Instructional Matchmaker Kristin Sokol sits down with Philadelphia based Matchmaker and Super Connector Michal Niasteter for an in-depth conversation about love for late bloomers.



Is it ever too late to find love? What about those who have little or no relationship experience? What about those with no experience with sex, intimacy, or even physical contact with a partner?



👉 Michal completed her graduate education in human sexuality. Her professional experience, combined with her specialized education, makes her the perfect voice to explore the challenges often faced by inexperienced daters or late bloomers.



👉 Kristin shares her own experience as a late-blooming dater—finding love later in life and building a career helping others overcome similar obstacles. She also talks about the comfort and confidence that come from realizing you’re not the only one who’s inexperienced in love.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. 



Your hosting team (normally):Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they are not).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and finds something goofy to do each episode



Plus our very special guests!



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode:



Instructional Matchmaker Kristin Sokol sits down for part two with internet-famous entrepreneur Bubba Page! The pair continues their candid conversation on all things dating.



👉 Bubba shares his year-long journey in the dating world so far, from meeting people on social media to referrals from trusted friends. Together, they break down strategies for vetting potential partners. You’ll get ideas on how to sharpen your process, make better first impressions, and avoid common pitfalls.



👉 Bubba also reveals what he believes makes a perfect first date, offering insight into what men like him, a conservative man of faith, look for in a partner, and what behaviors quickly turn them off. Kristin weighs in with a fresh perspective, including a few ways Bubba might improve his technique. And why he should stop ambushing women with unexpected FaceTime calls.🤣 It’s a mix of practical tips, honest reflections, and plenty of laughs. 



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. 



Your hosting team (normally):Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they are not).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and finds something goofy to do each episode



Plus our very special guests!



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode:



In this episode, Instructional Matchmaker Kristin Sokol sits down with internet-famous entrepreneur Bubba Page for a candid conversation about all things dating.



👉 New here? This is your chance to hear Kristin’s journey to becoming an Instructional Matchmaker. Bubba shares his own backstory—from faith-filled father of 8 to serial entrepreneur—and now, stepping back into the dating pool as a divorced dad.



👉 Two years post-divorce, Bubba opens up about the realities of dating: the good, the bad, and the downright awkward. From balancing family life to navigating heartbreak and meeting new people, he shares what it really looks like.



Together, Kristin and Bubba dive into the resources that supported his healing, the perspectives and insights he’s gained along the way, and Kristin’s favorite tools for understanding connection, a new path forward. It’s a heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation you won’t want to miss.



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and leave us a question or comment.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. 



Your hosting team (normally):Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they are not).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and finds something goofy to do each episode



Plus our very special guests!



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode, Dating Coach & Matchmaker Kristin Sokol sits down with Comedian Steve Soelberg and Singles Mingle Events founder Molly Bitton for a double dose of dating talk and laughs.



👉 Part One: Did you know we’re going to 50% fewer parties than we were 20 years ago? This sad-but-true statistic has a huge impact on the dating world. Kristin, Steve, and Molly break down why it matters and how you can be part of the solution—yes, you need more parties in your life. 🎊



👉 Part Two: The crew dives into their own version of “They’re a 10 BUT…” to find out what’s hot and what’s not in dating. From endearing quirks to deal-breaking behaviors, nothing’s off-limits as the group laughs their way through the good, the bad, and the “you’ve got to be kidding me.” It’s half party talk, half comedy game, and 100% worth a listen.



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. Your hosts:Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera this episode. (He recovered in 20 minutes, and yes, we filmed it.)



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode:



👉 Feel like you struggle to meet people at parties, events, or anywhere new? You’re not alone! In this episode, we dive into how you can easily bring the charm back to your IRL connections. What to say and how to do it! 



👉 Kristin sits down with Molly Bitton, founder of Singles Mingle Events, to chat about what’s happening in the singles scene. Fun is happening! Don’t miss out. Find out how you can jump in and be part of the community!



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. Your hosts:Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera this episode. (He recovered in 20 minutes, and yes, we filmed it.)



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode:



👉 The do’s and don’ts of what to share and what to keep private when meeting new people digitally. 



👉 Kristin and Molly Bitton, founder of Singles Mingle Events get informed by cyber security expert Sarah Kimmel. Host of Oh My Tech Podcast. 



