Hot and Bothered

Virginia Woolf called Persuasion "the most deeply felt of Jane Austen's novels." It may also be her most difficult novel. This season, we're taking it slowly, reading one chapter each week and lingering over Austen's extraordinary sentences together. Join Vanessa Zoltan and the Rev. Dr. Stephanie Paulsell as they explore Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth's second-chance love story while asking tim...

We're returning to our roots with Season 6 of Hot and Bothered – reading classic romance literature. This season, Vanessa Zoltan will be joined by her mentor Dr. Stephanie Paulsell to read Jane Austen's Persuasion one chapter at a time. We'll ask questions about grief, beauty, aging, and, of course, love. If you want to be part of the conversation, you can join us for our weekly class which w...

That's all folks! Season Five of Hot and Bothered , all about romance movies, has come to close. On today's episode, Vanessa shares her finals thoughts on the genre. In two weeks, we're starting our chapter-by-chapter read through of Persuasion! If you want to join us for our weekly class, which will accompany the podcast, you can sign-up at notsorryworks.com or become a $50/month patron at patreo...

For our final bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa, Hannah, and Stephanie Paulsell analyze the ending of Casablanca. They discuss Ilsa's agency, Captain Renault's treatment of women, and how to improve the famous last line of the film. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon...

Vanessa Zoltan, Hannah McGregor, and Stephanie Paulsell meet at Rick's Café Américain to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered – our last movie of the season, Casablanca. This week we discuss why this movie is an enduring classic, the sexual schemes of Captain Renault, and what makes "America." We finish the episode by calling film historian Noah Isenberg to discuss his book We’ll Al...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Ariana Nedelman analyze the ending of Moonstruck. They discuss the confrontation between Rose and Cosmo, why Ronny doesn't have to kneel for his proposal, and the underuse of Cher as leading lady. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Pat...

Vanessa Zoltan and our producer, Ariana Nedelman, meet-up at The Met to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Moonstruck. This week we discuss the specter of death, the gender dynamics, and the acting choices of the film. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Fred Gardaphé to get some context on Italian-American portrayals in film. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and podcaster/author Dana Schwartz analyze the ending of Shakespeare in Love. They discuss Viola's fate, the role of a muse, and how to execute a 'tragic' movie ending. Dana Schwartz has a new novel out TODAY, The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly. Order now ! --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If...

Vanessa Zoltan and podcaster/author Dana Schwartz meet-up in Elizabethan England to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Shakespeare in Love . This week we discuss this movie's fuckboi interpretation of William Shakespeare, the collaborative craft of writing, and the Oscar campaign surrounding this film. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Roberta Barker to understand more ab...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Roman Holiday. They discuss the extreme constraint of Ann's life as a princess, why Joe lingers after the scene, and what is left unsaid between them. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon...

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at Trevi Fountain to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Roman Holiday. This week we discuss Joe's moral character, exposure journalism, and whether we think these two characters actually fall in love. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Rebecca Prime to learn more about Roman Holiday's writer, Dalton Trumbo, and the Hollywood blacklis...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Julia Whelan analyze the ending of Sense and Sensibility. They discuss deleted scenes, sisterly affection, and Austen's obsession with the villainy of hot men. If you'd like to join Julia on her Sense and Sensibility pilgrimage in the Cotswolds this fall, you can find more information about that here . Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Fi...

Vanessa Zoltan and actress, author, and narrator Julia Whelan meet-up at Barton Cottage to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. This week we discuss the brilliance of Emma Thompson, whether Colonel Brandon is right for Marianne, and the dangers of casting older actors as teenagers. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Claudia Johns...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of The Phantom of the Opera. They discuss the black-and-white frame narrative of the film, what makes the phantom hot (and not), and the show's similarity to Beauty and the Beast. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting...

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in a Parisian opera house to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Phantom of the Opera. This week we discuss daddy issues, queer aesthetics, and Susan Sontag's definition of 'camp.' We finish the episode by calling Dr. Dominic Broomfield-McHugh to get his take on the film. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our...

Vanessa Zoltan is joined by friend and mentor Dr. Stephanie Paulsell to discuss the appeal of mystery novels and their relationship to religion. If you're interested in joining Stephanie and Casper on the Agatha Christie pilgrimage, you can learn more at commongroundpilgrimages.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Mauricio Bruce analyze the ending of Punch Drunk Love. They continue their conversation about light and color in the film and discuss the relationship between humiliation and violence. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Pa...

Vanessa Zoltan and Mauricio Bruce meet-up at a warehouse in the San Fernando Valley to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Punch Drunk Love. This week we discuss the gender politics of this film and Anderson's use of light, color, and music. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Laura Barraclough to give us some background history on the San Fernando Valley. --- Hot and Bother...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Love & Basketball. Vanessa explains the implications of the one-on-one basketball game and Hannah talks about how careers get prioritized within heterosexual relationships. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting...

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up on the courts to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Love & Basketball. This week we discuss double standards, bodies as commodities, and Title IX. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Samantha Sheppard to talk to us about women's roles in sports movies. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Foll...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Carmen Maria Machado analyze the ending of Desert Hearts. They discuss femme expression, the bittersweet quality of the ending, and what they would want to see in a sequel. If you'd like to join Vanessa and Carmen in Cornwall on their Rebecca pilgrimage, you can find more information about that here . Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Fin...

Vanessa Zoltan and author Carmen Maria Machado meet-up on a dude ranch in Reno, Nevada to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Desert Hearts. This week we discuss Westerns, risk as a condition for love, the 'closet' in queer media, and briefly sidetrack into Heated Rivalry discourse. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Michael Higdon to talk to us about why people went to Ren...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of The Princess Bride. They discuss violence as an expression of love and Buttercup's passivity. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus clo...

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up at The Cliffs of Insanity to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Princess Bride. This week we discuss frame narratives, parental vs. romantic love, and why literally everyone loves this movie. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Thomas Doherty to talk to us about the legacy of Rob Reiner. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Prod...

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of The Wedding Singer. They discuss grand gestures and how well Billy Idol aged. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysi...