Hopeless Romantics

As we ease out of Christmas and into that strange, reflective space before the New Year, we’re revisiting one of our favourite conversations from last year. Ash and Harriet chat Richard Curtis’ About Time, a film that somehow sneaks life’s biggest lessons into what looks like a simple rom-com. This episode shares the final moments of a longer chat, where we unpack why About Time hits so much harder than expected. From the devastatingly beautiful father and son relationship, to the idea that love stories are often found in family, memory, and the smallest everyday moments, this one stays with you. If you’re doing a bit of New Year thinking, planning, or gentle manifesting, this is a beautiful place to start. And if it leaves you wanting more, the full episode is waiting for you too. LINKS: Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Host: Ash London Producer: Ash London Social Producer: Lily Gichard Executive Producer: Anna Henvest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A re-release of one of my favorite episodes, in memory of Rob Reiner, whose direction gave us one of the most enduring love stories of all time. Some movies don’t just entertain you. They quietly shape who you become. This week on Hopeless Romantics, we’re revisiting The Princess Bride with Meg Mansell, a film that taught us about love, loyalty, humour, and why “as you wish” hits harder than it ever should. We talk about watching it as kids, rewatching it as adults, and how different the story feels once you’ve lived a little. From Buttercup and Wesley’s version of true love, to the heartbreak and purity of Inigo Montoya and his father, this conversation goes far beyond fairy tales and sword fights. We also unpack how romance changes with age, why anxiety once passed for butterflies, and how friendship, safety, and humour end up mattering more than grand gestures. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz LINKS: Follow Meg on ⁠⁠instagram Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREDITS Host: Ash London Producer: Ash London Editor: Lily Gichard Executive Producer: Anna Henvest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with another round of our Netflix Christmas film deep dives, and this week Alice James jumps in with us to unpack Champagne Problems. Honestly, this one had us in our feelings. It’s way better than your average festive cheese, which somehow makes judging it on our chaotic little matrix even funnier. We get into everything from Minka Kelly’s unreal skin to the dangerously hot lead who had at least one of us 'sliding off the couch'. There’s snow, there’s champagne, there’s a tiny fart in a cute knit, and there’s Roberto, who absolutely steals the show… and maybe our hearts. We break down the movie category by category, debate the gift-giving crimes, admire the Paris backdrop and yes, we absolutely give bonus points for men crying with their dads. A Christmas miracle if ever there was one. Come hang out, have a laugh, and add Champagne Problems to the list. It’s a beauty. LINKS: Follow Alice on ⁠tikok⁠ Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠ CREDITS Host: Ash London Producer: Ash London Social Producer: Lily Gichard Executive Producer: Anna Henvest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas has fully landed at Hopeless Romantics and honestly, we’re thriving. This week Damaris Treasure jumps back in with us as we revisit one of the greatest festive films of all time, Love Actually, and unpack what it has actually taught us about love. We break down the big storylines that still hit hard as adults. Mark and Juliet’s placard moment, Harry and Karen’s heartbreak, Jamie and Aurelia’s whirlwind fantasy, Sarah and Carl’s almost-love, and the unexpectedly beautiful bond between Billy Mack and his manager. Some of it is romantic, some of it is messy, and some of it is just painfully real. It’s our Christmas deep dive with a little Aussie/Kiwi/Brit honesty, a lot of laughter, and a few emotional gut punches along the way. Merry Christmas, darling. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz LINKS: Follow Damaris on substack Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠⁠ CREDITS Host: Ash London Producer: Ash London Social Producer: Lily Gichard Executive Producer: Anna Henvest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re officially in Christmas mode, team. Alice James is back and we’re diving straight into Netflix’s newest holiday movie, A Merry Little Ex-mas. This week we break down the Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson flick using our very scientific Hopeless Romantics scoring matrix. We talk daddy energy, vegan treacle tarts, snowstorms that don’t quite hit the mark, and the surprisingly relatable heartbreak of divorced parents trying to keep the peace at Christmas. Plus we unpack the chaos of their side characters, the lack of magic, and why Jameela Jamil’s character had us both yelling at the screen. Stick around for our final score, what made us laugh out loud, and the big celebrity comeback energy that carried the whole thing. And yes, we manifest a Hilary Duff x Chad Michael Murray Christmas movie because the world deserves nice things. LINKS: Follow Alice on tikok Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air CREDITS Host: Ash London Producer: Ash London Social Producer: Lily Gichard Executive Producer: Anna Henvest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re officially in Christmas movie season and honestly, we could not be happier. Emma’s back with us this week and we fall headfirst into the festive films that shape our Decembers. From unrequited love and forbidden crushes to the heartbreakers that remind us death comes for us all, we realised Christmas movies