Ep.80 – Mating Habits Year End Spectacular: It’s Been Real, 2015.

KyloMHMG


http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep80_MHMG.mp3

*WARNING #1: The sound quality of this recording is ROUGH. Paris’s mic is malfunctioning (or off), I’m having a 2-hour long asthma attack, and I didn’t check it like I should have. I apologize for the quality, and offer this solution: Imagine that I am sitting really close to you while we’re listening to Paris and The Business, LLC over speakerphone…only you don’t get to contribute to the conversation because they don’t know you’re there. If you have a good imagination, you can get through this one!

*Warning #2: We talk about Star Wars: The Force Awakens a lot. If you don’t want to be spoiled, please don’t listen until after you’ve seen it.

2015 is almost over, and Paris and The Business join me to say goodbye to an eventful year, talk about Star Wars, The Hateful Eight, brag about our sparrow racing talents in Destiny, and give thanks that Paris is done with classes.

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We provide some First-Date Triage for when things go horribly wrong on a first date, and a listener shares a first-date experience with us on which we give some perspective.

We review the major things that happened to us over the year, and flip tables over the inability to let go and the inability to spell a name correctly.

Have a safe and Happy New Year, everyone!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Ep.75 – The Art of Small Talk: Society’s Neccessary Evil

MHMGSmallTalk


http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep.75_MHMG.mp3

We’re waterlogged down here in North Carolina, but Paris, The Business, LLC, and I paddled our way through the floods to record another episode of Mating Habits.

I had a date night and saw The Martian, Paris and The Business talk about The Awesomes on Hulu, And we’re excited about the return of The Muppets. Also, we finally get to squee about The Taken King, since the Destiny Step it Up To the Streets clan is in the house!

This episode’s topic is Small Talk: Why it’s important, how it can help you make better social connections, and ways to keep conversations going when you meet someone new.

We flip some serious tables over space invaders, un-American weather models, and gun-control.

LINKS:
Small Talk Topic Ideas
More Small Talk Topic Ideas

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Ep.71 – Enthusiastic Consent: GET HYPE!!

ConsentDefinedMHMG


http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep71_MHMG.mp3

I infiltrate Alpha Counter Studios and bring Sean Ryan and The Business, LLC back for Episode 71 – the one where we cover the controversial topic of Enthusiastic/Affirmative Consent, and why it’s important.

The Business almost ruins a budding friendship by drunk live tweeting Justice League episodes, and tries to salvage things by inviting his new friend on a beat ’em up side scroller. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Sean gets sunburned at a crowded bdsm-themed bungalow at the beach and meets a beautiful man named Ram Gabriel.

While they were sunning and funning at the beach, I stayed home and had a yard sale – don’t be too jealous. And my copies of Exploding Kittens finally got here!!

We tackle the idea of enthusiastic and affirmative consent: What is it? Why do we need it? What’s with the double standard? What does it say about you, as a person, if the concept of affirmative consent is unacceptable to you? (HINT: If it bothers you too much, you might be part of the problem.)

This is the best visual example of why this is important:

We flip new tables about bad communicators, the impregnable login guards at Steam, and how Trigger Warnings have gotten out of damn hand.

LINKS!
http://www.theloop.ca/this-woman-just-explained-consent-with-the-most-perfect-metaphor/
http://persephonemagazine.com/2012/05/why-do-people-hate-the-concept-of-enthusiastic-consent/
http://www.doctornerdlove.com/2013/03/enthusiastic-consent/
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/29/rape-consent-sexual-partner-enthusiasm
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/03/living/affirmative-consent-school-policy/
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/25/3453041/affirmative-consent-really-means/

The double standard here is a problem.

The double standard here is a problem.

Ep.70 – Playing Games Wastes Everyone’s Time: Stop Being So Damned Aloof.

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http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep70_MHMG.mp3

We made it to Episode 70! It’s our 3rd anniversary, and 70 episodes later we’re still going strong.

We ramble on about Batman: Arkham Knight, my haunted second bedroom, and my dead grandma’s new Twitter account. Paris and The Business, LLC talk about their wedding and show unmarried listeners what they have to look forward to when they finally find their true loves.

The Business, LLC thinks kids who’ve lost their hair due to chemotherapy are just Airbenders. and he has concerns about the recently bankrupt 50 Cent. Paris has got all the latest Reddit news and shares her concerns, and we come up with a new teen magazine for Star Wars nerds: PalpaTEEN!

