PODCAST · arts
The Bodice Ripper Project
by Maren Montalbano
What is the Bodice Ripper Project? Meet Maren, an opera singer who has a penchant for writing miniature romance scenes while she is backstage and reads them aloud to her castmates in the dressing room. Now that everyone is in quarantine and there are no operas in production, she has decided to bring these stories to YOU.The stories she has written are playful parodies of the kind of novels you might bring to the beach or find at the airport...but with a twist. She has built the characters around the opera production she was in at the time she wrote it, creating romances for background characters (for example, Noble #2 and Servant #6).Writing about women with agency - women who are comfortable with their own passions - has allowed Maren to heal old wounds of sexual abuse. These stories are entertaining and titillating...but they also hold within them keys to feminine empowerment.This podcast is for you if you...* enjoy romance novels* like or are curious about opera* are a femini
Episodes
-
Composing “The White Rose” with Jennifer Rosenfeld
Maren sits down with composer and coach, Jennifer Rosenfeld, to talk about vulnerability, the creative process, and her new podcast musical, The White Rose.
-
Writing and Living with Melissa L.E. Baker
Maren sits down with Melissa L.E. Baker to talk about writing dark romance and fantasy, and they also chat about Renaissance Faire experiences.
-
Becoming a Bold Thing with Jenn Shull
Maren chats with ontological coach Jenn Shull about being bold, loving yourself, and slowing down to speed up.
-
Finding Your Personal Uprising with Abigail Wright
Maren sits down with singer, author, and coach Abby Wright to talk about transformation, psychedelics, and finding your personal uprising.
-
It’s Nothing Personal with Lisa Husseini
Maren sits down with Lisa Husseini to talk about why we all take things so personally, and how to let that all go.
-
Sexual Health with Christine DeLozier
Maren sits down with acupuncturist and sexual health expert Christine DeLozier to talk about nutrition, self-love, and even some tips for how to give good oral sex.
-
Confronting Perfectionism with Kara Morgan
Maren sits down with comedienne and opera singer Kara Morgan to talk about perfectionism, anti-racism, and finding the intersection of what we do best and what we love the most.
-
Don’t Hold Back with Ichko Batmunkh
Maren sits down with life coach Ichko Batmunkh to talk about her journey immigrating to America, the struggles of being a stranger in a strange land, and how she came to find her own unique voice.
-
Interview: singer and musicologist Lily Kass
Maren sits down with singer and musicologist Lily Kass to talk about the relevance of opera in today’s society, oppressive structures that have been baked into the industry for generations, and what we can do to shift the paradigm.
-
Desire’s Peak Part 3
Maren concludes Desire’s Peak, the story of Stet the cowboy and his mysterious lovers.
-
Interview: Composer Rosśa Crean
The music played during this episode: “Dawn” by Rosśa Crean, performed by Maren Montalbano, used with permission Rosśa’s recently released albums: The Princess of Morphine a lonely voice in these haunted rooms: songs in quarantine Information on the Lakeside Inn Artist Residency Follow Rosśa…
more -
Desire's Peak Part 2
The music played during this episode: excerpts from a public domain version of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade Follow Maren... on Instagram: @supermaren on Facebook: https://facebook.com/maren.montalbano Sign up for the Bodice Ripper Project newsletter and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content:...
-
Interview: Author Liz Solar
Books recommended during this episode: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Follow Maren... on Instagram: @supermaren on Facebook:...
-
Desire's Peak Part 1
The music played during this episode: excerpts from a public domain version of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade Follow Maren... on Instagram: @supermaren on Facebook Anti-Racist resources: Sign up for the Anti-Racism Daily newsletter Read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo Read Minor Feelings by…
more -
Interview: Author Christina Castaneda
Follow Maren On Instagram @supermaren On Facebook @maren.montalbano Follow Christina On Instagram @savvycreativechristina Visit her website Listen to her podcast The Savvy Creative Catch up with the most recent chapter of the audio drama The Last Magician here. Sign up for the Bodice Ripper…
more -
Intermission
Follow Maren on Instagram @supermaren on Facebook Sign up for the Bodice Ripper Project newsletter and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content: http://www.bodiceripperproject.com/ Purchase Maren's debut book, Pandemic Passion: A COVID-19 novella on Kindle Transcript and Show Notes:...
-
Interview: Soprano Claire Galloway
Books referenced in this episode: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer L'Élégance du hérisson (The Elegance of the Hedgehog) by Muriel Barbery Follow Maren on Instagram: @supermaren Follow Claire on Instagram: @clairegallowaysoprano Check out her Core Singer…
more -
Don Carlo + A Flemish Flame Part 3
Maren finishes reading the story of A Flemish Flame, which she wrote during a production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. She gives a brief synopsis of the opera, and also discusses her struggles with deadlines, procrastination, and work-life balance. The music played during this episode: Excerpts from...
-
Interview: Director & Educator Elizabeth Lenhart
Maren interviews Elizabeth Lenhart, the Artistic Director and founder of JAM Academy, a private performing arts school in the Dominican Republic. They discuss success, adversity, and the power of being prepared. Follow Beth on Instagram: @jamacademydr The JAM Academy website:...
-
Don Carlo + A Flemish Flame Part 2
Maren continues reading A Flemish Flame, which she began writing during a production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. The music played during this episode: Excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s String Quartet in E minor Follow Maren... on Instagram: @supermaren on Facebook: https://facebook.com/maren.montalbano…
more -
Interview: Director Vanessa Ogbuehi
Maren interviews Vanessa Ogbuehi, director, actor, and creative person extraordinaire. They talk about opera, musicals, books, and how we can learn to set our own standards of success. Books recommended in this episode: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going...
