We Found Our Soul Sister… and She Writes SPICY Slow Burns | An Interview with Romance Author, Carly Robyn

This week on What the Smut Are You Talking About, we’re bringing the chaos AND the slow burn with indie romance author Carly Robyn.

We’re talking Formula One romances, golden retriever MMCs, black cat heroines, and why Carly might just be the accidental queen of slow burn. Plus, fake dating, her new hockey romance series, mutual pining, and all the tropey goodness you know we live for.

Carly spills on her writing process (plotter vs feral gremlin energy), the absolutely unhinged things she’s had to Google for “research,” and the tiny Easter eggs she hides in her books that you probably missed. Oh and there’s a LOT of Diet Coke talk… obviously.

We also dive into:

•  Books we’re currently obsessed with 
•  Reality TV chaos & binge-worthy recs
•  Our unhinged thoughts of the week (because therapy is expensive)

If you love spicy romance with heat, humor, and heart or you’re just here for the vibes... This is one episode that you don't want to miss.

Grab your snacky snack, your emotional support beverage, and come hang out while we ask the important question: what the smut are we talking about this week?

Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow so you never miss an episode of chaos!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:31

What's up, Book Nerds? Welcome to What the Smut Are You Talking About podcast. We are a weekly romance book podcast where we talk about books and chaos. So yeah, pretty much anything goes.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Join us as we talk about the books we are reading, what crazy shenanigans are happening in our lives, and who knows, we may have some fun guests drop by.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

So grab your favorite snacky snack and your beverage of choice and come hang out and see what the smut we are talking about this week.

– Meet the Guest: Indie Author Carly Robyn

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Welcome back, everyone. How are you, Mary? I'm doing good. How are you doing? I am hanging in there. It's a Friday, so I'm ready for the weekend. Well, we have a surprise guest to introduce to you guys today. This indie author writes romance stories with heat, heart, and humor. A Chicago native. And a fellow Diet Coke lover. Welcome, Carly Robin.

– Diet Coke Obsession & Daily Rituals

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Hi, Carly.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Hi, guys. I am glad to hear that you also are a Diet Coke lover.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

Oh my gosh. I yes, I'm obsessed. Like my goal for this season is to get Diet Coke to recognize me, like, because we talk about it in every episode.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

If Court could have an IV line of Diet Coke going into her veins, she would.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

I would as well. And I live right around the corner from a 7-Eleven. And it's very dangerous because I'll just get big gulps like all the time as a treat to myself. And I'm like, I don't even know if it can be considered a treat if I'm getting one every day.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

It's at this point just like a ritual. Big fans of treat yourselves around here.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

So exactly. Coffee is for morning, diet coke is for afternoon.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Yes. Yes, yes. Which surprisingly, I haven't had a diet coke yet today. I'm shocked. I didn't have my coffee this morning. I took it. You would be so proud of me, Mary. I brought my my Stanley to work with me today. So I've already chugged 40 ounces of water. Who am I? We're twinning. We're twinning. I have my Stanley of water right now. Yes. Right, right. So I'm excited because Valentine just dropped fire and ice into my Kindle yesterday. So I'm super excited to dive into an

– “Accidental” Slow Burn Queen

SPEAKER_01 2:53

arc read of that. I did earlier this month, I did Devour Ice Ice Baby. So I'm really, really excited to check out Fire and Ice. Yay! From doing all my research about you, I feel like you are the slow burn queen.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

Yeah. And I it happened accidentally. Like I think when I started writing and really studying like romance beats and all of that, like my head for some reason just locked in on like, okay, this is when, you know, they get together. And so it's just I follow it because that's the cadence I've gotten used to writing. And everyone's like, oh my God, it's such a slow burn. And I was like, oh, okay. And that was not on purpose. That's just how I like do it, guys.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Right.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

I was like, it's all part of the process. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

I love a good slow burn. So I'm here for it.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Same, same. They earn it. It feels like a well-deserved, you know, get together when you make the characters work for it.

