This is Love

Vox Media Podcast Network

Love is more than you think. From the creators of Criminal. New episodes every month.

  • 32 minutes 28 seconds
    An American Original

    In 1963, Jeanne and Alan Abel traveled to Washington, DC to picket in front of the White House. They said they were part of a campaign that wanted to put clothes on animals — including the first lady’s horse.

    Jenny Abel and her husband, Jeff Hockett, made a documentary about her parents called Abel Raises Cain.

    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

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    4 June 2025, 8:00 am
  • 24 minutes 27 seconds
    Bambi, a Burrito Bowl, and Barry Manilow

    Two years ago, we started making Criminal Plus episodes — behind-the-scenes conversations featuring Phoebe and Criminal co-creator Lauren Spohrer. Today, we’re sharing some of those conversations with you — about everything from Phoebe’s jangly bracelets to the reason a judge ordered a man to watch Bambi. And we’re also sharing a promo code if you’d like to support our work and join our membership program. Use the code “JOINUS” for 20% off of an annual Criminal Plus membership, at ⁠thisiscriminal.com/plus⁠.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    30 May 2025, 8:00 am
  • 34 minutes 48 seconds
    The Bear Repair

    For the past 40 years, people have been sending Sally Winey their damaged stuffed animals, and she's been doing what she can to repair them. "That bear's been with them through everything.”

    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    21 May 2025, 8:00 am
  • 44 minutes 40 seconds
    This Is Uncomfortable

    Terence McPherson and Shawnika Giger met at a party in Atlanta, and went on their first date a few weeks later. Things were going well, until they started to talk about money.

    This episode is in collaboration with our friends at This Is Uncomfortable.

    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    7 May 2025, 8:00 am
  • 38 minutes 54 seconds
    And... Did You Kiss? Part 2

    When The Guardian sends two strangers on a blind date, the last question they have to answer for the newspaper column is “Would you meet again?” We asked people how their dates went – and what happened next.


    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.


    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.


    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.


    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.


    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    23 April 2025, 8:00 am
  • 43 minutes 18 seconds
    And… Did You Kiss? Part 1

    At The Guardian newspaper, there’s a person who has to find two complete strangers to send on a blind date every week. 


    In our next episode, we hear about how things really went from the blind daters themselves. You can listen right now by signing up for Criminal Plus


    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.


    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.


    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.


    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    9 April 2025, 8:00 am
  • 45 minutes 11 seconds
    D'yan

    About twenty years ago, D’yan Forest considered getting into stand-up comedy. “People told me, no, don’t go into comedy. Everybody is going to make fun of you. They’re gonna heckle you. You’re an old woman.” D’yan ignored them.


    Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.


    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.


    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.


    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.


    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    19 March 2025, 8:00 am
  • 33 minutes 11 seconds
    The Security Guard

    When his older brother died of cancer, Patrick Bringley quit his New York office job and got a new one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—as a security guard. He stayed for 10 years.

    Patrick Bringley's book is All the Beauty in the World.

    Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    5 March 2025, 9:00 am
  • 43 minutes 17 seconds
    On the Way to Dinner

    On August 28th, 2000, Danny Stewart got on the subway to meet his boyfriend Pete Mercurio for dinner in New York City. As he was exiting the station, he noticed something on the ground. It looked like a baby doll wrapped in a shirt. And then he saw the doll's legs move.

    Pete Mercurio's children's book is Our Subway Baby. His forthcoming memoir is called There: We Found Our Family In a New York City Subway Station.

    This episode was first released in 2021.

    Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2BmMZr5

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    19 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 33 minutes 36 seconds
    Nice to Meet You Again

    When Cody Bryant suddenly stopped communicating with Haley Woloshen after weeks of hanging out, she assumed she was being ghosted. It was only later that she found out he’d forgotten about her entirely. 

    Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    5 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 41 minutes 5 seconds
    Frog Call

    The day Edgardo Griffith met Heidi Ross, he asked her if she’d like to come with him to look for frogs. He was looking for a particular kind – bright yellow, with black spots: the Panamanian golden frog. But by the time Edgardo and Heidi were engaged, the frogs had started to disappear.

    Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.

    Want to listen to This is Love ad-free? Sign up for Criminal Plus – you’ll get to listen to This is Love, Criminal, and Phoebe Reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus, you’ll get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal and other exclusive benefits. Learn more and sign up here.

    We also make Criminal and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

    Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

    Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    22 January 2025, 9:00 am
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