Quillette Podcast The Catastrophe Hour
Jun 13, 2025
Writer Meghan Daum discusses her new essay collection, diving into the pervasive gloom of modern life. She shares personal reflections on aging, cultural relevance, and the bittersweet nostalgia of Generation X. The conversation touches on the challenges of dating after 50, blending humor with deeper insights. Daum also explores the shift in storytelling, highlighting the move from traditional publishing to personal narratives in the digital age. Her journey reveals how both writing and life evolve with time.
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The Catastrophe Hour Concept
- Megan Daum feels a personal sense of life ending every late afternoon, which she calls the Catastrophe Hour.
- She reflects on aging rapidly due to social and technological acceleration, feeling older than her years.
Online Dating Age Realities
- Iona Italia shares her experience of online dating over 50 and how age dynamics affect dating preferences.
- She notes the compression of acceptable age differences as people age, reflecting feelings of time pressure.
Dating Age Exchange Rate
- Megan Daum humorously explains that due to older men dating younger women, women her age would need to date very old men for age matching.
- This highlights generational and social shifts in dating dynamics.
