Love Letters
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.
Bonus · Tue, April 01, 2025
Lessons with Daddies
In Part 2 of a two-parter about video games and change, Meredith talks to Celeste Sangiorgio, a psychologist and researcher who thinks about video games a lot. Celeste happens to be co-creating a video game that’s meant to help us navigate relationships. Join this conversation about “The Last of Us,” “Cupid Parasite,” and a bunch of games that focus on love. Meredith will also talk about hew new favorite, a game about DADDIES. Even you non-gamers will enjoy. ALSO, we’re some episodes into the season. Do you have thoughts about the stories we’ve shared about how people have changed? Have you learned anything? Found anything surprising? Do you have your own thoughts about change – or stories you want to share about how you made positive change in your own life? Call and leave a message! You can be anonymous if you want. Call 401-484-0590. Tell us anything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E6 · Tue, March 25, 2025
Ready Player One
For Anthony Ureña, video games are more than simple entertainment or a way to pass the time. Games have actually changed him , he says. They’ve taught him who he is. They’ve shown him how to take the best next steps. Through a story about dating, loss, love, and resilience, Anthony explains how games have seen him through the most important relationship transitions in his life. Let’s all Pokemon Go! with him. (And Pac-Man with him. And Final Fantasy with him. And ... you get the point.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E5 · Tue, March 11, 2025
Too Much of a Good Thing
Love can be addictive. When Heather Mason leaves her relatively happy marriage to follow her heart, she has no idea that the mysterious South African photographer she’s following will teach her so much about herself. This is a story about a woman who learns she can’t change others, but can be happier and healthier on her own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E4 · Tue, February 25, 2025
Still Under The Tuscan Sun
This season, we’ve been talking about how to change. We’ve wondered: can a big move really change you ? Or are you the same inside, just with new, prettier scenery? Frances Mayes, author of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” has opinions about this. Decades ago, she moved to Italy and changed her life. After she wrote about her experience, other people followed her lead. Almost 30 years after "Under the Tuscan Sun" was published (and about 20 years after the movie), Mayes still sees many strangers stopping by her home in Cortona. They leave notes of appreciation and small gifts, making a small altar at the bottom of her driveway. They praise her for inspiring them to embrace change and find beauty in the world. In this episode, Meredith talks to Mayes about the power of geography, her novel “A Great Marriage,” and whether she believes real, internal change is possible by shifting your surroundings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E3 · Tue, February 11, 2025
The Gates of Plasticity
Meredith sits down with Dr. Steven Hyman – a brain expert at The Broad Institute – for a talk about the meaning of change … and whether it’s actually possible. Are people capable of change – in life and relationships? If so, how? Dr. Hyman explains the plastic brain, how it works, how eating a great sandwich in Chicago can be the best thing ever, and why Meredith once thought she looked like Reese Witherspoon. We also catch up with a very special Love Letters couple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E2 · Tue, January 28, 2025
Changing Your Stars
Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown – before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down. What was the fix? Moving to one of the most beautiful places in the world (Italy). Kelly explains how leaving town changed her – and her relationship with her ex-husband – in this episode about how geography affects our ability to be our best selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S10 E1 · Tue, January 14, 2025
My Clown Era
In her late 20s, Funmi Adejobi was stuck in fight-or-flight mode. She’d been caregiving for her mom after a medical emergency – and every phone call felt like it would bring bad news. Forget dating. Funmi could barely relax on her own. But then … she took a clown class, which reminded her how to PLAY. How to be silly and ridiculous. That's when everything changed. Hear Funmi’s story about how she became a happy clown – one who’s open to love – on the season premiere of the Love Letters podcast. This whole season, we’re trying to answer one big question: Can people change? Funmi did. Let’s all learn how, together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Wed, January 01, 2025
Season 10 Trailer: Can People Change?
In Season 10 of Love Letters, host and advice columnist Meredith Goldstein explores whether people can change... in life, love, and relationships. Can old dogs learn new tricks? Can a troubled relationship improve over time? Can we be better to each other - and ourselves? Season 10 launches January 14. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, October 15, 2024
State of the Union(s)
Last March, Somerville passed a first-of-its-kind ordinance protecting non-monogamous couples from discrimination. In a ‘Love Letters’ live podcast recording, host and columnist Meredith Goldstein interviews a few of the changemakers who made it happen about what this ordinance and other public policy changes might mean for the future of relationships in Massachusetts and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Fri, September 13, 2024
Beating Burnout with Emily Nagoski (from Say More)
A bonus episode from Boston Globe podcast Say More with Shirley Leung. Sex educator Emily Nagoski didn’t set out to be an expert on stress. But it turns out, stress is affecting peoples’ sex lives, big time. After helping her sister Amelia through two life-threatening burnout episodes, the two got together to write a book about the science of stress and how it leads to burnout. For them, the journey to understanding stress became a deeper quest for sisterhood and meaning. Emily talks to Shirley about completing the stress cycle, the problem with self-care, and the connections between stress, sleep, and orgasm. Email us at Saymore@globe.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, September 05, 2024
Can you give us some help?
Love Letters is getting ready for next season — and it’s going to be good! You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You might move to Italy. It’ll all be explained. In the meantime, can you help us better ourselves? Please take this survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LLetters I wrote most of it myself! We want to know how to better entertain, serve, and give you *great* stuff. It’ll be quick, I promise. Again, find it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LLetters See you soon. - Meredith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, July 23, 2024
Brooke: This Is Not Reality (from the Last Day podcast)
In this guest episode from the podcast “Last Day,” host Stephanie Wittels Wachs shares the story of Brooke, who had the best and worst days of her life within a couple months of each other. The whiplash from the bliss of her wedding day to the reality of mourning rocked Brooke to her core. She had to learn how to treasure the memories while sitting in the worst suffering she’d ever felt. Find more episodes of “Last Day” at lemonadamedia.com/show/lastday . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E15 · Tue, July 09, 2024
The Power of Story
In the final episode of a season all about help, Meredith sits down with students from the writing and publishing organization 826 Boston, which just released a new book — called “What if the World Needs You?”— that’s full of advice and life lessons for young people. Also, Meredith’s producers surprise her with a collection of stories from her friends and loved ones about times she has helped them in ways large and small. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E14 · Tue, June 25, 2024
Fly Me to the Moon
As The Boston Globe’s travel writer, Chris Muther has gotten very good at navigating the planet alone. But he wasn’t always this way. It took years, through multiple relationships, for him to gain the independence necessary to thrive on his own — and be a better partner. How he got to this more confident place is a long, winding story that involves some of the most beautiful places in the world. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, June 18, 2024
Bonus: Pantsuit Politics with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers
Can relationships survive a political divide? Meredith sits down with podcast hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers of the grace-filled podcast "Pantsuit Politics" to discuss the growing gender divide and how (and if!) to handle differences in political views within the context of a romantic relationship. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E13 · Tue, June 11, 2024
Feels Like Home
One day in June of 2014, at the height of the Syrian civil war, Rami made a daring escape from an ISIS militia. But that meant he had to leave his home country, maybe forever. His journey from that moment — into Turkey, then to California, and then to Rhode Island — was something he never could have imagined. Neither was the love story that came out of it. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Fri, June 07, 2024
Tell your story on the podcast!
