PROMO: Curious Love

Curiosity. Can it lead us to love, or only lead us astray? If you've ever found yourself curious about love, sex, and why everyone else seems to know how to date amidst all the latest sexuality spectrums, you're not alone. Like many millennials, Kristen is about to turn thirty-five, and she’s ready for lasting partnership. But there’s one problem: she’s never been in a romantic relationship.

Join her on an earnest and intimate quest to overcome inexperience as she risks embarrassing conversations and awkward confrontations with experts and friends alike in hopes of solving the mystery of partnership.

CHAPTER 1: The Matchmaker

No experience? No problem. How does an about-to-be-35-year-old who’s never been in a romantic relationship start dating without seeming like a total weirdo? Good question. We speak with national matchmaker Tammy Shaklee about attraction, lust, and whether partnership is really even worth it.

CHAPTER 2: The Sexpert

Hormones, meet the female sex drive. What is considered a ‘normal’ sex drive for a millennial woman (or any woman, for that matter), and at what point does a low libido shift from a symptom to an identity? We ask sexologist Kim Bryson to help us determine the difference between late bloomers, hormonally deficient, and just plain normal.

CHAPTER 3: The Ex

When a partner is not a partner. Is the fact that I’ve had my heart broken enough to prove that I’ve been in love, or do platonic relationships not count? We talk to the friend I fell in love with about our partnership, love and what I can learn from the heartbreak.

CHAPTER 4: The Scientist

Partnership. It’s is in the DNA. If I’m living a perfectly fine single life, and I’m not being driven procreate, why do I even feel this urge to partner? Social psychologist Dr. Duana Welch explains how evolutionary science applies to pair bonding and the psychology behind modern opposite and same sex partnering.

CHAPTER 5: The Couple

It’s about intention, not definition. This might be my favorite episode. I risk putting my foot in my mouth and total social ostracization with some brand-new friends when I ask a lovely lesbian couple to give it to me straight. Maybe I’m not straight enough to be straight, but am I gay enough to be gay?

CHAPTER 6: The Pastor

Maybe there’s a blockage. I’m a life-long church-going Christian from the Midwest. Could it be that the fear of my congregation’s reaction has blocked me from ever falling into romantic relationship? We look to neutralize that future fear by asking my pastor whether falling in love with a woman would mean losing my tribe.

CHAPTER 7: The Parents

Surviving THE TALK. Most kids dread getting “The Talk” from their parents. I’m dreading giving it to them. If I clear the fear of disappointing my conservative Midwestern parents, will it free me up to genuinely find my life-long love? We take the risk and ask whether my falling in love with a woman would mean the fracturing of our family.

CHAPTER 8: The Date

Every theory needs a field test. Against all odds, I have a date. Matchmaker Tammy Shaklee returns with some practical advice. And the prequel to this podcast The Overthinker’s Guide to Love: A Story of Real-Life Experiments Turned Practical Wisdom is officially available!