We talk to author Yomi Adegoke about her debut novel The List, and the uncomfortable truth about #MeToo.

The novel follows Ola and Michael, an Instagram-famous couple who, one month before their wedding, are shaken when Michael is accused of predatory behaviour in an anonymous list shared online.

We talk with Yomi about the flaws within social media justice, the murky waters of anonymous allegations, and the importance of having nuanced discussions about cancel culture.

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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When it comes to matters of the heart, what’s going on in our heads?

We’re joined by neuroscientist Nicole Vignola to discuss the science of falling in love, the chemicals that induce that giddy feeling, and how to trick our brains into creating lasting love.

Nicole also reveals how long it really takes to get over a breakup, why love can feel addictive, and why the head and the heart don’t need to be at odds with each other.

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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This week, we’re thrilled to speak with author Nicola Dinan about her debut novel, Bellies.

It follows the relationship between young graduates Tom and Ming and how their connection fluctuates in the wake of Ming’s transition, and is being adapted for TV by the studio behind the Normal People adaptation.

We chat with Nicola about the expectation that transgender characters should be overly virtuous, and how marginalised characters should have “the freedom to be pieces of s*** too.”

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

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This week Olivia is joined by author and journalist Lisa Taddeo and senior therapist Sally Baker to discuss sexual grooming and manipulation.

The conversation focuses on Lisa's bestselling book, Three Women, which examined the sex and relationship lives of three very different American women, one of whom, Maggie, was exploited by her high school teacher. What was it about that relationship that became abusive and how common are stories such as Maggie's?

On a lighter note, we also discuss how Sex and the City impacted our own dating lives and the decisions we made in love.

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The broadcaster and former Hear'Say member talks to Olivia about blending her family with her partner's, Simon Motson. Both Myleene and Simon have two children from previous relationships, which Klass explains posed some complications early on that they were able to overcome.

Myleene opens up about what it's like to discipline children when they aren't your own and finding ways to be a good step mother without overstepping your place.

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Reality TV stars Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams join Olivia in the studio to discuss sharing the ins and outs of their family life with the public eye. 

The couple talk about why they choose to share so much with their fans on social media and TV and Spencer explains why he doesn’t ‘get’ social media influencers despite the fact that is what Vogue does.

Spencer also opens up about his Made in Chelsea days and explains why he thinks the programme has lost its touch in 2019. 

Spencer and Vogue’s new show, Spencer, Vogue and Wedding Two, starts on E4 on Monday at 10pm.

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Activist and writer Munroe Bergdorf joins Olivia in the studio to discuss her experiences of coming out as a trans woman and offers some valuable advice to people in the LGBT+ community.

Munroe also addresses the problematic concept of gender reveal parties, in which expecting parents share the biological sex of their unborn child with friends and family members.

Stay updated with all things Millennial Love by following The Independent lifestyle desk's Instagram account below.

Independent Lifestyle

https://www.instagram.com/indy.lifestyle/

Munroe Bergdorf

https://www.instagram.com/munroebergdorf/

Olivia Petter

https://www.instagram.com/oliviapetter8/

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Millennial Love is coming back! The Independent’s podcast all about relationships, sexuality and dating is returning on Friday with a brand new look and feel.

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It's our series finale! To celebrate the end of season one of Millennial Love, we've decided to take a look back at all our past episodes and think back at what we've learned over the past year or so.

Thank you to everyone who's supported Millennial Love so far and stay tuned for what happens next!

Follow us on Instagram here: @rachel_hosie, @oliviapetter8 and @millennial_love.

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Happy Sexual Health Week, everyone! What a time to be alive.

In all seriousness though, being sexually healthy is incredibly important, and that's why we figured a podcast on the topic was long overdue.

From the different types of sexually transmitted infections and how you contract one, to how to get tested and what we can do to break down the stigma of having one - let's talk about sex(ual health), baby.

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Whether you’re more into them or they're more into you, whether you’ve been seeing someone for a few weeks or have been together for years, knowing when to walk away from a relationship is incredibly difficult.

What if you end things then regret it? But what if you wait, eventually cut things off and then wish you’d done it earlier? It’s never easy.

This week on Millennial Love, we offer advice on how to know when is the right time to walk away from someone - while sharing our own experiences, naturally.

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What constitutes a relationship fail? A break-up? Treating someone badly? Cheating on your partner?

