Shots & Thoughts

In this special Halloween episode, we're chatting about the spookiest things about dating and relationships. Feeling alone. Not knowing what the other person is thinking. Lacking nonverbal communication with all this online dating. Sensing something has changed in your relationship. Oh, and in-laws. Scary! Next we've got Spooky themed 60 Second Sips that has us wondering if no costume is worse than the pretentious one that needs some man-splaining. This deteriorates into a riveting discussion about the worst Halloween candy. Speaking of which … are we too old for trick-or-treat? What about dressing up and having parties with your friends? And of course, what's more terrifying than the horrors of online dating? We talk about quite a few Drinkworthy Dating Disasters. And keep in mind that this week in particular, none of these are farmed off social media. These are things we've actually seen or experienced! Dating is so scary we didn't have to search for long. Plus, stick around for a little announcement about our podcasting schedule for the rest of the year. Give us your ideas, questions, and feedback for the podcast by slipping into our DMs on Instagram. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this week's episode, we chat about Tinder's new feature called Plus One, where you can find a date to take to a wedding or other big event. This has us pondering great movies like “The Wedding Date” and wondering if this is really a good idea. Would you ever feel pressured to bring someone along for a wedding or family event? Next, we do a little drinking with Ashley, who is now convinced more than ever that Amy or Olivia may accidentally date a serial killer. After that little tangent, we chat about our favorite (and least favorite) places to shop for clothes at our age. H&M, Target, & Other Stories, Loft, TJ Maxx … not going to lie, we seem a little lost, so if you have any suggestions, let us know on Instagram! Plus, we talk about the Cult of the Nap Dress. And if that doesn't sufficiently confuse you, we go through a Drinkworthy Dating Disaster profile that lands us on Urban Dictionary and leaves us wondering when dating got so dang complicated. Word of advice? Swipe left on anyone who says they're “primal.” Unless that's your thing. Meowwww. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

We dive right in this episode with a big question: How much does someone's family influence if you date them or continue dating them? And when do you meet their family? Would your family be honest with you if they thought someone was a bad partner for you? What differences among your families are acceptable and which ones are dealbreakers? What if health problems like addiction run in your S.O.'s family? What if they never introduce you to their family? We tackle all these questions in this week's episode! Then after a quick game of 60 Second Sips, we ponder choosing your a** or your face. You read that right. There's a theory out there that given your amount of body fat, either your face looks good (a little extra plumpness) or your bum does (lean, mean, squat booty machine). Is this true? And we don't care if you think this is real … which would you pick?! Thank goodness for Botox and fillers so we don't have to seriously make this decision. And stick around to the very end because Ashley shares a Drink-worthy Dating Disaster that will having you lol-ing for real. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Let's just start this episode with a little bit of rage, shall we? Olivia goes off about her latest dating experience. Who knew the seemingly simple question of, “what are you looking for?” could cause such a ruckus. Turns out the “Fuckboy Free Zone” mug in his profile was false advertising. After we debate peoples' reasons for being on the apps (finding a relationship, getting laid… whatever it is, you've got a purpose), we then go into tough conversations. When do you bring up the big conversations like marriage, kids, finances, and the number of pets in your home? While we have some opinions about timing, we do also think that if a crazy person wants to judge your choices about your future children, maybe its better to know that right off the bat. And honestly, we are getting older. This whole “clock is ticking” thing is starting to get more real for those of us who want kids. So don't waste our time. We dive deeper into the topic of when you bring up various finance topics. What do you like to splurge on? Do your parents currently pay any of your bills? Do you expect your spouse to work? What splurge will you never give up? 60 Second Sips has us pondering if we'd go on a first date to a concert. Next up is thinking about our favorite fall activities which include dressing up for Halloween, haunted houses, carving pumpkins, seeing the trees change colors, eating candy, and scary movies. And no, Cabin in the Woods doesn't count as a scary movie, but Amy would still recommend you all watch it. Which causes Ashley to call Amy out on her worst characteristic. Listen to find out what it is! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

It is our big 50th episode! Can you believe we have had enough to talk about to fill fifty episodes? Because we sure can't believe it. In order to celebrate this big milestone, we have made a list of 50 Epiphanies. We drop bombs of wisdom throughout this whole episode. Some are serious, some are not-so-serious, some fall a little flat, and some are even questionable bits of advice. We argue about tequila, mac-n-cheese, and celery. It's a journey this episode! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

You heard it here. Amy says it. Olivia was right! The dating apps are just as terrible as she said. Amy is single and back on the apps, so we talk all about how much the dating apps suck! We hate the crap men write on their profiles, we bitch about their photo choices, we rant and rave about their inability to hold a decent conversation, we vent about Milwaukee being such a small world for dating. We'll fall for you … if you trip us. ;) During this bonus, we also talk about anxiety and over-preparing for dates, letting someone pick you up for a first date, not letting on that you've super-stalked someone online before you've met (hint: use obituaries), and this epidemic of breadcrumbing and why we think it happens. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Happy Fall, y'all. We've got pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkins on the balcony and we're contemplating getting out our fall wardrobes. Pumpkins and sweaters and ghosts… oh my! Speaking of ghosts, when is it too late or no longer acceptable to ghost someone? At the end of a second date, Olivia was certain she didn't want to see this guy again… and straight up ghosted. Was that okay? What if the situation was a little different? Dating apps list your astrological sign. Is this something you factor in to your decision whether to swipe right or left? After laughing about judging people with certain signs, we move onto reacting about different things we've seen on Instagram – how many of these can you relate to? Wanting a bar in Target, having a limit on the things you can do each day, having favorite gas stations, and proper strategy for asking a man multiple questions via text. Finally, we end with our brand new segment – Drinkworthy Dating Disasters, where we share something crazy we see on the dating apps, and get your reaction and rate just how cringe-worthy we think it is. We start off this first one with a biiiiiig *brain exploding emoji*. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Today we're feeling irritated about traffic, slow drivers, and disappointing employee appreciation weeks. After we vent, we talk about some random dating topics. When is it too soon to ask someone you're dating to take you to the airport? Go figure … it depends! Is it okay for a woman to make the first move? This reminds us of Ashley putting the moves on a Justin Bobby look-alike. It didn't go exactly as expected. Is it a turn off if a guy asks you out immediately on a dating app? Is there a perfect amount of time to wait before suggesting a date? We have differing opinions here (shocker, I know). In this 60 Second Sips, we talk pedicures, dating profile content, and the importance of having clean hand towels. And not making them icky. It's a whole thing. Just listen. Next, Olivia goes on a whole rant about appropriate clothing to wear outside of the house which is apparently something the three of us don't agree on at all. Is it acceptable to walk your dog in pajama pants? And there's a difference between athleisure and true PJs. Is it okay to wear slippers outside of the house? Does your attire matter depending on where you go? For example, is the bar lower at Wal-Mart than it is at Target? --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

