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Episode 4: Are We Dating or Are We Auditioning Each Other?

Dating in 2026 feels less like romance and more like a casting call.In this episode, we unpack the unspoken pressure to perform, impress, and stay “chosen” in a world shaped by dating apps, reality dating shows, and endless access to options. When every interaction feels like an evaluation, how do you show up as yourself without feeling replaceable?

We talk about:​ 

• Why modern dating feels transactional instead of intentional​ 
• How social media and dating shows quietly train us to audition instead of connect​ 
• The exhaustion of being constantly assessed, curated, and compared​ 
• The fine line between standards and self-protection​ 
• And that uncomfortable question many of us whisper: Am I the problem… or is the system broken?

This conversation is honest, funny, and a little uncomfortable, because growth usually is. Whether you’re single, dating, or emotionally retired from the apps, this episode invites you to pause and ask what dating is really asking of us.

Because two things can be true: You can want love and refuse to perform for it.