Dark romance, things that embarrass us and pet names that make us cringe

But first let’s be friends! Instagram TikTok Embarrassing Things, Cringey Pet Names & Why Dark Romance Isn’t Shameful | BDE PodcastRachel and Jessica introduce BDE, a podcast about books, dating, and life, then dive into “things that are embarrassing for no reason,” including small talk, paying with cash, nail salon chair massages, bowling walk-backs, parallel parking, checking mail with someone behind you, being ID’d, ordering under pressure, and awkward doctor-gown moments (plus a debate about what to put on first after a massage). They play a pet-name yes/no game (favorites include “good girl” and “baby,” while “baby girl” is a strong no) before discussing dark romance: how they started with Feather So Vicious/Shadow So Cruel, their reactions to Haunting/Hunting Adeline, and why Lights Out works as a funny gateway. They also mention Hitched, Dance with My Demon, God of Malice, and Under Your Scars, and explain dark romance as a controlled space to explore taboo desire, safety, power, and transformation. They end by requesting anonymous “Messy Mondays” dating stories via DM and asking for reviews and follows.00:00 Welcome to BDE00:44 Fake Spring Banter01:42 Today’s Agenda02:58 Embarrassed by Everything04:22 Cash and Germs05:49 Nail Salon Awkwardness08:35 Bowling and Parking Panic12:48 Doctor Gown Dilemmas14:10 Massage Naked Debate19:40 Pet Names in Romance23:26 Yes No Pet Name Game27:31 Cringey Pet Names29:19 Dark Romance Confessions31:20 Feathers and Shadows Deep Dive35:43 Haunting Adeline Reactions39:28 Lights Out Gateway Pick40:55 Hitched and Other Recs43:27 Why Dark Romance Works52:57 No Shame Reading Tastes55:38 Messy Mondays and Wrap