The Troped Podcast

Tara and Kyra
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Books
  • Updated Biweekly

Swoony chaos. Messy desire. No gatekeeping. The Troped Podcast is your gateway to romance for bookish-curious readers who love romance novels, BookTok rabbit holes, and everything spicy in between. We’re your romance wingwomen in podcast form, diving into tropes, hot takes, and the stories we can’t stop thinking about. We also go behind the books to celebrate the authors and creators building the worlds, businesses, and careers that bring romance to life. 20-minute episodes, so you can find your next obsession and get back to your book.

  1. 4d ago

    Toxic Traits We Love in Romance Books, But Not IRL

    Why are we obsessed with fictional men who would be an absolute nightmare in real life? In this episode of The Troped Podcast, we’re talking about the toxic traits we happily accept in romance books, but would run away from in real life. All the red flags that somehow turn green when they’re fictional. 00:38 Why Fiction Gets a Pass01:29 Smirks and Micro Attitude03:17 Possessive and Controlling07:08 Stalking and Obsession08:17 Secret Big Decisions11:25 Monster Romance Debate13:09 Simping and Love Bombing14:27 Grass Isn't Greener

  2. Aug 27

    The Calloway Ranch Series: Our New Favorite Cowboys

    Tara and Kyra love cowboys, so we thought we knew what we were getting into… and then these books completely took us by surprise. Tara and Kyra were NOT prepared for Cowboy Casual and Small Town Smokeshow by Holly Renee. Tune in as we talk about the cowboy series that threw us right off the bull. 01:22 Cowboy Casual Breakdown04:35 Hunter Hype Smoke Show06:36 Tropes Small Town Magic08:12 Why Cowboys Hit Different11:00 Colt Dirty Talk Heat11:55 Why Holly Hits Hard12:24 Small Town Smoke Show Moments16:02 Possessive Done Right17:03 Backpack In My Tent18:36 Who’s Next McCoy20:22 Trope Talk Pregnancy21:28 Recommending To The Boss

  3. Aug 13

    Experience It Through Me: Dating an Athlete

    Sports romance is a hot button topic in romance right now! Between Liz Tomforde's books and Heated Rivalry/Off Campus on the screens, Tara (who's never dated an athlete) asks Kyra all the probing questions of what sports romance gets right and what it gets wrong in real life. 01:05 Kyra Dating Resume02:05 Why Athletes Attract03:44 Smart Athlete Myth05:10 Cheaters And Temptation07:02 Sport Versus Relationship08:47 Watching Them Compete10:44 Are They Better In Bed13:09 Who Should Not Date17:10 Romance Hype Verdict18:14 Hockey Crush Story20:29 Wrap Up And Thanks

  4. Jul 30

    Hot Takes on Tropes, Vol. 2

    We're back with Trope Hot Takes Vol. 2, debating the romance tropes readers love, hate, and can’t agree on. From billionaire romance and holiday vs. summer romances to forbidden romance, the one-bed trope, “who did this to you,” and “touch her and die,” Tara and Kyra unpack what makes these popular romance book tropes so irresistible and when they cross the line. 00:43 Billionaire Romance Debate03:28 Can Money Ruin You05:35 Holiday vs Summer Romance08:19 Who Did This To You11:07 Ex's Sibling Forbidden Love11:46 Forbidden Feels Too Real12:17 Dating Your Ex's Family12:47 When Is It Acceptable13:30 Taboo In Books Vs Life14:19 Sequel Hype And Recs14:39 One Bed Trope Rules17:15 McDonalds Drive Thru18:59 Touch Her And Die20:09 Possessiveness Needs Therapy

