Smooch Fest - the Kissing and Pop Culture Podcast Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:58:38 -0400 https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod en-us © 2026 Smooch Fest - the Kissing and Pop Culture Podcast yes d257e7a6-f8c8-5e1a-b675-12c4bd5dbf60 Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine episodic true Welcome to Smooch Fest: The ONLY podcast about kissing! Your host Lena Olson, talks to guests about the most ICONIC kisses in pop culture: from TV to movies and more! Guests also share dating stories of their best, worst, and first kisses. But it doesn't stop there, Smooch Fest dares to ask the questions: Why do people kiss? Do animals kiss like humans? When was the first gay kiss on television? Along with pop culture analysis, we get into the science and history behind smooching. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. For romantic comedy fans, queer millennials & lover girls!

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine https://storage.buzzsprout.com/phdcnqylc7x3b9r843yaph994b4e?.jpg Smooch Fest - the Kissing and Pop Culture Podcast https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod Best Kisses in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (with Olivia Haidar) Best Kisses in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (with Olivia Haidar) As we get closer to Halloween, Smooch Fest revisits the beloved teen show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lena is joined by Olivia Haidar (Movie Projectionist and Cool Person) to discuss the seminal kissing scenes from the entire series. They focus on the kisses between Buffy and Angel and later, Buffy and Spike. They compare Buffy’s two vampire boyfriends and struggle to decide who is best for her. 


Next, the two talk about Willow and Tara - whose sapphic relationship was the first lesbian couple ever featured on a primetime TV show. They discuss Willow and Tara’s relationship timeline and the long road to their first onscreen kiss. Lena and Olivia have complex feelings about the representation of this queer relationship, but mostly of Tara’s character. Our main takeaway: Eeyore does not have sex appeal!


Stick around for all the fun behind the scenes lore from Buffy as well as a first kiss story from Olivia’s past! 


Follow Olivia:

https://x.com/hitherehaidar 


Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/  


Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod  


Links:

Buffy and Angel first kiss, S1E7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLEjW8LGVk 

Spike and Buffy - Something Blue kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zI29e9FJs

Spike and Buffy - Intervention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sV_GcXRhTw 

Spike and Buffy - Once More with Feeling kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0WNpqhPWGI 

Willow and Tara kiss, S5E16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRRzHBxWFTc 


You may notice a promo for a podcast called This Week in Fandom History, hosted by V Arrow and Emily Jaye. It’s a super fun deep dive into the world of fan fiction. Give it a listen here: https://www.thisweekinfandomhistory.com/

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> As we get closer to Halloween, Smooch Fest revisits the beloved teen show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lena is joined by Olivia Haidar (Movie Projectionist and Cool Person) to discuss the seminal kissing scenes from the entire series. They focus on the kisses between Buffy and Angel and later, Buffy and Spike. They compare Buffy’s two vampire boyfriends and struggle to decide who is best for her. 


Next, the two talk about Willow and Tara - whose sapphic relationship was the first lesbian couple ever featured on a primetime TV show. They discuss Willow and Tara’s relationship timeline and the long road to their first onscreen kiss. Lena and Olivia have complex feelings about the representation of this queer relationship, but mostly of Tara’s character. Our main takeaway: Eeyore does not have sex appeal!


Stick around for all the fun behind the scenes lore from Buffy as well as a first kiss story from Olivia’s past! 


Follow Olivia:

https://x.com/hitherehaidar 


Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/  


Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod  


Links:

Buffy and Angel first kiss, S1E7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLEjW8LGVk 

Spike and Buffy - Something Blue kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zI29e9FJs

Spike and Buffy - Intervention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sV_GcXRhTw 

Spike and Buffy - Once More with Feeling kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0WNpqhPWGI 

Willow and Tara kiss, S5E16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRRzHBxWFTc 


You may notice a promo for a podcast called This Week in Fandom History, hosted by V Arrow and Emily Jaye. It’s a super fun deep dive into the world of fan fiction. Give it a listen here: https://www.thisweekinfandomhistory.com/

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine Buzzsprout-19929197 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 5258 2 7 full true Practical Magic, The Craft, and Witchy Kisses (with Kiru Nwadiwe) Practical Magic, The Craft, and Witchy Kisses (with Kiru Nwadiwe) We’re falling into spooky season so Kiru Nwadiwe (Teacher, Booktoker) joins Lena to talk about her favorite witchy kisses from The Craft and Practical Magic. They talk about the rich tapestry of 90s witchy media and the boho whimsigoth era that defined a generation. Lena discovers that Kiru is repulsed by choreography videos. Do NOT try to woo her with those! 


