New This Week: The Perils of Modern Romance

Three Generations Debate Sex, Love, and Relationships

Jul 19, 2026

The wedding bells that rang for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce earlier this month have reignited conversations about modern romance just as debates over marriage and family are heating up elsewhere. From Vice President JD Vance’s calls for Americans to marry and have more children to the rise of nonmonogamy and tradwives on social media, questions about love, commitment, and raising families have become part of a much larger national conversation. For many people across Gen Z, Millennials, and even Gen X, the ideal of marriage and kids feels less attainable, or simply less appealing, than it once did. In this episode, we debate why.

Are we making love and relationships more complicated than they need to be, or are today’s changing expectations a healthy response to a changing world? In this episode of “Generational Divides,” Reason editor-at-large Nick Gillespie brings together three generations to debate whether we’re overcomplicating love, sex, monogamy, marriage, and the pursuit of lasting happiness.

We’d also like to thank Liberty Ears Foundation for their generous support in making this series possible. Listen to the debate now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube – as always, let us know what you think.

For Gen X:

James J. Sexton, Divorce Lawyer and Author of “How to Stay in Love”

For Millennials:

Carolyn Gorman, Fellow at the Manhattan Institute

For Gen Z:

Malavika Kannan, Author and Writer of the “Quarter Life Crisis” Substack

Guest Moderator:

Nick Gillespie, Editor-at-Large at Reason

A Look Back Across the Generational Divide

How much of today's cultural divide is really a generational one? Dive into the rest of our Generational Divides series, where each episode brings together Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z to challenge assumptions, bridge perspectives, and debate the issues shaping modern life.

Generational Divides on Intergenerational Wealth

For Baby Boomers: Joe Nocera, Deputy Managing Editor at The Free Press
For Gen X: Stacey Vanek Smith, Journalist and Reporter; Co-host of “Everybody’s Business” at Bloomberg Business
For Gen Z: Kyla Scanlon, Financial Content Creator, Economic Commentator and Author of “In This Economy?”

The Golden Age of News Media

For Baby Boomers: Kurt Andersen, Novelist and Former Host of NPR’s “Studio 360”; Co-founder of Spy magazine
For Millennials: Nellie Bowles, Journalist & Co-Founder of The Free Press
For Gen Z: Rachel Janfaza, Journalist & Founder of “The Up and Up” Substack; Contributor to The Bulwark

Are the Parents Alright?

For Baby Boomers: Lenore Skenazy, Co-founder of the Free-Range Kids movement
For Gen X: Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code; CEO of Moms First
For Millennials: Kristin Gallant, Co-founder of Big Little Feelings

A Global Gooooaaaaaaal for America?

After a month of unforgettable matches, packed stadiums, and millions of fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is holding its final match today at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Beyond the plays, goals and upsets, and millions of visitors following matches across the country, we’re curious whether the tournament did more than entertain — did it improve America's image and influence around the world?

The Debates on Love and Sex Continue…

Love, sex, and relationships are changing fast — and so are the debates around them. If this conversation left you wanting more, watch our debates on dealing with relationship conflict, dating apps, true love, and much more: