Club Shay Shay – Truth After Dark: Instagram Dating, Useless Men, & Being The Side Piece

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Azar Faraday
Guest/Co-Host: The Truth (Paul Pierce)
Producer/Platform: Shay Shay Media / iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This fiery holiday-season episode of “Truth After Dark” peels back the layers of modern dating with a blend of raw humor, candor, and social critique. Azar Faraday and Paul “The Truth” Pierce tackle the realities of Instagram relationships, the shifting gender roles in the digital age, the taboo of being a side piece, the “useless man” stereotype, the rise of transactional dating, and the stigmas attached to singlehood—especially for women. The duo reflects on generational change, vulnerability in love and loneliness, and the desires that fuel our romantic “fantasies.”

Tone: Playful, irreverent, unfiltered, and relatable.

Key Discussion Points & Memorable Segments

1. The Side Piece Culture and Social Media Drama

[07:59–12:49]

• Summer Walker & Rich the Kid: Azar brings up the controversy around Summer Walker supposedly embracing the "side chick" role, unfazed by her partner's main relationship—as long as the secrecy is maintained.
• Old School vs. New School Side Pieces:

  “Old school side pieces wasn't blasting you... now everything is on the Internet.”
  — The Truth [09:54]

• Consequences of Being ‘the Side’: Azar points out, “You're not meant for that. Eventually, someone’s feelings go crazy... women always say, ‘I’m cool with it,’ and then the whole situation gets blasted.” [10:09]

Notable Quote

“Side pieces save marriages. But I can't—I didn't say that.”
— The Truth [10:43], humorously dodging his own viral soundbite

2. Dating Norms in the Social Media Age

[13:18–21:55]

• 'Useless Men' & Modern Dating: Azar references a viral commentary that men these days are useless—can’t fix or build things, plan dates, or pay for much—prompting frustration among women.

  “Why are women even messing with men?”
  — Azar [13:18]

• Skillset Shifts:

  “We don’t even teach [shop] no more… the kids are smarter in tech, but maybe men are actually smartening up.”
  — The Truth [14:38]

• Social Skills ‘Disappearing’:

  “[Kids] have social anxiety…can't walk in a room and have a conversation.”
  — Azar [15:29]

Instagram Approaching vs. Real-World Flirting

• 'Sliding into DMs' vs. Real-Life Conversation: Azar dislikes men who only approach her online after seeing her in person:

  “That’s weird…you had an hour in a space with me to talk.” [18:29]
  The Truth offers possible explanations (intimidation, unclear relationship status).

3. Are Relationships More Transactional Than Ever?

[49:53–51:24]

• Expectations & Entitlement: Azar cites women demanding financial contributions (nails, gifts) after only two weeks of talking—a barometer for a potential partner’s “worthiness.”
• Paul Pierce on Transactional Dating:

  “You just hiding your prostitution… more transactional prostitution than ever before.” [50:04]

• ‘Baddie Lifestyle’ Demands: They discuss Instagram model Chinese Kitty requiring a man to make $10 million “to keep up,” pointing out that men fueling this behavior are as responsible as women for this culture shift.

4. Women’s Singlehood & Social Pressure

[36:01–43:13]

• Single Women Stigma:

  “People weaponize singleness for women…they praise single men as smart, but for women, ‘Why are you single? What’s wrong?’”
  — Azar [42:00]

• Challenging the ‘Biological Clock’ Narrative: Azar challenges societal deadlines for marriage/motherhood, reflecting on her own path with pride and no regrets.
• Harvard Study Stats:

  “Statistically, women who are unmarried and single are happier; men…more depressed. Harvard study.”
  — Azar [37:03, repeated at 01:50]

Notable Quote

“I’m grateful that at my age, I don’t have excess baggage…I can have a real chance at meeting someone I can have a real family with–and not have all this broken sh*t I created because I was young and beating some biological clock.”
— Azar [39:14]

5. Sexual Double Standards & Relationship Dynamics

[22:15–29:47]

• Men Marrying Without Love: Brian McKnight’s revelation that he was “never in love with his wife” sparks debate on why men stay in loveless marriages.
• Sex as a Motivator: The Truth claims women are more sexually driven; Azar refutes, contending love drives female desire, not sex itself.