Then they dive into 1998’s Practical Magic. Lena gets on her soapbox about why it’s GOOD this movie is so genre bending. They revisit Sandra Bullock’s kissing scenes with her late husband, Michael, and Detective Hallet. They also discuss her intense chemistry with Nicole Kidman and make predictions for Practical Magic 2.


At the end of the episode, Lena teaches Kiru how to cast a love spell. Enjoy!


Follow Kiru:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kiru.osity4books


Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/ 


Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod 


Links:

The Craft Kissing Scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJtn_Bwm-w 

Practical Magic First Kiss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWgdwOtUIEY 

Practical Magic Second Kiss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NDa_R37DMg&t=10s 

Sky Full of Elephants Book - https://bookshop.org/p/books/sky-full-of-elephants-a-novel-cebo-campbell/7575ac25a1b625c3 


You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> We’re falling into spooky season so Kiru Nwadiwe (Teacher, Booktoker) joins Lena to talk about her favorite witchy kisses from The Craft and Practical Magic. They talk about the rich tapestry of 90s witchy media and the boho whimsigoth era that defined a generation. Lena discovers that Kiru is repulsed by choreography videos. Do NOT try to woo her with those! 


Then they dive into 1998’s Practical Magic. Lena gets on her soapbox about why it’s GOOD this movie is so genre bending. They revisit Sandra Bullock’s kissing scenes with her late husband, Michael, and Detective Hallet. They also discuss her intense chemistry with Nicole Kidman and make predictions for Practical Magic 2.


At the end of the episode, Lena teaches Kiru how to cast a love spell. Enjoy!


Follow Kiru:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kiru.osity4books


Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/ 


Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod 


Links:

The Craft Kissing Scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJtn_Bwm-w 

Practical Magic First Kiss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWgdwOtUIEY 

Practical Magic Second Kiss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NDa_R37DMg&t=10s 

Sky Full of Elephants Book - https://bookshop.org/p/books/sky-full-of-elephants-a-novel-cebo-campbell/7575ac25a1b625c3 


You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 11e73575-1ef2-42ec-b192-602b011b106b Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:33:00 -0400 3230 2 6 full true Romance & Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (with Jillian Davis) Romance & Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (with Jillian Davis) Book Agent and co-host of the Pemberley Podcast, Jillian Davis, joins Lena Olson this week to talk all things romance! They discuss the Indie French romcom, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, and compare the kissing scenes between Agathe and her two suitors. 

Later, Lena asks Jillian about her life as a book agent, her favorite romance books, and her suggestions for writing a good smooch. Lena then explains how courtship customs were different in the Regency era.


Follow Jillian:

https://www.instagram.com/jayyydayyy235 

https://www.instagram.com/thepemberley 

Follow The Pemberley Podcast: 

https://pod.link/1156737811 

Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/ 

Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod 

You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Relevant Links:

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inLm4GvLQuk 

Article about old dating customs: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/the-real-rules-of-courtship-dating-in-the-regency-era/ 


Book Recs:

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Anything by Emily Henry

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Book Agent and co-host of the Pemberley Podcast, Jillian Davis, joins Lena Olson this week to talk all things romance! They discuss the Indie French romcom, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, and compare the kissing scenes between Agathe and her two suitors. 

Later, Lena asks Jillian about her life as a book agent, her favorite romance books, and her suggestions for writing a good smooch. Lena then explains how courtship customs were different in the Regency era.


Follow Jillian:

https://www.instagram.com/jayyydayyy235 

https://www.instagram.com/thepemberley 

Follow The Pemberley Podcast: 

https://pod.link/1156737811 

Follow Lena:

https://www.instagram.com/trolololson/ 

Follow Smooch Fest: 

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod 

You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Relevant Links:

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inLm4GvLQuk 

Article about old dating customs: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/the-real-rules-of-courtship-dating-in-the-regency-era/ 


Book Recs:

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Anything by Emily Henry

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 3db08674-faf7-41b5-b856-ed999eae2ff5 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3634 2 5 false SMOOCH SMACKDOWN: Best Kisses in Animation (with Ashley Gharaibeh) SMOOCH SMACKDOWN: Best Kisses in Animation (with Ashley Gharaibeh) We’ve got Ashley Gharaibeh joining the pod to talk about the best smooches in animation! First, they review the new anime series “Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You”. Ashley gives Lena the lowdown on the anime scene and why this particular series is so special. They discuss age gap relationships and the underrated concept of YEARNING. 