This week on Millennial Love we're joined by the brilliant journalist, author and fellow podcaster Elizabeth Day to discuss why it's important to fail at relationships, and we share our own tales.

After all, if you learn something about yourself, is there even such a thing as a fail at all?

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It's our 50th episode! We can hardly believe it. What fun it's been.

To celebrate, this week we're talking about being single - perpetually so. Why is there such a stigma? Being single is great, and never having had a long-term relationship doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. As two longtime singletons, we're done with being made to feel bad for not having partners. Join us!

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This week, we’re joined by award-winning journalist and author Poorna Bell to discuss the importance of letting go of one-sided friendships.

We discuss how it can feel daunting when friends’ lives splinter off in different directions, and why it's okay to be selective with your friendships.

We also talk about the myth of finding “the one”, the importance of writing South Asian stories into popular culture, as well as Poorna’s debut novel, In Case of Emergency.

You can also read Poorna's writing at her recently launched Substack, It's As I Was Saying with Poorna Bell https://poornabell.substack.com/

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

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In this week's episode of Millennial Love we're joined by the authors of the brilliant book 'Slay In Your Lane', Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, to discuss how racism operates in the contemporary landscape of dating and relationships.

Yomi and Elizabeth share their own experiences of dating as black women and we discuss the problem with fetishising ethnicities online and beyond.

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Contrary to what popular culture would have us believe, having a crush is not limited to our teenage years: it's exciting, it's annoying and it very much still happens as an adult.

This week on Millennial Love, Rachel and Olivia are joined by comedian, TV presenter and podcaster James Barr to discuss our crushes past and present (both human and of the plant variety). How can you tell someone has a crush on you? And what should you do when you're crushing on someone?

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This week on Millennial Love we're joined by the brilliant young poet, producer and mental health ambassador Charly Cox to try to get to the bottom of why we let the people we like treat us like rubbish.

From emotional abuse to simply not replying to messages, we're all guilty of putting up with poor behaviour from someone we fancy even though we know we deserve much better. So why are we like this and what can we do about it?

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Summer lovin' eh? Sure, it can be a blast. And it always happens pretty fast too. But for most of us, holiday romances don't play out as rom-coms - from Grease to The Lizzie McGuire Movie - would have us believe. (We're still waiting to go to Rome, meet our international pop-star doppelgängers and fall in love with an Italian who'll drive us around on a Vespa).

This week, we're joined by TV and radio presenter Maya Jama to discuss the reality of holiday romances - do they actually happen? Do they ever end well? And why do we fall in love more easily when abroad?

We also discuss the ever problematical dilemma of when to say 'I love you' to a new partner for the first time. How do you know you're ready? Is there such a thing as too soon? And what do you do if someone says they love you but you don't feel the same?

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Today on Millennial Love we're delving into the murky waters of class and, specifically, the role it plays in dating. Joining us in our discussion is the brilliant journalist and author Sophia Money-Coutts, who spent five years studying the British aristocracy while working as Features Director at society magazine, Tatler.

We discuss the concept of 'marrying up' (or down), the problematic nature of dating apps purely for the privately educated and what it means to be 'posh' anyway.

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This week on Millennial Love we're joined by writer and activist Scarlett Curtis to discuss the taboo around female masturbation. Scarlett recently launched a campaign called #girlswanktoo which seeks to demystify female masturbation.

Why is it a gendered issue? Why is it important? And what can we do to break the stigma around it? We dive deep into all of this and more in this week's episode.

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As Rachel and Olivia harp on about every week, dating in your 20s is no walk in the park. But add a baby into the mix, and things get a lot more complicated.

This week we’re joined by Amy Nickell, author of Confessions of a Single Mum, to debunk the most common misconceptions around life as a young single mother on the dating scene today.

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Love Island has become a national talking point, but the hit reality series remains shrouded in mystery, leaving eager viewers wondering what really goes on behind the scenes in the Mallorcan villa. Do the women get bikini waxes? What's the audition process like? How much are contestants allowed to drink?

This week, we're joined by former contestant Montana Brown, who speaks candidly about her time in the villa, explaining everything from how many clothes the women pack to how they cope when they're on their periods.

Montana also addresses criticisms that some of the action is staged, revealing how involved the producers actually are with the goings on in the villa.

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"You'll find someone when you stop looking," the cliché goes. But is this piece of highly unhelpful advice really true? Should we be proactive when looking for love or simply leave it up to destiny?