SPEAKER_00 4:00

Yes. It makes it that much sweeter. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Agreed. Well, I want to be honest for a moment. When I saw you wrote Formula One drivers books for your Drive Me series, I that is like one thing I can't get into is just like any type of race car or Formula One racing books. I've tried it in the past, but Mary has like convinced me because she just got through reading Drive Me Crazy. And I'm like, fuck it. I'm I'm picking up Formula One book.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

Courtney. Courtney. So you so you have to listen, Courtney. The opening sentence in Drive Me Crazy, the very first

– The Opening Line That Sold the Book

SPEAKER_00 4:38

sentence, it's so cold out that my nips could be classified as weapons of mass destruction.

SPEAKER_02 4:44

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

It starts off with banger. If that doesn't make you laugh and want to pick up the book and continue reading, then I then I'm I'm like, I don't know what does. I highlighted every single line in here that made me laugh out loud because it was just it was just like gold, like total gold moments. Yes. So I have, let's see here. I have how many highlights do I have total? Why won't it tell me? Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ten highlights throughout the book of it just made me laugh.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

You're making me blush. I know you can't see me, but I'm blushing. And I promise, I promise, Courtney, like whenever I am at events or anything, and people are like, oh, Formula One, and like I can tell they're kind of on the fence. I'm like, trust me when I say you do not have to know, understand a single thing about racing. Like, it adds to the backdrop. But at the end of the day, like, how many sports romances do we read where this you know sport is 2% of the book? It's not don't want it to scare people away. Like it's still obviously part of the story, but you don't have to know anything about it to enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

It's a really good blend of sports, F1 racing, and I don't watch F1 racing, never have. And this, I can't wait to read the second one. I already have it, I just haven't had a chance to dive into it. But you do the story really well, so the F1 racing fits seamlessly in with the actual romance story.

SPEAKER_02 6:19

Thank you. And let me just tell you, if you laugh at Drive Me Crazy, personally, I think Drive You Wild is the funniest because Theo, who's the MMC, is just like golden retriever, ADHD brain, like no filter. And

– Golden Retriever MMC Energy & Banter Goals

SPEAKER_02 6:37

like the entire time I'm writing, I'm like, I cannot believe he just said that. And I'm like, wait, I'm the one who wrote it. It's okay. He he said it, it's fine. Love that for you. So you're in for a treat.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Awesome. I can't wait. Well, from communicating back and forth with you, we we call them our big girl jobs around here because we don't like to talk about full-time work. But so, what do you do outside of writing? What field are you in?

SPEAKER_02 7:00

I uh do consumer trends and insights

– The “Big Girl Job” Reality Check

SPEAKER_02 7:04

for a chocolate company. That is so cool.

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Yeah, so you get free chocolate. That's like the biggest.

SPEAKER_02 7:14

I do. I'm like, probably. Yeah, I get free chocolate. There's chefs in the office at all times. So like they'll randomly be like, Oh, do you want this fancy croissant? And I'm like, uh, you don't even need to explain it to me. Like, I dessert, yes, please. You have a croissant. Yeah, oh yeah. Yeah. It's oh my gosh. It's great. It's a it's a big girl job. It certainly is that.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

I love that for you. We both we both totally understand that.

unknown 7:51

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

I'm like, I sometimes, you know, when you wake up and you're like, do I need a paycheck? Like, do I need health insurance? Or could I stay home and read

– Do We Actually Need Jobs… or Just Books?

SPEAKER_02 8:02

Rights of the Starling today? Which was, you know, something that I did this week. I was like, how badly do I need to go in? And I was like, unfortunately, I do. All right, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:54

So I I'm extremely spoiled out of the group. I actually work my big girl job from home.

