The Breakup Monologues with Rosie Wilby

In a live episode recorded at Jersey Festival of Words, Rosie chats to author Cathy Rentzenbrink about murderous menopausal thoughts, HRT, marriage, staying friends with an ex, weddings going wrong, how to feel better when times are hard, the healing powers of humour, curiosity, carbs, daylight, words and cold water, cosmic insignificance theory, the meditations of Roman emporer Marcus Aurelius and much more. Recorded at Jersey Festival of Words on 28 September 2024. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Cathy on Instagram @catrentzenbrink Follow Jersey Festival of Words on Instagram @jerseyfestivalofwords

In a live episode recorded at Hoxton Hall, Rosie chats to comedian Jen Ives and writer / performer Emma Frankland about whether we'd go and see an ex doing a show all about their exes, actively choosing to stay in relationships (or not), growing up during the Section 28 years and not having access to information about trans identities, writing for Hollyoaks and much more. We also hear a fantastic audience contribution about a platonic relationship breakup from Tamara Micner. This episode was the second half of a live double bill. You may want to listen to our previous episode to hear Josi's poem, which we refer to a number of times. Recorded at Hoxton Hall, as part of Hackney Pride 365's Trans Awareness Week season, on 17 November 2023. With thanks to Hackney Pride 365 and to ELOP. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Jen on Instagram @imjenives Follow Emma on Instagram @notyetarobot Follow Tamara on Instagram @tamarafm

In a live episode recorded at Hoxton Hall, Rosie chats to comedian Cerys Bradley and broadcaster Shivani Dave about weddings, coming out as nonbinary, when to advise a friend to break up with their partner and the best chocolate treats to turn to after a heartbreak. We also hear some fantastic audience contributions from poet Josi and writer Katie Hall. Recorded at Hoxton Hall, as part of Hackney Pride 365's Trans Awareness Week season, on 17 November 2023. With thanks to Hackney Pride 365 and to ELOP. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Cerys on Instagram @hashtagcerys Follow Shiv on Instagram @shivscamp Follow Katie on Instagram @katiemargarethall

In a live episode recorded at The Exhibit in Balham, Rosie chats to comedians Mary O'Connell, Hajar J. Woodland and Sharlin Jahan about the healing power of comedy, Tig Notaro, bisexuality, getting divorced in your twenties then going to LA and hitting on John Mayer, growing up Muslim, arranged marriages, sex ed lessons, giving yourself permission to cry and whether or not Sainsbury's is the best supermarket for cruising. Recorded at Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival on 4 November 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Hoxton Hall on 17 November as part of Hackney Pride's celebrations of Trans Awareness Week: https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/event/112321/ Follow Mary on Instagram @marywiththegoldshoes Follow Hajar on Instagram @hajarjwoodland Follow Sharlin on Instagram @sharlincomedy

In a live episode recorded at Margate Bookie, Rosie chats to authors Lucy Vine and Olivia Petter plus comedian Zahra Barri about whether we all have seven archetypes of ex - the first love, the work mistake, the friend with benefits, the overlap, the missed chance, the bastard and the serious one, dating app culture, whether marriages should expire after a certain duration, whether there should be a lower age limit (of around 35 or 40!) of when you can marry, writing as catharsis, staying accountable for our part in a breakup, doing the emotional housework in a relationship, losing ourselves in relationships, whether to stop drinking after a breakup and much more.  Recorded at Margate Bookie on 22 October 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Hoxton Hall on 17 November as part of Hackney Pride's celebrations of Trans Awareness Week: https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/event/112321/ Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucyvineauthor  Follow Olivia Instagram @oliviapetter  Follow Zahra on Instagram @zahra.barri.comedy  Follow Margate Bookie on Instagram @margatebookie    With additional thanks to our friend Vix Leyton, who you can follow @vixleyton 

