We have a special Halloween themed episode for you! Fiona Nova (Director, Content Creator) has joined Lena to talk about the teen horror comedy Jennifer’s Body (2009) starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. They go in depth on the layered complexity of Needy and Jennifer’s relationship - is it love or is it a demon succubus manipulation tactic?? You’ll also want to hear Fiona’s personal smooch story about her best kiss. The episode ends with a roundup of SPOOKY SMOOCH FACTS! Listen, if you dare…
Follow Fiona:
https://www.instagram.com/fiona_nova/
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Jennifer’s Body Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MdKI8kiXU
Kassem G (Ex-Coworker, Current Friend) joins the pod this week to discuss one of his favorite kisses in pop culture: the Upside-Down Spider-Man Kiss. Lena shares all the behind the scenes details from the historic shoot for 2002’s Spider-Man. Afterward, Kassem is kind enough to share a story about his first FRENCH KISS (teaser: it’s during Halloween!) But with a comic book and superhero aficionado like Kass, of course, they have to discuss the smooches in the new Superman movie. Listen all the way to the end to learn about how kisses affect your brain chemistry! Spooky!
Follow Kass:
https://www.instagram.com/gmessak/
https://www.youtube.com/@KassemG
https://www.youtube.com/@BroughtYouThisThing
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Kissing Scenes:
Spider-Man -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TD2oxFBnns
Superman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3_KTfb3_s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBpwrORhKWU
Spider-Man Article: https://www.theringer.com/2022/05/03/movies/spider-man-kiss-tobey-maguire-kirsten-dunst
Dana Handleman (Actor/Comedian) joins Lena to share her favorite smooch from the 2005 queer rom com Imagine Me & You. They gush about their crushes on Lena Headey and Piper Perabo. Then Lena pressures Dana to share a personal kissing story (hint: it takes place at a middle school dance!) Next, they discuss the SUMMER SMASH HIT Netflix show,The Hunting Wives, starring Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman. What is it about Margo’s character that is so alluring to Sophie? Listen to find out. And you won’t want to miss the Smooch Fact at the end 💋💋💋
Follow Dana:
https://www.instagram.com/jewfro_and_specs/
https://www.instagram.com/dana_slings_drinks/
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Kissing Scenes:
Imagine Me & You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT3wW7gZKLo&list=PLwfktJH9i4NR5tYyIbKX_cTbQQZXvXr2I&index=14
The Hunting Wives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHVcRcETgqk
Author/Screenwriter Caitlin Alice Gilbert joins Lena Olson to discuss her favorite smooch in pop culture: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams accepting the Best Kiss Award for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. They talk about their roles in The Notebook (2004) and how that led to their real-life romance. Caitlin shares an epic story about one of her best kisses (hint: it takes place in Italy!)
Then the gals get to the main event: Bridgerton! They discuss the three main couples from each season, Daphne & Simon, Kate & Anthony, and Penelope & Colin. They compare each of their first kisses and rank which couple smooched the best! The pop culture analysis you didn’t know you needed. As always, we end with a Smooch Fact.
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Follow Caitlin here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs
Pre-order Caitlin’s book, La Dolce Veto: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/La-Dolce-Veto/Caitlin-Alice-Gilbert/9781923232310
Kissing Scenes:
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGle4xRNPSM&t=73s
Daphne & Simon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBhi-O63BHE
Kate & Anthony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ7zUws8LeU
Penelope & Colin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeMO7Bhr4rA
Article: Oldest Kiss Recorded on Mesopotamian Clay Tablet https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/humanitys-first-kiss-was-earlier-than-we-thought-180982206/
This week, Lena Olson is joined by Melissa Flores for a special episode of Smooch Fest we are calling, the Smooch Smackdown! In this episode, the gals compare multiple smooches between the power couples of the worldwide sitcom sensation, Friends (1994-2004). Who will emerge victorious? Ross and Rachel? Monica and Chandler? Listen and find out how Lena and Melissa judge the competition. You may get some fun behind the scenes tidbits as well. Lena also shares juicy details about the longest kiss ever recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records. Check it out!
