RideShare RoadTalk: Conversations In Motion
RideShare RoadTalk is an unscripted, organic rideshare podcast recorded in realtime that reveals the hidden side of everyday people we rarely get to hear — because no one has asked, or because we were all too busy to listen. You’re not just listening to rideshare stories. You’re listening to the world.
Each episode is captured on the road, where honest conversations unfold between driver and passengers. From late‑night confessions and raw personal stories to sharp takes on culture, work, relationships, and life, RideShare RoadTalk offers a front‑row seat to the voices most people never hear. These aren’t polished studio interviews — these are real people, in real time, discussing deep personal issues, triumphs, tragedy and everything that makes us human.
If you’re searching for a unique rideshare podcast that blends documentary‑style storytelling, candid interviews, and the unpredictable energy of the open road, you’re in the right place. RideShare RoadTalk is built for listeners who crave authenticity, curiosity, and human connection — commuters, creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants more than another generic talk show.
Hit play, ride along, and discover why the most unforgettable conversations often happen between Point A and Point B.
RideShare RoadTalk: Conversations In Motion
First Date Pregaming?
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What's it really like to navigate modern dating in your twenties? Buckle up for a refreshingly honest conversation we pick up Katie, a 23-year-old heading to a first date with someone she met on a dating app.
She opens up about the unique challenges of being single while many of her friends are in long-term relationships. "Everybody just wants something instant," she explains, highlighting the disconnect between the quick-swipe culture of dating apps and the time it takes to build genuine connections.
Generous support from listeners like you helps RideShare RoadTalk continue producing fresh content. Thank you for riding along and for supporting independent storytelling.
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Welcome to Rideshare Road Talk
Speaker 1Welcome to another episode of Rideshare Road Talk Conversations in Motion , a podcast where we create unfiltered talk space that examines the meaningful lives of my passengers while engaging in personal and topical discussions . I'm your host and driver , john Foddis , and we're cruising the streets of Washington DC . Buckle up , let's drive . Hey there , hi , hey , katie , is it Katie or Katie ? Katie , katie , cool , come on in .
Speaker 2How are you ?
Speaker 1I don't even know .
Speaker 2Oh , oh no .
Speaker 1It's one of those days .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1You asked , so I'll tell . There's a lot of that happens in this car . I do this for a podcast actually . Oh , if you don't want to be on it , just let me know .
Speaker 2I would love to be on it , okay , cool .
Speaker 1Excellent . Well , what are you into tonight ? What's fun and exciting .
First Date Nerves and App Dating
Speaker 2I'm actually going on a first date .
Speaker 1Okay , see , now this is called ?
Speaker 2Are we filming right now ? It's just audio .
Speaker 1There's no names or anything like that . Okay , that's serendipity , because yesterday I came out and I picked up a young lady who had just ended a first blind date .
Speaker 2Oh really .
Speaker 1And I knew what was going on because I saw them hug and I was watching the body language and I could tell like it was over before it started .
Speaker 2Oh , my God .
Speaker 1And she gets in the car and I tell her what I'm doing and she's like oh my God , yes , let's do this .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1I'm like he was too short , right ? She's like oh my God , what are you talking about ? I'm like because I could tell , and so she just started unloading . So anyways , blind date or first date , you've met this person before .
Speaker 2It is . I met him on Hinge , so I've not met him in person , so through a dating app , so I've not met him before .
Speaker 1Okay , I'm an old person now I think I just turned 57 .
Speaker 2I know what , oh my God , you're my dad's age , don't make me feel like shit . No , that's the great thing . My dad's the best , okay , great .
Speaker 1What's it like to date as a young person , like within the age of social media ? Is it complete disaster ?
Speaker 2I mean it's not great and like what's hard is , I have like a bunch of friends that are in relationships for like long term relationships , that are in relationships for like long-term relationships , so like being single and like 23, . It's like different , because I try and explain to them like how hard it is these days and like they don't really get it and it's just I don't know . I just feel like everything . Everybody just wants something like instant .
Speaker 1And like . That's not how like relationships work is your want , like FOMO , is there like actually you want to be in a relationship at this point because 23 is very young ?
Speaker 2it is very young . I honestly don't know . I think it's just I like , obviously , will go on dates with people and like explore and like it's good to like meet other people , but it's not like I'm dying to be in a relationship Because I'm not just going to like be in a relationship , to be in a relationship Like that's not me .
