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Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast
We talk about romance novels and cause all sorts of trouble.
Latest episode
700. 700. An Art History Analysis of Romance Covers with Amanda Matta
02:00:50||Ep. 700Happy 700th Episode!! Amanda Matta is a debut author (her book is coming in 2027!), media commentator, royal analyst, and an art historian. I’ve mentioned Amanda, and her podcast Art of History, which I love. In that show, she focuses on one particular piece of art and explains the history, context, symbolism, and even the details of how it was made. I like it. So I thought, why not have Amanda Matta give the Art of History treatment to some classic romance covers?We also discuss royal watching, racism, influencing and commentating on popular culture, Henry VIII’s codpiece, art history, and more.This is our 700th episode – woooo! – and it be both video and audio. The audio will be available on your regular podcast feeds, and you’ll hear us discuss and describe the covers in question. However, on the video, you get to see both of us, and the covers!Want to watch on YouTube? Here you go!Speaking of YouTube – did you know the podcast has a YouTube channel? It’s true! Each new episode is automatically uploaded, so if you prefer your podcasts on the ‘Tube, we’ve got you covered. Also, this channel is brand spanking new (I had to recreate it after YouTube deplatformed my last one without explanation. I presume bitches are to blame) so I’d appreciate it if you’d be so kind as to subscribe! If we hit 100 new subscribers, Amanda and I will live broadcast something very fun and silly to thank everyone.Thank you for being part of the podcast community as we reach 700 episodes! This is a big milestone, and I’m so thankful you’re here.You can find Amanda Matta at her website, AmandaMatta.com, on TikTok, and on Instagram.You can find the show notes with all mentioned books and links at SBTB.com, and you can find our podcast on YouTube, or wherever you get your shows!Want more romance commentary? Come hang out at Smart Bitches Trashy Books (https://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com)We also mentioned:Steve Ammidown’s post about Robert McGinnis, who passed away in 2025Windsor Castle: A Royal YearThe Infamous Three Armed Cover The Art of History PodcastOff with Their Headlines PodcastNorthern Disclosure PodcastThe Midtown Scholar bookshopThe Vulgar History PodcastBachelor Lady Butts.
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699. 699. Holiday Wishes VII with Katie, Kate and Adam
43:55||Ep. 699Happy New Year!This week we are talking with Katie, Kate, and Adam – we’ve got book recs, wishes, spreadsheet discussions, dungeons, and some wishes that don’t violate the Hatch Act.There’s also rather appalling poo adventure immediately after my first interview. Pew pew!Check out the complete show notes at SBTB.com!Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads are now turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!You can gift a Patreon membership if you’re so inclined! A lovely gift for someone you know who loves the show.AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is available now for a limited time – until January 5, and boy, howdy, does Wax Cabin Candle Company ship fast.698. 698. Holiday Wishes VI with Jenna Grinstead, Stephanie Violet, Lisa, and Bull
53:40||Ep. 698This week we are talking with Jenna Grinstead, Stephanie Violet, Lisa, and Bull! Yup, we’re visiting Norway this week. Bring a hat.As always we have book recs, including one from the 1500s, wishes, and terrible jokes.Please note: during my conversation with Lisa, we discuss true crime and historical murders.We also mentioned:The Bridge (tv show) Simple Happy Zen PodcastPlaying for Keeps PodcastSamantha.GarcixAnd…sunrise pictures!Important Notes I Want to Keep Shouting About!Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads are now turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!You can gift a Patreon membership if you’re so inclined! A lovely gift for someone you know who loves the show.AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is available now for a limited time, and boy, howdy, does Wax Cabin Candle Company ship fast.697. 697. Holiday Wishes V with Shana, Sue, and Rhonda
01:00:07||Ep. 697This week we are talking with Shana, Sue, and Rhonda about book recs and wishes, plus fantasy and magical bureaucracy, grief in romance, schtupping by volume, and inventions for readers to find even MORE books.We also mentioned:The Library Extension – This is an extension for Chrome browsers that will load a list of your preferred libraries with availability for a specific book you’re looking at online. You can add as many libraries as you wish, along with Hoopla, and it’ll search the catalogs for you.Our Knitting Gift Guide with some incredible patterns.Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads are now turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!You can gift a Patreon membership if you’re so inclined! A lovely gift for someone you know who loves the show.AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is available now for a limited time, and boy, howdy, does Wax Cabin Candle Company ship fast.696. 696. Holiday Wishes IV with Rae A, Josephine, and Sneezy
