Date Like A Nerd

Unlock Your Player 2!

Alex

How to Make Nerd Friends

by

with Pete “Belmont”

😭 Meeting your Player 2 organically can be a challenging quest. It involves balancing making friends while keeping an eye out for potential connections. Sometimes, people in a certain group don’t share your same passions. Or perhaps not as much as you’d hope. So, how do you move forward? 🤔

In this episode, Pete and I talk about how we socialize, whether the others share our same interests or not 💬 Because sometimes what can seem like a rejection, may in fact turn into an engaging conversation for everyone. You just need a little imagination! 💭

🙈 Pete also shared how he went from being a shy, quiet, serious kid to being comfortable talking to everyone. Just like Attachment Theory teaches, it often involves the support of other people. In his case, with the help of other kids who invited him to hang out 🥳

💪 This validation of Pete’s hobbies gave him the security that he had nothing to be ashamed of as a nerd. Even more so nowadays, with Marvel, Fantasy, and Anime being so popular! 🧙‍♂️

🎧 Are you ready to become a social nerd? Press Start!

❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where do nerds REALLY meet their Player 2?

I asked hundreds of nerds and made a guide based on those results.
Are you going to keep grinding without finding out the truth?

FREE DOWNLOAD

Pete’s Links:

Related Episodes:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:41 Where to Meet Your Player 2
  • 00:02:26 Being a Creep
  • 00:04:32 Talking About Your Hobbies
  • 00:07:11 Dealing With Rejection
  • 00:10:56 Not Being Too Serious
  • 00:16:07 Gaining Confidence
  • 00:21:14 Closing

From No Dates to Feeling Truly Seen and Accepted

by

Kirk’s Story

💔 How can you find someone to date when dating apps aren’t working for you, and all you do is work, stay at home, and meet with the same D&D group or spend full days with one single person at a time playing Warhammer? 🧌

In this episode, Kirk shared his challenges to date as a single nerd 😰 Like many people, he was promised that “if you focus on yourself and sort your life out, someone will naturally come.” Unfortunately, that was not the case. He found a steady job and a home, but nobody to share his life with 🏡

📱 Since dating apps weren’t working, he decided to shelf the thought of a partner and focus on hobbies like Warhammer and TTRPG. Ironically, that’s what led to his first date ever. Even though Kirk started feeling like he was way too busy and almost without options, he managed to find a date. And in the same way that he found one, he can find another. And so can you 🫵

Sometimes, we create our characters in ways that don’t help us reach our complete specific quests 🤬 We thought a certain build would do the trick for every single area, but that’s often not the case.

🏢 The life you thought would lead to happiness may feel more like a trap than anything else. In those cases, taking a step back and thinking of ways to find your Player 2 may be the best strategy. Like Kirk, with some brainstorming and looking at your past successes, you may find a way to defeat the BBEG and get the loot! 🪙

🎧 Are you ready? PRESS START! 👾

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❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where do nerds REALLY meet their Player 2?

I asked hundreds of nerds and made a guide based on those results.
Are you going to keep grinding without finding out the truth?

FREE DOWNLOAD

Related Episodes:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:51 What Makes Kirk a Nerd
  • 00:02:27 Not Focusing on Dating
  • 00:06:11 The Battle of the Sexes
  • 00:13:02 Confessing to a Friend
  • 00:16:38 Rejection Aftermath
  • 00:24:39 Where to Meet Someone to Date
  • 00:26:52 Dating in Online Games
  • 00:31:30 Dating Apps
  • 00:37:38 Finding Possible Dates
  • 00:45:50 Expanding Your Social Network
  • 00:52:32 Leaving Your Comfort Zone
  • 00:56:41 Relationships Take Time
  • 00:58:33 Moving Forward

Dating In The Tolkien Association

by

with Jose

👯 What does dating within a nerd community look like? Finding a group you’re comfortable with can help you “just be yourself” and find your Player 2. 🙌 It also means you’ll be enjoying yourself until that happens, which makes you more attractive!

🧙‍♂️ In this episode, Jose and I discuss what it was like to date within the Argentine Tolkien Association, where we met. Just like a Skill Tree, each friend you make can introduce you to others who are similar. From within those people, you may end up finding your Player 2.

