Dear Sugars - Pod.casts

Episodes We Love: Consent Part Two

August 16, 2019 18:12 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MB

Some sexual encounters are obviously consensual, while others are obviously not. But what about those that are neither black nor white? In the second episode in our series on sexual consent, the Sugars plunge deeper into the gray area. This episode was originally published on March 17th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: Consent Part One

August 09, 2019 18:30 - 39 minutes - 36 MB

In the midst of the #MeToo Movement, women and men all over the country are re-examining sexual encounters from their past. Over the course of a three-part series on consent, the Sugars answer letters from some of these women and explore the complexity and nuance of sexual consent. This episode was originally published on March 10th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: Buyer's Remorse

August 03, 2019 03:35 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MB

Buzz Bissinger owns more than 100 pairs of leather pants and over 200 pairs of leather gloves, having spent more than $600,000 on leather goods in the span of three years. Mr. Bissinger has a spending addiction, and he joins the Sugars to offer guidance to a letter-writer whose therapist and family don’t take her spending seriously. This episode was originally published on April 14th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: Family By Proxy

July 26, 2019 15:12 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

When a family experiences loss, familial roles are often redefined. In this episode, the Sugars answer letters from people who are unexpectedly charged with caring for new family members. This episode was originally released on February 10th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: Dark Fantasies Part 2

July 19, 2019 16:59 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MB

In part two of our Dark Fantasies series, Dr. Ian Kerner returns to help the Sugars answer questions about where our central ideas about sex and eroticism come from, and delve deeper into the world of sexual fantasy. This episode was originally published on January 20th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: Dark Fantasies, Part 1

July 12, 2019 18:20 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MB

Orgies. Sex in public. Incest. These are the things that some of us think about in the dark. Taboo fantasies can be exciting, but they can also be the source of our deepest shame. In the first chapter of this two-part series on sexual fantasies, the Sugars read letters from people who want to turn off the thoughts that turn them on. This episode was originally released on January 13th, 2018.

Episodes We Love: The Empty Chair, Part 2

July 08, 2019 01:18 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

The Sugars conclude a two-part series on early childhood death. In Part 2, they read letters from parents who worry that their grief may overshadow their surviving children. They are joined by the writer Emily Rapp Black, who decided to have another child after learning that her son had a fatal congenital disorder. This episode was originally published on November 11th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: The Empty Chair, Part 1

June 29, 2019 20:12 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

In the Empty Chair series, the Sugars discuss early childhood death, an absence that can be ever-present. In Part 1, they read letters from siblings who live in the the shadow of their parents’ grief. This episode was originally released on November 4th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: The Other Half Of Sexless Relationships

June 21, 2019 16:49 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

Sex-starved, meet sex-hounded. In today’s episode, we hear from a letter writer who feels pressured by her partner to have sex. This episode was originally released on October 28th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: You Must Change Your Life

June 13, 2019 17:08 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MB

“I remember them finding the drugs and holding them up in the sky. And I was like, 'Oh man, I’m going to prison.'” This week’s guest, the writer Mitchell S. Jackson, started selling drugs when he was 14 years old, then went to prison for drug possession years later. When his mother tried to buy drugs from him, he knew he couldn’t run away from his bad decisions. This episode was originally released on October 21st, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Sexless Relationships, Part 2

June 07, 2019 18:05 - 26 minutes - 24 MB

The Sugars are joined by the therapist Esther Perel to discuss a letter from a husband who is in a sexless marriage and is looking for a way to help his wife heal from trauma. This episode was originally released on September 16th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Sexless Relationships, Part 1

May 31, 2019 16:54 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

A sexless relationship is often a symptom of deeper dysfunction. The Sugars, along with couples therapist Esther Perel, advise a letter writer whose loving partner is erotically absent. This episode was originally released on September 9th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: In The Shadow Of Damaged Parents

