Textual Tension
154 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 56 ratingsThe comedy podcast that unpacks the bananas world of romance novels.
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Episodes
Ep. 52: A Heart Condition Called Love (feat. Movie Virgins)
September 08, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBHave you watched one of the most viewed movie of 2020 on Netflix yet? Don't worry. We've done it for you! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel, along with Leah and Lindsay of Movie Virgins, about 365 DNI. Turns out, problematic romance tropes don't work well in film form either.
Ep. 51: Children Prophesy the Darndest Things
August 25, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBAll we want is to be swept away to the castle beyond the goblin city to hang with Jareth for the rest of forever. Is that so much to ask? That's not even that long at all! Laura Thalassa's Rhapsodic doesn't quite hit the mark on that one, but that doesn't make it any less fun to talk about!
Ep. 50: Playing the Gay Card
August 11, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBIt's a 50th episode spectacular! And it was definitely meticulously planned! Play along as Margie tells Rachel all about My Lady's Choosing, by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris. Just like we definitely planned.
Ep. 49: History Has It's Eyes on You
July 28, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBWe're heading out of the darkest timeline this week into the world of Casey McQuiston's, Red, White, and Royal Blue! Who knew a political romance could leave us with so many warm fuzzy feelings?!
Ep. 48: Way Down We Go
July 14, 2020 04:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBHappy Pridesmas in July everyone! Rachel and Margie are taking it upon themselves to extend pride celebrations with some awesome LGBTQ romance novels! This week, Margie tells Rachel all about Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry. Get ready for some great discussion y'all!
Ep. 47: Yippee-ki-yay Motherfu-
June 30, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBHowdy y'all! Do you ever read a book and really love it, and then try to tell someone else about it and realize wait....is this actually good? Your co-host Rachel finds herself in this exact situation this week as she tells Margie all about The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller. I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself!
Ep. 46: Don't Worry the Dog is Fine
June 16, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBAll aboard the struggle bus! Rachel and Margie are joined by Savannah (co-creator of the in-the-works podcast Cold Storage) to tackle the queen of romance novels: Nora Roberts! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel and Savannah all about The Obsession, and play along at home as we play the new hit game everyone's talking about, Spot the Plot! Buy Cold Storage a Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/coldstoragepodcast
Ep. 45: Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here
June 02, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBAmethysts? Check. Highwaymen? Check. One of the craziest books Rachel and Margie have ever discussed? Double check. Join us as Rachel tells Margie all about Heather and Velvet by Teresa Medeiros. Strap on your kilt and grab your Scotch! We're going to Scotland!
Ep. 44: Highschool Never Ends
May 19, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBWe have an extra special one for you guys today! We're revisiting the mid-2000s with a seriously formative book from our highschool days. Can you guess what it is? It's pretty topical!
Ep. 43: Matilda
May 05, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBYour Textual Tension Co-hosts are getting cozy with an early morning, pajamas and coffee kind of episode! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Lisa Kleypas's, Dreaming of You. \\. Make yourself a cup of coffee, grab your favorite blanket, and snuggle up with us!
Ep. 42: Interview With a Leather Daddy Vampire
April 21, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBIt's the ultimate listener suggestion! Rachel tells Margie all about J.R. Ward's Dark Lover. A book that was recommended not once, but twice! Strap in everyone! We're going on a mid-2000s ride!
Ep. 41: The Modern Gabriel (feat. The Ladies of Strange)
April 07, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBRachel and Margie are joined by Ashley, Tiffany, and Rebecca of The Ladies of Strange! Margie tells everyone about Amanda Ashley's, Embrace the Night. This book has it all! Vampires, reincarnation, an abundance of problematic behavior: you name it!
Ep. 40: Some Grapes and a Bath
March 24, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBHave you ever been upset when a book you're expecting to be bad ends up being really good? This week Rachel was! Tune in as Rachel takes Margie to wine country and tells her all about Julie James', A Lot Like Love.
Ep. 39: The Language of Purple Flowers
March 10, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBHey did you know Harlequin Romance makes teen novels? Neither did we! Thankfully (thankfully?) Margie found a real winner to tell Rachel ALL about! Tune in as Margie tells Rachel all about Elizabeth Craft and Shea Olsen's Flower.
