If you grew up in the ’90s, chances are you might have spent late nights under the covers secretly listening to Dr. Judy Kuriansky. Her late-night radio show, Love Phones, was a beacon to millions of lovelorn teens who needed answers to questions about relationships, identity, and, of course, love. No topic was taboo, as Dr. Judy would offer in depth explanations about orgasms, ejaculations, and STDs. But Dr. Judy has always answered the call to help, and in the decades since Love Phones, she has become a global humanitarian, psychologist, author, and United Nations representative.
Dr. Judy let’s talk about your background. Like I told you at the Museum of Sex in New York City, I remember you from Love Phones.
Oh my goodness, yes, Love Phones! That was certainly a milestone in my life. I hosted that show for many, many years, and it’s had such a lasting impact. Even now, so many young people come up to me and say, “Dr. Judy, I grew up listening to you on Love Phones. I had the covers over my head and earphones pressed to my ears—you changed my life.”
They often tell me things like, “I learned so much about life and relationships,” or “I realized I wasn’t alone,” or “You helped me feel okay about myself.” That’s exactly what I hoped would happen. After all, we were on the radio—not in person—so hearing that kind of feedback is incredibly rewarding.
And I’ve met listeners in the most unbelievable places around the world! I truly feel like I’ve parented thousands of kids—not biologically, of course, but emotionally and psychologically. That’s why this interview for Celebrity Parents Magazine is so fitting. These listeners feel like my children.
The show started in the tri-state area—New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut—and then it was syndicated and even played in Japan. I meet grown adults now who tell me, “I couldn’t talk to my parents, but I could listen to you, or hear others call in.” I’m honored by that.
For example, I was at an event for the International School in Lesotho, Africa, part of my work helping the First Lady of Lesotho develop a camp for orphans and vulnerable children. At the American Embassy’s event, someone across the table looked at me and said, “Oh my God, it’s Dr. Judy—in Africa!” He was posted there from Texas, working for the U.S. Embassy. He told me he grew up listening to me. He had little kids of his own. That’s one of many powerful examples of how far the reach of Love Phones has gone.
It’s almost like you adopted millions of teenagers without even realizing it.
Exactly!
Was your family initially supportive of your work?
That’s a good question. My father was a surgeon and very conservative. When I started talking about sex on the radio, he was a little shocked. But eventually, he became proud of me. My mother was always supportive—she thought I was helping people, and that was what mattered to her. She was very progressive in that way.
How did you get interested in mental health and sexuality?
I always say it was destiny. My name is Judy, and it rhymes with “moody,” so that set the tone. In junior high school, I used to hang out with my girlfriends at the corner drugstore, and they would ask me for advice about their boyfriends. I guess I was always a good listener, and they thought I gave good advice. Later, I got a job at a local radio station, and it was natural for me to become an advice talk show host. That led to my radio show Love Phones in New York, which became nationally syndicated. I was also a reporter for a national TV show and got involved in writing books and speaking internationally. It all evolved from there.
Where has life taken you since the Love Phones days?
Yes—though it continued in different forms until about 2002. After being on the radio four nights a week (plus Friday airings), I had to be in New York a lot. But once that ended, it gave me the chance to spend more time abroad, and my international projects really took off.
For example, the Girls Empowerment Program I mentioned—focused on teaching entrepreneurship and life skills to girls in Africa—has grown. We’re now working on expanding it from Lesotho to Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa.
Another major project I lead is Global Kids Connect, which circulates comforting messages and symbolic items through psychological healing workshops for children who have experienced trauma. It started in Haiti after the earthquake and has reached kids in Japan, especially on the anniversary of 3/11 (the tsunami/earthquake). I recently returned from Japan, where children made origami cranes—symbols of peace—with messages I’ll bring to children in Haiti. It’s a circle of support: from Haiti to Japan and back again.
