Everyone is talking about romance, and hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall are here to delve into why. Each week on Radio 831, they dig into the books, tropes, adaptations, drama, and discourse shaping the conversation, exploring what our obsession with love stories says about how we actually live. Expect genre deep-dives, expert discussions with authors and superfans, and strong opinions on everything from dark romance and age gaps to Wuthering Heights and certain Russian hockey players. Come back May 7 to tune in.

Everyone is talking about romance, and hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall are here to delve into why. Each week on Radio 831, they dig into the books, tropes, adaptations, drama, and discourse shaping the conversation, exploring what our obsession with love stories says about how we actually live. Expect genre deep-dives, expert discussions with authors and superfans, and strong opinions on everything from dark romance and age gaps to Wuthering Heights and certain Russian hockey players. Come back May 7 to tune in.

A weekly discussion of everything romance—from the novels and the tropes to the book-to-screen adaptations and, of course, the drama of it all—with hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall. Brought to you by the romance publisher 831 Stories.

A weekly discussion of everything romance&mdash;from the novels and the tropes to the book-to-screen adaptations and, of course, the drama of it all&mdash;with hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall. Brought to you by the romance publisher 831 Stories.

Radio 831: A Romance Podcast

Welcome to Radio 831: A Romance Podcast

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7057fc41-527e-4074-8324-b433011db3e8/transcript

Is it off-screen chemistry, or is it just good marketing? Hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall open with the Brett Goldstein and JLo Office Romance press tour—and what it means when a man manifests his lifelong crush into a co-starring role. Then scholar and author Nisha Sharma joins to talk about her research on dark romance and reproductive coercion, including how the genre’s relationship to consent has shifted alongside the political landscape, and whether dark romance could do better without losing what makes it so compelling. Plus: a listener voicemail sends Sanj and Tyler deep into Off Campus territory.
Office Romance starring JLo and Brett Goldstein is streaming now on Netflix—clearly we’ll be discussing.
Nisha Sharma, author of The Letters We Keep, is studying the intersection of law, politics, and culture in romance fiction. Her Substack post on dark romance and reproductive coercion tees up this episode’s conversation.
A few dark romances for discussion: Lights Out by Navessa Allen, Brynn Weaver and Allie Oleander’s work, and Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
It’s time for the Off Campus discourse! The correct answer to listener Lacey's question is Dean Di Laurentis.

Is it off-screen chemistry, or is it just good marketing? Hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall open with the Brett Goldstein and JLo Office Romance press tour&mdash;and what it means when a man manifests his lifelong crush into a co-starring role. Then scholar and author Nisha Sharma joins to talk about her research on dark romance and reproductive coercion, including how the genre&rsquo;s relationship to consent has shifted alongside the political landscape, and whether dark romance could do better without losing what makes it so compelling. Plus: a listener voicemail sends Sanj and Tyler deep into Off Campus territory.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81939823">Office Romance</a> starring JLo and Brett Goldstein is streaming now on Netflix&mdash;clearly we&rsquo;ll be discussing.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://nisha-sharma.com/">Nisha Sharma</a>, author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-letters-we-keep-nisha-sharma/c8a069dc36723e09?ean=9781662500749&amp;next=t">The Letters We Keep</a>, is studying the intersection of law, politics, and culture in romance fiction. Her <a href="https://nishawrites.substack.com/p/responsibility-reproductivity-and">Substack post</a> on dark romance and reproductive coercion tees up this episode&rsquo;s conversation.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A few dark romances for discussion: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/lights-out-a-dark-stalker-rom-com-navessa-allen/06beffea641e1662?ean=9798868999895&amp;next=t&amp;next=t&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&amp;utm_content=%7Badgroupname%7D&amp;utm_term=aud-1885352274224:dsa-19959388920&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=12440232635&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACfld41Th8R-63MR6WdisoNv9muIa&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwxITRBhBYEiwA6mZm7XhqFoxgpNrUhKvLeTJNJUXA_5icZylOOR1Gzu31hKVzPo7d9o3LfhoCgg0QAvD_BwE">Lights Out by Navessa Allen</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Brynn+Weaver">Brynn Weaver</a> and <a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Allie+Oleander">Allie Oleander</a>&rsquo;s work, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/nobody-s-baby-but-mine-susan-elizabeth-phillips/8c4cf27081e43945?ean=9780380782345&amp;next=t">Nobody&rsquo;s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">It&rsquo;s time for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Off-Campus/dp/B0GN94PJRR/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189658655254&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vt5XKEmVkeIeDKqy2nHnQFQ5iZhcG1gJdCpQZ2MXa75OQcXKs7IhNY9okSk7tLO_.xtqQBlD5F-cGamg-nlc__raTSaY7eKZ6JbdSK84E8T0&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;hvadid=790562965350&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvexpln=0&amp;hvlocphy=9004351&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvocijid=7796567031527606381--&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvrand=7796567031527606381&amp;hvtargid=kwd-110645017&amp;hydadcr=17257_13457658_1646912&amp;keywords=off+campus&amp;mcid=ea83250b628b3c44941ee4940193b2f4&amp;qid=1780457519&amp;s=movies-tv&amp;sr=1-1">Off Campus</a> discourse! The correct answer to listener Lacey's question is Dean Di Laurentis.</li>
</ul>

