💬 You're in a group. You know you want to say something. You just can't find the right time. The conversation moves on, the moment passes, and you spend the rest of the evening wondering why it's so hard to just speak up 😶

🎮 In this episode, I talk to Catherine Richardson, a psychologist specializing in geek culture and mental health. She blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with gaming and pop culture to support neurodivergent professionals. And she just created something that might change how you think about social skills entirely.

🕹️ It's called "Speak Without Freezing," a free visual novel designed to help you practice what to say before you actually have to say it. Not by giving you a script to memorize, but by letting you rehearse in an environment where there's no social cost. Think of it as a dating sim, except instead of trying to win someone over, you're working on yourself 💪

⚠️ But here's the challenge: practicing something in a game and actually doing it in real life are two very different things. So how does muscle memory work when the stakes are real? And what do you do when the social rules change depending on who you're with, what culture you're in, or even what room you walk into? 🗺️

🧊 If you ever freeze up during conversations, go quiet at the worst moment, or wait so long to say something that everyone has already moved on, this episode is for you.

🎧 Press Start and learn how to speak without freezing! 🥶

👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️

Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality

📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord

Catherine's Links:

• www.geekmentalwellbeing.com
• https://www.instagram.com/geekmentalwellbeing/

Related Episodes:

• Level Up Your Social Skills Using Online Gaming Communities, with Kaylee Lopez
• Gamify Your Dating Anxiety, with Michael Berger
• IRL Lessons from Video Games, with Dr. Daniel Kaufmann
• How to Approach Your Gym Crush (Without Being A Creep), with Jordan Yaklin
• Shy meets Socially Anxious, and Going Slow: the Nerd Love Story of Steven and Christin
• Introverted Nerds on Dating Apps, the Nerd Love Story of Phillip and Darcy

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:00 Speak Without Freezing
• 00:03:19 How it Helps with Social Anxiety
• 00:07:37 Social Anxiety and Perfection
• 00:12:22 Skills to Learn
• 00:14:55 Dating Sims
• 00:19:37 How to Apply the Skills IRL
• 00:22:14 Playing the Game While in Therapy
• 00:23:57 Not Waiting for Perfection
• 00:25:46 Adapting to Different People
• 00:31:48 Social Anxiety and Cold Approaches
• 00:36:55 Catherine's Links

Contact:
dm@datelikeanerd.com or
@datelikeanerd on social media

🐉 What happens when a weeb shows up to meet a potential client in sweatpants, messy hair, and zero game? Apparently... marriage and kids!

🎌 Brian had been "putting himself out there" for years. He thought he was doing everything right. He was in shape, playing rugby, feeling charismatic and confident. But something kept getting in the way, and it wasn't his hobbies, his looks, or his love of anime.

It finally took a coworker's offhand connection, a client he had absolutely no intention of dating, and a friend pulling him aside and pointing out what he had been missing all along.

⚠️ The most interesting part of Brian's story isn't how he met his wife. It's what he had been doing before her, why it wasn't working, and what did!👾 If you've ever felt like you should know how to date but can't get past the tutorial, this episode is for you 🕹️

🎧 Press Play and learn from Brian's evolution! 💪

👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️

Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality

📱 Have questions? Join me on Discord! https://www.datelikeanerd.com/discord

Brian's Links:

• https://www.instagram.com/anime_help_hotline/
• https://www.patreon.com/Anime_Help_Hotline
• https://www.youtube.com/@ahhbriantime
• https://anime-help-hotline.printify.me/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@brianbiglock5

Related Episodes:

• The Hidden Cost of Finding Love With Red Pill Dating: John’s Nerd Love Story
• Cold Approaches Failed. One Night With New Friends Worked, Mrinal’s Nerd Dating Transformation
• "You're Nice But I'm Not Interested" After Every First Date, Aaron's Nerd Dating Transformation
• How to Leave the Friend Zone: The Master Plan, the Nerd Love Story of Nicole & David
• Why You’re Still Single Even If You’re Going to Meetups, with Single Player George
• Animé Los Angeles: Where to Meet Nerds, with Matt
• Tolkien meets Star Wars: The Nerd Love Story of Kaia and Celania
• The TTRPG Group, the Nerd Love Story of Frank and Mouse

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:09 What Makes Brian a Nerd
• 00:01:47 An English Teacher in Japan
• 00:04:48 First Impressions
• 00:09:05 From Professional to Romantic
• 00:12:43 Asking to Hold Hands
• 00:17:28 The Build-Up
• 00:21:09 How Long to Start Dating
• 00:23:41 The Dirty Otaku Roots
• 00:27:03 Being Yourself
• 00:30:34 Becoming a Healthy Otaku
• 00:36:18 Brian's Contacts

#datelikeanerd #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #podcast #otakulife #animelover #nerdlife #datingcoach

Contact:
dm@datelikeanerd.com or
@datelikeanerd on social media

🎲 Want to find love but hate loud bars and clubs? Tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) could be your perfect anti-social social quest. But here's the catch: you can't just show up, roll a charisma check, and expect to find your Player 2. You need to actually make friends with the people behind the characters! 🧙‍♂️

🎮 In this episode, Sean (aka Mr. Shickadance), a Dungeon Master and content creator, breaks down exactly where to find TTRPG groups and how to use them to unlock your social tree 🗺️

🎲 Because if you only ever meet for game nights, you'll never get to meet the players behind the characters. After all, what you do outside of the table is what turns your party members into real friends. And from there, you never know who you could meet. That's where the real magic happens. 📝

🔓 No cold approaches. No loud bars or clubs. And no endless swiping only to get ghosted 👻

🎧 Ready to roll for initiative on your social life? Press Start now and start building your IRL party! 🗡️

👾 FREE GUIDE: WHERE NERDS REALLY MEET THEIR PLAYER 2 🕹️

Based on real-world nerd data. Download it at https://datelikeanerd.com/reality

Sean's Links:

• https://linktr.ee/mrshickadance
• https://www.instagram.com/mr_shickadance_/
• https://tiktok.com/@mrshickadance
• https://www.youtube.com/@mr_shickadance_
• https://x.com/MrShickadance_
• https://www.threads.com/@mr_shickadance_
• https://www.twitch.tv/mr_shickadance_

Related Episodes:

• The TTRPG Group, the Nerd Love Story of Frank and Mouse
• How to Leave the Friend Zone: The Master Plan, the Nerd Love Story of Nicole & David
• The Tolkien Association: Where to Meet Nerds, with Vir
• Find Your Nerd Community: Where to Meet Nerds, with Jose
• Dating In The Tolkien Association, with Jose
• Hobbit Hike: Where to Meet Nerds, with Sompi Harmetz
• Animé Los Angeles: Where to Meet Nerds, with Matt
• Find Love Through Online Games, with Kaylee Lopez
• How to Make Nerd Friends, with Pete “Belmont”

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:01 What are TTRPGs
• 00:03:35 Joining A New Group
• 00:07:45 Choosing Your Friends
• 00:13:01 Taking Your Friends Out Of The Container
• 00:15:57 TTRPGs Are Social Games
• 00:20:19 Dating Between Players
• 00:23:19 Be Open to Trying New Things
• 00:27:08 Your First Character
• 00:28:22 Where to Find A D&D Group
• 00:35:41 Where to Find Sean

#datelikeanerd #datingtips #datingadvice #dating #nerdlife #nerd #gamer #single #socialskills #dnd #ttrpg #ttrpgs #datingcoach

Contact:
dm@datelikeanerd.com or
@datelikeanerd on social media