Lifestyle

Tiny Love Stories: ‘Sex Is Just Sex’

Published

7 months ago

May 8, 2025

Before ‘Polyamory’ Was in Vogue

Veronica’s prom date wanted to marry her, but I was her preference. Our honeymoon was nice but not exciting. After joining the Navy, I left on a six-month cruise of the Mediterranean. While I was away, Veronica’s old flame visited, reawakening affection. Sensing her need, he seduced her and gave her the intense pleasure I hadn’t. In the months and years to come, we realized that, in many cases, sex is just sex. We built a caring marriage by accommodating our sexual incompatibility with other partners, long before “polyamory” was in vogue. — Walter Dombrowski

Souls on Social Media

A 21-year-old man posted on social media: “Men have souls. Women don’t. Do you understand?” I didn’t, and I expressed my disagreement gently. In messages, he revealed his handle was a pseudonym. After a bad breakup, he’d allied with misogynists on the site; anonymity made that easy. We shared stories from our lives. The unexpectedly warm exchange, he said, was jolting him back into himself. He wanted to leave the social platform and heal. Days later, his account was gone. Now I wonder: How are you, kid? Do you think about my soul, as I think about yours? — Pamela Rafalow Grossman

Mom’s Favorites

I reached into a green bucket at the farmers’ market and grabbed a bunch of sweet-smelling lilacs to bring to my mother for Mother’s Day. I’d surprise her since she was under the weather. She greeted me in obvious pain, but half-smiled and said: “These are my favorites. How did you know?” All these years, I had no idea. My mother died unexpectedly a few weeks later. In my devastating grief, I attempted a word puzzle, her favorite pastime. That day the answer was five letters, L-I-L-A-C. I believe she was sharing the blooms with me. — Elana Rabinowitz

Devoted Detours

He suggests we skip the Napa trip, the one with the nonrefundable Airbnb. He searches “hikes with restrooms near me,” then swipes away photos from a far-fetched ski retreat. We shop for Gatorade and Jell-O before my semiannual colonoscopies. He makes me a broth that I’ll barely touch and hangs over my shoulder as we scour clinical studies. I’m grateful that he lets me be sick but never makes me feel like a sick person. I love him for all the times he’s rerouted to a gas station bathroom for me. All the times he’s rerouted his life for me. — Preeti Talwai

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Lifestyle

Here are the 2026 Golden Globe nominations

Published

13 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

Here are the 2026 Golden Globe nominations : NPR

Here are the 2026 Golden Globe nominations Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall presented the nominees for the 83rd Golden Globes this morning. The awards ceremony will be held on Jan. 11, hosted by Nikki Glaser.

December 8, 20258:12 AM ET

YouTube

Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall presented the nominees for the 83rd Golden Globes this morning. You can watch the announcement above.

The Golden Globes awards ceremony will be held on Jan. 11, hosted by Nikki Glaser.

Brittany Snow as Nina Jarvis and Claire Danes as Aggie Wiggs in The Beast in Me.

Lifestyle

What Should a 21st Century Mechanical Watch Look Like?

Published

1 hour ago

December 8, 2025

Press Room

What Should a 21st Century Mechanical Watch Look Like?

Perhaps more like a screen. A decade after Apple Watch, industrial design legend Marc Newson returns to watchmaking to partner with Ressence, the Belgian startup known for its dome-like crystal designs. Newson aims to challenge a watchmaking industry that’s become obsessed with technical innovation at the expense of design.

Lifestyle

Sunday Puzzle: Swapped first and last letters

Published

12 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Press Room

Sunday Puzzle: Swapped first and last letters

On-air challenge

I’m going to give give you clues for two words. Switch the first and last letters of the answer to the first clue to get the answer to the second. (Ex. Nutmeg or ginger / Long, heroic poems –> SPICE & EPICS)

1. Make a grand speech / Muse of love poetry
2. What a skull and crossbones signifies / Wandered around

3. Words to a song / Saint for whom the Russian alphabet is named

4. Yell / Amounts equal to ten $100 bills

5. Assignments for delivery drivers / Former Supreme Court Justice David ______

6. Small bag with a shoulder strap / Some gate fasteners

Last week’s challenge

Last week’s challenge came from Al Gori, of Cozy Lake, N.J. Name a place where games are played. Move the last two letters to the beginning. Change the new last letter to an “H.” The result, sadly, is what you might have when you leave this place.

Challenge answer

Casino, no cash

Winner

Mike Rombach of Pleasanton, California.

This week’s challenge

This week’s challenge comes from Mike Reiss, who’s a showrunner, writer, and producer for “The Simpsons.” Think of a famous living singer. The last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last name spell a bird. Change the first letter of the singer’s first name. Then the first three letters of that first name and the last five letters of his last name together spell another bird. What singer is this?

If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it below by Thursday, December 11 at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle.