The Dating Orange

Have you ever thought about how people actually find their way into Ireland’s swinging scene? In the series opener of Swing State, we start at the door. My week-long experiment on Fab Swingers reveals a dramatic gender gap in attention. Origin stories from real-life swingers range from chance kitchen conversations and post-breakup curiosity to couples in long relationships deciding to explore together or trying to fix their marriage. Journalist Aoife Moore defines what swinging actually means in an Irish context, while people already inside share the gap between what they expected (alternative looks, pure porn, key parties) and what they found: ordinary people of all ages, strict-ish rules, and a lot more talking than outsiders in the 'vanilla world' assume. First nights, first nerves, filters, free single women, and the quiet machinery that keeps the scene ticking over. Curiosity, apps, and a delivery of veg. This is how you get in. To hear episode two of the series now become a member of HeadStuff+ to access early episodes of Swing State, bonus episodes and ad free listening. Just go to https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-dating-orange/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beyond the old myths of keys in a bowl and pampas grass lies a quiet but strong subculture operating right across Ireland. Swing State is a new five-part investigative podcast series that takes an unvarnished look inside the country's swinging and alternative dating scene. The series combines real-life stories, event insider perspectives, and a week-long app experiment that yielded 387 messages in just seven days. Over five episodes, we examine how people first find their way in, what the nights and systems actually look like on the scene, what this does to relationships, where it starts to go wrong, and what remains when someone decides to walk away. Grounded, candid, and non-judgmental, Swing State cuts through the noise to deliver an honest look at Swing culture in Ireland today. Episode one is out Tuesday the 27th of October! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the orange is joined by Jenny for the first of a two-part bonus series. Jenny shares what life is really like living in rural Ireland in a poly household. Jenny opens up about sleeping arrangements, handling jealousy, and how clear communication keeps their relationship thriving. To hear the full episode and unlock ad-free listening become a member at ⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-dating-orange/⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Thank you for supporting the pod! 🍊 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the orange is joined by Jenny for the first of a two-part bonus series. Jenny shares what life is really like living in rural Ireland in a poly household. Jenny opens up about sleeping arrangements, handling jealousy, and how clear communication keeps their relationship thriving. To hear the full episode and unlock ad-free listening become a member at ⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-dating-orange/⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Thank you for supporting the pod! 🍊 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Orange co-hosted by friend of the show Justine Stafford sits down with creative director Hloni Coleman to explore alternative dating and break down how polyamory actually works. Hloni shares his personal experiences with polyamorous relationships, setting boundaries, and managing jealousy. Plus, they react to real listener stories about alternative dating in Ireland and offer advice on navigating hierarchy in relationships. To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Roisin from Daters Gonna Date. This week we discuss the rest of the venues we both visited, vendors, music & entertainment options. To hear the full episode and unlock ad-free listening become a member at https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-dating-orange/ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Thank you for supporting the pod! 🍊 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Orange sits down with Roisin from the Daters Gonna Date podcast to break down the reality of wedding venue hunting across Ireland. From capacity caps and costs to barn setups, and mountain estates, they share the pros and cons of the spots they toured and why some fell flat. A must listen for any bride to be, so tell your friends who are engaged! If you're enjoying this chat part two will be out exclusively for bonus members next Tuesday. 🍊 To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your friend was in a mentally and emotionally abusive relationship, but five years later they’re still talking about him, looking for contact with him and his family, and searching for closure. When does the need for closure stop being healing and start becoming self-harm? And when do you have to accept that you can’t keep helping someone who isn’t ready to move on? I speak to Justine Stafford about a recent situation with a friend that ultimately led me to end the friendship To hear the full episode and unlock ad-free listening become a member at https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/the-dating-orange/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Ross (@unsub1989), content creator, activist, accidental political commentator, and self-described 'Paddystinian.' His online journey is a funny one. He started off posting tasteful thirst traps on TikTok and somehow ended up talking about housing, healthcare, and government policy. But today we are parking the politics, and we're getting into his dating life. Ross is bisexual, so he's seeing it from all angles. We talk about his disillusionment with hookup culture, how it's no easier dating men as a man, and some of the mad situations that he's found himself in over the years, including getting catfished on Craigslist and a date getting maximum financial value from him. Enjoy! Find ross on TikTok @unsub1989 To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we hear from the wonderful Adrian & Caroline after their first date. To hear the full episode and access ad-free listening go to ⁠⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/membership/⁠⁠⁠ to become a HeadStuff+ member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! 🍊 This week, the Orange chats with Samantha Keating, founder of Your Friend, My Friend, about running over 150 singles events across Ireland. Sam breaks down why meeting offline beats swiping on apps, why people need to give the spark time to grow, and the mystery of getting men to actually show up. This is a must listen for anyone done with dating apps. To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! Today's guest, Justine Halpin, solicitor working in domestic violence by day and a stand up comedian by night, giving her a unique perspective on dating. Despite working tough cases daily, she’s held onto her sense of humor. She shares her own relationship experiences, including a Dublin actor who was seeing other women, leading to a surprising friendship and chats through bad relationships, red flags, coercive control and Jennie's Law. To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tall? Check. Ginger? Snickers workwear? Check. The Orange may have found Mairead’s dream guy this week, but could he actually be the one? To hear the full episode and access ad-free listening go to ⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/membership/⁠⁠ to become a HeadStuff+ member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! This week the Orange is joined by the wonderful Tracy from The Midlands. Tracy is a gas character who has lots of hilarious and shocking stories from years of trying to find a normal fella. If you've ever wondered where all the good and decent men have disappeared you'll enjoy this one. To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the orange is matching up Richard and Triona. Surely we don't have another case of ghosting on our hands this week!?.. 👻 To hear the full episode and access ad-free listening go to ⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/membership/⁠ to become a HeadStuff+ member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! Three women got in touch with me separately over the space of a few months, all describing different experiences with the same man from a dating app… and it was only when they started comparing notes that they realised they hadn’t just dated the same person, they had all been speaking to the same fake identity. Tune in this week as we ask who is behind Dr. Rudy Stein. And yet, when it came time to meet him in real life, something always came up, something always went wrong… and eventually, after a bit of digging, the entire identity started to fall apart. To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! This week the orange is joined by Josie, a TikToker from Chicago living in Dublin. Josie opens up about moving to Ireland with Normal People expectations, only to be met with low effort pub dates and TikTok backlash for being 'too forward' for the men of Ireland. Keep up with Josie on TikTok @liketotallyjosie To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Dating Orange! This week the orange is joined by journalist and author Aoife Moore to chat about the recent Louis Theroux Manosphere documentary and the male loneliness epidemic. Plus, the Orange has an interesting story to get Aoife's thoughts on... Enjoy 🍊 To support the show and access ad-free listening and bi-weekly bonus content become a member at ⁠⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠⁠ This show is part of HeadStuff Podcasts. Produced by Hilary Barry. Artwork by Matt Mahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the very first exclusive matchmaking episode of The Dating Orange. This week, the Orange is matching up farmer Séan and teacher Lorna. They seem perfect on paper, but will sparks fly when they finally meet? To hear the full episode and access ad-free listening go to https://headstuffpodcasts.com/membership/ to become a HeadStuff+ member for just €5 a month +VAT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back for a new season of The Dating Orange. This week The Orange opens up to good pal Justine Stafford about her recent engagement. This one is not to be missed! 🍊💍 To support the show and access ad-free listening become a member at ⁠headstuffpodcasts.com/membership⁠ and keep an eye out for bonus episodes coming very soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices