Love Lives

Millennial Love is getting a makeover!We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Love Lives, The Independent’s brand new lifestyle podcast. We’ve got an incredible lineup of guests – from screenwriters and authors, to musicians and actors – so keep an eye out for new episodes every other Friday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Acast, as well as Independent TV and all major social media platforms. More soon – watch this space.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Millennial Love, we’re joined by author Louise O’Neill to discuss her latest novel, Idol.Idol is about Samantha, a hugely successful wellness influencer who, determined to speak her truth, writes an essay about a sexual experience she had as a teenager with her then best friend, Lisa. But it backfires when Lisa gets back in touch and says that her memory of the night is far darker than Samantha’s.We chat with Louise about the Me Too movement, whether one person’s “truth” negates the other’s, and how wealth, power, and race play into who we choose to believe. Check out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Millennial Love, we’re joined by bestselling authors Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan to discuss their new novel Mad Honey.We talk about the process of writing a book collaboratively, some of the questions the book raises around gender identity, and how our past shapes our future selves.We also discuss treating narratives about domestic abuse with sensitivity and care, how trans issues have become hijacked by a toxic political debate, and why it’s more important than ever to educate cisgender people about the struggles faced by their transgender cousins.Check out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Millennial Love, we chat with adult film director and performer Vex Ashley.Vex is the founder of Four Chambers, an alternative, creative, female-centric porn platform that explores sex away from the mainstream “tube sites” that saturate the industry.Vex challenges the misconception that sex work is exploitative and argues that, through a creative and collaborative process with performers, pornography can be a medium for artistic expression.Check out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by celebrity psychic Chris Riley who explains what a psychic reading could mean for your love life.Having first experienced psychic abilities when he encountered his grandad’s spirit as a child, Chris now helps people with everything from their relationships and careers, to communicating with loved ones after they pass.We talk with Chris about why some may choose to seek guidance from a psychic or medium rather than a conventional therapist and how this can help people with their romantic relationships.Chris shares his own psychic predictions and even gives Millennial Love’s own Olivia Petter a reading on her love life.Check out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Trigger warning: This episode contains themes of rape, sexual assault and sexual violence which some viewers may find upsetting*This week on Millennial Love we chat with Soma Sara, author and founder of Everyone’s Invited, an anti-rape movement that focuses on exposing rape culture by allowing survivors to share their own experiences of misogyny, harassment and sexual assault.We discuss how experiences of sexual harassment at school can shape our attitudes towards sex and how widespread slut shaming, victim blaming and policing of girls’ uniforms internalises harmful myths about sex and sexuality.Soma’s book, Everyone’s Invited, is out now.If you or someone you know has been affected by child sexual abuse, call Childline on their helpline at 0800 1111The Victim Support helpline provides emotional and practical help to victims or witnesses of any crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police. Phone: 0808 16 89 111 (24/7)Check out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by actor, writer, and stand-up comedian Jack Barry who discusses sex and comedy, and how he avoids joking about certain topics due to his privilege as a straight white man. Jack opens up about being in a non-monogamous relationship, debunks some of the myths around polyamoury, and argues that, with proper communication, being polyamorous can strengthen a relationship. We also discuss the darker side of comedy, and how abuse and harassment are still rife on the circuit for a lot of female comics.You can watch this episode and more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/millennial-loveCheck out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Millennial Love, we’re thrilled to be joined by writer, journalist and creator of the iconic @beam_me_up_softboi Instagram account, Iona David.Iona unpacks what it means to be a softboi, how to spot one, and why we should be wary of dating them. She also recounts her own dating experiences which, yes, might have included one or two softbois…Iona’s book, Is This Love Or Dopamine?: A Deeply Unofficial Study of Dating in the Digital Age, is out now.You can watch this episode and more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/millennial-loveCheck out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a brand new season of Millennial Love! We're thrilled to be joined by author and Love Island star Amber Rose Gill to discuss finding a holiday romance and whether a summer fling can lead to lasting love. Amber opens up about her viral Tweet where she discussed “switching teams”, and how heteronormative society places unfair pressure on LGBTQ+ people to come out. And of course, we chat about all things Love Island, how Amber is finding life after the villa, and whether it’s possible to find true love on the show.Amber’s novel, Until I Met You, is out now.You can watch this episode and more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/millennial-loveCheck out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're joined by the brilliant author and actor Rebecca Humphries to discuss her memoir, Why Did You Stay? A memoir about self-worth. The book details what happened after Rebecca's boyfriend was caught kissing his Strictly Come Dancing partner and how she later reclaimed the narrative, posting a powerful statement about gaslighting on social media that swiftly went viral. In this episode, Rebecca talks about how she found her voice, why emotional abuse is so complicated, and the truth about men who call women 'mental'. We also discuss love bombing, female rage, and Rebecca's night out with a disappearing softboi. Enjoy the show but please bear in mind that some of the themes of this week's episode some may find upsetting.You can also watch this episode on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/rebecca-humphries-gaslighting-love-b2124176.htmlIf you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast, you can find support at www.womensaid.org.ukCheck out Millennial Love on all major podcast platforms and Independent TV, and keep up to date @Millennial_Love on Instagram and TikTok.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.