The Space Between Venus and Mars

The Space Between Venus and Mars Podcast
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Biweekly

Join us every other week as we explore the evolving dynamics between men and women. Through honest conversations with experts, friends, and insights from books and films, we’ll take a thoughtful look at what shapes love and connection today. This isn’t about choosing sides or placing blame. It’s about curiosity. It’s about asking better questions, listening with openness, and trying to understand why finding love can feel so complicated in our time. Together, we’ll explore what’s really happening in the space between Venus and Mars.

  1. 2d ago

    Love Talks, Money Walks

    In this episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we're exploring the complicated relationship between love, money, and independence—and what happens when the reasons we come together begin to change. For a long time, love and money have been closely intertwined. Marriage could mean stability, security, and a way to build a life together. But as financial independence becomes more attainable, are our expectations of relationships changing? What happens when we no longer need a partner to feel financially secure? Does having the ability to stand on our own make it easier to choose love freely, or does it create new challenges in how we connect with one another? We often talk about independence as something to strive for, but what happens when two independent people try to build a life together? How do traditional expectations around providing, security, and gender roles fit into modern relationships? And could these changing dynamics be creating anxiety, frustration, or resentment on both sides? If a relationship is no longer a necessity for survival, what makes it worth choosing? Is love enough, or are we searching for something else entirely? Sources: Weird History. "What Dating During The Great Depression Was Like." Youtube. May 30, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jyPcHVY9AU Illouz, Eva, and Kate S. Drabinski. The End of Love: A Sociology of Negative Relations. Polity Press, 2021.

  2. Sep 26

    Ghosting: A Phantom Connection

    Before ghosting, there was simply… being stood up. So how did we go from someone not showing up to describing their disappearance with a supernatural being? In this episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we’re getting into the strange, confusing, and sometimes painfully familiar world of ghosting. What actually counts as ghosting? Is everyone’s definition of it the same? Why do people disappear instead of having the conversation? And, perhaps most importantly, is there ever a time when ghosting is appropriate? Because sometimes walking away from someone is necessary. Sometimes a conversation feels uncomfortable. Sometimes there are very real reasons for cutting off communication. But where does that line fall between protecting yourself and leaving someone wondering what happened? Maybe the most interesting part of ghosting isn’t just the disappearance—it’s what we expect from each other when a connection comes to an end. Sources: Rashed Daraj, Lateefa, Rashid Buhejji, Mariam, Perlmutter, Gretta, Jahrami, Haitham, Seeman, Mary V. "Ghosting: Abandonment in the Digital Era." Encyclopedia 2024,  https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia4010004 Powell, Darcey N & Freedman, Gili. Ghosting Out of Romantic Relationships. NCFR. July 15th, 2024, https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/summer-2024/ghosting-out-of-romantic-relationships

  3. Sep 12

    A Hopeful Romantic

    What happens when heartbreak doesn’t make you give up on love? In this episode of the Space Between Venus and Mars, we’re joined by The Butterfly, a friend of more than ten years, to talk about her journey through heartbreak, dating, and the pursuit of love—and everything those experiences have taught her along the way. We talk about the relationships that broke her heart, the lessons she carried from them, and what it means to continue believing in love after experiencing disappointment. From the highs of falling for someone to the lows of realizing that a relationship isn't what you hoped it would be, Butterfly shares what her journey has taught her about herself, relationships, and what she truly wants. And then there’s the chrysalis. Because sometimes growth doesn't happen while everything is going well. Sometimes we have to retreat, reflect, shed old versions of ourselves, and emerge as someone we didn't know we could become. So what happens when you come out the other side of heartbreak and still choose to be hopeful? For our 15th episode, we're talking about resilience, self-discovery, friendship, and the decision to remain a hopeful romantic in a dating world that can make cynicism feel a lot easier.

  4. Aug 22

    Decentralize Men Movement

    In this episode on The Space Between Venus and Mars, we explore the growing idea of women decentering men from their lives and question what that can look like within modern relationships. Does it mean choosing independence over partnership? Avoiding relationships altogether? Or can a woman be married, in love, and supported while still remaining at the center of her own life? Inspired by America’s Sweethearts, we look at an image that offers an interesting inversion of more traditional relationship dynamics. Rather than a woman giving up everything to support her husband's dreams, this moment highlights a partner supporting her in the pursuit of her own. We discuss the expectations often placed on women to relocate, sacrifice, or reshape their lives around a relationship—and whether that is beginning to change. Can partnership exist without one person becoming the center of the other's world? Can marriage be a source of support rather than a reason to give up the things that make you who you are? In a culture that often presents independence and partnership as opposing choices, we explore the possibility that perhaps women don't have to choose between love and themselves. Sources: Fabello, Melissa. "Decentering men has completely changed my life. Here's how." January 26 2026. https://www.melissafabello.com/blog/decenter-men-change-life I Decentered Men. Decentering Desire for Men is Harder." The New York Times. September 27, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/style/modern-love-decentering-men.html "What does “decentering men” look like in practice? How does it present in your life." https://www.reddit.com/r/AskFeminists/comments/1asvz6n/what_does_decentering_men_look_like_in_practice/ Monday, Tiffany. "How to de-center men and build self-worth." Youtube. January 14, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtgSJelzb-8

  5. Aug 8

    Obsession: The Horror of Co-Dependency

    What happens when the desire to be loved turns into the fear of being without someone? For our 13th episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we dive into Curry Barker’s Obsession and the unsettling ways its story can reflect the darker side of modern dating. Beneath the horror, the film raises questions about attachment, rejection, control, and what can happen when the boundaries between love and obsession begin to disappear. We explore codependency and the fear of losing someone—or never being wanted in the first place. How much of ourselves are we willing to give up to keep a relationship? When does devotion become dependence? And can the fear of rejection push someone to cross boundaries they never thought they would? The film also opens up a larger conversation about consent within relationships. We often talk about consent in the context of sex, but what about emotional boundaries, expectations, and the right to say no when someone wants more from us than we're willing to give? Is obsession simply love taken too far? Or does it reveal something deeper about our fears and insecurities? We're looking at the horror beneath the romance and asking whether Obsession has more to say about the modern dating world than we might want to admit. Sources: Obsession Filmmaker Curry Barker on the Inspiration Behind the Film's Horrifying Twist." Time. 15 of May 2026. https://time.com/article/2026/05/13/obsession-curry-barker-interview/ Cannonball with Wesley Morris "‘Obsession' Is a Very Immature Horror Movie. Is It a Sign of the Times?" June 11, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KgG3bwbqrk Johnson, Elenor. "Reflection on Audience & Misogyny." June 5, 2026. https://eleanorshorrors.substack.com/p/obsession-2026-a-reflection-on-audience Rabb, Maxwell. "How Obsession turned Gen-Z Relationship Anxiety into The Best Horror Movie of the Year." Harper's Bazaar. May 29, 2026 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a71423700/obsession-curry-barker-explained/ Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano. "Codependency." Psychology Today. November 11, 2025https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/codependency https://mhanational.org/resources/co-dependency/

  6. Jul 25

    Reality Check

    In this episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we take a closer look at reality dating shows and the culture they've helped create. While these shows promise the possibility of finding love, they also offer something else: visibility, influence, and opportunities that can extend far beyond the final episode. We explore how reality television has blurred the line between authentic connection and public performance. When relationships unfold in front of millions of viewers, how much of what we're seeing is genuine, and how much is shaped by the incentives that come with fame, followers, and future opportunities? We also explore the ethical side of reality dating. Are contestants fully aware of what they're signing up for, or can they become part of a system that profits from their most emotional, vulnerable, and dramatic moments? When personal relationships become entertainment, where should the line be drawn? Is reality television simply reflecting modern dating... or is it actively shaping the way we think about love, relationships, and ourselves? Sources: Cheng, Janine. "How Reality Dating Shows are Warping Our Ideas of Love (and What Real Intimacy Takes)." Atlas. 3 August, 2025. https://www.atlas-therapy.care/blog-posts/love-is-blind-therapist-take Boateng, Jojo. " The Perception of Intimacy: Are Dating Reality TV Shows Affecting Relationships?." ResearchGate. January 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366787064_The_Perception_of_Intimacy_Are_Dating_Reality_TV_Shows_Affecting_Relationships Emotional arousal when watching drama increases pain threshold and social bonding." National Library of Medicine. 21 September 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5043313/

  7. Jul 11

    Written in the Stars

    Can the stars tell us who we are—or are they simply helping us understand ourselves? In this episode, we explore the growing role astrology plays in modern life and dating. What began with a conversation with an Uber driver in Los Angeles who decided to leave the city after learning what her birth chart supposedly revealed, it became a much larger discussion about the influence astrology has on the choices we make. From compatibility and first impressions to deciding whether someone is “our type,” we ask why so many people—particularly women—turn to astrology for guidance, comfort, and self-discovery. At what point does astrology become a tool for reflection, and when does it become a reason to write someone off before truly getting to know them? Whether you’re a devoted horoscope reader or someone who’s never looked at a birth chart, this conversation isn’t about proving or disproving astrology. It’s about understanding why it resonates with so many people and what it might reveal about our desire for meaning, identity, and connection. Sources: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/21/3-in-10-americans-consult-astrology-tarot-cards-or-fortune-tellers/ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/queer-astrology-gender-identity https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/astrology/relationships-marriage/is-kundli-matching-necessary-for-love-marriage/articleshow/68205906.cms https://www.stylist.co.uk/relationships/dating-love/gen-z-astrology-dating/1021641 https://www.tinderpressroom.com/2026-03-12-Tinder-Debuts-Inaugural-Product-Keynote-Tinder-Sparks-2026-Start-Something-New

  8. Jun 20

    Easy Work?

    For the tenth episode of The Space Between Venus and Mars, we're joined by our friend Paul, who has been married for 25 years, to explore what it actually takes to build and sustain a long-term partnership. Through stories, reflections, and honest conversation, Paul shares his experiences navigating marriage, relationship dynamics, and the evolving roles men and women play within a partnership. Together, we discuss the realities of commitment, the challenges that arise over time, and the lessons learned from more than two decades of marriage. What makes a relationship last? How do couples navigate changing expectations around gender and partnership? And after 25 years, what wisdom can be shared with those still trying to figure it all out? Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/podcasts/celine-song-materialists-modern-love.html Movies Referenced: The Materialists Jerry Maguire Twilight

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Join us every other week as we explore the evolving dynamics between men and women. Through honest conversations with experts, friends, and insights from books and films, we’ll take a thoughtful look at what shapes love and connection today. This isn’t about choosing sides or placing blame. It’s about curiosity. It’s about asking better questions, listening with openness, and trying to understand why finding love can feel so complicated in our time. Together, we’ll explore what’s really happening in the space between Venus and Mars.

Information

  • Creator
    The Space Between Venus and Mars Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Space Between Venus and Mars Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Space Between Venus and Mars

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