In a live episode recorded at The Bullingdon as part of IF Oxford, Rosie chats to anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar and author Max Dickins about friendship - why why we need friends, how many friends we can have, friendship breakups, the ambiguous language of friendship, the When Harry Met Sally (or when Sally met Sally) question, Jane Austen's observations on relationships, whether a close romantic friendship could ever count as ‘cheating', the differences between (straight) male and female friendships and the experience of people with identities beyond those binaries.  Recorded at The Bullingdon as part of IF Oxford on 17 October 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Margate Bookie on 22 October and Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London on 4 November:    https://www.dreamland.co.uk/event/live-podcast-the-breakup-monologues/   https://www.streathamspaceproject.co.uk/whats-on-calendar/cheerfulearful-4nov23 Robin's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Friends-Understanding-Power-Important-Relationships/dp/0349143579/   Max's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1838853545/

In a live episode recorded at The Bill Murray, Rosie chats to comedians Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath about first loves, writing a revenge novel, finding a suspicious condom in your partner's bin, living in a house with your ex, polygamy, Njambi's great great grandmother's seven wives, sex party rules, the myth of ‘exclusive' dating apps, the challenges of having sex when you have kids and much much more. Recorded at The Bill Murray on 24 September 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at IF Oxford on 17 October: http://if-oxford.com/event/the-breakup-monologues-friendship Margate Bookie on 22 October: https://www.margatebookie.com/the-breakup-monologues and Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London on 4 November: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/events/the-breakup-monologues Follow Ria on Twitter / Instagram @rialina_ Follow James on Twitter / Instagram @imjamesbarr Follow Njambi on Twitter / Instagram @NjambiMcgrath

In a live episode recorded at Green Man festival, Rosie chats to Vagina Museum founder Florence Schechter and writer Harriet Gibsone about breaking up at a festival, stalking your ex through their Spotify playlists, how social media fuels nostalgia, kissing boys at scout camp, meeting first loves on MSN Messenger, attachment styles, the cultural history of sleeping in separate beds (as a sign of affluence) and being dumped via Grazia magazine.    Recorded at Green Man festival on 20 August 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/   Follow Flo on Twitter @floschechter Follow Harriet on Twitter @harrietgibsone 

In a live episode recorded at Norwich Arts Centre, Rosie chats to poets Lewis Buxton and James McDermott plus musician Jess Morgan about the challenges of writing poetry about exes, ghosting on the central line, having a best friend steal your girlfriend, dating someone who likes to dress up as a dalek, school crushes, teenage awkwardness, the etiquette of cinema dates, the downsides of dating a cyclist, sexual roles and much much more.    Recorded at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/    Follow Lewis on Twitter @LewisBuxton93 Follow James on Twitter @jamesliammcd Follow Jess on Insta @jessmorgface 

In a live episode recorded at Norwich Arts Centre, Rosie chats to musician / comedian Grace Petrie and writer / performer Molly Naylor about ego and rejection, the challenge of writing good songs when you're happy, crushes on straight girls, being ‘pre-dumped', role models, bisexuality, butch identities, gender nonconformity, dogging and much much more.  Recorded at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/  Follow Grace on Twitter @gracepetrie Follow Molly on Twitter @mollynaylor (And book here for her next solo performance workshop - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-performance-with-molly-naylor-tickets-620826487737) 

In an episode recorded backstage at Soho Theatre, Rosie chats to comedian Ed Byrne about whether tragedy plus time really does equal comedy, the healthy aspects of breakups, checking out of a relationship in order to make the other person dump you, why unrequited love leaves such an impression on us, advising friends after a breakup and having to take sides in a separation.    Recorded backstage at Soho Theatre on 18 July 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also recording live episodes at Green Man Festival on 20 August and at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September: https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/   For Ed's live dates see: https://edbyrne.com/live-dates/

In the second of two live episodes recorded at Cambridge Junction, Rosie chats to comedians Darran Griffiths and Ali Warwood about parenting, finding the right time to break up with someone, why women initiate the majority of breakups, reuniting with an ex via Facebook, meeting a partner via eBay feedback forums, early 90s dating sites, dick pics and some fabulous stories submitted by the audience.    Recorded at Cambridge Junction on 9 July 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at The Bill Murry in London on 24th September: https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/   Follow Darran on Twitter: @darrangriff Follow Ali on Twitter: @aliwarship 

