Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet-up in Forks, Washington to play vampire baseball and record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Twilight This week we discuss chivalry, cultural appropriation, and our new theme: movies of 2008. We finish the episode by calling Dr. Joseph Crawford to talk to us about the history of vampires in paranormal romance fiction. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies,...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 48
While we’re in-between season, we wanted to share with you an episode of another Not Sorry podcast, The Real Question . The Real Question is a show that holds space for life’s tough questions. Each episode, a guest brings a personal question they’re grappling with, and Chaplain Mauricio Bruce helps them find an answer. This season, our focus is on future-oriented questions – those that start with ‘Should I…’ In our first episode of the new season, Vanessa asks the question "shou...
Apr 08, 2025•28 min
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Ronald Young Jr . analyze the ending of She's All That . They chat about what makes a proper grovel and the narrative reasons for heroines to be motherless. This is our last movie in our series on teen adaptations of classic literature! We're taking two weeks off and will be back on April 15th with Twilight and other movies of 2008. But if you find yourself missing us, be sure to join our virtual live show on April 13th! We're gathering to discu...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Ronald Young Jr. grab their hacky sacks and meet at a performance art show to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about She's All That. This week we deep dive into toxic beauty norms, fatphobia, and popularity. We finish the episode by calling sociologist, Amy Best , to talk to us about the history of the high school prom. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we give you butterflies, con...
Mar 18, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 46
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Easy A . They chat about intertextuality, grand gestures, and virginity. 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 Clueless with Vanessa and Kristen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 11, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 45
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at the Lobster Shack in Ojai, California to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Easy A. This week we discuss what makes a 'rom-com' a 'rom-com', male writers' depictions of female friendship, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. We finish the episode with an interview with Professor Megan Hunt about the depiction of Christianity in this film. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram --- If w...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 5Ep. 44
We have a special treat for you today! Vanessa recently guested on Hannah's other pop-culture podcast, Material Girls , to talk about The Notebook with Hannah and Marcelle. It was so good, we wanted to make sure you knew about it. And if you love hearing Vanessa, Hannah, and Marcelle in conversation – good news, there's another episode out there! Vanessa was on Material Girls last year to talk about Bridgerton . Material Girls Episode Description: She's back! Beloved podcaster and author Va...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 43
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Kristen Meinzer analyze the ending of Cruel Intentions . They chat about Cecil's moment of 'growing up' and whether death is enough of a punishment for Sebastian. In this week's episode we promote our Mary Oliver writing retreat, you can check out more about that trip 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 on Patreon ! On Patreon we ...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 42
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Kristen Meinzer meet at their aunt's mansion in the Hamptons to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Cruel Intentions. This week we discuss female desire and villainy, the male gaze, and the dangers of a bored teenager. We finish the episode by calling scholar of French literature, Catriona Seth , to talk to us about Les Liaisons Dangereuses. --- Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow us on Instagram If we ...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 41
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Clueless . They chat about why young women love dreaming about their weddings and why they find bouquet tosses a little uncomfortable. 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 Clueless with Vanessa and Hannah. Host...
Feb 11, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 40
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at a mall in Beverley Hills to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Clueless. This week we discuss the charitable-industrial complex, popularity, and age-gap relationships. We finish the episode with an interview with Deidre Lynch about Austen and her adaptations. Also on this episode, Hannah mentions this episode of Articles of Interest , go listen! --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Pat...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 38
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of She's The Man . The talk hairstyles, they talk gender politics, and they talk about our favorite 'freak' character, Eunice. --- 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 She's The Man with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 28, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 37
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet on the soccer field to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about She’s The Man. This week we discuss toxic masculinity, Amanda Bynes’ funny accent, and the way gender politics get played out the sports field. We finish the episode with an interview with Laura Horak about her scholarship on cross-dressing in cinema. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon have more great romance content including ...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 36
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of 10 Things I Hate About You . Vanessa reveals how little she knows about guitar and Hannah teaches us about different poetry forms. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus scene analysis of 10 Things I Hate About You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 14, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 35
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at Padua High School to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about 10 Things I Hate About You – our first movie in our high school adaptations series. This week we discuss Kat's feminism, why Shakespeare is in 'the canon,' and the American high school formula. We finish the episode with an interview with Rebecca Hixon about her scholarship on Taming of the Shrew adaptations. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us ...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 34
We're continuing our exploration of Love Actually this week with three plot lines we consider the 'non-romantic' stories – the stepfather and stepson, the sister taking care of her brother, and the aging rockstar and his manager. We're off next week but we'll be back January 7th with 10 Things I Hate About You. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus discussion about two additional plot lines of Love...
