#187 - Tickle and Giggle

#187 - Tickle and Giggle

From The Middle by Andy and Roger

May 23, 2026 · 31 min

About this episode

Andy and Roger discuss modern dating politics, the influence of political alignment on relationships, and the implications of the Giggle vs Tickle court case in Australia.

🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE Episode 187 – Tickle and Giggle In this episode, Andy and Roger wander into the increasingly dangerous territory of modern dating politics, culture wars, and one of Australia’s strangest legal battles. What starts as a conversation about young women navigating dating apps and spotting “red flags” in politically conservative men quickly spirals into a broader discussion about whether political alignment has become essential for relationships to survive. The pair unpack the growing divide between young men and women politically, the influence of figures like Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro, and whether enjoying Donald Trump as an entertainer is now enough to tank your dating prospects. Along the way, they debate abortion, tribal politics, identity-driven relationships, and whether couples can genuinely coexist with fundamentally different worldviews. The second half turns to the now infamous Giggle vs Tickle court case, where a female-only social networking app found itself at the centre of Australia’s gender identity laws. Andy and Roger explore the legal reasoning behind the decision, the broader implications for female-only spaces, activist strategy, and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Andy, Roger

Topics covered

  • modern dating
  • political alignment
  • culture wars
  • gender identity laws
  • female-only spaces
  • tribal politics

Keywords

  • dating apps
  • red flags
  • politically conservative men
  • abortion
  • identity-driven relationships
  • culture-war fatigue

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Donald Trump

Places: Australia

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