SPEAKER_02 8:59

I'm half and half. I go in half the week and then I'm work from home the other half of the week, but I still have to be on camera. I don't let that stop me from wearing my sweatshirts though. So I'll like jump on a meeting and I sh literally just look like I woke up from a nap and it's like 3 p.m. And I'm like, no, I've just looked like this the entire day. This is the this is the normal.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Love that. Well, what are you currently drinking? And is it strong enough for this conversation?

SPEAKER_02 9:30

I'm currently so I am the slowest coffee drinker known to mankind. Like notoriously slow with drinking coffee. I will nurse the same one from like 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. So I'm

– Getting to know Carly

SPEAKER_02 9:45

about thirds done with my coffee from this morning. Um, so that's what I'm drinking, and water.

SPEAKER_00 9:51

So the answer is no. So the answer is no.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

That was a really long way to say no. It's not strong enough. We were talking in like maybe like four hours, probably. But right now, uh, we're keeping it PG and ultra caffeinated.

SPEAKER_01 10:06

On a scale of plotter to feral gremlin, what is your writing process like? Oh, it's a good question.

SPEAKER_02 10:14

It has changed wildly from my first book to how I write now. Drive me crazy. I just wrote on a prayer in a dream. There was no plotting involved whatsoever. Pretty much the whole drive me series was a little bit just like, all right, we'll see what happens. And then I think I think it was Ice Ice Baby. My agent, before we started like pitching it, was like, okay, can you write me a chapter by chapter outline? And I was like, No, I cannot. And she was like, Oh, I'm sorry, that was not a question. Like, I need a chapter by chapter outline. And I was like, I don't know how to do that, quite frankly. So it was definitely a learning curve. And some of the chapters I would just write good banter and spice. And she was like, What is it? It was like, that's all you're gonna get from me. I don't know what to tell you.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Oh my gosh, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 11:07

I will say sorry about it, but yeah, I was like, I don't know where it's going. Like, you'll find out when I find out, but I will say it did my the actual writing process for the book a little easier. So I was like, oh crap, I guess maybe I should sort of do this. So I have a very loose, I write down the numbers like one through 35, and I write down like general scene ideas, but not necessarily like how they enhance the plot. They're just like scenes I know I'm gonna want to write and hope for the best. But honestly, like what I originally plan and what actually happens end up looking like 50% similar, but I tend to just write what I want and hope it works out.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Well, honestly, that's how like the best books get written, because you're like letting the characters pretty much write it for you at this point.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

So definitely know how she's gonna react, but we'll find out at the same time, me and her. So it'll be it makes it fun. It's like uh, you know, who knows what's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

Only only the character knows. I'm just along for the ride. When did you make the jump from writing is fun to do to this is now my new personality?

SPEAKER_02 12:29

Probably after I can't even know when it I don't think I ever noticed the change. I think just one day it was a reading's my whole personality, and then it just slowly shifted into writing is my new personality because I think probably honestly, the first time I got an idea to even write for Drive Me Crazy because it just wouldn't leave me alone. It was like an itch that couldn't be scratched, and it kind of took over my brain and just has never left. I think that's like a non-answer, but an answer at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

No, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 13:01

Who has been your easiest character to write? Ella from Me Crazy. Because I think I mean it was my first time writing, so it's like the world was at my disposal, and I share a lot of personality traits with her. So I think it was probably easiest because a lot of how she reacts to things are how I would react to things. So not she is not me and I am not her, but I think I gave a lot of myself to her, so it was easiest to write just because I think I knew her the best from the beginning. Yeah, I would say Ella.

SPEAKER_00 13:36

She's so fun.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

She's she's uh she's fun, she is great.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

What is a tiny detail that a reader may never truly notice or appreciate, but you completely obsessed over in the book?

