Modern Love

How do we choose what to hold onto from loved ones after they've died? Doris Iarovici asks that question in her essay, which is read by Michelle Rodriguez ("Widows").

When Charlotte Bacon went to a temple in Bhutan, the place unlocked feelings in her that she hadn't truly realized were there. Her essay is read by Mira Sorvino ("StartUp").

Jennifer Finney Boylan -- an accomplished writer, academic and activist -- reads her own essay about coming out as transgender to her two young sons. This is an encore episode.

We cross paths with so many people in our lives -- but only a few of them truly change the direction we thought we were headed in. Busy Philipps ("Busy Tonight") reads Laurie Sandell's piece, about the little girl who changed her path.

After a divorce, it can feel like the last thing you want to do is revisit the past. But a ritual forced Cindy Chupack to do just that, in an essay read by actor Amy Landecker.

Lance Reddick, best known as Lt. Cedric Daniels on HBO's "The Wire," reads a story about infidelity and healing.

Tim Elhajj was a divorced dad who was desperate to connect with his son -- and went about it in an unconventional way. His essay is read by John C. Reilly (The Sisters Brothers).

Would you buy a sex chair? Well, Lori Jakiela did -- and she writes about the chair, and the misadventures involved in trying to use it, in an essay that's read by Kristen Bell ("The Good Place.")

Would you start online dating just to make your best friend feel better? Author Victoria Redel did that, and she writes about in her piece, which is read by actor and singer Rita Wilson ("Bigger Picture").

Some crushes are brief: the guy at the gym, the girl on Twitter, your barista. But others are epic -- and take on a life of their own. Olivia Munn ("The Predator") reads Marina Shifrin's essay.