are basically a mirror for every messy emotion we carry into the holidays. We chat Love Actually, The Holiday, Happiest Season, While You Were Sleeping, The Family Stone, Little Women, Last Holiday and a whole lot more. There’s yearning, there’s awkward family energy, there’s loneliness, and there’s the full hero’s-journey chaos of trying to make Christmas perfect for the people we love. If you’re building your December watchlist, or you just want to feel seen in your festive feelings, this episode is a warm, cosy hang with two people who love Christmas movies almost too much. LINKS: Follow Ash at @ash_london See more from Hopeless Romantics at @hopelessromantics_xo Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air Find your next favourite show and see more behind the scenes content on rova’s Instagram @rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you know Matt's music, you'll know that he is undoubtedly a hopeless romantic, so of COURSE I jumped at the chance to interview him during his recent Aus/NZ tour. We reflect on heartbreak, loving someone long distance and turning pain into art. Love you, more than a friend x LINKS: Follow Matt on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Order my debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wine is something a lot of us enjoy, but not many of us feel super confident ordering. And given that wine can often play a big part in setting the mood when it comes to dating, love and romance I thought I'd invite my friend and co-host of Got Somme podcast Angus O'Loughlin on to help take the stress out of ordering and enjoying wine. You'll learn some amazing tips and tricks for navigating a tricky wine menu, keeping within budget and ultimately avoiding a wine fail, whether you're at the bottle-o or a fancy restaurant. Love you, more than a friend x LINKS: Follow the Got Somme podcast on instagram Follow Angus on instagram Follow Ash on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air Angus' Aussie Go-To Wines: Giant Steps Chardonnay (Yarra Valley) Yarra Yering Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley) Syrahmi Demi Shiraz (Macedon) Arras Sparkling (Tasmania) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You'd be forgiven for only associating the Disney film 'Frozen' with earworms, Elsa costumes and the 1hr 42 minutes of peace you can enjoy while the kids watch it This week however, the clever and insightful Damaris Treasure returns to discuss the fact that FROZEN MIGHT BE THE ULTIMATE SELF HELP MANUAL FOR LOVE! We also have an in-depth discussion at the end about the hottest male cartoon characters and I think it might be the most important moment in 70+ episodes of Hopeless Romantics. Love you, more than a friend x LINKS: Subscribe to Damaris' substack ⁠⁠'Trying Things'⁠ Follow Ash on ⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠⁠Love on the Air Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clint Randell is a very recognisable face and name here in NZ where he's fronted TV and radio shows for well over a decade. But when I think of Clint, the first word that comes to mind is 'family'. Clint is a man who takes any opportunity to talk about his beautiful wife and two kids, and it is a joy to watch him parent, and a joy to see his eyes twinkle every time someone mentions Jaime. This is perhaps the most vulnerable and honest you've ever heard Clint, as we have a long conversation about finding his faith and his future wife in his early twenties, and how the two were inexplicably intertwined. I want to thank Clint for being so honest about the joys and also the really tough parts of his 17 year marriage, and I want to thank his amazing wife Jaime for allowing their story to be told. Ultimately, this conversation highlights the importance of doing 'the work', and how redemption is possible if both people are willing to get honest, raw, and commit to a better future. I love you both very much, and I know this conversation will touch a lot of people, as it did me (I literally sob around thirty minutes in) x LINKS: Follow Clint on ⁠instagram⁠ Follow me on ⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠ Order my debut novel ⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Love Lucy! Hello small town rom-com queen Lucy-freaking-Score! You may know her as the author of the tik-tok sensation Things We Never Got Over (and 34 others) but now I know her as 'one of my favourite guests ever' We dive into everything from her latest novel Story of My Life (hello, a hot, grumpy tradie and a romance novelist in crisis!) to the magic of found family, the evolution of her writing, and the importance of choreographing certain scenes with her husband, Mr. Lucy. Love you x LINKS: Follow Lucy Score on ⁠⁠instagram Follow Lucy Score on Goodreads Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠tikok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠ Order my debut novel ⁠⁠⁠Love on the Air⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we head to the cinema (art house, obviously) to see the new Downton Abbey film and return with tales of squeaky chairs, loud sobs (Ash's, duh) and more importantly...four key love lessons that Downton Abbey has taught us over the years. From Sybil and Tom’s cross-class romance to Lady Mary’s habit of shagging strangers, we unpack how the show (and the film) can help us in life and more importantly in LOVE! Plus, we round it all off with a few castle-based rom-com recommendations to keep the magic alive. Love you x LINKS: Subscribe to Damaris' substack ⁠'Trying Things' Follow Ash on ⁠tikok⁠ and ⁠instagram⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠instagram⁠ Order Ash's debut novel ⁠Love on the Air Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices