Looking For The Middle: The Christian’s Guide to Modern Dating

Men Tell All! An Interview with Dalton

·1 hr 27 min·5 clips

Dalton reveals he's allergic to chocolate and loves white chocolate Reese's, a quirky detail that sparks curiosity about his dating views.

The episode begins with hosts Kristen and Bethany introducing the 'men tell all' format, a recurring series where they interview Christian men about dating. Guest Dalton Teal introduces himself as a 26-year-old director of family ministries at Providence Church, sharing fun facts like his chocolate allergy. The interview follows a structured list of questions, starting with Dalton's dating status—he describes himself as having a 'long distance relationship in the future with my future wife'. He outlines his top criteria for a partner: she must love the Lord, be involved in church, and complement his personality. Dalton admits he becomes awkward and shy when interested in someone, attributing this to pressure in Christian circles. He discusses the negative impact of books like 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' and the marriage pressure at his seminary, where events like 'spring formal' were called 'open season'. Dalton advises dating with purpose and being friends first, sharing a personal anecdote about avoiding arguments over where to eat by knowing a partner's preferences. He answers listener questions on topics like whether it's a red flag if a woman hasn't dated much (he says it depends on her reasons) and 'friend-lationships' (which he warns against). Dalton emphasizes honesty in communication, especially when rejecting someone, and encourages men to remove pressure from dating. The episode blends personal stories with practical advice, maintaining a conversational tone throughout.

As heard by us

A warm, lightly funny episode about first-date honesty, awkward moments, and slowing down the pressure to decide too much too soon.

The episode turns ordinary first-date awkwardness into useful dating advice, beginning with the kind of small social moments that can make anyone freeze: sauce on a shirt, food in the teeth, and the split-second choice between honesty and embarrassment.

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Why you'd press play

You want first-date advice that leaves room for awkward meals, honest questions, and the relief of not deciding everything at once.

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