It may be a new year, but one of 2025's most unexpected hits isn’t done with us yet. Heated Rivalry, the TV adaptation of a spicy romance novel about two hockey players, has turned two unknown actors into overnight stars and sparked outsized conversations about sex on screen, queer representation, and masculinity in sports. Writer and culture critic Ira Madison III joins Audie to talk about how a low-budget Canadian series became a cultural flashpoint—and what its popularity reveals about the moment we’re in. 

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This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson. 

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  

Technical Director: Dan Dzula   

Executive Producer:  Steve Lickteig 

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