The Viall Files: Ask Nick with Dylan Efron – Mr. Perfect Liar

Episode 1014 | October 13, 2025
Host: Nick Viall
Co-host: Dylan Efron

Episode Overview

In this "Ask Nick" episode, Nick Viall is joined by guest co-host Dylan Efron (fresh off Dancing with the Stars) to field listener calls about dating, relationships, and life's messier emotional moments. True to the show’s signature candor and empathy, Nick and Dylan give nuanced, tough-love advice. From murky dating intentions and anxious attachment styles, to religious guilt post-“hoe” era, and navigating custody drama with an ex, the duo offers relatable reflections, personal anecdotes, and actionable takeaways—all in signature Viall Files tone: earnest, jokey, and unfiltered.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Nick & Dylan Catch Up: Dancing with the Stars & Navigating Public Life

[04:00 – 10:56]

• Dylan Efron shares his experience on Dancing with the Stars, talking about dancing styles, the physical challenge, and the support from his girlfriend Courtney.

  "It's so much fun. Like, I knew it was going to be a challenge, and it's so out of my comfort zone, but I'm in love. Like, I love it so much more than I ever thought I would." – Dylan [06:13]

• Discussion about how newfound public attention and career changes impact relationships and staying connected.

  "We started traveling together a lot more... I think incorporating her more into that has helped our relationship a lot." – Dylan [07:37]

• The importance of mutual support and incorporating partners into busy lifestyles.
• Playful banter about being up for “Sexiest Man Alive” (in subcategories), and trading fitness compliments.

  "I'm just happy to be included in the same category as Dylan Efron..." – Nick [09:32] "You burned so many calories!" – Dylan on dancing’s effect [10:17]

2. Caller #1: Jessica – Is He Mr. Perfect or Mr. Perfect Liar?

[11:27 – 54:05]

The Dilemma:

Jessica, 30, is dating a man (“Damon”) she met on Bumble but becomes suspicious when his story about canceling a date doesn’t match his Bumble location.

Key Segments:

• The questionable cancellation:

  "He claimed that he was helping his parents or something... but Bumble showed he opened the app from another city." – Jessica [13:09, 14:07]

• The Importance of Location Clues:

  • Jessica uses Bumble’s location update to verify Damon’s claimed whereabouts.

• Mixed signals & honesty issues:

  • Damon gives a convoluted story about helping move a porch and someone being injured, but is evasive when Jessica probes for specific details.

    "Even if he didn't know it off the top of his head, a quick...it's weird." – Nick [17:07]

  • His explanations appear performative and possibly dishonest.

• Sex and Vulnerability:

  "You crossed a threshold of vulnerability...out of fear of losing what you thought you had." – Nick, exploring why Jessica slept with Damon the night her gut flagged his honesty [21:53, 45:41]

  • Jessica reflects on her “anxious” attachment and admits to struggling with trusting new partners due to past lies.

• What are we? Navigating Exclusive Conversations:

  "If you're not having the exclusive conversation, then I'm assuming that you must at least accept that he's probably still on the apps." – Nick [26:21]

  • Jessica maintains her issue wasn’t exclusivity, but Damon’s dishonesty—a recurring pain point from her dating history.

• Nick & Dylan’s Core Advice:

  • Nick emphasizes the value of directness—communicate your standards and honesty early, don’t wait for a “red flag” moment.

    "Don’t have the bar so low with men...just because a guy is being a gentleman doesn't make him prince Charming." – Nick [37:30]

  • Dylan encourages Jessica to seek green flags instead of red, accept some ambiguity early on, and focus on confidence.

    "Looking for more green flags and looking for less red flags and just being like, wow, this guy has potential. And eventually…he might get there." – Dylan [43:15]

• Self-Reflection and Moving Forward:

  "Just because you had a good first date, don’t crown them…" – Nick [46:35]

  • Jessica is urged to retain her “power” and be intentional about her choices in sex and exclusivity.

  "I also want you to know, too, that you’re not doing anything wrong… have faith that you’re, you know, what you’re doing and what you want…” – Dylan [47:05]

Memorable Moment:

• Jessica concludes by reflecting on her difficulties in finding the elusive combination of attraction and emotional depth as she approaches her 30s.

  "It's just really hard to find men that meet all my kind of…" – Jessica [48:48]

3. Caller #2: Summer – Religious Guilt, Serial Monogamy & the "Hoe/Boy" Era

[60:11 – 80:19]

The Dilemma:

Summer, 30, a former youth pastor and serial monogamist, is in her “boy era,” enjoying singlehood and exploring her sexuality but struggling with residual religious shame.

Key Moments:

• Background and Growth:

  • Summer recounts a lifetime of back-to-back serious relationships and the realization that much of her confidence was tied to romantic partnership.

    "Now that I'm actually experiencing being single, I feel like it's really been a test to… feel confident without another partner with me." – Summer [61:33]

  • Shares her journey from saving herself for marriage to embracing sexual agency, while also pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology.

• Religious Guilt and Personal Evolution:

  "I'm still a person who believes in the teachings of what I believe Jesus was… but there is still, I think, some of that, like, deep-rooted religious trauma." – Summer [65:09]

• Hookup Culture vs. Authentic Desire:

  • Admits to “having a little roster” but felt genuine disappointment when a promising two-week connection fizzled, triggering old wounds.

