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Romance novels have long had a reputation for being flimsy, sexist, trashy bodice-rippers. But there’s lots more to the genre than meets the eye. This hour, we look at what makes romance novels work – and why so many of us are devouring them.

GUESTS: 
Olivia Waite: The New York Times Book Review’s romance fiction columnist who writes queer and historical romance, fantasy, and critical essays on the genre’s history and future
Jason Rogers: Olympic medalist, journalist covering masculinity, and the founder of a now-defunct romance book club for men
Tony Horvath: Creative director for the long-time romance-novel publisher Harlequin, where he oversees production of about 80 book covers a month

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Romance novels have long had a reputation for being flimsy, sexist, trashy bodice-rippers. But there’s lots more to the genre than meets the eye. This hour, we look at what makes romance novels work – and why so many of us are devouring them.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Olivia Waite: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/olivia-waite">The New York Times Book Review</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/olivia-waite">’s romance fiction columnist</a> who <a href="https://www.oliviawaite.com/books">writes</a> queer and historical romance, fantasy, and critical essays on the genre’s history and future</li>
<li>Jason Rogers: Olympic medalist, journalist covering masculinity, and the founder of a now-defunct romance book club for men</li>
<li>Tony Horvath: Creative director for the long-time romance-novel publisher <a href="https://www.harlequin.com/shop/index.html">Harlequin</a>, where he oversees production of about 80 book covers a month</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

We ❤️ romance novels

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As the you sit contemplating the end of long summer days, you might find yourself wondering: what was the song of the summer? And what should have been?

To help fill that void in your life, Colin sits down with technical producer Dylan Reyes to form the public radio supergroup CG/WLM (cranky guys who like music) and talk about what they’re listening to and what song they think should have won the season.

GUEST:
Dylan Reyes: Technical producer, assistant director of radio operations at Connecticut Public

Music featured (in order):
Bet on U – CHUNG HA, Anderson .Paa
King James – Anderson .Paak
Silk Sonic Intro – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Miss Mango – Laila!
Red Shoes – Maggie Rose
It’s A Beautiful Life – Francis of Delirium
Illusion – Leon Bridges
Waiting – Beth Orton
If I Let You – The Womack Sisters
side slider – Isaia Huron
Sirius – Katherine Priddy

As the you sit contemplating the end of long summer days, you might find yourself wondering: what was the song of the summer? And what should have been?
To help fill that void in your life, Colin sits down with technical producer Dylan Reyes to form the public radio supergroup CG/WLM (cranky guys who like music) and talk about what they&rsquo;re listening to and what song they think should have won the season.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Dylan Reyes:&nbsp;Technical producer, assistant director of radio operations at Connecticut Public</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/p0I5gVUxzdA">Bet on U</a>&nbsp;&ndash; CHUNG HA, Anderson .Paa</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IDmv0MoxR8">King James</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Anderson .Paak</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/xA5hlB6bScc">Silk Sonic Intro</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oucvXV7uqdM">Miss Mango</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Laila!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWul49P-a_k">Red Shoes</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Maggie Rose</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p26AG6N1TQ0">It&rsquo;s A Beautiful Life</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Francis of Delirium</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWS0z8XoRlY">Illusion</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Leon Bridges</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvMExHWwo8">Waiting</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Beth Orton</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhFBYQG8Xg4">If I Let You</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Womack Sisters</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7SMiqw6yaQ">side slider</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Isaia Huron</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5OkDsykYoo">Sirius</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Katherine Priddy</li>
</ul>

Colin and Dylan tell you what the song of the summer should have been

We are now looking at our own faces more than ever before, thanks to mirrors, selfies, Zoom, and social media. This hour, we explore how our relationship with our faces has changed. Plus, a look at the rise of facial recognition technology, from your phone to security cameras. And we talk with an artist about what it means to paint faces.

GUESTS:
Cal Revely-Calder: Writer and Literary Editor of The Telegraph
Kashmir Hill: Journalist at The New York Times and author of Your Face Belongs to Us
Jessica Helfand: Artist and writer. She is the author of Face: A Visual Odyssey

Music featured (in order):
Put On A Happy Face – Dick Van Dyke (Bye Bye Birdie OBC)
Look at That Face – Sammy Davis Jr.
My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) – Carolyn Crawford
I’ve Just Seen A Face – The Beatles
Smiling Faces Sometimes – The Undisputed Truth
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Andrew Bird, Alan Hampton

We are now looking at our own faces more than ever before, thanks to mirrors, selfies, Zoom, and social media. This hour, we explore how our relationship with our faces has changed. Plus, a look at the rise of facial recognition technology, from your phone to security cameras. And we talk with an artist about what it means to paint faces.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Cal Revely-Calder:&nbsp;Writer and Literary Editor of&nbsp;The Telegraph</li>
<li>Kashmir Hill:&nbsp;Journalist at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/kashmir-hill">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kashmirhill.com/book">Your Face Belongs to Us</a></li>
<li>Jessica Helfand:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jessicahelfand.com/">Artist</a>&nbsp;and writer. She is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jessicahelfand.com/video/face-trailer">Face: A Visual Odyssey</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/wDNqWdwrr-c">Put On A Happy Face</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Dick Van Dyke (Bye Bye Birdie OBC)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1duVuv4DeRw">Look at That Face</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Sammy Davis Jr.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnRVIr2MJg">My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Carolyn Crawford</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/m8LbJfC0SYM">I&rsquo;ve Just Seen A Face</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Beatles</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo1DxtI73SE">Smiling Faces Sometimes</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Undisputed Truth</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXvzMfBN-Q">I&rsquo;ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Andrew Bird, Alan Hampton</li>
</ul>

Selfies, Zoom, facial recognition... Our faces are everywhere and it's changing us

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.

GUESTS:


Julie Beck: Staff writer at The Atlantic and the creator of “The Friendship Files”


Tricia Wachtendorf: Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11


Daniel Cueto-Villalobos: Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota


Maxwell King: Author of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers. His new book is Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 4, 2026.

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Julie Beck: Staff writer at <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/julie-beck/">The Atlantic</a> and the creator of &ldquo;The Friendship Files&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Tricia Wachtendorf: Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cc2mvh">American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11</a>
</li>
<li>
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos: Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota
</li>
<li>
Maxwell King: Author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38656999-the-good-neighbor">The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers</a>. His new book is <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Fire-in-the-Night-Sky/Maxwell-King/9781493092291">Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson</a>
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to&nbsp;The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by&nbsp;The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 4, 2026.

We ❤️ romance novels

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