I also ran a similar healing workshop at St. Vincent’s Hospital just before the 10th anniversary of 9/11. These projects help children know they’re not alone and that other kids around the world understand what they’re going through.
You’re a true humanitarian.
Yes, it’s similar in spirit, though of course, Oprah has far more financial resources. I usually reach into my own pocket to make things happen. I don’t wait for the money to come first. I see what needs to be done, gather a team, and we do it.
Some people fundraise and then execute a project. I often do the opposite. I act first and figure it out as I go. I learned growing up that sometimes you have to move first—and the money follows, somehow. You just figure it out.
What you’re doing is intense—high energy, high stress—because these are emergency situations. But it also seems tailor-made to your personality.
Thank you, that’s so true. I’ve always loved working in teams—from Girl Scouts to my sorority, from all-girls school to playing in an all-women’s band. I’m still in a musical group now called Stand Up for Peace with my best friend Russell Daisey. We perform peace concerts and run symposiums together. It’s all teamwork—and I love that. Everyone has a role to play.
It comes from passion. I don’t like sitting still. I love focusing on something, finishing it, and getting it done. The energy fuels itself—it’s life-energizing.
And it leads to more projects and ideas. That kind of passion is contagious.
Exactly. And you know this too—you’re a mom and you’ve created this beautiful magazine. People always ask, “Can you really do it all?” And while yes, there are compromises, when you have passion, you can do so much more.
It’s about celebrating people’s life philosophies and positive living—not the usual snark.
I love that idea. Your concept for Celebrity Parents is fantastic, and your broader vision makes so much sense. Edward and I had trouble having children, and back then there weren’t the advanced methods available today. So in many ways, I’ve ended up “parenting” thousands—through interns, mentees, and projects.
Let’s talk about your books. You’ve written many.
Yes. My first was Sex—Now That I’ve Got Your Attention: Let’s Talk About Your Questions back in the early ’80s. That started it all. Then came Generation Sex, which was inspired by the questions young people asked on Love Phones—everything from bodies and dating to goals and relationships.
I also wrote several books in the Complete Idiot’s Guide series—Dating, Healthy Relationships, and Tantric Sex. That last topic is something I had been practicing and teaching for 20 years to help couples deepen intimacy.
Then I pivoted a bit and wrote two books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. People often ask, “How does that relate to relationships?” But to me, it’s all the same: it’s about communication, empathy, finding common ground, and building trust.
I’ve spent over 35 years in that region and, more recently, I’ve represented international therapy organizations at the United Nations. There, I advocate for using psychological tools to address global challenges—women’s and children’s rights, education, AIDS, poverty, disability rights, and more.
If you had to summarize your career in one or two sentences, what would you say? Because many people still think of you solely as a relationship and sex therapist—but you’re so much more.
That’s true. Some people want to define you with one word. My life has been eclectic, but I would say I’m a kind of “Renaissance woman.” Everything I do centers on making the world a better place—whether that’s on the personal level, helping someone live a better life; the interpersonal level, strengthening relationships and families; or the international level, helping foster peace and understanding between nations.
So, you’re building intimacy—in couples, in communities, and even in the Middle East.
That’s such a beautiful arc—starting with individual relationships and expanding that same principle to the whole world. Thank you. As Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage.” I’ve always been interested in people from all backgrounds, and now I picture a giant room—almost like the UN—filled with people from around the world sharing their stories and helping each other. That’s the bigger goal: not just gathering people but encouraging them to lift one another up.
I believe when you care deeply about what you’re doing, you find the energy. I’ve been lucky to combine my interests in media and psychology. And when it comes to humanitarian work, like responding to disasters or working at the United Nations, that comes from my heart. It gives me perspective on life and connects me to a larger purpose.
And you’re right at the heart of making that happen.
Thank you. And I think your readers will appreciate this: everything, ultimately, comes back to family—whether it’s your own, your community, or the family of humanity. As a psychologist, I’ve always seen the nuclear family as the foundation. That’s where it all starts.