The Scoop: Dating during COVID-19 is a challenge many face alone. But podcasters Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, believe that no one should have to figure out dating alone. Through their podcast Date/Able the two friends help shed light on various ways people can find love. By speaking to a diverse community of all ages, races, sexualities, and backgrounds, the Date/Able podcast team has the right tools for singles to stay connected and #dateable throughout the pandemic.
The 2020 pandemic has brought many challenges to the world. One of those challenges is that singles find themselves less and less dateable. The drive to find love and give love has immensely decreased. Lockdowns and quarantines now exist and have taken a toll on a lot of people’s love lives. Dating is no longer a walk in a park – some singles won’t even walk in the park without a mask or social distancing. Trying to find a date has developed into a rigorous maze with a lot of sharp turns and dead ends.
Thanks to two friends, Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, singles don’t have to feel alone during their dating process. Julie and Yue are active daters who turned into dating sociologists. They are set on answering the deeper questions in the dating world.
In 2015, Julie and Yue teamed up and created a well-rounded podcast called Date/Able that offers an insider’s look into modern dating. Every Wednesday a new episode is released to share important conversations on all things related to dating.
“We are on a mission to figure out the WHY. Why do we date the way we do? Why are the dynamics in relationships changing so much? And how can these answers help us create the relationship we’ve always wanted – whether that’s with a partner, multiple partners or on our own,” the podcasters said.
People still have plenty of questions about COVID, but the one thing we know for certain is that the pandemic has been a transition period for all. COVID gave society a chance to recharge and reset. According to the podcasters, COVID allowed people to redefine their values and helped them discover what they truly want out of love.
“When dating was a free-for-all, there were so many options, but with the pandemic, people had alone time to think about what they want and it was monogamous relationships, so we’re going back to traditional formation of relationships,” Julie said.
How to Stay Hopeful and #StayDateable in a Pandemic
Staying dateable during a pandemic is not an easy task. It’s an emotional roller coaster trying to get yourself out there to meet people and stay connected. Thanks to online dating apps, singles still have a chance at creating genuine relationships during this difficult time. Julie and Yue said they are supporters of online dating and believe that dating apps are here to stay for the long haul. Dating apps help bring hope back into dating, especially during COVID, where most people prefer to stay home.
In their recent podcast, “Your 2022 Dating Predictions,” the two friends shared how they believe online dating has helped a lot of singles date during COVID. They believe that people should use modern technology to their advantage.
“Dating apps aren’t out to get you. They were not designed that way. They’re actually meant to facilitate connection and to help you and to open up your options,” Julie said.
When asked what advice the podcasters would give to singles who are navigating such challenges, Julie and Yue emphasized the importance of mindful dating. Being mindful and intentional about the people you come in contact with is so important, according to the Date/Able team. Failed dates can deter singles from being hopeful in finding love, but Yue said a failed date doesn’t indicate that the search is over. With each dating experience, singles should remain hopeful that their special person is out there.
“It’s just about staying hopeful – and that can be really difficult if you’re the only person of your friends who’s single or you’ve been on countless bad dates,” Yue said. “But what’s exciting about it is you don’t know who’s up next, and things can change in a heartbeat. It’s about perseverance and not letting the bad actors get you down.”
The two women also advised singles to stop messaging and start meeting potential dates in person or through video as soon as possible. “Don’t be afraid to make the first move,” Julie said. “The perfect opening line is just saying hey and starting a conversation.”
Dateable is all about covering what’s going on and preparing singles for what’s next. Julie said she sees singles being less tolerant of dating games and looking for emotional intelligence in their next relationship. That’s a journey these dating sociologists want to support in the years ahead.
In 2021, Yue and Julie created “Finding Your Person,” a program that guides singles through dating challenges and helps in self-growth and self-discovery. This program encourages people to reaffirm who they are and not get in their own way when it comes to finding a partner. The program uses positive affirmations to support singles on their journey to find love and happiness, and some have said that has been the encouragement they needed to stay hopeful.
“Dateable helped me build up my confidence and comfort with dating after getting divorced. Yue and Julie keep it real, and perfectly balance thoughtful conversation with lighthearted moments,” said Sarah, a Dateable listener.
COVID-19 Has Birthed New Trends
New trends are constantly emerging, so it’s no surprise that COVID came with new trends as well. Trends such as gambiting, hesitating, and video dating have become more widespread since COVID. People naturally don’t mind playing the game of following the trends. They want to see what works and what doesn’t work, and that also pertains to dating.
Some of these trends have the potential to affect people in a positive way, paving the way for healthy connections. Meanwhile, other trends can be damaging to our love lives. It’s important to be mindful of which trends to follow.
According to Julie, singles are now more likely to identify as DTR (Define the Relationship), but that can mean they rush into what she calls a turbo relationship. Singles can be more eager to jump into relationships because they are conversation-starved and ready to connect to just about anyone. This can appear to be a positive thing, but it can lead to unhealthy connections. Relationships that are formed too quickly often become stagnant and ultimately unsatisfying.
“As the relationship progresses, people may not be as fast to move in. So you get a fast start but slower growth,” Julie told us.
Although these trends will most likely continue only while the pandemic exists, singles should be conscious of their mindsets and patterns when finding love. And they can always look to technology to break them out of a rut. Embracing video dating has allowed singles to redefine what dating looks like. Video dating has influenced people to use their creativity to make dating at home similar to pre-COVID dating.
“We had a defined idea of what a date was, and the pandemic allowed us to become more creative and rebirth picnics and parks and walks and hikes and the simpler things in life,” Yue said. “It has widened people’s pool of options.”
Singles who are willing to rethink their approach to dating may want to try Dateable’s 22-day online dating reset challenge. This program offers 22 days of tips, reflections, and insights to motivate positive changes in dating behavior. The program also includes a comprehensive dating profile review by Julie and Yue who have seen thousands of dating profiles and know what to suggest to improve matchability. The 22-day program is only open for a limited time, so grab your spot before it fills up
Date/Able Has Grown Into a Community of Real-Talk Singles
The Dateable podcast team lives by the motto “More than a podcast, a community.” Giving their listeners authentic content is the main goal, and in doing so the podcast has built a community of people who want to figure out dating and relationships.
Many listeners have found the podcast to be insightful and useful for dating during the pandemic. There are a lot of sensitive topics that people want to talk about but may not have someone to talk about them with. Julie and Yue have said there is no topic off limits on their podcast. From sex parties to sex droughts, the Dateable podcast is dedicated in providing a platform for the community to discuss real-talk topics in the dating experience.
“This is a community that I look forward to seeing every week – especially for the weekly happy hours. It’s a safe space where I can express my ideas and feelings about the dating experience. It’s a true extension of the podcast,” Shieldy, a Dateable subscriber, wrote in a review.
As the year progresses, the Dateable team promises to deliver more podcasts, cover more topics, and have more in-depth conversations. The two friends expressed how they hope to help other singles feel empowered and in control of their love lives.
This transition during COVID is a great opportunity for singles to understand the importance of time. There’s no better time to find love and start dating than now. Backed by a community of people with the same mindset, Julie and Yue want to help singles define what being #dateable looks like to them.
“Daters need to stop thinking about waiting for things to happen. There’s no waiting here. We’ve learned we don’t have the luxury of time, so everybody can benefit from taking control of their own narrative and living the life they want,” Julie said.
