First Dates & Soulmates is a romance podcast where craft meets culture, hosted by romance author Meg Casebolt and pop culture devotee Nikki McKnight. Expect trope frameworks, feminist film critiques, author interviews, and sometimes ridiculous readalongs. <br/><br/><a href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com</a>
First Dates & Soulmates
Claim This Podcastby Meg Casebolt & Nikki McKnight
4.8(6 reviews)
113 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
68
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality95
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement32
Podcast Overview
First Dates & Soulmates is a romance podcast where craft meets culture, hosted by romance author Meg Casebolt and pop culture devotee Nikki McKnight. Expect trope frameworks, feminist film critiques, author interviews, and sometimes ridiculous readalongs. <br/><br/><a href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/13/2024
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68
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality95
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement32
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excellent
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Every 7 days
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72 episodes over 1.3 years
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Recent Episodes
June 17, 2026
Bottoms & Fire Island: This Is What Queer Romance Gets to Be Now
<p>It’s Pride Month, and Nikki and Meg are spending it with a lesbian fight club and a bunch of gays on vacation. </p><p>This week’s episode is a double feature: Bottoms (2023) and Fire Island (2022), two queer comedies with 98% and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes respectively that somehow flew under the radar until now.</p><p>Both films skip the coming-out arc entirely. Both are messy, funny, and a little absurd. And both have something genuinely sharp to say about class, hierarchy, and what queer stories are actually allowed to be.</p><p>Nikki and Meg dig into:</p><p>* Why starting with “we’re already gay” changes everything about how these films work, and what it means that queer identity isn’t the transformation arc</p><p>* How both films use social hierarchy (popular cheerleaders, wealthy gay lawyers, and Nicholas Galitzine acting like a “whiny, whiny bitch” on crutches) to ask the same question Pride and Prejudice was asking in Regency England</p><p>* The Bottoms subversion: what happens when you take Fight Club, swap in lesbians, and accidentally build a feminist empowerment movement you didn’t mean to start</p><p>* Fire Island as a queer Pride and Prejudice retelling that earns its happy-for-now ending precisely because it refuses the heteronormative template for what a romantic ending has to look like</p><p><strong>Books & Media We Mention:</strong></p><p>Bottoms (2023), dir. Emma Seligman, written by Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman </p><p>Fire Island (2022), dir. Andrew Ahn, written by Joel Kim Booster</p><p>Would Recommend: Real Stories From Businesses Worth Talking About, hosted by Nikki McKnight <a target="_blank" href="https://theopshop.biz/wouldrecommend">https://theopshop.biz/wouldrecommend</a></p><p></p><p>What' We’re Shipping This Week:</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4v5HoAZ">When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4uuloPe">The Beast Who Bought Me by Leighton Green, Clemenza Family Series Book 1 </a></p><p><strong>How You Can Support The Show</strong></p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p>Rate, review, and subscribe on your podcast provider of choice</p><p>Discover your romance trope and get a custom play list at <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/</a></p><p><strong>Follow Us On Social:</strong></p><p>Instagram <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/">https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/</a></p><p>TikTok <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates">https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates</a></p><p>Threads: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a> </p><p>Email us at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com">firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com</a> </p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p></p><p><strong>Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?</strong></p><p>Check out our sponsorship opportunities: <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/ </a></p><p>Buy our official merch on TeePublic: <a target="_blank" href="http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk">http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk</a></p><p>Get Meg’s Latest Book: <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4altuTv">https://amzn.to/4altuTv</a></p><p>Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative">https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative</a></p><p>Get a paid subscription on Substack for one month or for many months!</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at <a href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 10, 2026
Historically Extraordinary: Joanna Lowell on Queer & Trans Victorians, Bohemian Spaces, and the Duke Problem
<p>Queer historical romance isn’t a revision of history; it’s a restoration of it. Meg and Nikki sit down with queer historical romance author Joanna Lowell to talk about what it actually takes to write trans and queer characters into the Victorian era with both rigour and heart . </p><p>Meg and Nikki dig in with Joanna on:</p><p>* Why Joanna set A Shore Thing in the 1880s specifically and what that decade was doing to the very concept of sexual identity</p><p>* Joanna on the Courtney Milan principle: not historically ordinary, historically extraordinary</p><p>* Meg’s hot take on queer romance series where every single character is queer, and yes, she went there</p><p>* How Joanna writes pronouns for a non-binary Regency character when the language literally didn’t exist yet</p><p>Learn more about Joanna at https://www.joannalowell.com/</p><p>Joanna's books we discussed: </p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/3RdRWiy">The Duke Undone</a>, Joanna’s debut novel</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/3PqrNMU">A Shore Thing</a>, the story of a Victorian botanist & transmasc artist/bike shop owner</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/3Razzep">A Rare Find</a>, a standalone Regency sapphic romance</p><p>* What we're shipping this week: </p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/3RiO0go">When Twilight Breaks</a> by Sarah Sundin</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4tEN2sc">Shadows Never Lie (Shadow Duet, Book 1)</a> by Lark Taylor</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4wBpYgE">Earthly Playing Field</a> by Radhika Singh</p><p>* nvidiosa - Argentinian TV series by Carolina Aguirre</p><p>* Matias Half-Keyboard (accessibility tool mentioned by Joanna)</p><p>This episode is brought to you by <a target="_blank" href="https://baileyseaborn.com/happily-ever-indie/">Happily Ever Indie</a>, the romance marketing education nobody else is teaching—how readers actually find books on Amazon, what makes the platform decide to show yours, and why so much common advice doesn’t lead to sales.