Modern Love
100 EpisodesProduced by WBUR and The New York Times
Modern Love features top actors performing true stories of love, loss, and redemption. It has included performances by Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Angela Bassett, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sterling K. Brown, and more. A collaboration between WBUR and The New York Times.
All Episodes
The Shirt Stays On | With Finn Wittrock
December 12th, 2018
17:59
Getting undressed in front of your partner can be really hard. And for Jameson Rich, is was even more complicated. He writes about it in his piece, which is read by Finn Wittrock ("Write When You Get Work").
A Young Man's Game | With Stanley Tucci
December 5th, 2018
20:31
When Rand Richards Cooper was in his 40s, he was faced with a question: How late is too late to first become a dad? He writes about it in his essay, which is read by Stanley Tucci ("A Private War").
On A Serpentine Road | With Michelle Rodriguez
November 28th, 2018
19:38
How do we choose what to hold onto from loved ones after they've died? Doris Iarovici asks that question in her essay, which is read by Michelle …
A Forgotten Prayer, Answered | With Mira Sorvino
November 21st, 2018
20:33
When Charlotte Bacon went to a temple in Bhutan, the place unlocked feelings in her that she hadn't truly realized were there. Her essay is read by …
Maddy Just Might Work | Encore
November 14th, 2018
21:11
Jennifer Finney Boylan -- an accomplished writer, academic and activist -- reads her own essay about coming out as transgender to her two young sons. This is an encore episode.
How To Break Up With A 2-Year-Old | With Busy Philipps
November 6th, 2018
18:54
We cross paths with so many people in our lives -- but only a few of them truly change the direction we thought we were headed in. Busy Philipps …
An Ancient Coda To My 21st-Century Divorce | With Amy Landecker
October 31st, 2018
20:51
After a divorce, it can feel like the last thing you want to do is revisit the past. But a ritual forced Cindy Chupack to do just that, in an essay read by actor Amy Landecker.
In The Waiting Room Of Estranged Spouses | Encore
October 24th, 2018
19:28
Lance Reddick, best known as Lt. Cedric Daniels on HBO's "The Wire," reads a story about infidelity and healing.
I Was Hardly a Perfect Fit | With John C. Reilly
October 17th, 2018
19:13
Tim Elhajj was a divorced dad who was desperate to connect with his son -- and went about it in an unconventional way. His essay is read by John C. Reilly (The Sisters Brothers).
The Plain, Unmarked Box Arrived | With Kristen Bell
October 10th, 2018
20:45
Would you buy a sex chair? Well, Lori Jakiela did -- and she writes about the chair, and the misadventures involved in trying to use it, in an essay …
Escaping From A Dire Diagnosis On Match.com | With Rita Wilson
October 3rd, 2018
21:06
Would you start online dating just to make your best friend feel better? Author Victoria Redel did that, and she writes about in her piece, which is …
A Life Plan For Two | With Olivia Munn
September 26th, 2018
22:32
Some crushes are brief: the guy at the gym, the girl on Twitter, your barista. But others are epic -- and take on a life of their own. Olivia Munn ("The Predator") reads Marina Shifrin's essay.
Bonus: 81 Minutes
September 21st, 2018
20:01
We’re back in your feed to share a project we think you’ll love. It’s a new podcast called “Last Seen,” about the largest unsolved art heist in …
Making A Judgment On Love | With Giancarlo Esposito
September 19th, 2018
20:11
On a normal day in 2004, Lloyd Zimmerman got the chance to fulfill a man's dying wish. Giancarlo Esposito ("Better Call Saul") reads his piece, …
Learning Humanity From Dogs | With Ethan Hawke
September 12th, 2018
18:40
Ethan Hawke ("Blaze") reads an essay about how lonely it can be at rock bottom -- and how sometimes, taking care of someone else is the only way out.
Modern Love Playlist: In Sickness And In Health
September 4th, 2018
1:18:50
This playlist episode features stories about people whose relationships were challenged by illness -- and where the promise to stand by each other "in sickness and in health" was tested. It features stories read by …
Modern Love Playlist: Secrets
August 24th, 2018
56:21
It can feel easier to leave things unspoken than to find the right words to explain ourselves. But sooner or later, the things we keep from each other can come to define our relationships. This edition of Modern Love …
The Secret To Marriage | With Sandra Oh
August 21st, 2018
17:42
Communication. Respect. Intimacy. Doing the dishes. Those are all things that have been called the secret to marriage. But Gabrielle Zevin has a different idea. Sandra Oh ("Killing Eve") reads her piece.
