Ep. 11: Seeking Intimacy and Hiding from Zombies: Reading Romance with Olivia Dade

Love, laughter, and... zombies?  Romance covers a wide range of genres, but what connects them all is an underlying yearning for friendship and intimacy. Author Olivia Dade joins us to talk about her new book Zomromcom, and how her main characters find love through joy, vulnerability, challenge, and yes, running from zombies.

 

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In this episode of Zipless, Allie Martina dives deep into what truly makes someone sexy—and spoiler alert: it’s not six-pack abs or a perfect pout.

Host Allie opens with a provocative reading from Erica Jong’s essay “What Is Sex Appeal?”, from her book What Do Women Want, exploring how true eroticism lives far beyond perfect bodies. She reflects on the mystery, yearning, and subtle gestures that ignite real desire.

From there, things get intimate and a bit sarcastic as voice actor Gideon Frost joins Allie for a reading from Olivia Dade’s upcoming romcom, Zomromcom. Think zombie attacks, soggy coveralls, macramé underwear, and a hero determined to keep a fiercely independent love interest warm and dry—a swoon-worthy mix of humor and vulnerability.

The heart of this episode is Allie’s interview with bestselling author Olivia Dade. They talk about why romcoms became lifelines during COVID, how readers crave both light stories and darker, angstier reads, and how Olivia’s personal journey with isolation, perfectionism, and depression shapes her books.

One of the most moving moments arrives as Olivia shares how her own struggles with depression inspired a deeply intimate bath scene in At First Spite. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most erotic, vulnerable moments have nothing to do with sex—and everything to do with being cared for when you feel most broken.

Olivia discusses writing Zomromcom as a joyful pivot—a chance to lean into laughter while still weaving in themes of connection, heroism, and love. And she talks about her unwavering commitment to writing fat heroines and heroes who get the full romance treatment: lust, longing, and happily-ever-afters.

“Romance isn’t just sex—it’s about being known. And knowing someone else deeply—that’s love.” — Olivia Dade

Whether you’re here for zombies, burritos used as weapons, or deep discussions about body positivity, this episode is one not to miss.

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Episode Highlights:

- Why true sex appeal lives in mystery and imagination

- How vulnerability creates intimacy deeper than sex

- Olivia Dade’s personal inspirations behind her most poignant scenes

- Writing humor as a balm for hard times

- Body diversity in romance and why it matters

- A fun reading from Zomromcom that’s as spicy as it is sweet

 

Books Mentioned on Audio:

• Zomromcom (preorder)— Olivia Dade (out August 5th)
• Spoiler Alert — Olivia Dade
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