Dating Apps Were Never About Romance
Summary
Hosts Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro explore the crisis of modern dating in 2026, featuring guest Carly Chaikin. They discuss dating app burnout, the rise of "heteropessimism," and the lack of accountability in digital courtship compared to traditional meetups. The conversation highlights shifting gender dynamics, communication failures like ghosting, and the cultural redefinition of singlehood as a valid, empowered choice rather than a tragedy.
Topics discussed
Ads and show intro: Engagement Party
Welcome back and episode theme: Dating in 2026
Heteropessimism and media narratives on dating
Listener surveys on the difficulty of modern dating
Pop culture depictions: Obsession and Hacks
Me Too movement impact and generational lenses
Hosts' dating history and pre-app courtship
Dating app fatigue, rosters, and breadcrumbing
Queering heterosexuality and communication gaps
Guest intro: Carly Chaikin and her work
Dating app burnout and the loss of spontaneity
Alternatives to apps: Friends setting you up
Statistics on ghosting and pessimism in dating
Shifting gender roles and women's independence
Cultural shift: Single life as a valid choice
Carly's celibacy and desire for additive partners
Scroll and Tell: Men monologuing on dates
Take or Tea: Ghosting, paying, and marriage sabbaticals
Outro, credits, and final advertisements
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