The Breakup Monologues with Rosie Wilby

Rosie chats to author PJ Ellis about his book We Could Be Heroes, Birmingham, film stars, drag queens, meet cute scenes, happy endings, rom coms, mistaken identities, bumping into an ex with their new partner, good and bad sex, the truth behind queer stereotypes and more. Recorded at Meet Cute Festival at Home Farm Glamping on 28 June 2025. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow PJ on Instagram @philipellis and check out his books at all good bookshops.

Rosie chats to author Lauren Bravo about her book Probably Nothing, people pleasing, the ick, falling in love with someone’s family, dating disasters, dating men of different nationalities, couple dates, concealing real life experiences under the cloak of fiction and more. Recorded in Rosie’s back garden on 27 April 2025. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live with Diva editor Roxy Bourdillon at Burley Fisher Books on June 4. Come and be part of it: https://burleyfisherbooks.com/products/conversation-what-a-girl-wantsby-roxy-bourdillon-w-rosie-wilby Follow Lauren on Instagram @laurenbravo and check out her books at all good bookshops.

In the second half of our live double bill recorded at The Poodle Club on Galentine’s Day, Rosie chats to comedian Hatty Ashdown and million-selling author Julie Cohen about bisexuality, divorcing during a pandemic, staying friends with an ex, separating when you have kids, how to flirt with a lesbian, how women should go about letting each other know they’re interested, hand signals (and fingers!) as a flirting technique, crying at the school gates, making a video of yourself crying and an exciting reveal about who one of my guests might’ve once fancied. Could it be one of the guests from the first half of our double bill…? Recorded at The Poodle Club on 13 February 2025. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live at The Poodle Club on April 24. Come and be part of it: https://wegottickets.com/event/651454 Follow Hatty on Instagram @hattyashdown Follow Julie on Instagram @juliecohenauthor and check out all her books (including the three mentioned - Summer People, Bad Men and Eat Slay Love) at all good bookshops.

In a live conversation recorded at The Poodle Club on Galentine’s Day, Rosie chats to comedian Kate Martin and author Nicola Dinan about queer women staying friends after a breakup, crushes on teachers, writing fiction that draws on real-life experiences, choosing someone nice as opposed to just superficially attractive, recognising people you’ve rejected on Tinder and much more. Recorded at The Poodle Club on 13 February 2025. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live at The Poodle Club on April 24. Come and be part of it: https://wegottickets.com/event/651454 Follow Kate on Instagram @thatkatemartin Follow Nicola on Instagram @nicoladinan and check out her books Disappoint Me and Bellies at all good bookshops

In a live conversation recorded at Maidstone Lit Fest, Rosie chats to comedian, actor, writer and broadcaster Maria McErlane about her memoir Bumps in the Road, bicycles as a metaphor for life’s ups and downs, the London comedy circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Maria’s TV career, her friendship with Graham Norton, Maria’s sexual awakening and first heartbreak, celebrity and fame. Recorded at Maidstone Lit Fest on 9 October 2024. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Maria on Instagram @mariamcerlane Follow Maidstone Lit Fest on Instagram @maidstonelitfest

In an episode recorded in a community garden on New York’s Lower East Side, Rosie chats to author and relationship coach Laura Boyle about her book Monogamy? In This Economy?, the relative financial and emotional costs of breakups in monogamous and polyamorous setups, relationship anarchy, metamours, slow breakups, de-escalation and conscious communication skills. They’re then joined by storyteller and educator Alex Alberto who discusses their book Entwined: Essays on Polyamory and Creating Home, redefining notions of failure and success, breakups and creativity, professional breakups, professional jealousy and more. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Laura on Instagram @readyforpolyamory Follow Alex on Instagram @thatalexalberto

In a live episode recorded at Jersey Festival of Words, Rosie chats to author Cathy Rentzenbrink about murderous menopausal thoughts, HRT, marriage, staying friends with an ex, weddings going wrong, how to feel better when times are hard, the healing powers of humour, curiosity, carbs, daylight, words and cold water, cosmic insignificance theory, the meditations of Roman emporer Marcus Aurelius and much more. Recorded at Jersey Festival of Words on 28 September 2024. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Cathy on Instagram @catrentzenbrink Follow Jersey Festival of Words on Instagram @jerseyfestivalofwords