Bonus: Test of Time
August 17th, 2018
29:29
We know you appreciate a good love story ... so we're bringing you two stories of relationships that have stood the test of time, from another podcast from WBUR, called "Endless Thread." Hear the story of the couple …
Single Woman Seeking Manwich | With Awkwafina
August 15th, 2018
17:58
Let's face it. With the ghosting, inappropriate comments, and awkward small talk ... dating can be so bad it's hilarious. Awkwafina ("Crazy Rich Asians," "Oceans Eight") reads Sarah Moses's essay.
When Mothers Bully Back | With Ellie Kemper
August 8th, 2018
18:04
The emotions of parenting can feel completely out of control sometimes. Whether it's love, joy ... or, occasionally, rage. Susan Perabo writes about …
GPS For My Lost Identity | With Diane Guerrero
August 1st, 2018
20:17
Sometimes, our deepest loves aren't people at all -- they're the places that make us feel most like ourselves. Laura Dave tells a story about one of those places in her essay, which is read by Diane Guerrero ("Orange …
Superheroes, Just for Each Other | With Mike Colter
July 25th, 2018
20:19
Peter Goodman thought that he could fix any problem by sweeping his wife off her feet. But when his daughter was born, that strategy failed him. His …
A Hiker’s Guide to Healing | With Cameron Esposito
July 17th, 2018
22:35
Aspen Matis decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail because she was looking for solitude, safety, and escape. She writes about what she found there …
Catfishing Strangers To Find Myself | With Cory Michael Smith
July 11th, 2018
21:01
As a teenager in Finland, Kalle Oskari Mattila was trying to figure out who he was. For help, he turned to Pamela Anderson. Cory Michael Smith ("1985," "Gotham") performed his story live at the Provincetown Film …
My Back-Seat View Of A Great Romance | With Chloë Grace Moretz
July 3rd, 2018
22:10
"What did it mean that the most romantic thing I’d ever been a part of hadn’t even happened to me?" Chloë Grace Moretz ("The Miseducation of Cameron …
Encore | Between The Bars
June 27th, 2018
20:05
Joshua Jackson ("The Affair") reads a story about life and love after 26 months in Iran's Evin Prison. This is an encore presentation.
The Hunter-Gatherer, Parking Division | With Jason Alexander
June 20th, 2018
18:20
The challenge of finding the perfect partner is matched only by the challenge of finding the perfect parking space in New York City. Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld") reads Andy Raskin's essay, about the search for love and …
Finding My Own Rescuer | With Mandy Moore
June 13th, 2018
20:47
Mandy Moore ("This Is Us") reads Anna March's essay about disability, ability, and the misconceptions surrounding both.
A Fear Stripped Bare | With Sarah Shahi
June 6th, 2018
23:23
When she was growing up, Susan Sajadi thought that her mother was fearless. It wasn't until years later that she realized the truth was much more complicated. Her piece is read by Sarah Shahi, who stars in NBC's …
Love Stories In 13 Words | Modern Love Bonus Episode
May 30th, 2018
12:07
For the 13th anniversary of the Modern Love column, readers sent in their love stories, told in just 13 words. More than 9,000 were submitted. We …
Modern Love Encore | Marry A Man Who Loves His Mother
May 29th, 2018
27:44
Constance Wu of the ABC comedy "Fresh Off The Boat" reads a story about a wife, a mother-in-law and the unlikely story that brought them together.
The Language Of Love | With Saoirse Ronan
May 23rd, 2018
18:32
Saoirse Ronan ("On Chesil Beach") reads an essay about how a language barrier impacts the relationship between a young woman and an Iraqi doctor.
A Measure of Desire | With Kim Dickens
May 16th, 2018
17:16
Sometimes it's the things that go unspoken in a relationship that are the most important. Andrea Jarrell found that out not long after moving to Maine with her husband -- and she writes about it in her piece, read by …
When Eve And Eve Bit The Apple | With Rachel Weisz
May 9th, 2018
22:17
Kristen Scharold was an evangelical Christian who was starting to look for a husband. Then, a new relationship caused a crisis of faith. Rachel …
Signs, Wonders, and Fates Fulfilled | With Linda Cardellini
May 2nd, 2018
22:18
After Stephanie Saldaña moved to an ancient monastery in Syria, she thought she'd found her calling. But when she met a novice monk there, she had to rethink everything. Linda Cardellini ("Bloodline") reads Stephanie's …
Boy, What A Fabulous Baker | With Abbi Jacobson
April 25th, 2018
17:53
Abbi Jacobson ("6 Balloons," "Broad City") reads an essay about a carboholic who falls for a baker -- and his bread.
