I've been a loyal listener for years, but I'm disappointed that it's now behind a paywall without offering anything new in return.

I really do not like the new format. I’ve been a loyal listener for 8-9 years. I tune in weekly to listen to someone read a beautifully written story about their experiences with love, whether about a family, friend, romantic partner, pet or someone else. I think for most of us, we tune in to listen to the stories, not Anna doing interviews. On a side note, Anna doesn’t feel like a neutral host and she approaches each interviewee with an agenda of what she wants them to say instead of letting the interviewees say what they want to say. Overall, very disappointed with the new direction of the show.

I have loved Modern Love for years as both a reader of the column and a subscriber to the podcast. The new format is terrible. I found myself losing interest by 5 min in for all of the new episodes. Put the focus back on the essays! Let the beautiful writing speak for itself. You have really gutted the heart and core of the show!

$6 a month for one podcast? New York Times, get a grip. This is one of the best produced shows out there, it is great, id be happy to help the show but this is not realistic and as people’s subscription costs sky rocket with paywalls for everything I have to protest with the one thing thing I can, a review. You have ads, you have sponsors, you make money- this is greedy. Do better

The stories and interviews warm my heart, and some bring (good) tears to my eyes.

Call me a hopeless romantic

Modern Love was my favorite podcast for years. Last year, I even went back and listened to every episode from the last five years. I can’t say I enjoy this new format though. The show is a shell of what it used to be. I came here for the love stories but now all I get is conversations with pseudo-famous people marketing their book/poetry/music/etc that loosely relates to modern love.

There is only 1 episode that you don’t have to be a subscriber for.

Folks, Gen X is cutting back on sex just like everyone else. And please stop perpetuating the myth of the horny middle-aged woman because it's total nonsense. Women mostly stop having sex around 40. Sex is a drive that is meant to die as we age and that's fine.

I love this podcast!!

I have really tried to like the new format but I cannot. It’s not about the stories any more. It’s more of a talk show with the story as the background. I really miss the old format of the show. The new hosts asks insightful questions and that’s nice. However, I miss hearing the stories read by actors giving life to the essays and then getting background or updates from the author.

I believed in love because of this podcast

As a long time listener, I was surprised to see the drastic change in the shows format. Less about the story per se and more interviews with the writer and sometimes the episode reader!? I was patient and figured it would grow on me. But after months of listening to this disjointed series,I gave up and unfollowed. I recently listened to the newer episodes hoping things had changed …but in vain. The new format just kills the original vibe of this awesome series. Please read the reviews of your long time listeners and bring about some needed change!

We can also use more honest and open conversations about all types and aspects of love in our lives. 10/10!

I used to love the old format with Meghna Chakrabarti who is a professional of high caliber and real actors reading the stories. Now it’s a talk-soup of no literary value. Why would anyone think that is a good approach? For those listeners who are new, go back to the early shows. You’ll see the radical differences.

I unsubscribed last year but was missing hearing the essays so I checked to see if they had brought back reading the whole essays. Nope. Don’t waste your time with the podcast. It’s awful.

Really garbage

I am a longtime fan and I love the podcast, especially this latest one “ if you want this kind of love…” even when the situation does not apply to me at all (I’m an older widow), I find your stories fascinating. You always ask the best questions of your guests and is always something to learn from the story that is very special. Keep up the good work!

Can’t believe you had an antisemite on the March 6, 2025 episode. Also, I am completely confused listening to the podcasts now that they changed to this weird format. It’s completely disjointed and chaotic. I have no idea what they are talking about anymore. Why aren’t they reading the entire essay. I don’t understand the little bits and pieces.

Thank you with all my heart for what you put out into the world Anna, you are the most soothing, reassuring, empathetic and positive person I can imagine. After several years of struggling with wild relationships in Paris, you help me get through it, make me feel safe and hopeful. I feel like I’m sitting with my bestie when I listen

Way to trash this podcast. Didn’t have ‘glorifying terrorism supporters’ on my bucket list for this podcast, but anything associated with the NYT’s these days reeks of hate. Buh bye!

Not including the stories themselves is a big miss. It would be great to have the authors read their stories then interview about them. Alas, with the format as it currently is, I’m unsubscribing after over 7 years of listening.

I love, LOVE Modern love. Great interviews, great selection of stories, great audio production and most importantly- perfect coverage of all the types of love. We all need more love in our modern lives.

