Love Letters

The Boston Globe

Love stories. Dating stories. Relationship stories. Stories about romance, marriage, partnership, sex, loss, and the human heart. Served with a side of advice. Hosted by Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein.

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34 episodes
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Avg 30 min
English

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May 12 · 34 min
What's wrong with having a type?
When Jordan was young, he saw actress Janeane Garofalo on television. Since then, he’s had a type: smart, creative, sardonic, sarcastic, brunette, glasses-wearing women. Not a bad thing … or is it limiting? What does it mean when we have a type? If our type doesn’t like us back, do we have to expand our parameters when looking for love? Take a journey with Meredith and Jordan through an exploration of types ... and the perfection of the woman who starred in “Reality Bites,” and “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” and made a memorable guest appearance on “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.” Share your thoughts on this episode by emailing loveletters@boston.com. Tell us all about your type – or share your relationship questions. Remember, we’re an advice column, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 28 · 36 min
The Phone Booth
Come by the Boston Public Library June 30th at 6pm for a celebration of the Tell-a-booth! https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a0f3efffab4ff0f649aaf51 In February, Meredith unveiled a Love Letters Tell-A-Booth at The Boston Public Library. More than 1,000 calls have come in already … mostly from locals – and many tourists – who stop in, enter the booth, and leave a question on an old-school payphone. What can we learn from an anonymous phone booth where people can ask anything? Meredith explains by sharing messages from the booth, and by processing the experience with public library staffer Bailey Watroba, who has thoughts about why young people love old technology. Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. Send a question about romance, friendships, marriage, breakups, dating fatigue to loveletters@boston.com. You can also submit your own stories to the podcast at that address. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 14 · 32 min
Why Don't Men Ask Questions?
Really? What’s up with that? Simone, a single mom in her 40s, wrote to the Love Letters advice column asking, “Why don’t men on dating apps ask me any questions?” Simone said these men are happy to answer questions about themselves, but they don’t ask anything in return. That means Simone has to do so much work to keep the conversation going. Simone tells her story to Meredith, who also gets feedback and context from experts who study curiosity and the art of asking questions. They include Todd Kashdan, director of the Well-Being Laboratory at George Mason University. He helps Meredith examine the gender piece of it all, the cultural influences, and why asking questions is a beautiful skill – and, perhaps, a lost art. Remember, Love Letters is an advice column that LOVES questions. Do you have something on your mind about your relationship life? Email it to loveletters@boston.com or visit boston.com/loveletters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 14 · 2 min
Introducing Silver Linings with The Old Gays
We at Love Letters want to know about a new podcast called Silver Linings podcast. It is hosted by The Old Gays, who became a TikTok sensation and are all about serving wisdom, laughs, and a little lovingly earned side-eye after decades of love, loss, and fabulous survival. Hope you give it a listen and that you enjoy it as much as I do.
April 14 · 2 min
Introducing Silver Linings with The Old Gays
We at Love Letters want to know about a new podcast called Silver Linings podcast. It is hosted by The Old Gays, who became a TikTok sensation and are all about serving wisdom, laughs, and a little lovingly earned side-eye after decades of love, loss, and fabulous survival. Hope you give it a listen and that you enjoy it as much as I do.
April 7 · 1 hr 6 min
Meredith and Margaret on Lindy West and “Adult Braces”
Meredith talks to former Love Letters guest Margaret H. Willison about “Adult Braces,” a new memoir by feminist writer Lindy West that has sparked big debate about West’s polyamorous relationship. West – who also wrote “Shrill” (which became a Hulu show) – says in this new book that she didn’t want to be in a non-monogamous relationship … but is now happy being one of three. But some readers/fans of West have found this happiness hard to believe. The book reminded Meredith of Margaret’s episode, which was about a complicated non-monogamous relationship that did not work out for Margaret. If you haven’t read the book, that’s OK. Meredith and Margaret will explain the conversation, and how critiques of the book have revealed what we expect of other people’s love stories. Margaret also gives an update on her love life, which is more calm than it used to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 31 · 41 min
"Gettin' After It Together"
We get a big update from Nicole, a guest who once explained an era of her life when she took a zillion classes – and signed up for countless activities (dragon boat racing, included) – to try to meet a boyfriend. Where is Nicole now? She tells us all about life after those classes, and why she wishes she could take more of them now. Join Meredith and Nicole for a sweet update about getting what you want – and what it means to keep learning and participating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 17 · 39 min
‘I’m sorry I hid you’
Yowei Shaw, host of the podcast “Proxy” – and former host of NPR’s “Invisibilia” – joins Love Letters to tell a story about the time she was embarrassed of her partner … because he’s a man. This is Part 2 of our two-part series inspired by a viral Vogue essay that suggested women are now embarrassed about having male partners. Yowei’s story is a nuanced one. From the outside it might have seemed like Yowei was embarrassed by the wonderful man in her life, but in reality she was just trying to figure out who she was … and how to fit in. Laugh along as Yowei confesses how she hid a significant other, and how it changed her. To learn more about Love Letters and this episode (fun photos, etc.), sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at boston.com/Meredith. Love Letters is also an advice column. You can send any questions about friendship, love, dating, breakups, starting over, building community, etc. to loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 10 · 31 min
