Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe were the “perfect” young Hollywood sweethearts in the late 90s. We look back on how the Cruel Intentions’ co-stars first met and their whirlwind trajectory to newlyweds and young parents. We discuss their questionable wedding venue, the Oscar love curse, gender stereotypes, Ryan’s past controversies, and more.

Related and Similar Episodes:

Episode 25: When Johnny Cash Met June Carter

Episode 82: When Debbie Reynolds Met Eddie Fisher

Episode 65: When Joaquin Phoenix Met Liv Tyler

*****

This is a teaser for a bonus episode— the full episode is 1 hour 47 minutes! You can listen to it in full on Patreon.

About Significant Lovers

Significant Lovers is a true-love podcast exploring couples throughout history and pop culture, hosted by cousins Kelly, Melissa, and Kaitlyn. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @significantlovers, and contact us at significantlovers@gmail.com.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ‘fair use’ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

In a special bonus episode, Kelly is joined by Nathan from the podcast Silent Generation. Nathan tells us the fascinating love story between Emma Goldman and Ben Reitman, two radical people who lived very unconventional lives together in the early twentieth century.

Once called “the most dangerous woman in America,” Emma was an anarchist revolutionary, writer, and political activist. Ben Reitman was a hobo-turned-doctor (for real!), the founder of a hobo college, and a notorious ladies’ man. When Emma and Ben met in 1908, it was perhaps love at first sight. Both believed in free love—or so Emma thought.

Mentioned in the episode:

• No Regrets: Dr. Ben Reitman and the Women Who Loved Him by Mecca Reitman Carpenter

• The Damndest Radical by Roger A. Bruns

• Emma Goldman: Revolution as a Way of Life by Vivian Gornick

• Marina and Ulay at MoMA (The Artist is Present)

About Significant Lovers

Significant Lovers is a true-love podcast exploring couples throughout history and pop culture, hosted by cousins Kelly, Melissa, and Kaitlyn. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @significantlovers, and contact us at significantlovers@gmail.com.

Like many girls, Taylor Swift has an unlucky history with J names. We’ve covered her relationships with Jake Gyllenhaal, John Mayer, and Joe Alwyn. Today, we’re going back to 2008 to revisit her very first high-profile relationship with the original Joe, Mr. Perfectly Fine himself, Joe Jonas.

This short relationship took on a life of its own after ending with the infamous 27 second phone call. Back then, Taylor was the least bit coy telling us about the juicy personal details in connection with her songs. Her openness arguably sparked the public’s parasocial obsession with connecting her music to the famous celebrity characters she would date for years to come. Was this an effective marketing strategy by Taylor, or an impulsive naivety that she would later regret?

We look back at the Taylor & Joe playlist, featuring Camille Belle: Forever & Always, Much Better, Last Kiss, Better Than Revenge, and more. We reveal why we never really fucked with The Jonas Brothers and look inward as we contemplate some tricky questions. Is a phone call or text ever appropriate for a break-up? And, if someone wrongs you in a relationship, do you feel justified to trash talk or is it not worth your breath?

Related Episodes:

Episode 13: When Taylor Swift Met Jake Gyllenhaal

Episode 18: When Taylor Swift Met John Mayer

Episode 36: When Taylor Swift Met Joe Alwyn

Episode 10: When Miley Cyrus Met Nick Jonas

*****

About Significant Lovers

Significant Lovers is a true-love podcast exploring celebrity couples and historic romances, hosted by cousins Kelly, Melissa, and Kaitlyn. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @significantlovers, and contact us at significantlovers@gmail.com.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ‘fair use’ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.