We officially made it to the end of Season One of What the Smut Are You Talking About Podcast and we honestly can't believe it.

This week we're looking back at everything that made this season unforgettable. From our favorite romance books and hilarious author interviews to the behind-the-scenes chaos that listeners never got to see. We talk about the moments that made us laugh until we cried, the interviews that hit us right in the feels, and the incredible growth this little bookish podcast has experienced since relaunching earlier this year.

We also spill some behind-the-scenes confessions, share our biggest recording mishaps (looking at you, Parker 👀), celebrate hitting over 1,000 podcast downloads, (because we lost it att and started from scratch) and look ahead to everything we have planned for Season Two.

Whether you've been with us since the beginning or just recently found the podcast, thank you for being part of our little corner of the romance community. Your downloads, reviews, messages, and support mean more than you'll ever know.

While we're taking a short summer break from our regular schedule, we're not disappearing! We'll still be dropping bonus episodes, re-released author interviews, event coverage from Smutmas in the Smokies, and plenty of unhinged chaos while we get everything ready for Season Two.

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and send us your favorite romance book recommendations because let's be honest...our TBR can always get longer.

We'll see you in Season Two, Book Nerds.

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This week on What the Smut Are You Talking About Podcast, we're joined by romance author Ambar Cordova for a conversation filled with books, chaos, cowboy romance, writing confessions, and some of the most unhinged research we've heard all season.

Ambar writes real, raw, and romantic multicultural love stories that tackle life's messier moments while still delivering the happily ever after romance readers crave. We chat about her journey from reader to author, how a Notes App idea turned into a publishing career, and why she believes writing chose her.

We also dive into her upcoming release, Leave Me Again (releases 6/26/26), the first book in the brand-new Riverbank Ranch shared world series, co-created with romance authors Holly Luckie and Lo Everett.

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This week on What the Smut Are You Talking About Podcast, we are joined by New York Times bestselling romance author, Sara Cate for an author interview full of romance books, writing chaos, messy men, kink clubs, and unhinged thoughts.

Sara is known for her kink-positive, queer-friendly romance books with emotional plots, toe-curling heat, and book boyfriends who are absolute walking chaos. We talk all about her writing process, what it’s like to plot a book only for the characters to go completely off the rails, and why the messiest fictional men are sometimes the most fun to write.

Whether you’re a longtime Sara Cate reader, obsessed with the Salacious Players Club, loving the Salacious Legacy series, or just looking for your next spicy romance book recommendation, this episode is for you.

Grab your beverage of choice, settle in, and come hang out and see What the Smut we are Talking About this week.

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This week on What the Smut Are You Talking About, we're welcoming back romance author Victoria Wilder for a chaotic, bookish catch-up that is packed with romance books, writing talk, unhinged thoughts, and all things romantic suspense.

Victoria joins us to chat about her writing journey, her fan-favorite Bourbon Boys series, and her upcoming release, Rumors & Whiskey, the first book in her brand-new Whiskey Women series. We dive into everything from feral gremlin writing habits and deadline panic to hidden identities, found family, witness protection, true crime podcasts, and the art of writing grumpy-not-cowboy book boyfriends that readers can't stop obsessing over.

Whether you're a longtime Victoria Wilder fan, a lover of romantic suspense, or you're looking for your next romance book obsession, this episode is for you.

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Is you life chaotic? Same. So naturally, we’re talking about the romance books we run back to when the world feels like one giant dumpster fire. In this episode, we’re sharing our ultimate comfort reads that we consider our Roman Empire. The books, series, and fictional men that live rent-free in our heads forever.

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This week on What the Smut Are You Talking About Podcast, we are joined by indie romance author Lasairiona McMaster for an absolutely chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional conversation about romance books, fake dating, writing feral characters, and why queso should honestly be considered a personality trait.

From MM hockey romance and mafia books to rugby romance, emotional damage, and perimenopause-fueled unhinged thoughts, this episode truly has everything.

Lasairiona spills all the tea about:

• Writing emotionally wrecking romance books
• Fake dating, one night stands, brother’s best friend romance, and found family
• Her Cedar Rapids Raccoons hockey romance series
• Her rugby romance series
• Her upcoming MM hockey romance Splitting the D
• Why tacos, queso, margaritas, and pie deserve their own supporting character credits

If you love:

• Romance books
• Bookish podcasts
• Indie romance authors
• Hockey romance
• Rugby romance
• Fake dating
• Enemies to lovers
• Found family
• Brother’s best friend
• One night stands
• Spicy romance books
• Emotional romance with humor
• Unhinged bookish conversations

…then this episode is absolutely for you.

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Lasairiona McMaster Books

Lasairiona's Website

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Surprise, you’re getting a VPR Takeover bonus episode this week and this one is packed with romance books, chaotic energy, Disney tangents, hockey romance, and alien otter research.

This week we’re hanging out with romance author Jenn Chipman, she writes heroes who fall first, fall hard, and fully spiral over their women, aka exactly what we live for around here.

If you love:

• Romance books
• Romance author interviews
• Bookish podcasts
• Hockey romance
• Workplace romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Friends with benefits
• Heroes who fall first
• Interconnected standalone series
• Chaos-filled book discussions
• Unhinged reader conversations

…then welcome home, bestie.

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Welcome back, Book Nerds! This week we’re bringing the chaos straight to Nashville because we’re talking all things Smutmas in the Smokies 2026 — the romance author signing event happening July 17-18 in Nashville, TN… and yes, What the Smut will officially be there as a vendor!

We’re joined by our Booksta bestie Jess from @thebookishclaus, the mastermind behind Smutmas in the Smokies, and y’all… this episode is packed with romance books, author event chaos, unhinged thoughts, and all the bookish shenanigans you expect from us.

We dive into:
The lineup of romance authors, narrators, and vendors coming to Smutmas
Sports romance, forced proximity, fake dating, and favorite romance tropes
Why Hallmark movies are elite comfort viewing
Parenting feral children while surviving on caffeine and delusion
Why people driving slow in the left lane should absolutely move over immediately

Jess also shares behind-the-scenes details about building a first-year romance book signing event, supporting indie romance authors, and creating a space where readers can discover new-to-them authors, narrators, and vendors.

If you love:
Romance books
Bookish podcasts
Indie romance authors
Sports romance
Forced proximity & one bed tropes
Bookstagram chaos
Christmas in July vibes
…then this episode was made for you.

Smutmas in the Smokies Details:

📍 Nashville, TN
📅 VIP Party: July 17, 2026
📅 Signing Day: July 18, 2026
🎟️ VIP tickets are SOLD OUT
🎟️ GA tickets are nearly gone

Featuring:
55+ romance authors
Narrators
Vendors
Christmas-themed romance book chaos

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