Last fall, Chanté Joseph wrote an essay with the headline: “Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend now?” The piece – about the politics of showing off heterosexual relationships – went viral; people debated it all over TikTok and beyond. (Even New York City’s mayor weighed in.)
Months later, Meredith and Chanté sit down to discuss why the essay hit so many nerves at once. Some readers hated Chanté's essay and what it suggested about the evolving values of women.
Others – namely single straight women – loved that Chanté’s essay highlighted women who are choosing to post pictures of friends instead of significant others.
It’s a complicated discussion – and Part 1 in a two-part exploration of why the concept of a boyfriend can be a bit … cringey.
This episode features a montage of creators who were inspired by Chanté’s essay.

They are, in order of appearance: @thanahit @maryarchived @jedidahbila @JeffHarryPlays @melvinoyx @rollotomassi @boyproblemsshow

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Meredith has long been interested in the Kinsey Institute, a place were researchers focus their work on sex and relationships.
In this episode, Meredith interviews Kinsey Executive Director Justin Garcia about his new book, “The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love.”
Meredith read the book in one sitting.
Her conversation with Justin covers many topics including monogamy, emotional intimacy, and how to keep long relationships working.
They also discuss the concept of “slow love,” and why younger people think of marriage as the end of a road, as opposed to the beginning.
Remember, Love Letters is also an advice column. When you ask a question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected].
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Third wheeling has long had a bad reputation. If you’re a single person, you may have heard that hanging out with a couple makes you the odd person out.

But Meredith doesn’t believe that. She LOVES third wheels – and has third wheeled with plenty of couples.

In this episode, Meredith’s sister, Brette, explains how her social life, as a newly divorced person, involves hanging out with a bunch of wonderful couples. Brette says that being a third wheel has broadened her community and enriched her soul.

Meredith also interviews Brad and Marco, one of the couples for whom Brette third wheels. They explain why having a shared friend makes their relationship stronger.

Consider this episode a guide to being a platonic third, and a love letter to third wheels and the couples who truly believe “the more the merrier.”

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Must you block your ex on social media?

Maybe. Probably.

It could make your breakup a lot easier to deal with.

In this episode, Meredith talks to Love Letters podcast producer Jazmin Aguilera about Jazmin’s recent breakup. They listen to a classic episode about exes and social media, and talk about what lessons ring true in 2026.Enjoy a discussion about letting go in person and online.Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected].

Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.

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We’re looking for your stories for the Love Letters podcast.

We love all tales of breakups, dating, love, and connection. But for a special upcoming series of the show, we’re looking for stories about COMMUNITY.

We want to hear about friends, special acquaintances, or the seemingly inconsequential human ties that make your life better.

We want to hear about important, platonic bonds you currently have, important bonds you’ve had (past tense), or meaningful bonds you’d like to form. Because significant others don’t have to be romantic … and sometimes having a strong non-romantic community makes it easier to find and maintain romantic love (if you want it).

Tell us your story by filling out our questionnaire at Boston.com/LoveLettersStory.

As always, thanks for listening and being a part of the Love Letters community.

We can also be reached with questions for the Love Letters advice column at [email protected].

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Meredith has always been a little afraid of Nantucket. Despite living a fast ferry ride away, she’s only been there twice.

As far as Meredith is concerned, the people on Nantucket are fancy, the drama is high, and because it’s an island, it’s hard to escape.

For best-selling author Elin Hiderbrand, though, Nantucket represents comfort … even when it’s stifling. Nantucket is where Elin found happiness after leaving New York. It’s what inspired her writing. It’s where she found community – and the best kinds of love.

In a live conversation recorded in November, Meredith interviews Elin about Nantucket, what it means to fall in love with a place, and why Elin decided to stop writing about the island after decades of living there.

They also talk about the power of books about women and love.

Elin novels include “The Perfect Couple,” which became a Netflix show starring Nicole Kidman, and “The Five Star Weekend,” which is slated to be a series starring Jennifer Garner.

This talk was part of “Globe Summit,” a two-day Boston Globe event that featured journalists speaking with experts in their fields.

Remember, Love Letters is also an anonymous advice column. When you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected].

Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.

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Elise, 17, appreciates that she’s growing up in a world that understands what it means to be nonbinary.

She just wishes people had an easier time understanding fluidity. Because sometimes Elise feels like a boy, and other times she feels like a girl. Sometimes these changes shift with the seasons.

In this episode, Elise explains how her fluidity affects her dating life – because some people who fall for her as a masculine person might be less interested if she becomes more feminine months later.

She also reveals she might be a chimera – meaning, as she sees it, she might literally be two people in one.  Elise and Meredith talk it through together.

If you love Love Letters, give us all the stars. We love validation.

We’re also an anonymous advice question; when you ask a relationship question, you help others wondering the same thing. Email your question to [email protected]

Sign up for Meredith’s newsletter at Boston.com/meredith.

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Nexan Asencio Corado was 20 when he left Guatemala and crossed into the U.S. illegally. He wound up settling in Massachusetts and built a life there.

Within a decade, he was working in construction and framing. He fell in love with Christina Toledo and married her. They had two twin sons. 

In May, Nexan – who had started the process of seeking lawful permanent residency in the U.S. – was arrested by ICE agents and brought to a Federal Correctional Institution. 

From that moment, Nexan and Christina faced important choices about how to stay together, care for each other, and protect their family.

In this episode, Boston Globe immigration reporter Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio tells the story of Nexan and Christina, using recordings from their life and phone calls, with their permission.

We love feedback and questions at Love Letters – and with this episode, there’s a lot to talk about. After listening, please send your thoughts to [email protected]. You can always email us a voice memo.

We’re also a relationship advice column. You can send your anonymous questions to [email protected].

To learn more about this story and Love Letters, in general, sign up for the Love Letters newsletter at Boston.com/Meredith.

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Jenna is a part-time model.  Sometimes her modeling jobs are unique – think wearing stilettos and popping balloons... or wearing lingerie while feeding ducks.

Recently, she's been getting paid to play a damsel in distress. With cars.

How does Jenna’s modeling work affect her dating life? It’s not easy. Some people act like they’re comfortable with her job at first - but then they turn out to be judgmental and jealous.

In this episode, Jenna tells Meredith the story of how she got into this type of work and how much she's willing (or not) to give up for it. A universal lesson about compromise – and finding people who love us as we are.

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Remember, Love Letters is an advice column, too! Send questions about human relationships (romantic, friendship, etc.) to [email protected].

Sign up for the Love Letters newsletter at Boston.com/Meredith.

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