In a live episode recorded at Cambridge Junction, Rosie chats to comedians Stephanie Laing and James Ross about trying polyamory then having two breakups on the same day, being dumped by someone who was bribed by wealthy parents to do so, how to stop making bad choices, whether you can train a bad kisser and turn them into a good one, partners who completely disappear and get reported as missing, why wedding vows should include an ‘assist' mention for an ex who has helped someone to change and some fabulous stories submitted by the audience.  Recorded at Cambridge Junction on 9 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July: https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues/ For more info on James and his Quantum Leopard comedy night and podcast, see https://linktr.ee/quantumleopard To follow Stephanie on Twitter: @stephanie_laing 

In a live episode recorded at Kite Festival, Rosie chats to comedian Lou Sanders about doing a gig on the day of a big breakup, breaking up just before Edinburgh Fringe, getting all your wardrobe space back, imagining your ex with a new partner as a way of getting over them, spirituality, dating apps and much more… then hear from members of the audience about breakups that happened just prior to the festival!    Recorded at Kite Festival on 10 June 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Cambridge Junction on 9 July: https://www.junction.co.uk/events/rosie-wilby-the-break-up-monologues/   Then also recording live episodes at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July: https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues/  

In a brief break between live episodes, Rosie presents some recent highlights recorded at Brighton Spiegeltent, Poplar Union and Green Man festival. Please note that the clip of Kat Lister at Green Man is a little quieter than the others due to the nature of recording at festivals.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July: https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues/

In a live episode recorded at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, Rosie chats to comedians Eleri Morgan and Dan Thomas about separating during a pandemic and sleeping on a table, having bad taste in men as a strategy for not settling down, the relative pros and cons of various dating apps, the number of friends we can have, friendship breakups, the binary choices we were faced with during lockdown and the one night stand that closed down an entire ski resort. Recorded at Chapter Arts on 8 April 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Kite Festival on 10 June: https://kitefestival.co.uk/artist/the-breakup-monologues-with-rosie-wilby/ Follow Eleri on Twitter: @eleri_morgan Follow Dan on Twitter: @ItsDanThomas 

In a live episode recorded at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, Rosie chats to neuroscientist and bestselling author Dean Burnett about stressful life events, how science measures sexual arousal, why female orgasms are easier to record in the lab, the psychological stages of love, the use of psychedelics in sex and relationships, why there's never been a satisfactory female equivalent to Viagra, how the brain responds to online connection and rejection versus face to face communication and navigating the stages of grief. Recorded at Chapter Arts on 8 April 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Kite Festival on 10 June. https://kitefestival.co.uk/artist/the-breakup-monologues-with-rosie-wilby/ Follow Dean on Twitter / Insta: @garwboy

In a live episode recorded at Poplar Union, Rosie chats to comedians and podcasters Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Gráinne Maguire about unrequited love, how our early crushes set the template for our adult relationships, whether it's ok to fancy other people when you're in a relationship, marriage and how we escape being defined by it, nostalgia for celebrity couples that didn't stay together, Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley, beautiful people, conscious uncoupling, penis envy, sexy stick drawings and an unfortunate incident in Waitrose.    Recorded at Poplar Union on 23 February 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on 8 April: https://www.chapter.org/whats-on/performance/the-breakup-monologues/9100

In a live episode recorded at Poplar Union, Rosie chats to authors Rebecca Humphries and Annie Lord about their books Why Did You Stay? and Notes on Heartbreak, reclaiming your narrative after breaking up in the public eye, how intoxicating love can be in the early days of a relationship, why we stay in relationships when we are no longer happy, gaslighting, the reinforced self that appears from the shadows after a separation, the competitive masculinity of the comedy industry and Edinburgh Fringe, how different a person can be in different roles and spaces, the importance of documenting relationships to acknowledge that they happened, the healing nature of travelling and escaping from spaces filled with ghosts, training yourself out of the habit of telling that person everything, dating again after a breakup, sexual reawakenings and wondering what it should feel like to kiss someone new.    Recorded at Poplar Union on 23 February 2023.   You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Chapter Arts in Cardiff on 8 April: https://www.chapter.org/whats-on/performance/the-breakup-monologues/9100   Follow Rebecca on Twitter / Insta: @beckshumps  Follow Annie on Twitter / Insta: @annielord8 

