52 episodes
Land of the Giants Vox Media Podcast Network
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- Technology
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4.5 • 1.9K Ratings
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Big tech is transforming every aspect of our world. But how? And at what cost? In Land of the Giants: Dating Games, The Verge and New York Magazine's The Cut trace the evolution of the multi-billion dollar dating app industry. Hosts Sangeeta Singh Kurtz and Lakshmi Rengarajan explore the modern dating landscape forged by companies like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, and their impact on our hopes for connection. Through conversations with industry leaders, experts, and users, this series will look at the past decade of dating and ask the question: are the business goals of dating app companies aligned with users' romantic aspirations?
New episodes every Wednesday. From The Verge, The Cut and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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Tinder Changed the Game
When Tinder launched in 2012, it changed dating culture and our expectations around dating forever by leveraging the iPhone and gamifying the dating experience. But did the rise of dating apps make finding romance easier or harder, and what are the consequences of playing a game that never ends?
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
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The Hidden Hand Behind Your Swipes
Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, The League. If you’ve ever wondered why using these different dating apps feels similar, it may be because they’re all owned by Match Group, the company that helped start online dating in the 90s, and now owns two-thirds of the dating app market. Today, Match is a dating app conglomerate with millions of users and over 45 brands around the world. That’s billions of dollars worth of swipes and subscriptions. But does paying for what Match Group calls “superpowers” — things like Hinge’s ‘roses’ and Tinder’s ‘super likes’ — get users any closer to connecting with real-life people?
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
The Secret Algorithms That Control Your Love Life
Dating app execs don’t like to explain how their matchmaking algorithms work– they’ll claim it’s too hard to explain, or that they just can’t talk about it, Fight Club style. But critics say that if daters really knew how basic the algorithms are, they might not put so much blind faith into them. In this episode, we dive into just how these algorithms work and speak with daters trying to hack the code that controls their love lives.
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Bumble, the Girlboss of Dating Apps
Bumble is the second most downloaded dating app in the U.S., behind Tinder. Dubbed the "feminist dating app," the "anti-Tinder" was designed to make dating feel better, safer, and less creepy for women. But does Bumble deliver on its promise? In today's episode, the story of how Bumble came to rival the power of Tinder and Match Group by harnessing the brand power of feminism.
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Can Niche Dating Apps Save Us?
Welcome to the wide world of niche dating apps. There's an app for almost every group -- Muslims, vegans, the kink community, cat lovers, farmers, rock climbers, and many more. All aimed at helping specific communities find "their people." But do these apps work, and are they sustainable as a business?
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
AI to IRL: The Future of Dating
Looking ahead, where is dating headed? Is it leaning into artificial intelligence or dating chat bots? Or is it unplugging and trying to meet people the old-fashioned way – in real life? And with Gen Z skeptical of dating apps, will tech continue to manage the dating experience?
Hosted by Sangeeta Singh Kurtz (@sangeetaskurtz) and Lakshmi Rengarajan (@Shmi_So_Far)
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear next week's episode by hitting the plus sign in your favorite podcast app
Follow @TheCut and @verge on Twitter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Fascinating but left me wanting more algorithmic insight
A look behind the screen to understand the mechanics and financial drivers of the industry. Loved this series that explains the IPOs and players. The algorithms seems be be a combination of your data input with your behavior and the markets’ responses to you. It’s like a net pulling in a crowd to sort through. The computer has no magical knowing about the “right” person.
Really great until the dating app season
Overall I’ve been a big fan of this podcast since it launched but I just need to shout into the void that the hosts on the dating app season bring the entire show down a bit. Very monotone and not very engaging, they manage to make really interesting subject matter feel bland.
Oldster
Boomer here from the world of dating before computers and 50+yo. Most folks of my age reluctant to date online or even try it. I loved the comprehensive scope of this podcast and the thoughtful presentation. Great job, everyone!!!