Confessions of a Closet Romantic
Welcome to Confessions of a Closet Romantic, a sweet and sexy show highlighting the smartest, most engaging romantic stories on the big and small screen — sometimes books— that share a common takeaway.
I'm a writer, former film student and book reviewer who has loved romance forever — those hopeful, heartwarming and dramatic stories about sex, romance, connection and love. I've always felt shamed for loving this genre, but not anymore!
Every two weeks, I'll be your ridiculously enthusiastic, gushing, affectionate companion as we explore a diverse range of sexy, compelling love stories. Romance lovers, never feel shame, and never watch alone! Join me!
Episodes
118 episodes
Romance Replay: Second Chance Romance with Dr. J
(I'll be taking a break in the next few weeks for my sweetie's extended visit!)Seeking hot, healthy sex and love later in life is quite the adventure, as I have discovered. It helps to have a compassionate, wise guide for the ...
•
24:22
Expecting Love and Miracles
The new Amy Schumer romcom Kinda Pregnant follows how far one woman will go to realize her fantasy of motherhood and a family of her own. After her best friend gets pregnant and tired of waiting for her own moment, she decides to wear a fake ba...
•
19:25
House Love: No Good Deed
(Some clips in this episode have minor spoilers). Oh I love a tone like this: funny, smart but also emotional, dark and dramatic: let's call it an American-neurotic cozy murder mystery. There is a mystery at the heart of this show, ...
•
18:57
Bittersweet British Holidays: Last Christmas/This Is Christmas/That Christmas
(I'll be taking a brief break in January – see you next year!)There's a unique flavor to British romcoms and especially British romantic holiday movies: a dash of vinegar mixed in with the sugar and spice, a grounding bite to the pr...
•
31:16
The Grace of Love: Dan in Real Life
The world can be harsh place, but the grace of love — familial, chosen family, platonic and especially intimate and romantic love — always helps you through. It's a gift that keeps on giving and keeps you going, so let's be grateful for w...
•
26:30
Holiday Harmony: Meet Me Next Christmas
Who doesn't love a romantic meet cute? Who doesn't love a double meet cute, a story about fate, searching for the one — when the real one is right under your nose? Add a great script, good banter, two lead characters to root for from the fi...
•
18:51
Spellbound: Practical Magic/The Love Witch
It's the season: bring on the witchy energy. These movies could be called dark romcoms, because they center romantic love in their plots, and they're often funny, but it's a corrupted or disappointing love, with witches as the main characters s...
•
32:26
Quick Take: Challengers
It took me a long time to check out this sport romance, but to say I was knocked over by this inventive, dramatic, erotic story is an understatement. It's about a threesome, a love triangle, sport prodigies, early promise, the pursuit of excell...
•
17:22
Faith in Love: Nobody Wants This
Mismatched family cultures, personal values and beliefs: most romantic couples can relate. The sexy atheist and the hot rabbi at the center of this funny and often deep and touching fish out of water romcom dodge devastating zingers, doubtful f...
•
23:47
Romcom Parody: They Came Together/Isn't It Romantic
(I'm taking a little break over the next few weeks because my sweetie is coming to visit! See you in October).This month, I'm celebrating the fourth anniversary of my podcast! After more than 100 episodes, I had sunk into a tiny romance...
•
33:31
Romantic Replay: Cyrano
I've been feeling a bit under the weather, while also preparing for my sweetie's upcoming visit (a much longer visit this time), and my heart's full of romance and thoughts about when we first fell in love. So it's the perfect time to rep...
•
37:31
All the Single Ladies: Love and Independence
Being single — whether it's a temporary identity or permanent — is valid life choice, but it doesn't often feel that way in our society. Living a romantic life can mean being part of a couple, and also includes being unpartnered, child free, pa...
•
37:29
Romance Replay: How to Build a Sex Room
The 4th anniversary of the show is coming up, and I have learned so much about myself and my desires while making this podcast. I appreciate every listener, and also feel so grateful for the journey I've been on, taking a closer look at some of...
•
18:29
Hot Romcom Mamas: The Idea of You/Mother of the Bride/A Family Affair
I'm child free but Anne Hathaway, Brooke Shields and Nicole Kidman are the hottest of hot mamas in these romcoms, and make motherhood look like living your best life on steroids. It's a difficult enough job without worrying if you qualify for t...
•
29:17
Romance Replay: LGBTQ Love
Let's close out Pride Month with a replay of my episode about two amazing LGBTQ screen romances: the romantic drama Supernova, and the gleeful musical about teen love, The Prom. Prepare for snotty crying, then bopping in your chair.
•
22:05
Girl Crush: Bottoms/Booksmart/The Half of It
Hey romance friends! Let's celebrate Pride Month with a trio of smart, funny, quirky movies about queer girl crushes on high school classmates. Classmates to lovers is one of the most popular romantic tropes ever, and these movies have quite th...
•
37:04
The Romantic Awakening of Don Jon
A romcom where a main character is addicted to porn? That's just the beginning of this amazing character study, written, directed by and starring Joseph Gordon Levitt. Jon is a difficult man to admire: he's a dishonest womanizer, marinated in h...
•
30:46
Quick Take: Bridgerton Season 3
It's been a couple of years, a hot minute since we spent time with the Bridgerton and Featherington families. If this was real life, every single woman in the Ton would now be a confirmed spinster, but fortunately, in this glittering roma...
•
20:36
Love and Taylor Swift
Romance friends! I'm celebrating my 100th episode this week with an indulgent deep dive into the tear-stained emotion, blind love and delicious word play in Taylor Swift songs. My romance friend Mariah, a Swiftie from way back, returns to the s...
•
33:58
Serial Romantic: This is Me Now: a Love Story
I'm a J Lo fangirl from way back, and even though the title of her narrative concept film based on the album of the same name seemed ridiculously self-absorbed, I got completely transported by it anyway, because...J Lo. It's not just the story ...
•
25:33
Romance Replay: Second Chance Romance
I have the sweetest hangover that I don't want to get over. My first ever visit with my long-distance sweetie was amazing, he's already gone home, and we're already planning our next visit. I'm exhausted, but in the very best way, so I bring yo...
•
30:27
Long Distance Romance: Going the Distance/What Happens Later
I'm meeting my LDR sweetie for the first time this week, after more than a year of online dating, and excited doesn't begin to cover it. Humans are spread out all over the globe yet hyper connected, so many of us will experience a long distance...
•
29:29
Spirituality and Desire: Black Narcissus
I'm a classic film nut, and there's no better example of overblown, dramatic and romantic Hollywood storytelling than the movie Black Narcissus, starring Deborah Kerr. Based on the 1930s Rumer Godden novel, it’s a story that shows how women thr...
•
46:39