To count down to Christmas, Rosie has raided The Breakup Monologues archives to celebrate some of her favourite episodes that you might've missed first time around.In a live episode recorded at Brighton Spiegeltent, Rosie chats to comedians Zoe Lyons and Hal Cruttenden plus podcaster Bibi Lynch about separating during a pandemic, living in a friend's converted garage, buying a midlife crisis sports car, going to therapy, rediscovering your partner again, being single, repackaging yourself, gratitude at being wanted, idealistic fantasy relationships, early crushes and much more. Listen out for a real-time flirtation, relationship, marriage and divorce all happening in front of our eyes. Recorded at Brighton Spiegeltent as part of Brighton Fringe on 22 May 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues This live episode received a five star review from Broadway Baby: https://broadwaybaby.com/shows/the-breakup-monologues/759541 The Breakup Monologues will be recording new live episodes at Poplar Union on 23 February: https://poplarunion.com/event/rosie-wilby-presents-the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast/ And Rosie will be launching the new paperback edition of the book at The Common Press on 19 January: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/11335/book-launch-the-breakup-monologues-by-rosie-wilby  

To count down to Christmas, Rosie has raided The Breakup Monologues archives to celebrate some of her favourite episodes that you might've missed first time around. In a live episode recorded at Kings Place in 2019, Rosie chats to advice columnist and author Beth McColl, writer and sex educator Alix Fox and author and podcaster Viv Groskop about micro-cheating, breakup ‘anniversary' dates, fantasy celebrity shag lists, whether ghosting existed in the ‘olden days', what to do when love is just not enough and the hottest topic of all … lesbian polyamory in Teddington. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will be recording new live episodes at Poplar Union on 23 February: https://poplarunion.com/event/rosie-wilby-presents-the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast And Rosie will be launching the new paperback edition of the book at The Common Press on 19 January: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/11335/book-launch-the-breakup-monologues-by-rosie-wilby  

To count down to Christmas, Rosie has raided The Breakup Monologues archives to celebrate some of her favourite episodes that you might've missed first time around.    In a live episode recorded at Kings Place in 2019, Rosie chats to broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika, comedian Olga Koch and author Kate Leaver about friendship breakups, friendships with ex-partners, whether or not sex ruins a friendship (you might be surprised by the results of a survey on this!), dating younger men, political breakups and more.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will be recording new live episodes at Poplar Union on 23 February. Hope to see you there: https://poplarunion.com/event/rosie-wilby-presents-the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast/

To count down to Christmas, Rosie has raided The Breakup Monologues archives to celebrate some of her favourite episodes that you might've missed first time around.    In a live episode recorded at Kings Place in 2018 and originally released just ahead of Valentine's Day 2019, Rosie chats to comedians Sajeela Kershi and Nat Luurtsema to discuss arranged marriages, Mills & Boon books and a very unfortunate sexual health misdiagnosis.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will be recording new live episodes at Poplar Union on 23 February. Hope to see you there: https://poplarunion.com/event/rosie-wilby-presents-the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast/

In a live episode recorded at The Bullingdon as part of IF Oxford, Rosie shares a chapter from The Breakup Monologues book and chats to historian Sally Holloway about how easy it once was to ghost someone, the evolution of our cultural understanding of heartbreak, the significance of love letters and the history of affairs and to zoologist Joanna Bagniewska about how ‘heartbreak' might be experienced in the animal world, depressed ‘divorced' prairie voles, social monogamy, blackbird vasectomies, faithful albatrosses, frisky songbirds, cormorant mating rituals and gifts, homosexual fruit bats and why bonobo society is matriarchal. Recorded at IF Oxford on 12 October 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Sally on Twitter: @sally_holloway Follow Joanna on Twitter: @JMBagniewska

In a live episode recorded at Rich Mix as part of Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, Rosie shares a chapter from her first book Is Monogamy Dead? and chats to authors Dean Atta, Henry Fry and Liam Konemann about breakups as a catalyst for change in our lives, friendship breakups, identity politics, coming out, family love, found family, communicating in relationships, post-breakup sexual reawakenings, dark rooms, breakups and creativity, sex on TV, sexting, open relationships and bumping into an ex in the supermarket. Recorded at Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest on 24 September 2022.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bullingdon on 12 October as part of IF Oxford: https://if-oxford.com/event/the-breakup-monologues-2/   Follow Dean on Twitter: @DeanAtta Follow Henry on Twitter: @HenryCFry Follow Liam on Twitter: @LiamKonemann  Follow Fringe! on Twitter: @fringefilmfest 