May 26, 2019 14:14 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

A damaged parent can cast a dark shadow over our lives, especially when we inherit some of that damage. Steve’s father, the psychoanalyst Dr. Richard Almond, joins the Sugars to answer letters and offer a way out. This episode was originally released on September 2nd, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Dear Dad, It's Over

May 17, 2019 17:24 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

We can't choose our parents, but we can choose whether or not to have a relationship with them. This week, the Sugars discuss parental estrangement with the help of Stephen Elliott -- founding editor of The Rumpus and author of the books “The Adderall Diaries” and “Happy Baby” -- who estranged himself from his abusive father. This episode was originally released on April 20th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Career Vs. Love

May 10, 2019 19:29 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MB

You love your partner, you love your career... but they're pulling you in different directions. What do you do? The Sugars have help from psychotherapist and sociologist Leslie Bell, author of Hard to Get: 20-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom. This episode was originally released on April 13th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Inbox Outliers

May 03, 2019 17:08 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MB

Infidelity. In-Laws. Friendship. These are just a few of the categories that help keep the Dear Sugar inbox organized. But every once in a while, we get a letter that doesn't fit neatly into any category. This week, the Sugars discuss a handful of those letters in rapid-fire fashion -- from a woman whose mother-in-law might be faking an allergy to her cat, to a woman whose identity was stolen...by her own sister. This episode was originally published on April 25th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Baby Or Bust

April 26, 2019 16:36 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MB

You wants kids; your partner doesn't. Or your partner wants kids, and you don't. Whatever the scenario, few subjects are as emotionally charged and potentially deal-breaking in a relationship as a disagreement over the decision to become parents. The Sugars take on this tricky topic with the help of the writer Danielle Herzog, who's written in the past about ending her own marriage to become a mother. This episode was originally published on March 22nd, 2017.

Dear Sugars Presents: Kind World

April 22, 2019 17:30 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MB

Dear Sugars wants to tell you about another great show: Kind World. Subscribe today! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kind-world/id963244879

Episodes We Love: Pet Dilemmas

April 19, 2019 16:56 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MB

This week, adventures in animal ownership! The Sugars, along with Julie Barton -- author of the memoir "Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself" -- answer letters about pet dilemmas and the ways these creatures affect human relationships. This episode was originally published on August 26th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Body Weight And Romance

April 12, 2019 16:38 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MB

It’s never easy to talk to our romantic partners about their bodies, especially when it’s about weight. The Sugars, along with the writer Ashley C. Ford, answer letters from people questioning their relationships because of major changes in their partners’ bodies. This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Should I Intervene?

April 05, 2019 16:26 - 41 minutes - 37.5 MB

When we decide to meddle, it can often backfire. The Sugars, along with the writer Meghan Daum, answer letters from people who see loved ones heading down the wrong path, but worry intervention might be the wrong move. This episode was originally published on August 12th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Haunted By Ghosting

March 29, 2019 16:42 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MB

The term "ghosting" may be relatively new, but the concept -- someone suddenly and inexplicably disappearing from your life -- is not. In the past, a total halt to communication with a friend might leave you feeling concerned that something bad happened to him/her. But in a time where our devices have made us more accessible than ever, it can leave the person who's been ghosted feeling rejected or unworthy. This episode was originally published on March 16th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Location, Location, Location

March 22, 2019 13:55 - 36 minutes - 33 MB

Location, location, location. It makes all the difference in real estate, and it can make all the difference to one's happiness. But finding a place that really feels like home can be tricky. This episode was originally published on March 9th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Sexual Fluidity

March 18, 2019 15:38 - 42 minutes - 39 MB

"Whatever" -- that's how the actress Maria Bello describes her sexual orientation. Her "love who you love" attitude toward sexuality, regardless of gender, is often referred to as fluidity. Maria joins the Sugars this week to discuss a couple of letters having to do with the confusion and complications that can accompany a shift in one's sexual preferences and partnerships. This episode was originally published on February 28th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Happy Two Years Of Sugar, Part 2

March 08, 2019 16:54 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MB

It's part 2 of "the year in Sugar," where Steve and Cheryl reflect on some of the most memorable letters and episodes of 2016. This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Happy Two Years Of Sugar, Part 1

March 01, 2019 19:20 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MB

The Sugars look back on some of the most memorable letters and episodes of 2016. There are so many that they'll be doing this in two parts. This episode was originally released on January 27th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: The Writers Resist, Part 2

February 22, 2019 16:17 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

Part two of Dear Sugar Radio: The Writers Resist at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon. This episode was originally released on January 27th, 2017.

