Dear Sugars

WBUR

4,5 (5,6 mil)
SOCIEDADE E CULTURA
QUINZENAL

A podcast that fields all your questions and offers radical empathy in return.

21 DE MAR.

Repost: Sex & Aging

This episode was originally released on May 25th, 2018. When two women in their sixties start losing interest in sex, their sex-starved partners become increasingly frustrated. Both women blame old age for their waning libidos. But is their diminished sex drive because of age or something else? The erotic lives of senior citizens are typically made invisible by our culture, which can lead to confusion and misinformation. Dr. Pepper Schwartz, the love and relationship columnist for AARP, joins the Sugars to dispel certain myths about sex and aging: Do libidos change after menopause? How does the aging body affect the way we feel about sex? Should medical interventions be considered for a declining sex drive? Dr. Schwartz is a professor of sociology at the University of Washington and has written more than 25 books on love and sexuality. She’s also an on-air expert for Lifetime TV’s “Married at First Sight.” The Sugars Recommend “Our Souls at Night,” by Kent Haruf “Scary Old Sex,” by Arlene Heyman

37 min
7 DE MAR.

Repost: Change Is A Work In Progress

Seventeen-year-old “Struggling” had big dreams to leave his small town, but his living situation was at risk because he couldn’t stop using drugs. A letter writer who called herself “Bad Mom” loved her children, but could no longer bear the demands of motherhood. Both desperately needed to transform their lives. In today’s update episode, we check in with some of our most memorable letter writers from previous episodes. The Sugars find out if “Struggling” was kicked out of his mother’s house, and they give “Bad Mom” a call to see if and how her views of motherhood have changed since hearing the Sugars’ advice more than two years ago. This episode was originally published on January 27th, 2018. The Sugars Recommend Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Archaic Torso of Apollo by Rainer Maria Rilke

35 min
21 DE FEV.

Repost: Should I Stay Or Go?

This episode was originally released on September 9, 2016. In this favorite episode from the archives, The Sugars bring you another "Rapid Fire" episode, where they give brief answers to a handful of letters that are all centered around a theme. The theme for this episode is "stay or go" -- people who have a voice in their head telling them to leave their relationship, but who aren't sure it's the right move.

34 min
31 DE JAN.

Throwback: How Do I Find The Courage To Be My Own Guide?

This episode was originally released September 23rd, 2016. The Sugars often discuss letters dealing with very specific problems or struggles. In this encore episode, 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.

27 min
17 DE JAN.

Rewind: Pet Dilemmas with Julia Barton

This episode was originally published on August 26th, 2017. In this episode, 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.

46 min
06/12/2025

Rewind: Body Weight and Romance

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

34 min
22/11/2025

Episodes We Love: Love In Doubt (Rapid Fire)

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.

42 min
08/11/2025

Rewind: The Other Half of Sexless Relationships

This episode was originally released on October 28th, 2017. Sex-starved, meet sex-hounded. Recently, the Dear Sugars inbox was flooded with responses to the two-part episode “Sexless Relationships” with Esther Perel. In those episodes, the Sugars answered letters from people who were longing for sexual intimacy with their partners. But many readers asked why we didn’t address the other side of sexless relationships: the people who want less sex than their partners. In today’s episode, we hear from a letter writer who feels pressured by her partner to have sex. “Every night — EVERY NIGHT — when we get in bed, he rubs my back to see if he can arouse me,” writes the letter writer." "Enough is enough.” Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond dig into the power dynamics that play out when one partner constantly demands sex. Then, they attempt to answer the question, “Is there such a thing as wanting too much sex?”

24 min

Ver tudo (406)

Cheryl Strayed

Apresentação
Steve Almond

Apresentação

4,5

de 5

5.615 avaliações

Head or Heart

16/01/2024

Beekeeper from New England

In my experience, when it’s magic, it’s not hard. You want to do the work because you want to make each other happy.
Been loving this podcast!

27/02/2025

Lucy M.P

Great insights and perspectives. There is so much empathy and compassion in each episode, definitely worth listening!
Listener for years

20/10/2024

Catrina 315

I’ve loved this podcast for years! These two have taught me so much about empathy. I still listen to old episodes from time to time, but I’m still hoping there might be a possibility for a new season.
Amazing!

24/07/2024

inferno9920

This is such a life changing podcast! Steve and Sheryl speak respond with so much empathy and compassion to every letter they receive. There is no judgement or condemnation to the seemingly bad actors in the letters. I have only been listening for a week but I trust Steve and Sheryl to give thoughtful, compassionate, and helpful advice. Also the music for this podcast is really good!