Next, Ashley tells the story about her first (and unfortunately worst) kiss —it’s a doozy! Stay for the Smooch Smackdown, where Lena and Ashley rank the best kissing scenes in animation, from Disney to Nickelodeon to CGI. They acknowledge how hard it is to draw people smooching and admit that out of all cartoon characters, animals may be the best kissers…

We close this episode with a smooch fact about the first same-sex kiss in a Disney movie. Enjoy! 

You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Follow Ashley: 

⁠https://www.instagram.com/itsspinachee/⁠

⁠https://www.twitch.tv/spinachee⁠

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spinachee⁠

Follow Smooch Fest: 

⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod⁠ 

Links:

Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ0vtP-hPq0 

Lightyear kiss: https://www.out.com/film/2022/3/21/pixar-restores-same-sex-lightyear-kiss-after-it-was-cut-disney 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> We’ve got Ashley Gharaibeh joining the pod to talk about the best smooches in animation! First, they review the new anime series “Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You”. Ashley gives Lena the lowdown on the anime scene and why this particular series is so special. They discuss age gap relationships and the underrated concept of YEARNING. 

Next, Ashley tells the story about her first (and unfortunately worst) kiss —it’s a doozy! Stay for the Smooch Smackdown, where Lena and Ashley rank the best kissing scenes in animation, from Disney to Nickelodeon to CGI. They acknowledge how hard it is to draw people smooching and admit that out of all cartoon characters, animals may be the best kissers…

We close this episode with a smooch fact about the first same-sex kiss in a Disney movie. Enjoy! 

You may notice an ad for a podcast called Consider This For Comfort, hosted by Eteng Ettah. It’s a super fun, nostalgic show exploring why comfort shows are so comforting. Give it a listen here: https://pod.link/1823537949 

Follow Ashley: 

⁠https://www.instagram.com/itsspinachee/⁠

⁠https://www.twitch.tv/spinachee⁠

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spinachee⁠

Follow Smooch Fest: 

⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod⁠ 

Links:

Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ0vtP-hPq0 

Lightyear kiss: https://www.out.com/film/2022/3/21/pixar-restores-same-sex-lightyear-kiss-after-it-was-cut-disney 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 4d65f97b-b196-47ed-83f0-6352f3ebfdca Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:20:01 -0400 4009 2 1 true The Madonna/Britney/Christina Kiss + A League Of Their Own (with But I’m A Lesbian Podcast) The Madonna/Britney/Christina Kiss + A League Of Their Own (with But I’m A Lesbian Podcast) This week, Lena Olson is joined by the hosts of But I'm A Lesbian Pod, Katlynn Beatty and Angelina Herrera! They gossip about the iconic threeway kiss between Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV VMA Awards. Learn the crazy behind the scenes details and hear about society's reaction to it. 


Later, Katlynn shares a story about her first and worst kiss (Teaser: comedian Carrot Top plays a role). Last but not least, we discuss a heavy hitter, the sapphic tv show A League of Their Own (2022). We cover the hottest kisses of the season between Carson and Greta, as well as Max and Esther. Enjoy this smooch-filled episode!


Follow Smooch Fest:

⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod⁠ 

Follow But I'm A Lesbian: https://linktr.ee/butimalesbianpod 


Relevant Links:

Madonna Christina Britney Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh4KUeKm8fc 

Rehearsal Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3gaF0lo4JU 

Rolling Stone article: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/2003-vmas-britney-madonna-christina-kiss-1234809755/  

Carson Greta Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igWIdmEKJT4 

Max and Esther Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R2NHRRpL1I 

Negro Baseball League article: https://time.com/6205531/a-league-of-their-own-true-story-amazon/ 

Maybelle Blair article: https://www.them.us/story/maybelle-blair-a-league-of-their-own-coming-out 

Tello Films: https://www.tellofilms.com/ 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> This week, Lena Olson is joined by the hosts of But I'm A Lesbian Pod, Katlynn Beatty and Angelina Herrera! They gossip about the iconic threeway kiss between Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV VMA Awards. Learn the crazy behind the scenes details and hear about society's reaction to it. 