👉 Sarah Kimmel answers specific questions about what’s safe to say on a dating profile and if it’s okay to connect your Instagram profile to your dating app. 



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. Your hosts:Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera this episode. (He recovered in 20 minutes, and yes, we filmed it.)



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

In this episode:



👉 The do’s and don’ts of making your dates unforgettable—how to sparkle instead of fizzle on a first date.



👉 Kristin walks Steve through a dating fumble where he missed a chance to connect, and teaches the Dating Order of Operations for getting a new connection off the ground.



👉 Learn the real Order of Operations in dating—step by step, from first hello to building real chemistry.



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. Your hosts:Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera this episode. (He recovered in 20 minutes, and yes, we filmed it.)



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors 



oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. 



Your hosts:Barbie Berg – Fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – Professional Dating Coach, matchmaker and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – Single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera. 







In This Episode:Are you accidentally turning your date into your emotional support human? We’ll show you the sneaky ways people make their date manage their anxiety (without even realizing it) — and how not to. You’ll learn:



👉 How to answer “So… why are you single?” without breaking into a TED Talk or a therapy session.👉  The smooth, subtle way to get your date to ask you the questions you actually want to answer.👉 The Order of Operations for getting to know someone (spoiler: it’s not trauma dump → appetizer → ghost).👉  The art of self-disclosure—done right so your date leans in instead of looking for the exit.👉 How to handle negativity if it sneaks onto the date like an uninvited plus-one.



Get ready to upgrade your dating game, one charming, anxiety-free conversation at a time.



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

We’re back for our second-ever video episode, and yes—it’s even better than the first. 



If you’re new around here—welcome to the chaotic joyride that is Barbie Does Dating, where we explore the wild, wonderful, and occasionally cringe-worthy world of dating in Utah culture. Your hosts:Barbie Berg – fearless dater with stories you’ll swear were scripted (they weren’t).Kristin Sokol – professional Dating Coach and wise woman of the Wasatch.Steve Soelberg – single, hilarious, and injured himself trying to find his “good side” on camera this episode. (He recovered in 20 minutes, and yes, we filmed it.)



In this episode:



👉 Steve vs. Selfie Angle: The neck strain heard ’round the internet👉 Barbie relives summer dating fun and dishes sound advice for dating app users about what works and what doesn’t. She asks for sound advice from show dating expert Kristin Sokol👉 Kristin drops gold-level dating app strategy—how to upgrade your online presence and attract the right kind of attention



Whether you’re swiping or just here for the laughs—this episode’s got something for you. Hit play, subscribe, and maybe stop taking selfies from that angle.



Want more?Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help?Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors oremtoyota.com!From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

For the first time ever…you can see the laughter, the side-eyes, the cringe, and the chemistry. Yep, Barbie Does Dating is now on video!



If you’re new here—welcome! This podcast is all about the wild, wonderful, sometimes terrifying world of dating within Utah culture.



Hosted by dater Barbie Berg, dating coach Kristin Sokol and (single and dating) comedian Steve Soelberg providing laugh out loud interruptions. Together we serve up equal parts humor, hard truths, and helpful tips for navigating the dating scene (without losing your mind).



In this episode: We share a little backstory on who we are and dive into Barbie’s latest dating adventures—yes, there’s tea. We also talk through how to handle those tricky conversations that come up when you’re trying to get to know someone without oversharing your entire trauma file.



Want more? Watch past episodes + explore extras at barbiedoesdating.com



💌 Need personalized dating help? Work 1-on-1 with Kristin: kristinsokol.com



Huge thanks to our sponsors



oremtoyota.com: From personal experience (Steve Soelberg just bought a car there) If you’re car shopping for a new car, they’ve got the goods—new and used Toyotas, promos, unbelievable social media giveaways (follow them @oremtoyota), and honest-to-goodness great service. Tell them Barbie Does Dating sent you!



utahpodcaststudio.com:The best place in Utah to sound (and now look) this good. Shoutout to the pros who make podcasting easy and actually fun.

Fans of the show know that Barbie is Dating! She is finding a lot of success using Hinge as her app of choice. In this app we hear Barbie’s dating stories, but one in particular will have you excited and intrigued. Join Barbie, Steve, Kristin and Nick for this episode of Barbie Does Dating. We also have special guest, Steve Sokol (husband of Kristin), and super fan Jhill (Vibes of Light) joins us as well. Is this love at first “monster truck ride?” Perhaps….
It’s finally live, the greatest website for Dating in Salt Lake City/Utah – SinglesMingleEvents.Com or Singles.Mingle.Events on Instagram.