😌 Being within a group of people who accept who you are, you can feel more relaxed and “just be yourself.” That environment is much more likely to present you with someone you can date… as long as you focus on expanding your network with like-minded friends.

👀 And that’s exactly what we saw. Almost everyone there found someone to date (or have “something” with). Almost. Because some people were trying too hard, and that was what kept everyone away. Both as friends and as benefits 😔

🎧 If you want someone to give The One Ring to, listen to this episode! 💍

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Apple Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo

❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where do nerds REALLY meet their Player 2?

I asked hundreds of nerds, and made a guide based on those results. Are you going to keep grinding without finding out the truth?

FREE DOWNLOAD

Related Episodes:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:54:09 What to Do and NOT to Do
  • 00:06:06 “Just Be Yourself”
  • 00:08:44 Choosing Who You Want to Be and Date
  • 00:11:53 Go Slow With Your Nerdom
  • 00:15:40 Conversation Tips for Info-Dumping Nerds
  • 00:19:07 Find Your Community First

IRL Lessons from Video Games

by

with Dr. Daniel Kaufmann

🦾 What you consider success and achievements in real life could be similar to how you play video games. Dr. Daniel Kaufmann is back to share how learning what we value in video games reflects what we may also value IRL 🌎

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfn0eJHvfIY

Understanding your player type can help you make choices that align with your personality 🤓 Knowing how you play video games can say a lot about the types of challenges you thrive on and how you prefer to overcome them. This new information can help you make choices that align with what you enjoy, helping you get over obstacles and get yourself in situations where you can thrive! 🏆

But just like with any other model of personality type, these are characteristics that can change over time 📈 You likely don’t play only a specific type of game or watch a single genre of anime or movies, so you’re also likely to enjoy different things in real life. However, using these as guidelines can be the start to enjoying your life to the full 🤩

🖤 Dating, like most things in life, has its own set of challenges. The cheat code is to choose the ones we’re more likely to enjoy or, at least, find tolerable enough to overcome ⛰️

Are you ready to learn more about yourself? 🎧 Listen now and start choosing the best challenges for your player type!

YouTube Logo
Apple Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo

❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where do nerds REALLY meet their Player 2?

I asked hundreds of nerds, and made a guide based on those results. Are you going to keep grinding without finding out the truth?

FREE DOWNLOAD

Guest Bio

Dr. Daniel Kaufmann is a YouTube Partner as Dr. Gameology, where he teaches about the many positive elements of video games that help us overcome professional and personal journeys in real life.

He is an Associate Professor who’s helped develop programs for gaming and geek therapy training in clinical settings, and his publications cover video games, personality theory, online education, and counselor development. 

Dr. Kaufmann recently published the book The Gamer’s Journey, to help you turn the themes found in many video games into life lessons that can unlock your own potential. 

Related Episodes:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:01:23 Gamer Personality Types
  • 00:07:00 Learn From Your Player Type
  • 00:12:28 Understanding Personality Types
  • 00:17:58 What Playing Baldur’s Gate 3’s Dark Urge Says About You
  • 00:20:48 Takeaways From “The Gamer’s Journey”
  • 00:22:21 Contact Info

The High School Reunion

by

the Nerd Love Story of Pete and Ariana

📆 High school crushes don’t have to end with the academic year. Sometimes, relationships may benefit from a respawn much later. After gaining more XP, both players gain new ways to play together. What used to be two solo players may turn into a Co-Op game 💍

In this episode, Pete “Belmont” shares how he lost contact with his high school crush, only to meet again 10 years later at their high school reunion 🧑‍🏫 Though still platonic, that encounter later developed into a close friendship that naturally grew into a romantic relationship.