Speaker 2Like I'm perfectly happy being single . But if the right guy , like I like , meet him and we hit it off , then like yeah , then maybe I would be in a relationship . But I just haven't met a guy . That's checked my boxes .
Speaker 1Sure and respectfully . The only reason I asked that was because you mentioned your friends and how they were another yeah , so I just wanted to .
Speaker 2Well , a lot of them have just been dating the same guy since college or high school .
Speaker 1I don't like that for them . Yeah , I don't either .
Speaker 2I feel like you haven't really lived your 20s right Cause , like my sister my older sister she's 25 . She's been dating the same guy since her freshman year of college . So they've been dating like almost six years and like they're great . I really think that they'll get married and I'm so happy for her cause .
Speaker 2She is like such a relationship girl and like I like to think I am too , but I am more free spirited than she is . So , um , but like I don't know , like she . Half the time , whenever I call her to catch up with her , she's like I feel like my life is so boring and I'm like what you just always have stories and I'm like , yeah , that's because my love life is a shit
Dating Expectations and Deal Breakers
Speaker 2show .
Speaker 2Okay , yeah , but honestly , I'm happy that , like , I've been able to like have these experiences as much as it you know , as much as I like want to like find somebody you know .
Speaker 1Yeah , I mean it's there's like a scale right . It's like being 23 and single , like in this era , is just a totally different kind of like bell curve from , like you know , when I was that age , you know , and like you know , sliding doors , you know . I know people that were have been married for 30 or 40 years and they met in high school and good for for them that's really an anomaly right and so , more often than not , you're in a relationship and it's not a panacea . Right , I'm just gonna be .
Speaker 1It's cynical for a second like you're in a relationship early and all of a sudden it doesn't work out and you look up and you're 35 with your pockets turned inside out and go . Now what ? Yeah , yeah and not now ? What ? Like ? I don't know what to do , but like , oh my god , all that time invested and it's like I've only known one person right right and now the pressure is on to play catch-up , right ?
Speaker 1yeah , I can't name names , but I know a lot of people and it's a problem , you know , because now they're feel like their hand is forced and when you wear that on your sleeve it's like a repellent right , yeah , when you're shopping that in that way right anyways , I had such a fun conversation with this young lady yesterday you know , just poking fun or whatever Cause it was fairly easy .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1Is height a big deal ?
Speaker 2Well , okay , I feel like it kind of depends , like on the girl , and also , like I'm short , I don't know how tall this girl was , but like some girls are very , very like headstrong about a guy being a certain height . I Would say like five seven is the lowest . Okay , Because I'm five three . Okay , Would I like a taller man ? Yes , but if he's really like cute checking the boxes , whatever , like that's fine .
Speaker 1Well , so that's what I'm getting at , because , like , look , I used to be in that world 30 some years ago , right , and as a guy , I guy , I finally played the game and that's how I got married . But I was , like the air quote , nice guy my entire life High school , college .
Speaker 1Yeah , had great friends and it would serve me well in a relationship that I didn't know would exist years down the road . But according to her , this guy was checking every box . He was reasonably not ugly , good job , had his own place , blah blah , blah , wanted this , wanted that , knew what he wanted . And she's like , yeah , it just wasn't there . And I'm like , well , why wasn't it there ? She goes well , to be fair , he's like he's kind of short . I'm like , how many boxes do you need checked ?
Speaker 1so I got turned around here no , you're all good , don't worry about it um , how many boxes do you have to check before you say , yeah , you know what I'm settling . Is one box enough or is it two ? Like you don't should never want to settle for anything , but at some point do you have a conversation with yourself and go . Really , I let that guy go because he was you know . I mean x or y , you know yeah .
Speaker 2I mean I don't know , like it's kind of hard to say because like I'm still so young , yeah , yeah , and I hope that never happens to me . Yeah , um , I also like there's definitely deal breakers , but then there's just other nitpicky things that you can get over .
Speaker 1What's your deal breaker ? That's a good question .
Speaker 2What's your deal ?
Speaker 1breaker and don't edit yourself . Seriously , it can be anything . No one's gonna know who you are .
Speaker 2I would just say like being too involved in work and like not making time for your person okay , and also not being able to communicate those are all pretty reasonable , that's like a really big thing . A lot of guys don't know how to communicate and that just causes so many issues . Because then , like well , some of them are just too immature and they're like why are you being so dramatic ? And you're like I just want an answer .
Speaker 1Like just be straight with me um honesty , integrity are kind of big for me , I mean as an old person after well obviously like loyalty , like don't cheat on me , you know the basics , yeah , the basics .
Speaker 2Uh , I would also say like a deal breaker is like I don't know .
Speaker 1It's one of those things where you don't know until you know .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , until you meet them , alright , alright , that's fair .
Speaker 1So this dude .
Speaker 2I mean a mama's boy . I don't really like that , like to the point where it's like weird , like that's great if you have a good relationship with your mother , but like I don't know , there's some guys that I've like and I'm like okay , this is a little too much .
Speaker 1I know what you mean . Yeah , I know what you mean .
Speaker 2So that's a deal breaker for me , but all the moms usually love me , so that's fine . But anyways .
Speaker 1Well , this young lady it was so funny , she was 5'4" and so was he . Yeah , and that was a deal breaker for her . She's like , yeah , and we joked about you know , she was turning him loose to continue his journey to make someone else happy . It just wasn't gonna be her Because , you know , being a Shetland person wasn't gonna cut it , you know .
Speaker 2Yeah , oh , my God .
Speaker 1So tell me about this dude you're meeting now .
Speaker 2I mean , I don't know that much about him .
Speaker 1Really Okay .
Speaker 2Well , I mean I'm- .
Speaker 1I'm assuming your dad knows where you're going , so you yes , okay , my dad was like why didn't he pick you up ?
Speaker 2And I was like dad , I didn't want him to pick me up and to like that would just be weird right , it's not like 1985 in his . Camaro drink your bourbon . Oh god , yeah , he works in Congress oh shit , run .
Speaker 1No , I'm not even gonna take you there , I'm gonna drop you off . No , no , no , I'm not even gonna take you there , I'm gonna drop you off somewhere else . No , no , no , I'm canceling
Family Dynamics and College Stories
Speaker 1the date for you . Um , and .
Speaker 2I think he lives in Arlington .
Speaker 1Wait , what do you mean ? He works in Congress . What does he do ? He's a budget analyst .
Speaker 2Oh , so it's not like he's in like politics and I think I want to come in with you . No no .
Speaker 1And just watch in the corner . Please don't . I want to get it's free country do whatever I'd like oh my god , I'm kidding that would be really funny though that would be very funny , but please don't do that ? No , I will not . Um , okay , and I don't know . He was like kind of texting . He's 26 and you're 23? .
Speaker 2Yes , all right , that's fair . But yeah , we matched . We , I don't know worked hard . He had good energy , like over text and asked for my number and was like let's go out for a drink . And we were kind of texting this week which like I kind of didn't want to text because I like having a first date where you don't really know anything about the person . So now I feel like I kind of know him because he was like asking me questions about myself but , I , wasn't gonna be rude not reply .
Speaker 1Right ? Well , that's what you're supposed to do , right ?
Speaker 2but I don't know . I thought , just one of my things is like , if I meet you online and I go on a date with you , I'd rather just like get to know you in person . Yeah , you don't want to waste that . Yeah , just plan the date .
Speaker 1Be like okay , we'll meet here , we'll meet there , then we can talk um , you know , what I found is a great window into someone's soul , or just an observation in those scenarios what is how they engage with the serving staff yeah , definitely . I mean that and I can figure you out in 10 that can be a deal breaker .
Speaker 2Oh , oh absolutely .
Speaker 1You know , uh that and playing golf with somebody . I can figure you out in 10 minutes . I can figure out if I I don't do business , but that's fair but just in general , because it exposes you right ? Oh my god , are you pre-gaming ? Mm-hmm ? Good for you .
Speaker 2We always . Why would I go to the sober ?
Speaker 1Oh my God , is that dad approved ? Yeah , going back to talk to your dad .
Speaker 2He showed me where the to-go cups were . That's awesome .
Speaker 1I like your dad .
Speaker 2That's where his shelf is . He always takes the to-go cup with him , so obviously I'm gonna be doing that too .
Speaker 1That's fantastic Good for you .
Speaker 2Yeah , my whole family was like they had just ordered food and we're all eating dinner and I'm just there like getting my Tico cup ready and they're like bye , and my mom and I were . My mom was like helping me get ready .
