1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Welcome back to Talk Spicy to Me: The podcast where two bestselling romance authors go rogue and talk all things romance: the good, the bad, the unbearably hot, and everything in between. In Season 2, Episode 4, hosts Giana Darling and Kandi Steiner are joined by a surprise guest, USA Today bestselling author Sara Kate, for an honest, thoughtful conversation about kink &amp;nbsp; Sara Cate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saracatebooks Website: https://saracatebooks.com/ 💬 Got a question you’d like us to answer on the podcast? Submit it here → Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TalkSpicytoMe &amp;nbsp; TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Talk Spicy to Me 02:10 – Season sponsors 03:07 – Surprise guest reveal: Sara Cate 09:06 – The Spice Report (Hot Salsa) 20:54 – Kink as a narrative and character tool 23:32 – Writing kink responsibly &amp;amp; research 25:28 – Kink and mental health themes 28:29 – Trauma, healing, and power dynamics 30:06 – Kink and empowerment in romance 33:10 – Why romance (and kink) are still trivialized 43:11 – Researching kink and sensitivity readers 44:21 – Exploring new dynamics in upcoming work 48:07 – Writing second-generation characters 53:34 – Aftercare and emotional intimacy 01:18:04 – Red Flag &amp;amp; Green Flag 01:25:00 – Reader Question: how we go about writing with characters in a shared world or another author’s world &amp;nbsp; BOOK CLUB PICK A.L. Jackson From Here to Eternity (Moonlit Ridge, Book 1) Link: https://geni.us/FHTEAmznOP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aljacksonig Website: https://www.aljacksonauthor.com/ Join us for the From Here to Eternity discussion on February 18th. &amp;nbsp; SEASON SPONSORS Lena Hendrix Chasing the Sun (Star Harbor, Book 1) Link: https://geni.us/chasingthesun1 Website: https://www.lenahendrix.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlenahendrix &amp;nbsp; Willow Aster What It Takes (Windy Harbor Series, Book 2) Link: https://geni.us/WhatItTakes Website: https://www.willowaster.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowaster/ &amp;nbsp; WHERE TO FIND EVERYONE Talk Spicy to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkspicytomepodcast Spotify/Apple: @talkspicytomepodcast Youtube: @talkspicytomepodcast &amp;nbsp; Hosts Giana Darling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianadarlingauthor Website: https://gianadarling.com/ &amp;nbsp; Kandi Steiner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner Website: https://kandisteiner.com/ &amp;nbsp; AFTER DARK (Patreon Exclusive) Want the uncensored conversation? This week: Our Favorite Spicy Scenes &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Join the Patreon for bonus episodes, extended conversations, and exclusive content:https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkSpicytoMePodcast &amp;nbsp; Listen, watch, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly episodes, author interviews, and spicy romance discussions. Talk Spicy To Me https://sites.libsyn.com/593995 <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39970725/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/39970725