Stop Dating Down: Raising Your Standards Starts Here

This episode is a candid conversation about dating, self-worth, and the relationships that actually sustain us. Lo and his guest, author Rory Uphold, unpack the patterns that lead us to date down, ignore our intuition, and settle for less than we deserve. They talk about what it looks like to finally choose yourself — to raise your standards, set boundaries when needed, and step fully into your worth.

A big part of that growth centers around friendship. Lo challenges the cultural obsession with romantic partnership and the idea that “low-maintenance” friendships are something to strive for. Instead, he highlights how meaningful, emotionally present friendships can provide a deeper sense of fulfillment and support than many romantic relationships ever will — and how our loneliness epidemic ties back to neglecting those bonds.

This episode is a reminder that there isn’t one timeline or one definition of a full life. Whether you want marriage, kids, independence, or something entirely different, you are allowed to choose the life that fits you. It’s honest, warm, empowering — and a call to stop settling for crumbs in love and in community.

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