Ghosting, standing someone up, ignoring someone… all bad habits. This week, Erika and Chris discuss a few stories — some new, some old — and talk about not just ghosting but also how the person at the receiving end feels. Whether after one date or one year, communication is the key to mature dating.

“If you’re a fan of 45, swipe left.” “If you call yourself liberal, move along.” “If you don’t vote, then you won’t get a date with me.” We see things like this all the time in online dating profiles, especially these days. But should you put your political preferences in the profile? And if so, is there a way to do that without sounding negative? Erika and Chris talk politics this week — the dos, the don’ts, the rights, the lefts, and everything in between. 

If you’re thinking about having a long-distance relationship, there are many factors that come into play, but the most important by far is each participant’s willingness to try. In this week’s episode, we re-share one of Erika’s craziest online dating stories (think OkCupid, Florida, sarcasm, and toilets), and then Erika and Chris discuss what it means to connect with someone who doesn’t live nearby. In the end, is a simple conversation always worth it? That’s in the eye of the dater. 

Oh, that pesky thing we call expectations. Many people go online to find “the one,” or at least a long-term partner. That goal is fine, of course. But what’s not fine is measuring “success” to that standard, much of which is not in our control. Online dating is not a spouse-finder, soulmate producer, or magic wand; it is simply a tool, or vehicle — much like the gym — that is available for use in order to meet people. With this tool still comes work, time, and personal accountability. And each and every date you go on is part of the process and the journey… so don’t discount that. 

Whether it’s a hobby, a habit, or an obsession — or a little of each — in every relationship, there has to be a compromise. Do you love Taco Bell but your partner hates it? Maybe get one fewer chalupa per week. Does your partner load the dishwasher in a less-than-efficient fashion? Maybe load it yourself from now on. This week, Erika and Chris talk about people’s idiosyncrasies and how to either work around those or embrace them in a relationship.

This week, Chris and Erika each share stories from their own lives and lives of their friends that revolve around breaking up and getting back together. Some people are in relationships for the right reasons, and some simply are not. Is the reason you want to be in a relationship because you feel like you have a lot to offer and would love to add someone to your life… or because you’re lonely? This is an important distinction that only you can make. 

This week, Erika shares a never-before-told story about her time on jury duty. There was mystery, intrigue, drama… and a love interest.Erika and Chris then dissect each part of the story, from the infatuation at first sight to the question “Is this a date?” Plus, if you stay to the end, you’ll learn whether the defendant was convicted or not. 

Why can’t things just be easy? When it comes to texting, or really anything in life, so much is left up to interpretation. In this week’s episode, Erika shares a story about one of her client’s dates and how the interactions can be looked at in very different ways. A red flag to one person may be a turn-on to another. Erika and Chris then delve into how difficult it is to interpret text messages sometimes and then discuss the actual date-planning process and how interpretations may go awry there, too. 

When it comes to dating, there are plenty of complications already. But when you add an addition to the mix — to online dating itself, to shopping, you name it — what does it do to a relationship? In this week’s episode, Erika shares a story about a friend who can’t stop swiping, and then Chris and Erika analyze an addiction’s impact on a relationship.

Standing someone up is not okay, but unfortunately, it does happen on occasion. So, Erika and Chris, after each sharing stories about getting stood up, share their top five tips on how to cope with getting stood up and move past it.

Dating has changed a lot, not just over the last few years, but over generations. Especially with the advent of dating apps and technology, dating almost seems like a whole different experience from what it used to be. This week, Erika interviews some special guests, and then she and Chris break down the differences of dating in previous years and the pros and cons as compared to today.

Erika and Chris tackle some dating questions from clients and listeners, such as where to have a first date and whether to text someone before the date. Then, as an added bonus, they share some of the worst online dating pick-up lines they’ve received!

Similar to triggers, sometimes things from the past make their way into the present, whether we want them to or not. Today, Chris shares two stories about how people’s pasts crept up into their new relationships with him, and how it impacted him in the process. We all have pasts, but it’s important to know what stays there and is unique to the person in the past and what should come along for the ride into the future.