Later, Katlynn shares a story about her first and worst kiss (Teaser: comedian Carrot Top plays a role). Last but not least, we discuss a heavy hitter, the sapphic tv show A League of Their Own (2022). We cover the hottest kisses of the season between Carson and Greta, as well as Max and Esther. Enjoy this smooch-filled episode!


Follow Smooch Fest:

⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod⁠ 

Follow But I'm A Lesbian: https://linktr.ee/butimalesbianpod 


Relevant Links:

Madonna Christina Britney Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh4KUeKm8fc 

Rehearsal Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3gaF0lo4JU 

Rolling Stone article: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/2003-vmas-britney-madonna-christina-kiss-1234809755/  

Carson Greta Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igWIdmEKJT4 

Max and Esther Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R2NHRRpL1I 

Negro Baseball League article: https://time.com/6205531/a-league-of-their-own-true-story-amazon/ 

Maybelle Blair article: https://www.them.us/story/maybelle-blair-a-league-of-their-own-coming-out 

Tello Films: https://www.tellofilms.com/ 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 6b6d160b-7737-46f2-ba24-39563f1a4c96 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:30:00 -0400 5124 2 3 true Heated Rivalry & All The Things She Said (with Johan Clarke) Heated Rivalry & All The Things She Said (with Johan Clarke) For this week’s episode, we are talking about the Canadian sensation, Heated Rivalry! Lena is joined by Johan Clarke to go on a deep dive about the sensual kisses between Shane and Ilya, and Scott and Kip. This hockey romance starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams took the world by storm, and we dissect what made the series so special.

Johan shares a touching personal story about their best AND first kiss. The two wax nostalgic about the music video for “All the Things She Said” by T.A.T.U. despite the pop duo’s complicated legacy of queerbaiting. Stick around to hear about a real kiss in women’s soccer. 

Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod

Follow Johan’s Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/johanaclarke/

Relevant Links:

All the Things She Said Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGBaXPlri8

Shane & Ilya First Kiss (Ep 1): https://youtu.be/ADi1iextoUM?t=55 

Scott & Kip (Ep 5): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUVCDqhE4Q 

Kelly O’Hara Soccer Kiss: https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/uswnt/2025/01/03/uswnt-defender-ohara-world-cup-kiss-with-girlfriend/77432749007/ 


#heatedrivalry #hudsonwilliams #connorstorrie #francoisarnaud #robbiegrahamkuntz #popcultureanalysis #romanticcomedy #datingstories #gaytv #lgbtqpodcast #queerpodcast #bisexual #wlw #gay #lgbtqromance #kissingscenes #tvpodcast #kissing #kiss #romance 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> For this week’s episode, we are talking about the Canadian sensation, Heated Rivalry! Lena is joined by Johan Clarke to go on a deep dive about the sensual kisses between Shane and Ilya, and Scott and Kip. This hockey romance starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams took the world by storm, and we dissect what made the series so special.

Johan shares a touching personal story about their best AND first kiss. The two wax nostalgic about the music video for “All the Things She Said” by T.A.T.U. despite the pop duo’s complicated legacy of queerbaiting. Stick around to hear about a real kiss in women’s soccer. 

Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod

Follow Johan’s Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/johanaclarke/

Relevant Links:

All the Things She Said Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGBaXPlri8

Shane & Ilya First Kiss (Ep 1): https://youtu.be/ADi1iextoUM?t=55 

Scott & Kip (Ep 5): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUVCDqhE4Q 

Kelly O’Hara Soccer Kiss: https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/uswnt/2025/01/03/uswnt-defender-ohara-world-cup-kiss-with-girlfriend/77432749007/ 


#heatedrivalry #hudsonwilliams #connorstorrie #francoisarnaud #robbiegrahamkuntz #popcultureanalysis #romanticcomedy #datingstories #gaytv #lgbtqpodcast #queerpodcast #bisexual #wlw #gay #lgbtqromance #kissingscenes #tvpodcast #kissing #kiss #romance 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 1120db8c-65f7-40e4-9f40-2774ebd70815 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:32:01 -0400 3285 2 2 true Love Island & Kissing Games (with Melissa Flores) Love Island & Kissing Games (with Melissa Flores) Welcome back to the Smooch Fest podcast! We are so excited to bring you season TWO!

