How Hinge founder Justin McLeod’s love story shaped a dating empire
From Life in Seven Songs by The San Francisco Standard
January 6, 2026 · 37 min
About this episode
Justin McLeod shares his personal love story and the journey of building the dating app Hinge, intertwined with his struggles and the music that shaped his life.
Long before he founded the dating app Hinge, Justin McLeod was a little boy in Louisville, Kentucky, belting out Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” from the backseat of his mom’s car. Looking back, that song feels almost prophetic, after Justin met – and briefly lost – the love of his life, only to win her back with a big, movie-worthy gesture. In this episode, Justin charts the story of building one of the most influential dating apps in the world – a journey intertwined with his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and his own epic love story. He reflects on the moment he thought Hinge was finished, why he believes we create rather than find “the one,” and the soundtrack to his tumultuous life story. Here are his songs. Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” Pink Floyd, “Time” The Juliana Theory, “We're At The Top Of The World” Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, “Apologies” Jessie J, “Price Tag, ft. B.o.B” You+Me, “You and Me” Van Morrison, “Days Like This”
People in this episode
Guest: Justin McLeod
Topics covered
- dating
- love stories
- entrepreneurship
- addiction
- music
- personal journey
Keywords
- Hinge
- Justin McLeod
- dating app
- love story
- addiction
- music
- Meat Loaf
- entrepreneurship
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hinge, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, The Juliana Theory, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Jessie J, Van Morrison
Books & works: I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That), Time, We're At The Top Of The World, Apologies, Price Tag, ft. B.o.B, You and Me, Days Like This
Places: Louisville, Kentucky
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