Date Like A Nerd

Alex | Dating Anxiety Coach for Nerds
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Looking for your Player 2? Welcome to the Date Like A Nerd podcast, where your gamer skills, dice rolls, and cosplay become your greatest dating assets. This show is designed for shy, introverted nerds who want to find romance in a way that feels authentic and true to who they are. We throw out the mainstream dating rulebook and focus on real data, real stories, and real life experience from the world of nerd dating. Whether you are rolling for initiative at a D&D table, swiping right on a dating app, or making friends at conventions and Discord servers, we show you how to unlock romance side quests in true nerd style.  Learn from nerds who found their partner, community organizers, and experts, to finally unlock your Player 2. Are you ready? If you want to learn more, go to https://www.datelikeanerd.com/links 📱You can also join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    How to Leave the Friend Zone: The Master Plan, the Nerd Love Story of Nicole & David

    💔 Is it possible to escape the Friend Zone? Or are you worried that if you stay friends too long, you'll miss your shot? 🎯 Most dating advice screams: "Make a move within 3 dates, or you're done!" But what if you're shy? What if they're not ready? What if rushing things actually ruins your best chance at love? 😰 🗺️ Nicole's "master plan" wasn't about pickup lines or manufactured scarcity. It was about creating genuine opportunities to spend time with someone she liked. Through D&D sessions and texts about Nicholas Cage, she built a friendship so solid that when romance finally happened, it led straight to marriage 💍 ⚠️ But here's the tricky part: How do you know if you're "being patient" or just wasting your time? How do you create romantic possibilities without being manipulative? And if most couples start as friends... why does everyone tell you to avoid it? 🤨 ⏳ If you've ever been stuck wondering whether to confess your feelings or wait it out, worried about "ruining the friendship," or felt like you're doing everything wrong because you're not moving fast enough... this episode will completely reframe how you think about dating 🧠 🎧 Press play to learn this strategy to go from friends to lovers! 🚀 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Nicole's Links: https://linktr.ee/tabletopBLThttps://www.instagram.com/tabletopblt/https://www.threads.com/tabletopblthttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564306597098&mibextid=ZbWKwLhttps//discord.com/invite/tabletopblthttps://tabletopblt.substack.com/?r=6j0isl Related Episodes: Rejected, Friendzoned, and Not Reading the Signals: the Nerd Love Story of Vir and Diego Text Confession Gone Wrong, No Proper Dates, and Critical Fail: the Nerd Love Story of Lud and Mati Shy meets Socially Anxious, and Going Slow: the Nerd Love Story of Steven and Christin Physical Escalation from Friends to Lovers: the Nerd Love Story of Jose and Julian The TTRPG Group, the Nerd Love Story of Frank and Mouse Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:51 What Makes Her A Nerd 00:03:17 The Wedding Blind Date 00:09:01 First Impressions 00:10:43 Not Ready For A Relationship 00:15:18 The D&D Approach 00:19:57 Leaving the D&D Container 00:22:38 Embracing The Friend Zone 00:32:25 Doubting The Friend Zone 00:38:12 The Master Plan to Leave The Friend Zone 00:45:22 Starting From Friendship 00:47:44 The End of The Friend Zone 00:53:16 Final Thoughts 00:54:38 TTRPGs for Social Skills #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    59 min

  2. 14 JAN

    Why You're Still Single Even If You're Going to Meetups, with Single Player George

