The podcast discusses the challenges and possibilities of staying friends with exes. They share personal experiences and stories of staying friends before and after sex. They also explore Sappho's poetry and the ancient understanding of love and desire. The chapter concludes by discussing 'the quickening' and the production team.
Maintaining a friendship with an ex can be possible if the relationship ended respectfully and both parties set healthy boundaries.
Sappho's poetry, despite being fragmented, continues to inspire individuals to explore their own experiences of love and desire.
Deep dives
Maintaining a friendship with an ex
The podcast explores the age-old question of whether it is possible to maintain a healthy friendship with an ex. The hosts discuss their own experiences and perspectives on the matter. While some believe it is possible to be friends with an ex if the relationship ended respectfully and was not toxic, others share that they have chosen to distance themselves from their exes for their own mental health. Overall, the episode delves into the complexities of maintaining relationships with exes and highlights the importance of communication and individual boundaries.
The dynamics of a creative relationship with an ex
The podcast episode features a guest who shares her story of maintaining a friendship and creative partnership with an ex. She recounts how they started as bandmates, then briefly dated before deciding to separate romantically. Despite some initial jealousy and tensions, they managed to continue working together on music projects for years. However, their relationship faced challenges due to his mental illness, resulting in periods of inconsistency and erratic behavior. Eventually, they drifted apart, but she still considers him a genius and wishes him well.
The poetry of Sappho
The podcast provides insights into the ancient Greek poet, Sappho, known for her lyrical poetry that explored love and desire, particularly towards women. Although Sappho's work is fragmented and limited in availability, her writings express longing, desire, and unrequited love without explicitly defining her own identity. The podcast highlights the enduring legacy of Sappho's poetry and how it has inspired people throughout generations to explore their own experiences of love and desire.
The concept of the 'quickening'
The hosts discuss the concept of the 'quickening' coined by playwright Tom Stoppard, which refers to the intense attraction or connection between two people despite being in other relationships. They describe it as a magnetic feeling or a crush that is difficult to resist. The podcast draws a parallel between the 'quickening' and the tension and attraction showcased in the relationship between the characters Francis and Nick in the TV series being discussed.
Producer Jeanie Igoe tells us about casting the four main roles. Then we try to answer the age-old question: can you stay friends with your ex? Maggie shares the story of her attempt with help from friend and collaborator Michael Amico. Comedian and actor Laci Mosley talks about staying friends before and after sex. And we learn about girl love and poetry with Sappho scholar Marguerite Johnson. Michael Amico's The Evening Nudes https://www.instagram.com/the_evening_nudes Michael Amico Photography https://instagram.com/michaelamicophoto Laci Mosley - actor and comedian https://www.instagram.com/divalaci Marguerite Johnson’s book, Sappho https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/sappho-9781472538673