What's the hardest part about dating in your 30s? We discuss the dwindling pool of available singles and the financial burden of dating. We also talk about feeling already set in your ways about things like finances and cleanliness and going out; this means dating in your 30s means finding someone who fits you close enough and making peace with your differences instead if growing together with someone like you may have done in your 20s. Now, we're already grown! And apparently quite particular about things. Someone also commented that moving a lot as an adult means maybe not having a good network of people through which to meet someone. And while that's reasonable, we also wonder about people who haven't moved and yet still somehow don't have a good group of friends. Is that a red flag or a dealbreaker? We generally agree that having your own friends and interests and hobbies outside of the relationship can be really healthy. So what if your significant other is lacking friends? Amy takes us through some 60 Second Sips and we're wondering how long we could put up with a boyfriend's overbearing friends. And, what if you're dating someone who always wants to “do it for the ‘gram”? This one was inspired by the show My Unorthodox Life and after discussing this show, we talk about what we're reading, watching, or listening to right now that we'd recommend. Our other suggestions include Manifest and Formula 1 on Netflix, Brooklyn 99 on Hulu, and Mindy Kaling's Never Have I Ever. We also discuss the books The Midnight Library, The Second Chance Club, and Take What You Can Carry. As for podcasts, we have been listening to Something Was Wrong, Anatomy or Murder and My Favorite Murder. And sadly, Amy recommends you all re-watch Twilight.Why. Just why. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Have we got a story for you guys! A linen dress ruined with red wine. T-rex attacks. A nearly broken pelvis. Lederhosen. “Roar” by Katy Perry. The Triwizard Tournament. A new identity. And two days worth of recovery. Buckle up because this is a good one. After we spill this news, we enjoy Ashley's 60 Second Sips which throws us down a whole tangent about yoga retreats and men who do yoga. Would a yoga retreat be something you'd ever way to do? Do these Instagram-worthy retreats make yoga look unattainable? All you really need is your body to do yoga and reap the benefits, no Bali vacation required. This, of course, evolves into a whole discussion about all the different workouts we've tried (and either liked or, well, didn't), including the story about Amy being outdone by a bunch of old people in a workout class. Also, pro tip, don't go try to do a workout after giving blood. Olivia was a kickboxing instructor and you'll never guess what Olivia said to Ashley that almost made Ashley devolve into a murderous rage. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

How important is it for someone you're dating to be a good texter? Does this show that he's just not that interested in you? Or is it a red flag for someone who isn't going to be a good communicator in other ways? In this episode, Olivia fights for the importance of being a good texter especially early on. There's something about keeping the intrigue there in between dates, and even keeping other more negative thoughts at bay (“is he just a bad texter or is he ghosting me?”). In this episode's 60 Second Sips, we talk about swiping related to food and eating habits. And we learn that while Amy is okay with questionable texting behaviors, she's okay with someone feeding her on a first date. And just for the record, ranch is gross. And since we're disagreeing about everything this episode anyway, we might as well talk about bedtime now that we're in our thirties. This includes the appropriate amount of sleep to get, sleep hygiene habits, caffeine intake, melatonin, sleep sounds, sleepytime tea, and more. This becomes a surprisingly heated discussion; did we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?? We wrap up this argumentative episode by talking about something else we disagree about – friends with benefits! Are we too old for this? Is a good FWB relationship the exception and not the rule? Is it possible to be FWB without complications? Mom, stop listening when we get to this part of the episode! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Are we too old for stereotypical bachelorette parties? You know what I'm talking about – coordinated outfits, penis straws, the “power hour” drinking game, sucker bouquets, the bachelorette scavenger hunt. This conversation quickly dissolves into our opinions about all sorts of bachelorette party topics, including big bachelorette party trips and what party guests may be asked to pay for in these celebrations. This conversation obviously wouldn't be complete without us telling stories of some of the craziest bachelorette parties we've either been on or heard about. We're talking about cheating, broken sinks, positive pregnancy tests, skinny dipping gone wrong, tattooed wieners, and what was basically an episode of “Cops” on a drunken tubing trip. It's a wild ride! Better have your drinks ready for these stories. Amy then takes us through 60 Second Sips, which leads to a tangent about whether or not a little bit of jealousy can be okay in a relationship. And of course confirmation that we couldn't date any flat earthers. Obviously. Finally, we take a deep dive into weddings. Like, you know that year when tons of your friends got married and it broke you both financially and emotionally? Yeah, we're talking about that, plus we chat about wedding etiquette and traditions changing for our generation. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Would you respond to a random text message from a number you didn't recognize? Ashley got a pretty harmless text that quickly transitioned to flirty (especially when he admitted to what he had her name saved as in his phone). What would you have done or said? And seriously, we know it's been a loooong pandemic, but how bored do you have to be to be going through your phone and texting random women you no longer remember?? Next, we talk about two different Netflix Shows: “Sexy Beasts” and “Love is Blind: After the Alter.” Amy was the only one brave enough to make it through the cringey show “Sexy Beasts” where people dress up in costume and intense makeup to try and see if they can make a love connection without physical attraction. Sorry but we think being distracted by the costumes is too big of a hurdle to overcome. As you all know, we all really liked “Love is Blind” and so we were obviously jazzed about the reunion episodes. We were not prepared for the drama! Spoilers in this episode, so we highly recommend giving the show a watch before listening to us hash out some of the new drama as well as old issues that haven't been resolved. And as always, we love when friends stick up for friends. Ashley takes inspiration from “After the Alter” for this week's 60 Second Sips, which leaves Amy and Olivia taking multiple drinks – she really got us this time! Finally, we round out this episode talking about how our generation has gone from SPF 5 and tanning bed addictions to fancy daily facial sunscreen and protective clothing. Yes, we want the sunshine vitamin just as much as anyone else, but not at the cost of wrinkles or skin cancer! Also, friendly reminder that sunscreen does expire. Just saying. And of course, this episode wouldn't be complete without discussing if we are too old for … flip flops. Can't wait to see what you think when we poll this topic on Instragram! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, we dive into this question: Do you always know the attributes or type of person that would be the best fit for you? Inspired by this season of Married at First Sight, we wonder if people truly understand what personality types mesh well together. Can a neat freak date someone less uptight about cleanliness? By disliking someone for an interest in sports, are you judging them and assuming they don't have other interests that may be compatible with you? Ashley reminds us that just because someone is a perfect fit on paper, doesn't mean they're the right person in real life. How do you choose to advertise yourself on dating apps? If there's something someone might judge you incorrectly for (such as being a pageant competitor), would you leave that off your profile? Or, conversely, what stereotypes are you judging people for on the apps? Is there any way around this initial judgement in the world of online dating? You have to filter people in and out somehow! After some 60 Second Sips where Olivia forces Ashley and Amy to decide how much of an age gap is too much, we dive into SELF CARE. That's right. We're busy and tired. You're busy and tired. So we're taking some time to recommit to taking good care of ourselves. Sometimes that's face masks. Sometimes that's setting boundaries with work, especially now that many of us are working from home. And sometimes it's enjoying old TV shows! We also talk about exercise and healthy eating being key components of self care. Also, Olivia lives in a swamp so if you see her walking her dog in a full suit of mosquito netting don't be shocked. And Amy may have narcolepsy. That is all. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, Ashley – our resident retired pageant competitor – takes us into a deep dive into the world of pageants. She tells us stories about catty women, backstage sabotage, sprinting in six inch heels, butt tape, the cost of the dresses, the cringey Q&A portion, and she even discusses if the swim suit portion of these competitions should still be a thing. Any guesses what her talent would be if she could do it all again?! You'll never guess. Never. Amy then runs us through a more serious 60 second sips that has both Ashley and Olivia getting a little tipsy. Which takes us back to the age-old question of “can you stay friends with your exes?” which quickly devolves into a discussion about whether it's okay if a guy brings up his ex in conversation on the first couple dates. Not going to lie, we bring up some good points in both directions. And let's be real – we're all getting old so let's get the details out on the table now we can proceed with this thing or not. Ha! What do you think about your ex reaching out to your family for “business purposes”? Is that a line you don't cross or it's water under the bridge? Olivia also talks about being way more butt-hurt about Ashley's past relationships than Ashley is. If that doesn't make much sense, give the episode a listen. Oh, and we're curious what your thoughts are on this … are we too old for edibles? This, of course, comes from a real-life dating story and leaves us pondering how often is too often to be enjoying pot brownies. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

First and foremost, #Bucksin6. Even though Olivia watched a movie Amy recommended instead. The movie was "Good on Paper" which is based on a true life story of Iliza Shlesinger, the standup comedian. Like she talks about in the movie... why is a persistent guy seen as a positive thing, whereas a persistent girl is seen as crazy? Not fair. We also discuss a lot of the red flags for the guy in the movie, including that she hadn't seen where he lived. You can learn a lot about a person based on where they live! After Olivia survives almost spewing kombucha out her nose, we talk about what's the difference between trusting your gut versus getting in your own way? Also, we determine that it's a big red flag if you never meet a guy's friends. Gotta pass the friend check! If you wanted to fast forward past spoilers, head to 23:09 (holy crap, we talk about that movie for a looooong time). This is when Olivia goes through real profiles she's seen on the apps to get Ashley and Amy's reactions. Please help me interpret this one: "You won't be taken seriously until you prove you can be." Whaaaaa? Needless to say, Ashley and Amy want to send a lot of these guys to therapy. Or start "What Not to Wear" but for men's dating profiles. 60 Second Sips starts at 32:17 and we disagree about men who talk too much and men who want you to mow the lawn. No thanks, sir. We then get into our favorite summer boozy drinks, and Olivia explains what your drink of choice means about you. If you're the type of person who likes Long Island Iced Teas, you're not going to be thrilled with your assessment. Blame the internet, not us! And finally, we wondering if we're too old for certain things around the house -- plastic plates and cups, extensive DVD collections, and LoveSacs. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, we're chatting about the weird things Olivia is seeing on the dating apps, including men openly sharing on their profiles that they've been snipped or refusing to list their job. Plus, what's this whole "breadcrumbing" thing? Is it just a fancy way of saying you're leading someone on? And while we decide breadcrumbing is crappy, is it worse than someone asking you out for a date last minute? In Amy's famous words... It depends!! And it's probably just easier to have a friend who will drop everything to get ice cream with you anyway. Olivia goes on a date with a Harry Potter fan (in the spirit of "What Would Ashley & Amy Do?") and let's be clear that there's a firm line here that doesn't go to the level of Live Action Role Playing. Things we're less clear about? What the hell someone of these new Gen Z words and phrases really mean. And since Olivia is still a little salty about being called cheugy in the last episode, she's hitting Ashley and Amy with the Gen Z Word Game. For every term you don't get correct, that's a drink. Draking? Capping? Wig?? Might as well just pour two right away, folks. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

