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Join our Friends With Benefits club for an ad-free experience, a monthly bonus episode, and more.
For details, visit Globe.com/loveletters/friendswithbenefits.
In this episode, we meet Lyla, a recent high school graduate who tells a story about being dumped by a college-bound senior when she was a junior.
It was a devastating breakup. It was also messy.A year later, it’s also a bit funny.
The truth is, it’s hard to know when to end a high school relationship. It’s confusing, emotional, complicated – and there’s so much changing all at once.
A year after this breakup, Lyla – now a college-bound 18-year-old herself – shares this story, with lessons about how to manage a relationship that’s probably temporary, and how to be kind when you’re letting go.
Remember, we’re also an advice column. Send your questions about relationships to [email protected]. When you share your quandaries, you help others dealing with the same thing.
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Hey everybody, it's Meredith. I'm here with a big announcement. We are starting a club. We are calling it Friends with Benefits. We're doing this for two reasons.
One is for connection. Two is for bonus episodes and perks.
If you join our FWB club, you’ll get an ad-free experience and an extra episode a month.
If you sign up for a year, you get that ad-free experience and extra episode at an 18 percent discount. You’ll also get Love Letters swag in the form of a pretty journal for your thoughts and feelings.
You can sign up to join by clicking that link wherever you get podcasts, or visit globe.com/loveletters/friendswithbenefits
There is no pressure to join! Truly, we’re so grateful you show up for Love Letters. This podcast will continue to be free, available wherever you listen.
But if you want extras, we’re here for that too. We’re so grateful for your support.
Thanks for being here and spending time with us. We love telling you stories about love in all forms. It means so much that you’re here.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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She directed and co-stars in “The Invite,” a film about two couples who have a fairly monumental, impromptu dinner.
It’s a comedy that turns into a drama … and then back to a comedy. It also stars Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton.
Meredith saw “The Invite” and thought, "Oh, this should be part of a Love Letters Film Festival, if we ever had one."
Today Meredith is joined by Olivia for a discussion about many things, including: why we like to see couples be awkward, Gen Z and technology, polyamory in Massachusetts, the meaning of marriage in 2026, how to stay optimistic about love, and, most importantly, their experiences with psychotherapist and podcast Esther Perel. Meredith and Olivia both have personal connections to Perel, who served as an adviser on the film.
Enjoy a lively conversation about love and the stories we tell about it.Also, an event reminder! You can also sign up to attend Meredith’s free June 30th phone booth event – a 6 p.m. celebration of the Tell-A-Booth (featured on the pod) – by visiting bpl.org.
Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. Feel free to tell us your anonymous questions about your relationship life my emailing [email protected].
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Jujubee, the boisterous drag queen and fan favorite on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” is the alter-ego of Airline Inthyrath, a relatively introverted homebody from Massachusetts.
In this episode, Airline tells us a story about a recent relationship – and the lessons that came with it. In short: sometimes it’s difficult to be present. Other times it’s hard to know when to stop that relationship train.
Learn all about Airline – and then see Jujubee in “Stop! That! Train!,” a new movie directed by Adam Shankman, who made the musicals “Hairspray” and “Rock of Ages.” The movie also stars RuPaul as the President of the United States.
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Welcome to summer wedding season.To celebrate, Meredith interviews Ruhama Wolle, the author of “I Hope You Elope: A Bridesmaid Survival Guide.”Ruhama says too may people say “yes” to being a bridesmaid before they understand the job. This is why weddings can turn friends against one another.Join Meredith and Ruhama for a discussion about wedding costs (financial and emotional), alternatives to traditions, and how to take care of yourself during someone else’s celebration of love.Remember Love Letters is an advice column. Send your questions about relationships to [email protected]. Get Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.
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When Jordan was young, he saw actress Janeane Garofalo on television. Since then, he’s had a type: smart, creative, sardonic, sarcastic, brunette, glasses-wearing women. Not a bad thing … or is it limiting? What does it mean when we have a type? If our type doesn’t like us back, do we have to expand our parameters when looking for love?
Take a journey with Meredith and Jordan through an exploration of types ... and the perfection of the woman who starred in “Reality Bites,” and “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” and made a memorable guest appearance on “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.”
Share your thoughts on this episode by emailing [email protected]. Tell us all about your type – or share your relationship questions. Remember, we’re an advice column, too.
