Dear Sugars

In this encore "rapid fire" episode, the Sugars give brief answers to a handful of letters. This time, they challenge each other to make the call -- one way or the other -- on the questions they're discussing, rather than offer open-ended guidance. This episode was originally released on September 30, 2016. 

Buzz Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Friday Night Lights, opens up about his debilitating spending addiction, revealing he spent over $600,000 on leather goods. He shares his journey to rehab, discussing the stigma surrounding spending addictions and the misconceptions that trivialize them. Buzz offers practical strategies to resist urges and emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying mental health issues. His insights on leveraging harmed relationships as motivation for recovery resonate deeply, shedding light on a often-minimized struggle.

This episode was originally released on May 25th, 2018. When two women in their sixties start losing interest in sex, their sex-starved partners become increasingly frustrated. Both women blame old age for their waning libidos. But is their diminished sex drive because of age or something else? The erotic lives of senior citizens are typically made invisible by our culture, which can lead to confusion and misinformation. Dr. Pepper Schwartz, the love and relationship columnist for AARP, joins the Sugars to dispel certain myths about sex and aging: Do libidos change after menopause? How does the aging body affect the way we feel about sex? Should medical interventions be considered for a declining sex drive? Dr. Schwartz is a professor of sociology at the University of Washington and has written more than 25 books on love and sexuality. She’s also an on-air expert for Lifetime TV’s “Married at First Sight.” The Sugars Recommend “Our Souls at Night,” by Kent Haruf “Scary Old Sex,” by Arlene Heyman

This episode was originally published on August 11th, 2018. Privilege comes in many forms: socio-economic privilege, gender privilege, heterosexual privilege, to name a few. In this episode, the Sugars reply to two letter writers who are facing different forms of privilege. They discuss with Catrice M. Jackson, a leading voice for racial justice.

Today, we’re sharing a special episode from the new miniseries “The C-Word: Stories of Cancer” from Say More, a podcast from The Boston Globe Opinion. In the first part of this series, host and award-winning columnist Shirley Leung talks for the first time about her breast cancer diagnosis. She opens up about the personal and professional impact of her illness, and why now felt like the right time to tell her story. Follow Say More wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/SayMore?sid=dearsugars

Leslie Bell, a psychotherapist and sociologist, discusses the tug-of-war between love and career aspirations. She offers insights on prioritizing personal goals without sacrificing relationships. The conversation reveals the importance of communication and mutual support in navigating choices, especially for women facing societal pressures. They explore real dilemmas about pursuing career dreams while maintaining connections, highlighting that it's possible to achieve balance and growth in both areas. It's a thought-provoking dive into the complexities of modern relationships.

Discover the groundbreaking approaches of psychedelic therapy as Dr. Hillary McBride guides clients through transformative healing journeys. Hear Donovan's powerful story of confronting childhood trauma and the profound impact of ketamine-assisted sessions. Explore the emotional complexities of navigating trauma, flashbacks, and personal growth. The conversation intertwines lighthearted discussions on fitness with deeper reflections on connection and disconnection, making for a compelling blend of insight and hope.

This episode was originally published on July 28th, 2018. Dear Sugars returned to Portland, Oregon, for an epic live show. Special guests Mitchell S. Jackson and Rebecca Skloot shared the stage with the Sugars to tell stories of personal reckoning and answer letters from the audience. To some extent, every letter the Sugars receive is a kind of reckoning, as it’s often the letter writer’s first attempt at taking account of their mistakes and delusions. In this episode, the Sugars take a long hard look at transgressions of love, friendship, the self and so much more. Mitchell S. Jackson is the author of “The Residue Years,” which won the Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. He is the winner of a Whiting Award, and his honors include fellowships from Ted, the Lannan Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation. His new book, "Survival Math," will be out in 2019. Rebecca Skloot is the author of the No. 1 New York Times best seller “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which was made into an Emmy-nominated HBO film starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne. Her award-winning science writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; and many other publications.

This episode was originally published on March 16th, 2017. The term "ghosting" may be relatively new, but the concept -- someone suddenly and inexplicably disappearing from your life -- is not. In the past, a total halt to communication with a friend might leave you feeling concerned that something bad happened to him/her. But in a time where our devices have made us more accessible than ever, it can leave the person who's been ghosted feeling rejected or unworthy. The Sugars discuss ghosting with the essayist and cartoonist Tim Kreider. He's the author of We Learn Nothing, a collection of essays that includes a story about being ghosted by a childhood friend.

This episode was originally released October 14th, 2016. Divorce is always a painful process, but it's especially so when there are children in the middle. In this favorite episode from the archives, the Sugars discuss situations of parental alienation caused by divorce. They answer letters from a mother and a father whose daughters have cut off all communication with them after taking the other parent's side.