Girls Can Tell Podcast

Most people believe that jealousy indicates something is wrong with them, that secure, emotionally healthy individuals don't experience it, and the goal is to move past it entirely. This episode argues the other side. Jealousy isn't some character flaw, and dismissing it because someone convinced you that the feeling itself was the problem might be the most costly mistake you make in a relationship. This episode explains the two kinds of jealousy, and one of them is telling you something you should probably listen to. I call bullshit on people in open relationships, and discuss what it means when jealousy happens at inappropriate times, and how it can ruin your chances of dating. If you're one of the 8.3 billion people on the planet who've ever been jealous, this one's for your listening pleasure. Website: girlscantellpodcast.com Leave a voicemail, listen to all the episodes, and see all the videos

We start with a listener voicemail about something she couldn't stop doing even though she could see it happening. She'd been telling herself she'd get serious about dating again once she reached a goal. Then, when she reached it, instead of dating, she just set another goal. Sound familiar? This episode explains why some of us keep moving the finish line and how to stop doing it. 

A few months ago, I ran an episode of this podcast that was, let's say, different...and nobody noticed. This episode is about what technology means for dating, podcasts, and the voicemail sitting on your phone right now. Do you think you can tell what's real and what isn't? 

The profiles have gotten worse. Not slightly, significantly. The Instagram handle in the serious relationship bio. The wrong age that somehow always gets entered younger. The AI bio with the em dashes in it. The skyline that doesn't exist. The woman who liked you first and spent the conversation taking shots at you. This episode is about what all of it actually signals, because someone is always paying attention, even when you think they're not.

In this episode, I share the conversation that almost never happened: a rematch with a clear political filter that put me in the ‘no’ category. She pushed past it anyway, and what unfolded forced me to confront my own label-based shortcuts, like the flight attendant rule and almost swiping left on someone 20 miles away in Chicago’s brutal traffic. We explore the difference between healthy behavior filters and dangerous assumptions, the invisible cost of missed connections, and how to ask better questions before we decide who someone is.

You're still on the apps. Still swiping and responding. But something shifted and you know it. The curiosity and patience is gone. You're dismissing people in thirty seconds over things that don't mean anything, and calling it standards. It's burnout. And the problem with staying on the apps when you're already this depleted is that something good could show up right now and you probably wouldn't recognize it.

Being alone can feel peaceful, until something reminds you what connection actually feels like. This episode explores the difference between being okay alone and getting used to it.

Episode 50. One year. I didn't think this show would make it this far. Today I'm not teaching anything or making a case for a position, I'm just talking to you directly. What solo podcasting actually costs, what I got wrong, what kept me going, and where things honestly stand.

Most people assume the rules protect them. Until the day they realize rules only matter when someone has the power to enforce them. This episode is about the moment you realize the world doesn’t operate the way you were told it does.

"I’m not ready” sounds mature, responsible, and self-aware. But what if it’s just a softer way of saying no? In this episode, I unpack what readiness actually means, when waiting is wise, when it’s avoidance, and why nobody ever reaches a point of being fully healed before love.

Ask anyone why their last relationship ended and you’ll hear a very confident story. The problem is, most of those stories aren’t accurate. This episode breaks down how and why breakups get rewritten over time, why nobody thinks they were the problem, and how that mindset will completely wreck future relationships.

Everyone thinks dating success comes down to chemistry, texting, or what you say on the date. Most second dates are lost long before the conversation even matters. In this episode, we’re talking about the small, brutally simple things people notice instantly (like hygiene, presentation, manners, effort) and why skipping them silently kills attraction before you ever get a real chance. Nobody tells you this stuff. They just ghost you. You need to hear these things, so let’s talk about them.

Dating apps didn't stop working because you got older, they stopped working because they were redesigned not to work. The apps realized their most profitable users are the ones who never succeed. This episode breaks down how dating apps shifted from helping you find someone to keeping you just hopeful enough to stay, why the pool is now full of the emotionally unavailable, and why you keep blaming yourself for a system that was never designed for you to win.

When you start dating someone who is emotionally available, it can feel…off. There’s no anxiety, no guessing, and no emotional rollercoaster. They text you back, show up, and don’t disappear. And somehow that can feel less exciting than someone who’s inconsistent, grieving, or still emotionally attached to their past. In this episode, we break down why emotionally healthy people often don't feel as exhilarating at first, why emotionally unavailable people feel magnetic, and how your nervous system confuses mayhem with chemistry. If you’ve ever felt more drawn to someone who couldn’t fully show up than someone who could, this episode will explain exactly why, and what it means for the kind of relationship you’re actually building.

The psychology behind why dating feels worst on Sunday nights, why you miss your ex when you’re tired, and how emotional exhaustion makes your brain lie about your future.

Americans think dating is hard everywhere. It's not. The way we do it, app-driven, hyper-individualistic, like a never-ending job interview, is an outlier. This episode compares how dating works in France, Japan, and Denmark, then breaks down what Americans are getting wrong and what we can learn from cultures that make connection less exhausting and more human.