It’s the age-old question: Can men and women be friends? Erika and Chris tackle this question from several angles, sharing stories of both being the “friend” and the person in a relationship with someone who has an opposite-sex friend. None of this is easy, and there are no right and wrong answers, but just the discussion itself should shed some light on what is possible.

Perhaps the most important piece of any relationship, whether romantic or not, is how two people communicate. Can you make yourselves vulnerable? Are you comfortable with conflict, knowing that your partner will truly listen? And when you’re in a relationship, do you know how best to communicate your love for each other? In this episode, Erika and Chris break down what these “Love Languages” are and how they apply to your relationships.

Have you ever had someone judge you for something that’s completely not his or her business? Or, maybe someone doesn’t understand your life choices, so rather than asking about them, the default is to put you down or make assumptions? Being different is great. Being judged for being different — not so much. In today’s episode, Erika and Chris each share some stories about how outside judgment has affected their own lives and their relationships.

Once you enter a relationship, the work is not over. In fact, that’s often just the beginning. This week, Erika and Chris answer clients’ questions on intimacy, moving in, and the age-old question of whether men and women can be friends.

As we are seeing more and more these days, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to relationships… far from it. While monogamy is generally people’s default, Erika and Chris want to shed some knowledge on other types of relationship structures.

If you have questions about first dates, then this is the episode for you. Erika and Chris delve into clients’ questions and then provide their own answers to your burning questions, like how long a date should last, when to kiss someone, and much more.

Some relationships stand the test of time because you’re happy and can’t wait to see your partner every day. And, unfortunately, some relationships endure for the wrong reasons. It’s difficult to know when to stick it out and when to throw in the towel. Should you move out or have a baby together? Should you trek cross country together or break up? On today’s episode, a guest shares his story of staying in a relationship despite red flags and then Erika and Chris discuss reasons one might stay a bit too long and ways we rationalize making that decision.

Whether you don’t live near each other when you meet or your relationship has to turn into a long-distance one after some time, navigating the circumstance can be tricky. How often will you see each other? Are you exclusive? What’s your primary means of communication? Erika and Chris discuss all of this and more this week, and Erika shares her own attempt at meeting someone from afar.

Relationships are not easy. There’s no denying that. And sometimes once you invest more time and energy, it’s hard to know whether to keep investing or to cut things off if the investment is not showing you returns (i.e. happiness). This week, our guest Wendy shares a very personal story about a relationship that goes longer than it perhaps should, and Erika and Chris discuss the implications.

Have you ever wondered whether men and women really do think differently when it comes to dating? You don’t have to wonder anymore. Erika and Chris break down how truly different their brains are when it comes to dating, both short-term and long-term, and how even the simple concept of attraction can vary. Maybe men really are from Mars and women from Venus… or maybe not.

Is Rover part of your dating life? How about little Whiskers? When it comes to dating, what role should your pet play? Guest Naomi shares her story, and then Erika And Chris each have some furry experiences of their own.

In any relationship, especially long-term, money can be a hot-button topic. What if one partner thinks an occasional splurge is appropriate, and the other doesn’t? Even the word “splurge” is subjective. It’s so important to have aligned expectations about money. Erika and Chris share some personal stories and discuss money’s place in a relationship.

When you’re dating someone new, it’s hard to know how fast (or slow) things should move… sexually. One person might have one idea, and the other may have the opposite idea. Or, maybe one person is adventurous in bed and the other is more conventional. Erika and Chris invite Rachel to share her story and then discuss the intricacies of sex, relationships, “the bases,” and the timing of it all.

The ability to change is important… but how much can–or should–someone change to be in a relationship? And, on the flipside, how much can–or should–you ask someone to change? Erika and Chris each have a story talking about change. In Erika’s case, there was one quality in a date that she couldn’t flippin’ take anymore! And in Chris’ case, well, a Subway sandwich strikes again.