SPEAKER_02 13:48

Any number involved in my book is a birthday. So, like for my drive me series, Lake is number 25. Oh, from Ice Ice Baby is 25 because I was born on the 25th. Eo is number 17 because my mom and my brother were both born on the 17th. And Drive Me Home, his number is 29 because that's my dad's birthday. Like little things like that, I love to put in there. Something that I love that like so random and like not at all relevant, but Paul has a dog named Goose. He is a chocolate lab, and he is completely based on this dog on TikTok that I am obsessed with named Goose, and he's a chocolate lab.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

And oh my gosh, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 14:32

And I really need to send the girl like a book. She might be like, that's kind of weird, because what? But she's a dog sitter, and she just babysits this dog named Goose, and he's just this chonky chocolate lab, and he's so cute. And I was like, Paul needs to have a dog named Goose. That's a chocolate lab. He did not have a dog before I found this dog on TikTok. And then I was like, nope, this is now his dog, which is like just so random, and no one would ever, but like it makes me happy when I think about it.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

It's like this is now your new personality. You have a dog.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

Like, you are now a dog dad, you're a single dog dad, living your best life all because of a TikTok dog that I love, which there's literally no way a reader would ever know that. So there's no way for them to notice that. That's a tiny detail I love.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

That is awesome. Is there anything crazy that you've had to Google, you know, for research?

SPEAKER_02 15:30

And good question. Probably penis tattoos and tear and piercings would be a big one. I love it. One of like the more like sexual ones I've had to look up. I feel like I mean, my Google search history I should have me institutionalized. It's like I Google anything and everything. Same. Like some of the stuff I'm like, if the FBI ever looked, I would fully like be arrested just because it's like my curiosity overtakes me. And I'm like, huh, I wonder how that works. I don't want to do it, but I would like to know, you know, the schematics behind it. But I end up just googling a lot of like weird random things. I know for fire and ice, like the amount I could tell you about the different kind of ovens is insane. And it's there was no need for it. But I was like, Kennedy is an expert, she's a baker, she would know this. So I was like, in order to write her character, I need to know about the best mixers and the latest technology in pastry dough cutters, which like, no, I don't, but I searched it anyways, and I could tell you all about it, but you know, just wasting my own time is really what I like to do.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

I love it, I love it. So during all of this research and writing, do you have a snack of choice that you keep beside you and munch on?

SPEAKER_02 16:59

So I tend to hyperfixate on snacks, and it'll be like my favorite snack for four months, and then I won't eat it for like two years. But I'd say two that have been pretty consistent are Trader Joe's has these like pretzel slims, and I like those with peanut butter, like those pretzels specifically. I don't really dip any other pretzel for some reason, those dipped in peanut butter, or when I go to 7-Eleven to get my uh daily Diet Coke Fig gulp, I love to get Hex Mix has their muddy buddies. Yes. Oh, yes, I love them. Or in the Midwest, as we call it, puppy chow. So that has been like the least healthy, probably thing to snack on ever. But it's

– Breaking Down the Drive Me Series

SPEAKER_02 17:49

so delicious, and I feel like it gives me a sugar rush, so I feel really inspired.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Okay, so the Drive Me series, you know, you have Drive Me Crazy, which is your Grumpy Sunshine, Slow Burn, Formula One. She falls first, but he falls harder. And Mary definitely has got me onto this. So um I'm gonna have to move this up on my TPR.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

He's British and he calls her love. So, like, I don't know what else you need to know. You know, like that should sell you right there and then.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

Gift he left her. Like, I'm not gonna spoil it for Courtney, but the gift he left her on his kitchen island, like, just the way he shows his his care and how he loves her, even though he hasn't admitted it yet, is just it's so sweet.

SPEAKER_02 18:47

Like, just such a baby girl, secretly though.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

And then you have Drive Me Wild, which is Friends to Lovers. You have a Golden Retriever, MMC, F1, Workplace, and it's always been you. Yes. So I'm really excited to like read that one too, just because of what you've told us already.

