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 patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod . --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website |...
Jun 23, 2026•16 min•Season 5Ep. 106
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 we have more great romance content including a FREE bonus close scene analysis with Vanessa, Hannah,...
Jun 16, 2026•28 min•Season 5Ep. 105
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 Always Have ‘Casablanca’: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood’s Most Beloved Movie . --- Hot and B...
Jun 09, 2026•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 104
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 Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Ari...
Jun 02, 2026•28 min•Season 5Ep. 103
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 Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us o...
May 26, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 102
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 we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance c...
May 19, 2026•32 min•Season 5Ep. 101
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 about the playwright Tom Stoppard. Dana Schwartz has a new novel out next week, The Arcane Arts by S.D...
May 12, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 100
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 we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of Roman Holiday with Van...
May 05, 2026•31 min•Season 5Ep. 99
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 blacklist. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If...
Apr 28, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 98
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 Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us...
Apr 21, 2026•31 min•Season 5Ep. 97
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 Johnson to get some context on Georgian manners and norms. If you'd like to join Julia on her Sense and S...
Apr 14, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 96
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 us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis...
Apr 07, 2026•31 min•Season 5Ep. 95
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 website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On...
Mar 31, 2026•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 94
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.
Mar 27, 2026•13 min
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 Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis of Punch Drunk Love ...
Mar 24, 2026•27 min•Season 5Ep. 93
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 Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterfl...
Mar 17, 2026•58 min•Season 5Ep. 92
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 us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis...
Mar 10, 2026•31 min•Season 5Ep. 91
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 | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we hav...
Mar 03, 2026•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 90
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 Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us ...
Feb 24, 2026•26 min•Season 5Ep. 89
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 Reno for divorce. If you'd like to join Vanessa and Carmen in Cornwall on their Rebecca pilgrimage, you...
Feb 17, 2026•56 min•Season 5Ep. 88
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 close scene analysis of The Princess Bride with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Feb 10, 2026•29 min•Season 5Ep. 87
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 Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, consider supporti...
Feb 03, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 86
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 analysis of The Wedding Singer with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Jan 13, 2026•29 min•Season 5Ep. 85
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up in New Jersey to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Wedding Singer. This week we discuss Adam Sandler's star power, the importance of silly bits, and the cultural construction of beauty. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Deborah Anthony to talk to us about the history of marital surname changes. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, conside...
Jan 06, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 84
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of White Christmas. They discuss 50's nostalgia and why ballerinas are 'Christmas' coded. 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 analysis of White Christmas with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Dec 30, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 83
Happy holiday season! We're interrupting our mini-season on the wedding industrial complex to bring you our (now) annual holiday movie. Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at an inn Vermont to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered about White Christmas. This week, we discuss the trope of the 'tricky Jew', minstrelsy, and nostalgia. We finish the episode by calling Dominic Broomfield–McHugh to talk about the connection between this movie and President Eisenhower. --- If we give you b...
Dec 23, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 82
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Carvell Wallace analyze the ending of Bridesmaids. They discuss Helen's questionable taste level, the way the film frames romantic love vs. friendship, and how class performance constrains emotion. 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 analysis of Brid...
Dec 16, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 81
Vanessa Zoltan and Carvell Wallace meet in Milwaukee to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Bridesmaids. This week we discuss female friendship, class politics, and The Hangover. We finish the episode by calling Nick Marx to talk to us about how SNL movies get made. --- 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 includ...
Dec 09, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 80
Vanessa Zoltan and Dr. Simone Drake meet at an NYC bachelor party to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about The Best Man. This week we discuss Black movies of the 90s, the Moynihan Report, and movie soundtracks. We finish the episode by calling Tyler D. Parry to talk to us about jumping the broom. --- 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...
Dec 02, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 79
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. They continue to discuss the movie's relationship to 'tackiness' as well as the promised future for Ian and Toula's daughter. 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 analysis of My Big Fat Greek Wedd...
Nov 25, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 78
