Love Letters

Yowei Shaw, podcast host and producer who led Proxy and worked on NPR’s Invisibilia, shares a personal story about identity, queerness, and relationship dynamics. She recounts hiding her husband to fit into queer spaces. Short scenes cover early crushes, meeting Kyle, the hot pot moment that exposed her hiding, and her journey from shame toward apology and acceptance.

Last fall, Chanté Joseph wrote an essay with the headline: “Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend now?” The piece – about the politics of showing off heterosexual relationships – went viral; people debated it all over TikTok and beyond. (Even New York City’s mayor weighed in.)Months later, Meredith and Chanté sit down to discuss why the essay hit so many nerves at once. Some readers hated Chanté's essay and what it suggested about the evolving values of women.Others – namely single straight women – loved that Chanté’s essay highlighted women who are choosing to post pictures of friends instead of significant others.It’s a complicated discussion – and Part 1 in a two-part exploration of why the concept of a boyfriend can be a bit … cringey.This episode features a montage of creators who were inspired by Chanté’s essay. They are, in order of appearance: @thanahit @maryarchived @jedidahbila @JeffHarryPlays @melvinoyx @rollotomassi @boyproblemsshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute and author of The Intimate Animal, is an evolutionary biologist who studies sex, relationships, and fidelity. He contrasts social and sexual monogamy. He explains "slow love" and why young people delay commitment. He discusses ways couples sustain intimacy and how modern courtship is shaped by caution and honesty.

A celebration of platonic third-wheeling and why being the extra friend can expand your community. Stories about meeting couples, forming lasting trios, and how timing and boundaries make third-wheeling work. Anecdotes range from hardware store meet-cutes to deep acts of care that reveal how odd-numbered friendships bring balance and safety.

Jazmin Aguilera, podcast producer who recently navigated a breakup, shares her personal story and reflections. She talks about living with an ex, rejoining social media for comfort, and how Venmo’s public feed and algorithms complicate moving on. The conversation covers blocking, digital snooping, and the ways online life can prolong heartbreak.

We’re looking for your stories for the Love Letters podcast. We love all tales of breakups, dating, love, and connection. But for a special upcoming series of the show, we’re looking for stories about COMMUNITY. We want to hear about friends, special acquaintances, or the seemingly inconsequential human ties that make your life better. We want to hear about important, platonic bonds you currently have, important bonds you’ve had (past tense), or meaningful bonds you’d like to form. Because significant others don’t have to be romantic … and sometimes having a strong non-romantic community makes it easier to find and maintain romantic love (if you want it). Tell us your story by filling out our questionnaire at Boston.com/LoveLettersStory. As always, thanks for listening and being a part of the Love Letters community. We can also be reached with questions for the Love Letters advice column at loveletters@boston.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meredith has always been a little afraid of Nantucket. Despite living a fast ferry ride away, she’s only been there twice. As far as Meredith is concerned, the people on Nantucket are fancy, the drama is high, and because it’s an island, it’s hard to escape. For best-selling author Elin Hiderbrand, though, Nantucket represents comfort … even when it’s stifling. Nantucket is where Elin found happiness after leaving New York. It’s what inspired her writing. It’s where she found community – and the best kinds of love. In a live conversation recorded in November, Meredith interviews Elin about Nantucket, what it means to fall in love with a place, and why Elin decided to stop writing about the island after decades of living there. They also talk about the power of books about women and love. Elin novels include “The Perfect Couple,” which became a Netflix show starring Nicole Kidman, and “The Five Star Weekend,” which is slated to be a series starring Jennifer Garner. This talk was part of “Globe Summit,” a two-day Boston Globe event that featured journalists speaking with experts in their fields. Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to loveletters@boston.com. Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elise shares her journey as a gender-fluid teenager, reflecting on how her identity shifts with the seasons. She discusses the challenges of dating while navigating changing presentations and pronouns. Intriguingly, she considers the possibility of being a chimera—two people in one. The importance of supportive friendships, particularly with a pen pal, shines through. Reflecting on identity and societal expectations, Elise advises imagining people beyond their bodies to foster kindness.

Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, an immigration reporter for The Boston Globe, shares the poignant story of Nexan Asencio Corado and his wife, Christina. They discuss Nexan's journey from Guatemala, his arrest by ICE, and the couple's struggles to stay connected while navigating the complexities of immigration law. Giulia highlights Christina's resilience as she cares for their twins amidst logistical challenges and looming deportation. Ultimately, they reflect on love's power to unite and the harsh realities immigrants face today.

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. ___ Remember, Love Letters is an advice column, too! Send questions about human relationships (romantic, friendship, etc.) to loveletters@boston.com. Sign up for the Love Letters newsletter at Boston.com/Meredith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices