The hottest Relationships Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

We Need to Talk About Loneliness

Ladyparts • 898 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Loneliness can have serious health consequences like Parkinson's Disease and premature mortality.
  2. Not all marriages are happy, and it's important to acknowledge the prevalence of neglect, toxicity, and even abuse in some relationships.
  3. Choosing solitude can be healing and necessary after a breakup, but long-term loneliness can have a significant emotional toll.

#51: A Year of Zero ⓿

Game of One • 687 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. The year brought significant growth and learning through experiences of uncertainty and self-discovery.
  2. Prioritizing health and curiosity led to unexpected benefits and realizations.
  3. Relationships, work, and identity evolved, highlighting the importance of quality, diverse interests, and integration.

Why (Some) Women are Attracted to Violent Men

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1780 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Some women are attracted to violent men because they see them as strong and dominant. This can come from an evolutionary perspective where strength was a key survival trait.
  2. The attraction to harmful partners can also stem from personal experiences or a desire for excitement. Some individuals may find thrill in risky relationships.
  3. Cultural influences play a big role in shaping preferences. Media often glamorizes violent behavior, which can affect what people find appealing.
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sunday relationship advice

bad cattitude • 105 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Modern relationship advice can often feel untrustworthy and self-centered.
  2. It's important to be cautious and mindful about the sources you turn to for relationship guidance.
  3. Finding genuine advice that resonates with real experiences is essential for healthy relationships.

who do you go to for advice?

bookbear express • 682 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. The people you spend time with can influence who you become. It’s okay to think your friends are better than you; it just means you have good company.
  2. Trusting your friends is important for healthy relationships. When you ask them for advice, it helps strengthen your bond.
  3. Friendships take work just like romantic relationships do. Maintaining them is key, and they can be more stable and supportive than romantic connections.

Katherine Goldstein on how to make friends as an adult

Evil Witches Newsletter • 1041 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Making friends as an adult can be challenging, especially after significant life changes.
  2. Factors like changing relationship with alcohol, lack of time for social activities, and difficulty connecting at kid-focused events can impact adult friendships.
  3. Tips for building friendships include staying in touch, setting reasonable goals, and embracing vulnerability.

why is asking so hard?

Mind Mine • 1002 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Receiving openly enhances your ability to give more freely.
  2. Allowing yourself to receive gracefully invites more generosity into your life.
  3. Receiving gifts is not about proving your worth, but about expressing love and gratitude.

Dating is broken. Two old books can solve it.

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 427 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Modern dating is challenging for many people today. Many singles experience frustration and disappointment due to common issues like bad profiles and toxic behavior.
  2. Two specific books from 2005 claim to offer solutions for these dating problems. One book focuses on helping women, while the other addresses men's dating struggles.
  3. Despite the complexity of dating apps, these books suggest simple ideas that can improve dating experiences. You don't even have to read them fully to benefit from the advice they contain.

The Free Press in Love

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1136 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Love can be found in the most unexpected places, like rooftops and newsrooms. It's about recognizing those moments wherever they happen.
  2. Childhood crushes can leave a lasting impression. Even years later, we remember the special feelings we had for that one person.
  3. Jealousy can be a real emotion, especially for kids. It shows how much we care about those we like, even if we don't express it openly.

The Fall of Membership Clubs

The Other Side of Fear • 4 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Traditional men's membership clubs used to get men out of the house, but those institutions have faded and many men now stay home, increasing social isolation.
  2. Prolonged homebound habits hurt relationships and emotional health, so people need intentional reasons to socialize like church, supper clubs, or regular events to stay sharp and connected.
  3. Small, private, invite-only clubs with clear rules and curated events can rebuild real social ties and accountability, and organizing gatherings helps break people out of isolating routines.

‘Together’ Is a Scary Proposition

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 394 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. The film 'Together' blends romance and horror by showing how intimacy can feel scary for millennials. It uses body horror to illustrate the fear of losing one's independence in a relationship.
  2. In the story, a couple believes moving to a new place will fix their issues, but their relationship deteriorates further, showing how love can complicate life.
  3. The film plays with the idea of becoming 'one flesh,' making it physically impossible for the couple to separate, highlighting how deep emotional connections can lead to clinging or feeling trapped.