</p><p><strong>How You Can Support The Show</strong></p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p>Rate, review, and subscribe on your podcast provider of choice</p><p>Discover your romance trope and get a custom play list at <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/</a></p><p><strong>Follow Us On Social:</strong></p><p>Instagram <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/">https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/</a></p><p>TikTok <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates">https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates</a></p><p>Threads: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a> </p><p>Email us at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com">firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com</a> </p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p></p><p><strong>Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?</strong></p><p>Check out our sponsorship opportunities: <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/ </a></p><p>Buy our official merch on TeePublic: <a target="_blank" href="http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk">http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk</a></p><p>Get Meg’s Latest Book: <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4altuTv">https://amzn.to/4altuTv</a></p><p>Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative">https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative</a></p><p>Get a paid subscription on Substack for one month or for many months!</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at <a href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 4, 2026
Signings, Swag, and Spicy Takes From Love and Romance in Toronto
<p>Nikki packed a mic, a tripod, and a willingness to approach total strangers at a romance book signing. </p><p>What she came back with was a full day of candid conversations with authors and audiobook narrators about the genre they love, and what they think the rest of the world is finally starting to catch up on.</p><p>What came out of those conversations:</p><p>* What it actually takes to produce a romance audiobook (hint: it’s not just someone sitting in a closet reading out loud, and the bloopers are apparently a whole genre unto themselves)</p><p>* The authors who think romance’s biggest rule-breaking opportunity isn’t the happy ending or the third act conflict - it’s the friend group</p><p>* How queer romance writers are using the genre to show queer people just having regular, messy, funny, loving lives, no tragedy required</p><p>* The craft debate about third act breakups, and the authors who won’t write them </p><p>Nikki also very much wants to host a panel at this event next year, and she'd like you to know that.</p><p></p><p><strong>Our Ships:</strong></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4dKhiMw">Under Southern Stars by Cari Blake</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/435fiJQ">Bound to You (Genesis Bonds Book 1) by Haze Lennox</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Check out some of the authors & narrators Nikki talked to:</strong></p><p>* Olivia Carter: https://www.instagram.com/authoroliviacarter/</p><p>* Amber Elwood: https://www.instagram.com/amberelwoodauthor/</p><p>* Amy Aislin: https://www.instagram.com/amyaislin/</p><p>* Charlie Novak: https://www.instagram.com/charlienwrites/</p><p>* Jacqueline Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/jaxmiddleton_author/</p><p>* Jessie Elwyn: https://www.instagram.com/jessie_elwyn/</p><p>* Zack R: https://www.instagram.com/zackr.vo/</p><p>* Kate Hawthorne: https://www.instagram.com/kate.hawthorne/</p><p>* Keira Andrews: https://www.instagram.com/keiraandrewsauthor/</p><p>* Marie Allen: https://www.instagram.com/marieallenauthor/</p><p>* N Slater: https://www.instagram.com/authornslater/</p><p>* Vinni George: https://www.instagram.com/vinnigeorgewrites/</p><p>* Matthew Dante: https://www.instagram.com/matthew_dante_author/</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>How You Can Support The Show</strong></p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p>Rate, review, and subscribe on your podcast provider of choice</p><p>Discover your romance trope and get a custom play list at <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/quiz/</a></p><p><strong>Follow Us On Social:</strong></p><p>Instagram <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/">https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/</a></p><p>TikTok <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates">https://www.youtube.com/@FirstDatesSoulmates</a></p><p>Threads: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates">https://www.threads.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates</a> </p><p>Email us at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com">firstdatesandsoulmatespod@gmail.com</a> </p><p>Share the show with a friend or loved one!</p><p></p><p><strong>Got a Little Extra Money to Spend?</strong></p><p>Check out our sponsorship opportunities: <a target="_blank" href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/">https://firstdatesandsoulmates.com/sponsor/ </a></p><p>Buy our official merch on TeePublic: <a target="_blank" href="http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk">http://tee.pub/lic/6TtnpmFagAk</a></p><p>Get Meg’s Latest Book: <a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4altuTv">https://amzn.to/4altuTv</a></p><p>Shop our affiliate book recs on Amazon: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative">https://www.amazon.com/shop/caseboltcreative</a></p><p>Get a paid subscription on Substack for one month or for many months!</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to First Dates & Soulmates: Romance Podcast at <a href="https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/subscribe</a>
113 total episodes available
Recent guests on First Dates & Soulmates
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Olivia Carter
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Katie Freund
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DJ Jamison
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Jessica Topper
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Katie Milkman
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Alicia Naser
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This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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