For the main topic, we focus specifically on what’s been happening in my dating life over the past month and why guys who I’m chatting with seem so aloof and uninterested after the initial online connection. The Business shares some interesting insights as to what might actually be happening, Paris is concerned with why it’s always up to the girl to steer the conversation, and I give some advice to guys in the dating world who are striking out and don’t know why — is it because you’re doing the things we’re talking about?

Tables are flipped over smug guys I went out with once or twice two years ago who think I owe them sexting, and Paris is furious about internet trolls who just don’t get it.

Were taking a small summer break and will return with Episode 71 in three weeks. In the meantime, check out what’s shaking over at Alpha Counter, any of the #PodPals podcasts, and please listen to the first episode of Room 173 with M3JCNV – My Fair Andrew’s new solo show!

Ask Jono knows what we're talking about.

Ask Jono knows what we’re talking about.

Links!
Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf
Ask Jono (Cover image)

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Ep.66 – The Kink Episode: The Listeners Have Been Very Naughty…

MHMGKink


Ep.66 – The Kink Episode: The Listeners Have Been Very Naughty…

We begged for it, and you gave it to us!

Paris and the Business join me this week for a super-sized show about various kinks and fetishes to satisfy our curiosities.

We discover The Business is a damned Hawk, talk about getting “Wifed,” while playing video games, and Paris gets her first taste of a childhood movie being rebooted.

We’re 100 percent wrong about the ending of Mad Men but whatever, we were right about everything else.

We just saw Mad Max and WE LOVED IT! Spoilers abound as we tell you all the ways this is the best movie of the summer.

Thanks to the generosity of our brave listeners, we have a couple of interviews and some great emails (Narrated by Sean Ryan of Alpha Counter) and we discuss paraphilias and fetishes in general, sharing some of our own kinks as well.

It’s the final installment of My Fair Andrew 🙁 They grow up so fast. Even though it’s sad to see him go, we were happy to take the journey with him. Find out how his experienced helped him, and what he has planned for the near future.

Tables get flipped, y’all. I’m tired of people policing what other people wear, The Business is over potlucks and 100% done with home brews, and Paris thinks Facebook is the last place you want to ask for advice when buying tech.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017634/

Show Links!
List of Paraphilias Wiki

Kink: Documentary

Links attached to the third listener email:
Tame Transformer Fan Art


Ep.62 – Relationships 101: This Will Be on the Final

You're going to want to take notes.

You’re going to want to take notes.


http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep62_MHMG.mp3

We’re back from Spring Break and Paris and The Business, LLC are here to tutor us through a college-level relationship model sent in to us from listener Mark Hayashi.

We compare our experiences with those featured in Knapp’s Relationship Model, and get into the ways people come together, maintain, and come apart. Hold on, because Dr. Knapp’s theories are “Theo-radical!”

We also talk at length about grad school, Destiny, Starbucks fixing racism, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and the infamous Batgirl variant cover.

Hashbrown: No Filter
Trigger Warning: Dragons
Trigger Warning: Dungeons also.

My Fair Andrew has a disappointing time on OKC (really, it happens live on the recording) but we’re here to learn from the struggle. I also answer questions from podcast listener Siegecall about his OKC profile.

This is bullshit.

This is bullshit.

Tables get flipped over the mistrust of women, people stealing your table flips, why scientists can’t communicate, and time-wasting differential diagnoses.

LINKS!

Knapp’s Relationship Model

@JennofHardwire’s Response to #CHANGETHECOVER

Men Just Don’t Trust Women — And It’s A Huge Problem

Ep.58 – Nice Guys Part II: Being Bitter Isn’t Helping

nerdrage

http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep58_MHMG.mp3

Back in the studio with Paris and The Business, LLC, and we’re discussing the plight of the oppressed, bullied male nerd, and why the entitlement that is sometimes felt by said nerds could be sabotaging their interactions with women. Passivity never pays off, but being aggressive might not be in your wheelhouse – what then?

Life isn’t fair, and the sooner you except this, the sooner you can start leveling the playing field by playing the cards you’ve been dealt.

All of this is in response to the Dr. NerdLove article that was everyway on the interwebs last week: What’s Really Wrong With Nice Guys – Entitlement, Nerds and Neanderthals
http://www.doctornerdlove.com/2015/01/nice-guys-dont-finish-last/

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Amish Romance? It’s a thing. I am tragically white, and I apologize. While I’m finishing/shipping on Assassin’s Creed: Rogue and watching all the shoujo and boys love anime, Paris and The Business find a new show called Community, I have mixed Agent Carter feelings, and there’s a show about loli battleships that have strategic sex – thanks, Japan.