-
Don Carlo + A Flemish Flame Part 1
Maren begins reading A Flemish Flame, which she wrote during a production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. She also talks a bit about unfinished artwork, procrastination, and briefly about the sociopolitical landscape in the USA right now. The music played during this episode: Excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s...
-
Interview: Novelist Susan Scott Shelley
Maren interviews romance novelist and fellow Philadelphia Flyers fan Susan Scott Shelley. They talk about sports, writing, and what it feels like to find and follow your passion. The music played during this episode: “Washed” by Eino Toivanen, kongano.com Licensed under Creative Commons: By...
-
The Magic Flute + A Bewitching Flute
The Bodice Ripper Project is back for another season! You’ll hear more stories, more of Maren’s musings, as well as some interviews with other creatives about how they rip their bodices…metaphorically, of course. In this episode, Maren reads the only chapter she ever wrote during a production of...
-
La Traviata + Parisian Pleasures Pt 2
Maren finishes reading Parisian Pleasures, a romance she wrote during a production of Verdi’s La traviata. She also looks ahead to season two, and speaks about how she enjoys speaking with you, her audience. The music played during this episode:· Excerpts from a public domain version of La…
more -
La Traviata + Parisian Pleasures Pt 1
Maren begins reading Parisian Pleasures, a romance she wrote during a production of Verdi’s La traviata. She also talks about the history of the libretto, the role of women as sex workers throughout history, and how she uses the Bodice Ripper Project to smash the patriarchy. The music played…
more -
Fringe Festival + Educating Emily
Maren reads a deleted scene from Educating Emily, the story she wrote for The Bodice Ripper Project live show. She also talks a bit about what it was like creating and developing the show, and the challenges that she faced getting so vulnerable. The music played during this episode: Original…
more -
Renaissance Faire + Fairly A Maiden Pt 2
In this episode, Maren concludes Fairly a Maiden, a romance she wrote during her time at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. She also has a tribute to the memory of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and talks about her own journey to become a provocative female. The music played during this episode: Guitar...
-
Renaissance Faire + Fairly A Maiden Pt 1
Maren begins a new story – Fairly A Maiden – which she wrote while working at the Renaissance Faire. “The Renaissance Faire,” you say? “But…I thought you were an opera singer?” (Yes, I am multi-faceted. It’s fun. You get to hear how nerdy I really am.) The music played during this episode: Guitar...
-
Marriage of Figaro + Seduction's Servant Pt 3
Maren finishes the story of Seduction’s Servant, which she wrote during a production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. She also talks a bit about how she got into opera, and how COVID-19 has affected artists across the board. Follow Maren on Instagram: @supermaren Facebook:...
-
Marriage of Figaro + Seduction's Servant Pt 2
Maren continues the story of Seduction’s Servant, which was written during a production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. She also delves into the significance of the bodice as a metaphor for the restrictions society puts on us (and the ones we put on ourselves), and tells a painful personal story...
-
Marriage of Figaro + Seduction's Servant Pt 1
Maren begins a new story, Seduction's Servant, which was written during a production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. She discusses the impact that opera had on her childhood, and the political activism underlying the Beaumarchais play that the opera was based on. Follow Maren on Instagram:...
-
Otello + Venetian Vixen Part 1
It was backstage at the opera, during a production of Verdi's OTELLO, when her first romance, VENETIAN VIXEN, was born. Maren reads the first few titillating chapters of this short story, and talks about her one-woman show. Follow Maren... on Instagram: @supermaren Facebook:...
-
Otello + Venetian Vixen Part 2
Maren tells the conclusion of Venetian Vixen and spends some time talking about Verdi's Otello, as well as the history of blackface in opera and the work that still needs to be done to overcome racism in opera. Follow Maren on Instagram: @supermaren Facebook: https://facebook.com/maren.montalbano...
-
Bodice Ripper Project Trailer
What is the Bodice Ripper Project? Operatic drama. Heaving bosoms. An exploration of sexuality, feminism, and the journey to self-confidence through the lens of romance novels.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
What is the Bodice Ripper Project? Meet Maren, an opera singer who has a penchant for writing miniature romance scenes while she is backstage and reads them aloud to her castmates in the dressing room. Now that everyone is in quarantine and there are no operas in production, she has decided to bring these stories to YOU.The stories she has written are playful parodies of the kind of novels you might bring to the beach or find at the airport...but with a twist. She has built the characters around the opera production she was in at the time she wrote it, creating romances for background characters (for example, Noble #2 and Servant #6).Writing about women with agency - women who are comfortable with their own passions - has allowed Maren to heal old wounds of sexual abuse. These stories are entertaining and titillating...but they also hold within them keys to feminine empowerment.This podcast is for you if you...* enjoy romance novels* like or are curious about opera* are a femini
HOSTED BY
Maren Montalbano
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Bodice Ripper Project have?
The Bodice Ripper Project currently has 35 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Bodice Ripper Project about?
What is the Bodice Ripper Project? Meet Maren, an opera singer who has a penchant for writing miniature romance scenes while she is backstage and reads them aloud to her castmates in the dressing room. Now that everyone is in quarantine and there are no operas in production, she has decided to...
How often does The Bodice Ripper Project release new episodes?
The Bodice Ripper Project has 35 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Bodice Ripper Project?
You can listen to The Bodice Ripper Project on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Bodice Ripper Project?
The Bodice Ripper Project is created and hosted by Maren Montalbano.
URL copied to clipboard!