2026 Dating Trends: Chalance, Friendfluence, Voice Notes, and More

What does dating look like in 2026? We are defining and breaking down six dating trends for the year – from "hot take dating" to "friendfluence" to "chalance" – and also discussing what romance looks like in the current landscape, how voice notes can vet potential dates, and more. Before we get into the topic, we're talking about what might be the best piece of dating advice out there, clarifying our anniversary, and sharing an incident where Ashley forgot she was married. Enjoy!  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Hungry Root: Get 40% off your first box and free item in every box for life at https://hungryroot.com/GGE with code GGE.  Skims: Get our favorite bras and underwear at https://skims.com/gge.  Chime: Bank fee free by signing up at https://chime.com/girlsgottaeat.  Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first order and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with code GGE10. Hers: Get the support that actually reflects your needs. Start your free intake at http://forhers.com. 

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we're talking about: Winter Olympics tea: JD Vance getting booed/NBC censoring, Penisgate continues, medals are breaking  The most unbelievable (and horny) Olympic sports  Tom Brady running game on Alix Earle  Cardi B and Stefon Diggs allegedly breaking up during the Super Bowl  Bad Bunny halftime show (and the TPUSA alternative show)  Headlines: Jill Zarin, Gossip Girl sequel, MAGA Fest cancellations, Nancy Guthrie updates, Ja Rule's plane fight, JordOn Hudson  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Nature's Sunshine: Get 20% off your first order and free shipping at http://naturesshine.com with code GGE. Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/gge.  Hers: Get the support that actually reflects your needs. Start your free intake at http://forhers.com.  Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box plus free croissants for life at https://wildgrain.com/GGE or use promo code GGE. 

This episode is truly a game changer for anyone struggling with work stress, work life balance, or honestly, just having a job in general (so, everyone?) We are welcoming back psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch to tell us how not to let work run (and ruin) your life. We discuss how to actually turn off after work, boundaries when you work from home, a ritual for curing the Sunday Scaries and not dreading Monday morning, learning how to appreciate your job (but also, when you should quit), and tips for vacationing better including his "triple dip" theory. We also discuss work stress in a relationship, including the effects on your sex life and how not to absorb your partner's work stress. Before Guy joins us, we have a celebratory (and awkward) moment for our 8-year anniversary, and we're recapping Rayna's tour kickoff and frigid trip to Florida. Enjoy! Follow Guy on Instagram @guywinch and get his new book Mind Over Grind.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Hers: Get the support that actually reflects your needs. Start your free intake at forhers.com.   Vivrelle: Skip the waitlist and get your first month for free at vivrelle.com with code GGE. Audible: Listen to the Audible original comedy Big Age at audible.com/bigageseries.  Shopify: Test out a new idea or get serious about launching a new brand at shopify.com/gge.  Rocket Money: Reach your financial goals faster at rocketmoney.com/gge.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we're talking about: Bella Hadid and her cowboy boyfriend break up  Danielle Bernstein ends her engagement  Kim K. rumored to be dating Lewis Hamilton  Best moments of the Grammys (and the bigger loser of the night)  Tom Brady thirst trapping on Instagram  Ranking the best Super Bowl foods  Headlines: Luigi Mangione dodges the death penalty, Heated Rivalry lookalike contest, latest Epstein Files release, RIP Catherine O'Hara Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Skims: Get our favorite bras and underwear at https://skims.com/gge.  Better Help: Get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/gge.  Hers: Get the support that actually reflects your needs. Start your free intake at http://forhers.com,  Helix: Get 20% off at https://helixsleep.com/gge. 

