BDE: Books, Dating and Everything

Rachel Hills and Jessica Sanchez
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Weekly

BDE: Books, Dating and Everything is your new go-to brunch table. Hosted by two best friends who are equally obsessed with spicy romance novels, messy dating stories, and emotionally unavailable fictional men, this podcast is part book club, part dating diary, and 100% real talk. Each week, we dish on the books we’re reading, the dates we’re regretting, and the life lessons we’re learning—served with a side of hot takes, humor, and occasional tears. Think: your favorite group chat, but in podcast form. New episodes drop every week. Bring your mimosa.

  1. Apr 29

    Life updates, life coach doms and the fundamentals of being a good girl

    Books, Dating & Everything: House Hunting, Spicy Reads, and the “Life Coach Dom” Idea Rachel and Jessica introduce their podcast BDE, sharing their love of spicy books, chaotic dating stories, and deep conversations. They catch up on real life—Jessica is exhausted from staying up reading, and Rachel shares the excitement and stress of buying her first house and moving after 10 years, including decluttering while juggling work, workouts, and basic routines. They discuss motivation, ADHD/neurodivergence, and jokingly brainstorm a “life coach dom/workout dom” concept inspired by romance tropes and Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. They review the book’s themes—age-gap professor romance, domination/submission dynamics, body image, healing after a degrading relationship, healthy co-parenting, and feeling safe in love—plus talk about older romance novels like The Windflower. They mention a possible summer podcast break and planning in-person events. 00:00 Welcome to BDE 00:44 Sleepy Bookish Banter 01:36 Buying a First Home 03:04 Moving Chaos and Decluttering 04:24 Offline Life and Social Media Breaks 06:26 Busy Days and Basic Needs 08:24 The Life Coach Dom Idea 15:04 Soft Dom Preferences 16:21 Book Talk Wreck Me 17:13 Body Image and Representation 18:52 Plot Setup Age Gap Nanny 20:26 Dom POV and Healing Themes 24:26 Toxic Trauma Bonds 25:25 Death by Sarcasm 27:18 Healing Through Love 28:42 Power in Submission 29:38 Letting Him In 34:29 Safe Space Breakdown 38:00 Books That Heal 40:13 Roleplay and Neurodivergence 41:44 Secret Romance Era 44:01 Mom's Spicy Classic 47:43 Mafia Enemies Tease 48:11 Summer Break Plans 48:36 Reviews and Goodbye

    49 min

  2. Apr 15

    Brat Kinks and Spider Hijinks

    But first let’s be friends: Instagram TikTok Spiders, Online Dating Chaos, and Our Game On (Navea Allen) Book Talk | BDE Podcast Rachel and Jessica introduce their podcast BDE, a weekly show about books, dating, and relationships, then spiral into a long, funny conversation about spiders—Rachel claims she can “feel” when one is nearby, recounts finding a huge spider after a bath, and admits she vacuums spiders up and has thrown away multiple vacuums afterward. They shift to online dating, discussing how exhausting apps feel, the difference between quantity and quality of likes, and a recent date that went well, plus ideas for better first dates like activities, laser tag, and group singles events. They also discuss the viral “catching print” concept and then review Navea Allen’s Game On, praising the banter, forced proximity plot, and unexpectedly hot brat-kink dynamic, rating it highly and comparing it to Lights Out and Caught Up. 00:00 Welcome to BDE 00:44 Hair Talk and Bonnet 02:11 Today’s Topics Setup 03:14 Spider Whisperer Bath Story 06:07 Vacuum Method Chaos 08:48 MySpace Spider Trauma 13:55 Spider Line and Men 14:13 Online Dating Burnout 18:22 Roster Talk and Energy 23:43 Serial Monogamist to Apps 25:47 Wild First Date Ideas 27:28 Worst First Date Idea 28:10 Activity Dates Win 28:31 Peewee Golf Debate 29:32 Laser Tag Singles Night 30:26 Laser Tag Play Styles 32:21 Catching Print Explained 36:19 Growing Up Different 37:04 Game On Book Review 39:52 Brat Kink Breakdown 47:44 More Audiobook Recs 50:12 Wrap Up and Outro

