Elizabeth Banks Married Her College Sweetheart. They’re Still in Love.

Elizabeth Banks Married Her College Sweetheart. They’re Still in Love.

From Modern Love by The New York Times

April 15, 2026 · 45 min · Episode 441

About this episode

Elizabeth Banks shares her enduring love story with her college sweetheart and discusses the challenges of maintaining a long-term relationship.

On her first day of college, Elizabeth Banks met a cute guy at a party. This was long before her roles in “Pitch Perfect” and “30 Rock.” A lot has changed, but 33 years later Banks is still with that same cute guy. In this episode of “Modern Love,” she tells our host, Anna Martin, about the intense conversations and difficult decisions that have kept her relationship alive. And, she reads “Making Space in Marriage, Even as the Walls Close In,” a Modern Love essay about a couple who crack open a stale marriage by leaping into Burning Man. Listen to and Follow ‘Modern Love’ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube |iHeartRadio Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We Want to Hear From You Email us at modernlovepodcast@nytimes.com. Here’s how to submit a Modern Love essay. Here’s how to submit a Tiny Love Story.

People in this episode

Host: Anna Martin

Guest: Elizabeth Banks

Topics covered

  • love
  • marriage
  • relationships
  • college
  • commitment
  • personal stories

Keywords

  • Elizabeth Banks
  • college sweetheart
  • marriage
  • relationship advice
  • Burning Man
  • Modern Love

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times

Books & works: Pitch Perfect, 30 Rock, Making Space in Marriage, Even as the Walls Close In

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