The Breakup Monologues with Rosie Wilby

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 on 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