5 relationship podcasts to listen to now

By Radhika Seth16 February 2020

Overheard therapy sessions, celebrity musings and an unfiltered girls’ group chat come to life—we pick five podcasts that capture the agony and ecstasy of modern dating, perfect to binge on over the Valentine's Day weekend

Dating in 2020 can be a minefield. You have to find the right apps, play it cool and learn a host of technical terms (orbiting, zombieing, breadcrumbing). Ahead of Valentine’s Day, here are five podcasts that remind us we’re all in this together, via sound advice and frank conversations about sexuality.

1. The Receipts Podcast

From navigating situationships and sexting to dealing with racism and the pitfalls of social media, there’s nothing The Receipts Podcast doesn’t cover. It’s hosted by three women of colour—Tolani Shoneye, Audrey Indome and Milena Sanchez—who weigh in on listeners’ dilemmas with brutal honesty and a biting sense of humour. Listening to their unfiltered discussions is like being in a riotous group chat with your best friends, except the advice you’ll receive will be truly impartial.

Perfect for: When he’s just not that into you.

2. Guys We Fucked

Stand-up comedians Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson began Guys We Fucked by inviting their ex-boyfriends and one-night stands onto the show to speak about their sexual experiences in graphic detail. Since then, it has evolved into a platform for anti-slut-shaming, with episodes that address abuse, discrimination and the politics of desire. There are confessional emails and guest stars (Amber Rose, Dan Savage), but the most outrageous stories come from the hosts themselves.

Perfect for: Fostering sex positivity.

3. Modern Love

The New York Times’ column on love and loss has spawned a book and an Amazon Prime series, but its most moving spin-off is a weekly podcast. Anchored by journalists Meghna Chakrabarti and Daniel Jones, it features the likes of Greta Gerwig, Alicia Keys and Regina King—all reading out compelling, often tear-jerking essays about commitment and self-discovery. They reflect on their own connection to the subject matter, after which the writers reveal what really happened next.

Perfect for: The hopeless romantic.

4. Where Should We Begin?

Psychotherapist, author and public speaker Esther Perel’s podcast is as intimate as it is insightful, offering a rare glimpse into the private life of real couples. Where Should We Begin? invites us into Perel’s office to listen in on counselling sessions with anonymous clients. Under her guidance, they open up about infidelity, trauma and sexlessness, divulging secret details and seeking forgiveness. Perel carefully reframes their problems, and in doing so helps us to better understand ourselves.

Perfect for: When you’re in need of a therapy session.

5. Anna Faris is Unqualified

Would Lena Headey sleep with her nanny? What are Busy Philipps’ dealbreakers? And what does Christian Siriano think of the dating scene in the fashion world? These are the questions answered on Anna Faris’s podcast, which weaves together comedy sketches, calls from listeners and candid interviews with famous friends. She joins them in speaking freely about her own experiences, from enjoying role play and being cheated on, to the intricacies of her breakup with Chris Pratt.

Perfect for: Remembering that celebrities are just like us.