Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode features journalist and author Liz Plank joining Dax Shepard and Monica Padman to discuss the complexities of modern dating, social media relationship launches, and the evolving dynamics between men and women. The conversation dives into the anxiety of soft launching a partner online, the differing risks and stakes of dating across genders, and how societal shifts from agricultural to industrial to digital eras have isolated child-rearing. The host and guest explore why women are becoming more selective, the evolutionary pressures of relationships, and how both genders struggle with the vulnerability required to make long-term partnerships work.
Throughout the discussion, the participants contrast traditional dating expectations with modern realities, touching on the ROI of relationships, egg freezing, and the fear of repeating past toxic patterns. They debate whether cultural trends discouraging traditional partnerships are healthy and examine how personal growth often stems from the friction of being in a committed relationship. The episode blends humor with deep cultural critique, offering listeners a nuanced take on modern romance.
The episode opens with Dax introducing Liz Plank and includes brief Allstate and Uber Eats advertisements.
Liz explains her experience with soft launching a boyfriend on social media and the emotional fallout from a fight over it.
The conversation shifts to the challenges of publicly showcasing a partner, including the fear of embarrassment and the impact on relationships.
They explore the return on investment of having a partner, the benefits of raising children together, and the biological drive toward reproduction.
Liz reflects on the pursuit of the perfect partner, the reality of imperfection, and how relationships evolve over time.
The episode wraps up with final thoughts on love, parenting, and the broader societal trends affecting relationships.
An advertisement for Allstate car insurance is read, encouraging listeners to check insurance options before upgrading phones.
The hosts discuss how personal development and vulnerability intersect with dating, and the importance of realistic expectations.
The hosts discuss how love bombing can cause deep emotional pain, especially for women, and the gender differences in processing heartbreak.
The conversation turns to practical dating advice, emphasizing when women should wait to have sex and how to navigate sexual desire responsibly.
They compare the high fantasy of relationships that women often hold with the more pragmatic, risk-laden reality of dating.
They analyze data showing women break up more often but carry heartbreak longer, highlighting gendered patterns in ending relationships.
The Anxiety of Soft Launchingstory
Liz Plank explains the stress of deciding when and how to post a new relationship on social media, describing a moment of regret after soft launching her boyfriend.
Evaluating Partner Risk Factorsinsight
The speakers discuss the statistical differences in safety risks when introducing new partners to children, noting that boyfriends statistically pose a higher risk than girlfriends.
Liz Plank breaks down the concept of return on investment in dating, pointing out that men typically derive greater health and social benefits from marriage than women do.
Gender Differences in Heartbreakdebate
The conversation touches on data showing that women initiate breakups more frequently, while men tend to carry heartbreak and struggle with moving on for longer periods.
The Necessity of Mutual Growthinsight
Dax Shepard argues against the pursuit of a perfect partner, explaining that his relationship with Kristen improved over time because they accepted initial flaws and grew together.
Physiological Urges and Datinginsight
Liz Plank discusses how biological clocks and the physical realities of reproduction influence women to approach dating with higher stakes and greater caution than men.
“People with good judgment can get fucking burnt. Who cares?”
“I think women are embarrassed by a larger portion of people that they've dated than like men.”
“The ROI for men dating women is high.”
“We need to have been designed differently for that to feel good.”
“I'll do 40% of it. Works for three months, then I'm fucked up.”
“I think men don't necessarily understand the depth of the heartbreak and the harm”
“But then there's also this fascinating data, right, that men, well, A, women break up with men more than men break up with women, that's an interesting thing.”
“And that's why I do tell women, wait to have sex. I mean, that was one of the first advice I got in the program.”
“Well, just look at the data of viewership of romantic comedies.”
On this week’s episode of Mom’s Car we welcome Liz Plank (journalist, author of For the Love of Men, and host of Boy Problems). Liz, Dax, and Best Friend Aaron Weakley talk through the stakes of soft launching a boyfriend, dating men who come with renovation projects, whether having a boyfriend is actually embarrassing, the difference between being picky and expecting perfection, why raising kids should be a team sport, begging your partner to finally fart in front of you, and Dax competing with Aaron’s girlfriend over who gets to take care of him. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://www.allstate.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
10,387 words · 3 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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