This week, we're joined by TV presenter and radio DJ Roman Kemp who shares the rather fateful story of how he met his girlfriend. Roman, Rachel and Livi also share their top tips for finding love.

We've also got a cracking dating disaster story from one of our listeners - please do keep sending them in!

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Whilst there's no one-size-fits-all approach to first dates - Rachel loves activities like crazy golf whereas Livi is more of an exhibition kind of girl - there are certain factors that make a first date more likely to be a winner. This week on Millennial Love, we're discussing the best first dates we've ever been on and what made them so great. Similarly, we also reveal the worst first dates we've suffered through - and there are certainly lots from which to choose.

And from the start of a "relationship" to the end: how do you break up with someone you're "seeing"? If you're not officially in a relationship or even exclusive, how much do you owe that person? We share our own experiences and expert tips to help get to the bottom of what to say, where to do it and when - if ever - ending things via text is appropriate. Do you agree? Let us know!

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Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson joins us on Love Lives to discuss fame and how blogging from a young age in Sweden has helped her feel comfortable speaking her mind and taking ownership of her work in the relentless and unforgiving music industry. Zara speaks about how she collaborates in the studio, how she came to the public's attention at a young age and how one form of transport has stolen her heart.

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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The disposable culture of dating apps has made the idea of no-strings casual sex seem more prevalent and popular than ever before.

But is it ever wise to be intimate with someone who you have no plans of developing a long-term relationship with? Is it even possible? What happens if one person “catches feels”?

This week on Millennial Love we’re joined by writer, comedian and social media influencer Bella Younger to discuss the murky matter that is casual sex and all its tricky nuances.

We also delve into how it’s portrayed on Love Island, the ITV2 reality TV series that is at the vanguard of all conversations surrounding casual sex and dating right now.

You can follow Bella on @deliciouslystella.

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Every aspect of life feels more fast-paced than ever today, and one of the areas in which this is most apparent is, of course, dating and relationships. This week on Millennial Love we’re joined by the brilliant author of ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ and ‘Notes on a Nervous Planet’ Matt Haig to talk about how the state of the world today has affected our love lives. We’re more connected than ever, so why do so many of us also feel so alone?

Matt also talks candidly about his own experiences with mental illness and how his relationship with his wife Andrea helped him get through some very difficult times, leading him to where he is today.

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Everyone's favourite summer reality series is back. There's been grafting, cracking on and plenty of muggy, melty behaviour. This week, Rachel and Livi are diving deep into the world of Love Island and the mirror up to society it holds. How much of what we see reflects real-life dating?

As much as we enjoy the show, there are issues around it: why is there no body diversity and does it send a dangerous message about consent?

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This week on Millennial Love we're joined by social media influencer and podcaster Oenone Forbat to discuss the many issues surrounding contraception and specifically whether it's inherently sexist. Whose responsibility should it be to ensure sex is safe? If there was a male pill, would women really trust men to take it given we're the ones who would still get pregnant?

We also discuss the different contraception options available and how they affect women psychologically.

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Did you know nearly half of Brits (46%) have unconscious issues with commitment? Whether you're single or in a relationship, fear of commitment is very common, as Rachel in particular knows all too well. This week on Millennial Love we reveal our own experiences with commitment-phobia, ponder whether the rise of dating apps is making the problem worse and suggest techniques for overcoming your fear of committing to a certain person, plans or relationship in general.

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It's Mental Health Awareness Week and we are thrilled to be joined by journalist, author and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon, who's written extensively both about her dating past and her mental health.

This week, Bryony, Rachel and Olivia open up about their own experiences with mental health and how its affected their relationships. We share our top tips for telling a new partner you're struggling with a mental health issue - and how to react and help someone who opens up to you.

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This week, we're joined by The Naked Professor, whose popular Instagram account is dedicated to showing the authentic and vulnerable sides of masculinity, which he does via a series of nude photographs taken across the globe.

The life coach, mental wellness advocate and personal trainer, whose real name is Ben, joins us to discuss sexual dysfunction and specifically, delayed ejaculation, a condition which he has lived with all his life which means he struggles to orgasm.

Also known as anorgasmia, it's a problem that is more common in women and, like the majority of sexual problems, is mostly considered to be psychological rather than physical.