On the next season of Love Letters, we’ll be featuring stories that are outside the box. Experiences and stories that fall outside the norm and broaden our understanding of love, gifting us in the most strange and unexpected ways - because love isn't just one thing. It's everything. If you have a story that you EXPERIENCED – or FELT – or are in the MIDDLE of – that was OUTSIDE THE BOX … and taught you something important about relationships — we’d love to hear from you. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or leave us a voicemail at 401-484-0590 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E12 · Tue, May 28, 2024
The Pleasure Principle
Krista Nabar got pretty good at talking about intimate, uncomfortable things. One, she was raised in a household where open dialogue was encouraged. Two, she became a sex therapist. But when it came to confronting things in her own life? Well, that was a different story. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, May 21, 2024
Loving, Aging, Growing
Meredith sits down with Laura Stassi, host of the podcast “Dating While Gray.” They talk about what Meredith learned from her parents’ divorce, how she found a partner during the pandemic, and growing wiser with age. Also, hear an excerpt of a “Dating While Gray” episode about a widower helping his daughter with dating. Find more episodes of “Dating While Gray” at datingwhilegray.com . Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E11 · Tue, May 14, 2024
City of Love
Can a city be a wingperson? Seongnam City, a community of more than 900,000 people just southeast of Seoul, South Korea, is certainly trying. Spooked by historically low birth and marriage rates, Seongnam City officials have launched a publicly funded matchmaking program to help young people find each other. The goal? Happy couples who start making babies. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E10 · Tue, April 30, 2024
Dating While Public
Let’s be honest: There’s a lot of trashy reality television out there. Some shows seem actively manipulative. But Netflix’s "Love on the Spectrum," which follows the dating journeys of young people on the autism spectrum, feels different. Meredith sits down with one of the show’s stars, James B. Jones, to talk about what the show gets right, and how it feels to look for love in such a public way. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, April 23, 2024
Breakups, Revisited (from the Embodied podcast)
Join Meredith and fellow advice columnist Stacia Brown as they talk breakups with Anita Rao, host of the podcast “Embodied.” Stacia and Meredith give some guidance on how to break up “well” and discuss going no-contact, navigating social media, and finding the right breakup anthem for the moment. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E9 · Tue, April 16, 2024
I'm Like a Bird
As an animal researcher, Meghan Martin made groundbreaking discoveries about how giant female pandas choose their mates. She realized that they wouldn’t shack up with just any old male. They wanted a choice. The same held true, she would learn, with rabbits, birds, and other species. The question for Meghan was this: Could she apply those lessons to the human world—to her own world? Plus, we visit a Rhode Island animal shelter that raised money by letting people pay to have cats defecate on the names of exes. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E8 · Tue, April 09, 2024
Esther Perel (Makes Me Attractive)
Are more people considering polyamory these days? Has the pandemic permanently changed the ways we relate to each other? And can Esther Perel take some credit for Meredith's dating success? Meredith sits down with the psychotherapist, relationship expert, and all-around empathetic person to get into these questions and more. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E7 · Tue, April 02, 2024
Winning It All
In Part Two of our series on pro athletes and their spouses, we talk to Shannon Allen, the wife of former NBA superstar Ray Allen, about a bittersweet moment in their lives. Just as they were celebrating a historic NBA championship, they got some very scary medical news about their son. Where did Shannon turn for help? The answer may surprise you. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E6 · Mon, April 01, 2024
Here's to the Home Team
What does it feel like to be the partner of a pro athlete? Where do you find support to handle the public pressure, the instability, the constant threat of being traded? Today, we bring you a two-part series on elite athletes, their spouses, and the people who help them. In Part One, we talk to Jordan Whitlock, the wife of Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock. Jordan, who has a PhD in genetics, had to learn how to balance her own career with her husband’s, and how to deal with the loneliness that sets in after many weeks apart. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E5 · Tue, March 19, 2024
Maura Healey's Soundtrack
Ever since Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey was a kid, music has played a major role in her life. “Eye of the Tiger” got her pumped for basketball games. She caught sets from Joan Baez and Melissa Etheridge working as a cocktail waitress. When she came out in her early 20s, she found solace in the Indigo Girls. These days, the governor uses music to center herself, especially at hard moments. She and her partner, Joanna Lydgate, sit down with Meredith to talk about how music helps them in their lives and in their relationship. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . You can also send relationship questions to Meredith and sign up for Love Letters updates by texting 617-744-7007. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, March 12, 2024
Love & Sports with Dan Shaughnessy
Meredith’s advice column turns 15 this year. 15! So she’s feeling a little nostalgic. In this episode, Meredith sits down with longtime Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy to trade notes on the thousands of columns each has written over the years. They also compare grief in love to grief in sports, reflect on why sports reporters have always been big fans of Love Letters, and discuss the couple of the moment: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E4 · Tue, March 05, 2024
Avengers, Assemble!
