7 Relatable Podcasts About Dating, Love and Romance
Need a break from the sick, sad world of true crime podcasts? Up to date with all of your favourite comedy podcasts? Then it might be time to consider the diverse landscape of relationship-focussed podcasts, replete with relatable tales from the trenches and expert advice.
Maybe you're on a mission to find The One, or maybe you're having the time of your life with all The Ones you find along the way. Dating, love and romance in 2020 sure is something, ain't it? When you're navigating the rocky terrain of Tinder and Bumble, with restricted access to real-world encounters due to social distancing regulations, it helps to have experienced experts in your ear to guide you and offer solidarity. And who better than the hosts of these hilarious, insightful, informative podcasts?
Here are seven of our favourite podcasts about dating, love and romance. Godspeed to you all.
Love Stories
When Dolly Alderton published her 2019 memoir, Everything I Know About Love, she generously launched this limited podcast series. In Love Stories, Dolly speaks to guests about their most significant relationships, such as author Marian Keyes who recalls how melodramatic her dating life was during her 20s and actress Vanessa Kirby who ruminates on how her platonic friendships have taught her how to better sustain long-term romantic love.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Buv6KqQnbhx/
Why Won't You Date Me?
Comedian Nicole Byer is a prolific podcast host, but none are as relatable as her award-winning dating podcast Why Won't You Date Me?. Nicole doesn't hold back with stories from the trenches of her own love life, and always manages to produce real, raw and hilarious conversations with her guests, which have included Jameela Jamil, Roxane Gay, and even her own therapist.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDmNK8ln45n/
The Hook Up
This homegrown podcast is basically the sex-ed we all wish we had in school. Learning is forever, so The Hook Up is essential listening for anyone engaging in romantic pursuits. Host Nat Tencic asks important questions, like "Does semen actually have 'anti-depressant properties'?" and talks about the stuff we don't talk about enough—like how mental illness and eating disorders can sabotage a person's relationships and sexuality.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvWszahxFK/
U Up?
Up Up? is one of the podcasts presented by Betches, which you might know from its 7-million-follower Instagram account. On this pod, Betches co-founder Jordana Abraham and comedian Jared Freid chat about the crazy dating world, from dating apps to what actually constitutes a relationship in this day and age.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEJ7QjvFwNJ/
Modern Love
It started as a New York Times column and ended up an Amazon-produced TV series, but we think the best rendition of Modern Love is the podcast, which brings to life some of the most memorable written columns as read by familiar voices—Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Jake Gyllenhaal and more.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4In9yHnKHi/
Savage Lovecast
Very influential author and LGBT community activist Dan Savage has been writing his syndicated newspaper column, Savage Love, since 1991. The accompanying podcast, Savage Lovecast, has been going since 2006 and has answers hundreds of listener questions and has spoken to guests such as Lindy West (writer and the basis for the great 2019 TV series Shrill), Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), and a bevy of psychologists and behavioural experts offering insight into the strange behaviour exhibited by humans searching for love and connection.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFGbsBl92k/
Love etc.
The hosts of one of Australia's most popular podcasts, Shameless, teamed up with Bumble to bring listeners a new podcast about the wide world of dating. Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald delve into highly relatable and fascinating topics in this podcast, such as the process by which might become a "sugar baby" and what life as a sex worker is like.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqeDnUgdUf/
Where Should We Begin?
Listening to Where Should We Begin? is voyeuristic and empowering at the same time. Hosted by renowned couples therapist Esther Perel, this podcast gives listeners a fly-on-the-wall insight into real couples and their relationship woes. This is a must listen, especially if you're going through a rocky patch in your own relationship, or stuck on what went wrong in past romances.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBlt1YMDpuq/
Dear Sugars
Cheryl Strayed's advice podcast garnered a cult following during its initial run in 2014–2018, and now it's back—just in time to help listeners navigate the new world of dating in a pandemic. Having begun Dear Sugar as an anonymous advice column, the best-selling author teams up for Dear Sugars (plural) with fellow writer Steve Almond, as they revisit old listener questions and the ins and outs of romance in the time of COVID-19.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWiixGHD88j/
Want more audio entertainment? Get hooked on these 11 addictive true crime podcasts.
