Dear Sugars Podcast Speaks Straight Into Your Ear

This is my absolute favorite podcast and if you haven’t listened it to it until reading this post then … you’re welcome ;).

Steve Almond and Cheryl Strayed, author of the hit memoir Wild, co-host and provide "radical empathy” to the “lost, lonely, and heartsick.” The two hosts read listener letters that address all of life’s difficult issues like grieving, infidelity, finances, weight struggles, chronic illness, parenting and everything in between.

A new episode of Dear Sugars was like a sweet little sugar cube of a gift dropped onto my phone each week and I was so sorry that it recently ended. I have tried to extend the doses of warm and thoughtful words responses Steve and Cheryl gave by reading Cheryl’s book Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar. Since Strayed started by writing responses to an online advice column as “Sugar,” this book is a collection of letters and her tough love answers. In both the podcast and the book, Cheryl also includes stories from her own life and struggles. The sharing she does helps you to feel closer to the writer and podcast host , which is another reason why I loved the series.

Cheryl and Steve provide balance in their responses. Steve always makes a reference to literature and usually reads a literary excerpt to frame his responses. Cheryl is vivacious with an “all-in” approach to life and this shines through when she speaks to the letter writers.

The reason I love this podcast so much is because the writers bare-all in their letters, they expose their flaws, they talk about those parts of life that are sometimes embarrassing and always hard - and they do so beautifully. I love that Steve and Cheryl are so caring and kind and that they will tackle any issue but that they also are completely honest and, between the two of them, really analyze issues from all perspectives and do not give advice lightly. It is clear that they have read and re-read the letters, had discussions, done research and, when they feel it’s necessary, they call in other experts to weigh in.

Here are a few of the podcasts that I would recommend to start with but I truly think that every episode is something special and a more than worthwhile listen. You will feel more connected to humanity and realize that you are not alone in your struggles. It reminds us that life is hard but that sometimes the only way out is through. We need to do the hard work, get the support and self-reflect to make even the most excruciating pain somewhat manageable.

Trust Your Body - discussion of weight and cycles of dieting and binge-eating

There’s Just One Thing - Sugars give advice to women dating who are great “but there’s just one thing…”

On Sexless Relationships 1 and On Sexless Relationships 2 with couples/sex therapist Esther Perel

When Sexual Consent is Neither Black or White

A Spy in the House of Love - spying: a place in a relationship where a partner suffers with addiction ?