WHAT IS ALL THIS SWIPING ACTUALLY DOING TO US?

Previous Episodes

• Episode 5

  The Second Date: When Attraction Meets Reality

  The first date is an audition. The second date is where things get interesting. In Episode 5, Joel D. Bradley explores the psychology of second dates through two contrasting experiences. Olivia meets a charming, successful man whose second date reveals an uncomfortable truth about his character. David nearly overlooks a woman who turns out to be far more engaging than their first encounter suggested. Through humor, research, and a glimpse into Frank Wright's adventures in Swipe Wright: Dating in the Age of the Disposable Heart, Joel examines attraction, compatibility, expectations, and the difference between first impressions and genuine connection.

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• Episode 4

  Red Flags, Green Lights & The Spark

  What are we really evaluating on a first date? In Episode 4, Joel moves beyond profiles and swiping and into the actual date—where red flags, green lights, attraction, and “the spark” can distort what we see. One woman describes a perfectly good date that left her feeling nothing. One man describes a date filled with warning signs that he calls the best he’s had in years. And Joel shares a first-date story involving a bucket of popcorn, a smuggled box of wine, and one very important popcorn-to-wine ratio. Are we recognizing genuine compatibility—or have we become addicted to emotional stimulation? Inspired by real people, profiles, and experiences.

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• Episode 3

  Baggage

  Everyone says they want “no drama.” But is drama the same thing as baggage? Joel explores the baggage we carry into relationships through Cindy and Ken—two people with very different ideas about what we're willing to carry for someone else. And yes, Jerry Springer makes an appearance.

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• Episode 2

  The Trap of Assumptions

  How quickly do we decide who someone is from a handful of dating-profile photos? In Episode 2, The Disposable Heart Podcast explores the assumptions we make before a conversation ever begins—and how differently men and women may view the same dating pool. Inspired by real people and profiles, Joel examines what happens when attraction, expectations and snap judgments collide in the swipe-right world.

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• Episode 1

  Two Tales of the Same Swipe

  Two people. Two completely different experiences with the same dating technology. Lisa feels overwhelmed by endless choices. Daniel wonders whether anyone even notices him. Together, their experiences reveal two very different sides of the disposable-heart era.

  “I realized I wasn't really dating. I was managing a depot of broken toys.”

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