Follow Melissa:
https://www.instagram.com/melissaflo/
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Kissing Scenes:
Ross and Rachel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVRmfWT84ME&t=13s
Monica and Chandler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRVueBoZjEA
Phoebe and Mike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awxZaqzp31w
Rachel and Joey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2dtMUGMEh4
Lena is joined by Ruby Kostur (Queer Matchmaker, Cat Mom) to talk about the kissing scene between Brittany Snow and Sophia Bush in the teen romp, John Tucker Must Die (2006). Ruby also tells Lena about her first kiss. Lena then shares her research into animals and if they kiss like humans. She shares perhaps a bit too much graphic information about the love lives of bonobos. Lastly, they learn about the first kiss recorded on film! You can’t call yourself a smooch expert unless you listen to this episode.
Follow Ruby:
https://www.instagram.com/kangarubyyyyy/
Follow Kostur & Brown:
https://www.kosturandbrown.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kostur.and.brown/
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Kissing Scenes:
John Tucker Must Die: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHIg0d4KQMc
Edweard Muybridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJQbyCo024
Hayley Voland (Teacher, Hopeless Romantic) joins Lena to talk about the teen vampire phenomenon, Twilight, and the award-winning kiss between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson). Hayley shares an interesting kissing story from her child acting days. They also discuss the history of women kissing each other on television and learn how shamefully recent that history is! You won’t want to miss this hard-hitting episode!Follow Hayley:
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyvoland/
Follow Smooch Fest:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Kissing Scenes:
Twilight Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ployNasFqE
LA Law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_VahScCt3Y
Relativity: https://youtu.be/PNFIgHP7osU?t=80
Willow and Tara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8PBME2FQgY
Katie Chilson (Writer, Performer, Hot Person) joins Lena for this week’s episode of Smooch Fest. Katie shares her favorite smooch from the 1999 teen classic, 10 Things I Hate About You. They both compare notes on their first kiss stories. Lena and Katie also explore the two different endings to the 2005 Pride & Prejudice film. Listen for this deeply investigative conversation about smooches!
Follow Smooch Fest:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Check out old episodes of The RomCom Effect:
https://linktr.ee/romcomeffect
10 Things I Hate About You Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUCpIYN8UuU
Pride & Prejudice Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYuf9uwx8qs
Leah Pablo (Big Career Lady, Hot Person) joins Lena to share her favorite kiss in pop culture from The Parent Trap (1998). No one does it like Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson! They both reveal stories about their best and first kisses. Last but not least, Leah and Lena talk about the best couples ship in recent Love Island history: NicOlandria. Was it genuine sparks or just producer plotting? Listen to find out!
Follow Leah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lvp11/
Follow Smooch Fest:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
The Parent Trap kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nde5CMzdd0
NicOlandria kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcdinPapMZw
It’s the first episode of Smooch Fest! Vanessa Guerrero (Producer, Hot Person) joins Lena to talk about her favorite pop culture kiss: Nick & Jess from New Girl. The two of them share their best and worst kiss stories. They also discuss the controversial choice to cut out the kissing scene in the movie Twisters. You won’t want to miss this important conversation!
Follow Vanessa:
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/
Twitter: https://x.com/nessguerrero
Follow Smooch Fest:
https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod
Nick and Jess Kiss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PBBU-Vs4fk&ab_channel=Hulu
Twisters Kiss:
https://www.tiktok.com/@popcture/video/7393882745656577323
Join host, Lena Olson, as she dives into the most iconic smooches in pop culture history. Each week, a guest brings their favorite smooch and they discuss why it is so impactful.
The first episode of Season 1 releases on August 14th, so make sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform.
You can also watch video episodes on YouTube and follow updates on Instagram & Tiktok: ALL under the handle @smoochfestpod
Let's be smooch connoisseurs, shall we?
XOXO,
Lena