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It’s time for part two of our Transmigration and Isekai discussion with the incredibly knowledgeable Liliana, host of the Tea and Soju Podcast.  We wouldn’t be doing our due diligence if we didn’t consider how romance, relationships, and frequently inevitable heartbreak often steal the show when isekai and romance get together.  We also share some of our very favorite examples, and then close out the episode by theorizing what kind of transmigration story we’d be most likely to land in. Many thanks to our pinch-hitter editor, Jordan, who handled this episode! Plus, Spotify users, vote on our poll to help us decided on our next episode. (Non-Spotify users can let us know what you think on Instagram.) Episode was recorded November 8, 2025 Show Notes: ​Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Three Years of Tea and Soju: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZQll2XXKjIL3JkHpet1KL?si=b0ba3bd2f7be486e⁠Love in the Clouds review on Tea and Soju: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/69FceiqgaLKDwbEdwq1VIr?si=sLptb2gPTbu6WyCAww6GaQOther lit mentioned this episode: The Romance of Tiger and Rose, Joy of Life (CDrama), Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! (Cdrama), Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir (Webnovel), The Princess Royal.The Grand Princess (Cdrama), Blossom (CDrama), Till the End of the Moon (CDrama), The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Mr. Queen (KDrama), Go Princess Go (CDrama), Love Hina, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom, Scarlet Heart (CDrama), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (Kdrama), A Dream Within a Dream (CDrama), When Destiny Brings the Demon (CDeama), Zenshu, Long Live Evil and All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan, Extraordinary You, Moby Dick, The Story of Kunning Palace (CDrama) Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes (usually) drop the last Friday of the month.

Get ready for some hot takes from your SLL girlies!  In the first of two episodes, we’re joined by the host of the Tea and Soju Podcast and friend of the show, Liliana, to talk all things transmigration and isekai. Don’t know what that means? We’ve got you covered! We start out by identifying the defining features of these culturally specific genres and name drop some of our favorite examples. We also debate the difference–if there is one–between isekai and portal fantasy, in which Ayanni definitely gets in her grumpy anime auntie bag. Many thanks to our pinch-hitter editor, Jordan, who handled this episode! Episode was recorded November 8, 2025 Show Notes: ​Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Three Years of Tea and Soju: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZQll2XXKjIL3JkHpet1KL?si=b0ba3bd2f7be486eLove in the Clouds review on Tea and Soju: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69FceiqgaLKDwbEdwq1VIr?si=sLptb2gPTbu6WyCAww6GaQ Other lit mentioned this episode: Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, NoSleep4Dramas Podcast, May I Ask for One Final Thing, Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede, Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, Love in the Clouds (CDrama), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, A Dream Within a Dream (CDrama), The Romance of Tiger and Rose (CDrama), Alice in Wonderland, Spirited Away, Magic Knight Rayearth, Prince Caspian, Oshi No Ko, Till the End of the Moon (CDrama), When Destiny Brings the Demon (CDrama), Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo (K and CDrama), How Dare You (Chinese Animation), Anne of Green Gables, Blossom (Cdrama), Uncle from Another World Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes (usually) drop the last Friday of the month.

The final installment of our deep dive into R. F. Kuang’s Katabasis is finally here!! Even three episodes in, we somehow still have more to say about this dark academic journey to hell.  Corinne flexes her academic muscles in a conversation about consent in fantasy (and academic reality). Then we wrap up by turning to the book’s ending and our feelings about Alice and Peter's relationship. As a bit of a content warning, Katabasis deals with abuse and suicidal ideation. Because these themes are pretty central to the novel, we won’t be able to provide specific timecodes for when it comes up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in. Many thanks to our pinch-hitter editor, Jordan, who handled this episode! Episode was recorded October 19, 2025 Show Notes: ​Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Review's episode about prestige: Other lit mentioned this episode: Tess of the Road On Future SLL Episodes: Isekai and Transmigration Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Episode two of our Katabasis deep dive is finally here! For some reason, we start the first of our spoiler-filled episodes with a sports metaphor before grumbling about Alice and Peter as academic types with whom we are quite familiar (and spoiler alert, we don’t like them). We also consider Kuang’s construction of hell as a university–but with the pretty clear argument that salvation is definitely not a dissertation. As a bit of a content warning, Katabasis deals with abuse and suicidal ideation. Because these themes are pretty central to the novel, we won’t be able to provide specific timecodes for when it comes up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in. Many thanks to our pinch-hitter editor, Jordan, who handled this episode! (Look at us, using another sports metaphor.) What's Sparking Joy this episode: N.Flying & Heyley Williams Episode was recorded October 19, 2025 Show Notes: ​Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠​Check out the Under Review Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/under-review/id1616708064 Other lit mentioned this episode: Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Under Review Podcast On Future SLL Episodes: Isekai and Transmigration Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