In a live episode recorded at Hoxton Hall, Rosie chats to comedian Jen Ives and writer / performer Emma Frankland about whether we’d go and see an ex doing a show all about their exes, actively choosing to stay in relationships (or not), growing up during the Section 28 years and not having access to information about trans identities, writing for Hollyoaks and much more. We also hear a fantastic audience contribution about a platonic relationship breakup from Tamara Micner. This episode was the second half of a live double bill. You may want to listen to our previous episode to hear Josi’s poem, which we refer to a number of times. Recorded at Hoxton Hall, as part of Hackney Pride 365’s Trans Awareness Week season, on 17 November 2023. With thanks to Hackney Pride 365 and to ELOP. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Jen on Instagram @imjenives Follow Emma on Instagram @notyetarobot Follow Tamara on Instagram @tamarafm

In a live episode recorded at Hoxton Hall, Rosie chats to comedian Cerys Bradley and broadcaster Shivani Dave about weddings, coming out as nonbinary, when to advise a friend to break up with their partner and the best chocolate treats to turn to after a heartbreak. We also hear some fantastic audience contributions from poet Josi and writer Katie Hall. Recorded at Hoxton Hall, as part of Hackney Pride 365’s Trans Awareness Week season, on 17 November 2023. With thanks to Hackney Pride 365 and to ELOP. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues Follow Cerys on Instagram @hashtagcerys Follow Shiv on Instagram @shivscamp Follow Katie on Instagram @katiemargarethall

In a live episode recorded at The Exhibit in Balham, Rosie chats to comedians Mary O’Connell, Hajar J. Woodland and Sharlin Jahan about the healing power of comedy, Tig Notaro, bisexuality, getting divorced in your twenties then going to LA and hitting on John Mayer, growing up Muslim, arranged marriages, sex ed lessons, giving yourself permission to cry and whether or not Sainsbury’s is the best supermarket for cruising. Recorded at Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival on 4 November 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Hoxton Hall on 17 November as part of Hackney Pride’s celebrations of Trans Awareness Week: https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/event/112321/ Follow Mary on Instagram @marywiththegoldshoes Follow Hajar on Instagram @hajarjwoodland Follow Sharlin on Instagram @sharlincomedy

In a live episode recorded at Margate Bookie, Rosie chats to authors Lucy Vine and Olivia Petter plus comedian Zahra Barri about whether we all have seven archetypes of ex - the first love, the work mistake, the friend with benefits, the overlap, the missed chance, the bastard and the serious one, dating app culture, whether marriages should expire after a certain duration, whether there should be a lower age limit (of around 35 or 40!) of when you can marry, writing as catharsis, staying accountable for our part in a breakup, doing the emotional housework in a relationship, losing ourselves in relationships, whether to stop drinking after a breakup and much more. Recorded at Margate Bookie on 22 October 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Hoxton Hall on 17 November as part of Hackney Pride’s celebrations of Trans Awareness Week: https://www.hoxtonhall.co.uk/event/112321/ Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucyvineauthor Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviapetter Follow Zahra on Instagram @zahra.barri.comedy Follow Margate Bookie on Instagram @margatebookie With additional thanks to our friend Vix Leyton, who you can follow @vixleyton

In a live episode recorded at The Bullingdon as part of IF Oxford, Rosie chats to anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar and author Max Dickins about friendship - why why we need friends, how many friends we can have, friendship breakups, the ambiguous language of friendship, the When Harry Met Sally (or when Sally met Sally) question, Jane Austen’s observations on relationships, whether a close romantic friendship could ever count as ‘cheating’, the differences between (straight) male and female friendships and the experience of people with identities beyond those binaries. Recorded at The Bullingdon as part of IF Oxford on 17 October 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Margate Bookie on 22 October and Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London on 4 November: https://www.dreamland.co.uk/event/live-podcast-the-breakup-monologues/ https://www.streathamspaceproject.co.uk/whats-on-calendar/cheerfulearful-4nov23 Robin’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Friends-Understanding-Power-Important-Relationships/dp/0349143579/ Max’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1838853545/

In a live episode recorded at The Bill Murray, Rosie chats to comedians Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath about first loves, writing a revenge novel, finding a suspicious condom in your partner’s bin, living in a house with your ex, polygamy, Njambi’s great great grandmother’s seven wives, sex party rules, the myth of ‘exclusive’ dating apps, the challenges of having sex when you have kids and much much more. Recorded at The Bill Murray on 24 September 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at IF Oxford on 17 October: http://if-oxford.com/event/the-breakup-monologues-friendship Margate Bookie on 22 October: https://www.margatebookie.com/the-breakup-monologues and Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London on 4 November: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/events/the-breakup-monologues Follow Ria on Twitter / Instagram @rialina_ Follow James on Twitter / Instagram @imjamesbarr Follow Njambi on Twitter / Instagram @NjambiMcgrath

