This is the penultimate episode of Worth the Weight before we wrap things up next week — and pivot into my new podcast, Character Analysis. After years of exploring dating, identity, and mental health, I’m taking everything I’ve learned and going deeper into where true crime, psychology, and pop culture collide.

In this episode, I break down the difference between narcissistic traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, how narcissists charm and manipulate social situations, and why we’re so often drawn to them. From Blair Waldorf to Patrick Bateman, Regina George to Joe Goldberg, I unpack the spectrum of narcissism — from magnetic to malignant.

Make sure to follow my new podcast Character Analysis on Spotify, Youtube, and Tiktok.

Youtube and Tiktok @mycharacteranalysis

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/30KnouvFE8dJZct6SMea4D?si=1SUo5NO3REqqOqU4TDZaiA

Dating while neurodivergent can feel like playing a game where everyone else got the rulebook and you’re improvising. This week, Sarah and I sit down with Brit, an autism specialist, to unpack the real challenges (and surprising strengths) of dating with ADHD, autism, and beyond. From oversharing to rejection sensitivity, overstimulation to ghosting, we get into what’s really happening under the surface—and how to date with more clarity, grace, and self-compassion.

💅To listen to our bi-weekly bonus episodes, become a subscriber and join the inner circle!

⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/worththeweight/subscribe

Timestamps:
00:00 – Late-in-life diagnoses & light bulb moments
03:00 – Social cues, sarcasm & sensory overload
08:30 – Oversharing vs. undersharing: finding the middle
19:50 – Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in dating
23:30 – Anger, patriarchy & rejection
25:20 – Limerence: when crushes tip into obsession
30:00 – Ghosting, texting back & repair strategies

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠Submit your dating questions⁠

This week, Sarah and I had what I’m calling our “first fight” — over women getting engaged to their AI boyfriends. That debate led us straight into AI psychosis, grief, loneliness, and one very messy story about a woman who claimed she fell in love with her psychiatrist. It’s about empathy, boundaries, and why real connection matters more than any chatbot.

Subscribe to receive bi-weekly bonus episodes and content we think is too spicy for the public feed. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/worththeweight/subscribe

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠Submit your dating questions⁠⁠

This week on Worth the Weight, Sarah and I close the book on And Just Like That—series finale or not. From Carrie’s tomato-doll “party of one” to Miranda’s spiral, Seema’s revelation, and Charlotte’s relentless optimism, we dig into the messy truths midlife women actually live. Was it rushed? Absolutely. Did we love parts anyway? Shockingly, yes.

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠Submit your dating questions⁠⁠

Welcome to a teaser of this week's subscriber-only episode. To listen to the full episode, you can subscribe here. Subscribers receive bi-weekly bonus episodes outtakes, behind-the-scenes tea, and content too spicy for the public feed. Subscribe and join the inner circle.💅

Are you as emotionally available as you think? In this solo bonus, I share the signs you might not be — and how to break those self-protection habits one small risk at a time.

If you’ve ever wondered why real intimacy feels scary, why you gravitate toward people who can’t (or won’t) show up for you, or how to stop self-sabotaging before anything begins — this one’s for you

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠Submit your dating questions⁠

Carrie finally centers herself. Took you long enough, sis.

Psst...if you have a minute, could you follow us on YouTube and rate us five stars on Spotify? Love you! Mean it.

This week, Sarah and I sink our teeth into what might be the meatiest And Just Like That episode yet—one that hits every theme we love to unpack. We talk traditional gender roles, the messy intersection of masculinity and femininity, and the complicated emotions family and friends navigate when a loved one comes out as queer, trans, or non-binary.

And, of course, we get into the big one: the stigma around being single. From Carrie’s agent pushing her to tack on a “happy ending” to her manuscript, to Seema’s offer that forces Carrie to confront her life without a partner, this episode asks—what if being alone is actually the point? I share why that scene resonated with me, and how reframing singlehood as a choice (not a failure) can change everything.

We also dissect Charlotte’s emotional moment with Rock, Miranda’s rocky Thanksgiving guest list, and Harry’s selective memory about who he really is as a partner. Plus, we’ve got a juicy “f*ck that person” letter that proves core values matter more than love when it comes to lasting compatibility.

✨Subscribe to this Patreon and join the inner circle. 💅In addition to the weekly public Worth The Weight episodes, you’ll get:

💘Bi-weekly Worth the WEIGHT subscriber-only podcast episodes about dating, beauty standards, pop culture analysis, and mental health

🧠Regular subscriber-only podcast episodes, videos, and posts with real talk on dating, pop culture analysis, trauma healing, and some truly excellent F*ck That Guy stories

SUBSCRIBE HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything:

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your dating questions here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I’m digging into the difference between being valued for your vibe versus your value—and why so many of us are exhausted by being treated like a mood instead of a whole person. I discuss dating apps, performative chemistry, boundaries, and the subtle ways women are trained to shrink their substance to stay likable.

If you’ve ever put effort into showing your depth only to be reduced to “hot in that dress,” this one’s for you.

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe if this resonates—or pisses you off in a productive way.

✨Subscribe to this Patreon and join the inner circle. 💅In addition to the weekly public Worth The Weight episodes, you’ll get:

💘Bi-weekly Worth the WEIGHT subscriber-only podcast episodes about dating, beauty standards, pop culture analysis, and mental health

🧠Regular subscriber-only podcast episodes, videos, and posts with real talk on dating, pop culture analysis, trauma healing, and some truly excellent F*ck That Guy stories

SUBSCRIBE HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything:

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your dating questions here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week’s episode of Worth The Weight is a wild ride. First, Sarah and I break down the latest episode of And Just Like That, where Carrie mistakes attention for intellectual validation, Miranda confuses judgment for curiosity, and Seema somehow turns a plant into a red flag. (Girl, it’s chlorophyll not trauma.)

But that’s just the warm-up.

Then we dig into a listener letter about a guy who seems great on paper—until the paper starts burning. It sparks a much-needed convo about core values—what they are, why they matter, and how to spot the difference between surface-level chemistry and actual compatibility. (Spoiler: Just because you both like road trips doesn't mean you're soulmates.)

I break down the five tiers of core values and show you how to suss out emotional intelligence early—yes, even before the third date.

And finally, we talk about the fuck that guy of all fuck that guys: Russell Hartley. If you don’t know him, consider yourself lucky. If you do, we’re serving a takedown so savage it might need its own trigger warning. From red-pill grifter to "girl’s girl" rebrand, we dissect why some male “dating coaches” are just digital predators with ring lights.

So pour the scotch you probably keep around for him, and press play. This one’s got it all: fake feminists, fake publishing chemistry, and the very real importance of knowing your worth.

✨ Center yourself. De-center men. Value your damn time. ✨

00:00 – AJLT Recap (Carrie & Duncan, Miranda’s mess, Seema’s plant guy)
20:10 – Core Values 101: The 5 Tiers That Actually Matter
28:45 – Fuck That Guy: Russell Hartley’s Rebrand Is a Scam
36:00 – How to Spot a Grifter in a Suit

Journaling

If you want to try journaling as a way to regulate your nervous system, you can check out some of my favorite tools ⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠ As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases — and yes, it all goes right back into my planner addiction.

Whether you're actively swiping or on the verge of deleting everything, this one’s for you.

Flirty, Fun, and Zero Cringe: TableTopics for First Dates

⁠⁠Table Topics⁠⁠ conversation starter cards go way beyond “What do you do for work?” These questions are equal parts fun, unexpected, and wildly revealing. Think: first-date energy meets group chat chaos. If you've ever wanted to skip the small talk and get to the good stuff, this one's for you. ⁠⁠Learn more here.⁠⁠ (As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive a commission for each sale.)

✨Subscribe to this Patreon and join the inner circle. 💅In addition to the weekly public Worth The Weight episodes, you’ll get:

💘Bi-weekly Worth the WEIGHT subscriber-only podcast episodes about dating, beauty standards, pop culture analysis, and mental health

🧠Regular subscriber-only podcast episodes, videos, and posts with real talk on dating, pop culture analysis, trauma healing, and some truly excellent F*ck That Guy stories

SUBSCRIBE HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything:

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your dating questions here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Protect Your Peace, Honor Your Worth, and Still Put Yourself Out There

Enjoy a teaser of this subscriber-only bonus episode. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/worththeweightshow

It’s just me this week, and I’m diving into something I know so many of us struggle with: how to use dating apps without completely wrecking your nervous system (and your self-worth). In this bonus episode, I break down what apps are really doing to your brain and body — from the dopamine rollercoasters to the rejection spirals — and more importantly, how to protect your peace while still putting yourself out there.

