What do you do when you’re single, living in a small town, and wondering where exactly all these supposedly eligible people are hiding?
If you’re Katie Rae Allison, you create your own speed dating event.
Katie joins me from Miles City, Montana, to talk about what happened when she and a friend decided to give local singles another way to meet in the wild. We get into seven-minute dates, no-shows, age ranges, the courage it takes to keep showing up and why meeting someone face-to-face can tell you things a dating profile never will.
We also talk about Katie’s own meet-cute, why sometimes you have to make the cool stuff you want to see in your community, and the very simple reality of rural dating: luck helps, but you still have to leave the house.
And Katie is still creating cool stuff in Miles City. This fall, she and two other western makers are hosting Makers of the West, October 9–11, with makers, hands-on classes, shopping and a dance.
Learn more about Makers of the West:
https://www.makersofthewest.com/
© 2026 Ranchy Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Desolate Dating is created, owned, and hosted by Haylie Shipp and produced by Ranchy Media LLC.
Desolate Dating explores topics including loneliness, relationships, and emotional well-being. While we hope these conversations help listeners feel seen and connected, this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health care.
If you are struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, your healthcare provider, or a licensed mental health professional.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are in the United States or Canada. If you are outside the United States or Canada, please contact your country's local crisis services or emergency resources. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.
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