    51 min

  3. Apr 1

    Dark romance, things that embarrass us and pet names that make us cringe

    But first let’s be friends! Instagram TikTok Embarrassing Things, Cringey Pet Names & Why Dark Romance Isn’t Shameful | BDE Podcast Rachel and Jessica introduce BDE, a podcast about books, dating, and life, then dive into “things that are embarrassing for no reason,” including small talk, paying with cash, nail salon chair massages, bowling walk-backs, parallel parking, checking mail with someone behind you, being ID’d, ordering under pressure, and awkward doctor-gown moments (plus a debate about what to put on first after a massage). They play a pet-name yes/no game (favorites include “good girl” and “baby,” while “baby girl” is a strong no) before discussing dark romance: how they started with Feather So Vicious/Shadow So Cruel, their reactions to Haunting/Hunting Adeline, and why Lights Out works as a funny gateway. They also mention Hitched, Dance with My Demon, God of Malice, and Under Your Scars, and explain dark romance as a controlled space to explore taboo desire, safety, power, and transformation. They end by requesting anonymous “Messy Mondays” dating stories via DM and asking for reviews and follows. 00:00 Welcome to BDE 00:44 Fake Spring Banter 01:42 Today’s Agenda 02:58 Embarrassed by Everything 04:22 Cash and Germs 05:49 Nail Salon Awkwardness 08:35 Bowling and Parking Panic 12:48 Doctor Gown Dilemmas 14:10 Massage Naked Debate 19:40 Pet Names in Romance 23:26 Yes No Pet Name Game 27:31 Cringey Pet Names 29:19 Dark Romance Confessions 31:20 Feathers and Shadows Deep Dive 35:43 Haunting Adeline Reactions 39:28 Lights Out Gateway Pick 40:55 Hitched and Other Recs 43:27 Why Dark Romance Works 52:57 No Shame Reading Tastes 55:38 Messy Mondays and Wrap

    57 min

  4. Mar 18

    Dr. thick thighs and why Harry Styles is a walking green flag

    Follow us on our socials Instagram TicTok Dr. Thick Thighs & Why Harry Styles Is a Walking Green Flag Rachel and Jessica introduce their BDE podcast about books, dating, and real-life relationship talk, then share a chaotic story about Rachel’s first chiropractor visit in 15 years at Jessica’s office, where she arrives sweaty in a sweatsuit with no underwear, gets unexpectedly intense adjustments, and is stunned by the attractive “Dr. Thick Thighs,” but leaves feeling better with improved neck movement and fewer headaches. They pivot to Harry Styles, discussing why he feels like a “walking green flag,” including his confidence, kindness, boundaries, respect for women, and authentic self-expression, then react to his new album, compare how they listen to albums, name favorite tracks, and announce they’re traveling to New York to see him at Madison Square Garden in late September while asking for NYC recommendations. 00:00 Welcome to BDE 00:59 Today’s Topic Tease 02:32 Chiropractor Storytime Begins 03:06 Sweatsuit and Spicy Lunch 07:19 Meet Dr Thick Thighs 11:45 The Adjustment Chaos 22:06 Aftermath and Shoutouts 22:38 Harry Styles Green Flag Era 24:32 ChatGPT Breaks Down Harry 26:06 Mysterious Yet Safe 26:58 Humble Fan Connection 28:54 Masculinity and Expression 31:31 Respecting Women in Action 34:31 Album Art Shock 35:20 Dingleberry Definition Detour 37:25 How We Listen to Albums 39:40 Favorite Tracks Breakdown 41:54 Pop Lyrics Explained 43:42 NYC Concert Plans 47:03 Joyful Fangirl Energy 48:50 New York Tips and Wrap Up 49:47 Final Thanks and Reviews

    50 min

  5. Mar 4

    Neurodivergent Food Situations and Wuthering Heights Movie Review

    Panic Ordering Pizza, The Grapes Debate, and Our Unfiltered “Weathering Heights” Review (Spoilers!) Rachel and Jessica introduce their BDE podcast, then Rachel shares a night out with coworkers at psychic comedian Peter Antonio’s show, including her panic-ordering and a disastrous sticky chicken-slab pizza that made her realize she “builds” perfect bites and is picky about textures (sparking a debate about saving the best last bite and squeezing grapes before eating them). They then give a spoiler-filled, unfiltered discussion of the new “Weathering Heights” film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, praising the acting, cinematography, music, and unsettling sexual tone while calling it a dark, tragic, toxic love story with disturbing scenes, miscommunication, and an unhappy ending. They close by chatting about current reads, including the smut-heavy “For the Fans,” the fantasy “Dawn of the North,” and the nonfiction “Journey of Souls,” and ask listeners to review and follow. 00:00 Welcome to BDE 00:47 Today’s agenda 01:40 Psychic comedian night 04:34 Panic ordering chaos 07:42 The pizza disaster 12:34 Ideal bite debate 16:05 Thanksgiving fry trauma 20:33 Grape texture showdown 24:29 Weathering Heights setup 26:18 Saltburn detour 27:56 Cinematography and vibes 28:42 That opening scene 31:06 Shocking Opening Scene 31:54 Meet Catherine and Heathcliff 36:13 Barn Voyeurism Awakens Desire 38:43 Rock Encounter and Obsession 40:32 Gothic Aesthetics and Costumes 41:46 Marriage Money and Betrayal 47:59 Heathcliff Returns and Chaos 48:59 Dirty Passion and Jealousy 53:44 Tragic Ending and Aftermath 55:18 Was It Love or Toxicity 59:38 Dark Romance Book Talk 01:05:20 Wrap Up and Farewell

    1h 6m

  6. Feb 18

    Hilarious parenting stories, books we are reading and Rachel’s intuitive session

    But first! Let’s be friends! Instagram TikTok Gentle Parenting vs Permissive Parenting, a Wild Mom Storytime + Fantasy & Spicy Book Updates Rachel and Jessica return to their podcast BDE (books, dating, and everything in between) after a break and announce they’ll be releasing episodes every other week to make the schedule more sustainable. They share a parenting story where Rachel, overstimulated during a school-night routine, argues with her 10-year-old son Brooks, who laughs, gets startled, and calls her a profane name. Rachel describes choosing a gentle-parenting approach: taking a moment to regulate, apologizing for not listening, setting a clear boundary about name-calling, discussing what an apology includes, and following through with a consequence by not allowing him to use her phone that night despite his apology. They discuss the distinction between gentle parenting (high warmth, high boundaries), permissive parenting (low boundaries), and authoritarian parenting (high boundaries, low warmth), and connect emotional regulation and connection to broader issues like the male loneliness epidemic. They also discuss another example of connection-based consequences: Jessica describes having her son help make dinner for a month after he lied about secretly emailing a girl, referencing a podcast idea that “the opposite of addiction is connection.” In reading updates, Rachel talks about loving Sarah Cate’s Good Brothers series and wanting to do a deeper dive later, while Jessica shares being in a fantasy phase, including Carissa Broadbent’s vampire series (starting with The Serpent and the Wings of Night) and another fantasy release, Roots of Darkness. Jessica also recounts a two-hour intuitive/Akashic records reading at a bookshop in El Dorado Hills where the reader, without knowing her background, mentioned a future grandchild soul contract and said “fortune favors the bold,” which matches Jessica’s Irish Quinn family crest. The episode closes with them setting intentions for the Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse) and reflecting on fear and bravery during life transitions. 00:00 Welcome to BDE: Books, Dating & Chaos Energy 00:48 Quick Life Update: Switching to Every-Other-Week Episodes 02:14 Story Time Begins: Parenting, Overstimulation & Bedtime Pressure 08:02 The Blow-Up Moment: ‘You’re Being a…’ (and What Happened Next) 12:38 Repair & Regulation: The Calm Talk, Apology, and Boundaries 17:24 Gentle vs Permissive Parenting (and Why Boundaries Matter) 21:41 Lessons Learned + A Hilarious Age Mix-Up in the Salon 23:46 Noah’s ‘Kindle Email’ Lie: Consequences vs Connection 25:15 Turning Consequences Into Connection: Cooking Together 26:01 Raising an Independent Kid (and Reframing “Disrespect”) 28:29 Repair After Rupture: Unconditional Love in Action 29:01 What We’ve Been Reading: The Good Brothers Series Obsession 31:42 Fantasy Kick: Sexy Vampires, Brutal Gods & 5-Star Worlds 35:18 Intuitive & Medium Readings: From Skepticism to Curiosity 41:25 Akashic Records Session: Soul Contracts, Grandma Energy & a Family Crest Sign 43:25 Fortune Favors the Bold: Using the Reading for Direction 48:16 Year of the Horse Intentions + Choosing Bravery Anyway 50:42 Wrap-Up, Love Yous, and How to Support the Podcast

