DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Daniel Jones, the editor of the New York Times' Modern Love column, who has been curating personal essays on relationships and love for over 16 years. Jones discusses how the column has evolved to encompass diverse perspectives on love, technology's impact on relationships, and emerging social changes such as online dating, same-sex marriage, and discussions around transgender issues.
Jones explains that despite these changes, the innate human need for intimacy and connection remains constant. He delves into the process of selecting essays for the column, valuing vulnerability, truth-telling, and wisdom gained from personal experiences. The episode also explores the column's adaptation into a TV series and the powerful story of a writer overcoming the challenges of bipolar disorder.
Throughout the conversation, Jones emphasizes the importance of generosity, kindness, and being open to love, even in the face of loss or rejection. He believes that exposing oneself to the possibility of future hurt is the path to happiness, and the column serves as a reminder of this optimistic perspective.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Despite changes in technology and social norms, the innate human need for intimacy and connection remains constant.
- Vulnerability, truth-telling, and wisdom gained from personal experiences are valued in the selection of essays for the Modern Love column.
- Love is a primal force that should not be denied or withdrawn from, even in the face of loss or rejection, as it is essential to living a fulfilling life.
- Openness to love and exposing oneself to the possibility of future hurt is the path to happiness.
- The editing process for the Modern Love column often involves deep personal conversations and therapy-like interactions to extract meaningful insights and understandings.
- The column serves as a reminder of the importance of generosity, kindness, and being open to love.
- The "36 questions to fall in love" exercise helps break down barriers and equalize vulnerability in forming connections.
- Stories of individuals facing significant challenges, such as terminal illness or mental health struggles, with grace, generosity, and a lack of self-pity can be particularly inspiring and impactful.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I don't even know if I think of it as an emotion, as a drive. You know, it's a force that I think we deny at our peril. You know, I think some people get burned and lose love in tragic ways and withdraw. And those are always the saddest stories to me, you know, because it really is just sort of denying what life is, to withdraw.“ by Daniel Jones
- “Like, often these things are gimmicks, but this was a gimmick that worked, because what freezes people in place so often is the fear of. Fear of vulnerability and fear of letting themselves be known. And this broke that down with, you know, you never want to be the first person to say, I love you, because then if the other person doesn't say it, you're sort of left hanging.“ by Daniel Jones
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Episode Information
Conduit Conversations
Soho.Live Studios
11/23/20
This episode is part of a new series exploring the role that love plays in inspiring us to face significant challenges, such as living with cancer and mental health struggles. Throughout the series, created in partnership with Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony and Champion Better Lives initiatives, we’ll hear from inspirational speakers from across the globe as they share stories of love in all its guises, from personal relationships to community activism.