Hello Boju Bajai fam, nearly five years after the अपार सफलता of our episode Love, Sex but no Dhoka, we’re back with Part II! We couldn’t have imagined this in the pandemic world of 2021 but - spoilers alert - dating apps kind of suck now. There’s so much talk about burnout and fatigue amongst millennials and Gen-Zs who are, of course, our target demographic, and we felt compelled to look into the matter. So, in this episode, we discuss the diminishing marginal utility of dating apps and the alternative to an increasingly enshittified digital space, and hear from some current and former app users along the way. 

You can listen to part one of Love, Sex, but no Dhoka, when things were simpler and the world of online dating felt more hopeful ;p https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aBPJP3dFi5NBjwZoKua2l?si=a0vm9IzGTCy8Y1ykE5Lftg 

Reporter: Nikita Tripathi

Editor and Boju Bajai theme music: Flekke

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Disclaimer: Some names have been withheld or changed to protect the privacy of those who agreed to speak with us. 

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References (in order of mention):

1. Why people have fallen out of love with dating apps, The Economist, August 2024 https://www.economist.com/business/2024/08/08/why-people-have-fallen-out-of-love-with-dating-apps

2. Dating App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2026), Business of Apps, April 2026 https://www.businessofapps.com/data/dating-app-market/

3. People are dumping Tinder. The dating app wants to reignite its spark by getting singles offline, L.A. Times, November 2025 https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-11-14/people-are-dumping-tinder-the-dating-app-wants-to-reignite-its-spark-with-gen-z

4. More people turning off dating apps and trying to find love in real life, CBS Evening News, August 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYyMvhXFl_A

5. Boomergasms Are Booming, Wired, April 2024 https://www.wired.com/story/boomergasms-are-booming/

6. Women’s Economic Participation in Nepal: Insights from Nepal’s 2021 Census, Nepal Institute for Policy Research, March 2023 https://nipore.org/womens-economic-participation-in-nepal-insights-from-nepals-2021-census/

7. Dating apps turn to Asia as swipe-right fatigue takes hold in the west, Financial Times, January 2026 https://www.ft.com/content/6269bc1f-0380-4150-8bad-8ead98ba1b48?syn-25a6b1a6=1

8. India: Tracking the switch from matrimony sites to dating apps, The Global Observer, June 2025 https://gobserver.net/6167/data-explore/trend-in-india-switch-from-matrimony-sites-to-dating-apps/

9. The Tea app lets women review their dates. Men are worried., The Washington Post, July 2025 https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/07/24/tea-dating-app-women-review-men/

10. Dating App Cover-Up: How Tinder, Hinge, and Their Corporate Owner Keep Rape Under Wraps, The Markup, February 2025 https://themarkup.org/investigations/2025/02/13/dating-app-tinder-hinge-cover-up

11. Inside the multibillion-dollar business of dating apps, Reuters, February 2026https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KnQOxNfPKc

    12. Tinder bets on group dating feature to win back Gen Z, L.A. Times, June 2025https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-06-17/bleeding-users-tinder-bets-on-group-dating-feature-to-win-back-gen-z

Boju Bajai turns 10!! गएको दशकमा social media monetization बाहेक सब कमाइयो 😁😁 आउने दशकमा पक्का करोडपति हुने हो social media मार्फत 🤑Thank you Boju Bajai fam for being part of our laugh and guff gaff. Here’s to more partying and udaaaooing, oops we mean including, our dear lovely gents महोदय in all that we do 👯💃🏽🪩👵🏼

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Very special episode replug to mark ten years of of our laugh and guff gaff : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiCcZ01NPoA

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May 13 video साभार to whoever made this fantastic May 13 edit

Boju Bajai in conversation with singer-songwriter Bartika Eam Rai after nearly five years! In this लम्बेतान but super fun guff gaff we talk about Bartika's journey from her 'Khai' days (which turned 10 this year!) to Aandhii, Ityaadi, her musical inspirations, women in Nepali music to juggling a full time job and still making time for music. Phewww, we covered a lot!

This episode was recorded in November 2024.Thank you Bartika for taking the time out to spend your Friday evening with Boju Bajai, and indulging our never ending fangirling ;P

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Grateful for all the laugh, guff gaff and most importantly, for letting us into your world through your soulful music.

And folks in Australia, please go see her shows this month!

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Watch our guff gaff with Bartika from 2020    • #32 Guff Gaff with Bartika Eam Rai | Boju ...  

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Find Bartika Eam Rai on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0iK3Z8bWIvj3PKVcUoOwGM?si=LbmoTIuVR-ehH2r4qtQnNw

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Read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take....

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Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: ⁠ www.patreon.com/bojubajai⁠

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Follow us @bojubajai on all social media platforms

instagram.com/bojubajai

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facebook.com/bojubajai

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Find Boju Bajai wherever you get podcasts!

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Music credit:

Boju Bajai theme music: Flekke

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Bartika’s photo by Sworup Ranjit

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Video editor: Aayush Suwal

Nepal held its historic election on March 5, and today, on March 27 , former Kathmandu mayor/rapper/structural engineer, 35-year-old Balendra Shah aka Balen will be sworn in as the country’s prime minister, marking a generational break. #MillennialRepresent.

In this episode, we speak with journalist/researcher/urban studies graduate/rap music को ज्ञाता friend Nikita Tripathi for some chunaab chirfaar and discuss our hopes for a new Nepal.

We hope the new guard—overwhelmingly male (and as populist as they come) — which has promised a “Nepal 2.0,” will respect the constitution, mend its old ways by ensuring equitable and meaningful representation by making room for more women and people from marginalised to thrive in national politics.