    🎯 Going to meetups every week, showing up to events over and over again, hitting nerd conventions annually, and still single? You're not alone. George is a 47-year-old Marvel and Star Wars fan who attends events regularly, has female friends, and can dance without drinking. So why hasn't he found his Player 2? 🤔 🔒 The problem isn't the meetups. It's staying stuck in the container. George would meet women he liked, exchange Instagrams, but never unlock his social tree. He'd only connect 1-on-1 with women he was attracted to, then disappear if they wanted to be "just friends." Why? He believed women decide whether you're dateable within 30 seconds, so friendship = game over 👾 📊 According to my surveys, 70% of nerd couples who didn't meet on dating apps started as friends (usually for 6 months to a year!). Even 20% of the couples who met on dating apps started as friends first! That "women decide in 30 seconds" rule? Debunked. The friend zone fear? Actually blocking him from the exact path most nerds take to find their Player 2 🎲 🧩 So what's the missing piece? How do you turn meetup connections into actual dating opportunities? 🍷 🎧 Press Start to find out how to unlock 2-player mode! 🎮 🎮 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Related Episodes: 'I'm Cooked' (Where to Find Dates After College), with Single Player Brandon"You're Nice But I'm Not Interested" After Every First Date, Aaron's Nerd Dating TransformationCold Approaches Failed. One Night With New Friends Worked, Mrinal’s Nerd Dating TransformationRejected, Friendzoned, and Not Reading the Signals: the Nerd Love Story of Vir and DiegoPhysical Escalation from Friends to Lovers: the Nerd Love Story of Jose and JulianThe Tolkien Association: Where to Meet Nerds, with VirFind Your Nerd Community: Where to Meet Nerds, with JoseFind Love Through Online Games, with Kaylee LopezThe Twitch Streamer on Discord, the Nerd Love Story of Luna and Jason Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:00:38 What Makes George A Nerd00:01:10 Going to Meetups00:04:16 Starting Out As Friends00:07:42 The Friends Next Door00:10:39 How Many Relationships Start As Friendships00:12:55 The Benefits of Friendships00:17:33 Meeting People At Meetups00:20:33 Scheduling Problems00:23:41 Choosing The Right Friends00:29:14 Being Vulnerable00:37:17 The Awkward Friend00:46:18 Final Thoughts #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    48 min

  3. 24/12/2025

    Cold Approaches Failed. One Night With New Friends Worked, Mrinal's Story

    🤔 What if months of cold approaching strangers kept you single and frustrated, but making new friends got you numbers? That's exactly what happened to Mrinal, a past client of mine 🤓 He's a nerd who plays D&D, learned Japanese to watch anime without subtitles, and spent months following mainstream dating advice that made him feel uncomfortable and inauthentic 💀 🌐 When we started working together, the first breakthrough was realizing that "real life is NOT a subreddit." While online spaces amplified his fears and made him think everyone would judge him, the real world was completely different. He joined an improv group's WhatsApp chat (terrified his first message would be ignored), went contra dancing, and discovered board game nights just minutes from his home. Places he'd convinced himself didn't exist or weren't for him 🎲 But here's the real transformation: Mrinal went from isolated and desperate to getting invited to 4 Halloween parties within only a couple of months of us working together 🎃 He's no longer afraid to left-swipe on dating apps for fear of missing out on a match. He's not desperately trying to get "whatever he can get." And most importantly? He stopped waiting for the "perfect fit" and just started showing up. Because those "imperfect" activities led him to the right people 🎯 💤 If you're tired of feeling like dating advice is keeping you single, or if you've been brave enough to try everything but nothing feels right, listen to Mrinal's story. Because sometimes the world is so much bigger than you think! 🌍 🎧 Press Start and learn what's possible when you Date Like A Nerd! 🤓                   👾 WONDERING IF COACHING IS RIGHT FOR YOU?🕹️                                          Book a FREE Discovery Call!                             https://www.datelikeanerd.com/player2/ 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Related: How to Find Groups and Socialize as a Shy, Introverted Nerd (Step-By-Step Guide)I Surveyed 273 Nerds in Canada: Here's The Dating Strategy That Worked"You're Nice But I'm Not Interested" After Every First Date, Aaron's Nerd Dating TransformationThe Hidden Cost of Finding Love With Red Pill Dating: John’s Nerd Love Story'I'm Cooked' (Where to Find Dates After College), with Single Player Brandon Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:35:12 What Makes Him a Nerd00:01:34 Life Before Coaching00:06:04 Ashamed of Being a Nerd00:08:34 Why Coaching00:12:17 What Coaching Was Like00:16:34 Starting to Socialize00:20:40 Real Life Isn't a Subreddit00:25:40 Dating Achievements00:30:46 Socializing as an Introvert00:37:28 Having Dating Standards00:43:08 Stop Waiting For Perfection #datelikeanerd #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    46 min

