Smooch Fest - the Kissing Podcast

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 co...

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 ...

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 Hal...

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 a...

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 an...

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 he...

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, ...

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&rsquo...

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! T...

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...

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!...

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...

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!

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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!

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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! 

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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 smoo...