When it came time for Sophia to leave a difficult relationship, she knew she couldn’t do it alone. So she assembled a first-rate team, made up of friends, acquaintances, family members, and therapists. Having all of them behind her not only set Sophia free; it gave her back her future. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E3 · Tue, February 20, 2024
The Puppetmaster
Michael and Alessandra were both single, bored, and lonely when they got together in mid-2020. It was the height of the pandemic; everyone craved companionship. But in time, Michael and Alessandra discovered that they were better as good friends. And what do good friends do? They help you find true love. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, February 13, 2024
Going Deep with Krista Tippett, from Kelly Corrigan Wonders
A bonus episode via the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. Kelly sits down with Krista Tippett, the longtime host and spiritual guide of On Being, which began as a radio program and is now a podcast. At a moment when everything is broken open, when institutions are received with less reverence and more skepticism, Kelly and Krista consider: Where should we point our minds and hearts? What practices serve us best? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E2 · Tue, February 06, 2024
The Parent Trap
When Nimish left Nepal for college in the United States, he expected some serious challenges, like adjusting to a new culture and studying in a new language. Finding love was not top-of-mind. But as he got older and started to date more, Nimish’s romantic life became his biggest source of anxiety. Because with each budding relationship came an all-consuming question: How do I explain this to my parents? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S9 E1 · Tue, January 23, 2024
Find Your People
A few years ago, while at summer camp in North Carolina, Ray was wrestling with some of life’s biggest questions. Identity, love, growing up, a first kiss — Ray had a lot on their mind, and no one to confide in. Until they met Maria, a counselor clad in sandals and tie-dye who would become Ray’s mentor, guide, life coach, and cheerleader, all wrapped into one. In this first episode of the new season, a portrait of two people and their lasting, beautiful bond. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Fri, January 19, 2024
Check Out Murder in Boston
1989 Boston. The crack epidemic is raging, the murder rate soaring, and white flight has taken hold. Charles Stuart and his pregnant wife, Carol, are carjacked, drawn deep into a dangerous “inner city” neighborhood, and allegedly shot by a Black man. All of Boston – and the nation – is gripped by the hunt for the suspect. What follows will reveal truths about the city... and ourselves. Presented by The Boston Globe and HBO Documentary Films, Murder in Boston: The Untold Story of the Charles and Carol Stuart Shooting is hosted by Adrian Walker who, along with a team of Pulitzer-winning investigative reporters, unveils explosive new findings and change the narrative of a story long cemented in the city’s lore. The HBO Documentary Series Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning is available to stream on Max. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Tue, January 09, 2024
Season 9 Trailer: Thanks for the Help
Almost every love story has a supporting cast — friends, relatives, therapists, and others who play a key role in what happens. In Season 9 of Love Letters, we pay tribute to those important figures in the background. You’ll hear all kinds of stories about help and guidance people received in their romantic lives, from an ex who became the perfect wingperson, to the communities that support the spouses of pro athletes, to the best queer mentor anyone could ask for. Season 9 launches Jan. 23. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, December 19, 2023
Sidebar: Dear Internet, You're Wrong About The Cheesecake Factory
It’s Meredith against the world in this bonus episode as she attempts to prove why a viral list of places women will supposedly never go on a first date is wrong, and why The Cheesecake Factory – that’s right, The Cheesecake Factory – is a totally acceptable date spot. To pull this off, she takes her producer, Jesse, to one of her most beloved spots for a platonic work-date. They discuss everything from Meredith’s devotion to the chain restaurant, to the horoscopian powers of The Cheesecake Factory’s menu, to Shaquille O’Neal and Barbie. All classic first-date stuff. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, November 28, 2023
Sidebar: Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson
Meredith sits down with her sister, Brette, to tackle two family-themed letters from the Love Letters column. First, a woman feels some tension with her future sister-in-law. Second, a writer discovers that her boyfriend and her mother had a one-night-stand in the past. Should the woman confront her mom? Does the mom even remember this guy? How are they going to make it through the holidays? Send your own letter to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, November 14, 2023
Bonus: Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds Are Here for Laughs
Meredith sits down with comedians Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds, co-hosts of the popular new podcast “We’re Here to Help.” Gareth and Jake — who played Nick Miller on the hit show "New Girl" — are longtime friends who bonded doing improv together. Their podcast is a lot like them: fun, silly, sometimes accidentally poignant. Meredith, Jake, and Gareth compare their approaches to advice-giving and dish on baldness, horses, and trashy TV. Warning: This episode is very fun. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, November 07, 2023
We Found Love, Part 3: ‘I Was Expecting a Pen Pal’
For the final episode in our series “We Found Love,” we explore the psychology behind prison relationships, a proposed law in Massachusetts that would eliminate life sentences without parole, and the story of an incarcerated man who’s wrestling with the pressures of a young relationship. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, October 31, 2023
We Found Love, Part 2: This Call Is Not Private
Venus and Cornelius have been together for more than six years and engaged for five. They dream of seeing the world together, buying a house, and making their union official. But whether any of those things will ever happen is unclear, because Cornelius is serving a life sentence for murder without the possibility of parole. In Episode Two of the three-part series “We Found Love,” Boston Globe criminal justice reporter Ivy Scott brings us an intimate portrait of a committed, loving relationship that exists largely on the phone. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, October 24, 2023
We Found Love, Part 1: I Met My Husband in Prison
The first chapter of “We Found Love,” a three-part miniseries exploring how romantic love and partnership run up against – and sometimes transcend – the criminal justice system. Through the stories of three couples, at all different stages in their relationships, Boston Globe reporter Ivy Scott dives deep into what it takes to find love in a hopeless place. In today’s episode, she tells the story of Sharlene, a successful working mother with a secret, and Blake, a Southern gentleman serving time for second-degree murder. Their first encounter, in the visiting room of a Massachusetts state prison, would change the course of their lives. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, September 28, 2023
Bonus: Susanna Fogel on Her New Movie, 'Cat Person'
Meredith sits down with director Susanna Fogel to discuss Susanna’s new movie, "Cat Person," based on the buzzy 2017 short story by Kristen Roupenian in The New Yorker. They discuss Susanna’s decision to cast Nicholas Braun and Emilia Jones as romantic leads; the role that friends play in sussing out potential partners; and why "Cat Person," the story, stirred so much contentious debate — Susanna calls it a "weird Rorschach test for people's own [stuff]." Email us at loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, September 19, 2023
Send us your stories about help
On the next season of Love Letters, we’ll be featuring stories about the important role help and guidance from others plays in our relationship choices and love lives, from therapy and professional interventions to advice and assistance from friends, family members, and confidantes. If you have a story about a time someone helped you in your romantic life — or maybe a story about how you gave assistance to someone else — we’d love to hear from you. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, September 12, 2023
Sidebar: Closing the Books on Money, with Shirley Leung
Shirley Leung, a business columnist who hosts Say More — a new podcast from Boston Globe Opinion — sits down with Meredith for a few final reflections on love and money, the theme of Season 8 of Love Letters. Also, listeners weigh in with their takes on the season. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Find Say More wherever you listen to podcasts, or at globe.com/saymore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 29, 2023
Meredith Does Mindfulness
Meredith makes a guest appearance on the podcast Meditative Story, a show that tells human stories but with meditation prompts. Vampires, naming squirrels, the death of her mother — it all comes out. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 22, 2023
Sidebar: A Break in the Monogamy
Meredith visits her sister, Brette, on the West Coast, where Brette is recuperating from knee surgery. Together they tackle a letter from a writer who, after a series of serious relationships, wants a year of just being single. But what if that means missing out on a connection of a lifetime? Send your own letter to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E8 · Tue, August 08, 2023
#8 Two's Company
Erica Spates and Sam Littenberg-Weisberg have been professional television writing partners for 13 years. Together, they’ve co-written dozens of TV episodes, pitched and run their own Netflix series, and even won a couple Emmys. They are also married, which means they understand both the emotional highs of working with your partner and the financial lows – like the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike that's put both of their careers on ice. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 01, 2023
A Visit with Dear Prudence
Meredith talks to Jenée Desmond-Harris, Slate’s Dear Prudence advice columnist and podcast host, about weddings, commitment, and whether it’s kosher to grow an ugly mustache right before you get married. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E7 · Tue, July 25, 2023
#7 You Had Me at Prenup
It’s easy to understand why prenuptial agreements get a bad rap. We think of that rich guy, selfishly protecting his assets just in case wife No. 3 doesn’t work out. But it turns out that’s a pretty narrow view. There are plenty of people whose marriages have been made stronger by prenups. For Anne and Nick, it wasn’t a hedge against their marriage falling apart. It was an important gesture of trust. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E6 · Tue, July 11, 2023
#6 I Need a Toaster
As a food and travel influencer, Anela Malik’s social media feeds used to be full of inviting dishes and beautiful vistas. Then, in the spring of 2023, her posts took a turn: Anela announced tearfully to her many followers that she was getting divorced. It was an emotional hit but also a financial one. Anela was suddenly forced to make a major investment in a whole new life. And yet … it wasn’t all bad. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, July 04, 2023
Sidebar: Is Gen Z moving in too fast?
