Were we ever actually taught how to date, or just how to avoid getting “messed up”? In this layered conversation, Shan and CoCo unpack how black family, culture, generational trauma, and “crisis prevention” shaped what many of us learned about love. Joined by licensed clinical social worker Miesha Rice and Atlanta dating host Vanessa, the group explores why courtship can feel foreign, how dating apps changed accountability, and what it takes to build healthier connections when nobody handed you the blueprint.

• Why so many of us were taught what not to do (don’t get pregnant, don’t ruin your future) instead of how to build a healthy relationship

• How family history, long-term stress, and generational patterns can show up in adult dating choices

• The “connection vs protection” gap: what was missing from the conversations we needed

• A real talk breakdown of ghosting, fading out, and the lack of accountability in modern dating

• The “date them all” debate: keeping options open, communicating expectations, and avoiding rose-colored glasses

• Why singles mixers and in-person events are trending again (and what they offer that apps can’t)

• A powerful case for therapy early, including the idea of moderated conversations at the start of dating

Shan brings in a viral-style perspective on how Black communities are socialized differently around dating, courtship, and “pair bonding,” than their White counterparts sparked by a video that a friend shared with her from @bunmisupreme on Instagram. The conversation expands the idea by adding emotional availability, family modeling (even in two-parent homes), and the long shadow of cultural and historical trauma.

• If your only relationship education was avoidance, it makes sense that adult dating can feel confusing, anxious, or high-stakes.

• “Serious” isn’t assumed anymore. Clarity comes from direct conversations about what dating means to each person.

• Apps can encourage low-effort behavior. In-person spaces often create more accountability and real chemistry checks.

• Emotional intelligence matters early. Look for it before you’re already invested.

• Healing isn’t just personal, it’s cultural. Therapy and guided conversations can help you build a new script.

Vanessa (Dating Host)

• Company: Jigsaw Dating (app)

• Instagram: @popupwithvaness

• Promo code: VanessaHost10 (10% off first ticket)

Miesha Rice, MSW, LCSW-C, LCSW

• CEO/Founder: Whole Family Healing Group

• Therapy for individuals and families (ages 6+)

• Website: www.wholefamilyhealinggroup.com

Clip Credit: @bunmisupreme on Instagram

What did you learn about dating growing up: connection, protection, or nothing at all? And how is that showing up in your relationships right now?

If this episode made you think, send it to a friend who’s “tired of the apps” and trying to date with intention.

And connect with us: @RideOrLiePodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

In this episode of Ride or Lie, Coco and Shan step away from surface-level conversations and get honest about the question that shapes everything:

Why are we really doing this?

This is a reflective, vulnerable conversation about purpose, evolution, mental health, and the courage it takes to choose yourself, especially when life doesn’t look the way you imagined it would.

Shan opens up about how her “why” has shifted over time, from ambition and entrepreneurship to motherhood, healing, and stability. She shares how becoming a mother reshaped her priorities around mental health, financial security, emotional safety, and self-preservation. This season of her life is about being whole so she can show up fully, not just for her child, but for herself.

Coco shares a deeply personal reflection on her own journey, stepping back from distractions, reassessing dating, and choosing alignment over noise. Her “why” is bigger than relationships and external validation. It’s about safety, creativity, integrity, and being able to say, at the end of the day, “I’m proud of myself.”

Together, they unpack: • Mental health and emotional regulation • Personal growth through pain and transition • Letting go of distractions that no longer align • Redefining success beyond relationships and timelines • What it means to evolve without abandoning who you are

The conversation also touches on current events and culture, including reflections on media coverage, loss, and visibility. They reference the public attention surrounding Savannah Guthrie and how empathy, access, and attention show up differently in national news.

This episode lands during Black History Month, grounding the discussion in awareness, reflection, and community responsibility. Coco and Shan also acknowledge recent loss in the culture, including the passing of DJ Young Slade, the son of Lil Jon.

Connect with us anytime @rideorliepodcast

On this episode of the Ride or Lie Podcast, we’re tackling a real struggle in today’s dating world—swipe fatigue. With endless choices, ghosting, and the never-ending cycle of matching but never meeting, or meeting and being severely disappointed, are we all just burning out on modern dating through app overload?

Join us and our special guest co-host, Jarratt Damn, of the It’s About Damn Time podcast, bringing his unfiltered take on modern dating and why so many of us are feeling so exhausted by this app game!

What We Cover in This Episode:

• What swipe fatigue really is and why so many people are feeling it.
• Why online dating feels like a full-time job—are we even enjoying it anymore?
• How dating apps may be training us to seek validation rather than real connection.
• The mental toll of endless swiping: Can we actually date without burning out?
• What you can do if you’re experiencing dating app burnout.

We Want to Hear from You!

Are you over the dating apps? Have you ever taken a break from swiping? What’s your biggest struggle with online dating? Drop your thoughts in the comments or visit us on our socials @rideorliepodcast.

Let's ride!

We’re officially stepping into 2026, and we’re so glad you’re here with us. Thank you for riding alongside us through every season, shift, and surprise. This episode is our way of welcoming you back, setting the tone for the year ahead, and grounding ourselves in gratitude, honesty, and intention.

In this first episode of the new year, Shan and CoCo reflect on 2025 and the very different, but equally powerful journeys they each experienced.

