
Love Lives
Love comes in many shapes and forms. People, objects, places, animals, music, and even moments are all capable of sparking those magical feelings within us. In this new video podcast from The Independent, we’ll be speaking to guests about the different loves of their lives, the stories behind them and what that love has taught them about themselves and their place in the world. Because all of us are capable of loving something – and deep down, it’s the things we choose to love, and how we love them, that often reveal the most about who we are. Welcome to Love Lives with Olivia Petter.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Sep 28, 2023 • 46min
‘Bellies’ author Nicola Dinan: ‘Trans characters should have the right to be fallible too’
This week, we’re thrilled to speak with author Nicola Dinan about her debut novel, Bellies.It follows the relationship between young graduates Tom and Ming and how their connection fluctuates in the wake of Ming’s transition, and is being adapted for TV by the studio behind the Normal People adaptation.We chat with Nicola about the expectation that transgender characters should be overly virtuous, and how marginalised characters should have “the freedom to be pieces of s*** too.”Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 14, 2023 • 47min
Author Poorna Bell on the power of withdrawing from one-sided friendships
This week, we’re joined by award-winning journalist and author Poorna Bell to discuss the importance of letting go of one-sided friendships.We discuss how it can feel daunting when friends’ lives splinter off in different directions, and why it's okay to be selective with your friendships.We also talk about the myth of finding “the one”, the importance of writing South Asian stories into popular culture, as well as Poorna’s debut novel, In Case of Emergency.You can also read Poorna's writing at her recently launched Substack, It's As I Was Saying with Poorna Bell https://poornabell.substack.com/Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 31, 2023 • 55min
Singer Zara Larsson on being in the 'power of wanting to do it for yourself'
Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson joins us on Love Lives to discuss fame and how blogging from a young age in Sweden has helped her feel comfortable speaking her mind and taking ownership of her work in the relentless and unforgiving music industry. Zara speaks about how she collaborates in the studio, how she came to the public's attention at a young age and how one form of transport has stolen her heart. Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 17, 2023 • 42min
Author Megan Nolan: ‘I want to avoid using trauma to excuse all bad behaviour of my characters’
Bestselling author Megan Nolan discusses her book 'Ordinary Human Failings' which explores tabloid culture, addiction, violence, and childhood neglect. She emphasizes the importance of avoiding trauma as an excuse for bad behavior. The podcast also talks about true crime fiction, complexities of romantic love, challenges of dating, and handling bad dates.

Aug 4, 2023 • 37min
Author Lorraine Candy: ‘Perimenopausal rage made me feel I was unravelling’
Journalist, editor and author Lorraine Candy joins us to discuss her latest book, ‘What’s Wrong With Me?’: 101 Things Midlife Women Need to Know.Lorraine talks about a “huge unravelling” she experienced at around 47 years old, when she went through the perimenopause, and how a lack of knowledge about this process made her feel she was “going mad”.We also discuss female rage, older women being sidelined in popular culture, and why the the myth that women can ‘have it all’ is a dangerous one.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 20, 2023 • 47min
Singer Freya Ridings: ‘I was an outcast until I found out I could sing’
Brit-nominated artist Freya Ridings joins us on Love Lives this week to discuss her second album, Blood Orange, the pressure she faced to write new material, and why we love listening to sad music when we’re feeling down.The ‘Lost Without You’ singer reveals how she created the new album, which mixes disco, pop and rock alongside the melancholic, piano-driven ballads she’s known for, and opens up about how she channelled her heartbreak into songwriting from a young age.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 6, 2023 • 39min
Mission Impossible star Hayley Atwell on how she helped create her character
This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by actor Hayley Atwell, to discuss her latest role in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Atwell stars as Grace alongside Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, as the team track down a weapon that threatens humanity.We talk with Hayley about how she collaborated with Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie to build her character, as well as stunt and combat training, and the barriers facing women in Hollywood.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 2023 • 50min
Caroline O’Donoghue: ‘I shouldn’t believe in love at first sight’
This week, we’re delighted to be joined by Sentimental Garbage host and New York Times best-selling author, Caroline O’Donoghue. We discuss her latest book, The Rachel Incident, which follows a young woman’s crush on her professor, and a subsequent plot to seduce him. We loved talking with Caroline about the book, as well as the hidden power of channelling female rage in writing, the Taylor Swift phenomenon, and the best food to boost productivity.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 8, 2023 • 35min
Naoise Dolan: 'It’s rare that fiction doesn’t problematise queer relationships'
“It’s rare that fiction doesn’t problematise queer relationships”...Bestselling author Naoise Dolan joins us this week to discuss her latest novel, The Happy Couple, which follows two people as they approach their wedding day, and the three friends who threaten to draw them apart.Following her hit debut novel, Exciting Times, the Irish author was earmarked by many as the “next Sally Rooney”. We chat with her about how she navigates labels like these, writing queer love stories into the modern literary landscape, and her lifelong love affair with coffee.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 25, 2023 • 24min
SNL, romantic comedies and the Pete Davidson effect - with Curtis Sittenfeld
Hot male celebrities don't date funny, brilliant women unless they look like models - or do they?We’re so excited to kick off our very first season of Love Lives with New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld. The Rodham author joins us to discuss her latest novel, Romantic Comedy, which follows a witty but insecure sketch writer named Sally as she develops “a consuming, imbalance-inducing crush” on hot pop star, Noah.We discuss the phenomenon of “dating up”, the gruelling and intense process behind putting together an episode of Saturday Night Live, and of course, the three loves of Curtis’s life.Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.