    51 min

  7. Feb 6

    Our First Interview EVER with the queen of kink Sara Cate and her newest book Promise Me

    But first! Let’s be friends: Instagram TikTok Exploring 'Promise Me' with Author Sarah Kate | BDE Podcast Join hosts Rachel and Jessica on BDE as they dive into an engaging conversation with their favorite author, Sarah Kate. They discuss her upcoming book 'Promise Me,' set to release on February 10th, featuring beloved characters Declan and Colin. The trio shares their excitement about the book's unique elements, such as dual timelines and emotional depth. Sarah talks about her journey as an author, the inspiration behind her writing, and the impact of exploring kink in romance. Don't miss this fun and insightful episode, filled with laughter, deep convos, and a glimpse into Sarah Kate's creative process. Make sure to hit follow, grab your favorite drink, and tune in! 00:00 Welcome to BDE: Books, Dating, and Everything In Between 00:47 Special Guest: Sarah Kate 01:17 Discussing 'Promise Me': Characters and Themes 02:57 Writing Techniques: POV and Timelines 05:19 Friends to Lovers: The Pool Scene 06:48 The Impact of Queer Romance 07:34 Exploring Kinks and Self-Discovery 13:45 The Journey of Writing Romance 17:00 Imagination and Literature 19:32 Research and Inspiration 19:56 Creative Process and Inspiration 20:30 Writing Challenges and New Ideas 21:34 Fast-Paced Indie Writing 22:27 Emotional Depth in Characters 23:58 Favorite Characters and Scenes 28:26 Excitement for New Releases 32:56 Connecting with Readers 34:00 Conclusion and Farewell

    35 min

  8. Jan 28

    Hair Horror Stories and life behind the chair for 20+ years

    But first! Let’s be friends! Instagram TikTok Hair Confessions: Awkward Salon Stories, Transformation Haircuts, and Personal Growth Join Rachel and Jessica in a lively episode of 'BDE: Books, Dating & Everything' where they dive into all things hair! From awkward salon stories and transformation haircuts to deep conversations about self-expression and personal growth, this episode is packed with laughter and heartfelt moments. Tune in to hear about Rachel's childhood haircut disaster, Jessica's hair struggles and triumphs, and the wild encounters they’ve had in their two-decade-long hairdressing careers. Perfect for anyone who loves spicy reads, chaotic dating tales, and deep convos about love and life. 00:00 Welcome to BDE: Books, Dating, and Everything In Between 00:50 Haircut Excitement and Childhood Hair Stories 01:29 Hair Struggles and Styling Disasters 16:16 The Emotional Impact of Haircuts 17:39 Societal Expectations and Personal Style 21:34 Client Stories and Hair Perceptions 25:18 Daily Style Choices 25:46 Hair Decisions and Regrets 27:14 Eyebrow and Teeth Trends 30:00 Salon Stories: Embarrassing Moments 36:29 Client Confessions and Awkward Situations 46:54 The Joys and Challenges of Being a Hairstylist 48:10 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

    49 min
See All (29)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

BDE: Books, Dating and Everything is your new go-to brunch table. Hosted by two best friends who are equally obsessed with spicy romance novels, messy dating stories, and emotionally unavailable fictional men, this podcast is part book club, part dating diary, and 100% real talk. Each week, we dish on the books we’re reading, the dates we’re regretting, and the life lessons we’re learning—served with a side of hot takes, humor, and occasional tears. Think: your favorite group chat, but in podcast form. New episodes drop every week. Bring your mimosa.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Hills and Jessica Sanchez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rachel Hills and Jessica Sanchez
  • Show Website
    BDE: Books, Dating and Everything