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Come by the Boston Public Library June 30th at 6pm for a celebration of the Tell-a-booth! https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a0f3efffab4ff0f649aaf51
In February, Meredith unveiled a Love Letters Tell-A-Booth at The Boston Public Library.More than 1,000 calls have come in already … mostly from locals – and many tourists – who stop in, enter the booth, and leave a question on an old-school payphone.What can we learn from an anonymous phone booth where people can ask anything? Meredith explains by sharing messages from the booth, and by processing the experience with public library staffer Bailey Watroba, who has thoughts about why young people love old technology.Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. Send a question about romance, friendships, marriage, breakups, dating fatigue to [email protected] can also submit your own stories to the podcast at that address.
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Really? What’s up with that?Simone, a single mom in her 40s, wrote to the Love Letters advice column asking, “Why don’t men on dating apps ask me any questions?” Simone said these men are happy to answer questions about themselves, but they don’t ask anything in return.That means Simone has to do so much work to keep the conversation going.Simone tells her story to Meredith, who also gets feedback and context from experts who study curiosity and the art of asking questions. They include Todd Kashdan, director of the Well-Being Laboratory at George Mason University.He helps Meredith examine the gender piece of it all, the cultural influences, and why asking questions is a beautiful skill – and, perhaps, a lost art.Remember, Love Letters is an advice column that LOVES questions. Do you have something on your mind about your relationship life? Email it to [email protected] or visit boston.com/loveletters.
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Meredith talks to former Love Letters guest Margaret H. Willison about “Adult Braces,” a new memoir by feminist writer Lindy West that has sparked big debate about West’s polyamorous relationship.West – who also wrote “Shrill” (which became a Hulu show) – says in this new book that she didn’t want to be in a non-monogamous relationship … but is now happy being one of three. But some readers/fans of West have found this happiness hard to believe.The book reminded Meredith of Margaret’s episode, which was about a complicated non-monogamous relationship that did not work out for Margaret.If you haven’t read the book, that’s OK. Meredith and Margaret will explain the conversation, and how critiques of the book have revealed what we expect of other people’s love stories.Margaret also gives an update on her love life, which is more calm than it used to be.
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We get a big update from Nicole, a guest who once explained an era of her life when she took a zillion classes – and signed up for countless activities (dragon boat racing, included) – to try to meet a boyfriend.
Where is Nicole now? She tells us all about life after those classes, and why she wishes she could take more of them now. Join Meredith and Nicole for a sweet update about getting what you want – and what it means to keep learning and participating.
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Yowei Shaw, host of the podcast “Proxy” – and former host of NPR’s “Invisibilia” – joins Love Letters to tell a story about the time she was embarrassed of her partner … because he’s a man.This is Part 2 of our two-part series inspired by a viral Vogue essay that suggested women are now embarrassed about having male partners.Yowei’s story is a nuanced one. From the outside it might have seemed like Yowei was embarrassed by the wonderful man in her life, but in reality she was just trying to figure out who she was … and how to fit in.Laugh along as Yowei confesses how she hid a significant other, and how it changed her.To learn more about Love Letters and this episode (fun photos, etc.), sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at boston.com/Meredith.Love Letters is also an advice column. You can send any questions about friendship, love, dating, breakups, starting over, building community, etc. to [email protected].
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Last fall, Chanté Joseph wrote an essay with the headline: “Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend now?” The piece – about the politics of showing off heterosexual relationships – went viral; people debated it all over TikTok and beyond. (Even New York City’s mayor weighed in.)Months later, Meredith and Chanté sit down to discuss why the essay hit so many nerves at once. Some readers hated Chanté's essay and what it suggested about the evolving values of women.Others – namely single straight women – loved that Chanté’s essay highlighted women who are choosing to post pictures of friends instead of significant others.It’s a complicated discussion – and Part 1 in a two-part exploration of why the concept of a boyfriend can be a bit … cringey.This episode features a montage of creators who were inspired by Chanté’s essay.
They are, in order of appearance: @thanahit @maryarchived @jedidahbila @JeffHarryPlays @melvinoyx @rollotomassi @boyproblemsshow
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Meredith has long been interested in the Kinsey Institute, a place were researchers focus their work on sex and relationships.In this episode, Meredith interviews Kinsey Executive Director Justin Garcia about his new book, “The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love.”Meredith read the book in one sitting.Her conversation with Justin covers many topics including monogamy, emotional intimacy, and how to keep long relationships working.They also discuss the concept of “slow love,” and why younger people think of marriage as the end of a road, as opposed to the beginning.Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. When you ask a question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected] up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.
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Third wheeling has long had a bad reputation. If you’re a single person, you may have heard that hanging out with a couple makes you the odd person out.
But Meredith doesn’t believe that. She LOVES third wheels – and has third wheeled with plenty of couples.
In this episode, Meredith’s sister, Brette, explains how her social life, as a newly divorced person, involves hanging out with a bunch of wonderful couples. Brette says that being a third wheel has broadened her community and enriched her soul.