Follow Ben on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thenakedprofessor/?hl=en

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Feeling good about your body - whether you're single or in a relationship - has a huge impact on how you relate to other people. So this week we're thrilled to be joined by body positivity advocate Megan Crabbe, who is perhaps better known as her Instagram handle, @bodyposipanda.

Rachel and Livi share their own struggles with learning to love their bodies and how this has affected their dating escapades, and Megan shares her top tips for feeling happy in the skin you're in and embracing whatever shape or size you may be.

If you'd like to fill your Instagram feed with wonderfully empowering body positive accounts, here are some of our faves:

https://www.instagram.com/bodyposipanda/

https://www.instagram.com/aliceandpeanutbutter/

https://www.instagram.com/allisonkimmey/

https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjessamyn/

https://www.instagram.com/selfloveclubb/

https://www.instagram.com/laikenrichelle/

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Finding a match for yourself in this day and age is nothing short of a battle. So this week, we welcome matchmaker and founder of Social Concierge Nana Wereko-Brobby to find out all about the millennials who pay for a professional to find potential soulmates for them. What makes a good match? And how does the whole matchmaking process work?

We've also got not one but two brilliant dating stories sent in by you lovely listeners, both of which are sure to leave you on a high (if for very different reasons).

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This week on Millennial Love we’re talking about an issue that many straight, gay and lesbian people don’t even know is an issue: bisexual invisibility and erasure. Many bi people face discrimination, and in this episode we’re joined by freelance writer Joanna Whitehead who shares her experiences of the matter.

With more millennials identifying as somewhere between straight and gay than older generations, are times changing? Why is there still a stigma around being bisexual? And what’s it like being bi on dating apps?

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This week, bestselling author Megan Nolan joins us to discuss her latest book, Ordinary Human Failings, which explores a family who become tabloid scapegoats after a toddler goes missing from a London estate.

We talk about the exploitative tabloid culture and issues of addiction that lie at the heart of the book, as well as what drives people to commit violence, the impact of childhood neglect on adult relationships, and how trauma narratives are too often used to excuse bad behaviour.

Catch Love Lives on Independent TV and YouTube, as well as all major social and podcast platforms.

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This week on Millennial Love we had an absolute ball with reality TV star, entrepreneur and podcaster Jamie Laing. Whilst spilling the beans on his relationships past - from first loves to dating regrets - Jamie offers some thought-provoking insight on the concept of unrequited love. Is there anything you can do to get over it?

Our other main discussion point this week is the oh-so-relatable arc of dating someone new, falling head over heels and getting smitten, then suddenly drawing back and wondering whether you're with the right person after all. Is it fear of commitment? Or hopeless romanticism?

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This week on Millennial Love it's pure Rachel and Olivia, oversharing and telling all our bad date stories. Up for discussion this episode: date exit strategies. If you're just not clicking and you know there's no future should you stick it out? Or try and leave? Should you make up a reason or just be honest? It's undoubtedly a dilemma we've faced many a time.

We're also talking about stalking potential dates on social media - a subject we certainly don't agree on (no prizes for guessing which of us is the serial stalker). Is it a good idea to Google someone before you meet up? Or is it best to discover everything in person?

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This week on Millennial Love we're joined by dating expert and head of global trends and events at Happn, Claire Certain, for an episode all about dating app etiquette. How long should you speak for before arranging a date in real life? Should you message immediately after matching? How many people should you chat to at once?

We also tackle the tricky matter of coming across friends on dating apps. If you say yes, are you leading them on? Equally, if you say no, is it rude? Or could it be the start of a blossoming romance you never even considered?

Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/

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This week the Millennial Love ladies are joined by sex educator, broadcaster and all round sexpert, Alix Fox for our sexiest episode yet.

First, we discuss the contentious issue of period sex. Why is it taboo? And is it actually more of an issue for men or women?

We also ponder the etiquette of sleeping with someone new for the first time, with Olivia, Rachel and Alix revealing what they do to prep if they think they might be out to get lucky. Is it better to go to their place or yours? Should you settle for less than awesome sex if it's the first time? There are so many issues to overthink.

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This week on Millennial Love we're joined by Made In Chelsea's newly single Sam Thompson to discuss where - and how - on earth you're supposed to meet a potential romantic partner nowadays when everything seems to happen on apps. 

We're also pondering whether, for a relationship to be successful, you need to feel overwhelming lust from the very start. Can you grow to fancy someone? Or do you need to want to jump their bones at first sight?

