Mirror, mirror on my phone, who's the baddest? (Us, hello?) This episode, we are joined by a very special guest, Audrey Hall, to talk about the Netflix animated film, KPop Demon Hunters ! We get into productive intersection of idoldom and demon hunting that allows the film to explore internalized–and externalized–shame, particularly through the romance of Rumi, the leader of KPop group Huntr/x and Jinu, our kpop demon boy. (Because no discussion of KPop Demon Hunters would be complete without a ...
Jul 25, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 59
Back after a mini, unexpected hiatus, we’ve got a new hot-and-ready episode for you! Prepare yourselves because we’re about to get deep in our feelings as we begin our discussion on the show Dying for Sex starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, and Rob Delaney. In this first of two episodes, we start off with our initial, non-spoilery reactions, think about how the show works from a genre and form perspective, and maybe rant a little about why one of the characters really sucks. Content warning...
Jun 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 57
We’re taking a trip back in time this episode to do a deep dive on the classic fairy tale retelling, Ever After: A Cinderella Story. We consider what makes something a Cinderella story and how Ever After maps onto those criteria; our reactions to the main romance; and the tour de force performance that is Angelica Huston as the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent. What's Sparking Joy this episode: The Residence on Netflix, Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, and "The Hills of Tanchico" from The Wheel of...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 56
We recorded a thicc episode for you this month with our special guest Sarah, one of the hosts of the podcast Afternoona Asks! Together, we get into the nitty-gritty of red flag and green flag characters and cover a lot of ground: from what makes a red flag red and a green flag green, to the surprising gender dynamics of “flagging” characters at all. Along the way, we mention a lot of our favorite love interests, including Baek Seon of When the Phone Rings, Mr. Gu of My Liberation Notes, Captain ...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 55
It's time for our annual SLL tradition of rounding up the pop culture of the previous year! We start with what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in February, our favorites of 2024, and what we’re looking forward to in 2025. As a treat, Corinne's snark levels were very high this episode (lol). CW: Brief mention of S*icide from (1:06:51-1:06:54) Show Notes : Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes March 28th, 2025 : https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8 Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodc...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 56
Joined once again by our younger siblings, Erin and Akinde, we dive right into Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury spoilers in part two of our discussion. To kick things off, we start with our complicated feelings on main character Feyre. We also ask the hard hitting questions, like: are these sex scenes sexy? Why is there so much growling? And what would actually happen if the wings of the Illyrians were really that sensitive? As a heads up for people who ado...
Feb 02, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 53
You’ve asked, you've waited, and now, we’re finally delivering! Welcome to our two-part deep dive on the international best selling Romantasy novels A Court of Thorns and Roses and a Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas. In this first, spoiler free episode, we touch on our initial reactions to the series, and think a bit about what romantasy is and why it’s so appealing to so many readers. Plus, we’re joined by some very special guests for these two episodes: our younger siblings! They may cla...
Jan 10, 2025•46 min•Ep. 53
In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot going on *gestures everywhere*, so rather than get into anything too tragic, as we’re wont to do, we’ve instead gathered some Comfort Media for Interesting Times (™)–that is, the pop culture we turn to when things are rough and we’re in need of a boost to help us make it through. This episode, in the style of our Pop-Culture Round Ups, we trade off sharing cozy books, music, and TV shows that bolster our spirits and help us feel warm inside. Lit "rounde...
Nov 30, 2024•43 min•Ep. 51
Sorry for the delay on this episode folks - October and November have been a lot . But, without further ado, here's Last Night at the Telegraph Club, episode two! Joined once again by Dr. Kai Chen, we dive right into Last Night at the Telegraph Club spoilers, starting with our feelings on Kath and Lily’s relationship and the high-key stress of classroom makeouts. From there, we consider the queer space of the Telegraph Club, Lily’s complicated and not always likable bestie Shirley, and our thoug...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 50
In classic SLL fashion, I welcome you to another accidental two-part discussion. This time, we’re joined by Dr. Kai Chen to discuss Malinda Lo’s award-winning novel, Last Night at the Telegraph Club . This episode, we keep things spoiler free by first giving some context for the book and then our overall impressions. (Plus, we get a bonus visit from Ayanni's 20 year old family cat.) Show Notes : What's Sparking Joy : Kevin can F*** Himself (on Netflix), Mayonaka Punch (on Crunchyroll), Are You T...