In a live episode recorded at Green Man festival, Rosie chats to Vagina Museum founder Florence Schechter and writer Harriet Gibsone about breaking up at a festival, stalking your ex through their Spotify playlists, how social media fuels nostalgia, kissing boys at scout camp, meeting first loves on MSN Messenger, attachment styles, the cultural history of sleeping in separate beds (as a sign of affluence) and being dumped via Grazia magazine. Recorded at Green Man festival on 20 August 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/ Follow Flo on Twitter @floschechter Follow Harriet on Twitter @harrietgibsone

In a live episode recorded at Norwich Arts Centre, Rosie chats to poets Lewis Buxton and James McDermott plus musician Jess Morgan about the challenges of writing poetry about exes, ghosting on the central line, having a best friend steal your girlfriend, dating someone who likes to dress up as a dalek, school crushes, teenage awkwardness, the etiquette of cinema dates, the downsides of dating a cyclist, sexual roles and much much more. Recorded at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/ Follow Lewis on Twitter @LewisBuxton93 Follow James on Twitter @jamesliammcd Follow Jess on Insta @jessmorgface

In a live episode recorded at Norwich Arts Centre, Rosie chats to musician / comedian Grace Petrie and writer / performer Molly Naylor about ego and rejection, the challenge of writing good songs when you’re happy, crushes on straight girls, being ‘pre-dumped’, role models, bisexuality, butch identities, gender nonconformity, dogging and much much more. Recorded at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording a live episode at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September (with guests Ria Lina, James Barr and Njambi McGrath): https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/ Follow Grace on Twitter @gracepetrie Follow Molly on Twitter @mollynaylor (And book here for her next solo performance workshop - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-performance-with-molly-naylor-tickets-620826487737)

In an episode recorded backstage at Soho Theatre, Rosie chats to comedian Ed Byrne about whether tragedy plus time really does equal comedy, the healthy aspects of breakups, checking out of a relationship in order to make the other person dump you, why unrequited love leaves such an impression on us, advising friends after a breakup and having to take sides in a separation. Recorded backstage at Soho Theatre on 18 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also recording live episodes at Green Man Festival on 20 August and at The Bill Murray in London on 24 September: https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/ For Ed’s live dates see: https://edbyrne.com/live-dates/

In the second of two live episodes recorded at Cambridge Junction, Rosie chats to comedians Darran Griffiths and Ali Warwood about parenting, finding the right time to break up with someone, why women initiate the majority of breakups, reuniting with an ex via Facebook, meeting a partner via eBay feedback forums, early 90s dating sites, dick pics and some fabulous stories submitted by the audience. Recorded at Cambridge Junction on 9 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at The Bill Murry in London on 24th September: https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/the-breakup-monologues-live-podcast-24th-sep-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202309241600/ Follow Darran on Twitter: @darrangriff Follow Ali on Twitter: @aliwarship

In a live episode recorded at Cambridge Junction, Rosie chats to comedians Stephanie Laing and James Ross about trying polyamory then having two breakups on the same day, being dumped by someone who was bribed by wealthy parents to do so, how to stop making bad choices, whether you can train a bad kisser and turn them into a good one, partners who completely disappear and get reported as missing, why wedding vows should include an ‘assist’ mention for an ex who has helped someone to change and some fabulous stories submitted by the audience. Recorded at Cambridge Junction on 9 July 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram and Threads @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July: https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues/ For more info on James and his Quantum Leopard comedy night and podcast, see https://linktr.ee/quantumleopard To follow Stephanie on Twitter: @stephanie_laing

In a live episode recorded at Kite Festival, Rosie chats to comedian Lou Sanders about doing a gig on the day of a big breakup, breaking up just before Edinburgh Fringe, getting all your wardrobe space back, imagining your ex with a new partner as a way of getting over them, spirituality, dating apps and much more… then hear from members of the audience about breakups that happened just prior to the festival! Recorded at Kite Festival on 10 June 2023. You can now follow The Breakup Monologues on Instagram @breakupmonologues and buy The Breakup Monologues book from all good bookshops: https://linktr.ee/breakupmonologues The Breakup Monologues will also be recording live episodes at Cambridge Junction on 9 July: https://www.junction.co.uk/events/rosie-wilby-the-break-up-monologues/ Then also recording live episodes at Norwich Arts Centre on 27 July: https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/the-breakup-monologues/