Welcome back to another episode of First Round’s on Me, a First Round’s On Media Production.

Today we’re shaking things up and diving into the wild world of dating theories—because let’s be real, modern dating sometimes feels like it needs a user manual.

And who better to help us decode it all than Sydney Meister, associate lifestyle editor of PureWow and cohost of Cupid’s Corner, where she turns hours of research into digestible TikTok-worthy wisdom.

Topics We Cover

• Box Theory

• Are you dateable or just a situationship placeholder?

• Cartier vs. Knockoff: are you the real deal or giving discount energy?

• The 80/20 rule

• Why Gen Z is ditching dating apps for Instagram DMs

• “Soonicorns” (guys with potential): worth the investment or just a bad stock pick?

Engagement

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Show Notes & Timestamps

• 2:25 Does Writing Affect Dating?

• 6:28 Banter

• 13:36 Ideal First Date?

• 16:42 Is Box Theory Real?

• 25:35 Cartier or Knockoff?

• 31:33 Biological Clock

• 39:19 Are “Soonacorns” Worth It?

• 49:20 Be Delusional

Hosts & Guest

• Joe: Instagram

• Hannah: Instagram

• Sydney: PureWow