Anna Martin: From The New York Times, I'm Anna Martin.
This is the Modern Love Podcast.
[theme music]
So I've been watching a lot of romcoms these days,
and my thing is like I watch them,
and I'm like,
this dating advice is awful.
Archived Recording: Men and women can't be friends
because the sex part always gets in the way.
Archived Recording: What exactly does third base feel like?
Archived Recording: Like warm apple pie.
Archived Recording: Yeah.
Archived Recording: Sometimes, you have to show a little skin.
This reminds guys of being naked,
and then they think of sex.
Anna Martin: I'm not taking this stuff seriously.
But when I was younger,
I kind of did.
When you're young and impressionable,
without much romantic experience,