"There's no reason, other than the fact that I have a vagina, that you think he can't be around me... and that's bullshit!" Things really heat up in this episode when we chat about Girl Code. Are you allowed to date a friend's crush? Does it make a difference if he's part of the friend group? What about a friend's brother? Or, her ex? Even if it was am amicable breakup, would it be to weird to hear your friend talk about your ex in that way? And what about "uteruses before duderuses" -- do your friends really always come before the person you're dating, or is it more complicated than that? Messy, messy, messy. After a round of 60 Second Sips where we make it very clear that we will not tolerate being left on read, we chat about the holiday party where Olivia got hammered (and accidentally exposed someone's affair?!) and Ashley was told she needed to flirt to get promotions. I'm sorry, what now? If you work in a messed up environment, we can assure you that you don't have to stoop to their level to get ahead, no matter what the morons say. And, while we're on the topic of jobs, how far is too far to re-connect with someone who may be able to help you get a job? Would you consider using the address of a home sale listing someone posted on Facebook to send them a card too far? After being sufficiently creeped out by this overstep, we end this episode by chatting about home décor with words on it and if we're too old (or, too young) for that style of decorating. Cross stitch in the bathroom though? That's cool no matter what. Happy 4th of July everyone! Stay safe and ... cheers! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Is dating getting a bit too... analytical? In this episode we're chatting all about dating spreadsheets, Google doc applications, and even dating business cards. Do you think if you're at the point of needing a spreadsheet to keep your dates straight, you're seeing too many people at once? And while these dating applications seem like an efficient way to get around small talk (which, dudes, you are terrible at), we found quite a few holes in this plan. And let's not forget about dating business cards; at first this seemed like a quirky way to give your info to people IRL, but Ashley and Amy were more skeptical. Does this seem desperate, like someone who is trying to settle down too fast? Or are you a player (how many other people did you hand out cards to today?!), or even insincere? And while we count a number of downsides to this plan, Ashley and Amy are still convinced they should make cards for Olivia and hand them out on her behalf. Oh boy... After a fun game of 60 Second Sips which has us pondering which careers we would or wouldn't want to date, we discuss the very random assortment of bougie items we've bought (or wish we could). If you've been seeing that Dyson Airwrap everywhere like we have, maybe you've been pondering this purchase too... or at least until you've seen the price tag. Sheesh! Do you like buying designer shoes and purses? Fancy cars?Or robot lawn mowers?! Ah, if money wasn't an issue. Cheers to that! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, we're diving right in to talk about using a matchmaker. It sounds spendy, not very efficient, and questionably effective if you're not finding different people than you could find on the apps. Should a matchmaker have a certain education background? How well should they get to know you first before they match you? Should they seek the assistance of a psychic? One of the matchmakers had a rule: No texting before the date. Does this help prevent any preconceived notions about the other person and keep the daters more open minded? Or does it add stress to the first date? After a quick round of 60 Second Sips, we talk about tiny houses and living out of a van. This seems to be a big trend prompted by the pandemic and people working more remotely, and we discuss whether or not this is really feasible for us. We have a lot of questions about composting toilets, for starters. And as Ashley so aptly points out, we wonder if social media glamorizes living in a teeny space when really it's probably a huge headache. If you're also curious, consider following @wander.onwheels and @vanswerthecall on Instagram (and don't forget to follow us, too, if you haven't yet!). --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

It's officially pool season, y'all! We kick off today's episode debating if we're too old for bikinis, discussing new swimwear trends, and wondering if swimsuits should have pockets. After that, Olivia demands that Ashley and Amy play along as we discuss when it's too soon for certain aspects of a relationship – becoming exclusive, saying I love you, moving in together, and getting married. Amy gets points for creativity because she basically found eighty different ways of saying “it depends” without actually saying “it depends.” SIGH. We take a detour in the discussion to talk about single people registries. We think it only seems fair that we've contributed to all your showers and even though we're not getting married, we would like to upgrade to that good Crate & Barrel sh*t. In this episode, we also find ourselves talking about poop again. Pick up after your dogs, people! And would you be okay with someone eating your food without asking? Joey doesn't share food! And to wrap up this episode, we ponder if we're at the age where we're starting to become our mothers. Decorating like your mom, cleaning like your mom… dressing like your mom?! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