Meredith is joined by two of her favorite Boston Globe colleagues, business reporters Diti Kohli and Dana Gerber, to chat about two things that have long bothered her: the way lease cycles influence relationships, and the financial gap between coupled people and single people. Plus, they discuss a pair of letters, including one from a single person who is worried their married friends are growing distant. Email your dating and relationship questions to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E5 · Tue, June 20, 2023
#5 Ah, Those Opportunity Costs
A portrait of two daters in their 20s — Jackie in Chicago, and Nick in Washington. Both of them have been on lots of dates; Nick went on 46 last year alone. When you date this much, the expenses add up quickly: drinks, food, hair, parking, Ubers, clothes, and more. So how do they do it? What happens when the bill comes — who pays? And is it all worth it? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . *Programming note: The next full episode drops July 11th.* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E4 · Tue, June 06, 2023
#4 Whose Turn Is It?
A story about partnership and compromise, told in two acts. Two working spouses — writer Kara Baskin and psychologist Sadé Soares — talk about how they and their partners have navigated money, ambition, career, and sacrifice. How do people combine finances and lives and priorities without losing out or getting resentful? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E3 · Tue, May 23, 2023
#3 She Wanted the World
No matter how much you might click with a potential partner, there will always be something you don’t quite see eye-to-eye on. Maybe it's religion. Maybe it’s kids. Sometimes? It’s money. In Vicki's case, she and her girlfriend, Jessica, seemed to be a good match — if they could just get past that one thing. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E2 · Tue, May 09, 2023
#2 You Make My Dreams (Come True)
Meredith’s childhood friend Justin L. Wilson was standing at a funeral, listening to a eulogy, when he had an epiphany: I’m going to quit my job. This decision to follow his passion took Justin on a journey that involves falling in love. Breakups. Martin Scorsese. Hall & Oates. The Kelly Clarkson Show. And a lesson – very much still-in-progress – about the price of a dream. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, May 02, 2023
From NPR's Dear Life Kit: Can You Be Too Generous?
A special visit from our friends at NPR’s Dear Life Kit podcast, where experts answer your most pressing and personal anonymous questions. In this bonus episode: A letter writer loves her boyfriend's parents, but their generosity feels inappropriate. Maya Lau, host of the podcast Other People's Pockets, weighs in on how to move forward. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, April 25, 2023
Sidebar: Letting Go of That Rich Ex
Meredith and her sister, Brette, take on two letters, including one from a writer who’s happily coupled but still thinking about an ex. Not because the ex was so great, or because there’s any desire to get back together. It’s purely because he came from family money and offered the prospect of financial stability. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S8 E1 · Tue, April 25, 2023
#1 Tim's Big Secret
As a 20-something, Alex was determined to “win” at adulthood. And they did. They got a job, responsibly grew their savings, even bought a house. And then Alex met Tim, a kind and smart man who shared their passions, hobbies, and values. But a few years into their marriage, Alex discovered that Tim was carrying a pretty big secret – one that would jeopardize their hard-earned sense of security. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Tue, April 11, 2023
Season 8 Trailer: Love & Money
On Season 8 of Love Letters, host Meredith Goldstein explores all the ways money plays into love, dating, and relationships. What happens when two partners come from different wealth backgrounds? What if someone is harboring secret debt? Who should pay for drinks on a first date? How do couples decide whose “turn” it is to pursue a career dream? Season 8 launches April 25. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, March 14, 2023
Bonus: Money, Please
Money is a hard thing to talk about – especially when there’s a partner involved. So, before we kick off a full season of stories about love and money, Meredith felt it was only fair that she open up a little herself. In this special bonus episode, she and her longtime financial advisor share some real talk about her finances, paying for psychics, stashing money in the freezer, and the baggage from her parents’ divorce. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Wed, January 25, 2023
Send us your stories about love & money
Look, money is a hard thing to talk about -- especially in relationships. But it plays into so many of our decisions. For the next season of Love Letters, we're looking for stories about money in love and dating. How do you tell a serious partner about your student loan debt? What happens when two people come from different wealth backgrounds? Why are breakups so expensive? If you have a story to share about love and money -- even if it needs to be anonymous -- please get in touch. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E10 · Tue, January 17, 2023
#10 A Woman Walks Into a Burger Joint
After years of being told she wasn’t enough – good enough, smart enough, pretty enough – Tooky Kavanagh discovered that, yeah, actually, she was enough. This revelation came in the unlikeliest of places: the basement of a burger place, at a comedy open mic night. For the first time, Tooky could see who she was supposed to be. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E9 · Tue, January 03, 2023
#9 From Roz With Love
Finding and sustaining love takes real work. It takes intention. But we never know when life is going to throw someone important in front of us. Then we’re forced to confront a big question: Is my heart open to love, or is it not? The story of Roz and Ralph is all about that: being open — remaining open — across six decades, multiple states, one bowl of pea soup, and a whole lot of letters. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, December 29, 2022
Sidebar: 'Marley-ing' and Other Holiday Hazards
Meredith quizzes her sister, Brette, on the latest terms of art in dating and relationships. Plus, they discuss a letter from someone who's all worked up after seeing an old flame at Thanksgiving. Email your dating and relationship questions to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E8 · Tue, December 13, 2022
#8 Heart & Solo
Pebbles is a well-known morning radio show host in the Boston area. Being happily single has long been part of her brand. But her story – how she came to understand her priorities and know her own heart – is far richer than most people realize. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E7 · Tue, November 29, 2022
#7 The Best Partner I Ever Had
There’s a reason Meredith and her friend Kumar hit it off when they first met. Well, two reasons. One, they’re both obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Plus, they both operate with expansive definitions of love, commitment, and partnership. That’s why, when Kumar was going through a major change in his life, Meredith knew just what it felt like. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E6 · Tue, November 15, 2022
#6 Right Here Waiting for You
Ever since he was young, Jared believed he had to choose between being gay and being Muslim. Because everyone around him was telling him he couldn’t be both. This impossible choice tore Jared apart, up until the day he met a kind, blue-eyed stranger on a park bench. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E5 · Tue, November 01, 2022
#5 Ana in Paris
Ana’s first impression of Paris wasn’t very good. First of all, she was from Mexico. So she didn’t know a lick of French. She also hated the food. But she returned 10 years later and fell in love with the city – and with a tall Frenchman who had kind eyes. This storybook romance came with a cost, though. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, October 27, 2022
Sidebar: Is This What Closure Looks Like?
Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop take up two letters to Meredith's Love Letters advice column. In the first letter, a man wonders if he should send that closure email he's got all cued up. In the second, a writer asks if she should have worked harder to fix a former relationship. Email your dating and relationship questions to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E4 · Tue, October 18, 2022
#4 Still the One
Mel and Jay met way back in seventh-grade social studies class. Then in high school, they co-led the Gay Straight Alliance. Mel was straight; Jay was gay. In the years that followed, their love and connection remained durable, even as their relationship took many different forms. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E3 · Tue, October 04, 2022
#3 Welcome to Polyamory City
In 2020, Somerville, Massachusetts became the first municipality in the country allowing polyamorous relationships to qualify for domestic partnership status. Meredith talks to one of the first people to register for the new designation. They discuss what it means – and what it doesn’t. Meredith also talks to a legal expert about the broader social and legal implications of the Somerville ordinance. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, September 29, 2022
Sidebar: Does 'When Harry Met Sally' Hold Up?