  4. 10/12/2025

    Level Up Your Social Skills Using Online Gaming Communities, with Kaylee Lopez

    🫣 Meeting new people can be scary. That's why online gaming communities are a great way to start if you have Level 1 Social Skills and want to farm some XP! 👾 In this episode, I bring back Kaylee Lopez, an anthropologist who writes about gaming and game communities. We discussed why communities are important and how you can use them to level up your social skills IRL 💬 🏰 From self-esteem to safety, communities can serve many different purposes. Fortunately, whether they're online or in-person doesn't dramatically change the impact they can have on you. Having a group of people who want to be with you and support you can help you become more secure in yourself and with others 😎 🖥️ You can use online social spaces to try new social skills that you're too afraid to test in the real world. By giving your avatar the behaviours you'd like to have yourself, you can safely test what it would feel like to be someone different 🦸 Someone you want to be 🫅 You'll even get to see how people react, and how you can react to those reactions (and so on) 🤩 After rinsing and repeating, you'll start incorporating those characteristics into your real life. There are forms of therapy (including TTRPGs) that are based on this model. The fact that it's not "the real you" is irrelevant. You'll still grow and develop into the person you want to become 🙌 As time goes by and you start feeling more confident both in your skills and with the people in your community, you can go from text-based interactions to audio, video, and maybe even in-person meetings! 🤗 🫡 So what are you waiting for? Are you going to accept this new Quest? 🙂‍↕️ 🎧 Listen now and start leveling up your social skills online! 🦾 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on hundreds of surveys of nerd couples and singles. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Related Episodes: Find Love Through Online Games, with Kaylee LopezThe Tolkien Association: Where to Meet Nerds, with VirGamify Your Dating Anxiety, with Michael BergerFind Your Nerd Community: Where to Meet Nerds, with JoseThe Twitch Streamer on Discord, the Nerd Love Story of Luna and JasonBeat the Fear of Rejection Through Your Gamer’s Journey, with Dr. Daniel KaufmannIRL Lessons from Video Games, with Dr. Daniel KaufmannDating In The Tolkien Association, with JoseHow to Make Nerd Friends, with Pete “Belmont” Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:01:19 The Value Of Communities00:03:46 Becoming Secure Through Communities00:06:09 IRL vs Online Communities00:08:09 How to Meet People in Online Games00:10:35 Developing Social Skills00:13:19 Who You Want To Be00:15:00 Staying Safe00:21:05 ContactContact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    22 min

  5. 26/11/2025

    From Cosplay Competition to Long Distance Love: A Convention Crush Love Story with Bimini and Riv

    🧐 How can you find a partner at a convention? The Date Like A Nerd surveys showed that conventions are one of the top places to meet nerds, and that real relationships do come out of those connections. In fact, Bimini and Riv's story proves that a convention crush can turn into something real, even when you think they're already taken, even across long distance, and even after starting out as friends 🤝 🎭 Bimini and Riv interacted briefly during a Hazbin Hotel cosplay sing-along. Riv had impressed Bimini with his cosplay and theatrical skills, so when she found out he would be attending the next day, Bimini bought a ticket just to see him again. But when she showed up... Riv mistook her male friend for a boyfriend! Both were disappointed after seeing the other's reaction 😱 📱 After the event, they stayed in touch as long-distance friends, unclear as to the others' feelings 🤨 This is a story of how misunderstandings can create unnecessary challenges, and how good communication can be the Special Skill to beat that Boss!  💕 If you've ever had a convention crush, worried about misreading signals, or wondered if you can be friends without getting friend-zoned, this episode is for you! Because sometimes a crush at a convention stays just that: a fun memory. But other times, if you're brave enough to take action, it can turn into something real 💘 🎧 Press Play and learn how nerd couples can form at conventions! 🦸‍♂️ 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:00:55 What Makes Them Nerds00:01:36 The First Approach00:05:14 "She Has a Boyfriend"00:08:53 Not Reading The Signs00:12:11 Clarifying Misunderstandings00:13:19 Maintaining the Long-Distance Connection00:14:45 Friendship and Attraction00:18:18 Planning the First Date00:21:09 The First Date00:27:59 The Second Date00:32:00 Keeping Online Connections Alive00:36:47 Couples from Conventions00:38:38 How to Meet CosplayersContact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    40 min

  6. 12/11/2025

    "You're Nice But I'm Not Interested" After Every First Date, Aaron's Nerd Dating Transformation

    ❌ Are you stuck getting rejected after every first date? Dating apps can feel exhausting when you're anxiously trying to perform for someone who barely knows you. Aaron spent 18 months going through 50+ first dates, constantly hearing "you're great, but [polite rejection]." Sound familiar? 📱 💻 As someone who treats problems like debugging code, Aaron spent over a year Googling dating advice like error messages. He tried following the scripts, behaving as he thought people wanted, and analyzing every interaction afterward. But that people-pleasing approach just left him more exhausted and hopeless 😩 🤹🏽‍♂️ The anxiety was real. Every date felt like a performance where he had to get everything right. The more dates that didn't work out, the more he'd over-analyze why it was happening and fall deeper into rabbit holes of "doing the right thing." 🐰 The constant failure was wrecking his confidence, and 18 months in, he was ready to give up entirely. 🎯 But then something shifted. Through our work together, Aaron learned to stop treating dating like a problem to solve and started showing up as himself (anxious parts included). He stopped following generic advice and started building genuine connections, both on apps and at in-person meetups. The difference? Night and day ☀️ 😎 This isn't a story about becoming "confident" overnight or following some magic formula. It's about what happens when you stop performing and start being real. In this episode, Aaron and I talk about how the coaching process helped him go from feeling hopeless to becoming more successful and even enjoying the process! 🏆 💬 If you've been rejected after every first date and feel like something must be wrong with you, listen to Aaron's story. You're not broken. You just need a different strategy 👾 🎧 Press Start and level up your dating without following any scripts! 📜                       👾 WONDERING IF COACHING IS RIGHT FOR YOU?🕹️                                        Book a FREE Discovery Call!                                https://www.datelikeanerd.com/player2/  📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Related Episodes: From No Dates to Feeling Truly Seen and Accepted: Kirk's StoryThe Hidden Cost of Finding Love With Red Pill Dating: John’s Nerd Love Story'I'm Cooked' (Where to Find Dates After College), with Single Player Brandon Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:01:14 What Makes Him a Nerd00:02:30 Life Before Coaching00:06:43 The Dating App Experience00:10:52 Quantity vs Quality00:12:12 Troubleshooting Dating00:16:23 Experience with Previous Dating Coach00:18:07 Date Like A Nerd Coaching00:24:27 Just Be Yourself00:36:51 Why There's No "Right Thing"00:42:36 Knowing Yourself00:45:45 Accountability in Coaching00:47:33 Quick Results00:51:17 Where to Meet Someone00:54:58 Online Dating Improvements00:59:19 Social Anxiety Improvements01:00:31 A Piece of Advice#datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    1h 3m

  7. 29/10/2025

    How to Approach Your Gym Crush (Without Being A Creep), with Jordan Yaklin

    🏋️‍♀️ Afraid to approach your gym crush? Most dating advice tells you to "just be confident and approach them," but does that actually work at the gym? The gym should be a safe space, kind of like your respawn point, where you recharge after a tough day. People go there to lift weights and decompress, not to be hit on by random NPCs. So how do you bridge that gap? 🤨 👨🏻‍💻 In this episode, Jordan Yaklin, an online health and lifestyle coach who helps gamers level up their fitness and reclaim their health, breaks down why the gym is a completely different dungeon than bars, dating apps, or cold approaching strangers 👀 💡 If you've ever wondered when it's okay (and how) to start a conversation, how to tell if someone's open to chatting, or what separates a friendly gym regular from a creep who makes everyone uncomfortable, you will gain the clarity you've been searching for.  🎯 Whether you're a gamer who's new to the fitness meta or an introvert who struggles with small talk, this episode will help you gain enough charisma to navigate gym social dynamics. Just like 68% of nerd couples who started as friends, the gym can be one of the best places to meet people who share your goals. You just need the right build for it 💪 🎧 Press Start to learn how to approach your gym crush without being creepy! 🧟 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Jordan's Links: https://www.instagram.com/jordanyaklin/discord.gg/pnfW7jZp42 Related Episodes: Beat the Fear of Rejection Through Your Gamer’s Journey, with Dr. Daniel KaufmannGamify Your Dating Anxiety, with Michael BergerThe Nice Guy vs the Kind Man, with AprilHow to Make Nerd Friends, with Pete “Belmont”The Hidden Cost of Finding Love With Red Pill Dating: John’s Nerd Love Story Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:01:08 How to Approach Your Gym Crush00:02:01 Gym Etiquette00:04:53 Fear of Looking Dumb00:07:08 Gradual Escalation00:09:27 Benefits of Making Friends00:11:14 Meeting Outside the Gym00:13:32 How to Show You're A Nerd00:15:29 Your Safe Spaces00:20:28 Gaining Confidence and Energy00:23:28 Gamifying Social Skills00:29:48 Conversation Starters for the Gym00:36:12 Jordan's Contact#datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    38 min