What would you do if you got iced on your first date? Is that a creative icebreaker or immature tactic? In this episode, we dive into the topic of couples counseling. Is it a red flag if you're going to counseling before you're even married? Is that a sign that you're just not a good fit for each other? We also discuss some complex couples counseling dynamics – is it okay for you to join in on your S.O.'s therapy sesh, or should you be working with a neutral third party who doesn't know either of you? Would it be a dealbreaker if your partner wasn't willing to go to therapy? If that topic wasn't heavy enough, we also chat about private versus secret relationships. Sure, it maybe makes sense for celebrities, but what about us normal folks? Would it be a red flag if someone started dating you but didn't want anyone else to know? Ashley has some personal experience with this kind of scenario, but probably not in the way you'd think! Next, Ashley runs us through some 60 Second Sips that has Olivia yelling “Absolutely not! 110% no!” while Amy is totally on board. Any guesses what this may be? We also chat about the Friends reunion and why it made Olivia cry like a little baby. Are we getting to that time in our lives when our friends are no longer our main family? Is this feeling part of what adds pressure to people about their timeline to get married and have kids? To top off this episode, we wonder if we're getting too old for long hair. Is it time for our “mom haircuts” or can we hang onto our long locks for just a little longer? --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Ashley and Olivia kick off this episode with some exciting life announcements before we discuss an important listener comment about our last episode - are we too old for the Summerfest shuttle buses? Then, we dive into this episode by discussing dating reality shows and if we'd ever be a contestant. Olivia thinks the Bachelor/Bachelorette concept is a load of crap, and would put more faith in the hands of matchmaking experts. Ashley maintains that the best dating show is Survivor, and even suggests there be a specialized dating app for Survivor fans. Speaking of specialized dating apps, Ashley grew up in a place where Farmers Only isn't a joke. What?! You mean it's not just a 3am commercial for us to make fun of? If you could make some kind of specialized dating app, what would it be? All this dating app talk means it's time for a drink. In this 60 Second Sips, we learn that Ashley and Amy's bars for male hygiene are surprisingly low. Gross, guys... gross. This of course devolves into a discussion about millennials and top sheets. We legitimately don't understand why people would NOT want a top sheet on their bed. Can someone explain this to us?? Next, with Ashley and Olivia's impending moves, it seemed like the right time to talk about Marie Kondo, The Home Edit, and other (unnecessary?) forms of hyper-organization. While we all seem to agree that putting your chicken nuggies in a clear container in the freezer is dumb, there seems to be quite the discrepancy about the appropriate number of scissors to have in a one-person household. Maybe Amy is onto something with her Room of Requirement. And finally, we ask if we're too old for cheap wine, beer and alcohol. Amy straight up refuses to participate in any "icing" and Olivia thinks back to the days of UV Blue and lemonade. Gut rot, anyone? --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

We're diving into a topic from last week's 60 Second Sips -- would you date a guy in his 30s who still lives with roommates? And is a guy more appealing to you if he owns a home instead of renting? Would you ever date someone who lives at home with their parents? Heck, would YOU ever move back home with your parents?? It's quite the debate! After ripping into Amy about her fostering addiction, she takes us through some great 60 Second Sips. As it turns out, we all have a pet peeve about people not using their turn signals. Next, Olivia and Ashley discuss the fact that they're both showing and selling their homes at the same time and it has been quite the stressful process finding new places to live while preparing to sell the old ones. While Olivia has been dealing with the realization that she may be a low-key hoarder, Ashley has finally solved the mystery of who has been leaving half eaten food outside the condo. Sadly, we don't think the culprit can read the passive aggressive signs Ashley's downstairs neighbor has been posting. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Do you remember the website PostSecret? Well, we've got a couple of big secrets to share with you this week! Ashley's big secret involves sneaking into dugouts, jorts turned into jean bikini bottoms, and Olivia being possibly the least observant person on the planet. During 60 Second Sips, our hearts go pitter-patter thinking about men in uniform, and we consider whether we'd date someone who had roommates (certainly a topic we plan to dig into more in the future!). After a couple of much needed sips, Olivia spills her worst-kept secret and explains why she'll probably continue getting toxins injected into her face, even though it turned her face green. Yes, green. Next, we discuss how daily skincare is important, too, and we ponder if we're too old to not have a skincare routine. And no, Amy, we don't think occasionally putting body lotion on your face counts as a skincare routine (although, irritatingly, she probably has the best skin out of all of us). To round out this episode, we think back to watching the O.C. in high school and laugh about the fashion trends from 2003. And having pants you couldn't possibly sit in without showing everyone your butt crack. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Guess what? We've reached almost 900 plays and we have you all to thank! Keep spreading the word, and don't be afraid to slide into our DMs if you have any topic suggestions. In this episode, we ponder the relevance of a few common phrases, such as "romance is dead," "there's plenty of fish in the sea," and "right person, wrong time." We also discuss "five minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable," which has us all stressing the importance of just letting someone know if you're going to be late! Come on, guys. Sending a text isn't that hard. After a quick run through 60 Second Sips where we assess the importance of never having photographic evidence that you wear sunglasses indoors, we take our discussion about time a little further and talk about life timelines and important milestones. Have the expectations of when you should get married and have kids changed? Do we still have this pressure of what we "should" be doing looming over us? Should Amy have ditched her career and become a welder? Ah, life's great unanswered questions. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Inspired by an outrageous Hinge prompt answer sent by her sister, Olivia kicks off the episode by running us through some pretty interesting responses to prompts on dating apps. And yes, these are all real responses found just in our location in under an hour. It's a scary world out there on the apps, people. So scary, in fact, that we question if Olivia found the next Jeffrey Dahmer... yikes. Next, we discuss how important it is to have the same schedule as someone you're dating. Could you date a third-shifter if you work first shift? Does each person's ability to be flexible play a role? After this discussion, Amy leads us through a very entertaining (and uncomfortable) round of 60 Second Sips. PSA: Do NOT clip your toenails in public. We repeat. Do NOT clip your damn toenails in public, you trolls. Finally, we round out the episode discussing the random freak accidents that give us an unnecessary level of anxiety. Death by trash compactor, roller coaster malfunctions, and water park decapitations top out our list. After all that, we really could use a cuddle with our favorite childhood stuffed animals. But wait, are we too old for that?! What would you say if you dated someone who still slept with their teddy bear? --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Would you date someone who worked in the same field as you, or would it get too competitive? Or rather, would it be nice to have someone who understands the difficulties of your job? We discuss that on this week's episode before diving into some 60 Second Sips. Would you date someone who hates big companies like Amazon? (Please don't count how many Amazon packages we had delivered this week.) Next, we talk all about the many, many aspects of being adults that just didn't live up to our expectations. Like, dang, I have to feed myself how many times each week? That's just bogus. We also expected we'd have things like fancy name-brand shirts or red-bottomed shoes, but instead it seems our priorities are on other things and we'd just as well grab that two-pack of leggings from Costco. And you know what? While we're at it, we have to say that it would just be easier to have cereal every night for dinner and top it off with a piece of chocolate. After a deeper dive into the harsh truths about being an adult, we land on one very important point of frustration -- this assumption that adults knew what they were doing! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram and @ShotsThoughts on Twitter. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