    "That one really hurt for some reason." – Summer [66:06]

• Advice from Nick & Dylan:

  • Nick relates to the religious and serial monogamist background, urges her to stay open to real connections, and not over-correct into radical independence.

    "The happiest I've ever been is still in a relationship… don't put a timeline [on it].” – Nick [69:28]

  • Dylan emphasizes her growth and advises seeking a “happy medium,” not closing herself off to relationships or relationships alone.

  "If that's the goal, you… seek that." – Dylan [71:57]

• On Remaining Connected to Faith/Church:

  "Humans are obnoxious people who weaponize religion to their own benefit a hundred percent." – Nick [76:52]

  • Both encourage Summer to follow her own values and relationship to her faith rather than worry about community judgment.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Happy people don't spend their energy judging others all that much." – Nick [78:26]
• "When you look back at your life, you're like, I experienced life to its fullest…" – Dylan [75:37]

4. Caller #3: Taylor – Dating a Guy with a "Crazy Baby Mama"

[85:19 – 107:54]

The Dilemma:

Taylor, 33, is dating a man recently divorced (2 years) with three kids and joint custody. She finds his relationship with his ex-wife "uncomfortably close"—involving post-divorce hookups and excessive interdependence—while she herself is the first girlfriend since the divorce.

Key Moments:

• Red Flag Behaviors:

  • The ex-wife frequently calls and asks for non-parenting favors; post-divorce intimacy was disclosed late by Taylor’s boyfriend.

  “I've been on speakerphone when she's called him and she calls him quite often and would call him for things outside of the kids and that was kind of weird to me.” – Taylor [85:53]

• Boundary-Setting Attempts & Fallout:

  • When her boyfriend tries to set boundaries, his ex reacts with hostility, threatens child support/custody changes, and intensifies manipulative tactics.

    “She basically was like, well, you can get the F out of my house then. And was threatening to take him back to court for child support…” – Taylor [87:44]

  • The ex wants to engineer a "happy, blended" co-parenting family, masking her attempts to keep power and possibly sabotage Taylor’s relationship.

• Nick & Dylan’s Advice:

  • Nick highlights the importance of Taylor’s boyfriend prioritizing her, maintaining boundaries, and realizing he doesn’t owe his ex explanations for “why” past the fact of his new life.

    “He just has to learn that no is sufficient enough for her.” – Nick [98:18]

  • Dylan encourages Taylor to avoid unnecessary involvement or drama with the ex; boundaries, slow progress, and focusing inward are key.

    “My two cents is to not get involved. I think the further she is removed from the situation, the better…” – Dylan [101:45]

• Risk Assessment:

  "I'm a huge believer in being upfront and honest with yourself about the risks you're taking...There are variables at play outside of your control." – Nick [100:06]

Memorable Moments/Quotes:

• "You're the crisis." – Nick (on Taylor’s presence triggering the ex-wife's breakdown) [104:24]
• "She wants to see what she can get him to do.” – Nick [98:18]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Just because a guy is being a gentleman doesn't make him prince Charming.” – Nick [37:30]
• “Looking for more green flags and looking for less red flags and just being like, wow, this guy has potential.” – Dylan [43:15]
• "Happy people don't spend their energy judging others all that much." – Nick [78:26]
• "He just has to learn that no is sufficient enough for her." – Nick [98:18]
• "If you want honesty, right? ... But you're not actually being totally that either." – Nick to Jessica, pressing on self-accountability [40:41]
• "When you look back at your life, you're like, I experienced life to its fullest…" – Dylan [75:37]
• "You crossed a threshold of vulnerability… out of fear of losing what you thought you had.” – Nick to Jessica [45:41]
• "You're the crisis." – Nick to Taylor [104:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] Catchup: Dancing with the Stars / public life/relationship impact
• [11:27] Jessica’s Call: Honesty and dating ambiguity
• [26:21] Conversations about exclusivity/expectation setting
• [43:15] Green flags v red flags in early dating
• [60:11] Summer’s Call: Singlehood, religious shame, self-worth
• [76:46] Faith, church, judgment & empowerment
• [85:19] Taylor’s Call: Coparenting, boundaries, ex drama
• [98:18] Practical boundary advice: “No” is a sufficient explanation
• [104:24] “You’re the crisis” quote—sums up the ex’s turmoil

Final Takeaways

• Be Direct and Self-Aware: Know your attachment style, communicate expectations, and don’t reward dishonesty with vulnerability.
• Seek Green Flags, Accept Some Imperfection: No one is “Mr./Ms. Perfect” on date one. Growth, not perfection, should be the goal.
• Balance Self-Purpose and Openness: Enjoy the freedoms of singlehood, but stay open to meaningful connections—neither “team single” or “team coupled” is inherently superior.
• Own Your Choices: Whether sex, faith, or boundaries, make choices from your genuine values, not fear or conformity.
• Drama with Exes Requires Boundaries and Patience: When dating divorced parents, know your limits and require your partner to handle their own messes—with your support, not micromanagement.

The episode blends tough love and encouragement, heavy on self-reflection, realistic expectations, and reminders to lead with integrity—whether in a ballroom, a church, or on the first date.

End of Summary