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Online dating advice for the modern age. Navigating relationships in a digital world can be confusing and stressful, which is why we're here to help you (and share a few stories of our own). Brought to you by a language expert and a curious millennial, Subtext gets real about the anxieties of dating…

Sarah Ellis & Michelle McSweeney

  • Sep 10, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • every other week NEW EPISODES
  • 18m AVG DURATION
  • 48 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Subtext

How To Spot A Red Flag

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 22:05


Christina walks us through a string of recent conversations on dating apps. We ask the question, how do you decide what's a deal-breaker before you've even met? NOTE: This episode was recorded pre-corona! If you hear references to crowded bars and IRL human contact, that's why. We miss it, too.

Timing Is Everything

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 15:56


You've heard the classic "wait two days before texting them" advice after a first date. But what's the ideal time between dating app messages? Five minutes? Five hours?

Setting The Tone

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 13:34


You've sent the first message, and they've responded. YES! Now where do you go from here?

That Dreaded First Message

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 17:52


It's the source of constant overthinking. You've probably stressed out about it a number of times. But what if we told you the key to a great opening line on dating apps is way simpler than you'd think?

Capturing An Online Identity

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 17:47


Kerry was scrolling through dating apps one day when she saw... a photo of a white Chevy Crossover. We know it's smart to be specific about your interests, but how much is too much?

Hannah Orenstein, Author & Dating Editor at Elite Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2020 40:19


Hannah Orenstein is the Senior Dating Editor at Elite Daily and author of the new rom com "Head Over Heels," a love story set in the world of elite gymnastics.

Recognizing Racism

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2020 8:34


We've been silent for the last several weeks. Here's why that is and what we've been thinking about.

Currently Seeking... A Perfect Partner?

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 12:42


"I'm looking for someone who loves The Office as much as I do." It's tempting to list out your dream expectations when you're writing up your bio, but you don't want to alienate awesome people before you ever get the chance to meet them.

Get To The Details

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 12:55


What should I put in my dating app bio? How do I look relatable without seeming weird? Here's the answer.

Should My Dating Profile Be A Highlight Reel?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 18:16


In the first episode of our "Profiles" series, we're discussing whether it's smart to list your best accomplishments in your dating app bio.

Corey Rae, Transgender Activist, Model & Producer

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 63:55


Corey Rae is an actress, producer, model, public speaker, and columnist at StyleCaster, and she's also an activist and advocate for transgender women.

A FaceTime First Date

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 19:37


In this special episode, Arielle chats with Sarah about how her dating life has changed during the coronavirus crisis in NYC.

Am I Too Friendly?

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2019 18:05


Nimisha has been dealing with some guys who are a little too forward. Is it possible that she's leading them on just by being nice?

Jeffrey Masters, Host of LGBTQ&A Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 36:25


The LGBTQ&A podcast is one of our favorites, so we asked host Jeffrey Masters to come on the show and share his own experiences, plus what he's learned from his work.

#DateMe Review & GIVEAWAY Announcement

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 2:37


We went to an off-Broadway show that's basically a live theater version of Subtext. And now we have tickets for YOU!

Is It Ever Okay To Ghost Someone?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 15:22


Ghosting someone isn't always a worst-case scenario. In fact, it might even be the best solution in certain cases — and Dawson knows this all too well.

Your Data On Dating Apps

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2019 15:14


Privacy protection is a problem, but you've probably never thought about it in terms of your Bumble profile. You might need to think twice.

Pride Throwback Episode: Yes, I'm Sure I'm Gay

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2019 20:45


The final installment of our Pride Throwback series is an episode that still makes us emotional to listen to. Zoe talks about her dating challenges as a feminine lesbian woman, and we discuss why you should never have to "prove" your sexuality to anyone. Originally broadcast April 18, 2019.

Pride Throwback Episode: Hack Your Tinder Algorithm

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2019 20:23


Next in our series celebrating queer dating culture, Philip talks about the nude photos he's been receiving on Grindr. It's making his online dating experience difficult, to say the least. Plus, Michelle shares a surprising way to increase your odds of getting a match on Tinder. Originally broadcast July 25, 2018.

Pride Throwback Episode: Heart Emojis on a First Date

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2019 16:07


Happy Pride! To celebrate, we're bringing back some of our favorite episodes about queer dating culture. First up, we help Elizabeth decode the meaning of the red heart emoji. Originally broadcast May 30, 2018.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg Is So Freaking Millennial

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 18:56


Pete Buttigieg, U.S. presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is changing the face of national politics. Here's what makes him so revolutionary... and so relatable.

So What Are You Looking For, Anyway?

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 23:11


Catherine keeps getting asked one very specific question on apps, and she's not a fan.

Are We Textpatible?

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2019 20:01


Darrin loves emojis. Seriously, he's obsessed. But what does it mean when the guys on dating apps don't send them back to him?

Yes, I'm Sure I'm Gay

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2019 20:45


What happens when your own community doubts who you are? For Zoe, it's been a hallmark of her dating experience.

Waiting For That Perfect Text Back

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2019 19:41


Caroline's feeling the pressure so many of us can relate to—how long should she wait before responding to a message from someone new?

Staging An Instagram Thirst Test

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2019 22:33


Those staged bikini photos have a deeper purpose — can you guess what it is?

My IRL Date With My Instagram Crush

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2019 18:37


It's 2019, and Instagram is basically a dating app. But Peter's experience with it has been... unexpected, to say the least.

How TF Is 'GIFs' Pronounced, Anyway?

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2019 14:22


Want to know how GIFs became a cultural phenom? Major hint: Barack Obama is involved.

Ghosted Out Of Nowhere? Spot The Signs

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 17:28


Karen and S seemed perfect for each other. They shared specific jokes and texted all the time. Then, without warning, things got weird.

Why We Over-Curate Our Profiles

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2019 16:42


Sydney's been doing some research on dating apps, and she discovered a surprising theme. Hint: It has to do with curation, and you may not even realize you're doing it!

Are Shorter Text Messages More Casual?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2019 14:12


Diamond started texting a new guy, and he immediately upped the ante with his messaging style. What's the secret? It's simpler than you'd think.

Holiday Special: How To Navigate Cuffing Season

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2018 5:30


Haven't locked anyone down for the winter months? Fear not! We're in this together.

Exclamation Points: A Feminist Manifesto

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2018 14:18


Love exclamation points? Hate them? Your use of them might be connected to your gender.

Rate My Date App—Our Thoughts On Crushh

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2018 11:16


Is anyone surprised that there's an app to help you figure out your dating apps? We're not. But learn why these "rate my date" apps aren't always as brilliant as they sound.

The Dreaded 'O.K.' Text—It's Not Okay

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2018 19:58


Nancy knew when things weren't going well. In fact, Jane sent a single message that summed up all her feelings in just one short word.

Halloween Special: Sarah Gets Ghosted

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2018 3:35


It's spooky season, and Sarah's got a story of her own to share this week.

Your Texting Punctuation Playbook

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2018 20:32


Lauren was really hitting it off with this guy. He even read her favorite book! The one thing she couldn't get over was his punctuation style. It just seemed so...weird?

How Many Messages Should I Send Before Making A Date?

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2018 18:48


Natalie gets freaked out when guys on apps come on too strong. (Don't we all?!) We're answering this once and for all—what's the perfect number of messages to send before you suggest a real life date?

Here's Why It's Smart To Be Quirky On Tinder

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2018 14:36


Jas is back! She upped her dating game with just one simple change—can you guess what it is?

That NYC Mass Tinder Date—How Did She Do It?

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2018 16:14


So you guys definitely saw this one online. Remember the girl who hosted that mass Tinder date in NYC last month? How did she pull this off? And how can you avoid being duped on a date?

He Says 'Haha' In Every Text & I'm Not Laughing

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2018 19:52


Jas met a guy who just can't stop laughing, and it's not in a good way. Also, we're bringing up a major throwback—emoticons! They're not dead yet, and they probably deserve another chance.

The Real Reason Behind OKCupid's New Campaign

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2018 14:23


We all know Facebook is a digital giant, but what about the other monopoly no one is talking about? We're breaking down OKCupid's colorful new campaign (seriously! these two things are connected) and why there might be more behind it than you'd think.

Hack Your Tinder Algorithm

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2018 20:23


People keep sending Philip photos out of nowhere—and no, we don't mean photos of food or cats. Why so aggressive? And bonus...is it possible to hack your Tinder algorithm so you get better matches?

My Ex Reached Out Via Email—What?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2018 13:23


Email: is it only for work or does it have a place in personal relationships? After a guy confronts Taylor over email, she's left wondering if she should really take his accusations seriously.

Facebook Gets Into Dating

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2018 16:45


It's everyone's favorite subject lately (for better or for worse)...Facebook. What happens when this digital giant takes on dating?

Why Is Everyone Shortening Words These Days?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018 13:03


Kevin hasn't had much success on Tinder, but we've got to give him props for being honest. He's sharing some wisdom about what he looks for in a match, and we're breaking down the history of truncated words. It's obvs a good time.

The Real Meaning Of The Red Heart Emoji

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2018 16:07


What's the deal with heart emojis, anyway? Do they always convey affection? Are some more serious than others? Elizabeth had a Tinder date that was going well...until the heart emojis started coming her way.

Hyphens Over Text—The Great Debate

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2018 16:28


Today we're discussing a personal story that involves a bit of a punctuation crisis. Sarah's roommate Hannah and friend Victoria are here to weigh in—is it weird to use hyphens when you're texting someone new?

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