What do you think about someone saying "not looking for a pen pal" on a dating app? And, what do you think about people not listing preferences for things that are obvious dealbreakers for them (such as doing drugs or having kids)? These are just a few of the things we chat about on this week's episode. Olivia takes some liberties with the time limit for 60 Second Sips this week, but leaves us wondering about whether or not we'd swipe yes on someone using Travel Mode on a dating app. And what if you match with someone only to find out that they're moving across the country? Or plan to travel abroad for the next six months? Would you keep talking to this person or bail out before things get complicated? And as if all that wasn't complicated enough, we discuss things we talk about things we just don't understand, like mailing packages at the post office, recycling rules, and why you really need to sort your laundry if you're just going to use a Color Catcher anyway. There are some parts of being an adult that we just didn't feel prepared for. Thanks for nothing, home economics! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Is kissing like riding a bike? Or, can you forget how to do it if it's been awhile or if you're super nervous? This is up for debate on this week's episode, along with some 60 Second Sips questions about milk preferences and whether talking during movies is acceptable. A big topic we cover is gaslighting -- the act of manipulating a partner in such a way that they end up questioning their own reality. Inspired by a binge of the first season of the podcast "Something Was Wrong," we talk about the different tactics gaslighters use to manipulate their partners and discuss our own personal experiences with these narcissistic individuals. Gaslighters will say things like "you'd be such a great partner if it wasn't for..." and "that never happened, you're being paranoid," and much more. And while it is likely challenging to spot any red flags in the beginning of a relationship with a gaslighter, we hope this conversation brings some attention to this common issue. But don't worry, the whole episode isn't so serious! We also have an extensive conversation about various hair removal strategies that honestly borders on TMI. You've been warned! From the hot hot heat of laser hair removal to the torturous epilator to the mess and stink of Nair cream, we cover it all and have some good laughs along the way. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Happy Easter weekend! Are you a fresh Peeps fan or one of the weirdos who likes them a little hard? After debating Easter candy, we discuss social media and if it's muddying the waters for breakups. Speaking of breakups, when are you obligated to break up in person instead of over text or a phone call? And, if you happen to see that person in real life post-breakup, how do you handle it? (Hide!) In case you were wondering, dealing with seeing exes in person is a team sport. A certain ex of Olivia's better watch out -- Amy may just kick you in the shins if you get close enough! During 60 Second Sips, Ashley asks if we'd swipe right or left on someone with no social media presence. Gosh, all this social media talk really has us reminiscing about simpler times, back when the most complicated thing about social media involved leaving that perfect away message on AIM for your crush to see and choosing the moodiest music for your Myspace page. We certainly start aging ourselves when we chat about driving in our cars without CD players and having to physically crank the windows down. Which brings us to the big question: are you blasting N*SYNC or Backstreet Boys? And, this wouldn't be an episode about '90s/'00s life without some talk about the fashion. Yes, we're reminding you that butterfly clips and "whale tails" were a thing. Proceed with caution - you may also get some PTSD just thinking about low rise jeans, too. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Inspired by a Bumble question prompt, we guess why each of us would be arrested. Do you think "my drunk alter ego did it" would hold up in court? Next, we help Olivia translate what the heck we think guys mean when they say things on the apps, like, "I'm looking for a filter-less beauty" -- what are you trying to say, sir? Plus, Olivia is feeling awfully stereotyped by her matches about being a dietitian, so we talk about the many ways in which we've all experienced this kind of quick judgement. After a game of 60 Second Sips during which we determine there is most certainly a correct way to sit in a booth as a couple (on the same side or the opposite side?), we talk about our favorite kitchen gadgets and the ones we think we could easily live without. You Instant Pot fans may need to enlighten us because we don't understand the appeal. And finally, Amy runs us through a list of clothes you should no longer be wearing in your 30s, and Ashley has a few things to say in rebuttal! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

