Episode 5
The Second Date: When Attraction Meets Reality
19 min 53 sec · October 13, 2026
The first date is an audition. The second date is where things get interesting. What happens when the initial attraction fades and two people begin discovering who they're really dealing with?
Through two contrasting dating experiences, Olivia discovers that a charming first impression can conceal some troubling character traits, while David learns that an ordinary first date can lead to an unexpected connection.
Frank isn't even entirely certain it's a date. But as the conversation becomes more personal, the distance between the man he presents to the world and the man he actually is begins to disappear.
Sometimes the second date tells you when to walk away. Sometimes it gives you a reason to stay.
Curious what happens between Frank and Stefania? Discover their story in Swipe Wright: Dating in the Age of the Disposable Heart by Joel D. Bradley.
Episode 4
Red Flags, Green Lights & The Spark
What are we really evaluating on a first date?
In Episode 4, Joel moves beyond profiles and swiping and into the actual date—where red flags, green lights, attraction, and “the spark” can distort what we see.
One woman describes a perfectly good date that left her feeling nothing. One man describes a date filled with warning signs that he calls the best he's had in years. And Joel shares a first-date story involving a bucket of popcorn, a smuggled box of wine, and one very important popcorn-to-wine ratio.
Are we recognizing genuine compatibility—or have we become addicted to emotional stimulation?
Episode 3
Baggage
Everyone says they want "no drama." But is drama the same thing as baggage?
Joel explores the baggage we carry into relationships through Cindy and Ken—two people with very different ideas about what we're willing to carry for someone else. And yes, Jerry Springer makes an appearance.
Episode 2
The Trap of Assumptions
How quickly do we decide who someone is from a handful of dating-profile photos? In Episode 2, The Disposable Heart Podcast explores the assumptions we make before a conversation ever begins—and how differently men and women may view the same dating pool. Inspired by real people and profiles, Joel examines what happens when attraction, expectations and snap judgments collide in the swipe-right world.
Episode 1
Two Tales of the Same Swipe
Two people. Two completely different experiences with the same dating technology. Lisa feels overwhelmed by endless choices. Daniel wonders whether anyone even notices him. Together, their experiences reveal two very different sides of the disposable-heart era.
“I realized I wasn't really dating. I was managing a depot of broken toys.”
