Meet Cute Actually

This one-night stand will never end. (Rated PG-13 for Dance Floor Makeouts and Hawaiian Dad Shirts) 29:15 | Comedy, Romance LOGLINE Two independent women end up at the same dance club on one fateful night. One takes a chance and dances her way towards love. Both are quick to learn lessons in patience, trust, and open communication. STORYLINE The story begins on a sweaty dance floor at Babe’s in Virginia. Sam has just moved from Texas. Her previous military training has her loving structure but wanting something new and more representative of her identity as a queer woman. As she looks around the club, her eyes fix on a beautiful woman, Amber, wearing her best “vacation dad” Hawaiian T-shirt. The two dance, exchange names, and a dizzying kiss before Amber leaves with Sam after some encouragement from her friends. After a couple of dates, Sam makes it clear she may not stay in town for long. This prompts Amber to face some exciting but terrifying questions about her own growth and willingness to be with Sam despite the unknown. The deal is finally sealed once Sam’s cat moves in with Amber, and Amber accepts that she will be part of that couple pushing a cat in a stroller down the city block. The two realize that they can both work on their own identities and self growth while being in a committed and happy relationship with each other. Due to great and open communication, they are always on the same page. So, after the blessing of their family and friends, Sam and Amber get engaged and then eloped in their easy, breezy, and fun way. Not even a run in with an ex at a local bar the night before could stop them. Because both Sam and Amber see the value in always going for what you want on and off the dance floor. PLOT KEYWORDS Love, Romance, Dating Podcasts, Podcasts for Couples, Engagement, Communication, Lesbian, Queer, Family, Cats, Strollers, Virginia, Texas, Dancing QUOTES “We have good dance chemistry.” - Sam “Can I look past the level of insanity that goes with a woman pushing a cat in a stroller down the street in a city?” - Amber “I had to open my idea to what my future was going to be like if this continued.” - Amber. FUN FACT Babe's of Carytown, where Sam + Amber met, is an LGBTQ owned and operated establishment that has been in business for 32 years. They've been voted Best of Richmond multiple times and in multiple categories. They're now in the Best of Richmond Hall of Fame. CREATOR Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Sam + Amber (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARRING Sam, 32, a former military medic and Richmond transplant who is ready to dance her way to adventure Amber, 29, a Richmond local who is ready for a change, some soul searching, and maybe the cat she never thought she’d get FEATURING • Gavin Brady as Movie Trailer Announcer Voice (Trailer) • Debbie Rolf as Sam (Trailer) • Rachanee Lumayno as Amber (Trailer) • Laura Rondinella as Friend (Trailer) • Sam and Amber’s Stroller Cat SOUNDTRACKS Music by DanoSong   MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY A Damsel with Some Stress SHOW US SOME LOVE Give Us a Review | Follow Us On Instagram | Submit Your Own Story

They're the purrfect match. (Rated PG-13 for cats, hugs, and one outdoor cigarette break.) 18:31  | Comedy, Romance   LOGLINE Two socially-conscious cat lovers see what happens when you keep your heart open to love, just like your beliefs and your mind. Xia and Dustin show us that it’s not enough to like the same things, but it provides a great foundation for a Meet Cute, Actually based on shared morals, values, and love of cats. STORYLINE Xia, an opinionated socially-conscious grad student, meets Dustin, an aimless grad student now aimless postdoc, on OkCupid after just two weeks on the site. She swipes into his life after seeing that his profile features one half left-wing politics and the other half cute cats. After connecting, they take things slow because Dustin doesn't want add romantic rejections to his pile academic rejections, and Xia was right about to delete her account before she dove into a Clinical Psychology Program. She had been on many first dates and embraced the casual nature of meeting people. This carefree, friendly attitude shines through during their first meet cute in real life at the Chicory Cafe in Indiana. Xia was first attracted to Dustin for his fancy button-down shirt but really loved how they effortlessly talked for three hours about everything from cute kittens to distributive justice and identity politics. Before these two knew it, they were hobnobbing together at all the grad student parties, and enjoying all the free food Xia’s campus had to offer. It was 12-hour marathon date. But, even so, these two always had more to discuss and uncover about themselves and their beliefs. PLOT KEYWORDS Love, Romance, Dating Podcasts, Podcasts for Couples, Social Justice, Left Wing, Cats, OkCupid, Online Dating, Love Podcasts, Meet Cutes, Indiana, Grad Students. QUOTES “I don’t remember when it was that we decided to be exclusive. I do remember we were drunk” - Xia “I need to be sure that they understand my position in society as a Black Woman and also their position in society, and how those can be very different.” - Xia “Half of my OkCupid was about cats, and half of it was about politics.” - Dustin “I was glad you started texting me pictures of your cats.” - Dustin FUN FACT Art Beat welcomes over 15,000 visitors annually and features a showcase of over 900 visual, performing, and culinary artists. CREATOR Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Xia + Dustin (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARRING Xia, 32, an opinionated and confident grad student who likes hugs but not ambiguity Dustin, 31, an aimless grad student (now postdoc) who will talk for hours about his left-wing politics and love of cats FEATURING • Will Brady as Dustin (Trailer) • Danielle Thacker as Xia (Trailer) • All the cute cats on Dustin’s OkCupid Profile. MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY The Park Around the Corner Swiping Girl SHOW US SOME LOVE Give us a Review | Follow Us On Instagram | Submit Your Own Story

