Telling Tinder Tales - dating and romance stories from around the world

In this special live episode from the Edinburgh Fringe, hosts Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood welcome comedian, writer, and children’s entertainer Philip Simon for an unforgettable deep-dive into the wild world of Jewish dating, speed dating gone wrong, and awkward online matchups—including one with his own sister 😳 (yes, really!).

💬 From being set up with childhood friends at Jewish singles events to dodging karaoke-loving kids during his fringe show, Philip delivers a non-stop stream of relatable, laugh-out-loud stories about the struggles of finding love in a community where everyone knows your grandmother.

🎭 Featuring:

• Jewish speed dating horror stories
• Dating site algorithms gone very wrong
• Finding love in real life (while dressed as a pregnant woman)
• A sneak peek into Philip's podcast “Jew Talking to Me?”
• Behind-the-scenes from Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Whether you're a dating app veteran, a Fringe comedy lover, or just here for the chaotic Jewish family banter, this episode is for you.

👉 Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Telling Tinder Tales for more hilarious and heartfelt dating stories from comedians and guests around the world.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

#EdFringe #EdinburghFringe2025 #DatingPodcast #JewishDating #PhilipSimon #TellingTinderTales #ComedyPodcast #LivePodcast #SpeedDatingFail #ModernDating #FunnyDatingStories #FringeFestival #OnlineDatingDisasters

In this hilarious and mildly horrifying episode of Telling Tinder Tales Edinburgh Special, hosts Thomasin Lockwood and Chris O’Neill welcome comedian Mark Maloney to share a truly unforgettable dating story—one that starts in a shared bathroom and ends with an unbreakable bond (and some very strict toilet rules).

Live from the chaos of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the trio dive into cringe-worthy dating disasters, absurd human behaviour, and how getting locked in a bathroom in your pants with a new partner can actually lead to lasting love. You’ll hear about first dates in arcades, deadbolt disasters, and how bowel movements can spark heroic strength.

Plus, Mark talks about his Fringe show Bald Two-in-One, a comedy split-bill that’s equal parts stand-up and sketch (with even more toilet-based misadventures).

Whether you love dating fails, real romance, or just enjoy hearing comedians riff on their most awkward moments, this episode is flush with laughs.

Keywords: dating podcast, comedy podcast, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025, dating disasters, funny date stories, relationship podcast, stand-up comedy, Mark Maloney comedian, Telling Tinder Tales, shared bathroom story, toilet humor, live podcast, British comedy, awkward dating stories

In this special Edinburgh Fringe Festival episode of Telling Tinder Tales, hosts Chris O'Neil and Thomasin Lockwood brave the blustery Scottish weather to bring you a hilarious, heartfelt, and wildly relatable dating story from comedian Pauline Eyre.

From church crushes and university heartbreaks to a brush with a future Radiohead drummer, Pauline takes us through a pattern of romantic near-misses that left her being told—more than once—that she was “a bit much.” But in this raw and funny tale, she also reflects on how her later diagnosis of ADHD put those experiences into perspective.

🎧 Tune in for:

• A backstage look at dating with undiagnosed ADHD
• Wild Fringe weather and a near-ceiling collapse
• Playing Frenchy in Grease (with pink hair spray-painted into place!)
• Almost dating Phil Selway from Radiohead before the band made it big
• Learning how hyperfixation and comedy intersect
• Pauline's reflections on love, loss, and the beauty of understanding yourself
• A powerful connection to Lorde’s “Liability” and what that song unlocked for her

We also chat about her 2025 Fringe show “Anyone for Tennis?”, a love letter to the game and her two decades as a Wimbledon line judge—now obsolete thanks to tech. Catch her live at Hoots 4, Grassmarket, 12:30 PM daily.

🔗 BONUS RECOMMENDATION: Don’t miss Alice Frick in “Live Like a Criminal” at Dragonfly Cocktail Bar (5:45 PM). You might remember her from Episode 12, where she talked sexy talk auf Deutsch!

Keywords: Pauline Eyre, ADHD dating story, Radiohead drummer, Phil Selway, Edinburgh Fringe podcast, comedy dating podcast, Telling Tinder Tales, Wimbledon line judge, Lorde Liability, ADHD and relationships, Edinburgh Fringe 2025, Anyone for Tennis show, Alice Frick comedy, funny dating stories podcast.

In this hilarious and unexpectedly spooky episode of Telling Tinder Tales, hosts Chris O'Neill and Thomasin Lockwood go live from the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival to bring you a tale of love, fate, and very specific numerology.

