Single To Shaadi

Are we actually dating to find love — or are we just getting better at staying in the search? Fresh off the 5th Annual Single to Shaadi Signature Weekend in New York City , Radha reflects on what she saw firsthand: singles screening each other out within minutes, strong weekend chemistry that didn’t survive Monday morning, and people bouncing from event to event trying to maximize the number of ma...

Before dating apps had algorithms, South Asian families had biodatas—and an auntie who knew everyone. But does knowing more about someone bring us closer to finding the right partner? Inspired by NPR’s coverage of an independent, Palantir-themed NYC dating event co-hosted by comedian Neal Patel, matchmaker Radha Patel explores the difference between gathering information and discovering compatibil...

As the world remembers Dolly Parton, we’re reflecting on the quieter love story behind her public life: her nearly 59-year marriage to Carl Dean. Dolly embraced the spotlight while Carl protected his privacy. They maintained different interests, made room for individuality and built a meaningful marriage without children. Their partnership challenges a common South Asian dating assumption—that com...

In this episode of S.A.L.E. — South Asian Love Experiment , Radha unpacks the pressure many South Asian singles feel when their relationship timeline and biological timeline do not line up. Inspired by the public conversation around Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussing egg freezing and reports about the end of her long-term relationship, this episode moves beyond gossip and into a deeply relatable...

Is the viral August Theory actually real... or are we just giving the calendar too much credit? TikTok says August is when exes come back, summer flings become serious, and situationships finally reach a breaking point before cuffing season. But as a professional South Asian matchmaker, I think the real story has much less to do with the month—and much more to do with human psychology. In this epi...

Summer in Europe may look romantic on Instagram, but anyone who has traveled through France during a heat wave knows the reality can feel very different. In this episode of S.A.L.E. — South Asian Love Experiment , Radha uses France’s resistance to adapting daily life around hotter summers as an unexpected metaphor for modern South Asian dating. What happens when the systems that once worked beauti...

Now that FIFA is over, it’s time to return to our other summer sport: catching up on Love Island . And this week, Love Island UK gave us a storyline that felt especially familiar for South Asian singles: family and friends getting involved in a relationship. In this episode of S.A.L.E. — South Asian Love Experiment , Radha breaks down Priya Jaswal’s storyline, where her connection with Aidan came...

The internet couldn’t stop talking about the viral proposal atop the Empire State Building. Professional rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed one of the world’s most iconic buildings, got engaged hundreds of feet in the air, and were later arrested—launching thousands of memes and brand parodies across social media. But beneath the headlines is a much more meaningful relationship le...

The internet spent the holiday weekend obsessing over rumors of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. AI-generated images, deepfakes, and speculation spread like wildfire—even though no one could confirm what was actually true. As a matchmaker, it made me realize something. We're fascinated by weddings, but we rarely spend the same energy preparing for marriage. In this episode of S.A.L...

What can a reality dating show teach us about finding real love? More than you might think. This week on S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha dives into one of the most refreshing moments from Love Island USA this season: the way Carl handled rejection after Aniya chose not to bring him back from Casa Amor. Instead of becoming defensive, angry, or entitled, Carl responded with grace, res...

Think the dating pool is getting stale? Think again. With the FIFA World Cup bringing millions of fans from around the globe to cities across North America, this may be one of the best—and most unexpected—opportunities to meet new people. In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha Patel shares why this unique cultural moment could completely change the way you approach datin...

Newlyweds Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are giving the internet major relationship goals with their honeymoon photos from Italy. But is it really the glamorous setting that has everyone swooning… or is it something deeper? In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment), matchmaker and dating coach Radha Patel breaks down why new relationships feel so effortless, exciting, and full of butte...

Why do some of the most attractive, successful, and accomplished people struggle to get approached? This week on S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment), Radha Patel breaks down a viral moment from the Monaco Grand Prix involving Kim Kardashian and Formula 1 broadcaster Martin Brundle to explore a surprisingly common dating challenge: approachability. Many South Asian singles assume that if they’re...

Most people remember Arjun Rampal as the Bollywood heartthrob who dominated movie screens in the late 90s and early 2000s. So when I attended his Rampage Tour stop in Dallas and posted videos from the show, I was flooded with messages asking the same question: “Wait… Arjun Rampal is a DJ now?” That question sparked a bigger conversation about dating, identity, and personal growth. In this episode...

The internet has been consumed by the Chirayu Rana workplace scandal, but beneath the headlines is a much deeper conversation about ambition, loneliness, emotional dependency, and modern South Asian dating culture. In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment), Radha explores how high-pressure careers in medicine, finance, tech, consulting, and academia can blur the lines between emoti...

After 22 long years, Arsenal F.C. finally won the Premier League — and surprisingly, their journey has a lot to teach South Asian singles about dating, patience, timing, and long-term relationships. In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha explores the South Asian community’s complicated love affair with England, from football culture to family ties and even our obsession...

IPL season has completely taken over my evenings lately, but somewhere between cricket memes, celebrity sightings, soft launches, and social media speculation, I realized something: Modern relationships are no longer just lived privately — they’re investigated, interpreted, and even defined online. In this week’s episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , I dive into how Instagram has qui...

Episode Description Every year, the Met Gala gives us more than just fashion — it gives us a glimpse into culture, storytelling, identity, and performance. And this year, South Asians took center stage in a major way. From Karan Johar’s Raja Ravi Varma-inspired couture to Isha Ambani’s celebration of Indian craftsmanship and Ananya Birla spotlighting contemporary Indian art, South Asians used fash...

What happens when a relationship checks every box—meeting families, living together, even talking about engagement—and still ends with “I’m not looking for anything serious”? In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha breaks down the shocking breakup between Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson—and why it hits so close to home for so many South Asian singles. From emotional...

What does it actually take to live authentically as a South Asian navigating family expectations, cultural identity, and modern dating? In this powerful episode of Learn Love Live , we bring you a candid conversation with fitness coach Virinchi Tadikonda and life coach Maneesha Ahluwalia , where we unpack the real pressures Desis face—and how to rise above them. From mental health stigmas to socie...

In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , we unpack the rising influence of the manosphere—and why its ideas aren’t just living online, but quietly shaping how South Asian singles date today. From the myth of “one-way monogamy” to viral stories of unrealistic matchmaking demands, we explore how control, entitlement, and confusion are being repackaged as “dating strategy.” If you’...

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry at Coachella… wasn’t on anyone’s 2026 bingo card. But beyond the viral clips of them eating In-N-Out on a sidewalk and blending into one of the most high-profile music festivals in the world, there’s a deeper conversation happening—one that hits especially close to home for South Asian singles. Why does it make us uncomfortable to see powerful people just… be themselv...

In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha dives into a rising—and uncomfortable—trend: the surge of users on the extramarital dating app Gleeden in India, particularly among women. But this isn’t just about infidelity. It’s about what happens when marriages are built on compatibility checklists instead of genuine connection. From quiet open marriages to the rise of gray div...

What does it truly mean to be a strong, independent woman… and still desire partnership? In this special Learn Love, Live episode, we’re bringing you a powerful panel conversation originally hosted by Single to Shaadi, where three incredible voices come together to unpack the realities of modern dating, emotional patterns, and what it really takes to build a healthy, aligned relationship. This isn...

Spring may be known as breakup season—but what if it’s also the beginning of something new? In this episode of S.A.L.E. (South Asian Love Experiment) , Radha Patel breaks down what 2026’s newest celebrity couples reveal about how love actually begins. From slow-burn friendships to instant chemistry, this episode explores why there is no single timeline for love—and why that’s especially important...