When life's off beat, follow your heart. (Rated PG-13 for lots of stress and a few family-friendly zombies.) 29:07 | Comedy, Romance LOGLINE Two dancers who start by sharing the stage and end up sharing a whole lot more—navigate stress, loss, and life in New York. Showing us the magic that can happen when life writes your story for you. STORYLINE Austin, a veteran Six Flag dancer, meets Marideth, a rookie, during a Six Flags New Jersey dance contract that has them dress up as fun party zombies. Marideth knows of this wonderful Austin only by name until that fateful day when Austin knocks on the door and Marideth answers in her finest weiner dog shorts. Bonded over their passion for dance, a similar friend group, and similar moments of loss—for Marideth—meeting Austin didn't just connect her to a set of wheels. It connected her to the type of guy who always makes sure she is safe and has a deep concern for her well being. At first, these two take it slow because of their fever pitch schedules. But, as their love grows, Austin makes a few attempts to show Marideth how much he cares. Including, a failed attempt to dazzle Marideth with the magic of the Rockefeller Christmas tree and a spectacular first date at a popular Manhattan speakeasy and Playa Betty's. This leads to the two of them becoming official just two days before Valentine’s Day—making their shift from friends to lovers as effortless as their dancing. After months of waiting to find the right moment to connect, their two lives finally get in-sync and they realize the most important thing they have is each other. ...And TikTok. PLOT KEYWORDS Love, Dating Podcasts, Romance Podcasts, Couples, Dating, Single, Dancers, Six Flags, Zombies, New York, Jazz Clubs, Friendships, Rockefeller Christmas Tree QUOTES “We were in zombie make up as we got to know each other.” - Austin “We just care about each other so much.” - Marideth “Literally the majority of our relationship has been living with my parents.” - Marideth “What even is normal? Sometimes your story just writes itself. Let the writing happen.” - Marideth + Austin FUN FACT One of the reasons Marideth was so busy was because she was a swing in a show. A swing is a company member who understudies several chorus and/or dancing roles. If an understudy fills in for a lead role, a swing acts the parts normally performed by the understudy. Meaning, she had to learn them all. CREATOR Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Marideth + Austin (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARRING Marideth Batchelor, 22, the "mayor" half of the professional dance duo and TikTok sensation @cost_n_mayor Austin Telenko, 25, the "cost" half of the duo FEATURING J. Michael Baran as a 1930's Movie Announcer Voice (Trailer) Marideth’s Weiner Dog Shorts SOUNDTRACKS Music by DanoSong MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY Along Came Molly While You Weren't Sleeping SHOW US SOME LOVE Give Us a Review | Follow Us On Instagram | Submit Your Own Story

