Last Date

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Dana, a self-described recovering people pleaser who went from losing herself completely in relationships to building a life so full that it's hard to find a partner who is a value add.

We get into how she went from boy crazy to briefly hating men — and why this mentality was holding her back, what she learned when she stopped morphing herself into whoever she thought a guy wanted her to be, and the moment she pushed a guy away mid-kiss and told him exactly why.

We discuss:

- Going on good dates with bad men vs bad dates with good men

- How a fancy resort trip fooled her into thinking there was real chemistry

- "I wasn't attracting the same type of man — I was accepting the same type of behavior"

- Setting boundaries to explain how she wants to be treated

- The thing many men are getting wrong on the first date.

Dana also shares the line that stuck with me: "I used to fear abandonment from men. Now I fear abandonment from myself."

Follow on Spotify for future conversations.

Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Dana: https://www.instagram.com/danafisher_atx

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Keighley, who recently went through a breakup--with someone she still works with.

We discuss:- The difference between how men and women process a breakup — and why women feel a bigger void

- Why she won't sleep with someone until they're officially her boyfriend

- How to make women feel safe

- The slow burn: how she ended up falling for someone she never would have considered

- The single biggest first date mistake men make

- The friend group blacklist — and how your reputation follows you in a small community

Keighley also shares what it's actually like when your ex is dancing with someone else two feet away from you, why she once reverse-catfished herself on Hinge, and what a man reveals about himself when he says "my mom never hugged me" within the first two minutes of a date.

This conversation is honest, funny, and one of the more unfiltered takes on modern dating we've had on the show.

Follow the show for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights:https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Keighley Voorheis: https://www.instagram.com/ogreatcalamity

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Jenn Mann, founder of Meet at the Mirror — an intentional Christian singles community in Austin, Texas. Jenn has a front-row seat to what separates people who find their person from people who don't.

We discuss:

• The approach gap: women want to be approached but men aren't approaching

• Why "just say hi" is better than any pickup line

• The real reason men avoid intentional dating spaces (it's not the money)

• What actually makes two people compatible — and why your list is probably too long

• How to figure out your non-negotiables by asking how you want to feel in a relationship

• Why the three-day texting rule doesn't work anymore

Jenn also shares how redoing her values exercise a month ago ended a long stretch of being "invisible to men" — and how the dates that followed were some of the best she's been on.

Follow the show for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights:https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Jenn Mann and Meet at the Mirror:https://www.instagram.com/itsjennmannhttps://www.instagram.com/meet.at.the.mirror

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Jen, a single mom of two who got married at 20 and barely dated before that — meaning when she started dating again in her early 30s, she was essentially starting from scratch.

We get into what it actually looks like to date when your life already feels full, why motherhood gave her more confidence than any dating experience could have, and what men consistently get wrong about single moms.

We discuss:

• Why having kids made her a more confident, grounded dater — and how she uses her parenting voice on herself
• The "houseplant energy" shift that happens when your kids become teenagers
• Why she's in no rush to find someone — and how that actually makes dating easier
• What she really needs from a partner (hint: it's not a stepdad)
• The assumptions men make about dating single moms — and how they're usually wrong
• Why the lock screen on her phone has become an instant compatibility test

Jen also shares the story of how she accidentally became someone's worst date ever — while closing on the house she still lives in today.

This conversation is warm, self-aware, and a good reminder that dating a single mom isn't the complication most men assume it is. It might actually be the opposite.

Follow the channel for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights:https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Jen:

https://www.instagram.com/pio.wellness

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Kelsea, a 36-year-old who has dated across three cities — Milwaukee, Denver, and Austin — and across three decades of men.

We discuss:

• Why Denver was Kelsea's worst dating city
• The approach from men that consistently works — and why it takes all the pressure off
• The five men who asked for her number recently and not one followed up for a date
• What dating men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s actually looks like — and which decade surprised her most
• The drop-off she noticed after turning 35 on dating apps
• Height filters, age gatekeepers, and why dating in your community bypasses all of it

Kelsea also shares one of her best first dates (that includes a great tip for testing compatibility), one of her worst (that ended in an apology), and the story behind the nickname "Sour Patch Kelsea."

This conversation is honest, self-aware, and a good reminder that the best dating filter might not be an app — it might just be showing up, staying open-minded...and bringing your dog.

Follow the show for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights:https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Kelsea on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kelseamulhern

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Eric Moreno, a two-step instructor in Austin, Texas, to talk about what dancing can teach us about attraction, confidence, and relationships.

Eric shares what he’s learned from years of dating within a close-knit dance community — including how to be honest about your intentions from the start, how to navigate breakups when you share the same social circle, and why maturity matters when dating in community.

We also discuss:

• Why being a good dancer is so attractive

• How attunement and presence make people feel safe

• The connection between dancing, confidence, and intimacy• How healthy couples handle jealousy

• Eric’s “secret” to dating attractive women over the years

• The concept of courage before confidence

• Why so many men avoid learning skills they aren’t instantly good at

• The importance of teachability: being willing to learn and willing to change

• Why authenticity matters — but so does becoming your best self

Eric also shares the story of a woman walking off the dance floor while he was learning to dance — and how that rejection became a great lesson.