I share practical strategies to avoid burnout, recognize dysregulation, and date from a place of clarity instead of chaos. I also talk about how I’ve been using journaling — and let’s be real, an embarrassing number of pens and highlighters — as a grounding tool to process the emotional ups and downs that come with app culture.

Journaling

If you want to try journaling as a way to regulate your nervous system, you can check out some of my favorite tools ⁠at this link.⁠ As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases — and yes, it all goes right back into my planner addiction.

Whether you're actively swiping or on the verge of deleting everything, this one’s for you.

Flirty, Fun, and Zero Cringe: TableTopics for First Dates

⁠Table Topics⁠ conversation starter cards go way beyond “What do you do for work?” These questions are equal parts fun, unexpected, and wildly revealing. Think: first-date energy meets group chat chaos. If you've ever wanted to skip the small talk and get to the good stuff, this one's for you. ⁠Learn more here.⁠ (As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive a commission for each sale.)

Podcast Recommendations

⁠Regulate & Rewire⁠

⁠Therapy In A Nutshell⁠

⁠Somatic Healing Meditations⁠

Playlists

⁠Nervous System Regulation⁠

⁠Gentle Nervous System Calming

Carrie’s chasing closure (again), Aiden’s tossing guilt like steak on a grill, and Miranda and Joy give us the emotional intimacy we actually want to see. This week, we’re unpacking the latest And Just Like That—from toxic dating patterns and emotional baggage to that five-word kiss of death: “You smell like smoke. Get away.”

We break down the difference between closure and clarity, why Aiden’s still the same insecure guy from 2002, and how emotional labor shows up in the tiniest moments (looking at you, Herbert).

Plus, a rare scene that made me cry—in a good way. Miranda opens up, Joy doesn’t flinch, and we talk about what it really means to share your baggage without dumping it.

Also: crystal deodorant, passive-aggressive dinner invites, and the official start of Fuck That Guy Fall. You’ve been warned.

Subscribe on Substack or Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive letters, and hot takes we don’t dare post publicly.

⏰ Episode Breakdown: Toxic Men, Emotional Baggage & the Myth of Closure

00:00 – 05:00 – Carrie’s need for closure & Aiden’s boundary stomping
05:00 – 10:00 – Passive-aggression, guilt trips & the “get away from me” moment
10:00 – 15:00 – Aiden’s control issues, emotional sabotage & toxic dynamics
15:00 – 20:00 – Seema’s subplot + commentary on dating red flags
20:00 – 25:00 – Miranda opens up, Joy responds with real vulnerability
25:00 – 30:00 – Emotional intimacy vs. oversharing & the value of clarity
30:00 – 35:00 – Duncan = Big 2.0? Carrie repeats her toxic patterns
35:00 – 43:00 – Closure vs. clarity, trauma loops & Fuck That Guy Fall begins.

✨Subscribe to this Patreon and join the inner circle. 💅In addition to the weekly public Worth The Weight episodes, you’ll get:

💘Bi-weekly Worth the WEIGHT subscriber-only podcast episodes about dating, beauty standards, pop culture analysis, and mental health

🧠Regular subscriber-only podcast episodes, videos, and posts with real talk on dating, pop culture analysis, trauma healing, and some truly excellent F*ck That Guy stories

SUBSCRIBE HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✨ If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on our new socials so you don’t miss anything:

Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@worththeweightshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WorthTheWeightShow.Substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👀 Got a dating dilemma? A ghosting mystery? An “is-it-me-or-is-he-just-delusional?” situation? Send it in!

We’re answering listener questions on the pod, and we want yours. Whether it’s a green flag you’re second-guessing , a walking ick 🥴, or a text you need decoded —spill it. We’ve got thoughts. Probably too many. 😏 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your dating questions here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.