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In this episode of Zipless, Allie Martina dives deep into what truly makes someone sexy—and spoiler alert: it’s not six-pack abs or a perfect pout.

Host Allie opens with a provocative reading from Erica Jong’s essay “What Is Sex Appeal?”, from her book What Do Women Want, exploring how true eroticism lives far beyond perfect bodies. She reflects on the mystery, yearning, and subtle gestures that ignite real desire.

From there, things get intimate and a bit sarcastic as voice actor Gideon Frost joins Allie for a reading from Olivia Dade’s upcoming romcom, Zomromcom. Think zombie attacks, soggy coveralls, macramé underwear, and a hero determined to keep a fiercely independent love interest warm and dry—a swoon-worthy mix of humor and vulnerability.

The heart of this episode is Allie’s interview with bestselling author Olivia Dade. They talk about why romcoms became lifelines during COVID, how readers crave both light stories and darker, angstier reads, and how Olivia’s personal journey with isolation, perfectionism, and depression shapes her books.

One of the most moving moments arrives as Olivia shares how her own struggles with depression inspired a deeply intimate bath scene in At First Spite. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most erotic, vulnerable moments have nothing to do with sex—and everything to do with being cared for when you feel most broken.

Olivia discusses writing Zomromcom as a joyful pivot—a chance to lean into laughter while still weaving in themes of connection, heroism, and love. And she talks about her unwavering commitment to writing fat heroines and heroes who get the full romance treatment: lust, longing, and happily-ever-afters.

“Romance isn’t just sex—it’s about being known. And knowing someone else deeply—that’s love.” — Olivia Dade

Whether you’re here for zombies, burritos used as weapons, or deep discussions about body positivity, this episode is one not to miss.

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Episode Highlights:

- Why true sex appeal lives in mystery and imagination

- How vulnerability creates intimacy deeper than sex

- Olivia Dade’s personal inspirations behind her most poignant scenes

- Writing humor as a balm for hard times

- Body diversity in romance and why it matters

- A fun reading from Zomromcom that’s as spicy as it is sweet

Books Mentioned on Audio:

• Zomromcom (preorder)— Olivia Dade (out August 5th)
• Spoiler Alert — Olivia Dade
• Shipwrecked — Olivia Dade
• At First Spite — Olivia Dade

Books Mentioned in Paperback:

• Zomromcom (preorder)— Olivia Dade (out August 5th)
• Spoiler Alert — Olivia Dade
• Shipwrecked — Olivia Dade
• At First Spite — Olivia Dade
• What Do Women Want? — Erica Jong

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Reading from Erica Jong’s essay, “What is Sex Appeal”

02:38 – Defining Real Sex Appeal

04:16 – Themes of Today’s Episode

10:18 – Interview with Olivia Dade

27:33 – Switching to Joyful Writing

28:43 – Leaning into Humor

29:12 – Writing with a Friend

30:18 – Reading a Scene from Zomromcom

37:12 – Creating Vivid Worlds

40:47 – Body Positive Representation in Romance

47:06 – Reader’s Perspective on Plus-Size Romance

49:20 – Closing Remarks and Credits

Listen wherever you get your podcasts! 

Connect with Zipless on Instagram @ziplesspodcast.

Visit ZiplessPodcast.com for more info.

About Olivia Dade:
Olivia Dade is the bestselling author of romantic comedies including Spoiler Alert, Shipwrecked, At First Spite, and the upcoming Zomromcom. Known for her witty dialogue, heartfelt storytelling, and commitment to body-positive representation, Olivia writes love stories where every character—no matter their size—is worthy of desire and a happily-ever-after.

Love is love.  But sometimes your first love makes your heart beat fastest.  Ashley Herring Blake joins us to talk about her latest book Dream On, Ramona Riley; first dates, first kisses, and how the most romantic stories are born when lovers are true to themselves.

Whether it's through words or wands, falling in love and sharing the burdens of life with someone you love and trust is a power we all wish to possess.  Romantasy author LJ Andrews joins us to talk about how the fight for romance - spoken or otherwise - is always magic.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.