Also, please less theatrics and more work and room for dialogue. We hope the geruwa effect from across the border doesn’t last beyond Balen’s swearing in ceremony. #SecularismFTW

Only then, will the Nepal’s fifty percent population (the Kylies, the sailis, the mailis et all ) might consider forgiving Balen for his not so savage verses about “sundress to undress to fundraise” 🙃🙃 IYKYK!

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Read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take....

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: ⁠ www.patreon.com/bojubajai⁠ 

Follow us @bojubajai on all social media platforms.

instagram.com/bojubajai

facebook.com/bojubajai 

Find Boju Bajai wherever you get podcasts!

Music credit:

Boju Bajai theme music: Flekke

Savage by Balen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wk82ZJg0xE

Cover photo: Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Nepal/comments/1s3ycgb/stop_treating_balen_like_a_god/

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Today, we're releasing an old episode about dating apps (or as we like to call them over at Boju Bajai- 'sutne' apps) and how Nepali women are navigating a whole new world of swiping and matching. Because later this month, we'll be putting out a follow up to the 2021 episode, exploring swiping fatigue and the trends reshaping the dating app industry, like the rise of offline events to meet new people.

Sabai jana laai Happy Vyaaalentines Day hai ;p

Reported by Nikita Tripathi. Produced by Nikita Tripathi, Bhrikuti Rai and Itisha Giri.

Edited by Irina Giri.

If you like our laugh and guff gaff, please do consider supporting our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

You can also read our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai at bojubajai.substack.com

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Happy new year again time, since we just wrapped up Sonam Lhosar on Monday, and marked the beginning of Kirat Sambat 5086 on Maghe Sakranti last Wednesday. But new year’s resolutions and working on new goals with renewed josh jagar can wait until we change our Bikram Sambat calendar. New year, new beginnings can wait until April, re kya ;)But not if you identify as a Nepali man, who until recently was either a minister, a (rapper) mayor or a former ageing prime minister with tall claims about retiring from active politics cos it’s election season, yo!Listen to our bishesh tippani about how the new parties could reshape Nepal’s political landscape, and a recap of our 2025 and the long list of unaccomplishments ;) Read more about election fever in Nepal on the latest issue of Cold Takes by Boju Bajai https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take....Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: ⁠www.patreon.com/bojubajai⁠ Follow us @bojubajai on all social media platforms.

Boju Bajai in conversation with artist Bunu Dhungana. In this episode we talk about her journey as a multimedia artist and curator to explore and question the world around her.  Bunu’s background in sociology informs her photographic work, questioning notions of gender and patriarchy. In May 2025, Bunu curated ‘some things in the belly’, a multimedia exhibition, which delves into the divides and connections shaping mother-daughter relationships across generations.

Bunu was a 2020/2021 Visiting Artist Fellow at Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University. She is associated with photo.circle in Kathmandu. 

This episode was recorded in July 2025.

• You can follow Bunu’s work on Instagram @bunudhungana https://www.instagram.com/bunudhungana/ 

• Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: ⁠www.patreon.com/bojubajai⁠ 

• Follow us @bojubajai on all social media platforms

• Read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai at bojubajai.substack.com

A lot has happened in Nepal since we released our last episode. The mind-boggling violence and acts of vandalism that unfolded since Gen Z protests left us all shaken, angry and sad. But at the same time, we are also cautiously optimistic of what the future could hold for Nepal. In this episode, we discuss about our fears and hopes for our pyaaro Nepal because us bojus lai dil se.. nai deshko chinta chha.

We been MIA over here because we've been lastaai busy on Substack. Please check out our newsletter and baasi takes on everything that's happened since the protests in September.

1. Take 70: Fake images and conspiracy theories swirl around Nepal's Gen Z protests https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-70-fake-images-and-conspiracy

2. Take 71: Is this the end of Access Journalism in Nepal?https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-71-is-this-the-end-of-access

3. Take 72: Will the real Nepali सक्षम महिला please stand up! https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-72-will-the-real-nepali-please

4. Take 74: What’s in a name? Everything! https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-74-whats-in-a-name-everything

Last Saturday was Father's Day in Nepal. So we are re-releasing this special birthday episode dedicated to all the wonderful, and sometimes rishuthdo fathers. Thank you for sharing your good and not-so-good dad stories with us. This episode is also double special since we feature a Nepali man and stories of several Nepali men. So next time someone tells you what about the men in Boju Bajai podcast, please share this episode with them.Happy listening, and subscribe to Boju Bajai podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Oh, and if you enjoy our laugh and guff gaff and would like to gift us some birthday presents (yes, we are shameless that way) please consider being our patron. More details here www.patreon.com/bojubajaiWe also have a newsletter! Subscribe to Cold Takes by Boju Bajai on Substack for a weekly roundup of news and feminist views.Read and subscribe here:

https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-33-all-about?utm_source=publication-searchBoju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that centre and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

August is Women in Translation Month! In celebration of #WITMonth, let’s revisit our guff gaff on all things literary with writer Muna Gurung. We talk to bout translations, about women, often forgotten by Nepal's literary circle, and her amazing Lightroom Conversation series, where she speaks with some of the most interesting figures in Nepal's literary scene.

Read Lightroom Conversation series by Muna Gurung here: https://www.munagurung.com/lightroom-conversation

The task of the translator by Pranaya Rana https://www.recordnepal.com/the-task-of-the-translator

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Photo by Merit Maharjan @merit.maharjan

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Video footage sources

Nepal Literature Festival @nepallitfestNepali Times @nepalitimes Martin Chautari @martinchautari Shilapatra @shilaptranews Asian American Writer’s Workshop