Going back to an ex feels like skipping the line. You already know each other, you have history, and starting over sounds exhausting. But research shows that on-again, off-again relationships usually increase stress, conflict, and dissatisfaction. This episode breaks down when a second chance can work, and when you're just yearning the familiar past.

In the Season 3 opener, we're going to upset some listeners as we discuss how, when someone says they’re “still friends” with their ex, it often means the relationship never fully ended. We explore emotional proximity, unfinished attachment, and why staying close to an ex quietly sabotages new relationships, even if no one wants to admit it.

Trent talks about what’s really going on behind those perfect couple posts, shares his experience staying way too long in an abusive relationship, and explains why sometimes being alone might actually be the win.

There’s a point where dating apps stop feeling hopeful and start feeling heavy. In this episode, Trent talks about dating while tired. When you still want connection, but don’t have the energy to keep auditioning for one. From app burnout and inbox math to why effort no longer scales the way it used to, this episode is about protecting your energy without giving up on love entirely. If you’ve ever seen a “someone liked you” notification and felt absolutely nothing, you’re not alone.

Resetting your profile sounds like a hack. Sometimes it’s just replaying the same disappointment. Here’s what the algorithm is doing, when resets help, when they tank you, and the real strategy that gets you seen.

This episode explains why the dating pool feels smaller than ever, what happens when you have to be better than someone's already good life, and how to handle an age gap in relationships. Plus, a related listener question about dating younger women.

Dating apps promised unlimited options. Instead, most of us got ghosting, burnout, and five half-assed chats at once. This week, we're getting deep into why good people can’t focus on one person, and how choice overload means you’re always one swipe away from being replaced. It's not something you're going to want to miss. 

Ever wonder why we only recognize the best moments after they’ve slipped by? This episode dives into the ache of missing wonderful chapters, even as you’re living them. From leaving behind messy apartments and old relationships to the science of nostalgia, regret, and derealization. It’s all about why we struggle to notice the good stuff when it’s right in front of us, and how to start being present before it’s too late.

How do you see yourself, and how do others see you? One summer, everything changed for me on the outside. On the inside? Not so much. This episode explores why we never really feel like we fit, even when the world says we do. If you’ve ever felt like you’re faking it, this one’s for you.

I’ve been living in a hotel with my dog, Holly. Not on vacation, but stuck between homes, routines, and tourists in the elevator.  This week, I discuss holding it together when nothing feels familiar while pretending everything is fine on the air. I’m also realizing that "boring" might have been the best phase all along. 

A quick detour before the next full episode drops. These are the moments listeners keep messaging me about. The parts where I apparently said something honest enough that it stuck. If you’re new, this is a good place to start. If you’ve been here since the beginning, thanks for staying.

Usefulish is all about the weird threads between the past and the present. The outdated customs, bizarre social rules, and how none of us are as evolved as we think. This is another show I created and I think it fits with the current Girls Can Tell vibe. Curiosity, psychology, and how humans are the way humans have always been. 

My dating app screening process filters out 98% of matches before the first date, and has a 100% success rate with those who make it through. And, no, it's not for sale. I'll take you from swipes to relationships, how I protect my time and why being picky at 50 is so important. 15 minutes on the reality of dating when you know what you want.

AI isn't "just a tool" anymore. And soon, you will be. We lay out the phases from helpful assistant to human obsolescence, why every job's vulnerable, why the experts are full of shit, and what you can do about it now. This is a 20 minute wake-up call you can't afford to miss. Seriously, I don't know why you're even still reading this, go listen! 

This is a replay of one of the most popular episodes from days gone by on girls can tell, because episode 27 is taking a considerable amount of time because there's a lot of research going into it. It's going to be an extra important, extra long, action-packed episode and everything you ever dreamed a podcast could be, and almost too much, quite frankly. You might never listen to another podcast again after hearing it, which is next Tuesday. This Tuesday, we're going to listen back to a classic, 608 Yous. I hope you're sitting down.

People claim to be open-minded, but try to change their opinion on something, and you'll see the walls come up. Whether it's about relationships or a bad habit, resistance to change is strong. In this episode, we talk about 10 harsh truths about why our brains resist change so fiercely. Confirmation bias, identity threats, and the agony of admitting we're wrong, we'll explain why facts aren’t enough to change your mind. Do you think you can change someone's mind? Do you think YOU can change your mind? Listen now, question everything, thank me later.

In this episode, I get into the truth about broken trust, can you actually rebuild it, or is it gone forever? Whether it's relationships, family, or shady bosses, I break down what happens when trust is lost and why most people want the quick fix instead of doing the work. Can trust can come back under the right conditions? Maybe, but almost nobody’s willing to do what it actually takes to get there. Do you even want to rebuild it, or is walking away the smarter move? We'll try and straighten it all out for you. 

A listener named Bethany reached out to us. She has been considering starting a podcast for months. She has the name, the microphone, and the concept, but she hasn’t recorded anything yet. She's afraid it won’t be good enough. Does this sound familiar? This episode is for Bethany and everyone else stuck in the perfectionism, procrastination, paralysis loop. If you have an idea you haven’t acted on, or a project that’s been on your mind, and all you can think is, what if I do it, and it sucks? You'll want to have a seat, we're going to help you take the first step. Because the only way to be good at something is to be bad at it first. It's time to get the bad over with. 

