Finding someone to build a life with is complicated. People are going to tell you it's about timing. You just need to put yourself out there. Or my personal favorite: it always happens when you quit looking. But let's face it. When you live in small-town America, sometimes the biggest challenge is much simpler... there just aren't that many people to meet. Hi, I am Haylie Shipp. I am a rancher in Montana. I'm a farm broadcaster who's spent the last 20 years telling the stories of rural America. But throughout all of those years, I realized there was one story we weren't telling. And it's the one I'm living: what it's really like to navigate dating and relationships when you live in a place where there simply aren't that many people to meet. This is Desolate Dating. Every week, we're going to hear from people who found love against the odds, people who are still searching, and people who have built fulfilling lives after making peace with being on their own. We'll talk with experts. We'll laugh through some truly unbelievable dating stories and have some honest conversations about loneliness, hope, resilience, and the realities of trying to build a life when your opportunities to meet someone are few and far between. Most of all, I hope this podcast reminds you of one thing: you are not alone. If you've ever driven hours for a first date or opened a dating app only to recognize every single profile, you're not the only one. Thousands of people across rural America are navigating these very same challenges. If any of this resonates for you, the first three episodes arrive on August 18. I would love for you to follow or subscribe today. Recommend this to a friend. It's one of the biggest ways you can support a brand-new podcast, and it means those first three episodes will be waiting for you the moment they're released. Then, head to www.tinyurl.com/DesolateDating to become part of the community. You can sign up for our newsletter, follow the social media pages, share your own story, and stay connected between episodes. This podcast is not just about dating. It's about finding community. It's about sharing a few laughs in what is a really hard and isolating experience. And it's about having honest conversations. Thank you for being here from the very beginning. I'll see you on August 18. © 2026 Ranchy Media LLC. All rights reserved. Desolate Dating is created, owned, and hosted by Haylie Shipp and produced by Ranchy Media LLC. Desolate Dating explores topics including loneliness, relationships, and emotional well-being. While we hope these conversations help listeners feel seen and connected, this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, your healthcare provider, or a licensed mental health professional. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are in the United States or Canada. If you are outside the United States or Canada, please contact your country's local crisis services or emergency resources. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services. To sign up for the newsletter, give topic suggestions, or submit your own Desolate Dating story, head to www.tinyurl.com/DesolateDating.