Our host, Lena Olson, is joined by returning guest, Melissa Flores. They catch up on Season 8 of Love Island USA and discuss the hottest smooches between their favorite couple: Aniya & Carl. They compare how the Gen Z and Millennial boys approach the girls (Hint: the Gen Z boys are giving incel!) Then Melissa and Lena make their predictions ahead of the finale!

Lena also investigates the origin of kissing games like Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven, with some surprising results! Stick around for some history about dating shows in general, from The Dating Game to The Bachelor. Thanks for listening!

Follow Melissa:https://www.instagram.com/melissaflo/

Follow Smooch Fest:⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod

Email us your kissing stories at smoochfestpod@gmail.com

Links:Carl & Aniya’s Kisses in Say Less:

https://youtu.be/2okAVjw3hb4?si=urZuz5bsujqOOos-

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaQQwoeOG3Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Last Season’s episode about Love Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfVj1MBeVug&t=64s

Melissa’s episode on the smooches in Friends:

https://youtu.be/-XwY6FJysqc?si=5LArfXnmgMQMzJuq

Link to Mental Floss article: https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/games/9-victorian-parlor-games-sparked-romance

Link to Bachelor Nation book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/bachelor-nation-inside-the-world-of-america-s-favorite-guilty-pleasure-amy-kaufman/742fa9a1d8e38fb2

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Welcome back to the Smooch Fest podcast! We are so excited to bring you season TWO!

Our host, Lena Olson, is joined by returning guest, Melissa Flores. They catch up on Season 8 of Love Island USA and discuss the hottest smooches between their favorite couple: Aniya & Carl. They compare how the Gen Z and Millennial boys approach the girls (Hint: the Gen Z boys are giving incel!) Then Melissa and Lena make their predictions ahead of the finale!

Lena also investigates the origin of kissing games like Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven, with some surprising results! Stick around for some history about dating shows in general, from The Dating Game to The Bachelor. Thanks for listening!

Follow Melissa:https://www.instagram.com/melissaflo/

Follow Smooch Fest:⁠https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod

Email us your kissing stories at smoochfestpod@gmail.com

Links:Carl & Aniya’s Kisses in Say Less:

https://youtu.be/2okAVjw3hb4?si=urZuz5bsujqOOos-

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaQQwoeOG3Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Last Season’s episode about Love Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfVj1MBeVug&t=64s

Melissa’s episode on the smooches in Friends:

https://youtu.be/-XwY6FJysqc?si=5LArfXnmgMQMzJuq

Link to Mental Floss article: https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/games/9-victorian-parlor-games-sparked-romance

Link to Bachelor Nation book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/bachelor-nation-inside-the-world-of-america-s-favorite-guilty-pleasure-amy-kaufman/742fa9a1d8e38fb2

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine a18a96eb-fe1e-4e25-8e52-e36fa0d8cb1f Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3663 2 1 true Season 2 Trailer - Smooch Fest Season 2 Trailer - Smooch Fest Here’s the thing about me... I have a sickness, an affliction, where I need two people to kiss in every movie, TV show, or book that I consume. 

And when they don’t kiss? I feel cheated. I feel betrayed. I lose the will to live. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and turn this condition into cultural commentary.

I'm Lena Olson, your host and smooch connoisseur. Every episode, a guest joins me to discuss the most iconic kissing scenes in pop culture history. 

This season, we’re talking about the smooches in Titanic, Heated Rivalry, Love Island, Gilmore Girls, the three-way kiss between Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV VMA awards, and MORE.

But it wouldn’t be a kissing podcast if we just kept it to pop culture. We delve into personal stories about our first, best, and worst kisses. We learn about the science and history behind smooching. Why did people start kissing in the first place? When was the first gay kiss on screen? How much bacteria gets transferred when people kiss? Any question you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask!

So get ready for Season 2, dropping July 9th later this week. Available on all podcast platforms, as well as Youtube, Instagram and Tiktok @smoochfestpod 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Here’s the thing about me... I have a sickness, an affliction, where I need two people to kiss in every movie, TV show, or book that I consume. 

And when they don’t kiss? I feel cheated. I feel betrayed. I lose the will to live. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and turn this condition into cultural commentary.

I'm Lena Olson, your host and smooch connoisseur. Every episode, a guest joins me to discuss the most iconic kissing scenes in pop culture history. 

This season, we’re talking about the smooches in Titanic, Heated Rivalry, Love Island, Gilmore Girls, the three-way kiss between Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV VMA awards, and MORE.

