The romance genre’s extremely varied amount of stories and equally diverse fans make it hard to pinpoint what makes it so popular. What is certain though, is that romance is a billion-dollar industry that constantly churns out bestsellers each year. In 2016 alone, romance took up a whopping 23% of the US fiction market!
So it’s no surprise that newer platforms are eager to get into this lucrative genre. The podcast, in particular, has proven itself a perfect conduit for romance in its many forms.
Best Romance Podcasts
If you love gushing over love stories and listening to talks about love, then these are the best podcasts to listen to when you’re doing household tasks or simply chilling. I’ve also added a few recommended episodes to get you started. Check them out below!
1. Thirst Aid Kit
This podcast explores the concept of thirst and digs into the reasons why we desire the people we do. Though it focuses more on women, there’s still a lot to be enjoyed here by any gender. The podcast has already ended, but all of its 60+ episodes are still available for your enjoyment.
Recommended Episodes:
2. Bodice Tipplers
If you love reading romance novels from the 70s to 80s, then you’ll love this podcast. The hosts read old romance novels (the dramatic and sometimes sappy kind our grandmothers usually love) and discuss the good, bad, and downright ugly of each book.
Recommended Episodes:
3. 36 Questions
Psychologist Arthur Aron has proposed that there are 36 questions that can lead to love. In a desperate attempt to salvage their marriage, a couple turns to these questions to try and reconnect. With only three episodes, this musical audio fiction packs the melancholic and the mysterious for an enjoyable auditory experience.
Recommended Episodes:
4. When In Romance
When in Romance is a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to everything about the romance genre. If you’re looking for news, recommendations, and discussions about your favorite romance novels, then this is the podcast to listen to.
Recommended Episodes:
5. Not Your Mom’s Romance Book Club
For some of us, it’s awkward talking about anything remotely sexual or romantic with our parents — but that’s exactly what this podcast does. Ellen and her mom dive into just about everything related to romance, after which they share their hilarious and often awkward thoughts.
Recommended Episodes:
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
- A Highlander Walks Into A Bar by Laura Trentham
- Beard Necessities by Penny Reid
6. Pounded in the Butt by My Own Podcast
This hilariously titled podcast is the lovechild of writer Chuck Tingle and the Nightvale Presents team. Here, famous celebrity guests perform Chuck’s absurdist, erotic stories (called “tinglers”). There are only a few episodes available, but they’re all so ridiculous that you’ll find it hard not to laugh.
Recommended episodes:
- Lonely Author Pounded By Dinosaur Social Media Followers
- My Ass Is Haunted By The Gay Unicorn Colonel
- Living Inside My Own Butt For Eight Years, Starting A Business And Turning A Profit Through Common Sense Reinvestment And Strategic Targeted Marketing
7. Jules & James
Jules & James is the story of two young artists who “meet” due to a misdialed phone call. Both recognize a kindred spirit and decide to continue a conversation that only began by accident.
Recommended Episodes:
8. Meet Cute
If you’re the type who enjoys rom-coms and short format narratives, then Meet Cute is a must-listen. Each episode runs for 15 minutes and consists of either a one-shot story or a series of longer romantic stories — perfect for a quick listen during breaks.
Recommended Episodes:
9. All The Kissing
All The Kissing is a podcast run by a team of romance writers at various stages of their careers. They talk about anything and everything about the romance writer’s journey, so if you’re looking to become one yourself, then this podcast is an excellent source of information.
Recommended Episodes:
10. The Lonely Hearts Romance Comics Podcast
Hosted by a group of friends, this podcast is focused on romance comics and how romance is portrayed in comics. So you’ll not only listen to discussions about romance comics but even superhero, horror, and fantasy comics. It’s defunct, but its 18 episodes are still worth listening to, particularly for comics fans.
Recommended episodes:
11. Smart Podcast, Trashy Books
If you’re looking for another mega-podcast that offers everything related to the romance genre, then Smart Podcast, Trashy Books is what you’re looking for. Every week, Host Sarah Wendell interviews authors, editors, bloggers, and even librarians about romance fiction.
Recommended Episodes:
- Romance Readers in Sweden
- The Books That Made Us Romance Readers
- Alpha Women, Heroine Friendships, and Paranormal Romance: An Interview with Shelly Laurenston
12. Heaving Bosoms
Heaving Bosoms is a weekly podcast where hosts Erin and Melody read through and discuss romance novels. There’s a lot of giggling and making fun of themselves involved, so expect a lot of laughs while you listen to their in-depth deconstructions of romance stories.
Recommended Episodes:
- Crash Landing On You (Ep 1) with Lo and Kate Clayborn!
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (PART 1)
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (PART 1)
Why Is the Romance Genre So Popular?
In my experience, nothing makes a person squee, giggle, or ugly-cry more than romance. There’s just something magical about experiencing a romantic moment, whether it’s yours or as a bystander to a beautiful moment.
In 2017, the Romance Writers of America commissioned a study that found out that 82% of romance readers are female. One reason for this could be because romance novels give women something that they could not experience in the real world — their perfect vision of what a true partner is. Hypothetically, this would also apply to men who love romance books.
But more than an ideal partner, romance may serve as a form of positive psychology. At the end of many romance stories, everything works out and readers are left in a happier mood for it. These kinds of stories leave us reassured that good things do happen, and help us keep our optimism.
Listening to Romance Podcasts
Podcasts offer a new way of experiencing the romance genre. With podcasts, fans are no longer limited to reading about their favorite books, authors, and events, but can now listen to many commentaries, interviews, and discussions about the romance genre.
Of course, visual media has long featured this advantage. What makes podcasts more appealing is that listeners can do other tasks while still satisfying their romance kicks. In this fast-paced world we live in, that’s a huge benefit.
If you enjoy or are open to audio-based entertainment, do give these romance podcasts a try. There are tons more of these out there, but I feel that the one I’ve listed here can be the perfect gateways for you to get into a new platform for romance.
Have you listened to any romance podcasts? Share your experience in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
All of these sound wonderful! We just released the Kate Dreams of Love podcast. It’s a collection of original romantic short stories hoping to add a little love and a little spice to everyone’s day. Happy listening!
Thanks for sharing, Kate! We’ll check it out :)