Ep. 38: Alpha Centauri Lost
February 25, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBGet ready to be blinded by science! And MIB! And...religious persecution? Okay maybe not that last one... But strap in everyone for a long, involved, and ridiculously fun sci-fi themed episode! Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie go deep in the alien paint as they talk about Gini Koch's, Touched by an Alien!
Ep 37: Another Boi Another Dragon Tattoo
February 11, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBHello listeners! We're so glad to have you back! This week tune in as Margie tells Rachel about Kerrelyn Spark's novel The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo. That's right, we're revisiting the wonderful world of Kerrelyn Sparks novels! In this episode we get into the science of genetics, that good cush demon herb, and vampires, were-tigers, and demons, oh MY!
Ep. 36: A Lot of People Lay Dying
January 28, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBSticks and stones may break our bones, but chains and whips....confuse us? Tune in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Kristen Callihan's, Soulbound. Because honestly, what says love like chains and cyanide?
Ep. 35: The Call of the Jungle (feat. FBoL)
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 58 MBHello South America! It's been a while huh? Your co-hosts are joined by Emily of FBoL as they dive deep into the rainforests of South America and attempt to...fight terrorism? Let's just say there's a lot going on in Kat Martin's Hot Rain
Ep. 34: Dances with Bulls
December 31, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBHowdy y'all! Your co-hosts are back with a good old fashioned rodeo! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie about Lauren Landish's Buck Wild. Don't worry, it definitely lives up to its name! Ep. Bonus: This week the Under the Covers bonus content is free to everyone! Not just Patreon subscribers! Go to patreon.com/textualtension to check it out!
Ep. 33: And Now for Something Completely Different
December 17, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBWho's ready for something ridiculous and refreshing? Well maybe not refreshing....but for sure hilarious! This week, Margie tells Rachel about Ross Patterson's At Night She Cries, While He Rides His Steed, a "Romance Novel for Dudes". What exactly does that tag line mean? Let's find out together!
Ep. 32: An Odyssey
December 03, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBCan you say Macedonian Love Slave? We didn't think we could, but here we are! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fantasy Lover! It's got everything you want in a romance novel! Macedonians, and love slaves! Patreon: patreon.com/textualtension
Ep. 32: An Odyssey
December 03, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBCan you say Macedonian Love Slave? We didn't think we could, but here we are! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fantasy Lover! It's got everything you want in a romance novel! Macedonians, and love slaves! Patreon: patreon.com/textualtension
Ep. 31: The Cinnamon Roll Soldier
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBThis week, Rachel and Margie are breaking into the world of LGBTQ romance novels! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about the Robin Hood-esque antics in The Soldier's Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian. We finally tackled a romance novel that addresses some pretty interesting historical topics! Who knew! BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Textual Tension is now on Patreon! Check out patreon.com/textualtension for more information on how you can support your friendly neighborhood podcast hosts!
Ep. 30: Low Expectations
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBJoin Rachel and Margie as they pass a serious milestone in Textual Tension history: reviewing their first Harlequin Romance Novel! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Lori Foster's, Run the Risk. If you didn't get enough literary analysis in your AP English class, then this is the episode for you!
Halloween Special Ep. 29: Catula
October 31, 2019 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MBIt's a Textual Tension Spooktacular! Join Margie and Rachel for this very special and very spoopy bonus episode! The girl's discuss The Cat's Meow, featuring stories by Victoria Alexander, Nina Coombs, Coral Smith Saxe, and Colleen Shannon. Let's pour one out for the spoopiest, and best, time of year!
Ep. 28: The Billionaire Philanthropist and the Sea
October 22, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.5 MBWe're shipping off to international waters this week with a problematic billionaire philanthropist who can't take no for an answer. Did we mention he has a dolphin tramp stamp? Join your co-hosts Rachel and Margie as they discuss the nuances of the "Alpha Male"
Ep. 27: Pale Ice
October 08, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBYou know what we need in our lives? MORE hit-man themed romance novels! Join your co-host Margie as Rachel tells her all about Contract Signed by Marie Harte. Because the only thing better than 1 hit-man, is 3 hit-men...and a baby?