Dear Sugars Presents: Dear Hank and John

February 19, 2019 20:42 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MB

Dear Sugars wants to tell you about another great advice show: Dear Hank & John.

Episodes We Love: The Writers Resist, Part 1

February 15, 2019 12:43 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MB

On November 9th, 2016 -- the day after Donald Trump became America's President-elect -- the Dear Sugar inbox was flooded with emails asking some version of the question, "How do we move forward as a nation from here?" The Sugars bring that question before an audience at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon. This episode was originally published on January 20th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Love In Doubt

February 08, 2019 14:55 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MB

How many times have you heard this: "I love him, we're great together, but..."? There's always room for doubt, even in the happiest of relationships. So this week, the Sugars take on some of those doubts in rapid-fire fashion. This episode was originally published on January 5th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: The Dark Side Of Porn

February 01, 2019 14:43 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MB

The Sugars continue their series on porn with a letter from a woman whose fiancé is "addicted" to porn. This episode was originally released on December 16th, 2016.

Dear Sugars Presents: Endless Thread

January 28, 2019 19:54 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB

From our partners at WBUR, Endless Thread is a podcast featuring amazing stories found on Reddit. In this story, they talk to a happily married couple who has recently decided to experiment with consensual non-monogamy.

Episodes We Love: Is Porn Wrong?

January 25, 2019 14:19 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

Pornography is more abundant and accessible than ever before. So it probably isn't surprising that it appears to be having a greater impact on romantic relationships. Part one of a two-part series focuses on some basic questions about porn -- is it wrong to use it? Why do people turn to porn? Is there such a thing as "healthy" porn use in a relationship? This episode was originally published on December 1st, 2016.

Episodes We Love: What About The Stepchildren?

January 18, 2019 15:23 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MB

When the Sugars answered a letter from a woman who felt trapped in the role of "wicked stepmother," dozens of listeners wrote in asking the same question: what about the stepchildren, who have no control over the restructuring of their family? This week, the Sugars respond with an episode devoted to the other side of the story. This episode was originally released November 17th, 2016.

Episodes We Love: When Your Loved Ones Just Don't 'Get It'

January 11, 2019 19:06 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MB

Our loved ones are the people who are supposed to understand us. But what if they just...can't? Where do we turn then, and how do we fight the feelings of resentment that this lack of understanding can stir up? This episode was originally released November 11th, 2016.

Episodes We Love: Friendships, Part 2

January 07, 2019 15:05 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB

The Sugars have another conversation on friendship, this time with a handful of letters concerning male-female friendships. Is there such a thing as a platonic relationship between a heterosexual man and woman? Can male-female friendships be as emotionally satisfying as same-gender relationships? What do you do when a friend crosses a romantic line? The Sugars discuss it all in rapid-fire fashion. This episode was originally released November 4th, 2016.

Introducing Safe for Work

December 19, 2018 17:46 - 3 minutes - 3.13 MB

Safe For Work is an advice show that reminds you that while your office may be crazy, you don’t have to be. Office MVPs and corporate veterans Liz Dolan (ex-CMO, Nike, NatGeo, Oprah Winfrey Network) and Rico Gagliano (audio host, producer, print reporter and author) will help you make the big decisions, sort through the small stuff, and get more fulfillment from your work life.

