We ask people about their favourite records, books and movies.
Despite them probably being more important to who they are, however, we don’t tend to ask about their relationships.
Journalist and broadcaster Dolly Alderton does that with her podcast series Love Stories.
Dolly’s guests choose their most defining relationships: the passion, heartbreak, longing, familiarity and fondness that forms who they are.
Think of it as a bit like Desert Island Discs for issues of the heart. Among the stellar line-up of Love Stories is author Marian Keyes, who is her usual chatty, insightful and hilarious self.
Oscar-nominated Hollywood star Stanley Tucci dropped in to provide some insight into his romantic life growing up as a younger actor.
The 16-episode series tied in with Dolly’s book Everything I Know About Love and is now, sadly, finished. Dolly herself is a nice presence, extracting wisdom from her interviewees.
“The author Marian Keyes told me that she spent her 20s in needlessly dramatic and intense relationships and that, on reflection, she used those turbulent affairs as a way of avoiding confrontation with real issues holding her back, such as low self-esteem and addiction,” said Dolly.
“She said, ‘I was generating fake emotions to distract from the pain of being me’ – one of the most stunningly astute, wise and self-aware sentences I’ve ever heard, and one I’ve thought about, spoken and written about many times since.”
Love Stories (Apple Podcasts, acast)
Fake Heiress (Apple Podcasts)
Fans of The Missing Crypto-Queen might want to check out Fake Heiress. The clue is in the title. The story is of Anna Delvey, an apparent millionaire heiress who moved through New York’s high society. She was, of course, a scam artist. This podcast is an entertaining mix of real life with a sprinkling of dramatisation.
Sleeping With David Baddiel (Audible)
Funny title. Like half of everyone, comedian David Baddiel has trouble falling asleep. In this six-part series the funnyman teams up with renowned neurologist Dr Guy Leschziner to discuss sleep. They explore things like disorders, dreams and how technology can keep people awake or help them snooze, along with practical tips for insomniacs.
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