  “My motivating factor for being with a man is not sex. Most women don’t even come statistically from being with a man.”
  — Azar [24:27]

6. “Older Women” and Younger Men

[27:48–31:56]

• Older Women ‘Season’ & Cougars: Discussion around 40-something women preferring “boy toys,” with The Truth suggesting “nobody wants them” so they opt for sexual partners with no long-term prospects.
• Double Standards Again: Azar highlights society's hypocrisy—older men with young women are condemned, but not vice versa. She calls out women “grooming” young men as equally disturbing.
• Personal Anecdotes: The Truth describes being “turned out” by a 30-ish woman at 21:

  “She was like, alright, I’ma fly you here, pick you up in my Benz…rub you down...my mind was gone.” [29:57]

7. Entertaining Relationships With "No Real Intent"

[33:44–35:37]

• Inspired by rapper The Game, The Truth reflects on the emptiness of spending time with women he doesn't envision a future with.

  “When you start getting older, the years—you just like, man, I ain't got time to waste no more…Why am I even doing anything with her?”
  — The Truth [34:03]

8. “Fantasies”: Relationship Wishlists

[52:04–59:23]

• Daily Fantasy Segment (lighthearted sponsor tie-in):
  • The Truth’s fantasy: A woman who “holds accountability”—and a pampering, spa-like evening (dim lighting, foot baths, feathers, massages, home-cooked meals).

    “Is for the woman to hold accountability. That’s a fantasy.” [52:40] “You killing the mood! The photograph, the massage table…the feather comes back…” [56:23]

  • Azar's fantasy: “For a man to not cheat on me to know if I love him.” [52:58]

    “I fantasize about not having to struggle for love, honey…in reality, a lot of women struggle first in order to have love.” [53:13]

9. Ghosting: A Sign of Weakness or Just Normal?

[59:23–62:09]

• Azar: Considers ghosting “sinful” and “disrespectful,” lacking communication and courage [59:59].
• The Truth/Paul: Defends ghosting as simply an avoidance of unnecessary explanation when there’s no real investment.
• Azar: “Never been ghosted or ghosted anyone… I don’t do casual.” [61:04]

Timestamps & Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Segment / Quote | |:----------:|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 09:54 | “Old school side pieces wasn't blasting you…now everything is on the Internet.” — The Truth | | 10:43 | “Side pieces save marriages. But I can't—I didn't say that.” — The Truth | | 18:29 | “That's weird…You had an hour in a space with me to talk.” — Azar | | 24:27 | “My motivating factor for being with a man is not sex…” — Azar | | 34:03 | “When you start getting older…the years—you just like, man, I ain't got time to waste…” – The Truth | | 37:03 | “Women who are unmarried and single are happier…” — Azar | | 39:14 | “I’m grateful that at my age, I don’t have excess baggage…” — Azar | | 42:00 | “People weaponize singleness for women…” — Azar | | 49:53 | “[On paying for nails/gifts] You just hiding your prostitution…” — The Truth | | 52:40 | “Is for the woman to hold accountability. That's a fantasy.” — The Truth | | 53:13 | “I fantasize about not having to struggle for love, honey…” — Azar |

Episode Takeaways

• Instagram and social media have transformed the basic mechanics of dating, often making it more transactional and less personal.
• ‘Side piece’ culture is more visible, volatile, and subject to public airing—feelings always get complicated.
• Traditional masculine/feminine roles are shifting. Many men lack "old school" hands-on skills; some women question their usefulness.
• Double standards pervade around age, singlehood, and sexual behavior for women vs. men.
• Single women are happier than single men, statistically”—claims Azar, despite societal shaming.
• Men and women both struggle with vulnerability—the desire for authentic, struggle-free relationships remains largely unfulfilled, framed as a “fantasy.”
• Both hosts call out the trend of transactional love—on both sides—lamenting lost values of connection, authenticity, and mutual respect.
• Ghosting is fiercely debated: is it cowardly or just a pragmatic exit from unwanted situations?

Final Thoughts

This episode is a whirlwind tour of modern dating’s contradictions. Azar and The Truth balance banter with moments of pointed social critique. Their frankness exposes underlying anxieties about love, connection, worth, and changing gender roles in a culture defined by DMs, likes, and “what can you do for me?” Both hosts ultimately yearn for meaningful emotion—but admit that in 2025, that's as rare as a man who can fix the air conditioner and hold a real conversation.

“I just want to have a love where I’m not crying, and I’m not getting lied to…That’s a fantasy, man.”—Azar Faraday [54:32]