Forever is a Long Time

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When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced: parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles on both sides — some of them twice. Today, he has questions: What is the value of a lifetime commitment? Are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behavior we get from our ancestors? Are we all just better off alone? Forever is a Long Time is a five episode series that weaves reflection and original music through Ian’s conversations with his wife and divorced family members — a look at love with people who have made mistakes.

Ian Coss


    • Nov 18, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 8 EPISODES
    • 1 SEASONS


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    Latest episodes from Forever is a Long Time

    Forever is a Long Time -- LIVE

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 1:16


    I'm doing a live show based on this series — complete with visuals, music and sound design. I'll be in New York and Boston, details and ticket links below: Dec 8th @ 6:30 PM, The PRX Podcast Garage in Allston, MA https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forever-is-a-long-time-with-ian-coss-tickets-465291939717 Dec 14th @ 7:00 PM, The Green Space at WNYC https://thegreenespace.org/event/forever-is-a-long-time/

    My next podcast...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 6:09


    Hear a taste of my next audio project, it's about as different as possible from this one.

    Part 5: Aunt Rari

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 32:10


    My aunt Rari divorced her husband so completely and so long ago that I don't even know the man's name. She tells me that story and about the life she built without him. It makes me contemplate the value of a life spent alone — but also of lifelong companionship.

    Part 4: Uncle Eric

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 29:35


    Most divorces in my family bring some sense of relief. It may take three years to get there, or it may take thirty years, but once it's over, it feels pretty clear that this is for the best. But it's not so clear for my Uncle Eric's relationship.

    Part 3: Aunt Mia and Uncle Paul

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 32:04


    The idea of a lifetime commitment can feel impossible, when it can still fall apart in year 20, or year 30, or 35. My own parents' marriage never made it that far, but some of my aunts and uncles did, only to find that after all those years, they too were better off apart.

    Part 2: My Grandmother, Marianne

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 35:28


    My grandmother never sent presents for birthdays or holidays, and didn't expect us to either. She seemed to resist anything that felt like authority, convention and tradition; which is why it's so strange that she was once married to my grandfather — a Harvard-educated lawyer.

    Part 1: My Parents, Ellen and Tom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 31:50


    My parents divorced when I was eight years old — young enough that I don't have a lot of clear memories of it, but old enough that I was definitely watching, listening, and learning. So I asked them both to tell me what happened, and got two pretty different stories. 

    Trailer: "Forever is a Long Time"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 3:30


    When I decided to get married, every living member of my family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced. Apparently, I thought my marriage would end differently.

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