Africa is big, y’all, and not completely covered in ebola.

The Business does the Shim-sham with his Jim Jam in Dragon Age: Inquisition and we’re all loving Archer, just because. And apparently there’s a selfie stick designed especially for looking at butts? Also, what happens when women accept compliments online?

The first installment of My Fair Andrew is here, where we check in with Andrew to see how talking with strangers went – hilarity ensues.

We flip tables over how I want to be equal, but also special (shut up) and how if you share an office with someone, you should wash your ass.

Link!
This Is What Happens When Women Actually Accept A Compliment From A Man Online

AmishRomance

Mating Habits of the Modern Geek 2014 Holiday Spectacular!

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http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/MHMG_Holiday_14.mp3

We gather together at this special time of year to celebrate friendship and fandom. I set up in the kitchen studio of The Business, LLC and Paris, and Sean and Vane Ryan of AlphaCounter come by to make merry.

I did a twitch thing – twice! And I am wracked with guilt about killing sleepy dragons.

Steven Segal saves Christmas. Jem and the Holograms are back, and they’re not grunge. Thundercats are still RAD, and The Secret is bullshit.

We premier our newest business venture were we dress as post-apocalyptic bards and we sing about ’80s and ’90s action movies as if they were real historical epics at RenFaires and Cons.

There’s a lot of singing in this episode, and none of us were drinking. We have a Total Eclipse of the Heart, thanks Bonnie Tyler!

I announce a new episode segment for 2015 that involves Andrew from Two Loose Screws where we follow his step by step progress in gaining confidence and getting out there to meet new people. I want to apologize in advance to him if I decide to call the segment, “My Fair Andrew.”

Black Mirror is the best/most messed up thing on Netflix right now. My Next Tweet scares us (or maybe it’s just our predictability that frightens us…)
Sad Country Christmas Songs can just bugger off, we’ve decided. Nothing ruins the Holiday Season more than songs about poor, frozen and/or beaten-to-death children.

Jon Hamm in Black Mirror on Netflix?  It truly is a Merry Christmas...

Jon Hamm in Black Mirror on Netflix? It truly is a Merry Christmas…

From all of us over at Mating Habits of the Modern Geek: Have a Safe and Festive Holiday!

Mating Habits of the Modern Geek: Love and Dating within Your own Species – your comedy source for relationship advice for geeks and nerds!

Mating Habits Classic: Episode 3 – Relationship Konami Code

ipodMHMGclassic

In this classic Mating Habits Episode, Paris and The Business, LLC join me to tackle those tough relationship milestones; living together, combining religious beliefs, introducing fandom, geekery, and kinks, etc. I’ve added some fun new promos, but otherwise the bad sound quality is due to the age of the original recording – look at it like you’re listening to a vintage cassette tape.

Next week: THE MATING HABITS OF THE MODERN GEEK HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR!

Here’s the link to the original show notes:

Ep.35 – Relationship Konami Code: Tackle Those Hard Levels with Ease!

Ep.55 – Social Justice and Dating: Navigating the Minefield

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http://traffic.libsyn.com/matinghabitsofthemoderngeek/Ep55_MHMG.mp3

We try Galahad, have thoughts, and live to tell them.

Galahad

Sean buys a new Skeletor-indorsed car for his family, which transforms the show into Car Talk for a few minutes.

Kevin and I (and Paris) have fun NCComicon-style, there’s a small Interstellar review, and I finally buy a PS4 so I can play Assassin’s Creed Unity.

Lately, everyone’s upset about one thing or another, and we’ve collected our thoughts about one slice of the “Offensive Pie” – How to not piss off folks who don’t fit in the gender binary. There are several ways your conversation can go wrong when speaking with someone who is transgendered, non-heterosexual, et cetera. The good news is that your intent can be a life saver.

We also discuss things from the other side of this “divide” as folks who fit the binary, but who also want to educate themselves, make everyone feel welcome, but also don’t want to be yelled at for trying 🙂
youarenotspecial

Tables are flipped over “Surprise Christmas,” corporate speak, and mismanaged convention spaces.

Oh, and we invent a mascot for the argumentative geek – “Will Actually.”

Links!
Glossary of Terms
Too Many Cooks!
Straight Guys at the Gay Bar
What to Say Comic