @medinahmonroeCockTales: Dirty Discussions Podcast Instagram:@cocktalespodcastTikTok: @cocktalespodcastWant to be a guest on CockTales: Dirty Discussions? We are always looking for interesting guests, experts, and storytellers to join the show. If you would like to be considered, please fill out our guest submission form here: https://forms.gle/czoa6u7wmmiYif7Z6Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cocktales-dirty-discussions--2818687/support.CONNECT WITH USFollow the hosts and join the conversation after the episode:Kiki Said So (Kiara Walker)Instagram: @kikisaidsoTikTok: @kikisaidsoMedinah MonroeInstagram: @coffeebeandeanTikTok: @medinahmonroeCockTales: Dirty Discussions PodcastInstagram:@cocktalespodcastTikTok: @cocktalespodcastWant to be a guest on CockTales: Dirty Discussions?We are always looking for interesting guests, experts, and storytellers to join the show. If you would like to be considered, please fill out our guest submission form here:Guest Interest Form

Romance novelist and filmmaker Alys Murray joins us to unpack Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation, and (perhaps unsurprisingly) opinions are varied! What does the movie have in common with Grease 2? Listen and learn! Plus, we have a Hotline call all about movie characters that need family or couples counseling. What's Good Alonso - Nathan Rabin's The Fractured Mirror Drea - Talking Spindle Cove on Reading Smut Alys - The Artful Dodger TV series Kevin - Valentine's Day romance, courtesy of Avengers: Endgame ITIDIC Bad Bunny Sets First Lead Movie Role in ‘Porto Rico' With Norton, Bardem Remembering a Trio of of Hollywood Greats We Lost this Week (Tom Noonan • Frederick Wiseman • Robert Duvall) - Alonso recommends The Store as a Wiseman entry point. - Tom Noonan's The Wife is an adaptation of his play, Wifey. Staff Picks Drea - Emily Alonso - A Useful Ghost Alys - Dangerous Beauty Kevin - Sliding Doors Alys Murray's new book is A Little Buzzed Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Christine Riccio & Natasha Polis talk all things nerdy in the book, tv, movie, pop culture, fandoms, and how they integrate into their adult lives. Today they're LIVE FROM LOVE LIT CON with special guests, internationally bestselling romcom duo Christina Lauren — and together they're chatting about all our favorite YA classics from the 2010s - if they were adult romance: where the smut would go! Today in Fangirl Tea Time: Join Christine and Natasha for more stories about their recent life escapades. Support the pod by joining the Forking Fangirls Patreon community: http://patreon.com/thoseforkingfangirls TEAM EDWARD: The first four Heated Rivalry episode commentaries are up now! MAIN DISCUSSION STARTS AT:   17:12 Follow the visual show on our Youtube: http://youtube.com/@thoseforkingfangirls  Get Christine's new book THIRTY, FLIRTY, & FOREVER ALONE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662532156Add Thirty Flirty & Forever Alone on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230393104-thirty-flirty-and-forever-aloneCheck out Natasha's sewing classes: https://www.natashapolis.com/Join our patron to get 10 dollars off the classes!Website: https://thoseforkingfangirls.com/ Email us feedback: thoseforkingfangirls@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoseforkingfangirls/Twitter: https://twitter.com/forkfangirlspod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thoseforkingfangirlsGet Christine's novel Attached at the Hip: https://a.co/d/grmPeVy Check out the Selkie Collection and get 10% off your order with code TASHAPOLIS https://selkiecollection.com/collections/all

Joseph Joachim - RomanceMarat Bisengaliev, violinJohn Lenehan, pianoMore info about today's track: Naxos 8.553026Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.SubscribeYou can subscribe to this podcast in Apple Podcasts, or by using the Daily Download podcast RSS feed.Purchase this recordingAmazon

Sharing my January reading wrap-up covering 25 contemporary books read as both a coping mechanism during a heavy month and as advance reading for upcoming spring and summer 2026 reading guides. I revisit seven books from a January reading vlog (due to poor video/audio quality) and then discuss 18 additional books not previously shared, grouped by vibe: romance, mysteries/thrillers, and literary/general fiction.Romance highlights include How to Write a Love Story (Catherine Walsh), Toe to Toe (Fallon Ballard), The Starter Ex (Mia Sosa), No Matter What (Cara Bastone), and Abby Jimenez's The Night We Met (the author's best). Mystery/thriller picks include The PI and Mash Detective Agency (J.D. Brinkworth), Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief (Benjamin Stevenson), Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer (Bellamy Rose), Missing Sister (Joshilyn Jackson), and Tana French's The Keeper. Literary/general fiction discussed includes A Lake Effect (Cynthia Sweeney), the literary horror ghost story Valley Eventful Ghost (Kim Fu), Celestial Lights (Cecile/Cecily Pin), and Almost Life (Kiran Millwood Hargrave).

Tim Gunn joins Chelsea to talk about taking no prisoners while fencing, his favorite podcast (

Tim Gunn joins Chelsea to talk about taking no prisoners while fencing, his favorite podcast (

Don't have time to listen to the entire Dave & Chuck the Freak podcast? Check out some of the tastiest bits of the day, including when you were romance scammed, troubles caused by a hot tub Bluetooth speaker, trucker stories and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.