Love Letters

For Anthony Ureña, video games are more than simple entertainment or a way to pass the time. Games have actually changed him, he says. They’ve taught him who he is. They’ve shown him how to take the best next steps. Through a story about dating, loss, love, and resilience, Anthony explains how games have seen him through the most important relationship transitions in his life.  Let’s all Pokemon Go! with him. (And Pac-Man with him. And Final Fantasy with him. And ... you get the point.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love can be… addictive. And when Heather Mason leaves her relatively happy marriage to follow her heart, she has no idea that the mysterious South African photographer she is chasing will teach her so much about herself.

Have you ever dreamed of starting over in Italy? “Under The Tuscan Sun” author Frances Mayes joins Meredith for a conversation about her Italian dream, her book “A Great Marriage,” and whether she believes real change is possible by changing your surroundings.

Meredith sits down with Dr. Steven Hyman – a brain expert at The Broad Institute – for a talk about the meaning of change … and whether it’s actually possible. Are people capable of change – in life and relationships? If so, how? Dr. Hyman explains what makes us how we are, and whether she should even keep trying to be better.

Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown – before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down. What was the fix? Moving to one of the most beautiful places in the world (Italy). Kelly explains how leaving town changed her – and her relationship with her ex-husband! – in this episode about how where we live affects our ability to be our best selves.