Dec 24, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Happy holiday season! As a thank you to those who supported our Patreon drive last month we're bringing you a special bonus movie before the new year. Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at a school Christmas pagent to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered about Love Actually. For this episode, we're focus on four plot lines – the prime minister, the writer and housekeeper, the cheating husband, and the man in love with his best friend's wife. We finish the episode with an inte...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Not Sorry has launched its first new podcast since 2020! Let's Ask Taylor Swift is co-hosted by Vanessa and podcaster, writer and cultural critic: Daniel Schroeder. In each episode Daniel and Vanessa will focus on one song from Taylor's discography, asking themselves, each other, and you— the audience— what it is about Taylor's music that resonates so much with fans. In our first season, every episode will look at the lead single from one of&nb...
Dec 11, 2024•32 min
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah analyze the ending of Pretty in Pink . They continue their analysis of Duckie as a queer icon and weigh the merits of Blane's apology. --- We're in the middle of a Patreon drive. We're trying to get our numbers back to where they were last year! If you are a regular listener to our show, we'd love your support in making it possible. Pledge $5/month at www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Nov 26, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 31
We'll be back on Tuesday with our regular scene study, but today we're offering you a bonus scene study as well. This perk is normally exclusive to Patreon and available to all members. You can sign-up at www.patreon.com/hotandbotheredrompod to hear a bonus conversation about every movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 21, 2024•12 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in the Chicago Suburbs to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, about Pretty in Pink – our last movie in our cross-class romance series. This week we explore the delightful aesthetics of the film, the ‘queerness’ of Duckie, and desirability politics. We finish the episode with an interview Holly Chard on the politics and influence of John Hughes. Next week, we look at the final scene of Pretty in Pink. --- If we give you butterf...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 30
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Matt Potts is back to dissect the ending of Crazy Rich Asians with Vanessa. They discuss why Eleanor gives her approval, the over-the-top engagement party, and Rachel's final outfit. If you want to hear more of Vanessa and Matt, good news! Together they host the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text . --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon we have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis wi...
Nov 12, 2024•24 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Professor Matt Potts meet at a mansion in Singapore to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Crazy Rich Asians. This week we discuss the tension at the heart of Asian American identities, how family pressures preserve class divides, and the allure of opulence. We finish the episode by calling journalist Jiayang Fan to talk to us about the important cultural impact of the film. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon !...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 28
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Racquel Gates is back to dissect the ending of Coming to America with Hannah. They discuss what Lisa gives up in moving to Zamunda, the Disney princess evocations, and the many roles played by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Don't forget to check-out Racquel's book, Double Negative: The Black Image and Popular Media ! --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon have more great romance content including a bonus close scene a...
Oct 29, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Hannah McGregor and special guest Professor Racquel Gates meet in the fictional country of Zamunda to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Coming to America. This week we discuss the tensions between Eddie Murphy and John Landis, what makes a 'black' film, and Racquel's concept of formal negativity. We finish the episode checking in with Vanessa for her thoughts on the movie. Don't forget to check out Racquel's book, Double Negative: The Black Image and Popular Imagina...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Have you missed Hannah these past two weeks? Never fear! They recorded a whole episode of their podcast, Material Girls, all about Dirty Dancing. We're sharing it this week before we move onto our next movie, Coming to America . Here's the Material Girls episode summary: In this episode, Marcelle and Hannah are joined by Andrea Warner (she/her), the author of The Time of My Life, an exploration of Dirty Dancing as a deeply feminist film. We begin with a conversation about sexy films that made ou...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 25
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Lauren Sandler try not to cry their way through the ending of of Dirty Dancing . They discuss the music choices, the class politics, and the side characters they wish they heard more from. --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Vanessa and Lauren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 15, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Lauren Sandler meet in the Catskills to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Dirty Dancing – one of our favorite movies of all time. This week we discuss the abortion plot line, Baby’s relationship with her father, and the difference between desire and love. We finish the episode with an interview sociologist Phil Brown on the history of Jews in the Catskills. Phil is the founder and president of The Catskills Institute which is a...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 23
For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Hannah and Vanessa break down the many endings of Titanic . They explore the meaning of the Heart of the Ocean diamond necklace and this movie's theology of heaven. As we mention in the episode, Hannah has a new book out! You can buy Hannah's new book, Clever Girl: Jurassic Park, here . --- If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon ! On Patreon have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Vanessa and Hannah...
Oct 01, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 22
Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Titanic – our first movie in our cross-class romance series. This week we explore hubris, whether it's possible to divorce James Cameron from the film, and what we consider a ‘shipwreck.’ We finish the episode with an interview with musicologist Julie Hubbert on the mega-hit My Heart Will Go On . Next week, we look at the final scene of Titanic.&nbs...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 21