Sep 27, 2024•52 min•Ep. 45
Welcome to our second episode on the Chinese Drama Lost You Forever , part 2! We jump right into Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao’s relationship as the ostensible OTP of the show. From there, we consider just how sad our snake demon man Xiang Liu made us in his determination to push Xiao Yao away, as well as A’Nian’s surprisingly poignant maturation arc. Lit Discussed this Episode: "Spring Snow" by 10 Centimeters, "Love Heart Cheat Code" by Hiatus Kaiyote, "Nightfalling" by John Park, Lovely Runner, Lov...
Aug 31, 2024•53 min•Ep. 48
Your girls had a lot of feelings and a lot to say about the most recent installment of the Chinese drama Lost You Forever . So welcome to part one of our deep dive that starts with our overall reactions to the show. Then, we go into Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao’s complicated relationship, and especially how some of the changes in adaptation from the novel affect how it all ties together at the end. Lit Discussed this Episode: Mayonaka Punch, The Earl Who Isn't, Love Like the Galaxy, Snowfall, Little W...
Aug 30, 2024•51 min•Ep. 47
Due to circumstances entirely within our control, we interrupt your regularly scheduled SLL programming for a special summer edition of our What’s Sparking Joy: Pop Culture Round Up. In addition to checking in about what we’ve been watching, reading, and listening to so far this year, we each share three pieces of media that continue to live rent free in our heads. Lit Discussed this Episode: Lost You Forever Season 2 (no spoilers), Challengers, There's a Door in this Darkness, A Sign of Affecti...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 46
Welcome to our second episode on Bridgerton, season three! Picking up where we left off, we jump right into close reading Polin’s main sex scenes. From there, we think about what made us adore the side plots through discussion of Benedict, Francesca, and Violet’s storylines this season. Note: there are Bridgerton book spoilers from (37:36 - 38:14) and again from (39:27 - 39:47). Make sure to listen to part one of our season three discussion- E44 Bridgerton, Season 3: "I need some f*replay, okay?...
Jun 30, 2024•57 min•Ep. 45
Members of the ton rejoice! Both halves of Bridgerton , season three have finally dropped. We had so many thoughts about this latest installment of the regency romance series that–just like Netflix–we split our conversation in two. In this first episode, we consider the season as a whole, break down Pen and Colin’s long awaited transition from friends to lovers, and start to craft " Bridgerton , Season Three: the Corinne and Ayanni Cut." The second part of our conversation drops on Saturday, Jun...
Jun 28, 2024•48 min•Ep. 44
Time for the third installment of our divorce comedy mini-series! While we didn’t initially plan to include this show, we’re talking about the recently concluded Korean drama Queen of Tears. We consider whether or not the show is actually a divorce comedy at all, how it deploys divorce in the development of the main relationship, and what about this second chance romance really resonates. We also touch on some of the other things that did–and didn’t–work for us in the drama as a whole. Content w...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 43
Welcome to the second installment of our divorce comedy mini-series! This episode, we’re talking about the 2023 Korean Drama Doctor Cha. We get into her messy, maddening marriage, why her husband belongs in the trash, and the rewards of watching our leading lady find herself again. Content warning: brief mention of s*icidal ideation @ 32:03 Show Notes : Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Apothecary Diaries, Lost Your Forever, Legend of Shen Li, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Because This is My First...
May 10, 2024•48 min•Ep. 42
Welcome to our mini-series on Divorce Comedies! Over the next 4-ish episodes, we’re exploring this genre that caught us off guard with how much its makes us laugh, cry, and yell divorce! In this introductory episode, rather than focus on any one show, we get into the defining features of divorce comedies, why we wanted to talk about them, and whether or not they can be counted as rom coms. Show Notes : Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Lost You Forever, WWE: Wrestlemania, Nettle & Bone, The ...
Apr 26, 2024•42 min•Ep. 41
"See, on the road to Hell there was a railroad line..." It's time for a deep dive into the Broadway musical, Hadestown. We get into how the musical adapts the Grek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice & Hades and Persephone for a modern setting; the love stories–and tragedy–of the two core relationships; and the productive ambiguity of seeing it all happen on stage. Content Warning: Discussions of S*xual Assault from (1:06:41 - 1:14:05) Show Notes : Other Lit Mentioned this episode: The Story of Mi...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 40
Corinne wasn’t feeling well this week, so Ayanni called in the cavalry. This episode, she's joined by her spouse (and friend of the show) Andrew Cooper to talk about the new action-dramedy series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith . They give their general impressions, think about the series’ adaptation choices, and muse about the show’s depiction of married life. Show Notes : Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Jujutsu Kaisen, Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2009), Skip and Loafer, Dungeon...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 39
Happy New Year, y'all! We continue our annual tradition of checking in about what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in January, our favorites of 2023, and what we’re looking forward to in 2024. (CW: discussion of parental and sibling death.) Oh, and did we mention we have a tumblr now? www.tumblr.com/sexlovelitpodcast Show Notes : Check out Charcooll--the awesome artist who did our cover art-- on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/ ) and on RedBubble ( https://www.redbubble.com/people/c...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 38
CW: Discussion of s*xual assault, and brief mentions of drugging and s*icide, from 1:00:27 – 1:04:15 You’ve made it to the third and final installment of our semi-accidental mini-series on the Chinese Drama, Lost You Forever . (You either really like us, or you really like Lost You Forever , and we appreciate you either way.) We know you’ve been waiting for it, so this episode, we finally get to the last three main players fighting for Xiaoyao’s heart: Fenglong of the Central Plains; Xiang Liu, ...