But it wouldn’t be a kissing podcast if we just kept it to pop culture. We delve into personal stories about our first, best, and worst kisses. We learn about the science and history behind smooching. Why did people start kissing in the first place? When was the first gay kiss on screen? How much bacteria gets transferred when people kiss? Any question you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask!

So get ready for Season 2, dropping July 9th later this week. Available on all podcast platforms, as well as Youtube, Instagram and Tiktok @smoochfestpod 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 076dd436-1e9b-47c7-8f6f-1f17cc5cc7cc Tue, 07 Jul 2026 01:41:28 -0400 104 false It’s A Wonderful Smooch (Vanessa Guerrero Returns) It’s A Wonderful Smooch (Vanessa Guerrero Returns) Vanessa Guerrero (Producer, Writer, Unemployed Hot Person) RETURNS for a special holiday episode! Vanessa and Lena talk about the iconic smooch in the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Later, they talk about their personal experiences shooting kissing scenes. Stick around to the end to learn about the origin of kissing under the mistletoe! Wishing everyone a Smoochy Holiday season and a Smacky New Year <3


NOTE: This is the final episode of Season 1 of Smooch Fest, thank you SO much for listening and watching. Season 2 will be back next Spring!


Relevant Links:

It’s A Wonderful Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk

The Celluloid Closet documentary: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-celluloid-closet 


Follow Vanessa:

https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/ 

https://x.com/nessguerrero 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod



Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Vanessa Guerrero (Producer, Writer, Unemployed Hot Person) RETURNS for a special holiday episode! Vanessa and Lena talk about the iconic smooch in the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Later, they talk about their personal experiences shooting kissing scenes. Stick around to the end to learn about the origin of kissing under the mistletoe! Wishing everyone a Smoochy Holiday season and a Smacky New Year <3


NOTE: This is the final episode of Season 1 of Smooch Fest, thank you SO much for listening and watching. Season 2 will be back next Spring!


Relevant Links:

It’s A Wonderful Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk

The Celluloid Closet documentary: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-celluloid-closet 


Follow Vanessa:

https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/ 

https://x.com/nessguerrero 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod



Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 12b682c6-592b-4d4f-a521-a789a1e53919 Thu, 25 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0500 2205 1 14 true Wicked: For Good and Gay Hallmark (Caitlin Alice Gilbert Returns!) Wicked: For Good and Gay Hallmark (Caitlin Alice Gilbert Returns!) Caitlin Alice Gilbert (Author/Screenwriter) RETURNS to discuss Wicked: For Good and the smooch between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). They compare the chemistry from the musical and the film, Elphaba’s sex cardigan, and Jonathan Bailey becoming People’s Sexiest Man Alive. It’s also holiday season, so Lena takes us back to A Moment In Kisstory: where we learn about the first gay kiss in a Hallmark Christmas movie, The Christmas House. She shares how queer representation in Hallmark has developed over the years. Enjoy this penultimate episode of the first season of Smooch Fest!


Follow Caitlin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/ 

X: https://x.com/caitlingilbs 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs 


Pre-Order her book here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-dolce-veto-caitlin-alice-gilbert/e72b30b236dc7af4?ean=9781923232310&next=t& 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   


Photoshopped Shirt in Wicked: For Good  https://x.com/demboiii/status/1994185827870449927 


Wicked: For Good kissing scene - Because this is still in theaters, no legal clips are online, so I encourage you to see it in theaters or when it comes out on streaming!


The Christmas House kiss: No clips online but you can rent it on multiple platforms. Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUTa9QG9uQ 


LGBTQ Hallmark Article: https://www.girlsgonehallmark.com/lgbtq-hallmark-movies/ 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Caitlin Alice Gilbert (Author/Screenwriter) RETURNS to discuss Wicked: For Good and the smooch between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). They compare the chemistry from the musical and the film, Elphaba’s sex cardigan, and Jonathan Bailey becoming People’s Sexiest Man Alive. It’s also holiday season, so Lena takes us back to A Moment In Kisstory: where we learn about the first gay kiss in a Hallmark Christmas movie, The Christmas House. She shares how queer representation in Hallmark has developed over the years. Enjoy this penultimate episode of the first season of Smooch Fest!


