Ted Nimbe is the founder of Lunaire, a social events company reimagining the way people meet in real life. Built on the belief that connection should feel natural rather than performative, Lunaire creates carefully curated social nights across London's warmest, most vibrant spaces — warm lighting, balanced rooms, grounded energy, and zero pressure. No apps, no algorithms. Just people open to connecting.

In this episode, Emma sits down with Ted to explore why modern dating feels so broken and what it looks like to actually do something about it. They get into the stigma around singles events, how intentional room design shapes the way people show up, the role of vulnerability and emotional openness in real connection, and why taking a break from dating apps might be the most radical thing you can do for your love life.

Key Takeaways:

• A well-designed environment can do more for connection than any algorithm
• Vulnerability isn't weakness — it's the entry point to anything real
• The antidote to app fatigue is showing up, literally
• Genuine connection requires slowness, intention, and a little courage

Follow Lunaire & Ted:Instagram: @lunaire.clubWebsite: https://www.lunaire.club/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for behind-the-scenes clips, reflections, and updates from The Dating Diaries.

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In this episode, we sit down with Ariana Nathani, founder of Drinks First — a media and events company that has built one of NYC's most beloved communities around getting people out from behind their screens and into the same room.

We discuss:

• How COVID-19 reshaped dating culture and what it actually cost us socially
• Why anonymity creates safety — and how that safety opens people up to real connection
• The unique dynamics of dating in New York City and how cultural differences shape the way we show up for each other
• What it's actually like to navigate your own dating life while building a platform centered on everyone else's

Ariana shares how Drinks First grew from a scrappy dating podcast to a Sirius XM-signed show with over 90,000 followers, 1 million TikTok likes, and events drawing up to 2,000 people across NYC — and what she's learned along the way about creating spaces where connection can actually happen.

This conversation is for anybody who's tired of swiping, craving something more real, and wondering how to actually meet people in the world again.

Follow Ariana & Drinks First for more

IG/ TikTok: @ariana.nathani / @drinks.first

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In this episode of Fck That Shit*, Emma Shull speaks directly to survivors of sexual assault, sharing her personal journey of healing and how it has shaped the way she navigates vulnerability, safety, and dating. She unpacks the urge to control outcomes, define labels, and “need to know” as a way to avoid getting hurt, and explores the grief of heartbreaks that haven’t even happened yet. This conversation is about redefining safety as self-trust instead of control, allowing yourself to want something real without shame, and embracing uncertainty as a path to deeper connection.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for behind-the-scenes clips, reflections, and updates from The Dating Diaries.

Instagram: @fckthatshitpod

TikTok: @emmaglobina

Website: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/

Merch: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/store

Substack: https://substack.com/@fckthatshitpod?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Fountain to explore the complexities of dating, trauma, and healing while staying open to connection. Together, we unpack how past experiences shape our nervous systems, influence what feels “safe” in relationships, and impact the way we show up in modern dating.

We discuss:

• The difference between safety and comfort—and why they often get confused after trauma

• How shame shows up when we don’t know what we want or don’t like what we chose

• The role of embodiment and self-trust in dating and relationships

• Setting boundaries while remaining open to love and connection

Claire shares her journey from yoga and movement into psychotherapy, offering insights rooted in somatic healing, mindfulness, and lived experience. This conversation is for anyone navigating dating as a trauma survivor, questioning old patterns, or learning how to approach connection with more curiosity, compassion, and agency.

Guest: Claire Fountain (she/her)
Website: https://www.clairefountain.com/about
Instagram: @cbquality

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for behind-the-scenes clips, reflections, and updates from The Dating Diaries.
Instagram: @fckthatshitpod
TikTok: @emmaglobina
Website: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/
Merch: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/store
Substack: https://substack.com/@fckthatshitpod?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

In this episode of The Dating Diaries, Emma Shull gets honest about the patterns that keep us stuck—examining how alcohol, people-pleasing, and avoidance can quietly shape our dating lives and sense of self-worth. Reflecting on her experience with Sober October, Emma shares how stepping away from drinking revealed deeper cycles of self-sabotage and disconnection, and how learning to trust her intuition became a practice in saying no—on dates, in relationships, and in life. This episode isn’t about perfection or quick fixes; it’s an invitation to notice the loops you’re in, question what’s no longer serving you, and consider what it might look like to choose yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for behind-the-scenes clips, reflections, and updates from The Dating Diaries.

Instagram: @fckthatshitpod
TikTok: @emmaglobina

Website: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/
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In this episode, we sit down with Sam Bail to talk about the complexities of navigating relationships, particularly through the lens of dating apps and the impact of COVID-19 on personal growth.

We discuss:

• Breakups and the transition to online dating

• How the pandemic disrupted our plans for self-improvement and social engagement

• What it means to decenter both alcohol and dating in our lives

• Finding authentic connections in a world that often feels performative

Sam shares her journey of creating intentional social spaces and rethinking what dating and connection can look like when you strip away the usual crutches.

This conversation is for anyone who's ever felt like they're going through the motions in dating, using alcohol to make it more bearable, or wondering if there's a different way to show up for themselves and others.

Guest: Sam Bail

• Website: https://www.brightnightssocial.com/#about

• Newsletter: https://brightnightssocial.substack.com/

• Instagram: @brightnightssocial

Connect with the show: Instagram: @fckthatshitpod

Summary

In this episode one of the Dating Diaries, Emma Shull shares her personal journey through the complexities of dating, self-worth, and the impact of past trauma. She reflects on her experiences with dating apps, the societal pressures surrounding relationships, and the importance of self-discovery. Emma emphasizes the need to reject forced connections and mindless swiping, advocating for genuine human connection and self-empowerment.

Follow our instagram and tiktok to keep up behind the scenes.

IG- @fckthatshitpod

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Website: https://www.fckthatshitpod.com/

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The Dating Diaries is a F*ck That Shit podcast season exploring what happens when we stop swiping and start showing up. Through thoughtful, personal reflections and candid conversations, host Emma Shull documents her own journey of navigating dating without the apps—pushing past comfort zones, flirting IRL, and learning how to build connection with intention.

Each episode peels back the layers of modern romance, spotlighting guests who are challenging the digital dating status quo and finding love, intimacy, or self-discovery in unexpected ways. From solo musings to community wisdom, The Dating Diaries is a call to unplug, reconnect, and reimagine what dating can feel like—off the screen and in real life.

In this powerful episode of FCK THAT SHT, I sit down with the iconic burlesque queen, Perle Noire, to explore her journey of transforming stigma into strength and using seduction as a tool for liberation. Known for her captivating performances and trailblazing work in redefining sensuality and self-love, Perle Noire has empowered over 5,000 women and femmes through her signature workshop, Healing Through Seduction.

We discuss:

• How Perle Noire reclaimed her narrative through art and sensuality.

• The process of turning stigma into empowerment and healing.

• Her philosophy of self-love, authenticity, and embracing your inner diva.

• The impact of her Healing Through Seduction workshops and how they continue to inspire women to connect deeply with themselves.
  

Connect with Perle Noire:

• 🌐 Website: blackburlesquequeen.com
  📸 Instagram: @theperlenoire

In this provocative and thought-provoking episode of F*ck That Shit, we’re stripping away the layers of shame, stigma, and societal expectations with the brilliant Fancy Feast—a Brooklyn-based burlesque performer, writer, and sex educator.

Together, we explore:
🔥 The intersections of burlesque, drag, and sex work
🔥 How shame is weaponized—and monetized—against sex workers
🔥 Reversing the spectator's gaze and reclaiming power in performance
🔥 The role of filth and obscenity in challenging societal norms
🔥 Embodiment in a digital world and why presence matters
🔥 Why supporting sex workers means paying for their labor

Through personal anecdotes, cultural critiques, and deep reflections, Fancy Feast shares how performance can be both a mirror and a megaphone—confronting discomfort, transforming perspectives, and breaking down barriers.

🔗 Learn more about Fancy Feast: fancyfeastburlesque.com

✨ Join us as we say F*ck That Shit to shame and celebrate the power of erotic labor.