Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast Dating Roundup #11: Going Too Meta
Jan 23, 2026
A fast tour of meta dating topics: how location and gender ratios reshape markets. Money, status, and workout choices as romantic signals. Why many men underrate their attractiveness and why age-gap panic is overblown. Dating apps’ toll on mental health and the weird incentives of performative advice. Matchmaking, relationship polls, motivation effects, and when rituals replace therapy.
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Location Shapes Dating Markets
- Dating opportunities vary massively by location and local gender ratios.
- Moving to a place like New York City can materially increase chances for men seeking women.
Accept Income Differences Quickly
- Be okay earning less than a partner if you want to date high-earning women.
- Quickly test whether a woman will accept income and status differences to avoid wasted effort.
Work Out, But Not Obsessively
- Gain sensible muscle but avoid going to extremes that signal obsession.
- Aim for balanced fitness that preserves social and lifestyle signals rather than ultra-lean sculpting.
