Podcast Summary: Tall Blonde – "Why I Ditched New York For Toronto"

Episode Information

• Title: Why I Ditched New York For Toronto | Tall Blonde
• Host: Sarah Lauren
• Presenter: MBHTV
• Release Date: October 31, 2024

Overview In this episode of Tall Blonde, host Sarah Lauren delves into her personal journey of moving from the bustling streets of New York City back to her hometown Toronto. Through unfiltered storytelling and candid discussions, Sarah explores the challenges of city life, the complexities of the New York dating scene, and the reasons behind her pivotal decision to return home. Joined by her roommate Amy, the episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for listeners navigating similar life transitions.

1. Introduction and New Beginnings

Sarah opens the episode by reflecting on her past mistakes and learning experiences, emphasizing her desire to share these to help others avoid similar pitfalls.

• Sarah Lauren [00:00]:
  “Let me make mistakes for you so that you don’t have to. You do not want to be the person that they're talking about in the group chat. You're going to walk away and you're going to be the best thing that he never had.”

She introduces the revamped format of her podcast, positioning herself as a "big sister" offering comprehensive advice on dating and personal growth.

• Sarah Lauren [00:47]:
  “But this is a longer version. This is more of me. This is the embarrassing stories. This is everything you want to know and you probably don't even want to know, and I'm here to give it to you.”

2. From London to New York: The Educational Journey

Sarah shares her academic background, highlighting her time at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and her aspiration to attend Parsons School of Design in New York.

• Sarah Lauren [03:15]:
  “I went to my master's at Parsons because as a fashion student that was my end goal. And I think that's a lot of people end goal in fashion is to make it to New York and do all that or Paris and go to Parsons.”

She reflects on the stark difference between her vibrant undergraduate experience and the isolating reality of her graduate studies in New York.

• Sarah Lauren [05:45]:
  “Everyone was my age or maybe a year or two older, and I just became best friends and found my people. You know that feeling when it's. You're around like-minded people and you just feel safe, you feel secure, you feel like you should be there? That's exactly how I felt.”

3. The Loneliness of New York City

Transitioning to her solitary life in New York, Sarah discusses the emotional hardships she faced, including loneliness and the struggle to form meaningful connections.

• Sarah Lauren [08:20]:
  “Moving into apartment alone. And I've never been alone. Like I've always lived with my family and then girls and then I was alone. So it got lonely. It got very, very, very lonely.”

This solitude led her to maintain unhealthy communication patterns, such as repeatedly calling her ex, which she acknowledges as detrimental yet educational.

• Sarah Lauren [09:10]:
  “One being calling my ex every day. And that did teach me a lot of things. And it helped me teach you a lot of things.”

4. Navigating the New York Dating Scene

Sarah candidly describes her experiences with the intense and often superficial New York dating landscape, contrasting it with Toronto's scene.

• Sarah Lauren [12:30]:
  “The only word I can probably describe the New York dating scene is trauma or horror. Because in Toronto it's not great. I mean there's still those assholes, but in New York it's just elevated.”

She highlights the challenges of finding someone willing to settle down amidst the city's fast-paced, transient relationships.

• Sarah Lauren [13:15]:
  “Everyone makes a lot of frickin money and they have great houses and apartments and beautiful clothes and designer this, designer that. And I think it kind of gets to their head a little bit.”

5. Turning to Social Media for Connection

To combat her loneliness, Sarah turned to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, initially as a creative outlet but eventually as a means to forge connections and build a following.

• Sarah Lauren [18:00]:
  “I started Instagram and TikTok way back when, when everyone was kind of just posting it over... So I would keep taking these TikToks and I would talk about my dating experience.”

Her content resonated with a wide audience, leading to viral success and media attention.

• Sarah Lauren [20:47]:
  “I made that, and I got, like, 40 million views on it. And then I think it was like New York Times and Daily Post posted about it.”

6. Collaboration with Roommate Amy

Midway through the episode, Sarah introduces her roommate Amy, who brings an additional perspective to the discussion.

• Amy [14:52]:
  “Hi everyone, I'm Amy. I'm the roommate.”

Amy shares her own background, emphasizing her entrepreneurial spirit and the supportive dynamic between her and Sarah.

• Amy [16:10]:
  “I think it helps so much who you surround yourself with and the circle that you build, especially when you go through big changes, like a move...”

Their camaraderie highlights the importance of a strong support system during major life transitions.

7. Addressing Listener Questions: Practical Advice

Sarah and Amy engage with listener-submitted questions, offering thoughtful and relatable advice on various dating dilemmas.

a. Dealing with a Cheating Partner

• Sarah Lauren [29:24]:
  “You could never fill up someone else's cup if you can't fill up your own...”

• Amy [25:48]:
  “You will be able to give that love to someone else. And you don’t have to happen right away.”

b. Confusion in Relationships

For listeners uncertain about a partner’s feelings:

• Amy [35:17]:
  “If someone likes you, I truly think they will pursue you and their actions will show it.”

• Sarah Lauren [36:05]:
  “But they went on the dates. They took time out of their day to do that with you. So that is one sign that they are interested.”

c. Navigating a Relationship with a Boss

Addressing a listener's scenario about dating a boss who imposes restrictions:

• Amy [27:23]:
  “Don’t ever let any man tell you what you can and can’t do. That's the first rule.”

• Sarah Lauren [27:53]:
  “You're gonna walk away, and you're gonna be the best thing that he never had.”

8. Strategies for Ending Unhealthy Relationships

The episode concludes with strategies for exiting relationships that no longer serve one's happiness.

• Sarah Lauren [40:05]:
  “Happiness is... it also is how you... What you tell yourself every day. If you want to be happy, go out there and be happy.”

• Amy [40:38]:
  “The earlier you realize that, the better, and it can even come down to communication again.”

They emphasize the importance of self-respect, prioritizing personal well-being, and the courage to seek a fresh start.

Notable Quotes

• Sarah Lauren [00:00]:
  “Let me make mistakes for you so that you don’t have to.”

• Amy [16:25]:
  “It helps so much who you surround yourself with and the circle that you build.”

• Sarah Lauren [32:43]:
  “You're gonna walk away, and you're gonna be the best thing that he never had.”

Conclusion In "Why I Ditched New York For Toronto," Sarah Lauren offers an authentic and introspective look into the highs and lows of pursuing dreams in a major city. With Amy’s support, she provides actionable advice for listeners facing similar challenges in dating and personal growth. This episode not only chronicles Sarah's personal evolution but also serves as a guiding light for those seeking to navigate the complexities of modern relationships and life changes.

Connect with Tall Blonde Stay tuned for more episodes of Tall Blonde, where Sarah Lauren continues to share her insights, stories, and lessons learned to help you level up to 'it girl' status. Whether you're grappling with dating dilemmas or life transitions, Tall Blonde is your go-to source for straight talk and unfiltered advice.

Note: The timestamps provided correspond to key moments in the transcript to enhance reference and context for listeners.