Turns out, those feel-good pieces of advice we've probably all given are nothing but lies. In this episode, we'll tackle 10 classic pieces of bad advice and explain why they keep people broke, stuck, single or miserable. You’ve heard them all, now hear why they're all wrong.

You’ve heard these phrases your whole life. But have you ever stopped to ask what the hell they actually mean? In this episode, we look at the bizarre origins of saying like, kick the bucket, riding shotgun, bite the bullet, and, you can take that to the bank! Because since we keep saying this shit as if it makes sense, maybe we should find out what they actually mean. I got you! 

Girls Can Tell returns for season 2 with a quick update on what’s been happening and what’s coming next.  Think of season two as sharper, meaner, and more uncomfortably honest episodes than ever before.

You’re not ghosting, chasing, or spiraling because someone didn’t text back in three hours. So, what the hell is wrong with you? Well, you just might be securely attached! In the final part of our attachment style series, we’re describing what secure attachment actually looks like, how it’s built, and why it makes dating easier and a little less thrilling when you’re used to things being crazy. If you wonder whether you’re healthy or detached, we'll help you differentiate between the two. 

Trick question, I made it up. However, it sounds like a nicer way of saying 'anxiously attached.'  In part two of our series, we delve into the chasers, the nervous ones, and explain where this wiring originates. Explore how and why it disrupts relationships and discover ways to break the cycle. Whether you're the anxious one or your partner is, we all know someone anxious, and this episode will give you some things you can use today to improve your relationship.

You say you need space. They say they're just "really busy." But what if what you're calling independence is actually avoidant attachment? In this episode, Trent kicks off a multi-part series breaking down the psychology behind how we disconnect in relationships. Backed by psychological research, this first episode gets deep into the dismissive avoidant style. He explains where it comes from, how it plays out in modern dating, and why so many of you keep choosing these emotionally unavailable people. Or, you might discover that maybe you are the emotionally unavailable one! To leave a voicemail or message, click the microphone in the lower right-hand corner or fill out the form at the bottom of the page on our website. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website and wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos, follow, like, comment, review and subscribe on: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

This one’s real. Real bios. Real photos. Real lies. I went through my actual dating feed live and called out every ridiculous, half-assed, or straight-up manipulative profile I came across. But it doesn’t stop there. Because one profile wasn’t just bad, it was sick! She’s a flight attendant, used her uniform in photos, and claimed to be single. What she didn’t mention? She’s married and her husband has a terrible illness. And she’s still out there swiping, flirting, and pretending none of it exists. If you’re wondering what men are really thinking while they’re swiping, you’re about to find out. It’s unfiltered and brutal and long overdue. New episodes every Tuesday. Listen & Follow: https://www.GirlsCanTellPodcast.com Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook @TrentErikson Email [email protected]

Chicago’s Independence Day is cursed with lunatics lighting mortars and littering sidewalks with sparkler wrappers. These idiots make noise, leave messes, and don’t care who suffers. I’m trapped calming my dog while shit piles up. This episode, I’m calling out the entitled idiots who turn my city into a dump and my weekend into a war zone. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

This week Trent rips into social media clowns doing stupid shit for clout, loud dickheads who slam everything like they’re in a contest, and dog owners who treat their pets like trash. Skateboard face plants and dogs chained like old bikes, he’s over the bullshit. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

I’m pissed. Grown men leering at women like they’re zoo animals while yelling from cars, staring like dipshits. It’s pathetic and needs to stop. Then there’s rich guys dressing like they’re in middle school with shitty cargo shorts and t-shirts with holes in them. It's just effin lazy! Ten minutes of me tearing into this bs because I'm plumb out of patience for morons. That’s it. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

You aren't funny or special, and here's why. This is a stripped-down episode about existential exhaustion, losing momentum, and the hollow repetition of trying to stay afloat when you're not sure if anything matters anymore.  Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

This episode is about how something awful can sharpen your senses and make you appreciate things you've been missing. An honest, introspective, raw, and sharp take on finding out you have cancer.  Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

This is a talk about the slow, humiliating death of common sense. If you’ve ever wondered, "How are people like this?" then this one’s for you. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

It’s not generational or cultural. It’s basic manners, emotional awareness, and the erosion of decency and how nobody seems to have it anymore. Let's talk about it this week!  Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast

The era of personality performance, Instagram therapists, soft launches, fake grief, and pretending to be deep instead of being real. This episode digs into it without apologizing. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast Online at: www.girlscantellpodcast.com

Why I’m choosing to faint more in public, and why it totally works for any occasion. Also, oat milk meltdowns, machetes in a Wendy’s parking lot, police dealing with chaos, unintentional midlife cosplay, and the street smarts bad guys don't want you to know about. Get ready to feel old, unsafe, and kindly attacked. So, like every other week. Got something to say? Leave a voicemail anytime at www.girlscantellpodcast.com Just click the microphone button in the lower right-hand corner. New episodes are released every Tuesday on the website or wherever you already listen to podcasts. Check out daily videos and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok @girlscantellpodcast