I'm Natalie Moore. I fell in love with soap operas when I was just five years old, and I still

watch them. Their television's longest scripted series and have zero reruns. Now let me tell you,

soap operas aren't just some silly art form. They are significant. In this season of making,

Stories Without End from WBEZ Chicago. Join me as I share how the genre

began, their social impact, and why these stories endure. Listen, wherever you get your podcast.

From WBEZ Chicago, this is Nerdad. I'm Greta Johnson. We did it. We made it to another weekend.

Coming up, we are going to hear from Nerdat listeners as they shout out some of their favorite

humans for a little Galantines Day treat. I'd like to send a Valentine's Galentine to my dear

friend, Kat. My pal, Emma.

My friend Denise is such a badass.

To my lovely friend Lindsay.

But first, it is our chance to sit back and relax with two excellent humans.

With us this week is Raina Cohen.

She's an editor at NPR and the author of The Other Significant Others, reimagining life with

friendship at the center, which comes out

this coming Tuesday. Raina, welcome to the show. So glad to be here. Yay. Also here is Tracy Thomas,

the host of your one-stop shop to talk books and reading the Stacks podcast. Tracy, hello.

Hi. Okay, so this weekend is the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs are playing the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, I did Google that. Taylor Swift is flying in from Japan. I don't care about either of those things. Tracy, you and I are generally pretty opposite about our opinions about most things. So I assume you're really excited about both of

these elements happening. So Greta, your assumption is right that I am enthused and excited, but I just

want to clarify. I am a member of the Bang Bang Niner gang. I am a big 49ers fan. I have been

raised a 49ers fan my whole life.

Oh, my God.

...