  5. Jul 16

    Creator Spotlight: Kate Glass, Founder of Briarwick Candles

    In our first guest episode, Tara and Kyra sit down with Briarwick Candles founder Kate Glass to discuss how she built a successful bookish candle business from scratch, transforming beloved romance books and fantasy novels into bestselling literary-inspired candles. Kate shares how Briarwick grew from a kitchen-counter hobby into an international brand, the challenges of scaling a small business during the pandemic, the inspiration behind her bestselling book boyfriend candles, hilarious scent-testing fails, ethical licensing with indie authors, and why community has been the foundation of Briarwick’s success. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:51 Favorite Trope Fake Dating02:45 First Candle and Etsy Launch04:54 From Hobby to Global Brand05:57 Scaling Up During COVID06:32 First Warehouse and Quitting Job08:34 Turning Books Into Scents10:17 Aspirational Romance Candles11:31 Scent Testing and Epic Fails12:11 Testing New Scents12:31 Top Candle Picks12:47 Fan Fiction Citrus Scale14:24 Handling Bookish Opinions15:18 Reading Slumps and Formats16:24 Indie Author Spotlight19:29 Scaling Beyond the Kitchen21:10 Community as Advice

  6. Jul 2

    Reading & Writing Retreats: Are They Worth the Hype?

    Tara is back from her latest book retreat in Montana! She and Kyra dive into what really happens at reading and writing retreats, whether they’re actually worth the investment, and why having a dedicated space to read, write, and connect with other women can be so transformative. If you’ve ever wondered whether a book retreat belongs on your bucket list, this episode is for you. 00:34 Montana Trip Recap02:39 What Is a Book Retreat04:22 Why Adults Need Villages05:49 Readers vs Social Hobbies08:02 Surprise You Barely Read09:22 Hosts Make the Retreat10:22 Pick Your Perfect Niche12:02 Cowboy Retreat Daydreams16:08 Romance Is About Girlhood17:39 Wrap Up and Goodbye

  7. Jun 18

    More Than Just Tropes: Tropesick by Lauren Okie [Spoiler Free]

    Is Tropesick by Lauren Okie worth adding to your TBR? In this 100% spoiler-free review, Tara and Kyra dive into one of the most meta romance novels they’ve read, where characters are literally writing romance tropes while living them in real life. We discuss the book’s fan-favorite tropes—including forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, brother’s best friend, girl next door, and second-chance romance—and why this story completely changed our minds about second-chance romances. We also explore the novel’s thoughtful approach to substance abuse and recovery, its witty banter, emotional depth, and the subtle touch of magical realism that makes the story feel uniquely special. 00:00 Welcome and Spoiler Free00:29 First Impressions and Cover Tropes02:07 Second Chance Done Right04:14 Addiction and Healing Themes06:54 Meta Romance and Magical Touch09:42 Favorite Tropes and Girl Next Door12:19 Writing Tropes While Living Them13:29 Romance Versus Literary Fiction16:58 Pets in Romance and Final Thoughts18:48 Wrap Up and Recommendation

  8. May 7

    Book Talk: Reckless by Elsie Silver

    Tara and Kyra talk about Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs gold buckle book, Reckless, ahead of the upcoming release of Fever Dream, diving into spoilers and why Theo Silva stands out as a top book boyfriend.  00:05 Why Reckless Now00:57 Winter the Ice Queen01:48 Theo Silva Appeal02:15 Single Dad Fantasy03:09 Respect and Protection04:01 Real Life Theo Energy05:20 Boundaries and Consent06:43 Winter Self Worth Arc08:22 Is Theo Too Perfect09:39 Naming the Tropes10:46 One Night Stand Mystery11:08 One Night Stand Debate11:25 Gym Scene Jealousy13:09 Enemies to Lovers Banter13:59 Winter and Summer Arc16:07 Theo Text Flirting17:29 Panic Attack and Paternity19:13 Next Book Hype

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Swoony chaos. Messy desire. No gatekeeping. The Troped Podcast is your gateway to romance for bookish-curious readers who love romance novels, BookTok rabbit holes, and everything spicy in between. We’re your romance wingwomen in podcast form, diving into tropes, hot takes, and the stories we can’t stop thinking about. We also go behind the books to celebrate the authors and creators building the worlds, businesses, and careers that bring romance to life. 20-minute episodes, so you can find your next obsession and get back to your book.

Information

  • Creator
    Tara and Kyra
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tara and Kyra
  • Show Website
    The Troped Podcast

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