Sam, Rachel and Olivia share and compare experiences in an attempt to get to the bottom of the matter.

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Getting your heart broken sucks, there's no two ways about it. This week on Millennial Love, we're joined by former dating columnist and author of Bad Romance Emily Hill to discuss heartbreak and how to get over it. 

The past week has also seen relationship experts speaking out about the perils of 'overdating' - ie. dating too much. Could it really be that going on too many dates is stopping us finding love? With Rachel a serial dater and Olivia, well, the opposite, we ponder what the sweet spot might be.

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This week on Millennial Love we welcome the brilliant trans activist Charlie Craggs to help us get to the bottom of how important it is to have common interests with a romantic partner. 

Could you date a Tory if you're a passionate Corbynista? Do opposites really attract? And does it matter if your date isn't 'woke'? (Don't know what 'woke' means? Fear not, we explain.) 

Let us know your thoughts on the episode by joining our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/

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Losing your virginity is often heralded as one of the most seminal moments in a person’s life. But is it always such a big deal?

This week on Millennial Love we’re joined by journalist and author Radhika Sanghani to discuss some of the contentious issues surrounding ‘the first time’.

Is there ever a perfect time to lose it? And why is there so much pressure to do so, particularly in your teenage years?

We also share the virginity stories of some our brave and honest listeners – in addition to our own (gulp).

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Actor Demi Lovato recently schooled us all in how to flirt on Instagram. Some say it's shameless, others say it's brilliant - either way, it's got us thinking about how we use Instagram to try and catch the attention of our crushes.

One of the most obvious ways is with a so-called 'thirst-trap,' which is essentially just a picture of you looking really hot.

This week on Millennial Love, we're also discussing the role of religion in relationships, with Helen and Sabrina sharing their experiences of dating as a Christian and Jew respectively. Does being religious make it easier or harder to find love? We try to reach a conclusion.

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This week on Millennial Love we are thrilled to be joined by former dating columnist, podcaster and author Dolly Alderton. As well as picking Dolly's brains about how she wrote her new book 'Everything I Know About Love', we discuss how to cope when your friends get into new relationships and you're suddenly less of a priority. It's a familiar struggle for many of us.

We also delve into our psyches and explore the idea of craving attention from the opposite sex whilst simultaneously fearing intimacy. How does it come about? And what can we do about the predicament?

Finally, Dolly explains how, after years of entertaining escapades with men, she's ultimately learned that she is enough.

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Journalist, editor and author Lorraine Candy joins us to discuss her latest book, ‘What’s Wrong With Me?’: 101 Things Midlife Women Need to Know.

Lorraine talks about a “huge unravelling” she experienced at around 47 years old, when she went through the perimenopause, and how a lack of knowledge about this process made her feel she was “going mad”.

We also discuss female rage, older women being sidelined in popular culture, and why the the myth that women can ‘have it all’ is a dangerous one.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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A new dating app has been released that allows you to rate and review your dates straight after gong on them. Do I Date sounds terribly Black Mirror to us, so this week we reveal why we think it's an awful idea.

And speaking of bad ideas, the headmaster of a leading public school has banned his pupils from having relationships. This prompts us to look back on our own romantic escapades at school (or lack thereof) and wonder whether you could ever really stop teens from hooking up behind the school shed.

We also have two exciting new launches this week: firstly, a new segment of the podcast where we offer advice on your dating dilemmas. And secondly, we've created a new Facebook group for Millennial Love - head to https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ to join the discussion.

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The anonymous account of one woman's bad date with actor Aziz Ansari is the topic on everyone's lips this week, which ties in rather nicely with the launch of a new app that's meant to be used to officially give someone sexual consent. However, we feel there are a lot of problems with apps like this, and as usual, we're sharing all our thoughts in this week's episode. We're also pondering imbalances in relationships: is one person always punching above their weight? And is it necessarily a problem?

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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Social media has created a whole new way to chat someone up: sliding into DMs (direct messages). But is there a correct etiquette for this? Is there a way to do it without being creepy? We share our thoughts on the matter this week on Millennial Love.

We're also discussing 'the ick' - the inexplicable feeling of disgust you sometimes develop out of nowhere towards someone you're dating, even though you were totally into them before. Where does it come from? Do men get the ick too? We try to get to the bottom of all these mysteries.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.

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