SPEAKER_00 19:09

Um I can't wait for that one. I I can't wait for that one because they in book one, they are so hilarious, and you can see in the background like the tension between the two of them, and just that banter uh is is going to be is going to be gold.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

Listen, I'm biased, but um, I do think the banter is fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 19:33

Are these on audio? Yes, they are all available on audio, and then drive me home

– Boston Bobcats Series

SPEAKER_01 19:39

is brother's best friend, which huge fan of those stories. Secret relationship and mutual pining. Your new series.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

I know Courtney read Ice Ice Baby, correct, Court? Yes. That is part of the Boston Bobcat series, and so Ice Ice Baby is Black Cat versus Golden Retriever energy. He falls first, is a slow burn, and has all of the banter. Fire and ice is out now. It released April 23rd, and it is fake dating, grumpy sunshine. Any other tropey tropes you want to add, Carly?

SPEAKER_02 20:19

Probably some like mutual secret pining. Definitely opposites attract.

SPEAKER_01 20:24

I'm excited because fake dating is like my number one favorite trope out there. So I'm here for it.

SPEAKER_02 20:34

It's very fun, and I will say that my MMC from Drive Me Crazy makes a pretty big cameo in Fire and Ice. So Okay, I'm gonna have to catch up. Ella's younger brother, Tyler, is the rookie on the team in Fire and Ice. So you get some crossover.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

Oh, love it.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

I am a sucker for shared worlds. Like I love I love all the Easter egg goodness.

SPEAKER_02 21:10

Same.

SPEAKER_01 21:11

Oh my gosh. I devoured fun. Well, I'm super excited to to dive into this story. Um, I loved Ice Baby because she like I just love black cat energy. Like, I have my moments where I can be, you know, the bubbly outgoing person, but I would say 75% of the time, I'm just like, leave me the fuck alone and let me be. And so I'm here for that vibe.

SPEAKER_02 21:38

Yes, I it's funny, everyone thinks I'm very sunshine, and I'm like, yes, because I can be. And like when I feed off other people's energy, so like when I'm around friends, like, of course, I'm so outgoing, but I'm like, no, I am a total black cat. Like, for the majority of time, I'm like, leave me alone. I want to not talk to anyone, don't make eye contact with me. So it was very, it was very fun to write Maya because it's like she's like, yeah, no, I want to read, and you're talking to me right now, and it's interrupting my reading time. So please kindly shut your mouth. Like, that is her her personality.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Carly, I feel like we're soul sisters.

SPEAKER_02 22:17

I think we might be.

SPEAKER_01 22:21

Love it. All right, Mary, what are you currently reading?

SPEAKER_00 22:24

So I am reading Goose

– What We’re Currently Reading

SPEAKER_00 22:28

by L. Wilder, and it is part of a series. So I am a huge MC motorcycle romance junkie and read them all the time. So this is a continuation. This is book nine in the series, but I absolutely love Elle Wilder and her stories.

SPEAKER_02 22:52

Okay, wait, I haven't read her series. I haven't read her yet, but I love MC romance.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Okay, so we're gonna dive down the rabbit hole. So she has her first series is called Satan's Fury MC, and it's 10 books in that series, and Matt. Is book one. She also has like the Little Rock chapter and the Memphis chapter. So they so she like goes off onto different chapters, but they're all part of Satan's Fury. And then she also has the Ruthless Sinners MC, which kind of has a crossover, especially with the Memphis chapter. So there's they're like all in the same shared world. And I I just it's also a comfort read for me. So I will go back and binge like all of her books. Um when the best.

SPEAKER_02 23:47

Okay, love it. I just downloaded Maverick. So that is tonight's plan. Support. What is what are you currently reading?

SPEAKER_01 23:57

I just finished.

