logo
episode-header-image
About this episode

It’s not you, it’s me… In episode 123 of Overthink, Ellie and David get into the highs and lows of breakups. What, if anything, is valuable about breakups? Does society’s emphasis on monogamy affect how we conceptualize the end of relationships? And what do you do if your ex still has your Netflix password? Your hosts discuss everything from breakups in the age of social media and chemical solutions to heartache to what the laws against domestic abuse and stalking can tell us about how society views breakups.  Plus, in the bonus, they take a look at Kierkegaard’s love life and discuss whether it’s ever truly possible to breakup with someone for purely altruistic reasons. 

Check out the episode's extended cut here!

Works Discussed: 

Brian D Earp et. al, “If I Could Just Stop Loving You: Anti-Love Biotechnology and the Ethics of a Chemical Breakup”

Kelli María Korducki, Hard To Do: The Surprising, Feminist History of Breaking Up

Pilar Lopez-Cantero, “The Break-Up Check: Exploring Romantic Love through Relationship Terminations”

Ovid, Remedia Amoris 

Deborah Tuerkheimer, “Breakups”

Jennifer Wilson, “The New Business of Breakups” 

Support the show

Patreon | patreon.com/overthinkpodcast
Website | overthinkpodcast.com
Instagram & Twitter | @overthink_pod
Email | dearoverthink@gmail.com
YouTube | Overthink podcast

Up next
Aug 12
Burnout
What makes burnout different from exhaustion or fatigue? In episode 136 of Overthink, Ellie and David look at the history of the term burnout and its surprising connection to social justice. They also explore Byung-Chul Han’s reading of burnout as a natural consequence of “achiev ... Show More
59m 38s
Jul 29
Travel
Aperol spritzes, ‘Euro summers’, and aesthetic beach pics. In episode 135 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss all things travel. They discuss the differences how travel changes our relationship to the place where we're from, the difference between travel and tourism, and the pl ... Show More
58m 50s
Jul 15
Weirdness with Eric Schwitzgebel
All metaphysical theories are…really weird. In episode 134 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with Eric Schwitzgebel about his book Weirdness of the World. They think through the difference between weirdness and bizarreness, the nonsensical nature of philosophical theories, and w ... Show More
56m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
#227 How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind with Todd Baratz
In today's episode I talk with author, therapist, and speaker Todd Baratz (@yourdiagnonsense). We talk about his new book How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind. We talked a lot about the ideals that social media gives us for relationships and how so much of that is not ... Show More
35m 56s
Aug 2023
#179 Listener Episode: Realizing You Aren't Happy in the Relationship
In today's listener episode I interviewed Lauren and heard about her relationship and breakup story that happened last year. She was with her ex for 7 years and about 6 years into the relationship she realized she was not happy but kept trying to ignore it so she could stay i ... Show More
35m 25s
Aug 2024
#231 Why Breakups are So Hard Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
In today's episode I interview Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby about breakup recovery. I learned SO much in this interview as we discussed why breakups are so hard, the different stages of a breakup, how to navigate obsessive thinking about your ex, what's going on in our brains as ... Show More
41m 17s
Apr 2024
How to Manage a Break Up & Why You Seem to be Dating the Same Person Over and Over- Uncut with Jillian Turecki
How the f*ck do you move on when you're in the depths of a relationship? Today's episode is with the incredible Jillian Turecki! Jillian Turecki is a certified relationship coach, teacher and writer. She has helped thousands of people be better in their relationships, including t ... Show More
54m 3s
May 2024
70. Why it hurts more when short relationships end (and how to move on) w/ Amy Chan (@missamychan)
Break ups suck. Luckily, we have experts like Amy Chan, who wrote Break Up Bootcamp, to help us through them. In this episode, Amy and I discuss where to start with healing after a break up, the importance of anger in the process of moving on, why it hurts more when a short relat ... Show More
53m 57s
Feb 2025
How To Heal From a Breakup
Stop stalking their social media (we're onto you) and lets turn this breakup into the best thing to happen to you. Because if you’re re-reading texts, thinking about what your future could have looked like or convincing yourself that “maybe they will change,” it’s time for some t ... Show More
39m 20s
May 6
#268 From Shock to Sadness: How Breakup Pain Evolves Over Time
In today’s solo episode, I’m diving deep into what it’s really like to go through the initial shock after a breakup. I’ll share what those first days can feel like—whether you’re in disbelief, feeling numb, caught up in logistical details, or hoping your ex might come back. I’ll ... Show More
19m 59s
Feb 2025
Girls Night #284: How to Recover From a Breakup (and Find your Spark Again!) — with Dr. Morgan Cope
Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! Today we’re talking about how to heal, move forward, and find your spark again after a rough breakup. We're mainly focusing on romantic relationships, but honestly, these tips can apply to any meaningful relationship that's ended - whether th ... Show More
59 m
Mar 2025
Breakups & Heartache
In the aftermath of heartbreak, we share our experiences with breakups and how to move through relationship grief (spoiler alert: Lucy is still happily married!)If you’re able to and our content means something to you, you can support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️ 
49 m
Jan 2025
278: How To Know You're In The Wrong Relationship w/ Jillian Turecki
In this episode, Matthew sits down for a conversation with Jillian Turecki (@jillianturecki)—renowned relationship coach, teacher, and author of It Begins with You: Nine Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life. Over the last two decades, Jillian has empowered thousands ... Show More
1h 6m