We're talking money in relationships once again, but this time we're focusing on how you deal with differences in income. What do you do if you're self conscious about making less? Or if your partner really seems to care about now being the breadwinner? We also wonder if it's even worse to be the kind of person who says they're self-made, but really aren't. Then, we talk about cheap date ideas (including hiking, which could be a bad date if not executed correctly, oops). After a quick detour to talk about how Ashley had the best college job (and Olivia has, well, the shittiest), Amy takes us through a 60 Second Sips with a bit of a theme (think slow drivers and acceptable modes of transportation). Finally, we round out this episode chatting about how getting your hair highlighted to cover grays is a non-negotiable for a couple of us. And yes, we only go to pricier salons because of the horror stories Ashley and Olivia share in this episode. After Ashley dishes all sorts of tips for successful at-home manicures, we ponder spring break trips as 30-somethings and daydream about being able to travel together again. Sigh. Someday! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, Ashley runs us through the "Box Personality Test" which tells us a lot about Amy's ego, her relationship contentment, and surprisingly, even her many foster animals. Then, we discuss whether or not we think automating "good morning" texts and Starbucks giftcards is genuine or not. Next, Olivia spills that she's gotten tattoos on not just one, but TWO first dates. Whoa. After a thrilling round of 60 Second Sips, we take a deep dive into tattoos -- how many we have, how old we were when we got them, if we have any regrets, and more. And of course, this conversation wouldn't be complete if we didn't throwback to the days of Britney when naval piercings were all the rage. That's a trend we maybe could have lived without. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Olivia just finished listening to the audiobook "How Not to Die Alone" by Logan Ury, and she is dying to discuss some of the most shocking details of the book. How much more does a guy have to make to be considered as attractive as someone taller than him? Should you incentivize people setting you up on dates? Can you make yourself stop searching for someone better by applying the "secretary theory" to dating? And lastly, are people just sliding into the next step of their relationships, especially by living together? After some 60 Second Sips about clothes shopping and messaging habits, we dive deep into the topic of cohabitating with someone else. If you're both living with a S.O. for the first time, is that an advantage (both going into this with fresh eyes) or a disadvantage (neither really had experience or skills with the stress of newly cohabitating)? And WHO LEFT THE CABINETS OPEN AGAIN?! Finally, the episode ends with us pondering... are we too old for scrunchies, crop tops and biker shirts? Oh, we've got opinions on these! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

In this episode, we're chatting about patterns in dating. Do you date the same type of person over and over? Are they the same based on appearance, personality type, or something else? After a short tangent on the challenges of being an introvert, we direct our attention to the importance of talking about past relationships when you start a new one. Then, a hilarious 60 Second Sips game has us all agreeing that it is NOT okay to put your license plate stickers all over the place. Chaotic plates = chaotic people. Next, we talk about a friend who is basically in a relationship without his female counterpart being okay with using labels. Does this make sense? Should he give her more time, or put his foot down that this is important to him? Should he be ready to walk away if she isn't ready to use labels? And lastly, we're finally addressing this Millennial-bashing shenanigans. We love skinny jeans FOR A REASON. If you didn't have too-long wide leg pants that were all shredded and wet at the bottom, you just can't know the struggle we went through! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Did you know you can order zoo animals out of a catalog? Oh, the things dating can teach you! In this episode, we're wondering how long to wait for someone to reschedule a date. And during 60 Second Sips, Ashley poses this challenging question: would we ever date someone who cheated in the past, if they sincerely regretted it? Finally, Olivia tells a story about finding someone's hubby on a dating app, and it's such a crazy story that we're seeing double. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Seriously, guys, this could be our best episode yet! We recount some of our very worst first dates: the guy who was very vocal about his shy bladder, the guy who was probably on drugs and wanted to murder his brother, and the date that never ends (it just goes on and on my friends). Plus, after a hilarious 60 Second Sips, we finally tell the story about Ashley coming to save Olivia during a bad date and crying tableside. By the end of the story, Olivia is laugh-crying and can barely keep it together. After a quick swing to the more serious side of things to talk about dating safety and always trusting your instincts, we chat about some more light-hearted social media stalking. Where do YOU draw the line with your online pre-date investigations? --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Happy Valentine's Day! Grab that box of chocolates and a big glass of wine because this episode we're discussing when we stopped celebrating six-month anniversaries, the right time to tell your family you're dating someone new, and when we expect our significant other to delete their dating apps (and yes, we mean really delete, not just go hidden). --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram

“Are you wearing a dress? I see you.” Yeah guys, this episode gets a little creepy so don’t say we didn’t warn you. Ashley is full of great stories this episode, and she kicks things off by sharing how Olivia almost became an accidental mistress. During 60 Second Sips, we debate whether or not to go on a first date at a guy’s house. While most people would probably say this is a bad idea, do you think the pandemic has changed this general rule? And finally, we dive into the story about Ashley’s stalker. In fact, this story takes so many twists and turns (including Amy almost passing out at the ball park), we couldn’t even fit it all in the episode. Check out our Instagram page @ShotsThoughtsPod for even more about this guy who really went too far. If someone blocks your phone number and blocks you on every social platform they can think of (don’t forget LinkedIn!), it’s time to take the hint. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod

Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by … maskne. *all raise hands* The struggle is real with this pandemic pimple problem, and our beauty guru Ashley is here with some much needed advice on banishing the blemishes. After we get our skincare routine in order, we move on to the important topic of dating dealbreakers – some serious, some not so much. But one thing we can all agree on? If “Daddy” wants to buy you shots… run! In Episode 4, we talked about the creepy cowboy. But whatever happened to the guy who helped keep the creeper at bay? Well, Ashley dated him, but it wasn’t the fairytale ending we thought it could be. His true colors came out when he said something unsavory on a phone call, and it all unraveled really fast. Do you think you could continue dating someone who was blatantly racist? What if he seemed interested in learning about another perspective? Listen in and decide for yourself. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Olivia kicks off this episode with a few very important life updates, including the fact that she’s now leaving her relationship destiny in the hands of Myers Briggs. And while the first part of 2021 is coming in hot with some unfortunate 2020 vibes, we know it’s “new year, new you” season, and we’re dishing on our favorite at-home workouts (spoiler: it isn’t Peloton). Plus, we want to hear from you: what kind of underwear do you wear while working out?! WE NEED ANSWERS. We round out this episode by talking about the pitfalls of fad diets and food/cooking delivery services, with an important reminder to men everywhere that if you want to get ghosted by a dietitian, tell her about your juice cleanse. Boy, bye. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Do you think that personality type plays a role in your compatibility with another person? Can knowing your love language make you a better partner? We’re diving into these topics on this week’s episode. Amy is a major skeptic and thinks there’s too many intangibles for personality tests to help you choose a partner. And while Olivia seems more open to manifesting a relationship via Myers Briggs, Ashley worries this is just another way to cut out people who might be a good fit. In a fun round of 60 Second Sips, we contemplate the relative importance of having the door closed when you or your partner pees. DRIBBLE, DRIBBLE, DRIBBLE. No thank you! This somehow leads into a discussion about whether or not we could date someone who makes TikTok dance videos. And finally, we round out this episode by discussing 36 Questions for Love which somehow results in Ashley sharing that she’s been scarred by Britney Spears. Well, that’s a new one. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

