Marylanders of all ages look for love in an era of shifting dating habits

Midday guest host Leslie Gray Streeter, a columnist with the Baltimore Banner, leads a series of conversations about modern romance and the changing ways people seek love and connection. Most love stories now begin with a swipe on a dating app. But Leah Ross, a matchmaker and director of the Maryland Singles Social Club, makes the case for putting the phones down and returning to in-person connections. Plus, breakup and dating coach Sarah Curnole shares advice for singles looking to reconnect with themselves after difficult breakups. Then, Dr. Jui Ramaprasad, an associate professor at the University of Maryland business school, describes her research into how dating apps shape not just how we meet, but how we see ourselves, and what we think we want in a partner. Leslie also chats with WTMD host Izzi Bavis and NPR's All Things Considered producer Jordan-Marie Smith, two young women who share their experiences in today's dating scene. Then, Leslie speaks Iris Krasnow, a New York Times best-selling author and journalist. Krasnow is the Senior Editor for AARP's The Ethel, a publication created with women 55 and older in mind. Krasnow and Leyla Krikor, who was interviewed by Streeter for a 2025 Valentine's Day column, discuss what it’s like to start over after divorce or loss. They discuss navigating apps designed for younger users, and how to think about intimacy and partnership later in life.