  8. 15/10/2025

    'I'm Cooked' (Where to Find Dates After College), with Single Player Brandon

    🏫 How do you find dates after you're done with college? 🕰️ For many people, high school and uni gave us the perfect place to meet people. But once that's over, what do you do? How can you meet someone to date if you're not meeting... well, basically anyone? 🤷 📜 After graduating, Brandon went from having built-in social circles to basically meeting nobody new. His dating life? Non-existent. His social life? Hanging out with the same small group of friends 2-3 times a year. His solution attempts? Cold approaches (didn't work) and dating apps (traumatizing) 😰 🏢 "I'm stuck in the office for most of the time," Brandon explains. Between his 9-to-5 and studying for nursing boards, he's caught in the classic post-college trap: knowing he wants to meet someone but having zero clue where to start and feeling like he has no time to do it. 🥘 If you're feeling "cooked" because college social life seems like a distant memory, this episode breaks down exactly how to transform solo activities into friend-making (and potentially date-finding) opportunities 💘 🎧 Press Start and learn how to set your single-player hobbies to multi-player mode! 👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️ Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality 📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord Related: The Tolkien Association: Where to Meet Nerds, with VirFind Your Nerd Community: Where to Meet Nerds, with JoseAnimé Los Angeles: Where to Meet Nerds, with MattFind Love Through Online Games, with Kaylee LopezHobbit Hike: Where to Meet Nerds, with Sompi HarmetzDating In The Tolkien Association, with JoseHow to Make Nerd Friends, with Pete “Belmont”Where can Nerds Find a Partner? (Without Dating Apps!)Challenges of Dating Without Apps (for Shy, Introverted Nerds)How to Find Groups and Socialize as a Shy, Introverted Nerd (Step-By-Step Guide)I Surveyed 273 Nerds in Canada: Here's The Dating Strategy That Worked Timestamps for lazy nerds: 00:00:00 Intro00:01:02 Dating Life After College00:05:03 Dating App Trauma00:09:57 Getting Rejected00:18:26 Riot Games Arena00:20:33 Where to Meet Someone00:24:35 Step 1: Your Hobbies00:29:45 Step 2: Where to Meet People00:33:00 No Free Time to Socialize00:35:18 Socializing with Snowboarding00:40:05 Being shy... or not?00:46:26 Socializing At The Riot Games Arena00:53:14 A Video Shoot Missed Opportunity00:58:48 Having Options to Meet Someone01:03:53 Difficulties for Meeting Partners #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast #postcollege #officejob #skateboarding #surfing #esports #riotgames Contact: dm@datelikeanerd.com or @datelikeanerd on social media

    1h 8m
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Trailer

About

Looking for your Player 2? Welcome to the Date Like A Nerd podcast, where your gamer skills, dice rolls, and cosplay become your greatest dating assets. This show is designed for shy, introverted nerds who want to find romance in a way that feels authentic and true to who they are. We throw out the mainstream dating rulebook and focus on real data, real stories, and real life experience from the world of nerd dating. Whether you are rolling for initiative at a D&D table, swiping right on a dating app, or making friends at conventions and Discord servers, we show you how to unlock romance side quests in true nerd style.  Learn from nerds who found their partner, community organizers, and experts, to finally unlock your Player 2. Are you ready? If you want to learn more, go to https://www.datelikeanerd.com/links 📱You can also join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord

Information

  • Creator
    Alex | Dating Anxiety Coach for Nerds
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Date Like A Nerd
  • Show Website
    Date Like A Nerd