What's wrong with having a type?

Love Letters

The Boston Globe

Relationships, Society & Culture

4.5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Jordan was young, he saw actress Janeane Garofalo on television. Since then, he’s had a type: smart, creative, sardonic, sarcastic, brunette, glasses-wearing women. Not a bad thing … or is it limiting? What does it mean when we have a type? If our type doesn’t like us back, do we have to expand our parameters when looking for love? Take a journey with Meredith and Jordan through an exploration of types ... and the perfection of the woman who starred in “Reality Bites,” and “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” and made a memorable guest appearance on “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.” Share your thoughts on this episode by emailing loveletters@boston.com. Tell us all about your type – or share your relationship questions. Remember, we’re an advice column, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	In the vast wide ocean that is one's potential dating pool, having a type can help guide you to the right person.
0:13.7	A type can be like a trail map, one that leads you to a path of deeper connection once that first hurdle of attraction is cleared. But sometimes
0:22.7	having a type can feel limiting, whether it's a physical type or just a vibe. Like maybe you love men with
0:30.4	be beards, or women who seem like they could be librarians, or tall guys who look like they were the stars of their high
0:37.4	school sports teams.
0:39.2	And dating those people, it doesn't get you anywhere.
0:43.2	Types can work in your favor or not.
0:46.5	Jordan Ianucci, a 37-year-old man in New York, can tell you that.
0:51.5	His type is very specific.
0:54.3	It's writers. I'm going to just stifle any sort of repression I'm feeling and say dark-haired sardonic
1:06.2	bitches. Jordan's type is a creative woman who is sarcastic, smart, confident, or at least unbothered,
1:14.5	when she's not confident.
1:16.5	This type made itself clear to him when he was young.
1:19.4	It all started with a specific person at a very early stage of Jordan's life.
1:25.2	Janine Garofalo, so I was three or four,
1:29.5	because I watched The Adventures of Pete and Pete,
1:32.8	where she plays a character in an episode.
1:36.0	It all started with a look at Janine Garofalo.
1:39.8	It's Janine all day.
1:41.7	From Boston Globe, I'm Meredith Goldstein.
1:44.6	This is Love Letters. This is an episode about having a type and what that really means. But let's be honest, it's also an episode about
2:19.2	Janine Garofalo. So let's talk about her. For those too young or too old to know her, I'll give you a
	...

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