It's Been a Minute

Can you afford to get married? Or get a divorce?

Nothing sets the internet on fire more than the fantasy of finding a partner (usually a man) to pay for your lifestyle. We’re here to put those fires out: dating across class is rare (we will explain why) and financial differences can hurt the partner who has less. Plus, with more women becoming the breadwinners, are women actually the new power partners?

Brittany is joined by Wailin Wong, Business and Economics journalist and co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money, and Reema Khrais, host of Marketplace’s This is Uncomfortable (which just had a BRAND NEW season drop. Check it out!)

Want more episodes on dating and finances? Check out these episodes:
Is marriage worth it? Single women say no.
Want to date a rich man? It's harder than you think.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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If the apps aren't working for you, don't stress – there’s a different way to date.

Dating apps have quickly become a fixture of modern dating. They do work for a lot of people – but many are also dissatisfied with the endless swiping and paywalled features. With the apps so ubiquitous, is it still possible to date offline? Or have dating apps made some people too scared of face-to-face rejection?

Brittany is joined by Manuela López-Restrepo, All Things Considered producer and writer, to get into her offline dating journey – and what she’s learned along the way.

(0:00) Are you fed up with dating apps? Us too!
(4:48) The dating app paradox: who makes money when you swipe...
(15:09) How dating apps change what rejection feels like
(23:05) A trip to a real life singles night (will Manuela find a date?)

Want more about modern dating? Check out these episodes:
The embarrassing truth of dating men
It's never too late to find a good relationship. Here's proof.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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Who gets to be "hot" in America? And, at what cost?

Some young men are pushing beauty boundaries with guidance from an online trend that's been making headlines: looksmaxxing. Looksmaxxing celebrates intense fitness & skincare routines, extreme body modification, and notably Eurocentric features as the holy grail of modern beauty, but who gets locked out of looksmaxxing when "Chad" is the gold standard? And how painful is it to pursue perfection that's skin deep?

Brittany is joined by Jason Parham, senior writer at WIRED covering internet culture, online dating, and the future of sex.

(0:00) What is "Looksmaxxing" and why it went mainstream
(2:15) How politics influence who gets to be "attractive"
(7:10) Eugenics and the backlash to Black looksmaxxers
(13:28) Why pursuing beauty standards leaves you feeling lonely
(18:43) How to redefine beauty and feel more confident in your body

Interested in more conversations about body politics and beauty standards? Check out these episodes:
MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.
The privilege of being "skinny"

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Why is the culture so obsessed with men on the down low?

To some, they're a secret, sexy symbol. To others, they're carriers of diseases and lies. What is the truth about men who live their sexual lives 'on the DL', and what does our culture's recurring fascination with them say about how society treats men whose sexualities don't fit into neat boxes? Brittany is joined by Dr. Jeffrey McCune, author of Sexual Discretion: Black Masculinity and the Politics of Passing, and Kai Wright - a journalist and host for the Guardian who has been writing about sexual politics for the last 30 years.

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Is it time to rethink our food delivery habits?

According to data from the National Restaurant Association, around 60% of both millennials and Gen Z say food delivery is an essential part of their lifestyles. But are the steep prices — and occasional guilt — worth the convenience? Brittany is joined by NPR Life Kit producer Margaret Cirino, who recently scaled her food delivery habits way back, to discuss why so many have come to rely on it and what a different path could look like.

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