Dec 10, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 37
We’re continuing our three-part mini-series on Lost You Forever by diving right into a truck load of spoilers! In honor of the reverse harem-ness at all, we organized our discussion around leading lady, Xiaoyao, and her four suitors. This episode, we start with Xiaoyao herself–and her many abandonment issues. Then, we get into our complicated feelings about her charming, ambitious cousin, Cang Xuan and his dangerous pursuit of the throne. As a treat (for Corinne), we also talk about Xiaoyao’s br...
Dec 08, 2023•53 min•Ep. 36
CW: Brief mention of s*icide @ 30:00. Welcome to the first installment in our three part mini-series on the Chinese drama, Lost You Forever ( Season 1). If you haven’t seen this drama, don’t worry–the first part of our mini-series is spoiler free! We give some context about the show set up, share some spoiler-free reactions, and wrap up with a game of F*ck, Marry, K!ll. Along the way, we also share all the reasons we think you should check out Lost You Forever –if it hasn’t already taken the top...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 35
Happy Halloween, SLL Listeners! This episode is a special spooky season treat: a Trope Spotlight episode on ~Demon Lovers~ 😈. We’re joined by comic-scholar, friend of the show, and fellow monster aficionado Dr. Sam Langsdale to tackle the deliciously demonic topic. Together, we parse through what makes a demon a demon-as well as what we want from a demon lover-throw in some monster theory, and share some of our many favorites. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Opening Banter 02:57 Gues...
Oct 27, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 34
This episode, on the recommendation of an SLL listener, we’re excited to do a deep dive into the Japanese Drama, Rinko-San Wants to Try . We get into how the show complicates conceptions of virginity, plays with the friends with benefits trope, and maybe get in our feelings a lil bit about a second female lead who really got under Ayanni’s skin. As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the act...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 33
This is the second episode of our two part discussion on the Female Gaze. Since we laid some groundwork and gave some context in part one, this time around, we dive right in. In thinking through “the female gaze,” we ask questions of whom we presume is looking and who is being looked at. We also think about how the gaze becomes more complicated in our modern media context, especially when we move beyond binary, heteronormative understandings of gender and sexuality. We definitely recommend check...
Sep 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 32
We’re tackling a big topic in our two part discussion on “the female gaze.” What is the female gaze and why does it matter? In this first episode, we establish some context for the term by getting into the history of the “gaze” as a concept, the psychoanalytic origins of the Male Gaze as theorized by Laura Mulvey, and how the oppositional gaze, as coined by bell hooks, makes space for alternative ways of looking and being looked at. You can listen to "E32 The Female Gaze (Part 2): Complication a...
Sep 29, 2023•50 min•Ep. 31
Content warning: This episode contains a very brief discussion of sexual assault from 27:14 - 27:21. Happy 3rd Birthday to Sex. Love. Literature! 🎂 Since we started the show as English PhD candidates, the two of us have been through a lot. And now, over the last year, we’ve defended dissertations, donned our wizard robes, and officially both become doctors. To celebrate, this episode is all about us. Learn about our research, what projects we’re working on, and what we watch, read, and listen t...
Aug 25, 2023•52 min
Content warning : This episode contains discussion of bullying in the narrative from (13:05 - 19:00) and sexual assault from (37:21 - 48:50). This is the second of our two-parter on Netflix’s Sex Education with filmmaker, writer, and scholar Michele Meek! We dive right into the sex with this one, starting with depictions of sex in the show, how we feel about the ways consent does and does not work in-universe, and Corinne works through her angry feelings about Season 3 headmaster, Hope Haddon. M...
Jul 28, 2023•51 min•Ep. 30