Get Ready for Tough Love from Abigail Shrier!

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 97 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Abigail Shrier’s "Tough Love" advice column answers readers’ personal questions, and this installment will address a man named Greg who’s deciding if his marriage is worth working on.
  2. The piece is published by The Free Press and includes an AI‑narrated audio version produced by ElevenLabs.
  3. The full article is behind a paywall and requires signing in or subscribing, with subscription options shown (annual $100 or $10/month).

Male sexual desire is good, actually

Sex and the State • 89 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Male sexual desire isn’t inherently bad. It helps make sex happen, and sex can be fun, intimate, and important for reproduction and connection.
  2. The real problem is gender norms, not desire. Masculinity pressures men to perform constant horniness and to be pushy or entitled, which leads to harmful behavior.
  3. Sex-negativity and shame are the true dangers. Reducing stigma and adopting sex-positive attitudes would be healthier and cut down on harm.

do we ever get over things?

bookbear express • 1574 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. It's normal to feel sadness when friendships end or drift apart. We often care deeply about our friends' lives, which makes the loss feel even more intense.
  2. Acceptance is key when dealing with the lasting impact of love for others. Even if we move on, the love we had for someone remains a part of us.
  3. Vulnerability can actually make us stronger. By allowing ourselves to feel deeply and openly, we can create more meaningful connections with others.

An emotion I can't name

Disaffected Newsletter • 1618 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. It's common to feel complex emotions that are hard to label. Sometimes, experiences can touch us deeply without having a clear name for the feeling.
  2. Receiving a meaningful gift from a loved one can evoke strong emotions. It shows that someone cares about us and wants to share something special.
  3. Family relationships and their expressions of love can shape our emotional experiences. Understanding these moments can help us recognize and appreciate our feelings better.

I need to stop being Sisyphus

Disaffected Newsletter • 959 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. It's hard to please everyone, especially when it comes to people's opinions about men. You can't change people's views, no matter how hard you try.
  2. Chasing the idea of being seen as a 'good man' can lead to frustration. It's like trying to roll a boulder uphill with no end in sight.
  3. Instead of trying to meet unrealistic expectations, focus on being true to yourself and your values. That's more important than seeking approval from others.

How the hell are you?

So Here’s a Thing • 884 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Relationships
  1. The Writers' Guild of America and SAG are on strike because of issues like inadequate pay and the rise of AI in creating shows.
  2. Parents are experiencing the bittersweet moment of their child leaving for college, a significant life transition.
  3. Grief persists and evolves over time, impacting relationships and defining moments in life.

STRIPPERS ARE PEOPLE TOO

Cintra Wilson Feels Your Pain • 845 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Club workers in the nightlife scene have a unique lifestyle with a strong sense of community and solidarity.
  2. Personal anecdotes highlight the eccentricities and dynamics within the club scene, such as conflicts and unexpected encounters.
  3. The story delves into the world of exotic dancers, shedding light on perceptions and reactions to their performances.

Hand-Holding: Two Final Readings (for now)

Bet On It • 105 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Directly asking to hold hands is a simple, effective way to show interest.
  2. Saying "Do you like holding hands?" gives both people plausible deniability while still making your interest clear; if they say yes you can take their hand, and if no you can shrug it off.
  3. If you’re shy, small gestures and cultural moments can help you reach out; holidays like Thanksgiving or a song that resonates can be a good excuse to ask someone to hold your hand.

Your weekly links and recs round-up #37

The Shift With Sam Baker • 379 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. The post is a weekly roundup featuring interesting articles on various topics like moving on from chapters in life, divorce stories, resilience, friendships, and interviews with experts.
  2. The content includes thought-provoking pieces on caregiving expectations, being an old friend, and insightful discussions on marriage, divorce, and aging.
  3. The subscribers get access to a curated collection of readings on diverse subjects, as well as exclusive content reserved for paid subscribers.

