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. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

“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 of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, two storytellers put themselves pretty far out there, to vastly different results. First up is Rachel Bitney Wecht's “A Little Geological Time and Pressure,” which she told for the Story Collider. Then, comedian and writer Marina Franklin shares a studio story about a time she got put out there. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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, the actor whose breakout role was in the cult TV favorite Freaks And Geeks. Samm 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. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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 to you an elegiac dildo variety show of sorts. We have a live story called "Up in Flames" by Henry Bear from The Mystery Box Show, all about sex toys' brilliant final moments. We have a specially-produced piece about an unusual graveyard in San Francisco. And we have the saddest country love song ever, from the musical duo Reformed Whores. Plus, Dan discusses a possible new national holiday for those starting over. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

Online dating is the grandest gamble - the reward might be a great time, but the opportunity for disappointment and deception is no joke. On this episode of Hot Mic, Dan Savage features two hilarious stories about online hookups that went in different directions than the storytellers imagined. First up, comedian and writer Guy Branum shares a story with us in studio about a hookup gone rogue. Then, journalist Tod Kelly shares "When You Give Something a Name," a story he told live at the Mystery Box Show about his adventures on the notorious website Ashley Madison. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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! But 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 famous improv troupe The Groundlings conjure up ridiculous STI-ridden, fully-improvised scenes. For contrast, Dan Savage offers up a bit of actually practical STI advice. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.

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 and actor Barry Rothbart got hired to film a promo video for a huge gay nudist retreat. And then Joel Kim Booster, a NYC-based standup comedian, shares a story about the time he and a few dudes claimed a room of their own.  In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.  

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. In each episode of Hot Mic with Dan Savage, relationship expert and columnist Dan Savage showcases and provides commentary on the best true stories about sex and relationships from live storytelling shows across the country.