Love is patient, love is kind, love is giving up your rent controlled apartment, screaming alone on a beach, and everything in-between. This episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage features two stories where someone drops the “I love you” bomb  – including a studio story from master teller Kevin Allison, and comic Jackie Kashian speaking of love at Romantic Encounters. Dan also offers some tips on dealing with heartbreak, should said "I love you" bomb happen to explode upon impact.

Secret identities don't just cause problems for superheroes - they make trouble for normal people too. In this episode of Hot Mic, two storytellers  - one of them is Dan Savage himself - describe what it's like to hide, and then reveal, sexual or gender orientation. This episode features the stories "Trans on Ice" by Elana Lancaster for The Story Collider, and "Watch and Learn" by your host Dan Savage for Bawdy Storytelling.

“Don’t hesitate! Take the plunge! Put yourself out there!” Well…what’s out there? You may find an open minded sexual unicorn capable of pleasuring you beyond humankind’s feeble imagination, or limp home bruised and black-eyed with little more than your dignity and a story; maybe not even that much. On this episode, Rachel Bitney Wecht shares “A Little Geological Time and Pressure,” and comedian and writer Marina Franklin shares a studio story about a time she got put out there.

The most hopeless of crushes are often the most powerful. On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage we'll hear a studio story from Samm Levine. Sam shares a story about a pre and post-fame crush on a girl with an intoxicating name. We'll also hear a RISK! live story from David Montgomery, who once nurtured a rather expensive crush on a very unavailable man. Plus, Dan shares a memory of his very first unrequited crush and the residual effect it had on the future.

When applied appropriately, a little shame can be hot. But all too often when shame enters a sexy situation, it's not the fun kind. On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage we'll hear two stories that deal with shame head on. First, writer Elna Baker attempts to get laid while ignoring the Mormon voice in her head in "New York Virgin," told live at RISK! Then we'll hear from comedian Jessica Kirson, who shares a studio story about the time a raucous hookup left her filled with shame.

When love ends and your lover leaves, they also leave things behind—that t shirt that smells like them, or that mix CD they made you, or their sex toys. In this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, we present an elegiac dildo variety show of sorts. We have a live story called "Up in Flames" by Henry Bear from The Mystery Box Show, and a special piece about an unusual graveyard in San Francisco. We also have the saddest country love song ever, from the musical duo Reformed Whores.

Online dating is the grandest gamble, the reward might be a great time, but the opportunity for disappointment and deception is no joke. This episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage features two hilarious stories about online hookups that went in different directions than the storytellers imagined. Comedian Guy Branum shares a story with us about a hookup gone rogue. Then, journalist Tod Kelly shares a story he told live at the Mystery Box Show about his adventures on the notorious website Ashley...

When it comes to sex, nothing is harder than talking about sexually transmitted infections. Get it?! And STIs are even more difficult to make funny, look how hard we just tried! On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, a bunch of brave souls break the stigma with hilarious STI stories and scenarios. Rob Penty shares a story from RISK! about genital warts, and members of The Groundlings conjure up ridiculous STI-ridden, improvised scenes. For contrast, Dan Savage offers up a bit of...

As a tiny minority of America's population, most members of the LGBT community spend most of their time in heterosexual spaces. But the "Gay Area" episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage is...well, just what it sounds like. You'll hear a story from Don't Tell My Mother about what happened when straight comedian Barry Rothbart got hired to film a promo video for a huge gay nudist retreat. And Joel Kim Booster, a NYC-based comedian, shares a story about the time he and a few dudes claimed a room of...

Everyone loves a good creepy story, and this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage features two particularly great ones - including a creeper story with a twist by Janelle James from RISK!, and a studio story from Sean Patton about what happens when you become the creep. Plus, Dan has some advice for those who hang out with creepy people.

Having a comfort zone to retreat to is important. But just like a city gets rezoned in order to accommodate development, we have to rezone what we're comfortable with in order to grow. Especially when it comes to sex. On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, two storytellers decide to try to make their comfort zones a little larger. This episode features "Can I Pick This Up," which David Crabb told at RISK!, and "Afterparty," which Caitlin Gill told at Don't Tell My Mother.

On this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, singer and songwriter Rachel Lark joins Dan to talk (and sing) about heartbreak, love lost, hope found. Featured stories include "Searching for the Rainbow" by Michael Zhuang for Story District, and "Janine Gets Her Groove Back" by Janine Brito for RISK!