Follow Caitlin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/ 

X: https://x.com/caitlingilbs 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs 


Pre-Order her book here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-dolce-veto-caitlin-alice-gilbert/e72b30b236dc7af4?ean=9781923232310&next=t& 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   


Photoshopped Shirt in Wicked: For Good  https://x.com/demboiii/status/1994185827870449927 


Wicked: For Good kissing scene - Because this is still in theaters, no legal clips are online, so I encourage you to see it in theaters or when it comes out on streaming!


The Christmas House kiss: No clips online but you can rent it on multiple platforms. Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUTa9QG9uQ 


LGBTQ Hallmark Article: https://www.girlsgonehallmark.com/lgbtq-hallmark-movies/ 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine eb3b40b9-b256-4f7d-89fb-08a6268e57d2 Sun, 14 Dec 2025 15:24:47 -0500 3511 1 13 true Abbott Elementary (with Paige Elson) Abbott Elementary (with Paige Elson) Paige Elson (Actor/Writer/Comedian) joins Lena to do a deep dive into Abbott Elementary! They discuss the two momentous smooches between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). The gals compare other sitcom slow burn relationships and give their predictions for the couple in future seasons. Paige shares a story about her best kiss (hint: it’s a New Year's smooch!) Stick around for the Smooch Fact to hear about your brain on smooching. School’s in session! Study up!


Follow Paige:

https://www.instagram.com/paigeelson/

https://www.instagram.com/anointedgreens/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@AnointedGreens 

Substack


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   


First Janinory Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBrVPX2HqGQ 

Second Gregine Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgKTD5q2Uw 

Weird Image of That Guy - Sensory Homunculus: https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/109358431327849124 
Book: The Science of Kissing

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Paige Elson (Actor/Writer/Comedian) joins Lena to do a deep dive into Abbott Elementary! They discuss the two momentous smooches between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). The gals compare other sitcom slow burn relationships and give their predictions for the couple in future seasons. Paige shares a story about her best kiss (hint: it’s a New Year's smooch!) Stick around for the Smooch Fact to hear about your brain on smooching. School’s in session! Study up!


Follow Paige:

https://www.instagram.com/paigeelson/

https://www.instagram.com/anointedgreens/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@AnointedGreens 

Substack


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   


First Janinory Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBrVPX2HqGQ 

Second Gregine Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgKTD5q2Uw 

Weird Image of That Guy - Sensory Homunculus: https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/109358431327849124 
Book: The Science of Kissing

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 77710d3b-a386-41ad-ba2a-74ef61d42242 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:20:59 -0500 4098 1 12 true The Bodyguard (with Nina Concepcion) The Bodyguard (with Nina Concepcion) Nina Concepcion (Actor/Writer) joins Lena to talk about her favorite pop culture smooch: the kiss between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner on the airport tarmac in The Bodyguard (1992)!


(NOTE: the first few minutes of audio is lower quality than usual, luckily, it kicked back into gear by minute 5!)


The girls gab about Costner and Houston's chemistry and how 90s movies were just BETTER. Later, Nina shares stories about her worst and best kisses (and it features a marching band). Lena ends the episode sharing a Moment in Kisstory: the time Al Gore made out with his wife, Tipper, too long at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. They get into the difference between Boomers and the Silent Generation. You’re gonna love this ep! 



Follow Nina:

https://www.instagram.com/nina_concepcion/

https://www.instagram.com/obsessed_theshow/

https://www.instagram.com/ruthiejoinsadeathcult/ 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   



The Bodyguard Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gynU1x2Lk 

Al & Tipper Gore Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0kAoEWS2o 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Nina Concepcion (Actor/Writer) joins Lena to talk about her favorite pop culture smooch: the kiss between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner on the airport tarmac in The Bodyguard (1992)!


(NOTE: the first few minutes of audio is lower quality than usual, luckily, it kicked back into gear by minute 5!)


The girls gab about Costner and Houston's chemistry and how 90s movies were just BETTER. Later, Nina shares stories about her worst and best kisses (and it features a marching band). Lena ends the episode sharing a Moment in Kisstory: the time Al Gore made out with his wife, Tipper, too long at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. They get into the difference between Boomers and the Silent Generation. You’re gonna love this ep! 