Back for another life changing discussion, we have therapist and bestselling author Nedra Glover Tawwab to talk about healthy dependency in relationships – what it is, what's the difference from unhealthy dependency/codependency, and how to achieve it. We discuss how to not lose yourself in a relationship, dating someone who's enmeshed with their family, why our attachment styles aren't fixed and how we show up differently with different people, and the problem with hyper independence. We also discuss friendship enmeshment and when one friend needs space, accommodating friends' boundaries without losing them (and when you might need to cut someone off), navigating your best friend getting into a relationship, and how to understand different peoples' communication styles. We even touch on parenting and codependency with children. Before Nedra joins us, we analyze some wrong number texts Rayna has been receiving, and answer the question 'Can a morning person be with a non-morning person?' Enjoy! Follow Nedra on Instagram at @nedratawwab and preorder her new book The Balancing Act (out February 10). Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Article: Get a beautiful new sofa, dining table, or bed http://article.com. Liquid IV: Get 20% off your first order at https://liquidiv.com with code GGE.  Revolve: Get 15% off your first order at https://revolve.com/gge with code GGE.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we're talking about: Being snowed in + a devastating event cancellation Alex Honnold climbing a skyscraper live  Sydney Sweeney throwing bras on the Hollywood sign Blake Lively and Taylor Swift's released texts (and a legal breakdown) Winter Olympics crotch enlargement scandal  What's happening in Minnesota and the importance of speaking up Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/gge. 

If you're wondering how much couples are actually fighting, what they're fighting about, and how they're making up – we got you! We conducted surveys to ask these questions, and are also sharing our own experiences regarding conflict (and conflict resolution), makeup sex, the advice of "never go to bed angry," why you shouldn't fight over text, and how toxic relationships take a toll on your health. And we're discussing couples who say they never fight (ahem George Clooney and Travis Kelce). Before we get into the topic, Ashley pops off about the new iPhone feature she feels victimized by, Rayna shares the one thing about traveling she can't get right, and we have a foolproof tip for getting kinkier in the bedroom. Enjoy!  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Shopify: Go to https://shopify.com/gge and start building your own empire today. Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/gge. Just Thrive: Get 20% off your first order at justthrivehealth.com with promo code GGE.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we're talking about: Kristi and Desmond Scott's divorce and scandal Kyle and Amanda from Summer House divorce announcement Brooklyn Beckham airing his family's dirty laundry  Breaking down the 2016 trend and reminiscing  Tell Me Lies – review of S3 so far and the real life couples on the show Headlines: Euphoria trailer breaks records, Indiana University wins football championship, Luda pulls out of MAGA Fest  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to Shopify: If 2026 is your year, go to shopify.com/gge and make your move. Download the Kitchen Sink app here.

We're kicking off this episode with thoughts on dry January, some life updates from Ashley, Rayna's feelings about starting her tour, and then we're laughing about the hilarious "describe your ex as a store" trend and sharing our own.  Then we have an interview re-release with Mimi Bouchard, founder of the Activations app, to discuss the most effortless way you can start to manifest what you want in life. She shares her story of transforming her life and what led her to start the app (hint: no meditation required), and we discuss things that numb you vs. things that make you feel alive, how to act like your future self even in the smallest moments, reducing your screen time, and our personal favorite, manifesting during sex.   Follow Mimi on Instagram @mimibouchard and download Activations.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Activations: For a limited time, get a 14-day trial + a great discount on your subscription at activations.com/gge.  Shopify: Go to https://shopify.com/gge and start building your own empire today. Chime: Bank fee free by signing up at https://chime.com/girlsgottaeat.  Skims: Shop our favorite bras and underwear at https://skims.com. Hungry Root: Get 40% off your first box and free item in every box for life at https://hungryroot.com/gge with code GGE. Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first order and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with code GGE10.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we're talking about: The best (and worst) moments from the Golden Globes  Tell Me Lies is back Celeb mom group drama continues (the dads clap back) Ashley's review after binging Mormon Wives  The murder of Renee Good and unrest in Minneapolis Headlines: Haley and Matt Kalil big dick drama, Cher wants better than Dax for Kristen Bell, Spencer Pratt running for mayor of LA Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/gge.     AG1: Go to https://drinkAGI.com/gge for a free duffel bag and Welcome Kit with your first subscription order.