A Cup From The Fountain Of Youth | With Mel Rodriguez
April 18th, 2018
21:37
When you're at a bar and someone starts paying more attention to you than you expect -- how do you react? Mel Rodriguez ("Overboard," "The Last Man on Earth") reads Andy Christie's essay, about trying to navigate an …
A Brother As Significant As Any Other | With Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
April 11th, 2018
21:27
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman ("UnREAL") tells the story of the deep friendship between an older and younger brother.
R We D8ting? | With Krysten Ritter
April 4th, 2018
19:46
What happens to relationships when they play out entirely over text? Krysten Ritter ("Jessica Jones") reads Sandra Barron's essay, about the miscommunications that can come with text message flirtation.
Modern Love Encore: The Boy Who Makes Waves
March 27th, 2018
21:39
In this encore, Mykelti Williamson ("Chicago P.D.") reads an essay about a father's complicated love for his son.
The Accidental Older Woman | With Rosie Perez
March 21st, 2018
18:21
When does it work to date younger? Rosie Perez, of NBC's "Rise," reads Robin Grearson's essay, about negotiating a relationship with a big age gap.
When A Couch Is More Than A Couch | With Kate Winslet
March 14th, 2018
22:26
Kate Winslet reads Nina Riggs's essay, about an overwhelming diagnosis -- and a search for the perfect living room couch.
A Fighting Chance | With Bobby Cannavale
March 7th, 2018
16:55
Bobby Cannavale ("Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," "Mr. Robot") reads Dominick Zarrillo's essay about a father's unconditional love for his son.
From He To She In First Grade | With Jennifer Beals
February 28th, 2018
20:04
Jennifer Beals ("Taken") reads Laurie Frankel's essay, about facing a challenging parenting dilemma.
The Accident No One Talked About | With Uma Thurman
February 21st, 2018
21:42
Uma Thurman ("The Parisian Woman") reads Jessica Ciencin Henriquez's essay, about the silence that grew in the aftermath of a terrible accident.
Overfed On A Mother's Affection | With Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon
February 13th, 2018
17:44
Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon ("The Big Sick") tell the story of how a mother's cooking comes between a husband and wife.
Missing A Father I Hardly Knew | With Willem Dafoe
February 7th, 2018
19:56
Willem Dafoe ("The Florida Project") reads Bruce Eric Kaplan's essay, about waiting for a hilarious secret to be revealed.
Modern Love 100: Your Stories
January 31st, 2018
36:36
We celebrate the 100th episode of Modern Love: The Podcast by listening to your stories, and the moments from our first 99 episodes that meant the most to you.
A Dose Of Empathy | With Andrea Martin
January 24th, 2018
21:53
Andrea Martin ("Great News") reads Randi Davenport's essay, about a relationship that she says saved her life.
In My Fantasy, I Caught Up To Reality | With Richard Jenkins
January 16th, 2018
21:58
Richard Jenkins ("The Shape of Water") reads John Gfroerer's essay about going to the gym to cope with loss.
Yes, We Do. Even At Our Age. | With Lois Smith
January 10th, 2018
17:08
Lois Smith ("Marjorie Prime," "Lady Bird") reads an essay about passion in the golden years.
In The New Year, More Cuddling | With Margarita Levieva
January 3rd, 2018
21:52
Margarita Levieva ("The Deuce") reads Kristine Lloyd's essay, about making a New Year's resolution to attend a cuddle party.
Sharing A Cab, And My Toes | With Greta Gerwig
December 26th, 2017
20:49
Greta Gerwig ("Lady Bird") reads Julia Anne Miller's essay, about sharing an unusual cab ride in New York City.
How The 'Dining Dead' Got Talking Again | With Kristin Scott Thomas
December 20th, 2017
17:31
Kristin Scott Thomas ("Darkest Hour") reads an essay about a woman worried that she and her husband might have nothing left to talk about.
Was I On A Date Or Baby-Sitting? | With Sasheer Zamata
December 13th, 2017
20:06
Julie Klausner tells the story of dating an "indie rock dreamboat" -- who she sees as a bit of a man-child. Sasheer Zamata ("United States of …
A Boyfriend Too Good To Be True | With Caitriona Balfe
December 6th, 2017
20:08
Caitriona Balfe ("Outlander") reads Deenie Hartzog-Mislock's essay, about an imaginary man who helps a family cope with Alzheimer's.
Modern Love Encore: 'A Heart Of Gold'
November 22nd, 2017
17:30
In this encore, Ruth Negga ("Preacher," "Loving") reads a story about the deep bond between a woman and her unusual pet.