SPEAKER_02 23:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

I'm the I'm the audiobook nerd around here. I just finished this morning Jackson by Nissa Catherine, if I'm pronouncing her name right. This book has been on my Audible wish list like forever. I got suckered into it by one of those meta ads. You know, I'm a sucker for meta ads. Like you do a meta ad that's that's hooky, it's gonna get me. I am your target audience here. So it's been on, you know, my wish list forever. And with this last like audible huge sale, I was like, well, it's two bucks. I'm getting it. And I'm obsessed. It's I think a three or four book series. It is like ex like special forces. So any type of like military book I'm sold, like I I will want to read it. It is basically like it starts off at her brother's funeral, but she's like convinced he's not dead, and then his best friend comes to town and they've been like in love with each other forever. I was excited to like get through this, but now of course I have to go immediately read book two because I need the next story.

unknown 25:10

Of course.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

Always. So we know what you're starting tonight, Carly. But have you read anything interesting?

SPEAKER_02 25:19

Yeah, so well, I just started right to the starling, but because of the girl job, I've not really had much time to read. And I know that I'm gonna want to binge it. So, like, I read a few chapters and I was like, no, I have to put it down until this weekend. But I just I'm doing a reread of the Kate Daniels series by Lona Andrews. So I just finished um I think it's the fifth book, Magic Slays, and I love it. It's so good. It's just like there's something about the urban fantasy paranormal romance from the early 2000s that just really does it for me. It's just so good.

SPEAKER_01 25:58

Yes. Oh, well, I'm gonna have to find that. But I've I'm like been in the mood for like some kind of like paranormal.

SPEAKER_02 26:06

One of my favorite series ever is um I'm gonna butcher the name, Melini Singh. I know who you're talking about. She's uh I think a New Zealand author, but the series is the guild hunter. So good.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

You're destroying my TBR right now.

SPEAKER_02 26:24

I see her than Alona Andrews for sure.

SPEAKER_00 26:27

And she has audiobooks, Courtney.

unknown 26:28

Yay!

SPEAKER_02 26:29

Humor is like top tier in this series. Oh my gosh, so many books.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

So many books, so little time. But you know what? I'm here for it. So I'm a huge trust TV nerd, Carly. If you don't know this about me, like I'm obsessed. So I've been following, you know, like the secret life of Mormon Wives stuff that's been going on. And Taylor and Dakota's court hearing was it was either yesterday or today. So Taylor gets eight hours of supervised visits a week, and they're gonna reconvene at the end of the month because like the child advocate person wants to also address Dakota's ability to the parent. I see like them both losing custody of their kids, like it's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 27:15

It's like a train wreck you can't look away from. Yes, definitely to, you know, plug my book, but to plug my book a little bit. Kennedy is obsessed with reality TV. Like she's watched everything on Bravo a million times, and she decides that her and Cam need to have a show and decides that it's the real housewives. So we get to watch Cameron discover the train wreck that is reality TV. Uh it's fun. He's like, Can we just do Survivor? He's like, I can't do this.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

So that is hilarious. That's right up Courtney's alley.

SPEAKER_01 27:55

Yes. I just started my Real Housewives journey. I did Salt Lake City, which is crazy if you haven't seen it. Great one to start with. But Ro Real Housewives of Rhode Island just came on last week. And really excited. And then of course I'm still watching Summer House, but nothing's really happened like since my last update, Mary. So Mary doesn't watch reality TV, so I I watch it for her.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

So I am really weird in the sense that I sometimes watch reality TV, but I love keeping up with it. So like you can ask me any single thing about Summer House, Real Like Real Housewives, Secret Lives and Mormon Lives. I haven't watched the majority of it, if any, but like I love being in the know. So you would think that I watch it based on how I can speak about it. But I just love pop culture. So like I always have to know what's going on, even though I don't watch it. Which is very that's a hot take, I think, of mine. Um, an unhinged thought, if you will.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

I love that so much because I watch a lot of reality TV. So we would we could probably have conversations for days. Oh, silly.

SPEAKER_02 29:14

My friends hate it. They're like, you don't watch, stop having an opinion on it. I'm like, no, I probably know more than you guys because I've read every article and seen every social media post.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

What about you, Mary? What are you watching?

