This is a rush transcript of Episode #445 of the Richard Mullen Show. Today’s guest was Chuck Krontz, self-proclaimed “King of Unrequited Love.” His new book, The Myth of Love, is now available in paperback.
RICHARD: Do you love someone, yet they have no idea or they just don’t care? Our guest today is the self-proclaimed King of Unrequited Love and will share his thoughts on love and what it all means. Chuck Krontz, welcome to the Richard Mullen Show. What is love?
CHUCK: Richard, love is a myth.
RICHARD: Yes, your book makes that clear, and it’s a great read, by the way. What makes you the King of Unrequited Love?
CHUCK: Well, I have tallied the most women who I have loved, but who never returned that love.
RICHARD: That is a bold claim, how many women are we talking? 3 or 5 or maybe 9?
CHUCK: Try 87 women.
RICHARD: 87? Good God Man, that is a huge number! I give you the crown, no questions asked, well, just a few more questions…(laughter).
CHUCK: Of course.
RICHARD: How did you fall in love with so many women, yet have none of the 87 love you?
CHUCK: It was dumb luck and well, I get over broken hearts very quickly.
RICHARD: How many of these women did you date?
CHUCK: Only a small portion, maybe five or so. Most Unrequited Love goes unsaid. I would say only half of the women I’ve loved ever had any idea I had any type of feelings for them.
RICHARD: Have you ever been married?
CHUCK: Only in my mind, Richard, Only in my Mind.
RICHARD: (Laughter) Hah, yes, of course!
CHUCK: In all seriousness, no, I’ve never been married. Not even been close.
RICHARD: How did you meet all of these women?
CHUCK: Well, some of them I didn’t really know.
RICHARD: Didn’t know them? What do you mean? How do you love someone you don’t know?
CHUCK: I have spoken to all of them. There were many different types and situations. Sometimes I’d fall for the barista at my local coffeeshop, that happened more than once. Sometimes it was a bartender or waitress. I’ve fallen for my college room-mate’s sister. I’ve been in love with female friends over the years, off and on. My hair stylist is an amazing woman. Then there were a few professors in college.
RICHARD: I think our viewers get the picture.
CHUCK: Do they? I once fell in love with my girlfriend’s best friend. That was a thorny minefield. I ending up telling my girlfriend how I felt. That ended things quickly. She and her friend never talked to me again. Funny part was I never loved my girlfriend. Only a handful of women I dated, the five I mentioned before, were women I actually loved. Dating is the part of love that is the biggest hindrance to actually finding love.
RICHARD: But I thought you said love was a myth?
CHUCK: Well, that’s a gimmick to sell books. It’s not really a myth, it is just so rare.
RICHARD: You really think it is rare? I am in love with my wife. Most of the people I know are married and in love. How is it rare?
CHUCK: Well, the question was asked in lyric long ago “Why do fools fall in love?” The real answer is that question is that too many fools think they are in love, but they really are not.
RICHARD: I see. So, how do you tell the difference between love and false love?
CHUCK: Well, most of the time it is not real love, it is Unrequited Love, of which I know all about.
RICHARD: You mean both parties of most marriages don’t love each other?
CHUCK: Correct. Someone settled on someone or maybe both settled on each other and were too scared of being alone. Why do you think there are so many divorces? When you settle, odds are it won’t last, unless you settle when you are over age 50.
RICHARD: Food for thought. One last question: Will you ever fall in love?
CHUCK: Well, I’m 47 years old. I’m not dead, but the odds are against me. All I can do is hope and keep my online dating profile up-to-date.
RICHARD: Chuck Krontz, author of The Myth of Love, now in paperback, has been our guest. Thank you Chuck, and I hope to have you back again.
CHUCK: Thanks Richard, it has been fun.
RICHARD: Tomorrow night, join us for Betty Nixon, on the plight of the single women in today’s dog eat dog Business world. Chuck, do you want her number?