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Dear Sugars

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

A podcast that fields all your questions and offers radical empathy in return. Now Playing: "You Could Make This Beautiful" co-hosted by Maggie Smith & Faith Salie.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes416Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dear Sugars

Latest Episodes

In this first episode of "You Could Make This Beautiful," actor Henry Winkler tells hosts Maggie Smith and Faith Salie about the poetry he's found in everything from fly fishing, to the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda, to the acting performances of the l... more

In this second episode of You Could Make This Beautiful, hosts Maggie Smith and Faith Salie talk to Peter Sagal, host of the NPR news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! about a prophetic reading at his first wedding, the poem that has haunted him ... more

Our miniseries finale features comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet J. Hope Stein talking about the poetry in comedy and the comedy in poetry. The couple co-authored the book "The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad" and occasionally bri... more

We have something really special for you: a sneak preview of a new series we've been working on here at WBUR that we think you, in particular, will love. It's called You Could Make This Beautiful, and if that phrase sounds vaguely familiar, it's beca... 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.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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We Can Do Hard Things
We Can Do Hard ThingsTreat Media and Glennon Doyle

Recent Guests

Henry Winkler
Actor, author, and poet by perspective in this episode
Author; actor
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Henry Winkler & Saeed Jones
Saeed Jones
Poet and author, guest sharing poetry insights
Author, poet
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Henry Winkler & Saeed Jones
Stephanie Burt
Harvard English professor, poetry critic
Harvard University
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Peter Sagal & Stephanie Burt
Mike Birbiglia
Comedian and actor, collaborates with Jenny Stein
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, & Peter Kessler
Jenny Stein (J. Hope Stein)
Poet, co-creator of the book and performances
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, & Peter Kessler
Peter Kessler
Former English teacher; currently at Maudlin College, University of Oxford
Maudlin College, University of Oxford
Episode: You Could Make This Beautiful: Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, & Peter Kessler
Tim Kreider
Writer and essayist; author of We Learn Nothing and forthcoming I Wrote This Book Because I Love You
Author
Episode: Repost: Haunted By Ghosting
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

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
    Japan5 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
    China9 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Repost: Haunted By Ghosting
Q: Right. So in your essay, The Anti-Kreider Club, you wrote about your own ghosting experience. Could you share that story with us?
Tim Kreider recalls a long friendship from childhood that suddenly disappeared; years later, at a mutual funeral, they reconnect briefly, share beers, and discuss what happened, realizing there was no good, clean explanation, only a transition to a different phase of life. The moment frames ghosting as a human pattern rather than a simple betrayal, illustrating how time and circumstance can erode even deep connections.
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.

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. Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch
5. We Can Do Hard Things

How many episodes of Dear Sugars are there?

Dear Sugars launched 12 years ago and published 416 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. Henry Winkler
2. Saeed Jones
3. Stephanie Burt
4. Mike Birbiglia
5. Jenny Stein (J. Hope Stein)
6. Peter Kessler
7. Tim Kreider
8. Pam Houston

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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