Episodes We Love: The Price Of Our Dreams

December 08, 2018 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MB

The Sugars, along with fiction writer George Saunders, field letters from people who are chasing their creative dreams but frightened by the practical and financial risks that come with that pursuit. This episode was originally released on August 5th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Rapid Fire Letters

December 01, 2018 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

In a heated moment, a mother reveals a dark chapter from her childhood to her daughter, then immediately regrets it. What now? In this week’s episode, the Sugars tackle this and several other questions, including how to handle a brother-in-law who treats your vacation as his own free childcare; what to do when your best friend’s husband asks you to lie; and why we sometimes recoil at very public displays of grief. This episode was originally released July 29th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: The Power Of No, Part 2

November 17, 2018 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23 MB

"What do I want?" This is the question Oprah Winfrey finally asked herself, after years of struggling to say "no" to people in her life. In the second of this two-part series, the Sugars continue their conversation with Oprah Winfrey on when, why and how to say "no."

Episodes We Love: The Power Of No, Part 1

November 10, 2018 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MB

There’s incredible power in saying “yes.” It opens up avenues and allows us to be brave. In Cheryl's case, it’s what led to her becoming Sugar. But saying yes to life's opportunities can also have its risks. The Sugars are joined by Oprah Winfrey to discuss when to say no, how to say no, and what happens in the wake of that. This episode was originally released July 15th, 2017.

Episodes We Love: Friendship, Part 1

November 03, 2018 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MB

Everyone has had a friendship quandary of some sort in the past, right? This week, the Sugars take on frequently asked questions in "rapid fire" fashion – from hating your best friend's significant other, to hating her politics. This episode was originally released October 28th, 2016.

Episodes We Love: May-December Romances

October 27, 2018 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MB

Age is just a number in many contexts, but when it comes to finding long-lasting love, an age gap between partners can greatly impact the course of the relationship — both in positive and challenging ways. The Sugars discuss those so-called "May-December" romances with the help of Lucinda Franks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of the memoir Timeless: Love, Morgenthau, and Me, which tells the story of her marriage to New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, who's 27 years...

Episodes We Love: I Divorced My Spouse, And My Child Divorced Me

October 20, 2018 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB

Divorce is always a painful process, but it's especially so when there are children in the middle. This week, the Sugars discuss situations of parental alienation caused by divorce. They answer letters from a mother and a father whose daughters have cut off all communication with them after taking the other parent's side. This episode was originally released October 14th, 2016,

Episodes We Love: Make The Call

October 13, 2018 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MB

The Sugars bring you another "rapid fire" episode, where they give brief answers to a handful of letters. This time, they challenge each other to make the call — one way or the other — on the questions they're discussing, rather than offer open-ended guidance. This episode was originally released September 30th, 2016,

Episodes We Love: How Do I Find The Courage To Be My Own Guide?

September 29, 2018 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB

The Sugars often discuss letters dealing with very specific problems or struggles. This week, they take on a broader, more existential question -- how to follow your heart. The Sugars discuss with the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter India Arie, who shares how she learned to be her own guide. This episode was originally released September 23rd, 2016.

Episodes We Love: I'm A Transgender Man, Seeking Acceptance

September 22, 2018 10:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MB

The Sugars read the letters of two transgender men who are struggling to find love and acceptance. They discuss with Cooper Lee Bombardier, a visual artist, writer and transgender man.

Dear Sugars Presents: Last Seen

September 18, 2018 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MB

From our partners at WBUR, a new podcast that looks into the greatest unsolved art heist in history: the theft of half a billion dollars worth of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston.

Episodes We Love: Can A Sexual Assault Survivor Love A Rapist?

September 15, 2018 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MB

The Sugars discuss a letter from a survivor of sexual assault who has just been told by her long-time partner that he raped someone when he was in high school. The writer wonders how she, as a survivor and self-proclaimed feminist, can justify loving a rapist.

Moving On, Part 2 — With Dr. Harriet Lerner

August 25, 2018 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MB

In this second part of our series on moving on, the Sugars discuss how we can release ourselves from our past mistakes. Dr. Harriet Lerner drops in to answer a letter from a woman who calls herself a "serial codependent," as well as a woman who is haunted by her abortion.