The Dating Detectives

This week our guest Claire shares the beginning of a relationship that seemed to have all the ingredients of a great love story: adventure, deep connection, and a partner who appeared thoughtful, supportive, and committed to growth. But as the years unfold, subtle moments of criticism, manipulation, and shifting power dynamics begin to reshape how Claire sees herself and her place in the relationship. In Part One of this powerful two-part story, Claire reflects on the early warning signs she missed, the ways coercion can hide behind self-improvement and good intentions, and how easy it is to lose trust in your own instincts when someone else becomes the authority on your reality.Are you in the Chicago, Tampa, or Orlando area and want to come see us live?! Get your tickets at the links below:7/16 in Chicago: https://tickets.thedentheatre.com/event/dating-detectives-llpj8q?utm_source=performer&utm_medium=performerlink&utm_campaign=datingdetectives8/5 in Orlando: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48863575/the-dating-detectives-live-orlando-funny-bone-comedy-club-orlando8/6 in Tampa: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35010834/the-dating-detectives-live-tampa-funny-bone-comedy-club-tampaClick here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkThis episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Bellesa. Get a free Whisper Vibe or free Rose Suction Toy with any Whisper order at bbvibes.com/detectives.This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/datingdetectivesThis episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Jones Road Beauty. For a limited time our listeners are getting a free Cool Gloss on their first purchase when they use code DATINGDETECTIVES at checkout. Head to jonesroadbeauty.com to get yours today!This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/TDD.***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Emma reconnects with a childhood family friend during a disaster relief deployment, she never expects to fall for a man who seems straight out of a movie. A decorated paramedic, respected leader, and real-life lifesaver, Adam is the kind of person everyone admires. As their relationship deepens, Emma finds herself swept into a world of grand gestures, heroic rescues, and unwavering devotion. But as small inconsistencies begin to surface, she’s left questioning whether the man she trusts most is really who he says he is. In Part 2 of this story, Emma shares how following her instincts led her to uncover a hidden life she never could have imagined—and the difficult lessons she learned about love, loyalty, and knowing when it's time to walk away.Are you in the Chicago, Tampa, or Orlando area and want to come see us live?! Get your tickets at the links below:7/16 in Chicago: https://tickets.thedentheatre.com/event/dating-detectives-llpj8q?utm_source=performer&utm_medium=performerlink&utm_campaign=datingdetectives8/5 in Orlando: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48863575/the-dating-detectives-live-orlando-funny-bone-comedy-club-orlando8/6 in Tampa: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35010834/the-dating-detectives-live-tampa-funny-bone-comedy-club-tampaClick here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkThis episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Only Fantasy. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes ad-free on Audible.This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by OSEA. Get 10% off your first order site-wide with code DATINGDETECTIVES at oseamalibu.com.This episode is sponsored by Miracle Made. Get silver-infused, bacteria-fighting, temperature-regulating sheets and towels at TryMiracle.com/TDD and use code TDD to save over 40% and claim a FREE 3-piece towel set.***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Dating Detectives, Sarah—a therapist and longtime listener of the show—shares the story of a relationship that seemed perfect from the outside. After nearly a decade together, a shocking message forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her partner, sending her down a rabbit hole of secrets, deception, and unsettling discoveries. As Sarah unpacks the red flags she missed, the beliefs that kept her invested, and the hard lessons she learned about trust, identity, and self-worth, she offers a thoughtful and insightful perspective on what happens when the person you love turns out to be someone you never truly knew.Are you in the Chicago, Tampa, or Orlando area and want to come see us live?! Get your tickets at the links below:7/16 in Chicago: https://tickets.thedentheatre.com/event/dating-detectives-llpj8q?utm_source=performer&utm_medium=performerlink&utm_campaign=datingdetectives8/5 in Orlando: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48863575/the-dating-detectives-live-orlando-funny-bone-comedy-club-orlando8/6 in Tampa: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35010834/the-dating-detectives-live-tampa-funny-bone-comedy-club-tampaClick here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkGet control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code DATING at MonarchMoney.com in your browser (not app) for half off your first year!This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by TheRealReal. Get $25 off your first purchase when you go to therealreal.com/datingdetectives. ***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the podcast, our guest Hannah shares the terrifying story of how a whirlwind romance that felt like a fairytale quickly unraveled into something far darker. After meeting a man on Hinge who seemed perfect in every way, the two fell fast, married within months, and began building what Hannah believed was her dream life. But when subtle behavioral changes and suspicious late nights started piling up, Hannah’s intuition led her into full detective mode — uncovering a shocking double life involving lies, manipulation, and escalating abuse. In this emotional and deeply intense first part of a two-part story, Hannah walks through the moment she realized the man she trusted was not who he claimed to be, and how quickly love can turn dangerous behind closed doors.Are you in the Chicago, Tampa, or Orlando area and want to come see us live?! Get your tickets at the links below:7/16 in Chicago: https://tickets.thedentheatre.com/event/dating-detectives-llpj8q?utm_source=performer&utm_medium=performerlink&utm_campaign=datingdetectives8/5 in Orlando: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48863575/the-dating-detectives-live-orlando-funny-bone-comedy-club-orlando8/6 in Tampa: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35010834/the-dating-detectives-live-tampa-funny-bone-comedy-club-tampaClick here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkGet control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code DATING at MonarchMoney.com in your browser (not app) for half off your first year!This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Jones Road Beauty. For a limited time our listeners are getting a free Cool Gloss on their first purchase when they use code DATINGDETECTIVES at checkout. Head to jonesroadbeauty.com to get yours today!This episode is sponsored by SKIMS. Shop the SKIMS Everyday Cotton collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order be sure to let them know we sent you by filling out the survey!This episode is sponsored by Miracle Made. Get silver-infused, bacteria-fighting, temperature-regulating sheets and towels at TryMiracle.com/TDD and use code TDD to save over 40% and claim a FREE 3-piece towel set.