🎭 First, we dive into the role of PBH Free Fringe, a vital platform that provides free performance spaces to artists, levelling the playing field for acts and audiences alike.

🧙 Then, we're joined by Liverpool-based theatre designer and horror storyteller Peter Mitchelson, who shares an unforgettable post-breakup dating story that involves:

• A mysterious woman with massive eyes
• Deep conversations about art, destiny, and double numbers
• A timed text
• And a chilling warning

Along the way, Peter reflects on heartbreak, spiritual flirtation, emotional reawakening, and the fine line between fate and fantasy. Plus, he plugs his PBH Free Fringe shows: 🔮 Ghost stories and childhood horror at 12:30pm at Whistle Binkies 🌕 The Moon Pack Trial – A comedy-horror blend of occult rituals, sex cults, and "wanky art for arty wankers" at 9:50pm 🏰 Monster Mystery Mansion – An immersive, video game-style horror comedy adventure with audience participation.

🎤 Chris also plugs The Full Irish at 11am at Whistle Binkies and Political Breakfast at 9:30am at Hot Toddy's – essential Fringe staples you don’t want to miss!

Tags: Edinburgh Fringe 2025, PBH Free Fringe, Tinder dating horror stories, live storytelling, comedy horror podcast, witchy women, numerology in dating, spooky romance, live podcast recording, immersive theatre Edinburgh

We're live from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 with a brand new episode of Telling Tinder Tales! Hosts Chris O'Neill and Thomasin Lockwood welcome Palestinian-Irish comedian and writer Sami Abu Wardeh who shares a hilariously disastrous Fringe dating story involving an infamous one-off performance of a man in a gorilla suit, rocking gently in a rocking chair.

Sami opens up about his comedy journey, growing up between Kuwait, Palestine, and the UK, and how his show "Palestine Peace: The Resistance" (Pleasance, 9:45pm) blends political storytelling, clowning, and the legacy of comedy legend Dave Allen. He also discusses the unique challenge of making a comedy show about one of the world’s most serious ongoing conflicts.

Also featuring bonus plugs, gorilla-related chaos, and a teaser for Danny Ward’s new show The Holiday at the Banshee Labyrinth.

✨ What you'll hear in this episode:

• A surreal Edinburgh Fringe dating disaster
• Behind the scenes of the cult Fringe show
• Sammy's unique perspective as a Palestinian-Irish comedian
• Creative inspiration from Dave Allen, Edward Said, and Winston Churchill (yes, really!)
• Why comedy matters in times of political crisis

🎭 Tags: Edinburgh Fringe 2025, stand-up comedy, Palestinian comedian, Sami Abu Wardeh dating stories, funny Tinder dates, storytelling, fringe theatre, political comedy, PBH Free Fringe, Gorilla Rocking Chair Show, Dave Allen comedy

👉 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @TellingTinderTales

📩 Got a hilarious or heartbreaking dating story? Reach out — [email protected]

Welcome to Tender Is the Night aka Tinder Tales from Edinburgh, your fix of wild, weird, and wonderful dating stories—recorded live at the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival! 🎭💘

In this episode, hosts Chris O'Neill and Thomasin Lockwood are joined by the brilliantly funny Mari Volar—an Estonian-born, German-based international comedian—who shares her hilariously awkward first online date in London, involving: 💻 Pre-dating app Facebook groups 🇮🇹 A mysterious Italian man (we're calling him Giovanni) ⚽ A very ill-advised football match date 🕷️ Giant bug-eye glasses 🕵️‍♀️ And the invention of a fictional jealous Russian boyfriend for the ultimate escape!

We also dive into Mari’s exciting shows at this year’s Fringe, including: 🔹 50 Ways to Succeed at a Pointless Job – A satirical corporate workshop 🔹 Common Ground – A joyful crowd work comedy experience 🔹 100% C*ntinental – A badass showcase of immigrant women and gender-diverse comics

Plus, a special shout-out to Rabiah Koon our guest from Ep3 show Asian American Cultural Confusion at Bar 50!

📍 Whether you're a comedy lover, dating disaster survivor, or Fringe fanatic, this episode is full of laughs, chaos, and painfully relatable moments.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more dating tales from comedians across the globe — live from Edinburgh Fringe 2025!

