This is Love: Phoebe Judge’s inspirational podcast celebrates romance in all its myriad, mystical forms
- The host of hit true crime show Criminal, Phoebe Judge narrates episodes detailing poignant moments in relationships, involving everything from animal encounters to passion projects, that prove love is ‘more than you think’
With journalist Phoebe Judge as host and co-producer, This is Love could count on a built-in following from the hit true-crime show Criminal, which she also hosts and co-produces, but there is no resting on laurels here. Judge’s soothing voice, a calm foil to the disturbing events of Criminal, is perfectly at home investigating mysterious stories of an altogether more positive kind.
The “love stories”, such as they are, come from refreshingly different directions, rarely about romantic love but always focusing on the most poignant moments of a relationship, woven through with snippets of taped conversation, ethereal music and a sense of wonder. Some are devastating, such as the one about an Iowa corn farmer who is galvanised by the death of a close family friend into realising a long-held dream: to install a Wimbledon-grade grass tennis court in the middle of his fields.
As with other episodes, the way the story builds with historical facts and gentle narration through the passing years doesn’t prepare you for the emotional heft of the end. It is skilful stuff, this storytelling, and there is real pleasure to be had in letting yourself be swept up in it.
Which begs the obvious question, of course: “What moment sits on top of your memory pile?”