For Shan, 2025 was a year of major transition, including buying a new home and navigating the loss of a job that ultimately pushed her closer to freedom, clarity, and purpose. For CoCo, it was a year rooted in growth and learning, as she leaned into personal development and creative goals that expanded her vision.

Together, the ladies talk about what it means to enter 2026 with intention, excitement, and openness. From Shan’s unexpected discovery of her femininity to CoCo celebrating Shan’s ability to soften, this conversation sets the stage for deeper dialogue, fresh perspectives, and real healing.

A new segment is also introduced, along with a preview of what’s coming next: new conversations, new guests, bold topics, and yes… more therapy as the year unfolds.

• Reflecting on the lessons and losses of 2025

• Shan’s year of transition, resilience, and awakening

• CoCo’s season of growth, learning, and creative focus

• Redefining strength & femininity

• Introducing a new segment

• What Riders can expect from Ride or Lie in 2026

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been riding with us, thank you. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Ride or Lie on your favorite podcast platform. Your support keeps the conversations coming.

• Instagram: @rideorliepodcast

• TikTok: @rideorliepodcast

• Threads: @rideorliepodcast

• Website: www.rideorlie.com

Have a story, a question, or a topic you want us to unpack this year? DM us or reach out through the website. Some of our best conversations start with you.

Have an LOL letter: send it to us at: theblinknetwork@gmail.com

In life and love, you have two choices: Ride or Lie.

Happy Holidays Riders!

As the year comes to a close, Shan and CoCo get real about the holidays, the pressure to feel “in the spirit,” and what it actually feels like wrapping up the year.

What ever happened with the New Guy (NG) Shan was feeling even before she matched with Dion from our previous 3-part series? We’re giving an owed update on where things landed, what shifted, and the lessons that came with it.

Next the ladies dive into the inspiration behind this episode...a Facebook post got the ladies thinking deeply about the biological differences between men and women and how those differences show up in relationships over time.

The post raises some uncomfortable but very real questions:

• Women are born with a fixed number of eggs and experience hormonal changes that often impact libido through menopause.

• Men, in many cases, don’t experience the same decline in sexual desire.

So what does that mean for long-term monogamy?

Did God design men to have multiple partners?

Not as permission to cheat, but as an honest exploration of patterns we see everywhere across cultures, faiths, income levels, and age groups. When love remains but desire shifts, especially as women age and men don’t seem to slow down, who’s wrong… if anyone?

Shan and CoCo weigh in with personal insight and of course, differing perspectives.

This episode also marks the close of our launch year of the Ride or Lie Podcast, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who listened, shared, commented, and rode with us from day one. Your support made this year possible.

And trust… next year we’re coming even harder.

Connect with us on all social platforms @rideorliepodcast and via email at theblinknetwork@gmail.com

The moment curiosity finally meets reality.

In the finale of this three-part experience, Shan and Dion push the conversation to its deepest point yet. They explore the modern divide between men and women and how AI, social media, and shifting expectations are reshaping the dating landscape. Shan shares why she believes both sexes still fundamentally need each other, while Dion opens up about the lessons that his father’s legacy left on the way he loves and dates.

Just before the moment everyone’s been waiting for, they jump into a quick-fire round designed to take them one layer deeper before everything changes.

And then… the reveal.

For the first time, Shan and Dion see each other’s faces live on the recording. No filters. No profile photos. No assumptions.

What do they see? How do they feel? And what happens next?

We want to hear from you... Did Shan and Dion have any chemistry?? Chime in on our social pages @RideOrLiePodcast and/or email us ridewithus@rideorliepodcast.com

Part 2 picks up right where the first conversation left off—deep in the questions that matter. This time, the revelations come fast, and the epiphanies hit harder.

Shan opens up about what she’s struggled to wrap her mind around in the poly world so far, from feelings of insecurity to the complicated dance between curiosity and jealousy. Dion breaks down the structure and dynamics of polyamory and non-monogamy in a way that challenges traditional assumptions and pushes the conversation into new territory. Together, they explore how non-monogamy can be ethical, what quality connection looks like in today’s dating culture, and the pressure modern relationships feel under outdated societal expectations.

The idea of the “fairy tale ending” gets questioned, dissected, and reimagined, leading them straight into the finale of this 3 part series.

Because in Part 3, Dion and Shan finally meet... live on mic.

What will they think of each other after the reveal?

Stay tuned.

Shan and "Dion" matched on a dating app built for open minds. After a few days of messaging, Shan floated the idea of recording an episode together...less than twenty-four hours later, they were on the mics.

What unfolds is an unfiltered, flirtatious, and deeply curious conversation that blurs the line between connection and chemistry. In this first part of their three-part series, they unpack what drew them to each other, what sparked their very first exchange, and why Shan loves a man who can teach her a few things. Dion opens up about his passions, his “nerdy side,” and more than a decade of living a poly lifestyle, while the two explore sapiosexuality, compersion, and what makes nontraditional dating spaces so different.

But here’s the catch...they still haven’t met in person, but that will change by Part 3. So is this the beginning of something real, or just the thrill of curiosity caught on mic?

Ride or Lie at its most curious and experimental a first-time connection recorded in real time and shared with YOU, our Riders!

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Email Us: ridewithus@rideorlie.com