Follow Nina:

https://www.instagram.com/nina_concepcion/

https://www.instagram.com/obsessed_theshow/

https://www.instagram.com/ruthiejoinsadeathcult/ 


Follow Smooch Fest:

https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod   



The Bodyguard Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gynU1x2Lk 

Al & Tipper Gore Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0kAoEWS2o 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine d4a3c749-a180-4796-8f5e-c266f5d8b0bf Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:32:36 -0500 3384 1 11 true A Very Spooky Smooch: Jennifer's Body (with Fiona Nova) A Very Spooky Smooch: Jennifer's Body (with Fiona Nova) 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 7a09f6f5-74d3-4273-9ab5-a13237d99340 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400 3456 1 10 true When Superheroes Smooch (with Kassem G) When Superheroes Smooch (with Kassem G) 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine bcfe2615-807d-44e5-988e-6a9a74fc4f28 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:38:00 -0400 3713 1 9 true Imagine Me & You & The Hunting Wives (with Dana Handleman) Imagine Me & You & The Hunting Wives (with Dana Handleman) 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine ddf7a86d-56c5-4b24-8a08-cc155b860eb9 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400 3536 1 8 true Bridgerton & The 2005 MTV Movie Awards (with Caitlin Alice Gilbert) Bridgerton & The 2005 MTV Movie Awards (with Caitlin Alice Gilbert) 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/ 

X: https://x.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/



Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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/ 

X: https://x.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/



Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine cfa96b7a-b02c-4027-a3f5-0fbd95242b46 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400 4723 1 7 true SMOOCH SMACKDOWN: FRIENDS EDITION (with Melissa Flores) SMOOCH SMACKDOWN: FRIENDS EDITION (with Melissa Flores) 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 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine cd8e483a-ad90-426e-bf0c-52176e9fd729 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:07:30 -0400 4359 1 6 true John Tucker Must Die! Animals Must Kiss! (with Ruby Kostur) John Tucker Must Die! Animals Must Kiss! (with Ruby Kostur) 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine e078ffb9-53d9-4d74-8e28-0a0466d48ef0 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:01 -0400 2990 1 5 true Twilight & Lesbian Vampires (with Hayley Voland) Twilight & Lesbian Vampires (with Hayley Voland) 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 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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 

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 90eea033-947a-4ba5-9253-b44ab9d4e36c Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400 3557 1 4 true 10 Things I Hate About Pride & Prejudice (with Katie Chilson) 10 Things I Hate About Pride & Prejudice (with Katie Chilson) 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 90aa8e06-9396-42bc-8fd1-54049e11b38e Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400 2506 1 3 false NicOlandria & The Parent Trap (with Leah Pablo) NicOlandria & The Parent Trap (with Leah Pablo) 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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 


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine ad07b5b8-ed8d-43a0-93a7-a49039e9e3a5 Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400 2242 1 2 true New Girl & Kissless Twisters (with Vanessa Guerrero) New Girl & Kissless Twisters (with Vanessa Guerrero) 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


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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


Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine ab2cb884-f3b1-41c0-959c-fb466cc11cf9 Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400 2438 1 1 true Smooch Fest Trailer Smooch Fest Trailer 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> 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

Smooch Fest is a biweekly podcast featuring film and television discussions about the most romantic kisses in pop culture. Each episode, Lena Olson is joined by guests to revisit the most famous onscreen kisses in film & television. Are you a millennial with 90s and 2000s nostalgia for romantic comedies, comfort watches, and goofy banter? We’ve got analysis about the cutest TV couples, what kisses reveal about relationship dynamics, and behind the scenes info you don’t want to miss!

Are you curious about the history of kissing, cultural kissing practices, and why people kiss in the first place? Lena shares the fascinating history behind the culture of kissing and courtship. Guests share personal relationship stories about their first kiss, advice for kissing techniques, and funny observations about humorous dating mishaps. Smooch Fest explores how kissing and romance is depicted across the spectrum of sexuality, culture, and gender. Lena shares details about queer television history, first gay onscreen kisses, and WLW romance across media. If it wasn’t clear, this is a bisexual podcast featuring kisses across the straight, gay, and lesbian spectrum. 

Learn about the science of kissing from experts: do animals kiss, why do humans kiss? And historical kisses like the first recorded kiss on film, and the first interracial kiss on television.

Come for the timeless romance and scene study of the best kisses in pop cultural history. Stay for the feminist...

]]> Lena Olson | Pop Culture Aficionado | Kissing Expert | Romantic Comedy Heroine 0498d5d9-ce0b-486f-9341-22f869a39080 Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:52:25 -0400 104 false