#EdinburghFringe2025 #ComedyPodcast #DatingStories #TinderFails #OnlineDating #EdFringe #MariVolar #StandupComedy #FringeFestival #PodcastRecommendations

Welcome back to Telling Tinder Tales, the comedy podcast that dives into the funniest, weirdest, and most awkward dating stories—recorded live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! 🎭💘

In this episode, your hosts Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood are joined by comedian Kevin O'Brian, who shares a bizarre dating tale with a twist: His date kept bringing her sister along… There were Wetherspoons, wine, and absolutely no rounds paid back. And somehow—it led to marriage?! (And later... divorce.) Yorkshire meets Merseyside dry wit in this unforgettable story of romance, awkwardness, and financial risk assessment.

We also explore: 🇮🇪 The sacred Irish round system (never violate it!) 🥐 The irresistible gravitational pull of Greggs 💬 Kevin’s Fringe show: The ABC of One-Liner Jokes, 151 punchy jokes daily at 4:40 PM at The Pilgrim (Cowgate)

PLUS: A quick plug for Carly Blair’s brilliant storytelling show Student Becomes the Mistress, on daily at 3:45 PM at Bar 50 (The Snug)—don’t miss it!

If you love comedy podcasts, real-life dating disasters, and behind-the-scenes Fringe moments, this episode is your perfect match.

🎧 Listen now and follow us for more hilarious Tinder tales from comedians around the world, live from Edinburgh Fringe 2025!

#TellingTinderTales #EdinburghFringe2025 #ComedyPodcast #DatingStories #StandupComedy #FunnyDatingFails #OnlineDatingGoneWrong #KevinO'BrianTheComedian #FringeFestival #UKComedy #WetherspoonsDates #GreggsObsessed #OneLinerJokes #CarlyBlair

Join hosts Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood in this special bonus episode of Telling Tinder Tales as they gear up for the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival — the world’s largest celebration of arts, culture, and live performance! 🎭

In this episode, Chris and Thomasin share behind-the-scenes stories from past live shows, including unforgettable dating tales, hilarious communication mishaps, and what makes Telling Tinder Tales so uniquely uplifting. They also introduce the live show’s upcoming run at Murphy’s on the High Street in Edinburgh, with all the details on when and where to catch it during the festival.

Plus, get to know some of the incredible comedians lined up to share their romantic escapades live on stage.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the podcast, this episode gives you a sneak peek of what’s to come at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 — and invites you to join the fun in person or online.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on the wild, weird, and wonderful dating stories that make Telling Tinder Tales a must-listen podcast for comedy lovers and romantics alike.

This week on Telling Tinder Tales, hosts Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood welcome three guests from across the UK (and beyond) to share their most unforgettable, off-the-rails dating experiences. From breakfast gone dangerously wrong, to a New York artist whose obsession with anatomically bold paintings left one man reeling, to a chaotic Prosecco-fuelled night filled with anxiety, unsolicited voice notes, and far too many red flags — this episode dives deep into the unpredictable world of modern romance.

Featuring stories that span Guardian Soulmates, Hinge mishaps, and the perils of mixing mental health meds with first-date nerves, this episode is packed with cautionary tales, sharp observations, and the kind of dating disasters you truly couldn’t make up.

Tune in for:

• A morning after the night before that ends in a minor medical emergency
• An room filled with penis portraits
• A mystery date that derails faster than a South Bank night out
• Reflections on red flags, warm Prosecco, and the very definition of “not a love match”

If you’ve ever questioned your dating app choices or wondered how bad it could really get — this episode has answers.

Subscribe now and join us each week as real people share the real, ridiculous world of online dating gone off-script.

Welcome to Telling Tinder Tales, the podcast where love, lust, and the lawless world of dating apps collide. Hosted by comedians Chris O’Neill and Thomasin Lockwood this weekly comedy podcast dives deep into the weird and wonderful world of modern dating.

In this episode, we meet Dan, a London-based content creator whose Hinge date brought 15 bags of crisps to his doorstep and Liam, an Irish stand-up comic whose night of wrestling nearly turned a one-night stand into a true crime story.

Whether you're a seasoned swiper or happily single, Telling Tinder Tales delivers cringe-worthy moments, laugh-out-loud stories, and the occasional bit of heartfelt romance.

🎙️ New episodes every week 🎭 Live shows at Buxton Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe Festival 📲 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @tellingtindertales

Perfect for fans of: dating podcasts, real-life love stories, swipe culture, online dating disasters, Hinge and Tinder mishaps, British and Irish comedy, and spicy storytelling.

👉 Subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and you might just get a free bag of crisps. Give us 1 star… and prepare to be power bombed.

Thanks to our Guests:

Dan aka Luscent @singsongdan Podcast: Criminally Underrated

Liam Duffy @duffywhenwet