After a long wait, we're really excited that Yumi's Cells Season 3 is finally here! In this mini-episode (a return of La Petit's perhaps?), we briefly chat about the Kdrama, what our prime cell would be, and what we're excited to see this season. (You can watch Yumi's Cells on Viki!) Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Other lit mentioned this episode: Inside Out, Cells at Work Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Hi y'all! We're popping in here to give you all a quick update about why we've on an impromptu hiatus since October (hint: it's Ayanni's fault lol, but you might not guess why 👀) and provide an update on the rest of our Katabasis conversation, plus the great chat we had with Liliana from Tea and Soju Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/26MG5cR9if00QcJrZgTNmq) about Transmigration & Isekai as a genre. As a treat, we do a rapid fire round of What's Sparking Joy for us in the moment. To no one's surprise, it's a lot of CDramas, anime, and KPop. See y'all again soon!! Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Happy Halloween!! This episode, we join Alice and Peter, two PhD Students in Magick studies, as they journey to hell to save their advisor in R.F. Kuang’s new fantasy novel Katabasis. We start off spoiler free in this first of three episodes with our initial reactions, thoughts on pretentiousness in relation to academic prestige and precarity, and who we ultimately think this book is for. As a bit of a content warning, Katabasis deals with abuse and suicidal ideation. Because these themes are pretty central to the novel, we won’t be able to provide specific timecodes for when it comes up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in. What's Sparking Joy this episode: Silent Hill f and Love in the Cloud Episode was recorded October 19, 2025 Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Corinne on Afternoona Asks: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/till-the-end-of-the-moon-deep-dive/id1698849342?i=1000729479718A little about the concerns around Lewis Carroll: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/articles/understanding-concerns-about-lewis-carroll/Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠Listen to our episode on Hadestown: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/ep40-hadestown/https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/ep40-hadestown/ Other lit mentioned this episode: His Dark Materials, Hadestown, The Wasteland by T S Elliot, Dante's Inferno, Alice in Wonderland, The Stormlight Archive, Witch Hat Atelier, A Discovery of Witches On Future SLL Episodes: Isekai and Transmigration, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Welcome to the second half of our discussion on the Hulu dramedy, Dying for Sex.   In this episode, we get into the details about Molly’s sexual escapades as well as the other important relationships that balance out her life, especially with her friend and caretaker Nikki.  Content warning: Dying for Sex deals with terminal illness and trauma related to sexual assault. Because these themes are so woven into the show, we won’t be able to provide specific time codes for when they come up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in.  What's Sparking Joy this episode: Twin and Like Jennie by Jennie, Saving Flowers by Rina Sawayama and salute Episode was recorded April 20th, 2025 Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠Alumna Q&A: Mgbechi Ugonna Erondu: https://alumni.medicine.uiowa.edu/news/2025/04/alumna-qa-mgbechi-ugonna-erondu-17md Other lit mentioned this episode: Hit the Spot (Fanta G Spot), A Fault in Our Stars On Future SLL Episodes: Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

