The Realistic Romantic

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when you know exactly what you want from dating, but everyone you meet seems to be “figuring it out”? In this Dear Drew, Aye calls in to talk about dating in her 30s after moving from Mexico City to the U.S. and navigating some major cultural differences around relationships, commu...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Dating apps are supposed to help you meet people. So why are we spending weeks texting someone before we’ll agree to actually meet? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic, I’m breaking down one of the biggest mistakes I see in modern dating: treating dating apps like an investigation instead of an introduction. We start with a Dear Drew...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Why can dating feel so much easier when you’re anywhere but home? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic, Erin calls in with a dating dilemma. She’s been single-ish for about three years after a six-year relationship, and while dating at home in San Antonio has slowed down, dating while traveling feels surprisingly easy. So what changes...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Have you ever looked at your dating apps and thought, “Maybe I just need to move?” Your location absolutely can affect your dating life. It determines who’s around you, the size of your dating pool, local dating culture, relationship goals, competition, and even how easy it is to actually go on a date. But moving doesn’t automatically fix...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Pretending physical attraction doesn't matter? That's just another form of romantic delusion. In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew breaks down the difference between the features you were born with and the appearance you choose to present , why intentionality can make you more attractive, and how to care about appearance withou...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Dating hasn't always looked like this. Over the last 100 years, American dating has gone from calling cards and milkshake dates to personal ads, nightclubs, dating apps, swiping, and algorithms. We have more choice, access, information, and control over our love lives than ever before. So why does modern dating feel so exhausting? In this...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Everybody wants to find the right person. But finding someone you love and knowing how to build a healthy relationship with them are two completely different skills. Drew breaks down the Gottman Institute’s Sound Relationship House , a seven-part framework for building a strong, lasting relationship. Then, Drew walks you through a simple R...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. And, they're not always the obvious problems. Relationship researchers Drs. John and Julie Gottman call them the Four Horsemen , and they can turn everyday disagreements into destructive cycles that slowly break down a relationship. In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew breaks down each of the Four Horsemen, how to recognize whi...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Dating apps have convinced us that compatibility means finding someone who likes all the same things we do. The same music. The same restaurants. The same travel style. The same hobbies. But here's the problem... Your favorite TV show has never saved a relationship. In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew challenges one of the big...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Everyone says it's impossible to meet people in real life anymore. But what if the problem isn't dating apps... it's that we've all become experts at looking unavailable? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew explores the rise of "chalant dating" and why modern dating culture has convinced us that looking busy, emotionally detac...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. The moment you get engaged, everyone suddenly has an opinion. Your parents have thoughts about the guest list. Your friends have opinions on the venue. Your aunt you've met twice somehow cares deeply about the seating chart. But who is your wedding actually for? This week on The Realistic Romantic , Drew sits down with his longtime friend...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode, Drew explores why money isn't just about income. It's about what money represents and the kind of life you want to build together. Because the real question isn't whether you should marry for love or money. It's whether you're building the same future. In This Episode • Why more couples are signing prenups • Why money is r...

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Everyone says they're looking for the spark . But what if we've been using one word to describe completely different feelings? Butterflies. Anxiety. Chemistry. Novelty. Comfort. In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew sits down with his best friend Jacob to unpack one of modern dating's biggest myths. Together, they explore why so...

Everyone on TikTok is saying the same thing: July is going to change your love life. Your ex will text. Your situationship will finally end. You'll meet someone unexpectedly. Maybe even the love of your life. But is there actually something magical about July? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew unpacks the viral July Theory , explains why it resonates with so many people, and argues...

Everyone says they want to meet someone organically. But if that's true... why does nobody actually approach anyone anymore? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew Henry explores how modern dating has been optimized for certainty rather than connection. Dating apps have taught us to filter, evaluate, and predict compatibility before we've even said hello. In the process, we've traded cur...

Dating apps aren't the problem. The way we're using them might be. In this episode of The Realistic Romantic, Drew explores why modern dating feels so exhausting and how dating apps may be turning us into HR recruiters instead of romantics. We talk about swipe fatigue, the paradox of choice, AI matchmaking, and why chemistry can never be predicted from a profile. If every date feels like a job int...

How long should you wait before dating again after a breakup? In this episode of The Realistic Romantic , Drew explores one of the biggest mistakes people make after heartbreak: confusing moving on with moving over . From rebound relationships and situationships to dating apps and divorce, Drew breaks down why so many people jump into something new before they've had a chance to process what they...

Are you still holding onto anger or resentment towards your ex? Drew Henry dives into why harboring hate for an ex is a major red flag and how it impacts your ability to find healthy relationships. Learn practical insights on moving past emotional baggage, recognizing unresolved feelings, and ultimately, why indifference is the goal when it comes to exes. Main Topics: The emotional toll of hating...