You don’t have to agree on everything, just your love. (Rated PG-13 for frequent disagreements and the mention of Linkin Park.) 21:10 | Comedy, Romance LOGLINE In NYC's bustling Union Square, the busy Nani meets her match in Mohit where they discover they may have a difference of opinion on many things but are a perfect pair in all the ways that count. STORYLINE Just like the Whole Foods at Union Square in New York, the love between Nani and Mohit is hard to miss. It wasn’t always love at first fight for these two, as Mohit’s nerdy boy backpack almost made Nani call it all off right from the start. But, one awkward hug and afternoon of book shopping later, these two realize that they actually speak the same language. (Literally, Marathi. But, figuratively, too.) They both love collecting stories, reading books, and find each other engaging and entertaining. Especially when Mohit shows off his karaoke skills and wins the crowd over with his rendition of Linkin Park’s “In the End”. The more time these two spend together the clearer it is to both of them that—while they may not agree on everything—there is something there. Nani is happy and independent. So it takes a guy like Mohit to make it worth leaving her single independence totally behind. For Mohit, he already views Nani like a wife and respects her in all the important ways, even if he also loves annoying her a little bit every day. Now, whether it’s trying to see if they can make it one more hour without a small tiff or just resigning to that “Yes, Dear” moment, these two are committed to living happily ever after in their own special way. PLOT KEYWORDS Love, Dating Podcasts, Romance Podcasts, Couples, Dating, Single, New York City, independence, Union Square, Whole Foods, Mumbai, Linkin Park, opposites, attraction, arguments, couples. QUOTES “I thought he was part annoying and part charming.” —Nani “I enjoy kind of annoying her.” —Mohit “I love spending time with her, and the rest of life can be like that. That’s how we ended up like this.” —Mohit FUN FACT According to Wikipedia, Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly by around 83 million Marathi people of Maharashtra, India. It is the official language and co-official language in the Maharashtra and Goa states of Western India, respectively and is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. CREATOR Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Nani + Mohit (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARRING Nani, 26, an independent spirit with an infectious laugh who wasn't willing to settle for just anyone Mohit, 31, the guy who enjoys pushing her buttons FEATURING • Melliflousvoice as Nani (Trailer) • Sriram Emani as Mohit (Trailer) • The other guy that hit on Nani during their first date SOUNDTRACKS Music by DanoSong MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY While You Weren’t Sleeping SHOW US SOME LOVE Give us a Review | Follow Us On Instagram | Submit Your Own Story

When you are open to love and opportunity, it’s easy to swipe into love. (Rated PG-13 for some spicy food and spicy talk.) 18:18  | Comedy, Romance LOGLINE Two twenty-somethings meet on Bumble, bond over the entertainment industry, and navigate the transition to real adulthood. STORYLINE Hye Jun is a twenty-something young woman who is attempting to embrace the lessons of adulthood. Kelly, also a twenty-something, is a jack of all trades in the film industry and now wants to shine his light on finding the girl of his dreams. Hye Jun promises her friend Alison they would both go on dates one fateful weekend. So, she gets on Bumble. After one day on the app, Hye Jun swipes right on Kelly. The two connect and hit it off. They bond over their past experience in the entertainment industry and modern love of movies and new food. She and Kelly make the connection official by going to the Mermaid Inn in East Village where they immediately become comfortable with each other. Hye Jun loves Kelly’s willingness to learn and grow, especially when it comes to their cultural differences and eating spicy food. Kelly melts over Hye June’s enthusiasm and zest for life.  They’ve swiped right into a loving relationship while learning to balance the adulthood. PLOT KEYWORDS Love, Dating, Podcasts, First Dates, Online Dating, Singles, Podcasts for Singles, Podcasts for Couples, Romantic Podcasts, Opportunity, NBC, New York City, Bumble, Dear White People, Thursday Kitchen, Modern Romance. QUOTES “I got the date because you and a friend had agreed to go on dates!” — Kelly “She brings a glow to every conversation. It really shows when you are speaking to her.” — Kelly “I can’t date someone who isn’t going to have any sort of spice tolerance.” — Hye Jun “I’m still at that stage where I’ve matured a lot. Maybe?” — Hye Jun FUN FACT What’s behind the name of "Thursday’s Kitchen"? Typically, the weekend seems to start on Fridays, making Thursday night plans uncertain. At Thursday Kitchen, they wanted to turn that uncertain feeling into a kind of excitement with great service, drinks that come in pouches, and deliciously spicy food. CREATOR + HOST Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Hye Jun + Kelly (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARS Hye Jun, 26, Twenty-something girl open to love and swiping right Kelly, 27, Twenty-something fella who saw his opening and took his shot FEATURING • J. Michael Brown as the Park Custodian • Alison SOUNDTRACKS Music by DanoSong MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY Swiping Girl  SHOW US SOME LOVE Give us a Review | Website | Follow Us On Instagram | Submit Your Own Story