Every romance begins differently, but for the ones that last, there's always a moment when you decide to commit - we call it your commit-moment. In this episode, two storytellers share the tale of their own commit-moments, and prove that real love can come from the strangest of places. This episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage features "Wet Feet" by Emma Weisfeld for The Narrators, and "How Nick's Mind Works" by Lesley Jones for Bawdy Storytelling.

Sex work is a diverse range of professions united by sex, money, and stigma. Because of the stigma, we hear a lot about the sex, but we rarely hear from the workers themselves. But in this episode, two sex workers show their work. "Humiliatrix" Ceara Lynch shares the story, from the Mystery Box Show, of how she got started and how she managed to tell her dad. We also feature a revealing interview between Dan Savage and porn star and activist Conner Habib.

In this special, single-story episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, Lily Be tells the tale of how her parents' marriage ended—a mystery she had to wait more than a decade to uncover. Plus, Dan Savage shares his thoughts on monogamy, secrets, and more. This episode features the story "Conversion Van Stowaway", which Lily Be told for RISK! in Chicago.

Let's get it on, with a little help from our friends. In these two stories, middle school friends clue each other in to the world of sex and romance—from new uses for internet connections to first kisses to Ryan Phillippe to lesbian smut. Hosted by your guide Dan Savage, this episode of Hot Mic features "Sarah and Christina" by Daniel, from True Story, and "Awkward Intentions" by Isaac Oliver, from The Soundtrack Series.

Sometimes you have to escape the nest in order to learn how to fly. In this episode, Margot Leitman escapes her parents' gaze to Puerto Rico, where a handsome man in a lavender shirt awaits her. Storyteller Mike O'Connell, on the other hand, completely fails to escape the nest. Plus, Dan talks about the time he escaped to San Francisco but couldn't get off (the bus). This episode features "The Not So Virgin Islands" by Margot Leitman and "Anti Custody" by Mike O'Connell.

When it comes to live storytelling, stories that end in bad sex are much more common than those that end well. But on this episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage we’ll hear two good sex stories where everyone leaves happy and maybe even a little better off. First, Waverly Jane moves from her conservative upbringing to a place that is both very sexy and very cold. Then poet Derrick Brown joins Dan Savage in the studio to discuss his poem "Chrome Hotel," about a surreal encounter with a woman he...

How does dressing up in drag help you disappear? Why is being feminine like being a poodle...and what does that mean for the wolves? These and other questions are explored on this Halloween episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, wherein Dan shares his own story, about judging a Halloween costume contest on acid and performing femininity as an escape technique. Afterwards, Dan interviews You'll Grow Out of It author Jessi Klein about her experiences turning into a not-very-feminine adult.

Coming out is a huge step—but what about all the small steps afterwards? In this episode, two gay people try to navigate their romantic lives after coming out, and learn that finding love isn't quite as easy as just walking into a gay bar. This episode features "Sunset at Noon" from Holly Lorka for The Soundtrack Series, and "How to Be" from R. Eric Thomas for RISK!

Since this is a show about sex and relationships, we figured maybe we’d talk about the part that involves baby making. We'll also talk about what happens when you want a baby, but don't wanna sex it into existence. Get ready for two hilarious stories about baby makery: “Pregnant Pause” by K. Thompson for RISK! and “Ice Ice Baby” by Nikki Levy for Don’t Tell My Mother. Then, comedian Chad Daniels talks to Dan about raising a teenager. And finally, we've got a special musical PSA by Reformed

Two storytellers with very intense but very different body issues take some action, get some action, and discover the unexpected powers and pleasures of their own bodies. This episode of Hot Mic features "I Have a Vagina" by Buck Angel for Trantastic at Bawdy Storytelling, and "Power in It" by Carrie Wade for RISK! Plus, Dan explains the power of three simple words: "I believe you."

Comedian Jen Kirkman's mother had a sign in her kitchen that said "Kissin' don't last, cookin' do." Hear how that sign and all it represented affected Jen's romantic life, in a funny and touching story she told on Don't Tell My Mother in Los Angeles. Plus, Jen is our special guest in studio! She and Dan Savage talk about love, lust (particularly for that hot 1970's look), and what it's like to grow up horny in a religious household.

What happens when the utterly unexpected goes down while you’re trying to get it on? In these two live stories, brave heroes face unimaginable interruptions during the act of lovemaking and still manage to come to satisfying conclusions. Plus, Dan Savage has some thoughts on how to deal with surprises in the sack. This episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage features, "Don't Ask, Do Tell" by Geoff Millard for RISK! at Bawdy Storytelling, and "Peak Experience" by Hutch Harris for The Mystery Box Show.