BLACKPINK was in our area and we couldn't _not_ tell y'all all about it. Sharing the same recording space for the first time, we chat about everything we loved about being part of the sea of Blinks to sing with, dance to, and cheer on Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé. Note: We used a different set up this time, so the sound is a little less crisp than we'd like 😩 but still worth it to record together 💛Episode was recorded July 27th, 2025 Show Notes: ​Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠​Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Dying for Sex part 2 (on Hulu), Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Mirror, mirror on my phone, who's the baddest? (Us, hello?) This episode, we are joined by a very special guest, Audrey Hall, to talk about the Netflix animated film, KPop Demon Hunters! We get into productive intersection of idoldom and demon hunting that allows the film to explore internalized–and externalized–shame, particularly through the romance of Rumi, the leader of  KPop group Huntr/x and Jinu, our kpop demon boy.  (Because no discussion of KPop Demon Hunters would be complete without a little consideration of sexy demons.) What's Sparking Joy this episode: The Law According to Lidia Poet (Netflix), K-Pop concerts, BTS's return Episode was recorded July 4th, 2025 Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠Check out Audrey's Poetry!: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:7suo4ius6oeyzjt3jttcwjo5 & https://www.instagram.com/audreyy8771/Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠⁠Concept Art of Rumi's Mom: https://www.tumblr.com/sexlovelitpodcast/788116129167065088Concept Art of the Saja Boys: https://www.tumblr.com/sunshine-of-rebellion/787102616182308864/new-saja-boys-concept-art-just-dropped-and-youBTS "Pied Piper" MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5CFyri4dLgF.D. Signifier's "Beyonce is Everything" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1-bigFD3E8 Other lit mentioned this episode: The Mitchells Vs the Machines, Spider-verse, Castlevania, Lost You Forever Check out SLL Live in 2025: July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Dying for Sex part 2 (on Hulu), Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Back after a mini, unexpected hiatus, we’ve got a new hot-and-ready episode for you! Prepare yourselves because we’re about to get deep in our feelings as we begin our discussion on the show Dying for Sex starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, and Rob Delaney. In this first of two episodes, we start off with our initial, non-spoilery reactions, think about how the show works from a genre and form perspective, and maybe rant a little about why one of the characters really sucks.  Content warning: Dying for Sex deals with terminal illness and trauma related to SA. Because these themes are so woven into the show, we won’t be able to provide specific timecodes for when they come up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in.  What's Sparking Joy this episode: Sinners and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Crunchyroll, Netflix) Episode was recorded April 20th, 2025 Show Notes: Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠The Dying for Sex Podcast: wondery.fm/DyingForSex Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557⁠ Other lit mentioned this episode: Lost You Forever, The Fault in Our Stars, Fanta G Spot (Hit the Spot) K-drama Check out SLL Live in 2025: July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Dying for Sex part 2 (on Hulu), Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

We’re taking a trip back in time this episode to do a deep dive on the classic fairy tale retelling, Ever After: A Cinderella Story. We consider what makes something a Cinderella story and how Ever After maps onto those criteria; our reactions to the main romance; and the tour de force performance that is Angelica Huston as the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent. What's Sparking Joy this episode: The Residence on Netflix, Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, and "The Hills of Tanchico" from The Wheel of Time season 3. CW: Brief mention of the potential of SA from (1:14:58-1:15:10) Show Notes: Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes April 30th, 2025: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8⁠⁠Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠Linda Holmes's "A Girl, A Show, A Prince": https://www.npr.org/2015/03/13/392358854/a-girl-a-shoe-a-prince-the-endlessly-evolving-cinderella"The Hills of Tanchico" Clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIANPQJSAet/?igsh=MWhoczk0aHl4ZW92Zw==Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557 Other lit mentioned this episode: The Little Mermaid, Cinderelle, Spiceworld, Prince of Persia, The Great Check out SLL Live in 2025: April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Dying for Sex (on Hulu), Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

We recorded a thicc episode for you this month with our special guest Sarah, one of the hosts of the podcast Afternoona Asks! Together, we get into the nitty-gritty of red flag and green flag characters and cover a lot of ground: from what makes a red flag red and a green flag green, to the surprising gender dynamics of “flagging” characters at all. Along the way, we mention a lot of our favorite love interests, including Baek Seon of When the Phone Rings, Mr. Gu of My Liberation Notes, Captain Ri of gateway KDrama Crash Landing on You, and many, many more.  (If you want an SLL drinking game, take a sip every time Ayanni says "interesting" 🙃) CW: Mention of SA and r*pe from (15:13-15:58) Show Notes: Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes April 30th, 2025: ⁠https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8⁠Support us on Ko-Fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcastFollow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdramathis/Listen to Afternoona Asks: https://www.afternoonaasks.com/https://www.afternoonaasks.com/ Lit discussed this episode: Crash Landing on You, Taxi Driver Two, Love Like the Galaxy, My Liberation Notes, Twilight, Love Between Fairy and Devil, When the Phone Rings, A Sign of Affection, My Dearest, The First Frost, Blossom, Love Scout, See You in My 19th Life, True Beauty, Mickey 17, Future Diary, Lose You Forever, Just Between Lovers, Or Rain or Shine, Goodbye My Princess, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, Motel California, Lovestruck in the City, One Spring Night, Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food, Love Next Door, DP, Connect, Prison Playbook, Flower of Evil, Mr. Sunshine, Hospital Playlist, Reply 1994, The Slime Has Left Your Eyes, Doom At Your Service, Shopaholic King Louis, Yumi Cells, Little Women, Extraordinary Attorney Woo Some Choice Afternoona Asks Episodes The History and Culture of South Korean Protest with Charles Kim - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/2932457d/the-history-and-culture-of-south-korean-protest-with-charles-kim (Check out Dr. Kim's book - https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/youth-for-nation-culture-and-protest-in-cold-war-south-korea/)The Shocking Burning Sun Scandal - Interview with Chloe Hadjimatheou - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/1c7b49eb/the-shocking-burning-sun-scandal-interview-with-chloe-hadjimatheou (Find Chloe Hadjimatheou's podcast here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n9kv)Heartriders Unite! All About the Fallen for Seo In Guk US Fan Meets - https://www.afternoonaasks.com/podcast/episode/5bf07d2e/heartriders-unite-all-about-the-fallen-for-seo-in-guk-us-fan-meets Check out SLL Live in 2025: April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Ever After and Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

