194. Closing the Door at the Intersection of Religion and Sex: An Interview with Dr. Kristen Nielsen Donnelly

Summary: Sarah interviews Dr. Kristen Nielsen Donnelly, who studies women and religion in Northern Ireland, as well as religion in popular culture like video games and romance novels. She’s currently conducting sociological research into the intersection between romance novels and sex. This project began after many conversations with her mother about the sex scenes she does - or does not - like reading. We also discuss growing into and out of religious communities, and the portrayal of religious people and people of faith in the romance genre. Plus, Kristen has a ton of recommendations for readers who are looking for romance and fiction set in contemporary Ireland. Her husband is Irish and they’ve recently moved back to the US after living there, so she’s got a bunch of recommendations if Irish-set fiction is your jam. You can find a link to the survey she’s running - and yes, she would be delighted to have you complete it, though you’re certainly not obligated - in the show notes for this episode at SB-TB.com/podcast.