Speaker 1That's great .
Speaker 2One of the perks of being 23 and living at home you save a shit ton of money and your mom is there , yep and being the only single girl in the family , oh , oh , my mom loves it .
Speaker 1There you go , she's like this is so fun .
Speaker 2It's like a friend , but it's single . Obviously , none of her friends are single anymore . Yeah .
Speaker 1Yeah , I've got two Almost 18 and 20 .
Speaker 2Oh , awesome .
Speaker 1Okay , yeah , one's in college . He's about ready to go back for his junior year .
Speaker 2Nice .
Speaker 1And the younger one's starting senior year of high school .
Speaker 2Awesome .
Speaker 1And it's funny you said that whole friend thing . Like of course you want to be your kid's friend , but I'm not at that stage yet , like I have to be your parent first still Right Because it gets confusing if I have to discipline you .
Speaker 2Then they go to college and then it's like all right , right , so now you can be friends , like we're almost there , yeah , like next year , next year .
Speaker 1My son will turn 21 end of the summer .
Speaker 2And I've already said , I'm going to take you to Las Vegas and I'll get you and your college buddies .
Speaker 1I'll pay for a big suite . Your friends got the airfare , and then let's go and I'll have my own separate room .
Speaker 2Oh , my God , that's awesome . My little brother just turned 21 like two weeks ago and like we did not do that Okay .
Speaker 1I'm doing that . I'm doing that for him . Um , I actually offered to do that for him and all his friends when they graduated from high school , instead of doing beach week in ocean city with the rest of the moms I was like I will get you a pimp suite in las vegas and you guys can go out and do go-karts and day club pools and whatever the fuck you want to do in vegas yeah all they got to do is get their airfare yeah , they're like no , we don't want to do this .
Speaker 2That's so stupid of course it was stupid . I'm like bro but because they're still stuck in the high school mindset right , of course I need to be around all these people I've known since I was five . It's like you actually don't yeah because you're gonna go to college and you're gonna speak to half of them , maybe , maybe not you want to talk about sliding doors ?
Speaker 1um , my son he was , uh , he was a football kid and he got recruited to Maryland to play oh , wow so he went , did the whole thing , but , like beach week , he went with his buddies and then he had to go report for what they call fall camp . So he goes to beach week , then he makes his transition into fall camp . He's doing his thing , he's loving it , everything's great . Asshole made out with a girl during Beach Week and got fucking mono . Oh no . And literally train wrecked his entire career . He had to leave .
Speaker 2Oh no , where is he now ? Well ?
Speaker 1he's in Tennessee now .
Speaker 2Okay , is he playing football ?
Speaker 1No , no , no , he loves it , but that whole his journey came to .
Speaker 2Okay , is he ?
Speaker 1playing football . No , no , no . Okay , he loves it , but that whole .
Speaker 2Yeah , his journey came to an end . Oh God , that's awful .
Speaker 1And he had to get into the portal and he wound up at East Carolina for about a month . He's like fuck this place .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1And then , thank God , Tennessee worked out for him .
Speaker 2Yeah . That actually just happened to a family friend of mine . He was well , he didn't get mono , but he was at maryland , was there for a year and like basically they got new management or whatever .
Speaker 1So now he's at holy cross okay , yeah , um but yeah , it's like crazy how much that moves around yeah , and you know you think it's just kind of like innocuous or whatever , and it is if you're just like a lay person , whatever , yeah , but there's such a wide berth for recovery , like you just don't know when you're going to be better , yeah . And so , uh , the team doctors wouldn't clear him and then he was like , look man , I think I have to go in this portal because I just don't want to be here . It wasn't his first choice for a school , even though it was . It's an amazing education . You know , he wanted to be far away right um .
Speaker 2So anyways , um yeah , good old ocean city I know , oh my god said no one ever yeah right right , right .
Speaker 1I still have a very soft spot for Ocean City in my brain .
Speaker 2I do too . I was like I would go there , like growing up yeah .
Speaker 1And you know , I remember what it was like when I was a kid .
Speaker 2Yeah , it was very different than it is now . Are you from here ?
Speaker 1Yeah , oh God , yeah , yeah same and you know I went to Rehoboth and Bethany and Dewey and all that Dewey's so fun . But as a kid , I just have really fond memories of Ocean City and I'll always go back there , yeah , and I'll always bitch and complain when I do , but you know it , just that's . That's
Weather Preferences and Final Advice
Speaker 1the thing .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1That's the deal , anyways . So yeah , watch this guy's table manners tonight .
Speaker 2I will , I definitely will . That is something that I always try , and keep an eye out for I hope that he has personality , Because half the time I go on these dates and I'm like was he fun or was I just fun ?
Speaker 1Right , right .
Speaker 2Because I'm very fun . So yeah , it's hard to tell . So I really hope he has a lot of personality , but we'll see Well .
Speaker 1I hope he doesn't talk about himself the whole time . No , I wouldn't want that either .
Speaker 2I want a good mix , but being a good listener is important .
Speaker 1for sure it is .
Speaker 2I need to be better at that . It's an art form . I'm a talker , for sure , but yeah , we'll see .
Speaker 1Dude , the ice cream joint is kicking .
Speaker 2Oh my god , thomas V is the best . I went to high school around here .
Speaker 1Oh , did you .
Speaker 2Yeah , I went to visitation .
Speaker 1Oh yeah okay , sure . Where'd you go to school ? Like college ?
Speaker 2Boston College . Good for you .
Speaker 1Smarty pants . I like it .
Speaker 2Yeah , good time , but did not want to stay there . I was so over the New England weather .
Speaker 1See , I love the weather up there . I just Boston . Just too much friction for me . It's different than New York .
Speaker 2See , I was like so for it senior year . I was like I'm so .
Speaker 1I'm done .
Speaker 2I was so depressed Like it was like cause it'd be like April and it's still cold and gray and I'm like , where is the Sun ?
Speaker 1so you're a Sun girl .
Speaker 2I guess so because I thought , growing up I never like . I was always like I love the snow , I love Christmas , I love skiing right right . And then , yeah , every time I got in the Sun I'm like , wow , I actually wasn't depressed . I mean , we all need vitamin D , no , yeah , but like I was taking the supplements too and like it wasn't helping or anything , so I swear if you could give me like like scotland weather , give me like 55 or 60 where I could just wear like a sweater and shorts all year round .
Speaker 1I'm perfectly fine are you scottish ?
Speaker 2I'm scottish , no , no , I'm greek and italian . I'm scottish and irish and ukrainian I'm part ukrainian , so there's something there , Okay hey .
Speaker 1I went to Scotland twice to play golf . I was very fortunate I went .
Speaker 2when I studied abroad , I went to Edinburgh .
Speaker 1Oh nice .
Speaker 2Yeah , I went for a weekend , but I went a day before my friends just on my own .
Speaker 1Isn't that a fun place ? Oh my God , it was so great it was so cool .
Speaker 2Oh my god , it was so cool . I felt like I was in Harry Potter .
Speaker 1It was so much fun . Yeah , it was a lot of fun .
Speaker 2Yeah , it was a great time .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2Yeah , my family really wants to go because they haven't been , but I have , so it's kind of nice holding that over their heads though .
Speaker 1Oh , you're going to pinstripes yeah .
Speaker 2All right . I don't know . I don't know if we're bowling , we'll see .
Speaker 1Oh , do bocce instead . It's the great equalizer .
Speaker 2Oh my God , I don't even know how to do bocce . That's easy . Oh , I really hope this guy is fun and cute .
Speaker 1Well , you know what ? Here's a QR code if you're interested for the podcast . Yes , and there's a little text mechanism . Just send me a text and let me know how the date went .
Speaker 2Okay , well , wait , it's really dark .
Speaker 1Oh , I'm sorry . No , it's okay . Let me turn that light on for you . Oh , there we go , there we go . Is that better ?
Speaker 2Yes , okay .
Speaker 1Got it , yeah Cool .
Speaker 2This will be a great first date conversation .
Speaker 1It might be . I'll be like what it's like , what You'd be like yeah , I'm just very interested .
Speaker 2Thank you so much .
Speaker 1Have a great night . Have fun , bye .
Parting Words and Podcast Closing
Speaker 1Thank you for listening to this episode of Rideshare Road Talk . If you've enjoyed what you've heard , we'd love for you to review the podcast on your favorite listening platform , like Apple or Spotify . Your support helps us so much , and don't forget to reach out on Instagram with your feedback or topic suggestions . Until next time , let's drive .
