Intentional Dating
Episodes
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 10:
Stop Thinking About Yourself So Much With Tim O'Malley
We’ve all heard that love is compromise. But is that the real solution to a successful relationship? When it comes to sacrificing for the sake of another, how do you put someone else first without compromising your own values? Notre Dame professor Tim O’Malley shares insights from the issues his students face in young love, and how those struggles translate to universal questions of sacrifice, true friendship, and happiness.
Putting someone else first does mean holding a debt over their head. Sacrificing your own desires does not mean tricking yourself into thinking you’re happy for the sake of some apparent virtue. To discern between the nuances of commitment and true cooperation in relationship, intentionality and communication are key. Tune in to learn how to obtain self-awareness that leads to awareness of another person’s needs, and what key ingredient is the foundation of all true love.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 9:
Put a Label on It With Connor McLaughlin
Dating with intention includes being clear about who you are to another person. The notion of a “situationship” undermines this clarity, causing confusion about what the nature of a relationship really is. On this episode of Intentional Dating, Connor McLaughlin explains the importance of putting a label on the relationship and what question immediately clears up the uncertainty of a situationship.
When you don’t know what you are to someone, you don’t know how to love them or receive love. This uncertainty is part of why an undefined relationship is so harmful. But what if you try to define your relationship with somebody, and it brings it to an end? It turns out, that may ultimately be for your benefit and what you need to proceed with confidence and intentionality.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 8:
Your Desires Don’t Define You With Michael Gasparro
Pornography has heavily impacted men and women and how we view relationships. While it is necessary to address, the shame surrounding the topic makes it hard to talk about. On this episode of Intentional Dating, therapist Michael Gasparro dives into the psychology behind porn use and how we can fight the negative consequences it has on our dating lives.
Beyond labeling porn as detrimental, Michael explains what is fails to achieve and why it’s important to work through this harmful tendency or addiction. We don’t have to be trapped by the guilt of porn use; rather, it’s more helpful to try to understand why we’re attracted to certain things and how to redirect those attractions.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 7: Your First Impression Is Your Last With Sean Afable and Naomi Leanage
An unprecedented amount of people are meeting online, meaning many first impressions are made on social media or an app. In the age of online dating, what’s the right posture to have towards this culture, and how do we make a good first impression and conduct ourselves online? Actor Sean Afable and content creator Naomi Leanage discuss their personal red flags, green flags, and what they perceive to make a good first impression.
While online profiles paint one picture, we’re ultimately preparing for a good in-person impression. A smile may go further than you think in making you approachable. How you dress for your friends may mean something totally different to someone of the opposite sex. And what’s up with guys with fish in their dating profiles? All that and more on this episode of “Intentional Dating.”
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 6: Loud Looking: Knowing What You Want (and Don't Want) with Clare McCallan
You’re a few dates in, and something inevitably comes up that is a non-negotiable for you. How do you avoid wasting each other’s time? Clare McCallan weighs in on the concept of “loud looking” and whether it’s a tool that can respect each other’s expectations and boundaries, or too intense of an approach for a first date.
Loud looking, the practice of being upfront about your desirables and non-negotiables, has become more popular as people become more serious about intentional dating. But does this approach just turn dating into a job interview? Can you be forward about your values and morality without ruining your chances with a potential partner? Tune in to hear different takes on this modern dating trend.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 5: Putting Yourself Out There with Rose Sweet and Tanner Kalina
Jumping into a relationship can be equally exciting and daunting. What are the rules for entering the dating scene without being too forward? If you’re coming out of a hard breakup, how long should you wait before getting back out there?
Rose Sweet and Tanner Kalina discuss how to send signals without being too forward, how to protect yourself against bonding with someone prematurely, and how to find identity in Christ rather than in a partner. Both bring unique perspectives from their own relationships that offer insight into fostering healthy motivations for seeking a relationship and guarding yourself against the pain of a harmful breakup.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 4: Single at 30 is Not a Death Wish with Madigan Maere and Brandon McCauley
Being single can offer so many great opportunities and freedom…but sometimes it feels like that phase of life overstays its welcome. Brendan McCauley and Matchmaker Madigan Maere dive into the frustrations they hear from people who are ready for relationship, but struggle with the question, “Why am I still single?”
The “seasons of singleness” are not periods of life with any less value than times of relationship. This episode offers practical tips for preparing yourself to date well, and advice for how to be confident in your singleness if the right person hasn’t come along yet.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 3: Standards and Boundaries with Jason Evert
Standing out in a crowd can be daunting, but it might be exactly what you need to find the right person in your life. Speaker and author Jason Evert lays out the importance of being clear with your intentions. That can be scary, and may scare off others…but perhaps it’s best to scare off the ones that aren’t meant to be in your life.
The topics of chastity and exclusivity might often cause eyerolls, but is the pendulum swinging? Are devotion to commitment and safeguarding our boundaries the modern keys to successful dating? All that and more on this episode of Intentional Dating.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 2: Am I Dateable? with Chris Meehan
What does it mean to be dateable? Chris Meehan, a marriage and family therapist, talks through what it means to be the kind of person you would want to date. Psychological development can affect our behavior more than we realize, from reinforced insecurities to childhood trauma. Working through our own story and learning to live in our identity, we can learn what it means to authentically “be yourself” and be ready for relationships.
We discuss questions of masculinity, whether couples really complete each other, the types of attachment styles, and more. By understanding what makes us who we are and reasons behind our habits and emotions, we become better prepared to meet others by meeting ourselves first.
Intentional Dating Podcast
Episode 1: Dating Differently with Emily Wilson-Hussem and Daniel Hussem
Emily Wilson-Hussem and her husband Daniel Hussem join us to talk about intentionality in dating, using technology for God’s purposes, and how to claim intentionality and purpose for your own life when dating seems noncommittal and messy. Through the launch of their app SacredSpark, they are reshaping matchmaking and online dating for Christians in the modern day.
Intentional Dating: Relationship Goals for Christians tackles the struggles of modern dating through a lens of Christian morality and a determination to encourage healthy and intentional dating habits. Emily and Daniel share their story of commitment in a long-distance relationship that has led to a beautiful family and a ministry of speaking on marriage and dating and connecting Christian singles to one another.