Modern Love
by The New York TimesFor 20 years, the Modern Love column has given New York Times readers a glimpse into the complicated love lives of real people. Since its start, the column has evolved into a TV show, three books and a podcast. Each week, host Anna Martin brings you stories and conversations about love in all its glorious permutations, dumb pitfalls and life-changing moments. New episodes every Wednesday. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
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Episodes
Our 34-Year Age Gap Didn’t Matter, Until It Did
32m · PublishedSonja Falck was immediately attracted to Colin, the professor who was renting her a room. He was intellectual and lively, with bright eyes that drew her in. It was only after they were already dating that Sonja found out Colin’s age: He was 34 years older than her.
Their age gap didn’t give them pause. Sonja and Colin got married, had kids and built a fulfilling life together. But when Colin reached his 80s, and Sonja was in her mid-40s, Sonja realized she was craving a level of physical intimacy that Colin could no longer provide.
So Sonja and Colin had to make a decision: Could they transform their relationship into something that gave both partners what they wanted? Or had their age gap finally caught up to them?
Author Read: Two Boys on Bikes, Falling in Love
10m · PublishedEric Darnell Pritchard reads their Modern Love essay, “Two Boys on Bicycles, Falling in Love."
To hear our conversation with Eric, listen to the episode: “Two Boys on Bicycles, Falling in Love.”
Two Boys on Bikes, Falling in Love
23m · PublishedEleven-year-old Eric Darnell Pritchard was a solitary kid. They preferred reading romance novels to playing sports, and watching soap operas to hanging out with the neighborhood kids. Although they were obsessed with love, they felt too different to find a romantic connection of their own.
Then, a cute boy moved in across the street. To Eric’s surprise, they both “like liked” each other. But when Eric told the wrong person about their new boyfriend, things quickly spun out of control.
Author Read: He Cared About Me, So I Broke Up With Him
12m · PublishedJessica Slice reads her Modern Love essay, “He Cared About Me, So I Broke Up With Him."
To hear our conversation with Jessica, listen to the episode: “He Cared About Me, So I Broke Up With Him.”
He Cared About Me, So I Broke Up With Him
29m · PublishedWhen Jessica Slice started dating a man named David, there was a lot to like about him. They could nerd out about books and board games, he was thoughtful and kind.
But Jessica had a problem. The more caring David was, the more she recoiled. "He’s the greatest!" She texted her sister. "But I doubt I’ll go out with him again." This wasn’t the first time she'd felt like fleeing from affection, but something about David made Jessica hesitate. Was she finally ready for a new kind of love?
Did I Fail as a Parent?
29m · PublishedRick Reiss was scared for his teenage son, Gabriel. Gabe was struggling with depression and mood swings, and no amount of therapy or medication seemed to work.
But when Gabe became violent, Rick wasn’t just scared for his son; he was scared of his son. Rick and his wife felt as if they had to do something drastic. So they made the decision to send Gabe to a wilderness therapy program.
Nearly 18 years later, father and son talk about the decision that changed both of their lives and how their relationship has grown now that Gabe is an adult.
Author Read: My Sweaty Revenge
11m · PublishedChristi Clancy reads her Modern Love essay, “Revenge of the Friend."
To hear our conversation with Christi, listen to the episode: “My Sweaty Revenge.”
My Sweaty Revenge
18m · PublishedChristi Clancy had been avoiding her best friend’s ex-husband. He’d unexpectedly left her friend for another woman. After supporting her friend through the pain and heartbreak, Christi couldn’t help but resent the ex-husband for all the damage he’d done.
So when the man walked into Christi’s spin class, she saw an opportunity to exact revenge in the best way she knew how: on a spin bike.
I Wrote This Essay, but Then Changed My Mind
26m · PublishedHeather Sellers wrote her Modern Love essay in 2013, about reconnecting with her elderly, estranged father. Although their relationship was painful, Heather made sure that her last words to her father were “I love you.” And at the time, that felt like closure.
Now, 10 years later, Heather tells our host, Anna Martin, that she would write a completely different essay today. She sees her father, and herself, in a new light — and realizes that “forgiveness” isn’t as simple a concept as she once believed.
Author Read: What Does It Mean to Be a Kept Woman?
13m · PublishedDeanna Fei reads her Modern Love essay, “To Keep but Not Be Kept."
To hear our conversation with Deanna, listen to the episode: “What Does It Mean to Be a Kept Woman?”
Modern Love has 535 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 193:13:17. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on February 22nd 2023. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on May 25th, 2024 22:10.