SPEAKER_00 29:28

So I am occasionally, while I'm walking on my little walking pad or doing some things, streaming Legends of Korra, which is basically the next Avatar after Avatar The Last Airbender. So I am a huge fan of that whole franchise. So just thought I'd re-watch that. And my son

– What We’re Watching Right Now

SPEAKER_00 29:53

asked to start watching Dexter stuff.

SPEAKER_01 29:57

Oh, I love this journey for you guys.

SPEAKER_00 30:03

So we are starting down the Dexter train, which is a lot because I know there's a lot out, but definitely taking it slow because he's also watching another show that he is enjoying.

SPEAKER_01 30:17

I need a Dexter rewatch because it's been a while. I haven't seen it in so long. And they did like a spin-off recently with like I haven't seen any of that. Are you binge watching anything, Carly?

SPEAKER_02 30:29

I just binge watched um Paradise on Hulu. So good. It's it requires a lot more brain power than I thought it would, but it was very, very good. Highly recommend.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Awesome. And listeners, be sure to chime in our comments and let us know what you are reading and binging this week. Tell us what we need to watch.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

Also, I just saw where you know off campus is coming in May and they're releasing all the episodes on, I think it's like May 13th or something like that. It's like in the middle of May. But I was like, yep, I need to put in PTO for that day. Okay. Like, I'm just gonna sit there and binge watch it all. Because I don't want it spoiled for me. Well,

– Unhinged Thoughts of the Week

SPEAKER_01 31:18

it's time for our unhinged thoughts of the week, where we take our thoughts, no context, no logic, just vibes, and unpack it like it's completely normal. So, Mary, what do you got for us for your unhinged thought this week?

SPEAKER_00 31:30

My unhinged thought is definitely fuck the mental load. That some days I just want to go on a remote island with nothing. Because I don't think people fully grasp the mental load required in daily life. And I know that predominantly, that's my $10 word for the day, women have to carry the mental load. And it's just, it's a lot. Like I sat here yesterday and word vomited a list of things that need to get done. And it's not even half of the mental load. It's just half of what's taking up space in my brain that needs to get done. And so that's my unhinged thought this week is F the mental load.

SPEAKER_01 32:22

Love it. Well, mine is um gonna be probably a little bit TMI. So sorry, not sorry. But um, so my thought is like, why can't Parenthood come with like a magic remote, you know, like the one from the Adam Sandler movie? Because I mean, sometimes my son just needs a mute button. Like, I love that he's curious and growing his mind. So he's asking lots of questions, but man oh man, can it get embarrassing? So it was Easter weekend, and unfortunately, like I'm on my period. And when that time of month comes around, like I don't because my kids are younger, they like to still go to the bathroom with me. Oh my god, yes. I know, and it's like it's like how do you I at those young ages, like, how do you explain like what's happening? Like, I just try to like ignore it basically. So, um, but he's at the age where he's asking a ton of questions if he doesn't understand. So like this time of the month, like I don't let him come to the bathroom with me, but we were out and he really needed to go pee. And I'm like, okay, well, and then I had to pee, and so he like looks down and sees this, and he's like, he goes, because I wear pads, okay. Like, I'm that's how I'm most comfortable, like when I'm on my period. And he goes, Oh mom, is that poop? And I was like, No, and then I'm just like trying to finish my business. So he was like, Stop talking because we're in a public bathroom. And he goes, Oh mommy, is that blood? Did you did you cut yourself? Do you have a boo-boo? And I'm like, at this point, trying not to like die of laughing. Oh my god. I'm like, it's okay, Sawyer. It's okay. Let's just go.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

Oh my god. That is hilarious.