I love this podcast, these stories, but most of all Anna Martin’s incredibly graceful, empathetic and just lovely energy as she facilitates each story. She has a gift for bringing light and love to some very challenging experiences, and absolutely makes this podcast what it is for me. Anna, you’re magic! Thank you for all the team’s hard work!

Brought me to tears.

Brilliant show! Love all the Modern Love essays and formats. This is one of the best programs out there. Please make the archives available to everyone. I am an NYT member, but not everybody can afford to be. Please make the archives available so all folks can find solace in these stories. The careful and thoughtful choice to feature each, and every essay, the brilliant conversations about the essay, the amazing themes challenges, and life choices that are explored, each perspective brings a new point of view, refracting like a kaleidoscope. I look forward to each episode.

The disappointment in this show continues to grow. Now we have to subscribe to listen to previous shows. Sad!! This show is raking the bottom.

I used to love the Modern Love podcast. It has changed so much to a lot of talk to the point I just want to fast forward to the reading of the stories. I don’t even listen anymore because of the change. Can you please bring back the old Modern Love format?

There are few good story telling podcasts, but this was one of them before the format changed. Every time the format is updated it gets worse. It previously was a simple formula; an actor read an essay, that was so pleasant and emotional to listen to. No one here wanted to listen to interviews, we just want to listen to stories.

This used to be my favorite podcast but ever since the format changed I don’t even listen. Bring back essays read by actors!

I am incredibly disappointed in the decay of the Modern Love Podcast. The traditional format featuring enlightening and meaningful essays about love and life has devolved into aerated interviews with a sprinkle of story. Not only is the literature and acting gone from this podcast, but all of the meaning episodes are jailed behind a paywall. Is this the direction of our modern love? A reality where all remnants of raw humanness is replaced with paywall-chained, impersonal, meaningless, faux-connection?? A reality that leeches off of our authenticity, our connectedness, our soul, turning them into ill gotten gains. Technology is an enormous power; we need to use it for good. New York Times- do better.

I loved the old format of Modern Love. Now - no essay and no interest.

Stories are much more interesting to listen to than interviews.

I don’t know why NYT would change such a fabulous podcast to what this is now?? We don’t get to hear the original essay but instead it’s an interview with the author?? And the paywall??! One of my favorite podcasts is officially ruined please bring back the old format and Meghna!!

Is the New York Times doing so badly that they have to put everything behind a paywall? Almost no podcasts restrict access this much and it’s not going to result in me paying, it’s going to make me not listen.

The older episodes are amazing. Now you can’t listen to more than 20 minutes 3 times a year oh and now you have to pay for most of the episodes…? Way to ruin something great. SKIP!

I’ve tried and cannot appreciate the new host and format. The essay is the point and not interviewing actors. I’m trying to get used to the new format. I liked the original format which kept the podcast to the essence of the story read by various readers. Now sometimes the story isn’t even read! And I love the interviews with the authors, which are now replaced by celebrity interviews with a giggly Anna Martin, which are not enjoyable. And so many commercials now and a paywall! I’m already a Times subscriber but I’m just about ready to opt out of Modern Love. Bring back Meghna!

First time listener-came to listen to the Bridget Everette episode & LOVED it! I feel the same way she does about prioritizing friendships & could totally relate. Just love her & her series Somebody Somewhere!!

Still listen occasionally but the show has lost the charming simplicity that made it great. Now it is often confusing and the essays no longer feel central.

Please for the love of god read the freaking essay. I hate sitting through 20 mins of an episode having to wonder if an essay will even get read when that should be a requirement.

I’ve been a long time listener. The current show is only tangentially related the column. The Andrew Garfield episode, where he talked/cried over the essay, convinced me to unsubscribe.

I guess NYTimes wants listeners to instead read their stories and get subscriptions but we already pay for the content! Just read the stories first and then have your discussions! How are we supposed to know what the story is about without listening to it first and not everyone has the time to read the full assay. That’s why this podcast existed in the first place.

Why not just read the stories?

I listened to the episode w Andrew Garfield once and then immediately listened to it again for a second time. The chemistry and vulnerability. So fun. So good. One of my top 5 fave podcast episodes ever now

The

Love the podcast for the actual modern love stories, but all the chit chat on either end of the story is so dull. I’m here for the story, not the interview that Anna does or the review the editor does at the end. Get rid of the fat and keep the meat!

I used to love this show. I don’t even recognize it anymore.

Rooting for Anna & Andrew, the chemistry was too strong to ignore💪

Wow, this brought me so much peace, clarity and so much more to think about an explore. This conversation needs to be studied.

Bring back the regular people!