👻 For many couples, friendship is just the stepping stone towards a fulfilling relationship. Rather than fearing the Friend Zone, Pete shares how it was a natural transition for them. He finds that communicating your wants and needs is key. It’s all about showing yourself to the world, including your interests and hobbies 🧩

🤓 Both Pete and Ariana were nerds, though with slightly different tastes. But because neither of them hid it, and they accepted each other, many of their interests now overlap. To the point that she now watches more anime than he! 🖥️

If you want a Player 2 who joins your nerd Quests (including a Hobbit banquet with a LotR marathon), this is the episode for you! 🍖

🎧 Press Start to go on an adventure… for two! ⛰️

❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where (and How) to Meet Your Player 2 Organically

FREE DOWNLOAD

Pete’s Links:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:41:20 What Makes Pete a Nerd
  • 00:02:38 The High School Crush
  • 00:05:00 Escalating from Friends to Lovers
  • 00:06:12 Discovering a Fellow Nerd
  • 00:09:55 Friends to Lovers Transition
  • 00:11:03 The Friend Zone
  • 00:16:08 Being Confident in Your Nerd Self
  • 00:21:19 Closing

Hobbit Hike

by

Where to Meet Nerds, with Sompi Harmetz

🧝‍♀️ Wish you could find your Fellowship without having to roll a Nat 20 on charisma? Many shy, introverted nerds want to touch grass and be more sociable… without having to join extrovert quests! If that’s you, Hobbit Hike could be the perfect solution! 🙌

In this episode, Sompi invites us to join “Hobbit Hike”, a magical, costume-friendly adventure where nerds, geeks, and gamers gather to touch grass, twirl swords, and unlock their social tree ⚔️ Whether you’re a veteran cosplayer, a D&D dice goblin, or just someone who’d rather sit on a rock in the forest than shout over a hentai lounge, this episode will show you a new way to build your party.

🤯 Hobbit Hike exploded from a handful of cosplay friends to a 70+ member stronghold, all while keeping things introvert-friendly and low-pressure. Sompi’s “assigned extroverts” and buddy systems make sure even the quietest newcomers find their people. With a mix of easy hikes and whimsical costumes, you’ll find that the best connections happen when you’re not racing to the finish line 🏁

Ever worried you’ll feel awkward or make others feel awkward? 😬 Sompi shares her OP-level tips for reading social cues, handling awkwardness, and keeping everyone safe (even if someone shows up with a functional axe!). You’ll learn how to find your niche, when to give space, and how to ask for help if you ever feel uncomfortable. Because every good party has an S-tier healer ⛑️

🖥️ Plus, find out how the community keeps bonding all month long with online movie nights, crafty side quests, and a Discord server that spans the globe. If you’ve ever wished you could just “whimsymax” with people who get your references, this is your invitation to join the campaign 🪧

🎧 Ready to level up your social life and unlock the Tolkien branch of your social tree? Press start and let’s go on an adventure! 🧙‍♂️

❤️ FREE GUIDE: 🎮
Where (and How) to Meet Your Player 2 Organically

FREE DOWNLOAD

About Sompi

Sompi is the founder of Healthbar Fitness, where she helps nerds, geeks, and gamers level up their health without abandoning the hobbies they love. Her journey began with personal struggles with negative body image and extreme dieting, including a stint in competitive bodybuilding that left her trapped in unhealthy cycles.

Discovering cosplay reconnected Sompi to her geek roots, but the real transformation came when she developed sustainable fitness habits that prioritized well-being over restriction. This approach changed everything—she felt healthier, more energized, and could fully enjoy her hobbies again.

Now, Sompi is on a mission to help other nerds achieve similar transformations. Beyond online coaching, she organizes Hobbit Hike in Las Vegas, where people hike in Renaissance festival outfits, and runs a vibrant Discord community with book clubs, movie nights, and craft sessions.
At Healthbar Fitness, Sompi understands that true health includes community and personal growth—it’s about building a balanced character sheet for real life while still having fun with the things you love.

Sompi’s Links:

Related Episodes:

Timestamps for lazy nerds:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:01:22 What’s Hobbit Hike
  • 00:02:47 Who Joins Hobbit Hike
  • 00:04:10 Fitness Level Required
  • 00:06:34 A Different Hike
  • 00:07:46 Helping Introverts Fit In
  • 00:14:56 Checkin In On Attendees
  • 00:17:08 Reading Signs of Interest
  • 00:19:21 Keeping Everyone Safe
  • 00:24:08 Connecting Outside Hobbit Hike
  • 00:27:06 Start Your Own!
  • 00:27:48 Contact Info