The J.Lo-Brett Goldstein Situation, the Dark Romance Conundrum with Nisha Sharma, and Our Thoughts on Off Campus

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a2124b67-baf1-43ff-8df9-b4650141cb71/transcript

It's a New York state of mind on Radio 831. Hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall open with a conversation about publishing cadence in romance: Why readers want to be fed constantly, what category publishing and self-pub have to do with it, and what it actually means when an author takes their time. Then Tia Williams joins to talk about her new novel, The Missed Connection, and writing New York City as a character: the specificity of neighborhoods, the weight of gentrification, and why a character's apartment is never just an apartment. Plus: Sanj and Tyler name their favorite NYC romance novels and ask for listener recs set in Chicago, L.A., etc., etc.! To share yours, leave a message at 833-831-LOVE.
Tia Williams is the author of the much-anticipated The Missed Connection (out June 9th!) as well as Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, and Audre & Bash Are Just Friends.
Favorite NYC romances! You, Again by Kate Goldbeck from Tyler and Truly by Ruthie Knox from Sanj. Honorable mentions: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, Joanna Shupe's Gilded Age historicals, and Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone.

It's a New York state of mind on Radio 831. Hosts Sanjana Basker and Tyler McCall open with a conversation about publishing cadence in romance: Why readers want to be fed constantly, what category publishing and self-pub have to do with it, and what it actually means when an author takes their time. Then Tia Williams joins to talk about her new novel, The Missed Connection, and writing New York City as a character: the specificity of neighborhoods, the weight of gentrification, and why a character's apartment is never just an apartment. Plus: Sanj and Tyler name their favorite NYC romance novels and ask for listener recs set in Chicago, L.A., etc., etc.! To share yours, leave a message at 833-831-LOVE.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.tiawilliamswrites.com/">Tia Williams</a> is the author of the much-anticipated <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-missed-connection-tia-williams/d9d6b84f51d09ab0?ean=9781538770269&amp;next=t">The Missed Connection</a> (out June 9th!) as well as <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/seven-days-in-june-tia-williams/25942e77c60f77d2?ean=9781538719091&amp;next=t">Seven Days in June</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-love-song-for-ricki-wilde-tia-williams/3f007334d7e205b3?ean=9781538726716&amp;next=t">A Love Song for Ricki Wilde</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/audre-bash-are-just-friends-tia-williams/500ff93911d2a465?ean=9780316511087&amp;next=t">Audre &amp; Bash Are Just Friends</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Favorite NYC romances!&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/you-again-a-novel-kate-goldbeck/24b5fd7b9ce7a30a?ean=9780593448120&amp;next=t">You, Again by Kate Goldbeck</a> from Tyler and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/truly-a-new-york-novel-ruthie-knox/75dfd86a2cd2f7ef?ean=9780345545268&amp;next=t">Truly by Ruthie Knox</a> from Sanj. Honorable mentions: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-last-stop-casey-mcquiston/f7f82e5cadf1a4b1?ean=9781250244499&amp;next=t">One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-lettering-a-witty-and-heartfelt-love-story-kate-clayborn/ef51959c3ed5d7f1?ean=9781496725172&amp;next=t">Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Joanna+Shupe%27s+Gilded+Age+historicals">Joanna Shupe's Gilded Age historicals</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/promise-me-sunshine-a-novel-cara-bastone/c4e5600bdb094253?ean=9780593595732&amp;next=t">Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone</a>.</li>
</ul>