Love Letters producer Katelyn Harrop just saw "When Harry Met Sally" for the first time, which leaves Meredith (a WHMS superfan) with one burning question: Has it aged well? They discuss in this Sidebar mini-episode. Email your dating and relationship questions to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E2 · Tue, September 20, 2022
#2 No Roadmap Required
Michaela always craved the kind of life she didn’t have as a kid. She’d find a stable guy, settle down, and start a family. For several years, she seemed to be on her way. But then she discovered that, no matter how clear that original path may have seemed, she ultimately had to build her own. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, September 15, 2022
Sidebar: He's Hooked Up With All His Friends
Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop take on two new letters, including one from a woman in her 40s who digs her new boyfriend but wasn't thrilled to learn that he'd previously hooked up with most of the women in his friend group. Is this a red flag, or just ancient history? Email your dating and relationship questions to loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S7 E1 · Tue, September 06, 2022
#1 Bill & Jen's Excellent Adventure
All this season, we’ll be telling stories of big changes and how they reshape people’s romantic lives. In the first episode, Meredith shares the story of Bill and Jen, who did that thing many people fantasize about: They quit their day jobs and built a business from scratch. What has this shift meant for their lives – and for their marriage? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 16, 2022
Sidebar: Men in Their 30s
Our new season is launching soon. But first ... Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop dish on letters to Meredith's Love Letters advice column. This week: A single woman says men in their 30s fall into three categories: already coupled up, recently uncoupled and uninterested in anything serious, and too focused on their careers to contemplate a relationship. Does the LL team agree? Email us your dating and relationship questions at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Mon, July 25, 2022
Introducing: Sidebar
We're trying out this new thing today. It's called Sidebar. It's a snack-sized episode in which Meredith and producer Katelyn Harrop discuss their favorite recent letters to Meredith's advice column in The Boston Globe. We'll drop you a Sidebar every now and then, between our usual, full-length episodes. In today's episode: finding love in the carpool lane and what it means to date a divorcee. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, June 14, 2022
Bonus: Get Off the Apps! With Jon Birger
Meredith chats with business writer and journalist Jon Birger about why he thinks we should get off the apps and seek connection in other ways. Birger is the author of the books Date-Onomics: How Dating Became a Lopsided Numbers Game and Make Your Move: The New Science of Dating and Why Women Are in Charge . Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, May 05, 2022
Bonus: Romanticizing Everything with Casey McQuiston
We’re back with a bonus episode today. Meredith chats with writer Casey McQuiston about all the things: finding romance for yourself in times of uncertainty, how they get their work done, and what makes a really good love story. McQuiston is the author of the new book "I Kissed Shara Wheeler," the widely successful "Red, White & Royal Blue," and "One Last Stop." Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, April 21, 2022
Send us your stories of big change
Sometimes life is about big change. You move across the world. Quit or lose a job. Suddenly get Internet famous. Decide you must join the circus. Maybe not that, but you get it. For the next season of Love Letters, we’re looking for stories about big, monumental changes in people’s romantic lives. Have you ever made a 180 like this? Share it with us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E10 · Tue, March 29, 2022
#10 Never Gonna Give You Up
For our final episode of the season, we collaborate with the podcast This Is Dating to bring you the story of Manny, a San Francisco thirty-something who’s been kinda sorta breaking a big relationship rule for 11 years and counting. The one that says: You’ll never get over an ex without making a clean break. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . For more on This Is Dating, visit thisisdatingpodcast.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E9 · Tue, March 15, 2022
#9 I Couldn't Help But Wonder
Yes, Devin Tomb knows that TV isn’t real life. That “Sex and the City” never explicitly promised her anything. And yet, it was hard not to believe in the future the show presented. Devin figured she, too, would have a squad of single women for adventurous nights and opulent brunches well into her 30s. So what happened? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E8 · Tue, March 01, 2022
#8 Red Flag Parade
When Margaret hit her early 30s, she felt like one of those collectible toys you keep in a box – in mint condition, untouched. She wondered: What am I saving myself for? So she said yes to a throuple that seemed romantic and daring and exhilarating. It turned out to be all of those things and more. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E7 · Tue, February 15, 2022
#7 These Rules Are Meant for Breakin'
Meredith sits down with two smart people who have spent a lot of time studying relationships – how we make them, what we look for in other people, and the “rules” that color these big decisions. Lamont White is a dating coach and matchmaker. Angela Bahns is a social psychologist whose work raises an important question: Is it actually true that opposites attract? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E6 · Tue, February 01, 2022
#6 Dancing With a Stranger
Ayesha Mattu was supposed to marry a man whose background mirrored hers: Pakistani, Muslim, and from a certain caste. For a time, that was the plan. Then, one night in a dimly lit club, she saw a cute guy dancing. And thus their adventure began. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E5 · Tue, January 18, 2022
#5 The Old College Try
When the pandemic hit, Iz was a junior in college with a vibrant social and academic life. They also had a serious partner, with whom they’d been in a monogamous relationship. COVID turned all of that upside down. So Iz decided to try something radical: to forego app dating and look for love IRL. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E4 · Tue, January 04, 2022
#4 98 Percent Perfect
Just about everybody in a long-term partnership worries they’re not having the right amount of sex. It’s easy to wonder: What is “normal?” For Katie and her husband, this became a central question in their marriage – until she realized she should just stop asking. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E3 · Tue, December 14, 2021
#3 So Long, Splitsville
When Ian Coss talks about the legacy of divorce in his family, he’s not kidding. Everybody split up -- parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, multiple aunts and uncles. So when Ian fell in love himself, understanding these broken commitments became his way of avoiding the same fate. Plus, writer and podcaster Christina Tucker on whether universal rules even exist in love and dating. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . (Next episode: Jan. 4) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E2 · Tue, November 30, 2021
#2 In Love, on Duty
Naomi and Chandler didn’t know each other before deploying to the same air base in Afghanistan. But they had much in common — they both came from big families and small towns, and neither was looking for love. They also knew the military frowned upon relationships on base. And yet… Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6 E1 · Tue, November 16, 2021
#1 Because I Wanted To
Welcome to Season 6! Our theme for this season is “Breaking the Rules.” It’s all about people who went against the grain, challenged convention, or ignored those relationship myths and tropes we’ve all heard. In the first episode, Meredith tells the story of fellow journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr, who made an unexpected choice upon getting married. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, September 28, 2021
Bonus: A Conversation with John Paul Brammer
