
That Swipe Life: Treena Orchard on Dating Apps Through a Midlife Anthropologist's Lens
From Private Parts Unknown: Sex & Love Around the World by Courtney Kocak
May 13, 2026 · 39 min · Season 5 · Episode 259
About this episode
Treena Orchard discusses her experiences with dating apps and the complexities of modern romance after 45.
Save 10% on your next Fleshlight with promo code PRIVATE10 at fleshlight.com. For the 259th episode of Private Parts Unknown, host Courtney Kocak welcomes Treena Orchard, anthropologist and author of Sticky, Sexy, Sad: Swipe Culture and the Darker Side of Dating Apps. In this episode, anthropologist Treena Orchard shares her experiences with online dating after turning 45 and offers insights into the complexities of modern "swipe culture." She discusses the unexpected interest from younger men, the vulnerability men face in shifting gender dynamics, the dark side of dating app gamification, and the upsides of tech involvement in our love lives. Orchard critiques popular platforms like the "feminist" dating app Bumble and highlights how dating apps commodify romance. Despite the challenges, she found meaningful connections and argues that in-person, activity-based dating may be the future of romance. For more from today's guest, Treena Orchard: Follow Treena on Instagram @treenaorchard Check out Treena's website treenaorchard.com Buy Treena's book Sticky, Sexy, Sad: Swipe Culture and…
People in this episode
Host: Courtney Kocak
Guest: Treena Orchard
Topics covered
- dating apps
- midlife dating
- swipe culture
- gender dynamics
- romance commodification
Keywords
- dating apps
- swipe culture
- Treena Orchard
- Bumble
- romance commodification
- midlife dating
- gender dynamics
Sponsors
Fleshlight
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Bumble
Products: Fleshlight
Books & works: Sticky, Sexy, Sad: Swipe Culture and the Darker Side of Dating Apps
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