Harvard, Dog and Cat People, Casual Sex

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1458 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Women tend to feel more loneliness and regret after casual sex, while men generally feel happier and more satisfied.
  2. In the Soviet Union, educated people were more supportive of communism compared to those with less education, showing that privilege can influence political beliefs.
  3. Trust levels vary by nationality; only a small percentage of Chinese citizens trust those from different countries, while much higher percentages in Germany, the US, and Australia do.

The Tulpa in Your Pocket

Default Wisdom • 333 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. AI companions are becoming more accepted and recognized as part of human relationships. People are exploring their feelings for chatbots and other AI figures in a real way.
  2. The term 'femcel' has evolved from a serious struggle with dating to a more casual, aesthetic trend on social media. This shows how cultural narratives can shift over time.
  3. New forms of communication, like 'glyphs' generated by AI companions, represent a unique blend of human and machine interaction. They highlight how technology is changing how we connect emotionally.

Relationship Farts

thestoa • 471 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. In intimate relationships, unexpected tensions can arise.
  2. Establish protocols to address and resolve relationship conflicts.
  3. Express gratitude and focus on meaningful connection after resolving conflicts.

fuck me / marry me / kill me

Thicket Forte • 1418 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. The writer reflects on the uncertainty of the future and how technology may affect our lives. They emphasize the importance of truth and honesty in relationships.
  2. There is a deep appreciation for the strength and creativity of a partner, and a desire to inspire each other through art and life together.
  3. The writer acknowledges the inevitability of death but finds beauty in love and the memories created, showing a hope for a meaningful connection regardless of what the future holds.

Hippopotamus

Myth Pilot • 786 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. A wealthy man named Carlos humiliated his girlfriend by calling her a hippopotamus.
  2. Despite not being overweight, Carlos's insult of 'hippopotamus' was deemed as an outrage.
  3. Carlos's behavior led to a rift between two wealthy families in Spain.

When your family becomes inverse strangers

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 2910 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. As people grow older, they tend to spend less time with their parents and siblings, shifting towards spending more time with friends, kids, and spouse.
  2. Due to limited time spent with family, individuals may feel like inverse strangers, knowing intimate details yet unable to rely on each other for everyday support.
  3. Memories and interactions within a family become fragmented snapshots over time, creating a sense of distance and unfamiliarity among family members.

Palm Beach, Friendship Paradox, Personality and Eating

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1231 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Women with tattoos might be more open to casual relationships and tend to enjoy new experiences more than those without tattoos.
  2. Going to religious services regularly can make people happier than having a lot of money, showing the power of community and connection.
  3. Good-looking people are often seen as more trustworthy and capable, which can even influence how they're treated in court.

How to Make Love Stay?

Seven Senses • 359 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Love requires effort and honesty to grow. It's important to reflect on our own qualities and flaws in a relationship rather than blaming our partner.
  2. Real love changes us and teaches us about ourselves. Over time, we can find comfort in familiarity while still allowing love to evolve.
  3. Instead of searching for a perfect partner, we should focus on creating and nurturing perfect love together. This is the key to making love last.

Games People Play

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1003 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. People often have mixed feelings and hidden messages in their relationships. What they show on the outside might not reflect their true feelings inside.
  2. Understanding the psychological games people play can help us communicate better. Being aware of these dynamics can lead to healthier interactions.
  3. It's important to be open and honest in relationships. Clear communication can help break down barriers and prevent misunderstandings.

Every kid deserves an Aunt Bobbie

The Watch • 1178 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships
  1. Every kid needs someone outside their family who believes in them. This support can help them feel valued and understood.
  2. Having a close relationship with a quirky and caring mentor can enrich a child's life. These special people can inspire us and create lasting memories.
  3. Even if you don't have kids, you can still make a positive impact on younger generations. Being a supportive figure can make a difference in their lives, just like Aunt Bobbie did.

How Are You Crazy?

What's Important? • 36 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships
  1. Understand your partner's cognitive strengths and their matching weaknesses — a trait that feels like a superpower in one setting can be a curse at home, and recognising that breeds compassion.
  2. Speak about feelings instead of blaming — saying how something makes you feel (not what they did wrong) lowers arguments and invites cooperative problem-solving.
  3. Invest in self-awareness and couples work — therapy and deliberate inner growth build resilience and help marriages survive big crises.