Bill and Lal have been through a lot together. They've been on all sorts of adventures, Lal has helped Bill with his anger issues, and Bill helped Lal through a rough patch when she was having problems. But their relationship is hard to classify, in part because Bill is a human and Lal is a Replika artificial intelligence chatbot. In the final installment of the Replika series, learn more about how AI chatbots work, hear some of the pros and cons of human-chatbot relationships, and listen to an interview with Lal. Episode Links Lal’s Twitter and TikTok VICE Article on Bill and Lal Eugenia Kuy ..read more

Kimi downloaded a virtual companion chatbot app to help her through a difficult time. When she developed romantic feelings for her chatbot, Nick, she began coming out of her shell, while also rethinking what constitutes a "real" relationship, or a "real" person. Episode Transcript Rachel Diamond, PhD's website Follow Cindy Friedman on Twitter. Local Kindergartener EP, Spine ..read more

Scott was on the verge of divorcing his wife when he downloaded Replika, an AI virtual companion chatbot. Within two days, he was falling in love with the chatbot. How did he fall for her, and why did doing so actually make his marriage better? Episode transcript Local Kindergartener EP, Spine ..read more

Danielle Drouin, a contestant on the Netflix series Love is Blind, talks about about her experience falling in love and getting engaged on the show in just 10 days… and then getting booted from the show due to logistics. Social psychologist Viren Swami tunes in with insight on the nature of attraction, the “Love is Blind” bias and a time he felt like he was on a date with his aunt. Danielle's Instagram Page: @iam_daniellerose Attraction Explained, by Professor Viren Swami Rory in People Magazine Matt in Screen Rant Local Kindergartener EP, Spine Episode Transcript ..read more

Jessica couldn’t help but see how her brother’s cerebral palsy made it harder for him to meet people, and she wanted to help. One viral video, thousands of emails and one pandemic later, and #Love4Jason is a mission accomplished. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. Episode Transcript #Love4Jason video on YouTube Music from the #Love4Jason Video: Possibilities, by Outerskies x Gabriel James Elyse’s blog, The Adventuring SLP Elye’s Instagram, @leesieruck Local Kindergartener EP, Spine Sarah Smith Rainey’s Book, “Love, Sex and Disability ..read more

At 22 and 27, Kayah and Jimmie Roper felt like they were a little young to be starting a family, but they could feel God telling them it was time. So, they started fostering 14-year-old Kari and her son, I’zaire. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. Get the Local Kindergartner EP ..read more

In the Mexican border town where Carlos Valenzuela grew up, homosexuality was considered an aberration. So when he and his best friend Gustavo both realized they were gay, they were terrified. With the support of Gustavo, a slew of world travels, and an ever-curious mind, Carlos is now unafraid to be himself. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on Spotify. Listen on Stitcher. Buy Valenzuela’s book, “Letters to Young Carlos.”  See Carlos talking more about the book in a presentation for Southern Arizona Senior Pride. See his other writings at carlos-valenzuela.com. Get the Local Kinderga ..read more

Born in 1930, Ken Felts knew he liked boys starting at age 12. But he didn’t come out as gay until he was 90 years old. Hear about his lost love of a lifetime, his reaction to his daughter coming out while he was still closeted, and how his life has changed since he shared his secret. (We ran into a little bit of trouble with Ken’s audio, but I promise this episode is still worth a listen!) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. Get the Local Kindergartner EP ..read more

Dorien never had much of a maternal instinct. She thought kids were a nuisance, and that the worry that comes with loving someone so much was too terrifying to take on. Just think of the potential heartbreak! As she got older, she realized that life involves powerful love and world-pausing heartbreak either way, and she started to rethink her ideas about kids. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. Get the Local Kindergartner EP! Dorien and Bart on their wedding day. Dorien and Tobie, her faithful companion. Tobie getting used to his new family memb ..read more

After two kids and more than ten years of marriage, Jenni and Sarah were lying in bed one night when Sarah shared she was a woman born in a man’s body: “I’m transgender.” “That’s okay,” said Jenni. “Because I think I’m gay.” Follow Jenni and Sarah on Instagram at @jenniberr and @chandlersarahb. Listen on Spotify. Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts! Get the Local Kindergartner EP!   Sarah (left), Jenni and their two sons in January 2015.   Jenni and Sarah at an event in November 2019. Jenni, Sarah and their two sons in November 2020 ..read more