What is your love confidence? What even is love confidence and how do you get it? Turns out, the answer is in this episode of Barbie Does Dating! Join Barbie, Steve, Kristin, and Nick, for great dating tips and the latest from Barbie’s newly activated dating life.

We finally made it! After six years of podcasting, we hit our 100th podcast episode. We are so grateful for all the fans and the hours they have spent with us. Have you learned something? Have you implemented anything that has helped? What are your favorite moments over the past 99 episodes? Please share them with us on Instagram. We have shared so many laughs with you, and we would like to think that this show is a special part of your life. Please leave a rating and a review of our podcast in your favorite podcast platform so more people will know to find us…and think that we are any good at this stuff.

Barbie is ACTUALLY Dating! Have you heard of the dating app Hinge? Well, Barbie just got on Hinge and is trying it out–and loving it! With the mission statement to be the dating app that you should delete, Hinge is clearly a good option for finding people to date, but also offers some unique features that have helped Barbie in her dating efforts.

Dating Coach Logan Ury, has a newsletter that you should sign up for. Also, this episode we talk about a recent article entitled Weak Ties: Your Untapped Dating Gold Mine. This article talks about how you can start to consider the different ways that people find other people when they date, including people you aren’t that close to. Learn how a “weak tie” might be the source for your next dating opportunity.

As is our usual tradition, we just have episodes where we experience Barbie’s randomness. Nick gives a report on his trip to Italy, and shares his favorite chocolate with a side of chocolate covered chocolate — hot sipping ganache! We of course talk about Love on the Spectrum, including the new EDM that samples Connors famous phrases.

Nick’s Sipping Chocolate – Similar to Hot Sipping Ganache Recipe from the Ganachery at Disney Springs in Orlando Florida.
(Serves 4-5)
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons honey depending on how dark the chocolate
1/2 teaspoon Pero/orzo/espresso powder (very optional – makes it taste “darker” chocolate – not present in the Ganachery version I am pretty sure.)
6-7 ounces of bittersweet chocolate (at least 65% cacao) chopped
Whip cream for topping (optional)
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, whisk together the whole milk, half and half, powdered sugar, honey, (and pero/espresso powder – if you go this route) until small bubbles appear around edges. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
Remove from saucepan from heat (or turn on very low) and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted, returning the sauce to low heat if needed for the chocolate to melt completely. The chocolate you choose will likely be the biggest taste factor here. So play with that till you like it. But I am almost positive they are using 65% – 72% cacao chocolate. I went with the 72% dark chocolate store brand and it tasted pretty dang good. Heavy cream in this made almost zero difference. So save money and calories and go with half and half.
Serve warm, top with whip cream if you prefer.

Sometimes the way we approach one part of our life can give us good principles to follow in others. That can be the case with dating and financial investing. Kristin Sokol talks about how some of the principles of good investing can be brought in play with your dating. We also get more of Steve Soelberg spends time on the massage chair. You won’t want to miss Barbies Un-hinged reasons people decided not to go on second dates segment.
 

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is used in so many wonder ways–as well as some not so wonderful ways. Revisiting a previous episode in 2023 about the use of Chat GPT in Dating, we explore some of the new ways that AI can be used to help you navigate text messaging, do a glow up on your dating profile, or even give you ideas of ways to spruce up a meh date while you are on the date. AI can be the dating coach you never knew you needed. Plus, there is more of Steve Soelberg sitting in the massage chair.
Join the Wasatch Singles Mingle Facebook Group!

 
6 10

On a recent TV appearance, Kristin Sokol was asked to give some advice about the phenomenon people are referring to as “Yap Trapping.” Don’t know what yap trapping is? We didn’t either, until our resident dating coach taught us about it. Kristin gives us some tips on how to address yap trapping on a date.

Barbie is back! And she has a lot to update us on. Including the latest season of Love on the Spectrum! Fans of the podcast knows how very into this show we are. Come and learn what Barbie has been doing since the start of Season 6 of the podcast. We sprinkle in some updates about other TV watching trends, like Severance. You can also learn what our “love on the spectrum” style 2 favorite and 2 don’t likes. We even sprinkle it with a bit of Dinosaur Time as well.