Episodes 21
Avg. Duration 40m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (18)
Since Dec 2024
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
50%
Hosting
rss.libsyn.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

A (sometimes spicy) podcast for romance lovers and listeners. Women have been reading and writing about romance for centuries. But what was once considered a scandalous and secretive pastime, the romance novel has now burst proudly onto the open market. In fact, romance novels account for nearly a quarter of all adult print fiction sold in the United States. And with more and more women listening to romance books, it also matters how these books sound. Hosted by Allie Martina, a professional romance novel narrator, Zipless explores how the language of romance is shaped by writers and narrators, and asks 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? Can narration, depth of a male voice, or cadence in artistic performance affect a romantic scene? 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? In interviews with bestselling romance authors including Evie Dunmore, Sara Cate, Sierra Simone, Stephanie Archer, Xio Axelrod, and more, Zipless explores how romance novels change and reflect women's lives on and off the page. And in one-of-a-kind cameos appearances, professional actor and romance novel narrator Gideon Frost joins Allie in exploring how performance, delivery, and the language of romance can impact the hearts and minds of an audience. For more information about the show, guests, and forums to share your thoughts, go to ziplesspodcast.com Zipless is produced by Allie Martina and Jill Ruby. Listener discretion advised.

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Recent Episodes

Ep. 17: "A Little Buzzed: Exploring Self-Love with Alys Murray

Mar 03, 2026 34m

With toys, boys, me-time, and a few extra batteries, Alys Murray joins us to talk about her latest rom-com A Little Buzzed and to celebrate love in all forms.

Our Valentine to You

Feb 14, 2026 7m

In this special episode Allie and Gideon narrate an original meet-cute to life written by Kate Cole as a love letter to romance lovers and listeners everywhere. Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo Zipless

Ep. 16: Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are the Queens of Christmas Spice

Dec 02, 2025 51m

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are best friends who realllly know how to celebrate Christmas - and each other. Writing partners for over a decade, Julie and Sierra join us to talk about late night…

Ep. 15: Rock Star Romance with Kate Golden

Nov 04, 2025 45m

Slow burn? Smooth voice? Stealing flirty glances in front of a crowd of thousands? Yes, please! And then I'll take an encore. Kate Golden, author of If Not For My Baby, joins us to talk about her new…

Ep. 14: Latine Love and Rebellion with Liana De La Rosa

Oct 07, 2025 35m

In her Luna Sisters series, USA Today bestselling author Liana De La Rosa turns Victorian England on its head infusing it with Mexican history and fierce women who rewrite the rules of love. Liana…

Zipless Nominated for a Signal Award!

Oct 06, 2025 1m Bonus

Help Zipless win a Signal Award! We're finalists in the Conversation Starter category and up for the Listener's Choice Award. Vote by the EOD on Wednedsay, October 8, 2025 at vote.signalaward.com:…

Ep. 13: The Hunting Wives: One-on-One with Author May Cobb

Sep 02, 2025 40m

Netflix's summer blockbuster series The Hunting Wives has captivated audiences on screen but its roots are on the page. May Cobb, bestselling author of sultry suspense novels including The Hunting…

Ep. 12: Cracking the Code of Romance Novels with Jayne Ann Krentz

Aug 05, 2025 44m

"The language of romance has a code." Jayne Ann Krentz, who also writes under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, has written over a hundred romance novels - more than 50 of which have been…

Ep. 11: Seeking Intimacy and Hiding from Zombies: Reading Romance with Olivia Dade

Jul 01, 2025 50m

Love, laughter, and... zombies? Romance covers a wide range of genres, but what connects them all is an underlying yearning for friendship and intimacy. Author Olivia Dade joins us to talk about her…

Ep. 10: Dream On: Exploring Sapphic Romance with Ashley Herring Blake

Jun 10, 2025 46m

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…

Ep. 9: Power and Passion: Romantasy with LJ Andrews

Apr 29, 2025 38m

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…

Ep. 8: Fantasy vs Reality? Finding Balance with Xio Axelrod

Apr 15, 2025 33m

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…

Ep. 7: Wanted: Tall, Dark, and Handsome

Apr 01, 2025 30m

If the saying "love is blind" is true, then why are most of the men in romance novels hot, ripped, and over 6 feet tall? Allie and fellow romance novel narrator (and Zipless male-voice-in-residence)…

Ep. 6: Fears and Tears: Crafting Dark Survivor Romance with Jennifer Hartmann and Chelley St Clair

Mar 18, 2025 48m

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…

Ep. 5: Zipless Live! at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY

Mar 04, 2025 35m

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…

Coming Soon: Zipless Live at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY

Feb 24, 2025 2m

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…

Ep. 4: Bad Boys and Book Boyfriends with Stephanie Archer

Feb 18, 2025 38m

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…

Ep. 3: Fantasies and F-bombs: Breaking the Rules with Sierra Simone

Feb 04, 2025 37m

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…

Ep. 2: Dirty Words and Daring Women: Exploring Historical Romance with Evie Dunmore

Jan 21, 2025 41m

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…

Ep. 1: Strong, Sexy, and ... Submissive? An interview with Sara Cate

Jan 07, 2025 38m

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…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Zipless have?

Zipless has published 21 episodes since December 2024, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Zipless still active?

Zipless is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 40m.

How do I contact Zipless for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Zipless, including email and social media links.

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