In a live episode recorded in Einstein's Garden at Green Man Festival, Rosie shares a chapter from The Breakup Monologues book and chats to author Kat Lister and comedian Meryl O'Rourke about untangling the differences and similarities between a breakup and a bereavement, how time feels elastic when we experience grief, how humour can help us after loss, the fetishisation of young widows, how and when to start dating again and reclaim your sexuality after a bereavement, how the physicality of sex can sometimes help in times of grief… and finding out that the person who you thought had ghosted you was actually deported for stealing body parts. Recorded at Green Man Festival on 21 August 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Rich Mix on September 24 as part of Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest: https://richmix.org.uk/events/live-podcast-recording-the-breakup-monologues/ Follow Kat on Twitter: @Madame_George Follow Meryl on Twitter: @MerylORourke

In a live episode recorded at Latitude Festival, Rosie chats to comedians Rachel Parris and Marcus Brigstocke about meeting through comedy improv, emoji flirting, wearing a kilt as a seduction technique, making each other laugh, being dumped by mixtape, intense teenage breakups, going to New York alone with no money after a breakup, writing a breakup show, the different pressures on men and women to be in relationships and much more. Recorded at Latitude Festival on 22 July 2022. Please bear in mind that this episode was recorded at a live festival with plenty of competing noisy stages nearby. Let's call it ‘festival atmosphere'. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Green Man festival on August 21 and IF Oxford on October 12.

In a brief break between live episodes, Rosie reflects on getting married during Pride month and how she learned to find herself and find love through all her many breakups.  You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Essex Book Festival on 17 June and at Latitude Festival in July: https://essexbookfestival.org.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-recording/   www.latitudefestival.com

In a live episode recorded at Brighton Spiegeltent, Rosie chats to comedians Zoe Lyons and Hal Cruttenden plus podcaster Bibi Lynch about separating during a pandemic, living in a friend's converted garage, buying a midlife crisis sports car, going to therapy, rediscovering your partner again, being single, repackaging yourself, gratitude at being wanted, idealistic fantasy relationships, early crushes and much more. Listen out for a real-time flirtation, relationship, marriage and divorce all happening in front of our eyes. Recorded at Brighton Spiegeltent as part of Brighton Fringe on 22 May 2022.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   This live episode received a five star review from Broadway Baby: https://broadwaybaby.com/shows/the-breakup-monologues/759541   The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Essex Book Festival on 17 June and at Latitude Festival in July: https://essexbookfestival.org.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-recording/ www.latitudefestival.com    For more about Zoe, see www.zoelyons.co.uk    For more about Hal, see www.halcruttenden.com    For more about Bibi, see www.bibilynch.com

In a live episode recorded at Kings Place, Rosie puts some breakup quiz questions to The Chase's Jenny Ryan, comedian Jake Yapp and podcaster Martin Joseph. They also chat about the pain and guilt of being the breaker upper, blocking an ex on social media, attachment patterns, breakup songs and take some unexpected detours into grisly breakup metaphors and voiceover auditions for cheese ads. Recorded at Kings Place on 22 April 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Brighton Spiegeltent on 22 May with Zoe Lyons, Hal Cruttenden and Bibi Lynch: https://www.brightonfringe.org/whats-on/the-breakup-monologues-163783/ For more about Jenny including her podcast Fingers on Buzzers, see www.jennyvixenryan.com For more about Jake, you can follow him on Twitter / Instagram @jakeyapp And to check out Martin's podcast The Real Brunch, see https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-real-brunch/id1410852061  