What happens when a simple question turns into a life-changing conversation. (Rated PG-13 for the mention of sparkly blue eyes, a man too tall to fit in most NYC apartments, and one wily f-bomb.) 22:07 | Comedy, Romance LOGLINE Two thirty-somethings end up falling in love after a chance encounter at an airport brings them way more than just a flight home. STORYLINE Molly, a professional thirty-something social worker in New York City, is passionate about helping others and helping them care for their loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. John, a tall blue-eyed baseball player formerly living in Connecticut, wasn’t expecting fate to hit a home run in this love story. This Meet Cute Actually begins two years ago. Molly and John unexpectedly ended up at the airport at a different time than they planned. Then, a couple of harmless questions at the West Palm Beach airport bar turned into a life-changing conversation. Molly’s professional skills plus her enthusiasm ended up being exactly what John needed, as he and his father were learning how to take care of John’s mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. John’s ability to warm Molly’s heart and his family-first attitude made her grateful for making small talk that one fateful day. Molly and John took months to get to know each other through texting, e-mailing, and a quick phone call that ended up going on for hours. John took Molly up on an invite to a conference and their first non-date at Penn’s Landing ended up becoming the same spot the two would get engaged later on in the story. Now, fully in love, these two manage to also do the truly unthinkable when it comes to love—exist happily side by side in a small New York City apartment. PLOT KEYWORDS love, relationship podcasts, finding love, dating podcasts, dating apps, opportunity, open-hearted, New York City, Alzheimer’s, West Palm Beach airport, Penn’s Landing, connection, relationships, eating QUOTES “It was the best date non-date I’ve ever been on.” — Molly “I picked up the phone and my 15-minute walk turned into a 2-hour stroll.” — John “My dad’s questions were: is he tall, does he have hair, and can he eat?” — Molly “When I think about it, I can’t believe how lucky we are to have met in such an interesting and seemingly natural way.” — Molly FUN FACT • Palm Beach County leads the nation in the production of sugar and sweet corn. • The average size for a Manhattan, NY apartment is 702 square feet. • In 1682, the area that became Penn's Landing was the site of William Penn's arrival in Philadelphia. CREATOR + HOST Kassandra M. Pollard WRITERS Molly + John (Story), Kassandra (Script) STARS Molly, 38, health trainer and social worker John, 38, baseball fan coming back from Spring Training FEATURING • Heidi Danae Crane as Molly in the trailer • Brad Stein as John in the trailer • Molly’s parents • The lady at the airport who thinks Connecticut is warmer than Florida • The other lady at the airport who could sail her yacht SOUNDTRACKS Music by DanoSong MORE LIKE THIS MEET CUTE ACTUALLY "While You Weren't Sleeping" Starring Charity + Alex SHOW US SOME LOVE Give us a review! | Follow us on Instagram! | Submit your own story!

Kassandra is a host obsessed with romantic comedies and noisily asking people how they met. Meet Cute Actually is a podcast that gives her a reason to be nosey, talk, talk about romcoms, and encourage people to keep loving love. Its Season 2 episodes are full of passion, obsession, and really cool sound effects. Welcome back, Meet Cute Actually. The only audio rom-com podcast that shares the real, diverse love stories Hollywood doesn’t typically write. New episodes available Valentine's Day 2021.

Alex and Charity tell us the story of their dorm-room meet cute, accompanied by a 90's-inspired rom-com trailer and its music.

Qiana and Ryan tell us the story of their Tinder meet cute, accompanied by an 80's-inspired rom-com trailer and its music.

Three couple discuss how they first met. I define what the heck a "meet cute actually" is. And you get a preview of the warm, good-hearted fun in-store for each episode.