Millennial Love

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. Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"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! Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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! Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.   Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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? Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. Follow us on our new Instagram account to stay up-to-date! https://www.instagram.com/millennial_love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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/ Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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). Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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? Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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? Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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? Don't forget to join our Facebook group to stay up to date! https://www.facebook.com/groups/millennial.love/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/millenniallove.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.