Publishing Cadence, NYC Romance with Tia Williams, and Favorite Books Set in the City

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/224feec5-f7d3-4d7b-9d6f-b45d000fe583/transcript

Sanjana and Tyler open on a question that cuts across every romance subgenre: What does authenticity in world-building actually require, and when does getting it wrong take readers out of the story entirely? Sanj brings her Corn Laws knowledge and a therapist-in-training's eye; Tyler brings ten years of fashion editing and very strong opinions about brand-dropping. Then author and publisher Adriana Herrera joins to break down the Historical Trailblazers Romance Collection—the Kickstarter collaboration with Ali Hazelwood, the Fated Mates podcast, and Julia Whelan's Audiobrary to give five genre-defining historicals the special editions they deserve—and why mainstream publishing keeps selling historicals short. To close: Sanj and Tyler pitch their all-time summer reads and define what separates a summer book from an anytime book.
On world-building authenticity: the fashion-brand problem, on-page therapy sessions, and why internal consistency matters more than strict historical accuracy.
Adriana Herrera is the author of Las Leonas series and co-founder of AH² with Ali Hazelwood. The Historical Trailblazers Romance Collection features Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin, Magpie Lord by KJ Charles, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Indigo by Beverly Jenkins, and Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas.
Summer read picks: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (Tyler), The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (Sanjana), Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson (bonus!).

Sanjana and Tyler open on a question that cuts across every romance subgenre: What does authenticity in world-building actually require, and when does getting it wrong take readers out of the story entirely? Sanj brings her Corn Laws knowledge and a therapist-in-training's eye; Tyler brings ten years of fashion editing and very strong opinions about brand-dropping. Then author and publisher Adriana Herrera joins to break down the Historical Trailblazers Romance Collection&mdash;the Kickstarter collaboration with Ali Hazelwood, the Fated Mates podcast, and Julia Whelan's Audiobrary to give five genre-defining historicals the special editions they deserve&mdash;and why mainstream publishing keeps selling historicals short. To close: Sanj and Tyler pitch their all-time summer reads and define what separates a summer book from an anytime book.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">On world-building authenticity: the fashion-brand problem, on-page therapy sessions, and why internal consistency matters more than strict historical accuracy.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://adrianaherreraromance.com/">Adriana Herrera</a> is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Las+Leonas+and+Adriana+Herrera+">Las Leonas series</a> and co-founder of <a href="https://ah2romancecollections.com/">AH&sup2;</a> with Ali Hazelwood. The<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ahpublishing/historical-trailblazers-romance-collection"> Historical Trailblazers Romance Collection</a> features <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/butterfly-swords-jeannie-lin/ff234a604ede6893?ean=9781426870071&amp;next=t">Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-magpie-lord-kj-charles/4f3c579fab2ff2f0?ean=9781999784614&amp;next=t">Magpie Lord by KJ Charles</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/lord-of-scoundrels-loretta-chase/440529c8c400dd49?ean=9780380776160&amp;next=t">Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/indigo-beverly-jenkins/a6e840d72083fda2?ean=9781495368219&amp;next=t">Indigo by Beverly Jenkins</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/dreaming-of-you-lisa-kleypas/024136dc649f8185?ean=9780380773527&amp;next=t">Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Summer read picks:&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-pairing-special-1st-edition-casey-mcquiston/24982f83753ab554?ean=9781250862747&amp;next=t">The Pairing by Casey McQuiston</a> (Tyler), <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-scandal-regina-black/726d7ff25d96c702?ean=9781538722787&amp;next=t">The Art of Scandal by Regina Black</a> (Sanjana), <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/never-been-shipped-alicia-thompson/cebdd429bf818dc9?ean=9780593640951&amp;next=t">Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson</a> (bonus!).</li>
</ul>

Romance World-Building, Adriana Herrera on Historical Trailblazers, and All-Time Summer Reads

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d85463c4-3810-4dc2-842b-b456011e3c09/transcript

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