The 15 Top Relationship Podcasts You Need to Hear

Sometimes you need someone to say the right thing. The right thing could completely change your day, week, or even your entire outlook when it comes to dating. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t friends with comedians, psychologists or journalists – so we turn to relationship podcasts for some much-needed wisdom in our lives.

Podcasts are fantastic, they offer guidance, comedy, and company in the brief moments we have (walking to work, on the train) and help us better navigate life. We’ve handpicked the best relationship podcasts for every stage of dating, from the best bits to the tricky bits, to help you get the most out of your dating life.

Here are the best relationship podcasts:

For when you’re single
For when you’re newly dating
For when you’re in a relationship
For breakups
For those interested in love

For when you’re single

Savage Lovecast
Dan Savage has been producing this podcast for an eye-watering six years. That’s a lot of relationship advice. However, Savage Lovecast doesn’t deal in the everyday relationship issues; expect to hear about rare fantasies, complex polyamorous relationships, and, well, just about everything else. Definitely NSFW (Not Safe For Work), Dan mixes in humour and straightforward advice, making every problem sound completely ordinary and solvable. One listen and you’ll be hooked.

Death, Sex & Money
If you worry you may tire of listening to a relationship podcast alone, then Death, Sex & Money is for you. Anna Sale describes this interview-style podcast as the place to discuss the big questions that surround us, that all-too-often “…get left out of polite conversation”. So while relationships are on the agenda, this podcast talks about them in context of life’s other big worries i.e. death and money. Very Americanized but don’t worry if you don’t know who the interviewee is. Some episodes will be with big name celebs (Brooke Shields, Jane Fonda etc.) and sometimes it’ll be with experts and guests plucked from total obscurity.

This is Why You’re Single

A podcast for those definitely in the dating game. If you’re feeling a tad tired from dating and want to a reminder why you’re even doing it in the first place, this is for you. Brooklyn-based comedians Laura Lane and Angela Spera offer practical dating advice, red flags to look out for and real stories all wrapped in a sassy, snarky bundle. A great reminder that everyone struggles with their love life sometimes.

Read More: Not a podcast fan? Discover the 15 books you should read during the different stages of dating.

For when you’re newly dating

Anna Faris is Unqualified
Anna Faris is known for being a comedic actress who was up-until-last-year married to megastar Chris Pratt. So what makes Anna Faris qualified to dole out relationship advice to listeners who phone in with their problems? Nothing is what. Faris is very upfront with her lack of credentials but what she lacks, she makes up with in enthusiasm and surprisingly honest opinions. Like a friend whose advice you don’t want to listen to, but you probably should because they are right.

Dear Sugars
A cult favorite and recent addition to The New York Times podcast roster, Dear Sugars is hosted by acclaimed authors Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond. The podcast essentially follows an anonymous agony aunt format, with hosts answering questions with “radical empathy”. Insightful, compassionate, and achingly understandable it’s a great listen to gain closure over previous relationship mishaps or negative singledom thinking.

The Heart
Proud to stand apart from a ‘typical’ podcast, The Heart is more of a performance piece than a relationship podcast. Each episode is designed and written with soundscapes and imaginative storytelling to make listeners feel as if they have walked into another world. Hosted by award-winning documentarian Kaitlin Prest, it’ll take you on an exploration of what relationships and intimacy mean in the modern world.

For when you’re in a relationship

One Extraordinary Marriage Show
Celebrated by married couples and unwed partners alike as the podcast that will allow you to start communicating in your relationship, Tony and Lisa DiLorenzo have been a married couple for an impressive 19 years and discuss the real issues of love, sex, and commitment within a long-term monogamous relationship. A Christian couple, religion doesn’t enter the conversation too much, but they do discuss it in terms of how it relates to their relationship.

Better Conversations with Derek and Carrie: On Money and Marriage
One of the more niche relationship podcasts out there. Derek and Carrie are a married couple who have gone through their fair share of financial turmoil; having their house repossessed while they were planning their wedding sounds like most people’s worst nightmares. However, it was this life event that got them talking to strangers about how you handle the financial responsibility when you’re no longer running solo.

Honey
Probably one of the more intriguing podcasts to listen to, but also probably one of the hardest. Actress and writer Julia Meltzer invites a real couple to discuss and break down one of their most recent fights – whose fault it was, if it was resolved etc. Sometimes painful, sometimes funny and always brutally honest, it’s good exposure therapy if you’re averse to confrontation.

Read More: Learning how to argue is a habit healthy couples share. Learn more healthy relationship habits here

For Breakups

The Bounce Back Podcast
There is no cure-all for a break-up but most people will tell you talking about it and hearing other tales of woe is an easy way to make yourself feel less alone. The Bounce Back Podcast (previously called Let’s Talk Heartbreak) is hosted by dating coach Laura Yates and offers a sympathetic ear to all the crazy, motivating and brilliant ways people have gotten over lost love.

Mental Illness Happy Hour
Don’t worry about the name, mental illness is unduly stigmatized and this podcast sets to break that stigma in sometimes shocking ways. After a breakup, you need to hear how others pulled themselves up by their bootstraps – people who were in dire situations who came out the other side even better. This podcast discusses everything from heartbreak, trauma, and addiction then asks its audience how negative thinking makes a bad situation worse. A safe space for all.

Where Should We Begin?
Prepare to have some breakthroughs about your past relationships listening to Where Should We Begin with relationship therapist Esther Perel. This groundbreaking podcast is a one-off couples therapy session which tackles issues from infidelity, commitment, and sexuality all in a neat one-hour podcast. Couples therapy is something not everyone has the luxury to afford, but this podcast is a great insight into how a typical session is run and whether you could get use out of it in the future.

Read More: Just gotten out of a relationship? Try our expert tips on how to move on

For those interested in love

Modern Love

A relationship podcast institution, Modern Love is a spinoff of the popular New York Times column. Featuring readings from celebrities and columnists, it’s a heady blend of editorial prose, with essays from listeners and feelgood lessons everyone can learn from. Whether your single and looking, or settled and committed, there’s something for everyone here. We also can’t hear the name without singing the David Bowie song, is it just us?

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People
The premise of this podcast is simple but ingenious. Comedian Chris Gethard accepts one phone call per episode, no names and nothing is off-limits. Expect to hear people talking about their relationships, careers, gossip, even just what they have been up to that week. Surprisingly insightful, as well as funny and sometimes heartbreaking, it’s a lovely peek into the lives of others.

Love Is Like a Plant
Movies and television have given most people the impression that when you kiss someone for the first time it should be orchestras and fireworks in the background. However, most people who have been in a relationship know that it can sometimes take work. Enter, Love is like a Plant. Ellen Huerta and Sarah May B discuss how love needs to be tended to and looked after by those who wish to grow it. Relaxing and intelligent, it’s the perfect listen for those new to relationship podcasts.

Read More: Inspired by a Modern Love column, discover more about the 36 questions that can help you fall in love

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