This is Love

Cry
Nov 19, 2025 · 2077

In 1971, for his mother’s birthday, Alvin Ailey gave her a ballet. The dance was grueling – sometimes the women who did it bled. “I remember very well seeing my mother on her knees scrubbing these white folks’ rooms and…

Ava and the Pickpocket
Nov 5, 2025 · 2497

“He stole my watch. He stole my jewelry. I stopped wearing jewelry – just to see what else he would steal.” In 2004, Ava Do met a professional pickpocket at a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. And they fell in love. Say…

One More Time
Oct 22, 2025 · 1885

A visitor to the islands of the Pacific Northwest once described seeing “a forest of totem poles.” But by the time Robert Davidson was born, there wasn't a single one left standing in his village. Say hello on Facebook…

A Sky of Kites
Oct 8, 2025 · 2120

People in India have been flying kites for hundreds of years – using them to predict the weather, carry love letters, and compete in the air. But they share the sky and a name with hundreds of thousands of scavenging bi…

The Throne
Sep 24, 2025 · 2060

In 1964, a landlord in Washington, DC, noticed that his tenant hadn’t paid rent and went to look for him. The tenant wasn’t in the building – but he’d left behind something strange – something that he’d been working on …

My Penny
Sep 10, 2025 · 2233

In October of 2006, a press conference was held at a hospital in Denver. During the press conference, a man asked if anyone watching could tell him who he was, or how he got there. Because he didn’t know. This episode …

The World According to Rick Steves
Aug 20, 2025 · 1689

Never check a bag, always bring a journal, and consider duct tape: a conversation with Rick Steves. Say hello on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Want to listen to This is Love …

Alone Together
Aug 6, 2025 · 3322

In 1966, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey had been married for three years. They’d bought a house in the suburbs in the middle of England, and had jobs at the tax office and a printing press. “They're living a respectable day…

The Sea Around Us
Jul 16, 2025 · 2558

When writer Rachel Carson built a house on Maine’s Southport Island, her new neighbor, Dorothy Freeman, sent her a note to welcome her. Rachel wrote back. And when the summer was over, they kept writing to each other. …

Hot Dog!
Jul 2, 2025 · 2589

An episode all about hot dogs and the people who love 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…

The Terra Nova
Jun 18, 2025 · 2309

In 1910, a group of British men set off on an expedition – they wanted to be the first people to reach the South Pole. Over a hundred years later, in the journals and letters that survived, a writer discovered a love st…

An American Original
Jun 4, 2025 · 1948

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 Abe…

Bambi, a Burrito Bowl, and Barry Manilow
May 30, 2025 · 1467

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 everyt…

The Bear Repair
May 21, 2025 · 1968

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 In…

This Is Uncomfortable
May 7, 2025 · 2560

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 …

And... Did You Kiss? Part 2
Apr 23, 2025 · 2214

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 …

And… Did You Kiss? Part 1
Apr 9, 2025 · 2478

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 ca…

D'yan
Mar 19, 2025 · 2591

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 ignor…

The Security Guard
Mar 5, 2025 · 1871

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 Be…

On the Way to Dinner
Feb 19, 2025 · 2477

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 wrappe…

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