In a live episode recorded early one Sunday in a somewhat secret wooded glade at Cambridge Comedy Festival, Rosie chats to comedian Esther Manito on her thirteenth wedding anniversary (with her husband and friends in attendance) about sticking together, starting standup comedy as a mother of small children, whether dick pics existed in the olden days, arguing in the background of her daughter's Zoom lesson during lockdown, what happens when friends break up, the ethics of love drugs and why women should take care of their female friends. Recorded at Cambridge Comedy Festival on 11 July 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Brighton Spiegeltent on 22 May with Zoe Lyons, Hal Cruttenden and Bibi Lynch: https://www.brightonfringe.org/whats-on/the-breakup-monologues-163783/ For more about Esther, see https://www.esthermanito.co.uk/

In a live episode recorded at Faversham Literary Festival, Rosie chats to psychoanalyst and author Anouchka Grose about monogamy in the animal world, how ethical non-monogamy could inform a new version of monogamy, how we measure the value of relationships, celebrities that your partner would give you a pass to sleep with, decoding our childhood programming about love, no-fault divorce, pandemic dating and how Anouchka inadvertently called the police when a guy showed her a dick pic. Recorded at Faversham Literary Festival on 19 February 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Kings Place on 22 April: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/the-breakup-monologues-22-apr/

In a live episode recorded at Poplar Union, Rosie chats to journalist and author Rachel Thompson, journalist and poet Victoria Richards and podcaster and activist Sangeeta Pillai about teenage crushes, lockdown flings and breakups, trying to to be overly cool about meeting your ex's new partner, discovering dating apps, being single and how the matriarchal Nair community of Kerala used to dump a man by leaving his shoes outside the door! Recorded at Poplar Union on 17 February 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Kings Place on 22 April: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/the-breakup-monologues-22-apr/ To find out about Rachel's book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/112/1120632/rough/9781529110388.html To hear the latest season of Sangeeta's podcast: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/masala-podcast-season-3/ Or to follow Victoria on Twitter: @nakedvix

In a live episode recorded at Poplar Union, Rosie chats to comedian and screenwriter Jordan Gray and comedian and Comedy Arcade podcaster Vix Leyton about ex-partners turning up to gigs, teenage heartbreak, the pitfalls of trying to get revenge on an ex via performing in a goth metal band, rudimentary early methods of online chat, whether Halloween should become the new Valentine's Day, sexy pumpkin outfits, reclaiming a sense of agency by listening to Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins, friendship breakups, no fault divorce and how idealogical differences over topics such as vaccinations can separate us. Recorded at Poplar Union on 17 February 2022. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Kings Place on 22 April: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/the-breakup-monologues-22-apr/ To find out more about Jordan, read this article: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/08/trans-comic-jordan-gray-interview-simon-pegg-nick-frost-sitcom-x-man Or to listen to Vix's Comedy Arcade podcast, click here: https://podfollow.com/the-comedy-arcade    

As recording for season 5 begins, Rosie presents a few highlights from season 4 along with a clip of The Breakup Monologues audiobook.  You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues   Our next live recordings are at Poplar Union on Feb 17 and at Faversham Literary Festival on Feb 19. Book tickets:  https://poplarunion.com/event/rosie-wilby-presents-the-breakup-monologues/   https://www.favershamliteraryfestival.org/index.php/evt-urls/event-list/events-2022/the-breakup-monologues-2

Here's something a bit different this week. Rosie has been working on a pilot for this new podcast idea… I am an only child. I do not have a sister. As far as I know. That is enough for the rational, scientific part of me, the part inherited from my pragmatic mathematician father. Yet I have always believed deep within the more spiritual part of me that I do have a sister. So where the hell is she? This is a story about the conflict between what we know and what we feel... and how we make sense of the space in between. Please get in touch if you'd like to hear more of this story or could help in creating a longer series. Many thanks to Content is Queen for the micro grant which made this pilot possible, to Dave Pickering for editing and to Tony Pickering for designing the episode artwork. The Breakup Monologues, meanwhile, will be back soon with more live recordings and episodes. And, in the meantime, The Breakup Monologues book is available here: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues

In a live episode recorded at London Podcast Festival, Rosie chats to comedian Ania Magliano, author of The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Haley McGee, and creator of The Chemo Chat Show, Sarah Mills, about whether we can calculate a mathematical formula for the cost of love, crying so much that your nose bleeds, the dubious reliability of scientific studies, smoking after a breakup, first date locations, why fleeting relationships and their unexplored potential can torture people the most and whether we should comfort ourselves with either positive or negative memories of an ex. Recorded at London Podcast Festival on 3 September 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will be recording live episodes again in early 2022, including our annual anti-Valentine's show in Feb at Poplar Union. Follow Rosie on Twitter @rosiewilby for announcements. 