58:20||Ep. 696We’re back with more Holiday Wishes! This week we’re talking with Rae A., Josephine, and Sneezy!This week we are talking romance bookstores and road trips, luxurious bidets, webtoons, and, of course, books. And some ranting about women artists in history. We are traveling as far as Taiwan in this episode – and this should be the last of my laryngitis – hooray for all of us!We also discussed:Webtoon: Only HopePodcast: Worlds Beyond NumbersThe Duchamp FountainFanfic: “Backhoe” by Zenoida McRoraBrightside Books and WineUpdates!Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads will be turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!You can gift a Patreon membership if you're so inclined! A lovely gift for someone you know who loves the show.AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is LIVE! For a limited time only, you can get a Smart Bitches 20th Anniversary candle, and a Bad Decisions Book Club candle. You can shop small, support the site, and spread light and warmth this year.695. 695. Holiday Wishes III with Garlic Knitter, Claudia, Christine, and Jo
59:07||Ep. 695We’re back with more Holiday Wishes! This week we’re talking with Garlic Knitter, Claudia, Christine, and Jo.A few notes:First, my voice is not great. Some of these were recorded when I had a dreadful cold, so I apologize in advance.Second, if you’re a sympathetic crier like I am, please know that when Christine and I are talking, we both get a little choked up while talking about grief and the infuriating unfairness of American healthcare. It’s an emotional conversation and a beautiful one – thank you for sharing so much of yourself, Christine.Updates? Updates!Thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads will be turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much! You can gift a Patreon membership if you'd like! It's easy and very flexible.AND! The Smart Bitches Candle Collection is LIVE! I partnered with Wax Cabin Candle Company, an independent small chandlery, to offer two limited edition candles just for the holiday season!They are on sale now through early January, and you can buy one or both in a gift set! And they are going very fast! The Smart Bitches 20th Anniversary candle is an 11 ounce hand poured soy candle with notes of sea salt, book pages, sandalwood and jasmine.The Bad Decisions Book Club candle, also 11 ounces, is designed to be the perfect pairing for late night reading, with scents of sweet tobacco, book pages, leather, rose, and sandalwood. I had a marvelous time picking out the scents.So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or the book lovers in your life, check out the 2025 Smart Bitches Candle collection. You can shop small, support the site, and spread light and warmth this year.694. 694. Holiday Wishes II with Agnés, Emily, Sarah Jane and Jenn
44:00||Ep. 694Ready for more wishes and recs? And bad jokes? I bet you are! This week we’re talking with Agnes, Emily, Sarah Jane, and Jenn – and Min the cat.And in the outro, you’ll hear from ShoesforAll, aka Sarah.And! Important announcement 1: thanks to your Patreon pledges, we have reached our goal with the F’ICE campaign, and all dynamic ads will be turned off permanently for everyone who listens. Thank you so much!Important announcement 2: the Smart Bitches Candle Collection is LIVE! I partnered with Wax Cabin Candle Company, an independent small chandlery, to offer two limited edition candles just for the holiday season!They are on sale now, Friday November 28, through early January, and you can buy one or both in a gift set!The Smart Bitches 20th Anniversary candle is an 11 ounce hand poured soy candle with notes of sea salt, book pages, sandalwood and jasmine.The Bad Decisions Book Club candle, also 11 ounces, is designed to be the perfect pairing for late night reading, with scents of sweet tobacco, book pages, leather, rose, and sandalwood. I had a marvelous time picking out the scents.So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or the book lovers in your life, check out the 2025 Smart Bitches Candle collection. You can shop small, support the site, and spread light and warmth this year.We also mentioned:The episode where we discussed frozen shoulder and other fun menopause things is Episode 658. Romance and Penetrative Sex: A Conversation With Jane BuehlerThe episode where Earth is Garbage and Space is Horny is Episode 392.You can download Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinburg from the author’s website.Emily mentioned some birds, and if you’d like to know what they look like, here are pics!The pileated woodpeckerThe red bellied woodpeckerThe great crested fly catcher