Meredith talks to fellow advice columnist John Paul Brammer on the occasion of his new book, “Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons.” Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 31, 2021
Bonus: Erin’s Hot Girl Summer
Meredith has a glass of frosé with Erin, whose dating journey Love Letters chronicled in Season 2. Erin gives an update on her love life, shares what changed for her during the pandemic, and admits to crushing on a guy in a cemetery. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E10 · Tue, August 10, 2021
#10 Meredith, Explained
In the final episode of the season, Meredith turns hosting duties over to her sister, Brette. And for an important reason: It’s finally time for Meredith to share her own story -- her own new beginning. It’s a story about saying “yes” when that feels right, and about the growth that comes from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Email us at loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E9 · Tue, July 27, 2021
#9 Save It for Later
Knowing whether your partner is "the one" can be hard. Especially when you meet earlier in life. It’s tough to know who is truly here to stay, and who may just be right for the moment. That was true for Monica, who fell for a guy in college and then wasn’t so sure. Hers is a story about multiple new beginnings, and about the importance of getting to know yourself before going all in on someone else. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E8 · Tue, July 13, 2021
#8 The Connecticut Wife
Many of us have clear expectations for our romantic lives. We envision a certain kind of partner, a certain kind of relationship. But Nicole found her new beginning after giving herself permission to change course. The end result? She’s built a life she never imagined for herself. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E7 · Tue, June 29, 2021
#7 Boyfriend Person
Trenni used to pity the “boyfriend people” -- women she knew whose lives seemed to revolve around a guy. She valued her independence and wore it like a badge of honor. Then, a chance encounter on the street led her to a life-changing discovery. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E6 · Tue, June 15, 2021
#6 How to Step-Mom
When a step-parent enters the picture, it can be an especially fraught new beginning -- for everyone involved. Stacie discovered this after she and Tim decided to make a life together. Tim came with two kids; Stacie had none. Nor did she have any idea -- at first, anyway -- what it meant to be a step-mom. Plus, Meredith and her sister, Brette, sing Mary Poppins. Sort of. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E5 · Tue, June 01, 2021
#5 This Beautiful Thing for Right Now
It’s hard to not worry about the future. We all want to know how things are going to work out. For Meighan, her romantic path seemed clear. Until … it didn’t. That’s when she learned to let go of tomorrow and just live for today. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E4 · Tue, May 18, 2021
#4 Her Mother's Daughter
When Letitia needed inspiration for her new beginning, she found it in the most natural place: from her mother, who showed Letitia how to keep her heart open to new love. Even when it seemed so overwhelming. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E3 · Tue, May 04, 2021
#3 Let's Stay Together
A vow renewal is a special breed of new beginning. It’s not just a restatement of original promises; it’s about a couple reaffirming their love and mutual commitment after years of lived experience. Which is exactly why Cindy Brown and Sharon McMahon chose to do it again and again. Plus, Meredith drops in on a (virtual) mass vow renewal ceremony organized by her alma mater, Syracuse University. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E2 · Tue, April 20, 2021
#2 New Crush, Old Bones
When Paola Bayron first noticed the cute guy at work, she already had a boyfriend. Over the next four years, as she and her colleague began and ended other relationships, the two of them cycled through periods of flirting, talking, not talking, and avoiding each other altogether. Until one day, when they couldn’t avoid each other any longer. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S5 E1 · Tue, April 06, 2021
#1 A Kiss on the Shoulder
All this season, hear stories of new beginnings, resets, do-overs, and fresh chapters. In the first episode, Meredith shares the story of Kristina Libby and Tim Cahill, a New York couple who -- despite all the horribleness of the past year -- still managed to find each other. Then they grew closer through a modern-day Victorian courtship, finding sexiness in restraint and boundaries. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, February 09, 2021
Bonus: Love in Motion
(In collaboration with and presented by the Boston Pops) Do good artistic partners make good romantic ones? In this special bonus episode, dancers Mia Dalglish and Jun Kuribayashi share their story of marriage, tango, and one very important full moon. Also, Meredith talks to Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart about what it takes to be a good collaborator -- in music and in life. Have a story to share? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, January 26, 2021
Bonus: Season 4 Live Episode
In this special live episode taping, Meredith is joined by her sister, Brette, and Elizabeth Segran, a journalist and author of the book "The Rocket Years." Their wide-ranging conversation dwells on love lessons at different ages, and how one's perceptions of potential partners evolves over time. Have a story you'd like to share? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E9 · Tue, January 12, 2021
#9 Move Over, Hugh Grant
Paul’s story is straight out of a rom-com. After his first marriage fell apart, he gave up on love. Then a woman walked into his life, and, well, she changed his mind. That was more than 30 years ago. Through sickness, health, and many tears along the way, Paul and his wife learned the secret to a successful partnership: You just keep showing up. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E8 · Tue, December 22, 2020
#8 Writing Your Heart Out
On today’s episode, three writers -- Alondra Bobadilla, Asiyah Herrera, and Meredith Russo -- talk about the relationship between art and love, and how they use their creative work to explore ideas about dating, courtship, belonging, and commitment. All of them, in their own way, understand love and life by writing it. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E7 · Tue, December 08, 2020
#7 Three Chords and the Truth
The thing about love is, we never stop learning. That’s a good thing. We’re supposed to be ever-evolving creatures, always working to be better. After three long-term relationships, Claire knows this as well as anyone. This is her story: three loves, many lessons. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E6 · Tue, November 24, 2020
#6 Paging Prince Charming
How do expectations for love affect what we seek, and how we define relationship success? Sarah Huckman had grand expectations for her romantic life heading into college. Then she got there and it wasn’t quite what she’d imagined. Also, Meredith’s sister, Brette, joins the show to share the most important relationships lessons she’s learned. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E5 · Tue, November 10, 2020
#5 The Role of a Lifetime
How do you get through the hardest moments as a couple? By building a strong foundation. Writer and actress Marianne Leone Cooper reflects on her life with actor Chris Cooper, and how the two of them supported and complemented one other when it mattered most. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E4 · Tue, October 27, 2020
#4 Jenny Plus Molly
Over the three decades they've known each other, Jenny and Molly have been friends, more than friends, and everything in between. Along the way, they've cycled through many different lessons about love, trust, and companionship. Their story is about how sometimes, no matter how much you grow and change, you can keep someone forever. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E3 · Tue, October 13, 2020
#3 No Ghosts Allowed
Monica grew up an Air Force brat, moving with her family from base to base in Europe, Asia, and the United States. She never stuck around long enough to make meaningful connections. It wasn't until her 20s that Monica learned an important lesson: Relationships matter, and when they end, you must honor them with a proper goodbye. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, October 06, 2020
Listen to Mr. 80 Percent!
