Guest Chat: Total Eclipse of the Heart with Monica and Will

What are boundaries and how do you enforce them? Irina and Michelle delve into why these questions aren't as simple as they may appear. People who weren't taught to draw boundaries as children (or in fact had them disregarded) often struggle to deny requests in adulthood and stand their ground without guilt. How can you learn to respect yourself and make sure others respect you as well or get out of your life? The Dating Professors work through every step of the struggle and share what kind of line drawing doesn't come easily to them.SOTI ep. 36: Therapy Speak as Relationship Abuse Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent op-ed in the New York Times by Rachel Drucker asked "Men, Where Have You Gone?", followed by reader responses from men. Drucker lamented men withdrawing from the romantic public sphere and seeking stimulation over connection. At best, according to Drucker, single men would be willing to entertain situationships rather than relationships. Irina and Michelle discuss in this episode whether they think Drucker is right and what they make of the reader responses. Are respondents right that expectations for men have just gotten too confusing? Or that it makes sense for them to withdraw from dating if otherwise they risk being put on blast on social media if a woman does not like their behavior? Let's dive in!Rachel Drucker's NYT op-ed "Men, Where Have You Gone?"Reader responses to the NYT op-ed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irina and Michelle have the pleasure on this episode to talk to newlyweds Monica and Will. The academic mom and enrollment manager dad blended their families after a magical year-ish together. Find out how Monica used a dating consultant to make the best choices and Will finally escaped some confusing vegetable emoji games. Did their solar eclipse date seal the deal for these two romantics that buy matching shirts and broke all their own rules about not getting married or moving in together with a new partner? Join us for an unbearably cute episode about love that overcomes grief, skepticism, and any other challenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dating Professors continue their conversation with Hollywood darlings Chris Peckover and Shannon Short. You better get the tissues ready for this part as Irina and Michelle learn how both Chris and Shannon escaped the Grim Reaper in quick succession. Between dramatic car rides to the hospital and emergency surgeries, these true partners refused to leave each other's side throughout. Listen also to how--long before meeting Chris--Shannon had married his best friend Christine (!) after trying to "pray the gay away" via conversion therapy, and how she was the one who ultimately set him free. This episode is one heartwarming tale about how love and science saved Chris and Shannon's hearts and how one of them sometimes needs to pull over in sheer awe of their lives.Chris Peckover's IMDBShannon Short's IMDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Pride! This episode follows the epic love story of filmmaker (and Irina's friend from college) Chris Peckover and costume designer Shannon Short. Hear how Chris randomly contacted Shannon based on a cute Facebook picture and then drove from L.A. to San Diego for a date before Shannon had to embark on a cruise ship for a six-week work trip. Did Chris really go from being a pre-med swimmer at Yale to making one of the most popular Christmas-themed horror movies of all times? And did Branson-born Shannon journey from being homeless in his car in Texas to creating Emmy-nominated costume work in Hollywood after being discovered by the makers of The Mandalorian? For a tale worthy of the sparkliest California dreams, join Michelle and Irina for a two-part episode you won't want to miss!Chris Peckover's IMDBShannon Short's IMDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irina and Michelle continue their conversation with Southern attorney Kate, which traces the aftermath of her discovery of Doug's true identity. Just how dangerous was Doug? How did Kate unmask him and get away relatively quickly? And how did his cat blow Doug's cover when he was trying to run an empathy scam on one of his sugar babies?? For all that and more on the denouement of a supervillain's tale and Kate's exit from it, tune into part 2 of this caper!SOTI ep. 82: The Comic Con Artist with Kate (Part 1) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irina and Michelle have on this episode the wild tale of Kate, a successful lawyer and mom in her 50s in the Southern United States, and the same-aged man she met on Feeld while traveling, Doug (both pseudonyms). Doug seemed like the perfect boyfriend in many respects, and Kate dated him for three months long distance while he lived in a different Southern state. Doug claimed to be working at sci-fi conventions and concert venues, yet he somehow hardly seemed to leave his home and was constantly broke. Nothing could have prepared Kate, however, for the revelations of a group of women known as "The Club" who found her on social media. Did Doug really engage in cancer charity and GoFundMe frauds? Was he dating women his age only to fund his sugar baby habit? And what was up with the rumors that he may have killed his own father? Come join us for part 1 of this breathtaking story! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes for a happy moment in a romantic relationship? Irina and Michelle walk down memory lane to share some of their favorites. Travel, rain, cupcakes, protests, and discussions of "body counts" all make an appearance in this episode. Escape dreariness for a bit with the Dating Professors as you remember some of your own special past moments upon hearing theirs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Wall Street Journal and other sources have discussed recently, more and more women in the United States are stopping their search for a man to marry. Why is this happening? Irina and Michelle talk about what the average woman feels like she is (and isn't) getting in heterosexual marriage today, including in this economy. The Dating Professors analyze what happens when women are the higher earners, how young women now view marriage, as well as how children affect the labor dynamic in couples and why expectations often don't end up meeting reality. Pull up a chair and join the conversation!WSJ article on why women are giving up on marriage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode, Irina and Michelle speak with Portland-based creator Mike Schneider whose balloon art and other works have gone viral. Now with over 800K Instagram followers and a full-time career as an artist inspiring, delighting, and sometimes provoking with quotations displayed in balloon letters on colorful walls or in other formats, Mike shares his thoughts. He talks all things dating, grief, mental health, politics, creative process, and books (the second of which will be published shortly!). Come join us for a heartening conversation with one of social media's top art darlings! Mike Schneider’s IGMike’s websiteMike’s first bookMike’s second book"Boxed-Wine Boyfriend" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.