Ep. 26: On the Origin of Missing Links (feat. Trashy Divorces)
September 24, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBThis week, Stacie and Alicia of Trashy Divorces are here to help us answer some truly perplexing questions. How much ghosting is too much? Can Andre the Giant and a literal black hole ever find love together? Truly questions only J.M. Sevilla's novel, Marked Part 1: The Missing Link, can answer.
Ep. 25: Wild Wild Tex
September 10, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MBYeehaw and welcome to Textual Tension! The rootinest tootinest podcast this side of the Rockies! Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie dive into the wild wild world of westerns as they unpack Lorraine Heath's, Texas Destiny! Saddle up! It's time to mosey on down the trail.
Ep. 24: For Whom the Cinnamon Rolls
August 27, 2019 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBSummer has been getting HOT. Who's ready for a breath of fresh air? Listen in as your co-host Margie tells Rachel all about Nalini Singh's book, Rock Hard. Sometimes you really CAN'T judge a book by it's cover!
Ep. 23: A Game of Groans
August 13, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBA momentous episode! Your co-host Rachel has read her first truly problematic book. Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Kristen Ashley's book, Wildest Dreams. What if there was an alternate dimension with a copy of everyone you know and love? Would you want to go check it out? We sure wouldn't!
Ep 22: The Wildcat
July 30, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBWelcome back listeners! Join us this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Some Like It Scot by Susanne Enoch. It may very well be Margie's first...ourboi story. We will be having our first LIVE SHOW on August 8th in Cincinnati at Three Points Brewery at 8 p.m.! We hope to see you there!
Ep. 21: Must Love Cinnamon Rolls
July 16, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBNothing makes co-host Rachel happier than an unprecedented number of puns. Listen in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Casey Griffin's Must Love Wieners, and all of the wonderful puns therein. Hang in there, because this book is dog-gone great!
Ep. 20: Adam Everlasting
July 02, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBYour co-hosts Rachel and Margie are going back again! Back to the Scottish highlands! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Karen Moning's, The Immortal Highlander: yet another entry into the sexy-Scottish-fairy-man genre!
Ep 19: 11,000 Years of Solitude (Featuring HalfwayOkay)
June 18, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 50.5 MBHello listeners! Tune in this week as Rachel tells Margie and Sean from the podcast HalfwayOkay about Alyssa Day's novel Vampire in Atlantis.This episode we'll learn that yes, vampires do, in fact, have souls, the third branch of Congress that is run exclusively by vampires, and another way to find the city of Atlantis. Hint: Just step into the sun.
Ep. 18: A Farewell to Noses (feat. The Hidden People)
June 04, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBYour intrepid co-hosts are joined this week by Alexa Fisher, a writer and producer for The Hidden People! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel and Alexa all about The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. We'll tell you all about the most effective way to rescue a long lost crush (spoilers: it involves chloroform) and what actually happens when you don't vaccinate your kids!
Ep 17: Wine and Punishment
May 21, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 31.1 MBThis week Rachel and Margie head into uncharted terriroty with an action-mystery-romance-thriller! This is a definite palate cleanser from next week so don't be afraid to listen! Please also rate, review, and subscribe!
Ep. 16: Supplemental
May 07, 2019 04:00 - 34 minutes - 15.9 MBListen as Rachel sits down with Dr. Tony Talbott of Abolition Ohio to discuss episode 16: Nolita. Dr. Talbott brings his expertise to the subject of human trafficking in the media and what you can do to help.
Ep. 16: Nolita
May 07, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 31.1 MBHave you ever wondered where romance and human trafficking overlap? Neither have we. Lucky for us, Margie is here to tell us all about Last Breath by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick: the book that answers the question that no one asked. Check out the supplemental episode where Rachel sits down with Dr. Tony Talbott from Abolition Ohio and discusses the real-life implications of human trafficking.
Ep. 15: Raevens of Prey
April 23, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBAhoy there everyone! We're taking a trip to sea this week as Rachel tells Margie all about high adventure (and a lot of kidnapping) in The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen. Because nothing says attraction and romance like a healthy dose of bloody revenge!
Ep. 14: Mostly a Dick
April 09, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBWelcome back to Textual Tension! Listen this week as the girls bravely venture back into the rich CEO genre. Margie tells Rachel all about the book Hero by Samantha Young. Is this book capable of redeeming the CEO sub-genre in the eyes of our intrepid co-hosts? And more importantly, is a mustache twirling plot the best way to pick up chicks? Only one way to find out!
Ep. 13: Little Vampires
March 26, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 30.4 MBWhat do you get when you cross reality TV and misogynistic vampires? Kerrelyn Sparks' book Vamps and the City! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about high stakes (hah!) romance in the glamorous world of the undead. Let's not forget the healthy dose of misogyny that really makes up bare our fangs!
Ep 12: The Countess of Monte Cristo
March 12, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 32.6 MBWelcome back listeners! Listen in this week as Margie tells Rachel about The Princess and the Barbarian by Betina Krahn. You ready to learn about the seven pleasures of Mercia, because we can't WAIT to tell you about them! More info on the book here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/818203.The_Princess_and_the_Barbarian
Ep 11: Worse Animal Farm
February 26, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 30.8 MBTune in this week as Rachel tells Margie about Shelly Laurenston's Hot and Badgered. Yes listeners, you read right, that is Hot and Badgered. And boy oh boy did it get us badgered...just not too hot. Another animorph episode is here for you to enjoy! Tell us what you think!
Ep 10: To Kill a Raven Prince
February 12, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBHappy What the February?! listeners! In this, the most romantic of months, listen in as I, MArgie, tell Rachel about Elizabeth Hoyt's The Raven Prince. While this book breaks some barriers in terms of romance age range and having characters who have had their virgin barriers broken, it still has some very outdated superhero rules and miscommunication mayhem. Enjoy!
Ep 9: The Invisible and Totally Not Creepy or Abusive Man
January 29, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 28.1 MBListen in this week as Rachel tells me, Margie, about Amy Raby's Spy's Honor. Hear about the forbidden romance between Janto and Rhianne, one a spy pretending to be a slave in an enemy nation, the other a princess desperately trying to learn more about the world. Ready for a healthy relationship and for some sick world-building? SO WERE WE. Enjoy!
Ep 8: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Wonderful
January 15, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 31.2 MBIn this weeks episode I, Margie, tell Rachel about Meredith Wild's book Hardwired, a book about a young, smart, businesswoman trying to get her startup off the ground despite the actions of Mr. Wonderful. Blake Landon is a "intellectual" hacker businesman who will literally tear down her defenses with his bare hands to get her to almost trust him. Almost. PSA: This episode deals with topics of abuse and stalking and may be difficult for some listeners to enjoy. It's still a fun episode but...
Ep 7: The Boi with the Dragon Tattoo
January 01, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 31.5 MBHappy New Year listeners! This week listen in as Rachel tells me, Margie, about Blaze by Donna Grant. Hear about our boi's perfect Dorito shape, the intricacies of hacking, and kidnap-ception. Please rate, review, and subscribe!
Ep 6: A Merry Hallmark Christmas
December 25, 2018 17:00 - 1 hour - 33.6 MBWelcome to our CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! In this episode listen as Rachel tells Margie about The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason. Will Madison Lane find the true meaning of Christmas...Colorado? What else will she discover in the small-town of Christmas? Perhaps handsome sheriff Gage McBride? We will have another episode coming out next week listeners! So you get THREE WEEKS of episodes! Merry Christmas to all and to all healthy and loving relationships all around!
Ep 5: The Lightning Prick
December 18, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 31 MBHello everyone! This week listen in as Margie tells the story of How to Tame a Beast in 7 Days by Kerrelyn Sparks. Sparks fly (heh, heh) between Luciana and Leofric, but can their love survive assassination attempts, b&e, and actual lightning shooting out of homeboy's fingers? We also have a special announcement! We will be releasing a Christmas episode on Christmas day for all our wonderful listeners and then another episode the WEEK AFTER. We've got THREE WEEKS of great episodes coming y...