We Didn't Have A Plan, But The Baby Did | With Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
November 22nd, 2017
14:32
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee ("Kim's Convenience") reads a story about a man improvising a birth plan.
Urgent Messages Go Unanswered | With Andrew Rannells
November 15th, 2017
20:02
Andrew Rannells ("Girls") reads his own essay, about ignoring a string of urgent phone calls during a casual hookup.
A Family Fairytale, Twice Told | With Julia Stiles
November 8th, 2017
17:01
Julia Stiles ("Riviera") tells the story of a woman who has a perfect New York City apartment ... and a crush on her roommate.
Cropped Out Of My Own Fantasy | With Kirsten Vangsness
November 1st, 2017
18:17
Kirsten Vangsness ("Criminal Minds") reads an essay about a relationship where the perfect images posted online don't match the reality.
My Body Doesn't Belong To You | With Cleopatra Coleman
October 25th, 2017
19:52
Cleopatra Coleman ("The Last Man On Earth," "White Famous") reads an essay about a woman claiming ownership over her own body.
Let's Not Pretend | With Kimberly Hébert Gregory
October 18th, 2017
18:10
Kimberly Hébert Gregory ("Kevin (Probably) Saves the World," "Vice Principals") reads an essay about an attempt at dirty talk gone awry.
My Husband Is Now My Wife | With Ann Dowd
October 11th, 2017
20:45
Ann Dowd ("The Handmaid's Tale") reads Diane Daniel's essay about a woman coming to terms with her spouse's gender transition.
Nursing A Wound | With Jake Gyllenhaal
October 4th, 2017
22:04
Jake Gyllenhaal ("Stronger") tells the story of a man recovering from heartbreak in a pediatrics wing.
When Your Greatest Romance Is A Friendship | With Ali Fazal
September 27th, 2017
19:09
Ali Fazal ("Victoria and Abul") tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a man and his elderly neighbor.
One Bouquet Of Fleeting Beauty | With Kerry Bishé
September 20th, 2017
19:06
Kerry Bishe ("Halt and Catch Fire," "Narcos") tells the story of one woman's unexpected awakening -- at a flower shop.
Emmy Edition, 2017
September 11th, 2017
23:24
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards are this weekend. To celebrate, we're looking back at two of our favorite episodes featuring nominated actors. Angela Bassett reads Marcia DeSanctis' essay, "What the Psychic Knew" and …
Promises That Can Bend | With Peter Gallagher
September 6th, 2017
17:11
Peter Gallagher ("Grace and Frankie," "The O.C.") reads the story of one man's effort to stay with his wife in sickness and in health.
No Bounds, Or Lanes | With Kyra Sedgwick
August 30th, 2017
21:06
Love, itself, is a leap of faith. But some people take a bigger jump than others. Kyra Sedgwick (TNT's "The Closer") reads a story about a "wild ride" of a marriage.
Learning To Embrace Sexuality's Gray Areas | With Nico Tortorella
August 23rd, 2017
18:00
Nico Tortorella ("Younger") reads an essay about a college student whose ideas about love and sexuality change during the first weeks of his …
Dear Dad, We've Been Gay Forever | With Cynthia Nixon
August 16th, 2017
19:59
Cynthia Nixon ("The Last Boy in New York," "A Quiet Passion") reads an essay about two grown siblings raised in the Mennonite church and their …
A Lost Child, But Not Mine | With Betty Gilpin
August 9th, 2017
19:25
Betty Gilpin of Netflix's "G.L.O.W." reads a story about life after abortion.
Flowergate | With June Diane Raphael
July 27th, 2017
18:49
June Diane Raphael of Netflix's "Grace and Frankie" reads a story about a flower delivery gone very, very wrong.
Manic Pixie Dream Girl | With Alex Karpovsky
July 26th, 2017
19:09
Alex Karpovsky of HBO's "Girls" tells the story of one man's quest to turn his love life into a cinematic event.
I Need To Woman Up | With Cynthia Addai-Robinson
July 19th, 2017
22:01
We can't control the curve balls life throws at us, but we can control how we handle them. Cynthia Addai-Robinson (USA Network's "Shooter") reads a …
An Empty Heart | With Zoe Lister-Jones
July 12th, 2017
19:19
Zoe Lister-Jones ("Band Aid," "Life in Pieces") reads renowned novelist Lily King's story about the silver lining of heartbreak.
Take My Son To Jail | With Jayne Atkinson
July 5th, 2017
23:21
Jayne Atkinson ("House of Cards") tells the story of a mother who reluctantly uses tough love when her son refuses to follow the law.
