Women Are Leaving Dating Apps — and Men Should Panic

Dating apps are driving women away in record numbers, and the 2026 Bumble report confirms it — women are ditching the swipe culture for matchmakers, real-life romance, and yes, Bridgerton. John and Echo break down exactly why this is happening, why men should care, and what it actually takes to make a woman feel chosen in a world full of low-effort guys.

They dig into why hookup culture has ruined dating for everyone, what women actually mean when they say "make men yearn again," and how the romance of fictional characters like those in Bridgerton isn't fantasy — it's just a standard men used to meet. Plus, John shares his counterintuitive secret for making a woman obsessed with you (hint: it involves pumping the brakes), and Echo opens up about keeping her own standards high even when everyone told her to lower them. They close out the episode with a raw, real conversation about a fight they had — and what John realized he was missing when Echo came to him vulnerable and he went full "fix it" mode.

In This Episode

• Women aren't abandoning men — they're abandoning low-effort men and the apps that enable them
• "Make men yearn again" isn't about wealth or looks — it's about pursuit, intention, and making her feel chosen
• The slow burn is your superpower: getting a woman to the point she'd sleep with you and then pulling back creates genuine obsession
• Investment creates value — the less effort you put in, the less you'll value what you get
• Women need to hold the standard from a place of self-respect, not contempt — there's a huge difference
• Men who treat women poorly can't separate that from their own relationship — it bleeds over
• In conflict, validate first, educate last — jumping to logic before she feels seen derails everything
• The BRAVE framework: Breathe, Resist defending, Assess the situation, Validate emotions, Educate — in that order

Timestamps

0:00 — Women Are Choosing Fictional Romance Over Dating Apps
2:48 — Why Women's High Standards Aren't Unrealistic
4:48 — What Women Actually Want: Make Men Yearn Again
8:41 — The Dating App Experience From a Woman's Perspective
12:42 — Men Should Be Upset — But Not For The Reason They Think
16:11 — Why Low-Effort Dating Makes Women Feel Worthless To Men
20:15 — The Hypocrisy of Slut-Shaming While Resisting Courtship
27:18 — The Secret to Making a Woman Obsessed With You
36:00 — Building Anticipation: The Key to Romance and Attraction
45:55 — Why Bars and Clubs Are the Worst Place to Find Love
53:08 — Good Standards vs. Toxic Standards for Both Genders
1:01:00 — Our Real Disagreement: When Logic Replaces Empathy

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About the Show

Better Than Perfect is a relationship podcast that helps you navigate modern dating, marriage, and everything in between — with real talk and practical advice that actually works. New episodes every Friday.