Zipless
A (sometimes spicy) podcast for romance lovers and listeners. Women have been reading and writing about romance for centuries. But what was once considered a scandalous and secretive pastime, the romance novel has now burst proudly onto the open market. In fact, romance novels account for nearly a quarter of all adult print fiction sold in the United States. And with more and more women listening to romance books, it also matters how these books sound. Hosted by Allie Martina, a professional romance novel narrator, Zipless explores how the language of romance is shaped by writers and narrators, and asks...
Tue, April 15, 2025
Fantasy vs Reality? Finding Balance with Xio Axelrod
A great romance novel knows how to deliver the fantasy of a perfect relationship and the reality of one. Author Xio Axlerod joins us to talk about how she balances dreamy boyfriends with the gritty reality of what makes relationships work.
Tue, April 01, 2025
Wanted: Tall, Dark, and Handsome
If the saying "love is blind" is true, then why are most of the men in romance novels hot, ripped, and over 6 feet tall? Allie and fellow romance novel narrator (and Zipless male-voice-in-residence) Gideon Frost explore what the 'perfect man' looks like in romance, and just as importantly, how he sounds.
Tue, March 18, 2025
Fears and Tears: Crafting Dark Survivor Romance
Dark themed romances can take readers through some pretty hairy situations, but the scariest scenes involve affairs of the heart. Authors Jennifer Hartmann and Chelley St Clair, two experts at breaking your heart and putting it back together, join us to talk about how the best dark romances can balance scaring us to death with a really good cry.
Tue, March 04, 2025
Zipless Live! at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY
Whether we're getting cozy with a paperback or escaping with an audiobook, we love all types of romance novels. In our first interview in front of a live audience, Allie and fellow romance novel narrators Samantha Brentmoor, Gideon Frost, and Robert Hatchet break down the art of romance narration at the most iconic romance bookstore in town.
Mon, February 24, 2025
Coming Soon: Zipless Live at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY
Want Zipless in person? We're recording our show live at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:00pm. Guests include romance novel narrators Gideon Frost, Samantha Brentmoor, and Robert Hatchet. Go to ziplesspodcast.com or therippedbodice.com/events for ticket info!
Tue, February 18, 2025
Bad Boys and Book Boyfriends with Stephanie Archer
Grumpy hot shots? Charming playboys? Lovable cinnamon rolls? Book boyfriends come in all shapes and sizes, and discovering the traits we like in our leading characters may help us find out which ones we like in real life. Stephanie Archer, a rom-com queen and author of hot, funny romances including the spicy hockey series "Vancouver Storm" joins us to talk about how the search for 'your person' is at the heart of all of her books.
Tue, February 04, 2025
Fantasies and F-bombs: Breaking the Rules with Sierra Simone
Readers may not be ready to blurt out their fantasies in public, but they’re obviously eating this stuff up in private. Why do romantic fantasies feel so right and the way we talk about them feel so wrong? Best selling author Sierra Simone joins us to talk about breaking taboo in every way possible, and why readers love it so much.
Tue, January 21, 2025
Dirty Words and Daring Women: Exploring Historical Romance with Evie Dunmore
The language of love is forever changing, but a constant theme throughout time has been the use of sexualized words to label women, shame them, and take away their power. Modern romance novels are one of the ways women are taking back the language of sex, and flipping words and behaviors - once deemed inappropriate - into scenes of empowerment and independence. Evie Dunmore, historical romance author of USA TODAY bestseller Bringing Down the Duke and the League of Extraordinary Women series, joins us to talk about how she learned to write strong female characters who balance standing up for themselves while falling in love. Listener discretion advised.
Tue, January 07, 2025
Strong, Sexy, and ... Submissive? An interview with Sara Cate
From pillow talk to praise kinks, romance novels have the power to uncover women's deepest desires and bring them to life in the pages of a book. Allie Martina explores the stories and sounds of taboo, forbidden romances, and independent women from across a century of writing, and tops it all off with an interview with best-selling author Sara Cate. Listener discretion advised.
Trailer · Wed, December 04, 2024
Introducing... Zipless (Official Trailer)
What is it about forbidden love, age gaps, love triangles, friends to lovers, and steamy sex scenes that women find so timelessly appealing? Do romance novels offer windows into the lives women want, or mirror the lives they already have? With more and more women listening to romance audiobooks, how does narration, depth of a male voice, or cadence in artistic performance affect a romantic scene? And when it comes to the language of love, can the romance novel finally take words long considered shameful and flip them into words of empowerment? Hosted by Allie Martina, a professional romance novel narrator, Zipless explores these questions and so much more. Series launches January 7, 2025.
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