Meredith also interviews Brad and Marco, one of the couples for whom Brette third wheels. They explain why having a shared friend makes their relationship stronger.
Consider this episode a guide to being a platonic third, and a love letter to third wheels and the couples who truly believe “the more the merrier.”
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Must you block your ex on social media?
Maybe. Probably.
It could make your breakup a lot easier to deal with.
In this episode, Meredith talks to Love Letters podcast producer Jazmin Aguilera about Jazmin’s recent breakup. They listen to a classic episode about exes and social media, and talk about what lessons ring true in 2026.Enjoy a discussion about letting go in person and online.Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected].
Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.
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We’re looking for your stories for the Love Letters podcast.
We love all tales of breakups, dating, love, and connection. But for a special upcoming series of the show, we’re looking for stories about COMMUNITY.
We want to hear about friends, special acquaintances, or the seemingly inconsequential human ties that make your life better.
We want to hear about important, platonic bonds you currently have, important bonds you’ve had (past tense), or meaningful bonds you’d like to form. Because significant others don’t have to be romantic … and sometimes having a strong non-romantic community makes it easier to find and maintain romantic love (if you want it).
Tell us your story by filling out our questionnaire at Boston.com/LoveLettersStory.
As always, thanks for listening and being a part of the Love Letters community.
We can also be reached with questions for the Love Letters advice column at [email protected].
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Meredith has always been a little afraid of Nantucket. Despite living a fast ferry ride away, she’s only been there twice.
As far as Meredith is concerned, the people on Nantucket are fancy, the drama is high, and because it’s an island, it’s hard to escape.
For best-selling author Elin Hiderbrand, though, Nantucket represents comfort … even when it’s stifling. Nantucket is where Elin found happiness after leaving New York. It’s what inspired her writing. It’s where she found community – and the best kinds of love.
In a live conversation recorded in November, Meredith interviews Elin about Nantucket, what it means to fall in love with a place, and why Elin decided to stop writing about the island after decades of living there.
They also talk about the power of books about women and love.
Elin novels include “The Perfect Couple,” which became a Netflix show starring Nicole Kidman, and “The Five Star Weekend,” which is slated to be a series starring Jennifer Garner.
This talk was part of “Globe Summit,” a two-day Boston Globe event that featured journalists speaking with experts in their fields.
Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected].
Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.
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Elise, 17, appreciates that she’s growing up in a world that understands what it means to be nonbinary.
She just wishes people had an easier time understanding fluidity. Because sometimes Elise feels like a boy, and other times she feels like a girl. Sometimes these changes shift with the seasons.
In this episode, Elise explains how her fluidity affects her dating life – because some people who fall for her as a masculine person might be less interested if she becomes more feminine months later.
She also reveals she might be a chimera – meaning, as she sees it, she might literally be two people in one. Elise and Meredith talk it through together.
If you love Love Letters, give us all the stars. We love validation.
We’re also an anonymous advice question; when you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected]
Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.
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Nexan Asencio Corado was 20 when he left Guatemala and crossed into the U.S. illegally. He wound up settling in Massachusetts and built a life there.
Within a decade, he was working in construction and framing. He fell in love with Christina Toledo and married her. They had two twin sons.
In May, Nexan – who had started the process of seeking lawful permanent residency in the U.S. – was arrested by ICE agents and brought to a Federal Correctional Institution.
From that moment, Nexan and Christina faced important choices about how to stay together, care for each other, and protect their family.
In this episode, Boston Globe immigration reporter Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio tells the story of Nexan and Christina, using recordings from their life and phone calls, with their permission.
We love feedback and questions at Love Letters – and with this episode, there’s a lot to talk about. After listening, please send your thoughts to [email protected]. You can always email us a voice memo.
We’re also a relationship advice column. You can send your anonymous questions to [email protected].
To learn more about this story and Love Letters, in general, sign up for the Love Letters newsletter at Boston.com/Meredith.
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Jenna is a part-time model. Sometimes her modeling jobs are unique – think wearing stilettos and popping balloons... or wearing lingerie while feeding ducks.
Recently, she's been getting paid to play a damsel in distress. With cars.
How does Jenna’s modeling work affect her dating life? It’s not easy. Some people act like they’re comfortable with her job at first - but then they turn out to be judgmental and jealous.
In this episode, Jenna tells Meredith the story of how she got into this type of work and how much she's willing (or not) to give up for it. A universal lesson about compromise – and finding people who love us as we are.
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Remember, Love Letters is an advice column, too! Send questions about human relationships (romantic, friendship, etc.) to [email protected].
Sign up for the Love Letters newsletter at Boston.com/Meredith.
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