It's time for our annual SLL tradition of rounding up the pop culture of the previous year! We start with what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in February,  our favorites of 2024, and what we’re looking forward to in 2025. As a treat, Corinne's snark levels were very high this episode (lol). CW: Brief mention of S*icide from (1:06:51-1:06:54) Show Notes: Take the SLL Audience Survey! Closes March 28th, 2025: https://forms.gle/AJhFuMDzjSZeTE1f8 Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast Check out Corinne's 2024 drama round ups on Tumblr: Korean Dramas: https://www.tumblr.com/starcrossed591/770716418956312576/kdrama-year-in-review-2024?source=share Chinese Dramas: https://www.tumblr.com/starcrossed591/771029764525916160/cdrama-year-in-review-2024?source=share Lit Mentioned By Section: What's Sparking Joy Feb 2025: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater, and My Old Ass Joy Sparked in 2024 - Yoga with Kassandra (https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithkassandra), Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, My Sweet Mobster (KDrama), As If Love Does Not Exist (Webtoon), Blossom (CDrama), Kaos, True Detective (Season 4), Someone to Build a Nest In by John Wiswell, Poor Things, Challengers, Build Mama a Coffin: An Old Gods of Appalachia story (https://www.oldgodsofappalachia.com/episodes/2020-02-06/build-mama-a-coffin-trailer/202002061153231909) Joy Sparked in 2024, Deep Dives - Lovely Runner (KDrama),The Princess Royal (CDrama), Look Back, Flow, Nosferatu (2024) Future Joy Sparked in 2025: Back After This by Linda Holmes, Wheel of Time (Season 3), Witch Hat Atelier anime, Sinners Others: Extraordinary You, Goblin, Romance of Tiger and Rose, Love Like the Galaxy, Flourished Peony, Abbott Elementary, Blue Box, My Happy Marriage, Apothecary Diaries, Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Marry My Husband, The Wild Robot Check out SLL Live in 2025: April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, and Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcast⁠ Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.

Joined once again by our younger siblings, Erin and Akinde, we dive right into Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury spoilers in part two of our discussion. To kick things off, we start with our complicated feelings on main character Feyre. We also ask the hard hitting questions, like: are these sex scenes sexy? Why is there so much growling? And what would actually happen if the wings of the Illyrians were really that sensitive? As a heads up for people who adore these books: we’re not here to kill your vibe! Still, while we do appreciate a lot of what Maas is doing, as well as her wider influence on pop culture, we do have some bones to pick. Also, we drop a few spoilers for some of the later books, so if you care about spoilers for books 3, 4 or 5, please be forewarned! Sorry for the delay on this one, folks! January was a month...but we left a treat for you at the end of this episode to make up for it. Show Notes: What's Sparking Joy (music edition): "Guess" by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish; Sable by Bon Iver; Keeping Company by Bill Laurance and Michael League; Rosie by Rosé; "Symptom of Life" by Willow; "Otokonoke" by Creepy Nuts. Listen to these (and other) songs that have sparked joy on our Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=TA6c98XGQ2acsAC83BVfPA Other lit discussed this episode: Twilight & Fourth Wing The first ACOTAR episode: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/e52-sarah-j-maas-romantasy-and-introducing-acotar-part-1-spoiler-free-theyre-fairies-and-the/ Correction: our yearly pop culture roundup will be recorded and posted in February, based on feedback from listeners. Check out SLL Live in 2025: April 2025 - Romance in CNY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://romanceincny.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ July 2025 - RomantiConn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.romanticonn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ On Future SLL Episodes: What's Sparking Joy: 2024 Pop Culture Roundup, Strangers Again, Let's Get Divorced, and Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SexLoveLitPodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). TheSLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US. ACOTAR synopsis background music is "Nice Surprise" from Purple Planet Music (www.purple-planet.com). Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.