This conversation is about attraction, growth, and why learning to move through discomfort may be one of the most underrated dating skills there is.

Follow this podcast for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Eric: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nativetexantwostep

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Joel Cochran — a 41-year-old man on a mission to find his wife.

For the past year, Joel has been part of a podcast/dating experiment called Wife or Bust, where he worked with dating coach Chris Bates to intentionally refine his approach to dating on Hinge. Instead of maximizing options, Joel explains why he does the opposite — narrowing his focus so he can date with clarity and intention.

We discuss:

• ​Why having too many dating options can actually be counterproductive
• ​His strategy of pausing Hinge after matching with three women
• ​The importance of clearly defined dealbreakers (e.g. faith, health, and wanting kids)
• ​Why you actually don’t want to attract everyone when dating
• ​How being your authentic self helps attract the right partner faster
• ​The role of vulnerability in quickly determining alignment
• ​The tricky balance between men being vulnerable and avoiding “the ick”
• ​The concept of “closing the loop” in dating and relationships
• ​Pressure testing compatibility early on

Joel’s approach challenges the idea that more options lead to better outcomes, and instead highlights the power of intentionality, authenticity, and emotional growth when dating with the goal of long-term partnership.

This conversation is about dating with purpose — and what it looks like when someone is truly serious about finding their person.

Follow this podcast for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Joel: https://www.instagram.com/joelcochran_

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Laura Cannon, who was widowed at 27. Eight years later, she’s navigating modern dating — while still carrying the love, grief, and growth shaped by that experience.

Laura shares what her relationship with her husband meant to her, including the conversations they had near the end of his life about her finding love again and being taken care of after he was gone.

We talk about how she approaches dating today, including when — and how — she tells someone she’s a widow, and why she doesn’t include it in her dating profile.

We also explore:

• The advice she would give herself at 27 about grief and dating again

• The difference between pity and true emotional support

• Taking care of others as a way to protect ourselves from vulnerability

• The idea that loving someone new doesn’t diminish love for someone who passed

• Why she doesn’t need someone to fix her — just someone who can meet her where she is

Laura also reflects on how losing her husband shaped who she is today, and how anyone who falls in love with her is ultimately falling in love with someone formed by both love and loss.

This conversation is about grief, resilience, and loving again — without letting go of the past.

Follow this podcast for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Laura: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_lauracannon

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Jessica Lopez to talk about modern dating — and why it increasingly feels like a vetting process.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Jessica shares her experience dating in Miami, why she found the culture there too superficial and casual, and why she ultimately moved to Austin in search of something different — only to find its own set of challenges.

We get into how she approaches dating today, including the systems and standards she uses to filter for the right partner.

We discuss:

• Why she now FaceTimes every match before agreeing to a first date

• The five questions she asks to quickly assess compatibility

• Why she refuses low-effort dates like coffee or walks

• The role of trust — and why men share their location with her early on

• Using Instagram, the Tea app, and other methods to vet potential partners

• Red flags, green flags, and the fine line between standards and over-filtering

• Whether it’s a good idea to date within your own community

Jessica also shares stories that highlight just how unpredictable modern dating can be — from tracking a guy’s location over an entire weekend to navigating blurred boundaries with exes.

This conversation is about standards, trust, and how people are adapting their dating strategies in a world where connection feels harder — but expectations are higher than ever.

Follow this podcast for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Jessica Lopez:  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessicashlopez

Jessica is a 29-year-old entrepreneur and content creator who has navigated the dating scene across the Dominican Republic, Miami, Austin, and now California looking for love. She’s known as the go-to person for relationship advice among her friends, and she has also done extensive personal work understanding and healing her anxious attachment style. After nearly a decade of intentionally using dating apps on and off, she jokingly considers herself a bit of a professional when it comes to navigating them. Her dating journey has been filled with both valuable insights and plenty of hilarious stories about modern love.

In this episode of Last Date, I sit down with Julie Krause to talk about what it’s really like dating at 39 — and why it can feel like being stuck in what she calls “no woman’s land.”

We dive into:

• The “Peter Pan” phenomenon — and why so many men seem resistant to commitment

• How Julie approaches dating differently now compared to when she was younger

• Why feeling safe in a relationship can sometimes feel boring — and why chemistry can be misleading

• The ongoing dilemma: should men ask before going in for a kiss, or just go for it?

• What to do when you’re not excited about a second date — even if the person is perfectly nice

• Why closing the loop and rejecting someone respectfully can still be surprisingly difficult

• Avoidant partners and their patterns

• Why coffee dates often fall flat — and how men can easily stand out by putting a little more effort into dates

Julie also shares a recent relationship that had both chemistry and compatibility — until it suddenly didn’t — and what she learned from that experience.

This conversation is about navigating dating with more awareness, balancing safety and spark, and understanding what actually creates connection — especially when the stakes start to feel higher.

Follow this podcast for future conversations about modern dating and relationships.

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdatepodcast

Follow Danny on Instagram for clips and insights: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lastdatepodcast

https://www.instagram.com/cruxcompatible

Follow Julie: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jazzngirl23

Julie works as a program manager in physician well-being by day and is a curious observer of modern dating by night. She enjoys long runs, great restaurants, travel (especially solo!), fostering cats, and exploring what it means to show up authentically in relationships and in life.