Introducing Mr. 80 Percent, a new six-part narrative podcast hosted by friend-of-Love-Letters Mark Shanahan. Mr. 80 Percent is a deeply personal, sometimes harrowing, often funny, always true story about Mark’s odyssey with prostate cancer. There’s sex, celebrity cameos, real talk about masculinity, and more sex. Listen to Mr. 80 Percent wherever you get your podcasts, or online at bostonglobe.com/prostate . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E2 · Tue, September 29, 2020
#2 What Buffy Taught Me About Love
Ian was going through a hard time, but his new boyfriend seemed just right. The guy was cute, and exciting, and didn't make Ian dwell on his problems. But just when Ian needs him most, he reveals his limits as a partner. Turns out, it's a love lesson ripped from the TV show Ian and Meredith share an obsession with: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S4 E1 · Tue, September 15, 2020
#1 Balls to the Wall
When Jenni and Drew hit their 40s, Drew decides to build a ball pit in their house. Not for their kids -- for him. The splurge fulfills a lifelong dream of Drew's, but it also holds a lesson about marriage, self-care at middle age, and learning to live for the moment. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Tue, September 01, 2020
Season 4 Trailer: Love at Any Age
On Season 4 of Love Letters, host Meredith Goldstein explores love at every age — from the first stirrings of teenage infatuation to the hard-won lessons of the golden years. Universal stories about dating and relationships, coming September 15. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us on Twitter @lovelettersblog . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, June 09, 2020
Bonus: The O.G. Quarantine Couple
Kim and Glenn Schryver are experts at coupling in isolation. For more than a dozen years, the Schryvers have managed a remote mountain reservoir in the Rockies of Colorado. They go weeks without seeing anyone but each other. How do they do it? And what can they teach other couples who now find themselves in a similar position? ... For Season 4, we're looking for love lessons at all kinds of ages. Have a story you'd like to share? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, April 16, 2020
Bonus: Love in the Time of Corona
Is he using the lockdown to ghost? Is it a good time to text your ex? Meredith invites her sister, Brette, onto the show to dish out advice to letter-writers dealing with pandemic-related relationship problems. Plus, their friend Nicole offers an intimate look at what it's like to date on FaceTime. How has COVID-19 affected your relationship? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Thu, April 02, 2020
Bonus: Take Me to 'The Lake House'
Meredith Goldstein talks to Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr about what to watch during stressful times, why people are drawn to disaster flicks, and the best rom-coms to screen right now -- including a Keanu Reeves-Sandra Bullock classic. What are you watching? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, March 17, 2020
Check out Motherhood Sessions from Gimlet
Introducing Motherhood Sessions, a podcast from our friends at Gimlet. Motherhood Sessions features emotionally honest conversations about being a mom. In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Sacks sits down with a couple that hasn’t had sex in more than two years. On the surface, it seems like the birth of their son was the main cause of their loss of intimacy. But as Dr. Sacks digs deeper, it turns out that the couples’ sexual issues pre-date their child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, March 10, 2020
Bonus: Jia Tolentino on Not Getting Married
Jia Tolentino, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the essay collection "Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion," joins Meredith to talk about how she knew she didn't want to get married. Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E11 · Tue, February 04, 2020
#11 My Year of Magical Selfhood
Lisa was just 34 when her husband died suddenly of a heart condition. As she came to terms with her grief, she confronted questions she never thought she’d have to answer: How do you know when to move past mourning and date new people? How do you know you’re ready? … Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E10 · Tue, January 21, 2020
#10 When Should You Have Sex?
If you want a new relationship to last, how long should you wait to sleep together? There’s an old adage that says three dates. But is that right? In today’s episode, we explore three takes on this question. Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E9 · Tue, January 07, 2020
#9 A Hollywood Arrangement
Huda always knew her marriage would be supervised by her family. She accepted that, but she pined for romance: She wanted a love story worthy of the American rom-coms she grew up on. The question was, could she have both?... Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E8 · Tue, December 17, 2019
#8 Mom's New Boyfriend
As a newly single mom, Lauren had to wrestle with two big questions. First, when to start dating again. Second, how and when to introduce her daughter to the men she was seeing. For Lauren -- and for anyone trying to date while raising kids -- the stakes can be quite high. Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E7 · Tue, December 03, 2019
#7 Writing on the Wall
What do pierced nipples and “Silent Night” have in common? In today’s stories, both were signs that a relationship had run its course. Jordan had to accept that his marriage was over. Allison had to listen to her gut. Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E6 · Tue, November 19, 2019
#6 Friends (Without) Benefits
Sometimes friendship is just friendship, and sometimes it’s meant to be more. But how do you know? Aubrey spent years trying to figure that out with a guy she calls The Singer. Could she learn to be comfortable with ambiguity? … Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E5 · Tue, November 05, 2019
#5 Leave the Light On
Marlee and John’s relationship got serious fast after an a-ha moment at a Michigan bar. They got married and built a local arts community together. Ultimately, their marriage didn’t last. But their relationship did. Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E4 · Tue, October 22, 2019
#4 Eat, Pray, Love, Eat
One night on a dark dance floor, Douglass Williams bumped into the woman who would change his life. Not just because they went on to get married and start a family together. She gave him a lifelong gift -- one he didn’t know he was looking for. Have a story to share? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, October 15, 2019
Check out Hot and Bothered
Meredith was the special guest on this recent episode of “Hot and Bothered,” a podcast about reading – and writing – romance novels. Hear Meredith talk with host Vanessa Zoltan about paranormal romance and what we can learn from vampires, ghouls, and fairies in love. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E3 · Tue, October 08, 2019
#3 Too Big to Fail
Anna Sale, host of the podcast Death, Sex & Money, talks about the time a stressful couch purchase forced her and her boyfriend to reexamine their relationship. In time, they learned how to talk about money, and how to share a life together … Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E2 · Tue, September 24, 2019
#2 Is Forever Forever?
Lance was certain he and his wife would be partners for life. But it would take years for Lance to truly understand himself. What happens when you make a big call about love at a young age? … Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 E1 · Tue, September 24, 2019
#1 Two Rings to Rule Them All
Elizabeth and Dave are two Austin musicians who initially sought different things from their relationship. In time, both knew they were meant to be together. But how? What did that “knowing” look like? … Have a story of your own? Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Tue, September 10, 2019
Season 3 Trailer: How Do You Know?