SPEAKER_00 34:20

Yeah, yeah. So and I I can fully sympathize because obviously we're not there now, but I was definitely there before when he was two. Oh my gosh, yeah, you couldn't you couldn't shut the bathroom door unless they were in the bathroom with you. You you couldn't go and do anything that remotely revolved around closing a door. And they would be like, What are you doing, mom? Why is the door closed? What's that? Where's that go? Why is that? So, yes, I fully, I fully understand the uh mute button to where we can just be like, Can we just quiet this part? Can you whisper it?

SPEAKER_01 35:02

Yes, because he has no volume control, so everybody in that album heard our conversation.

SPEAKER_00 35:08

And every mom of a boy in that bathroom understood that conversation. And I'd love to tell you bathroom talk goes away, but it totally does not. So, Carly, do you have an unhinged thought you uh want to share?

SPEAKER_02 35:20

Mental health days should be required at big girl jobs.

SPEAKER_00 35:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 35:25

As part of like in addition to PTO and in addition to sick days.

SPEAKER_01 35:30

I 100% fully support this.

SPEAKER_02 35:32

Yeah, I'd say that's that's fine.

SPEAKER_01 35:35

Well, Carly, what's up next for you?

SPEAKER_02 35:37

Okay, so I'm working on book three, which is called Icy Control. And it is Sophie and Jake's story. It's brother's best friend. There's some uh no, that's the only trope I'm gonna give for now because I'm

– What’s Next for Carly Robyn

SPEAKER_02 35:53

still writing it and who knows what might change. But yeah, I do know it's brother's best friend, so I can give you that much.

SPEAKER_00 36:00

And are you are you doing any more events this year? Any more signings?

SPEAKER_02 36:05

Yeah, I'm doing um recute and I think it's in July.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

That one is always fun.

SPEAKER_02 36:13

Yeah, so that's the like big kind of convention signing I have for this year. Oh fun.

SPEAKER_00 36:20

Yeah, I'm excited for it. I am on the wait list for that one. I went to it last year and really, really enjoyed it. And that's actually the first time Courtney and I met. And little did we know back then, little did we know back then that that meet cute at a meet and greet cute would lead to us co-hosting.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

Oh my gosh, I love that. I did, I sent off my sponsorship money. I did, I um I would I texted Mary Sarge and I was like, I want to support you guys. So um what you got for me? So um I'm I'm represented in some way there.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Love that.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

Well, Carly, it's been so great having you on. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to come yap with us. Thank you guys for having me. Of course. Well, before you go, please tell our listeners where they can find you at.

– Where to Find Carly Robyn

SPEAKER_02 37:15

Everything is Carly Robin Author. Um, so that's my website and the handle of all of my socials. Kept it pretty uh simple for my own sake.

SPEAKER_01 37:25

We'll have everything linked in the show notes so our listeners can find you. And again, just thank you, thank you for coming on. We loved having you here. Thank you guys. I appreciate it. It was so great having Carly Robin on. But be sure to come back next week

– Teaser for Next Week

SPEAKER_01 37:42

because we have another special guest joining us. This indie author first published in 2024. She is a true crime junkie, an Amazon top 100 bestseller. She's known for her spicy sports romance with swoon and humor, and she may just cause new kinks to be unlocked. Do you want to know who it is? Be sure to join our newsletter because they are always the first ones to find out.

SPEAKER_00 38:11

In the meantime, you can catch us causing chaos over on Instagram at WhatTheSmut Podcast, and me personally at On Point Digital Services.

SPEAKER_01 38:21

And I'm over on Instagram at Courtney Leanne. If you want to join us for a chat, there's a form linked in our notes. So be sure to fill that out because we would love to hear from you.

SPEAKER_00 38:30

If you enjoyed today's episode, please consider leaving us a review. Reviews help other smut readers find us, and honestly, they make our chaotic hearts very happy.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

And if you really love this podcast and want to show support, we've got a listener support link in our show notes. Supporters get shout outs, special giveaways, and maybe even some exclusive chaos you can't find anywhere else. We also have sponsorship opportunities as well. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you guys next time.