Modern Love Encore: Wedding Season
June 27th, 2017
25:53
It's wedding season! Kathryn Hahn ("I Love Dick") and John Cho ("Star Trek") read some of our favorite nuptial-themed essays.
About That Rustle In The Bushes | With Danielle Brooks
June 21st, 2017
19:33
Danielle Brooks of "Orange Is The New Black" on a daughter's discovery of her father's secret investigative skills. The target? Her boyfriends.
Before The Web | With Griffin Dunne
June 14th, 2017
17:57
Griffin Dunne of the Amazon series "I Love Dick" reads a story about how distance can make the heart grow discouragingly fonder.
Finding Marriage, Losing Self | With Taylor Schilling
June 7th, 2017
20:39
Taylor Schilling of "Orange is the New Black" reads a story about unpacking the baggage of your past in a new relationship.
Standing By Your Man | With Chris Messina
May 31st, 2017
23:15
Chris Messina of "The Mindy Project" and "The Sweet Life" reads a story that explores what it really means to stand by your partner "in sickness and in health."
Marry My Husband | With Debra Winger
May 29th, 2017
11:52
Debra Winger reads the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal's essay about her fairytale love story, which was cut short by cancer.
A Slow Fade To Black | With Minnie Driver
May 24th, 2017
20:26
Minnie Driver of ABC's "Speechless" tells the story of a woman whose dream life was almost complete -- until reality got in the way.
Just Don't Call Me Mom | With Gideon Glick
May 17th, 2017
18:26
Mother's Day is over -- for this year. Some people really look forward to those chocolates and flowers and others write a Modern Love essay …
Sharing The Shame | With Anna Chlumsky
May 10th, 2017
18:54
Anna Chlumsky ("Veep") tells the story of the 90 days that changed the entire course of one family's life.
A Prince Charming For The Prom | With Tituss Burgess
May 3rd, 2017
20:30
Tituss Burgess, the Emmy-nominated star of the Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," reads us a story about teenage dreams -- the good, the bad, and the prom.
It Took A Villain | With Melanie Lynskey
April 26th, 2017
20:08
Melanie Lynskey of "Togetherness" and the new film "Little Boxes" tells the story of a neighborhood bully and the faltering marriage he …
In A Small Bag | With Harry Lennix
April 19th, 2017
20:01
Harry Lennix of NBC's "The Blacklist" reads the story of a couple who never saw their 22-year age difference as an issue. That is, until one of them had a heart attack.
A Child Of Two Worlds | With Mireille Enos
April 12th, 2017
20:34
Mireille Enos of ABC's "The Catch" on one expat's decision to embrace risk, get pregnant, and according to the Somali proverb, open "the mouth to her grave."
I Will Be Your Mother Figure | With Laura Dern
April 5th, 2017
21:07
Laura Dern of HBO's "Big Little Lies" on one priest's commitment to a parishioner in limbo.
Death Bear Will See You Now | With Ry Russo-Young
March 29th, 2017
21:46
Ry Russo-Young, director of the new feature film "Before I Fall," tells the story of a break-up, a best friend, and a performance artist.
The End Of Small Talk | With Paul Rust
March 22nd, 2017
18:43
Paul Rust, star of the Netflix comedy hit "Love," tells the story of a man who says 'no' to conversations about traffic and weather. Even on a first …
Elvis And My Husband Have Left The Building | With Malin Akerman
March 15th, 2017
19:11
Malin Akerman of Showtime's "Billions" tells the story of a pair of best friends who vow to stay together forever--at least until the green card arrives.
Single, Female, Mormon, Alone | With Justina Machado
March 8th, 2017
22:27
Justina Machado, star of the Netflix reboot "One Day At A Time," shares the story of one woman's quest to lose her virginity while at the same time finding herself.
Live From The Wilbur Theater (Part Two) | With Emmy Rossum
March 1st, 2017
31:23
Emmy Rossum, star of the Showtime series "Shameless," performs in front of a live audience.
Live From The Wilbur Theater (Part One) | With Brian Tyree Henry and Alysia Reiner
February 21st, 2017
51:03
Brian Tyree Henry, star of the hit FX show "Atlanta," and Alysia Reiner of "Orange is the New Black" kick off Part I of our live episode recorded live at the Wilbur Theater in Boston.
Modern Love: The Podcast Valentine's Special
February 13th, 2017
47:17
Forget Netflix and chill. Settle in for a binge episode of Modern Love: The Podcast featuring Tony Hale ("Veep"), Gillian Jacobs ("Love"), and …
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