In a live episode recorded in Einstein's Garden at Green Man Festival, Rosie chats to journalist and author Jude Rogers about her forthcoming book The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives, how music can help us to heal after a breakup and Jude's breakup playlist choices from Abba, Blur, Soft Cell, Erasure and Will Young. Recorded at Green Man Festival on 22 August 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at London Podcast Festival at Kings Place on 3 September: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-breakup-monologues-london-podcast-festival/

In a live episode recorded at Underbelly Festival, Rosie chats to comedians Felicity Ward and Maisie Adam about meeting partners at raves and at Edinburgh Fringe, dating apps, gender stereotypes, being an awkward teenager and the future of breaking up over TikTok. Recorded at Underbelly Festival on 7 August 2021.  You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at London Podcast Festival at Kings Place on 3 September: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-breakup-monologues-london-podcast-festival/

In a live episode recorded at Primadonna Festival, Rosie looks to comedians and authors Helen Lederer and Samantha Baines for wedding advice. They discuss wedding dress fittings, cats, sorbet relationships, sexual explosions, Dawn French's matchmaking skills and sex in toilets, hot tubs and swimming pools. Rosie also has a lightbulb moment about why she's so fascinated by talking about breakups - if you document a relationship's ending, you acknowledge that it existed in the first place. Recorded at Primadonna Festival on 1 August 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at Underbelly Festival in London with guests Felicity Ward and Maisie Adam at 5pm on 7 August: http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/the-breakup-monologues

In a live episode (our first with an actual audience for some time!) recorded at Wimbledon Book Fest, Rosie is joined by acclaimed comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi. They discuss how the way we talk about relationships has evolved, the self-knowledge and empowerment that can come from being single, how her divorce coincided with the moment her career was really taking off, how running and books helped her through heartbreak, how her ADHD impacts relationships, an unfortunate electrolysis incident, her relationship with a musician who had a double life, friendship breakups and whether being attracted to extroverts is really a good idea. Recorded at Wimbledon Book Fest on 12 June 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes again at Cambridge Comedy Festival and Primadonna Festival this July and at Underbelly Festival in London with two very special guests on 7 August: http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/the-breakup-monologues  

Rosie is joined by podcaster, writer, performer and Breakup Monologues producer Dave Pickering to reflect on the first four seasons of the podcast, what they've learned from the show and the guests, their personal highlights and Dave's teenage breakups. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and preorder The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes again on June 12 at Wimbledon Book Festival with special guest Shappi Khorsandi (book tickets here) and in July at Cambridge Comedy Festival and Primadonna Festival. 

In a special live online episode recorded in partnership with Poplar Union, Rosie is joined by award-winning comedian, podcaster, writer and actor Sindhu Vee. They discuss the work that it takes to keep a marriage going, how she learned about addiction when her mother ran a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehab from their home, her decision not to have an arranged marriage, meeting her husband, learning to compromise but not at the cost of your self respect, why first loves are not the ones to marry, why great sex isn't necessarily forever and how a spiritual teacher helped her to get over her first ever heartbreak. Recorded online on 8 March 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

In a special live online episode recorded in partnership with Poplar Union, Rosie is joined by comedian and Hoovering podcast host Jessica Fostekew. They discuss her journey along the sexuality spectrum, pansexuality, the privilege attached to coming to queerness later in life after a more heteronormative existence, how therapy helped her to break up as kindly as possible with the father of her child, the shifting social attitudes to whether women can or should leave relationships, how she met her new partner ... and briefly chat about female bonobos and porn misrepresenting queer sex. Recorded online on 8 March 2021. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

