

Rylan: How to Be...
BBC Sounds
How to Be in Love - Rylan is embarking on a mission to find love. He’s loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to find love once again.But what is love truly about? And how can we find it – and make it last?From a young age, we’re taught that love is the ultimate fairytale – that finding ‘the one’ will finally complete us. But is it time to look at love differently? Over 13 episodes, Rylan’s guests will help him rediscover what love is – what we should be looking for in a partner (or partners!) and attempting to find the secrets of a healthy, long-term relationship.A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 11, 2025 • 40min
How to Be in Love: Richard Coles: On losing the love of his life and casual roadside encounters
Rylan is joined by the writer and broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles who shares how his life, and his faith, have shaped his understanding of love.Richard discusses how he turned his back on the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle and anonymous roadside romances, to follow the calling of Christ to become a vicar. He also speaks about finding the love of his life, in his late partner David, and how his experience of grief had him believe he would never want to love again. Richard opens up about how he navigated losing love, to rediscovering it once more with his current partner, and shares his belief on what he thinks love will look like in the afterlife.How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Jun 4, 2025 • 39min
How to Be in Love: Self Esteem: On bisexuality, non-monogamy, and her ‘current male lover’
Rylan is joined by musician and actor Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem. Rebecca shares her experience of being in non-monogamous relationships and pushing back against societal norms. She also discusses being bisexual and how her relationship with her ‘current male lover’ has challenged her preconceived ideas of what she wanted love to be.How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Jun 4, 2025 • 41min
How to Be in Love: Stephen Fry: From 15 years of celibacy to finding love
Rylan sits down with actor, writer and President of Mind, Stephen Fry, who discusses how love has helped shaped his life. From the impossibly high standards set by his parents’ relationship, to the impact of living through the AIDS crisis, and a self-imposed 15-year stretch of celibacy. Plus, having recently celebrated 10 years of marriage, Stephen shares how being in an age-gap relationship has unexpectedly introduced him to the worlds of wrestling and rap. How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

May 21, 2025 • 2min
How to Be in Love: Trailer
Rylan is embarking on a mission to find love. He's loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to find love once again. But what is love truly about? And how can we find it - and make it last? From a young age, we're taught that love is the ultimate fairytale - that finding 'the one' will finally complete us. But is it time to look at love differently? Over 12 episodes, Rylan's guests will help him rediscover what love is - what we should be looking for in a partner (or partners!) and attempting to find the secrets of a healthy, long-term relationship.

Aug 20, 2024 • 38min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Francis Bourgeois – On viral fame and dealing with criticism
Rylan is joined by trainspotter Francis Bourgeois to discuss becoming an overnight internet sensation. Francis tells Rylan about his tricky teenage years and growing up as an outsider, confronting accusations that his train persona is “fake”, and trainspotting with Joe Jonas.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Satema Tarawally
Edit Producer: Katie Grant
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Aug 13, 2024 • 39min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Ekin-Su - Navigating fame and the personal impact of reality TV
Rylan is joined by Love Island winner Ekin-Su to discuss her mixed experiences in the spotlight. Ekin tells Rylan about her high-profile break-up with Love Island boyfriend Davide, her fall from grace after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, and the psychological damage of reality TV.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Satema Tarawally
Edit Producer: Katie Grant
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Aug 6, 2024 • 39min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Will Young - Leaving Strictly and homophobia in the music industry
Rylan speaks to pop sensation Will Young about life in the spotlight. Will discusses facing homophobia in the music industry, his experience on Strictly and facing mental health struggles in the public eye.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Satema Tarawally
Edit Producer: Katie Grant
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Jul 30, 2024 • 34min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Big Zuu - On classism in TV and stealing delivery food
Rylan sits down with Big Zuu to talk about his unique rise to fame - from rapper extraordinaire to double BAFTA award-winning TV presenter. They discuss making grime mainstream alongside Stormzy, Dave and AJ Tracey, his viral BAFTA acceptance speech for 'Big Zuu's Big Eats' and dealing with classicism in the TV industry.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Satema Tarawally
Edit Producer: Katie Grant
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Jul 23, 2024 • 29min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Matt Goss - On Brosmania and fans under the bed
Rylan is joined by singer and frontman of iconic 80s band, Bros, Matt Goss. With fedora in place, Matt and Rylan chat about finding fans under the bed at the height of Brosmania, having an 11 year-long Las Vegas residency, and wanting to reconcile with his brother and bandmate, Luke.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Maisie Williams
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

Jul 16, 2024 • 39min
How to Be in the Spotlight: Charlotte Church – Being a child star and weird fan encounters
Rylan is joined by singer and host of ‘Kicking Back with The Cardiffians’ Charlotte Church to discuss her mixed experiences in the spotlight. Charlotte tells Rylan about growing up as a child star and singing for the Pope as a 12-year-old, press intrusion in her rebellious years, and being accused of anti-Semitism.Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Monetta Pierre
Edit Producer: Katie Grant
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds