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How to Be in Love - Rylan is embarking on a mission to find love. He’s loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to find love once again.

But what is love truly about? And how can we find it – and make it last?

From a young age, we’re taught that love is the ultimate fairytale – that finding ‘the one’ will finally complete us. But is it time to look at love differently? 

Over 13 episodes, Rylan’s guests will help him rediscover what love is – what we should be looking for in a partner (or partners!) and attempting to find the secrets of a healthy, long-term relationship.

A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds.

Rylan: How to Be a Man

For the final episode of the series, Rylan is joined by documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux. Louis discusses how the subjects of his documentaries have challenged and changed the way he thinks about love, and also tells Rylan the story of how he fell in love with his wife. 

With Louis’s help, Rylan reflects on the advice and knowledge shared by the previous guests of the series.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Louis Theroux: Falling in love with his wife and what he's learned from his documentaries

Rylan sits down with powerhouse podcaster and author Mel Robbins. Mel teaches Rylan her ‘Let Them’ theory and explains how he can apply it to his relationships, as he hopes to embark upon his next romantic chapter. Mel also discusses the best way to get over a break-up and shares how she and her husband of 28 years have navigated the trials and tribulations of their marriage.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns and Sally McLennan
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Mel Robbins: Why we can’t control each other’s actions

Rylan is joined by his good friends Matt and Emma Willis who discuss the lessons they have learnt from 20 years of being in love. The 'Love Is Blind' hosts open up about overcoming the darkest moments in their marriage, including Matt’s battle with addiction, and how their love is now stronger than ever. Matt and Emma also offer their advice on the qualities Rylan should be looking for in his next partner.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Matt and Emma Willis: The power of their partnership and loving someone with addiction

With Rylan looking to find love again after experiencing the heartbreak of divorce, he turns to actor Vanessa Williams to find out if the breakdown of a marriage changes the way you view love. Vanessa discusses the lessons about love she has learnt from her three husbands, and her three divorces, and why she is celebrating her freedom and no longer making love her priority.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Vanessa Williams: On her three divorces, and why love is no longer her priority

What rules the way we love: our heads or our hearts? And are romantic feelings little more than a set of chemical reactions in our brain? Rylan is joined by neuroscientist and best-selling author, Dr Tara Swart, to uncover the science behind being in love. Dr Tara explains how our ability to love has been embedded in our brains since the days of the cavemen and reveals how hormones influence the different ways men and women bond in relationships.

As a self-admitted lover of fragrance, Rylan also learns from Dr Tara about how his penchant for perfume may be holding him back from connecting with potential partners, and the role that scent and smell plays in our ability to form ties with romantic interests.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Dr Tara Swart: ‘Good chemistry’ and the science behind being in love

Media personality Calum Best was branded a lothario by the tabloid press, as he enjoyed the seemingly endless fruits of the international party scene during the 2000s. But how fair was this label? And has that reputation impeded him from finding true love?

Rylan speaks to Calum about dating under the glare of the spotlight and finds out if now, at the age of 44, he is finally ready to be in love. Calum also discusses his experience of growing up with an alcoholic parent, and how his relationship with his father, footballer George Best, triggered abandonment issues which may have influenced his actions in relationships of his own.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producer: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Calum Best: On being branded a lothario, and why he’s never truly been in love

Rylan is joined by model and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Tasha Ghouri who discusses how her experience of falling in love for the first time was broadcast on TV.

Tasha rose to prominence on reality TV dating show Love Island, with millions of viewers watching her fall in love with her then partner, Andrew Le Page. For over two and a half years, Tasha and Andrew appeared to have the perfect relationship, documented heavily across social media. However, at the start of the 2025, the couple announced their break-up. Tasha speaks to Rylan about the pressures of navigating a relationship in the spotlight and gives her side of the story on what contributed to their split. She also reveals her hopes of finding love and happiness in the future.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns and Maan Al-Yasiri
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Tasha Ghouri: Finding love on TV, and breaking up in the public eye

Rylan speaks to former porn star Rebecca More about what she has learnt about love from a 15-year career in the sex industry. Rebecca reveals how heartbreak brought on a sex addiction and shares her unique insight into the secret, and somewhat shocking, desires of her former clients. Rebecca also discusses the stigma of finding love as a sex worker, and how her decision to quit the world of porn was sparked by her desire to find true love.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Rebecca More: Exiting the adult entertainment industry to find love

Rylan is joined by writer and activist Munroe Bergdorf. Growing up as a trans woman, Munroe never believed that love was possible. She speaks to Rylan about pushing the boundaries of her sexual identity and discusses how falling in love with a woman for the first time was the most unexpected, yet pivotal, moment in her own journey with love.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Munroe Bergdorf: Transitioning is the biggest decision to love yourself

Does ‘The One’ exist? How does our childhood impact our romantic relationships? Rylan and psychotherapist Philippa Perry take a deep dive into what could be holding us back from finding long-lasting love. Philippa also shares how her husband of 33 years, the artist Grayson Perry, changed her understanding of what love could be.

How to Be in Love – Rylan has loved passionately, lost messily, and is now ready to rediscover what ‘love’ is. But does he need to look at love differently before he can find it again?

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Ben Johns
Producer: Katie Grant
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in Love: Philippa Perry: There is no such thing as ‘The One’

Rylan speaks to actor and activist Jameela Jamil about her experiences in the spotlight. Honest as ever, Jameela tells Rylan about the raucous years working at T4, accidentally getting her role on The Good Place, and the online feuds she regrets most.

Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale.

Details of help and support with eating disorders is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Host: Rylan
Assistant Producer: Monetta Pierre
Producer: Millie Chu
Production Manager: Francesca Bassett
Executive Producers: Barnaby Coughlin and Arron Fellows
Music: Miguel d'Oliveira
Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
A Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds

How to Be in the Spotlight: Jameela Jamil – Online feuds and problematic Vogue shoots

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