Rosie investigates how to move on (or not) after trauma. She speaks to author Laura Kay about her novel The Split and the real life breakup experiences that inspired it, whether we need travel discounts for the newly broken-hearted, the nuances of queer endings and why she thinks the aftermath of a separation is a good time to make big life decisions. Rosie also chats to actor, comedian and writer Sam Pamphilon about what happens when you and your ex stay living in the same house and how to cope when your ex's new partner is wearing your pants and driving your car. Finally she speaks to Empire magazine editor and author Terri White about moving on from the traumatic experiences she describes in her memoir Coming Undone and the intense, dramatic relationships we sometimes find ourselves having at chaotic times in our lives. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

Rosie investigates how travel can help us heal after a breakup. She speaks to author and travel writer Anna Hart about a youthful hedonistic post-heartbreak trip to Holland which involved sleeping wrapped in a curtain on a drug dealer's floor, the joyful power of dancing and how we can still channel the spirit of travel when we have to stay in one location. Rosie also chats to award-winning comedian Carl Donnelly about a post-divorce trip to India that gave him a new perspective on some of the things his former wife had been feeling and how the nomadic lifestyle of constant touring can disrupt, and occasionally facilitate, romantic relationships. Finally she speaks to comedian and podcaster Rachel Creeger about a gap year in Israel that allowed her to find her voice and define her boundaries with an ex who didn't want to let go. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

Rosie unravels the mystery of why one of her breakups, after only a couple of dates, ripped to the heart of her vulnerabilities... and transported her right back to feeling excluded at school. She speaks to comedian and coach Sarah Southern about how one of the ‘rules' of breakups - the idea that the length of time it takes to recover is proportional to the length of time you were together - doesn't always apply. They share stories about fleeting connections that left a big impression on them. Rosie then chats to psychologist, author and podcaster Kimberley Wilson about how a rejection can represent or trigger something else, something deeper, something from longer ago. They also touch on the nutrition, sleep and exercise routines that might help our mental health after a breakup. Finally she speaks to performer Paula Varjack about bisexuality, biphobia, the imperfect ratio of male and female dating options on Tinder and some funny stories from her event Worst Date Ever. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

Rosie investigates the future of breakups. She speaks to author of The Future of Seduction and cultural critic Mia Levitin, who re-entered the dating game after divorcing in her thirties... and found that dating really had become a game. They discuss ghosting, the paradox of choice, video dating and robot companions. Rosie also chats to award-winning comedian Shazia Mirza about the near-future possibility of taking an ‘anti-love drug' to forget a bad breakup and how long-term relationships are impacted by a pandemic. Finally she speaks to creator of the blog and podcast Non-Monogamy Help, Lola Phoenix, about how polyamory changes the conversation about breakups and how asexuality fits into the contemporary relationship landscape.  You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

To launch this brand new season, Rosie investigates and celebrates singledom. She speaks to Scummy Mummies podcaster Helen Thorn, who found herself suddenly single after twenty-two years of marriage just as the U.K. went into lockdown. Helen entered a sort of ‘separation boot camp', filled with sad songs and sneaky fags at the back of the garden, in the absence of being able to hug friends. But she revelled in the liberation of reclaiming the house, spending quality time with her children and discovering, via online flirting and dating, that her sex drive had suddenly gone through the roof. Rosie also chats to author and podcaster Francesca Specter, who has coined the word Alonement in order to reclaim solo time as a joyful and precious thing a million miles away from loneliness, and to happily long-term singleton comedian Juliet Meyers.  You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram

While the Breakup Monologues team await the return of live shows, Rosie presents a few highlights from episodes recorded in 2019 at Kings Place and Port Eliot Festival. Featuring Miranda Sawyer, Carly Smallman, Nat Luurtsema, Kate Leaver and Abigail Tarttelin on sexual health misdiagnosis mishaps, friendship breakups and much more.    If you listen to The Breakup Monologues, please go to www.podcastviews.com and fill in the short survey. You could win a £50 Amazon voucher.    You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues

In this bonus episode, Rosie is joined by comedian and podcaster Kate Cheka to discuss how social distancing and lockdown are affecting the dating scene in Berlin and what happens when you move in with someone you've only just met. If you listen to The Breakup Monologues, please go to www.podcastviews.com and fill in the short survey. You could win a £50 Amazon voucher. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram