Mental Health Episodes

When someone disappears right as things start to feel real, it can feel like rejection out of nowhere. In this episode of The Spirit of Dating, George tells the story of a woman who reconnects with “the one that got away” ten years later, only to watch him vanish again as soon as she mentions Valentine’s Day. ​ Using this story, he unpacks the psychology of ghosting and breadcrumbing in modern dating—how intermittent reinforcement creates slot‑machine relationships, why someone’s silence can sometimes be a boundary rather than cruelty, and how past behaviour shapes the trust people have in you now. ​ You’ll hear about attachment, emotional availability, masculine psychology, and the mirrors that show up when we receive the same patterns we’ve given out. George closes with practical questions to help you notice when you’re keeping someone emotionally invested while you’re not really available, and how to name the past if you want a cleaner second chance.

Texting slower. Pulling back. Dropping hints to see how someone reacts. George explores the testing game, those protective behaviours that feel like safety but quietly erode connection, and why testing starts long before a relationship gets serious.