We suspect that many of you have missed out on the joys of dating apps, so we're giving you the lowdown of what we really think about these online dating apps. Bumble has a new feature since Amy quit the apps where you can play a question game (your answers are revealed after both people provide answers) and this may have been a game changer for her (although Olivia think they're lame). Plus, if there are any men listening, we have a quick lesson for you on how not to totally suck at communicating on the apps. (It shouldn't be this hard, people!). After an awesome round of 60 Second Sips led by Amy, we dive into animals in dating app photos. Dead or alive. Then, we turn our attention to eHarmony and discuss that fact that Olivia does NOT look like her grandpa and eHarmony seems to think the guy farting rainbows would be a great fit for her. We, uh, we beg to differ. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

The countdown to 2021 is on, and we're here with our longest episode to date to help pass the time 'til the new year! In this week's episode, Ashley tells the tale of the Banjo Boy who made our NYE a bit more interesting (was there a midnight kiss?!). And while we're pondering the new year, we say f*ck your resolution -- surviving 2020 has earned you the right to forget the weight loss goals and instead focus on self care, which includes sliding into the new year on your couch watching some of our favorite binge-able "rushed relationship" reality shows. Yup, this means we're dishing our thoughts on Married at First Sight, Love is Blind, 90 Day Fiancé, Indian Matchmaking, Bachelor and Bachelorette, and more. For the matchmaking shows, do you think it's possible to screen for everything, including selfishness? While Olivia seems down for an expert setting her up, seems like Ashley and Amy have their reservations. Not into this kind of reality TV? We have plenty of other show recommendations to keep you entertained until 2021 finally arrives. Cheers! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

What would you do if your boyfriend's grandma got you and your boyfriend's sister identical Christmas gifts? Um, yikes. But if you want to play a good prank on someone this holiday season, Ashley has some inspiration for you. In this week's 60 Second Sips, we ponder just how much distance we could deal with in a long distance relationship (spoiler alert: Amy is willing to go as far as two miles, no further). Olivia is giving some serious consideration to distance dating during the pandemic, and Ashley provides a lot of insight because she has a surprising amount of experience with long-distance relationships. Oh, and stay tuned for Amy's future TedTalk about how men should be able to hold a conversation on dating apps.

What do you think about a guy you just matched with online asking to connect on Instagram or Snapchat? Also, are we getting too old for social media? After a quick game of 60 Second Sips, we dive into the age old question... who should pay on a date? Plus, Ashley tells us all about the time a co-worker asked her out, only to tell other people he thought she was a lesbian after she turned him down. She was too busy going on many dates in quick succession with her current BF to have time for that shenanigans anyway. Which begs the question, does going on lots of dates right in a row lead to a better connection? And when you do connect, how do you have the "exclusive" conversation? Wow, that's a lot. It's all on this episode of Shots & Thoughts! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

After we chat about the relationship Ashley didn’t know she was in and learn that maybe Olivia just doesn’t hug enough in her relationships, we bring on our very first guest! Nicole has been in a relationship for a whopping 20 years, and she reminds us that in addition to no Tinder back then, we also didn’t commonly have cell phones yet. What?! Can you imagine dating in a time before cell phones? Nicole entertains us with a story about getting asked to prom via e-mail before detailing the best “we were on a break” story since Ross and Rachel. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

That cocktail better be strong because we dive into some heavy sh*t this episode! What starts as a casual conversation about sneaky Instagram filters turns into us pondering the mental health of children everywhere. And if that wasn't heavy enough, we discuss that our clocks are a-tickin' and if we don't want to have to sign up for the show "Labor of Love," we better get moving. We also discuss dating people who have kids and dating divorcees (a lot of divorcees). Amy shares a story about a firefighter whose claim that he was separated from his wife was debunked with some good old social media stalking. See, maybe social media isn't all bad. --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

Just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we're chatting about holiday gifts! How soon do you buy the guy you're dating a present? When do you bring him home for the holidays? During this episode, we learn that Amy doesn't like boozy ice cream drinks, Ashley attempts to absolve Olivia of her bad gift giving history (Amy, however, remains a harsh critic), and we discuss being offered a holiday gift that will bring a certain type of um, JOY, to your holidays. *eggplant emoji* Happy holidays, everyone! --- What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE

What would you do if your date showed up late and drunk?! Some of us seem to be more forgiving than others. Ashley takes us through 60 Second Sips and leaves us pondering whether or not we'd date reality show participants or dudes who drink on the daily. Then, we discuss what we're watching and reading to keep us entertained during the pandemic. Saucy romance novels, anyone? What is Shots & Thoughts? We're three 30-somethings hosting a podcast about dating, relationships, and life in general. Follow us: @ShotsThoughts on Twitter and @ShotsThoughtsPod on Instagram. Intro music: A Himitsu - Adventures: youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE