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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