Episode Overview

Title: I Hate Dating App Negativity AND MORE COMPLAINTS! - TICKED OFF TUESDAY
Host: Jared Freid
Date: February 10, 2026

On this Ticked Off Tuesday edition of The JTrain Podcast, comedian Jared Freid leans into listeners' pet peeves, holiday stress, and travel grievances in his signature high-energy, relatable style. From dating app attitudes to travel inefficiencies, Jared not only reads and expands on listener complaints, but adds his own, blending humor, empathy, and practical suggestions throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Point of Ticked Off Tuesday & Setting the Mood

• Theme: Jared kicks off by validating the notion of having petty complaints and sets up "Ticked Off Tuesday" as a judgment-free, solidarity zone for venting.
• Quote:

  "Your friend Uncle JTrain is here to tell you that you're right. It's a ticked off Tuesday… I'll complain with you. That's my promise. I will find a way to agree with you… to make you feel heard and seen." (02:00)

2. Jared’s Shoe Lace Story: Travel Efficiency and Unsolicited Help

• Story: Jared recounts a travel mishap with his snow boots' thick laces, emphasizing efficiency in the "walking highway" of the airport. He describes planning to retie his lace on an escalator for maximum productivity—then a stranger loudly points out his untied shoe.
• Insights:
  • People announcing "your shoe’s untied" act as if they're heroes when, as adults, we often already know. Jared advocates for not publicly making someone self-conscious over a minor issue.
  • The unsolicited announcement felt more like announcing a catastrophe than giving useful information.
• Notable Quote:

  "Let's stop telling people their shoes are untied. In general, they're acting like they're saving our lives… If I trip over my shoelaces, I'll be okay with it. I'll deal with that massive amount of embarrassment…" (07:40)

• Funny, Memorable Moment:

  "If they were a woman, I would want to make love to them [the snow boots]." (03:46)

3. Listener Complaint: Airline Carry-On Frustrations

• Complaint: Buying a plane ticket with a carry-on, only to be forced to gate-check because overhead bins are full.
• Jared’s Take:
  • The boarding system is essential; he'd love stricter enforcement ("hand on the holster" security guards at the gate), but jokes about it not being that serious.
  • Suggests more differentiated ticket pricing so people can guarantee overhead space, perhaps a $10 "overhead bag" tier.
  • Emphasizes the importance of upholding boarding zones to prevent chaos.
• Notable Quote:

  "I want strict gate agents. I want an armed worker by the door, gun unlatched… they bring up the zone one… people shaking as they bring up their ticket." (14:35)

• Timestamp: [13:40]

4. Navigating Awkward Wedding Invitations

• Complaint: Listener lost touch with a friend but got invited to her wedding (they work together), feeling anxious about declining and seeing her at work.
• Jared’s Take:
  • Admits all things weddings are stressful, especially anticipatory "head trash."
  • Suggests the "path of least resistance" is just to go, be social, and try to enjoy it. It's usually more awkward not to go.
  • Wishes wedding invites came with a warning:

    "Warning: We know this [attending] is annoying. You're going to have fun. We promise." (28:15)

• Timestamp: [26:40 - 29:20]

5. New York City: Snow Removal and Street Cleaning Annoyances

• Complaint: The city blocks off busy streets during rush hour for snow removal--outlining four numbered frustrations: timing, logistics, traffic gridlock, and ineffective street cleaning.
• Jared’s Take:
  • Agrees the chosen timing (Friday, 7-8 am) is nuts and suggests more considerate scheduling, like 9:30 am-3:30 pm.
  • Recognizes the city’s limited resources but notes the impact on working commuters.
  • Calls street sweepers mostly useless—sometimes creating more mess—and speculates it's more about ticket revenue than cleanliness.
• Notable Quote:

  "It would make more sense to me to have an actual human being with a broom… Because if you've never seen it, it's just a car with a brush under it that spins in circles… What did we even need this for?" (39:54)

• Timestamp: [34:50 - 41:15]

6. Main Topic: Dating App Negativity

• Complaint: Listener is tired of dating app prompts that start with negativity (e.g., "worst idea I've ever had: downloading this app").
• Jared’s Insights:
  • Negative prompts are lazy and masquerade as personality, often copied instead of original.
  • Connecting over negativity only works if balanced with positivity; otherwise, it drains any spark or interest.
  • The best dating app prompts are light, fun, and invite genuine conversation.
  • Invokes the larger trend of interpersonal avoidance and the loss of social skills due to apps.
• Notable Quotes:

  "No one seems to listen. Honestly, I don't know who would want to date that person who shows up to the party and says, 'doesn't this party suck?'" (43:16)

• On prompts like ‘Convince me I’m wrong about wasting my time on this app’:

  "Nope. Gone. Goodbye." (47:34)

• On the importance of balance:

  "Negativity is fun when it's combined with positivity. Lowlights are only there when you can also admit to highlights. That's why I ticked off Tuesdays one day of the week. If I did it everyday, you'd be like, don't you like anything?" (50:05)

• Listener’s Original Complaint:

  "I'm a 32-year-old female, and I dislike using the apps as much as the next person. But a partner isn't going to fall into my lap. I always try to keep my profile and prompts light and fun. It's supposed to be fun, right? It was called Tinder for a reason and we have lost track of that." (44:05)

• Jared’s Affirmation:

  "You've written the most relatable thing I've seen." (51:09)

• Timestamp: [42:44 - 51:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ticked Off Tuesday:

  "You're angry and you don't even know why." (00:25)

• On wedding attendance stress:

  "All the things that come with a wedding invitation are all stress. Honestly, I wish the top of the wedding invitation just had...a warning." (28:00)

• On dating apps & copying trends:

  "You're not funny. The trend was funny. Started by so-and-so. They did a good job. You didn't. Even do a different take." (49:10)

• On balance in personality:

  "If there was something here you related to, that you thought of a friend while you heard it. Send it to them, let them know." (53:45)

Important Timestamps

• [01:08] – Show intro and concept of Ticked Off Tuesday
• [03:45] – Jared’s shoelace/boot travel complaint
• [07:40] – On unsolicited “your shoe’s untied” warnings
• [13:40] – Carry-on bag/airline zone complaints
• [26:40 - 29:20] – Wedding invite awkwardness
• [34:50 - 41:15] – NYC snow removal/street cleaning rant
• [42:44 - 51:43] – Dating app negativity main discussion, listener email and response

Tone & Language

Jared’s approach is informal, comedic, and high-energy, freely mixing hyperbole with practical suggestions and empathy. He frequently uses direct address (“you guys”, “we”, “me too”), and isn’t afraid to make himself the butt of jokes or let petty grievances spiral into elaborate, humorous scenarios. He always circles back to practical relatability.

Conclusion

This Ticked Off Tuesday episode delivers classic JTrain Podcast flair: rapid-fire rants, listener camaraderie, and life advice woven through with humor. Whether it’s the struggle of tying boots on the way to catch an Uber, the growing pains of modern dating, or the shared misery of city living, Jared brings a cathartic, comedic spin to everyday annoyances, making listeners feel both “heard and seen.”