Podcast: Modern Love

A lot of things can get in the way of love -- distance, money issues, being in different places in your life. But this week's essayist, Amanda Gefter, writes about facing a very different kind of challenge.

It's read by Logan Browning (Netflix's "Dear White People").

If Meredith Hall had to point to the year that her life changed, she would probably say that it was 1965. She was sixteen that year, and pregnant with a son.

But more than two decades later, in 1987, her life changed again -- and that's the year she writes about in her essay. It's read by Marcia Cross ("Desperate Housewives," "Quantico").

High school love is awkward, nervous -- and often unforgettable. It doesn't usually last. But in this week's essay, Mariclare Lawson writes about a high school love that broke all the rules.

It's read by Amanda Seyfried ("The Art of Racing in the Rain.")

Jessica Walter ("Archer," "Arrested Development") reads an essay by Sophy Burnham about how an unexpected encounter makes her consider how love and desire change with age.

Alana Dakin writes about two different tattoos in her essay "A Tattoo for the Living", which is read by Zosia Mamet ("Tales of the City.")

Zoe Lister-Jones (CBS's "Life in Pieces," "Band-Aid") reads renowned novelist Lily King's story about the silver lining of heartbreak.

Can a tiny dog change the dynamics of a marriage? Zachary Quinto ("NOS4A2") reads Bob Morris's essay.

What do you do when you're struggling to find a romantic relationship as deep as the relationship you have with your best friend? John Cameron Mitchell ("Anthem: Homunculus") reads Ephi Stempler's essay about a man considering a platonic life partnership.

Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong reads a story about a woman's friendship with her doorman. This is an encore presentation.

How have you gotten through your worst breakups? Tinder? New hobbies? Cheap alcohol? Wallowing in Taylor Swift albums?

William Jackson Harper ("The Good Place," "Midsommar") is back to read Mark McDevitt's piece about two breakup buddies.

What does luck mean to you? And how does that change depending on your circumstances? That's what Joyce Maynard writes about in this week's essay. It's read by two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver ("Perpetual Grace, LTD").

When you're dealing with a tragedy, it can feel like you would do anything for an ordinary day. But those ordinary days can come with their own complications. Ginnifer Goodwin ("The Twilight Zone") reads Monica Wesolowska's essay.

When we take stock of the people who matter most to us, there are the spouses, the family members, the best friends, the partners. And then there are the people who aren’t any of those things, but who change our lives anyway.

Emily Raboteau's essay is about one of those people. It's read by Lake Bell ("Bless this Mess.")

Under normal circumstances, trying to find love can be challenging -- and stressful. And for Elizabeth Koster, the pressure was even more intense. Sarah Goldberg (HBO's "Barry") reads Elizabeth's essay.

Love thrives on good communication. It can take many forms -- but what happens when you suddenly lose what was once your primary means of communication? Pedro Pascal ("King Lear," "Game of Thrones") reads Jamison's essay.

What happens when you know you want to marry someone, but you are also are falling in love with someone else? Is there a way for you to have everything?

Sophie Lucido Johnson's essay is read by DeWanda Wise ("She's Gotta Have It").

Interracial relationships come with their own complexities, and there are a lot of questions that come up. Questions like: How does your partner think about race? How do you talk about it? What works, and what doesn't?

Kim McLarin writes about race and dating in her piece, which is read by Lorraine Toussaint ("The Village").

Encore | Sharing The Shame With Anna Chlumsky

When it comes to dating, Amy Cohen says this: "We all need to be reincarnated as an older Jewish man with an apartment on the Upper East Side.” Natasha Lyonne ("Russian Doll") reads Amy's essay about the difference between her 76-year-old father's dating life and her own.

How much can you give of yourself before it’s too much? And what do you do when you reach your limit? Nazanin Boniadi ("Hotel Mumbai") reads Tara Ebrahimi's essay.