Are boyfriends embarrassing now? Some answers.
Last fall, Chanté Joseph wrote an essay with the headline: “Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend now?” The piece – about the politics of showing off heterosexual relationships – went viral; people debated it all over TikTok and beyond. (Even New York City’s mayor weighed in.) Months later, Meredith and Chanté sit down to discuss why the essay hit so many nerves at once. Some readers hated Chanté's essay and what it suggested about the evolving values of women. Others – namely single straight women – loved that Chanté’s essay highlighted women who are choosing to post pictures of friends instead of significant others. It’s a complicated discussion – and Part 1 in a two-part exploration of why the concept of a boyfriend can be a bit … cringey. This episode features a montage of creators who were inspired by Chanté’s essay. They are, in order of appearance: @thanahit @maryarchived @jedidahbila @JeffHarryPlays @melvinoyx @rollotomassi @boyproblemsshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 24 · 38 min
Justin Garcia: “Monogamy is not just one thing.”
Meredith has long been interested in the Kinsey Institute, a place were researchers focus their work on sex and relationships. In this episode, Meredith interviews Kinsey Executive Director Justin Garcia about his new book, “The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love.” Meredith read the book in one sitting. Her conversation with Justin covers many topics including monogamy, emotional intimacy, and how to keep long relationships working. They also discuss the concept of “slow love,” and why younger people think of marriage as the end of a road, as opposed to the beginning. Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. When you ask a question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to loveletters@boston.com. Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 10 · 38 min
Third Wheels Are the Best Wheels
Third wheeling has long had a bad reputation. If you’re a single person, you may have heard that hanging out with a couple makes you the odd person out. But Meredith doesn’t believe that. She LOVES third wheels – and has third wheeled with plenty of couples. In this episode, Meredith’s sister, Brette, explains how her social life, as a newly divorced person, involves hanging out with a bunch of wonderful couples. Brette says that being a third wheel has broadened her community and enriched her soul. Meredith also interviews Brad and Marco, one of the couples for whom Brette third wheels. They explain why having a shared friend makes their relationship stronger. Consider this episode a guide to being a platonic third, and a love letter to third wheels and the couples who truly believe “the more the merrier.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 27 · 36 min
Your ex is still on Venmo
Must you block your ex on social media? Maybe. Probably. It could make your breakup a lot easier to deal with. In this episode, Meredith talks to Love Letters podcast producer Jazmin Aguilera about Jazmin’s recent breakup. They listen to a classic episode about exes and social media, and talk about what lessons ring true in 2026.Enjoy a discussion about letting go in person and online.Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to loveletters@boston.com. Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 20 · 3 min
Share your story for our upcoming season
We’re looking for your stories for the Love Letters podcast. We love all tales of breakups, dating, love, and connection. But for a special upcoming series of the show, we’re looking for stories about COMMUNITY. We want to hear about friends, special acquaintances, or the seemingly inconsequential human ties that make your life better. We want to hear about important, platonic bonds you currently have, important bonds you’ve had (past tense), or meaningful bonds you’d like to form. Because significant others don’t have to be romantic … and sometimes having a strong non-romantic community makes it easier to find and maintain romantic love (if you want it). Tell us your story by filling out our questionnaire at Boston.com/LoveLettersStory. As always, thanks for listening and being a part of the Love Letters community. We can also be reached with questions for the Love Letters advice column at loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 13 · 24 min
Elin Hilderbrand: Married to Nantucket
Meredith has always been a little afraid of Nantucket. Despite living a fast ferry ride away, she’s only been there twice. As far as Meredith is concerned, the people on Nantucket are fancy, the drama is high, and because it’s an island, it’s hard to escape. For best-selling author Elin Hiderbrand, though, Nantucket represents comfort … even when it’s stifling. Nantucket is where Elin found happiness after leaving New York. It’s what inspired her writing. It’s where she found community – and the best kinds of love. In a live conversation recorded in November, Meredith interviews Elin about Nantucket, what it means to fall in love with a place, and why Elin decided to stop writing about the island after decades of living there. They also talk about the power of books about women and love. Elin novels include “The Perfect Couple,” which became a Netflix show starring Nicole Kidman, and “The Five Star Weekend,” which is slated to be a series starring Jennifer Garner. This talk was part of “Globe Summit,” a two-day Boston Globe event that featured journalists speaking with experts in their fields. Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to loveletters@boston.com. Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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