***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Mackenzie Undercover, a concerned mother hires Mackenzie after her daughter’s fiancé refuses to sign a prenup, and something about his over-the-top charm just doesn’t sit right. What starts as a quiet weekend surveillance job quickly turns into a tense, twisty investigation involving a mysterious woman, a gated condo, suspicious social media activity, and a discovery that could change the bride-to-be’s future. This episode digs into betrayal, intuition, and the painful truth that sometimes the people closest to us can see the red flags we’re not ready to face.Are you in the Chicago, Tampa, or Orlando area and want to come see us live?! Get your tickets at the links below:7/16 in Chicago: https://tickets.thedentheatre.com/event/dating-detectives-llpj8q?utm_source=performer&utm_medium=performerlink&utm_campaign=datingdetectives8/5 in Orlando: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48863575/the-dating-detectives-live-orlando-funny-bone-comedy-club-orlando8/6 in Tampa: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35010834/the-dating-detectives-live-tampa-funny-bone-comedy-club-tampaClick here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkGet control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code DATING at MonarchMoney.com in your browser (not app) for half off your first year!***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Dating Detectives, Mackenzie and Hanna begin by having an open discussing about last weeks episode and the controversy that surrounded it. As a team we felt that where we failed was in our response to Lena in the moment, and in failing to lead a more nuanced discussion in the dogfish debrief about how and why victims sometimes become perpetrators. Then it’s time for a chaotic, can’t-make-this-up Mackenzie Undercover: Mackenzie is hired to surveil a private investigator suspected of faking his hours, and what she finds is an inside-job Dogfish in broad daylight.Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkThis episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/tdd today to get 10% off your first monthMake this spring your most delicious yet with Green Chef. Head to greenchef.com/50datingdetectives and use code 50datingdetectives to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.This episode is sponsored by IQ Bar. TextTDD to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.This episode is sponsored by Daily Look. For 50% off your order, head to DailyLook.com and use code DATINGDETECTIVES.***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A family mystery that lingered for generations finally cracks open in this mind-bending episode of Dating Detectives. What begins with a single, unexpected phone call pulls Taylor—and listeners—into a decades-long story that starts with her grandfather vanishing without a trace in 1952. As an unlikely kind of investigator begins pulling at one loose thread after another, a long-buried truth slowly comes into focus, forcing Taylor and her family to reconsider everything they thought they knew. It’s a story that asks a haunting question: how far can one person’s deception reach, and how long can its impact echo across generations after a disappearance becomes family legend?Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkThis episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Ava. Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check, with AVA. Download the AVA app and use promo code DATING. Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check, with AVA. Download the AVA app and use promo code DATING.This episode is sponsored by SKIMS. Shop the SKIMS Fits Everybody Collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order be sure to let them know we sent you by filling out the survey!***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Dating Detectives episode we talk to Mary, a devoted true-crime fan who believed she knew every red flag—until she found herself pulled into an online connection that felt unusually thoughtful, emotionally intimate, and too real to ignore. What begins on Bumble slowly moves off-app, where charm, consistency, and shared vulnerability blur the line between intuition and overthinking. As subtle cracks begin to show, Mary uncovers a truth far darker and more sophisticated than a typical romance scam. This episode explores modern crypto romance fraud, emotional manipulation, and how even the most informed daters can be targeted, revealing why sometimes a bad feeling is more than enough reason to walk away.Click here to join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you will get 2 extra episodes a month, monthly virtual live events, and access to our community page. And now for $9 a month you can get all of that, plus ad free episodes!If you've been dogfished and want to share your story on the show, email investigate@thedatingdetectivespodcast.com or contact us through our website using this linkGet control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code DATING at MonarchMoney.com in your browser (not app) for half off your first year!This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/tdd today to get 10% off your first monthMake this spring your most delicious yet with Green Chef. Head to greenchef.com/50datingdetectives and use code 50datingdetectives to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping.This episode of The Dating Detectives is sponsored by Ava. Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check, with AVA. Download the AVA app and use promo code DATING. Rebuild your credit fast with no interest, no credit check, with AVA. Download the AVA app and use promo code DATING.***The following Program contains names, places and events that have been anonymized or fictionalized for the purposes of protection and safety. The following Program is provided for entertainment purposes only and any commentary from the hosts are strictly conjecture and should not be held as making any definitive statements about the truth or identity of any particular individuals or circumstances.If you or a loved one are involved in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.