How do you know when it’s true love? When to sleep together for the first time? When to leave someone? This season of Love Letters, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein takes on a universal question: How do you know? Stories, confessions, expert advice, and more. Season 3 launches September 24. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or tweet at us using #loveletterspodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, August 27, 2019
Check out The Moment (from Wondery)
Here’s a clip of a new show called The Moment, from our friends at Wondery. The Moment, hosted by newly engaged comedian and actress Ingrid Haas, tells stories about love, relationships, and dating in a fun, comedic way. You can find The Moment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Learn more at wondery.fm/globeloveletters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, July 16, 2019
Bonus Episode: Finding Love in the Comments
In this bonus episode, Meredith Goldstein talks to two people who met their partners in online communities — including one who found love in the comments section of Meredith’s column. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus · Tue, June 25, 2019
Bonus Episode: Love Letters Live
Meredith Goldstein and special guests take the stage at the Comedy Studio at Bow Market, in Somerville, Mass. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E10 · Tue, June 04, 2019
#10 Extreme Love
How do you build a relationship with someone who saved your life? In the final episode of Season 2, Meredith Goldstein shares stories of love that flowered in moments of stress and danger. Her sister, Brette, confesses to a trick she once used to woo someone on a roller coaster. Plus, Meredith brings Erin into the studio to reflect on what she learned this season as the Love Letters guinea pig. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E9 · Tue, May 21, 2019
#9 Benchwarming
If you’re dating, it’s a thing you hear a lot: A good way to meet someone is to take a class or join a social activity. Like playing on a co-ed volleyball team. Taking a sourdough bread-making class. Signing up for pottery. But does it work? In Episode 9, Meredith Goldstein looks at whether activities, classes, and clubs can lead you to love. Plus, something good happens to Erin. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E8 · Tue, May 07, 2019
#8 Carpe Diem (or Matt Dorfman)
To find a partner, sometimes you’ve just gotta grab the moment. This is something Meredith Goldstein knows all too well. Because that guy she liked in college? Matt Dorfman? Well, she missed her chance. In Episode 8, Meredith explores bravery and regret, and she tells the story of one British photographer who did act on her romantic impulse. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E7 · Tue, April 23, 2019
#7 Going for Broke
Meeting someone takes work, time, and commitment. It can also take money. Sometimes a lot. In Episode 7, Meredith Goldstein explores what we spend on dating and why. She talks to Lindsey Stanberry, of Refinery29’s “Money Diaries,” and tells the story of a woman who spent serious money on a professional matchmaker. Plus, Erin makes a cameo on The Science of Happiness podcast . Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E6 · Tue, April 09, 2019
#6 Beware the Fairy Tales
Everybody wants a meet-cute story. It’s like we’ve all watched so many rom-coms that anything less feels like a letdown. But what does a meet-cute truly mean to a relationship? Meredith Goldstein explores this question by revisiting the story of how her parents met. Also in the episode, Meredith tires quickly of swiping, but Erin does not -- and gets rewarded. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E5 · Tue, March 26, 2019
#5 A Spark in the Darkness
Trust. Intimacy. Affection. They’re all key ingredients to a healthy romantic relationship. But what happens when pain, trauma, and memory get in the way? In Episode Five, Meredith Goldstein explores the unique challenges of trying to find love and connection after a difficult past. Also, Erin has a promising date and Meredith starts swiping for the first time in her life. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E4 · Tue, March 12, 2019
#4 What Fresh Hell Is This?
Dating can feel like a second full-time job. You feel like you have to constantly check the apps, update your profiles, and swipe on new faces, lest you miss out on something. And that’s all before you actually go on any dates. In this episode, Meredith Goldstein looks at the epidemic of dating fatigue. She talks to comedian Lane Moore, the brains behind the show “Tinder Live” and the author of “How To Be Alone,” and hits the bar with Erin, the woman Love Letters is following all season. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E3 · Tue, February 26, 2019
#3 Single? Live Here!
Does where you live affect your dating life? Would it be easier to find a partner if you lived in another city? Meredith Goldstein investigates these oft-asked questions through conversations with three people who have lived and dated in multiple zip codes. Plus, Meredith checks in with Erin, the single woman whose dating life Love Letters is chronicling all season. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E2 · Tue, February 12, 2019
#2 Take It Up with H.R.
Meredith Goldstein tells the story of one of the riskier work crushes she’s come across. Because, really, what’s riskier than falling in love with H.R.? Meredith also explores the complexities of dating in the workplace in the #MeToo era, and she talks do’s and don’t’s with an employment lawyer who’s seen and heard it all. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S2 E1 · Tue, February 12, 2019
#1 ‘He Doesn’t Look Odious’
In the first episode of the new season, Meredith Goldstein asks: Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned set-up? She talks to two friends with starkly different views on whether set-ups are worthwhile, and she visits a salon that offers far more than haircuts. Plus, Meredith introduces Erin, a 44-year-old single woman whose dating life Love Letters will be chronicling all season. Email us at loveletters@boston.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Tue, January 29, 2019
Season 2 Trailer: How Do You Meet Someone?
On Season 2 of Love Letters, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein tackles one of love’s fundamental questions: How do you meet someone? Through stories, advice from experts, and confessions from her own life, Meredith will explore what works, what doesn’t, and what it means to be dating in 2019. Season 2 of Love Letters launches February 12. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trailer · Fri, January 18, 2019
Season 1 Trailer: Getting Over It
Is a breakup the end of something, or only the beginning? In Season One of Love Letters, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein explores this question through intimate stories of love and heartbreak and confessions from her own life. Love Letters launches March 20. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, August 29, 2018
Bonus Episode: Camp Love
In this special bonus episode of Love Letters, Meredith explores camp love and the end-of-summer goodbyes that inevitably follow. Summer romances can be fleeting and ultimately insignificant. But sometimes they can mean much more. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E8 · Tue, May 08, 2018
#8 The Friend Zone
Some people believe that establishing a friendship with your ex is the true sign you’ve moved on from the relationship. It’s not always that simple, though. In the final episode of Season One, Meredith explores friendship with exes -- including her own -- and she talks to Esther Perel about what makes that possible. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E7 · Tue, May 01, 2018
#7 You've Got to Keep Living
Can you really get back together after a breakup? Does harboring that hope prevent you from moving on? Meredith tackles these often-asked questions and explores the pitfalls of wishful thinking. And she talks to one family who defied the odds in an extraordinary way. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E6 · Tue, April 24, 2018
#6 The Night I Became Roy Orbison
Meredith explores the healing power of music after a breakup. A lovelorn actress walks into a karaoke bar -- and finally finds peace. Hit songwriter Bonnie Hayes explains the universality of a good song. And a master playlist-maker shares his breakup recommendations. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E5 · Tue, April 17, 2018
#5 'I Feel Like It Was Fate'
The impulse to reinvent after a breakup can be strong. We want to run and chop our hair off. Or change careers. Or maybe climb a mountain. Meredith explores this quest for “breakup accomplishments” and how they help us raise our value -- not necessarily for other people, but for ourselves. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E4 · Tue, April 10, 2018
#4 For Coffee, in Paris
So much evaporates after a breakup -- the sweet texts, the lazy brunches, the shared Hulu account you both used for the “The Handmaid’s Tale.” But mementos from your time together remain, like relics of another era. Is it better to hold onto these things, or to dump them? Meredith investigates. With a cameo by Margo Howard. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E3 · Tue, April 03, 2018
#3 Cloudy with a Chance of Breakup
The worst kinds of breakups are the murky ones. You think maybe you've been dumped, but you’re not totally sure. Or you know you’ve been dumped but still have so many questions, starting with: Why? Meredith learns the do’s and don’t’s of breaking up -- from the people who know best. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E2 · Tue, March 27, 2018
#2 Don't Look at the Cupcakes
Breaking up was easier before social media. Not the emotional part -- that was always hard -- but the mechanics of it. You broke up and just avoided each other at the mall. Today, disentangling is … complicated. Photos of your ex with a new love infiltrate your news feed. Even a Venmo transaction can send you reeling. Email us at loveletters@boston.com or find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S1 E1 · Tue, March 20, 2018
#1 Getting Under to Get Over
It’s common advice after a breakup: The best way to get over an ex is to get under someone new. But does it work? Is rebound sex empowering, or does it just leave you feeling lonelier? Meredith Goldstein explores the emotions -- and the science -- at play in one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Email us your thoughts at loveletters@boston.com and find us online at loveletters.show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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