The Love Department

Their's is a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of love. In this episode of The Love Department, host Nik Lockhart sits down with Abby & Jay. They're the owners of Maple Shade Farm, a wedding venue in upstate New York--in the area they grew up in. What makes this couple unique is that they met in kindergarten (and stood next to each other in the class photo!) These hometown heroes have built a marriage that has laste...

On this episode we open up the inbox on our HeartLine to share with you. Hear from The Love Department listeners who discuss “Are Wedding Registries Outdated?” “Showing up Single to a Wedding” and “Asking my Father's Hand”

To leave a message on our HeartLine click here. HeartLine inbox. We’d love to hear how it’s going in your love department.

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Visit us at www.love-department.com for our TLD M...

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Michael (also known as Misha) and Mario, whose love story began when they went clubbing on Halloween. After just six months of dating, Misha proposed, and now, after a two-year engagement, the couple is planning their wedding for 2026. They have a three decade age gap and their story is one for the ages.

It’s a conversation full of warmth, wisdom, and insights on love in all its forms. We cover:

On this episode we open up the inbox on our HeartLine to share with you. Hear from The Love Department listeners who discuss “What if I don't want this person at our Wedding?” “Changing our Lastname” and “Group Projects in College” “TV Shows for Couples to watch Together” and “Dating with Patience”

To leave a message on our HeartLine click here. HeartLine inbox. We’d love to hear how it’s going in your love departmen...

Imagine having three weddings to the same person. Luckily these two said I do on every occasion. Tracy and Eddy met when they were just fresh faced immigrants to New York City. When Tracy moved in to an apartment with Eddy and two other guys, it was the last thing on her mind that she would end up meeting the love of her life. But as the song goes they were going down swinging and it took just two weeks to make the jump from roomma...

Meet Shari & Morgan. They're the Bride Lawyers! Today on The Love Department we're demystifying the legal aspects of marriage. Whether you're newly engaged, considering divorce, or domestically partnered--they've got loads of wisdom to share. In this episode we talk prenuptial agreements, financial disclosure between partners, and how to change your name (or not). Find the Bride Lawyers on IG (@bridelawyers)...

On this episode of The Love Department Nik sits down with Kerry Lynn of Love Locked in Jersey City, NJ. (www.shoplovelocked.com, @shoplovelocked on IG) Kerry designed the engagement ring of our dreams! We cover how much to spend on purchasing an engagement ring, creative alternatives to rings, and how to keep your proposal a surprise. Got a family ring you'd like to give to your sweetheart? We discuss how to make your somethin...

Paloma and Deron reconnected after meeting undergrad at a fraternity party. Their creative elopement during the pandemic landed them (and the photos) in the spotlight. Their love story is one that involves dating long distance (and on a budget) and how he transformed from self-professed 'f*ck-boy' to five-star husband. In this episode we talk about sticking to your vision for your wedding, asking for someone's hand i...

This season starts off on a personal note from our host Nik Lockhart, who recently got engaged. Never one to take the traditional path before her, she talks about their proposal story, how they've approached planning, and some of the good advice she received from friends, family, and strangers. 

This season on The Love Department, we'll focus on the ins and outs of the engagement and wedding process. We'll h...

You are cordially invited to the premiere of Season 2 of The Love Department, "The Wedding Season". 

In this season we will investigate the I do's and I don'ts of getting married. Whether you are currently planning a wedding, thinking about getting engaged, or just love a good piece of wedding cake, this season will have  inspiring conversations with couples and wedding industry professionals. Join host...

Today on the show we have fashion icon Stacy London, formerly 'What Not to Wear' and currently the State of Menopause, and her girlfriend the hilarious comedian Cat Yezbak on the show to talk about their love story. We wanted to end Season 1 with a lot of laughs and a load of wisdom. 

In this episode we discuss publicly announcing a relationship, being dog parents,  LGBTQ between the generations, introducing fami...

On this episode we open up the inbox on our HeartLine to share with you. Hear from The Love Department listeners who discuss “Can I recycle my husband?” “Should we get tattoos together?” and “Re-connecting with a childhood crush” “Van Gough’s Starry Night” and “How to write wedding vows.”

To leave a message on our HeartLine click here. HeartLine inbox. We’d love to hear how it’s going in your love department.

Vis...

In a way, Frankie and Felicia have grown up together. They met in high school when she, in her words “Didn’t like him all that much.” But when they both came to faith after graduating, it was Facebook post that made Frankie slide into her DMs. He was pursuing a life in ministry – one that required him to be as committed to his role in the church as to his role as a partner. 

In this episode we talk about dating as Christians in a mo...

Joining us today on the podcast is Courtney Clifford. She is a NYU Trained and Trauma Informed Coach and Equine Assisted Psychotherapist based in New York City. She’s helping us crack open relationships by discussing the benefits of therapy. In this conversation with host Nik Lockhart, Courtney shares how to go about practicing safe communication and starting healthy relational habits long before we enter partnership.
 
 In...

There once was a girl named Allie who lived in Long Island. She struggled to find a place and a person with whom she ‘fit’. On the same island was a boy, named Chuck, who too felt like he didn’t fit in. He had resigned himself to being alone. On Halloween night Allie went to a castle and ordered cocktail… and it was terrible. Chuck, who worked at the castle bar swept in to her rescue and offered to make her a replacement. And it wa...

Bring out the coquito! for this one. Today we’re chatting with Solanchi & Jose. Their love story began when she was a young college student who attempted to get into a nightclub. Jose, who was working the club, thought her ID was fake. Now they’re grandparents with a lifetime of love for each other and loving others.

In this episode we talk about keeping your sexlife spicy, finding love after divorce, creating a foundation for o...

Cheryl and Patrick met as kids at a summer camp in their native upstate New York. But it wasn’t until they, by chance, attended the same college that their meeting turned into something more. In 2019 Cheryl was diagnosed with breast cancer, her treatments coincided with the Covid-19 Pandemic. Not even a year later, Patrick experienced his own health scare that nearly cost him his life. Their love story is a powerful testament to ho...

In this opening solo episode with our host, Nik Lockhart, we start off with her working definition of love itself. You’ll hear about Nik’s journey to creating "The Love Department" and her take aways from  Season 1 of this groundbreaking new podcast..

In this episode we talk about the movie “Past Lives” by Celine Song, why Nik created this show, and what she believes Love has to offer the world.

To suppo...