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Artwork for Dear Sugars

Dear Sugars

WBUR
Relationships
Mental Health
Love
Divorce
Parenting
Communication In Relationships
Intimacy
Trauma
Communication
Marriage
Psychedelic Therapy
Family Dynamics
Love and Relationships
Childhood Trauma
Romance
Friendship
Spending Addictions
Love and Money
Emotional Intelligence
Aging

A podcast that fields all your questions and offers radical empathy in return.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes412Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dear Sugars

Latest Episodes

This episode was originally published on March 16th, 2017.

The term "ghosting" isn't a new concept anymore—the idea that someone suddenly and inexplicably disappears from your life. In the past, a total halt to communication with a friend might leav... more

From our archives—this episode originally aired on April 10th, 2017.

Location, location, location. It makes all the difference in real estate, and it can make all the difference to one's happiness. But finding a place that really feels like home can... more

This episode was originally published on March 3, 2017.

"Whatever"— that's how the actress Maria Bello describes her sexual orientation. Her "love who you love" attitude toward sexuality, regardless of gender, is often referred to as fluidity.

Mari... more

This episode was originally published on March 22nd, 2017.

You wants kids; your partner doesn't. Or your partner wants kids, and you don't. Whatever the scenario, few subjects are as emotionally charged and potentially deal-breaking in a relationshi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Love Letters
Love LettersThe Boston Globe
Modern Love
Modern LoveThe New York Times
Death, Sex & Money
Death, Sex & MoneySlate Podcasts
Thanks For Asking
Thanks For AskingFeelings & Co.

Recent Guests

Pam Houston
Author known for Cowboys Are My Weakness and The Ranch, a love story
Author
Episode: Rewind: Location, Location, Location
Maria Bello
Actress and activist
Maria Bello/ Whatever Love Is Love
Episode: Rewind: Sexual Fluidity
Danielle Herzog
Freelance writer who contributed to parenting.com
KIOS in Omaha, Nebraska
Episode: Rewind: Baby or Bust
Pepper Schwartz
Professor of sociology; author on love and sexuality
University of Washington
Episode: Repost: Sex & Aging
Leslie Bell
Sociologist and psychotherapist, author of Hard to Get
Episode: Rewind: Career Vs. Love
Gemma Hartley
Journalist and author of the viral article on emotional labor titled Women Aren't Nags, We're Just Fed Up
Harper's Bazaar
Episode: Rewind: Emotional Labor
Dr. Pepper Schwartz
Professor of sociology at the University of Washington and writer on love and sexuality.
AARP
Episode: Redux: Sex & Aging
Head or Heart
A listener seeking advice on navigating her relationship
Episode: Episodes We Love: Do I Follow My Head Or My Heart?
India Arie
Grammy-winning musician who discusses her journey of self-discovery and empowerment
Independent musician
Episode: Rewind: How Do I Find The Courage To Be My Own Guide?

Hosts

Steve Almond
Host of the show; long-running figure associated with the relationship-advice format.
Cheryl Strayed
Co-host and guiding voice, central to the show's empathetic approach.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 8k ratings
  • 🧡

    It’s an amazing broadcast!!!’!’!’

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Liwen xiaoo
    Japan4 months ago
  • 咋听不了了

    为啥加载不出来啊其他的都可以就这个不行。

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    n h g v g h h h j
    China8 months ago
  • 💕❤️

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Sylvia
    a year ago
  • Been loving this podcast!

    Great insights and perspectives. There is so much empathy and compassion in each episode, definitely worth listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lucy M.P
    United Statesa year ago
  • Listener for years

    I’ve loved this podcast for years! These two have taught me so much about empathy. I still listen to old episodes from time to time, but I’m still hoping there might be a possibility for a new season.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Catrina 315
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes the conversations feel practical and life-changing.
Listeners praise the hosts' empathy and nonjudgmental tone.
Fans appreciate real stories, expert input, and the supportive, hopeful guidance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#47
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#169
Hong Kong/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#183
China/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rewind: Location, Location, Location
Q: How should a couple handle conflicting desires about where to live when one partner has depression and other career needs?
The hosts advise a collaborative, data-driven approach: make neutral lists of fears and benefits for staying or moving, have honest conversations, and consider external supports like therapy to navigate the decision.
Rewind: Location, Location, Location
Q: Where do you consider home, and how did you decide to settle where you are?
Pam explains her journey from New Jersey to Colorado and her ranch near the Rockies as the place that felt like home, emphasizing the sky, light, and a deep sense of belonging that developed over years.
Rewind: Make the Call
Q: What do I do about the fact that I feel like my values are now being compromised?
Cheryl suggested the person should consider breaking up with her boyfriend, emphasizing the importance of sexual intimacy in a relationship and the need to communicate those needs.
Rewind: Buyer's Remorse
Q: What did you learn in rehab?
I learned to address the root causes of my addiction, which stemmed from sexual repression and personal anxiety.
Rewind: Buyer's Remorse
Q: Can you point to the moment where you realized you needed to address it, get into rehab?
It happened in 2014 when I began to abuse myself physically and realized I was going down a dangerous path that needed more than weekly therapy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Dear Sugars

What is Dear Sugars about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A compassionate relationship-advice show with letters from listeners that centers empathy, practical guidance, and personal growth. Topics span love, sex, money, parenting, body image, mental health, and aging, often featuring expert perspectives and real-life stories. The tone is warm, nonjudgmental, and grounded in relational science and lived experience, making it a reliable resource for couples, singles, and parents navigating difficult conversations and evolving identities. Noteworthy is the steady pairing of two hosts who blend validation with actionable steps, creating a safe space for sensitive subjects and difficult choices that still feel hopeful and solvable.

Where can I find podcast stats for Dear Sugars?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Dear Sugars. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Dear Sugars and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Dear Sugars get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Dear Sugars, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Dear Sugars?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Dear Sugars, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Dear Sugars have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Dear Sugars has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Dear Sugars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Dear Sugars:

1. Love Letters
2. Modern Love
3. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
4. Death, Sex & Money
5. Thanks For Asking

How many episodes of Dear Sugars are there?

Dear Sugars launched 12 years ago and published 412 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Dear Sugars?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Dear Sugars?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Dear Sugars from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Dear Sugars?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Dear Sugars. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Dear Sugars?

Recent guests on Dear Sugars include:

1. Pam Houston
2. Maria Bello
3. Danielle Herzog
4. Pepper Schwartz
5. Leslie Bell
6. Gemma Hartley
7. Dr. Pepper Schwartz
8. Head or Heart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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