U Up? Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: Is A 14 Year Age Gap Too Much? ft. Yamaneika Saunders
Hosts: Jared Freid, Yamaneika Saunders (guest co-host)
Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the realities, challenges, and amusements of dating with significant age differences, particularly from a woman's perspective. Jared Freid and guest comedian Yamaneika Saunders discuss Yamaneika’s ongoing situationship with a much younger man, societal attitudes toward age-gap relationships, and broader dating conundrums submitted by listeners. With unfiltered humor and honesty, topics range from sexual confidence, video game debates in relationships, to the lingering myths around “body count” and intimacy expectations.

Main Discussion Segments

1. Catching Up & Jordana Update

• [01:00] Jared introduces Yamaneika and mentions co-host Jordana’s ongoing maternity leave, recounting the “miracle” of her having twins via pregnancy and surrogacy, sparking reflection on life timing for women.
• Yamaneika on age and motherhood:
  “I'm three years away from 50 … and I really am thinking about, like, what am I gonna do in motherhood? Like, I have to make a decision now, you know, while the walls are still caving in on me.” [02:47]

2. Yamaneika’s Dating Life & Age-Gap Romance

• [04:00] – [20:00] An in-depth comedic but real discussion about Yamaneika (47) dating a 33-year-old man.

  • Yamaneika shares how her confidence and self-worth have shifted with age, now refusing to “waste time” with men who aren't enthusiastic about her from the start.
  • Calls out societal pressure for women to “not expect too much” and urges listeners, “Love me now. No, no, no, no. Now, right? You've seen everything.” [06:51]

• On the 14-year age gap:

  • "My friend was like, you could be his mom. I was like, I'm only 14 years older … Oops, I could have..." [12:16]
  • Jared reframes her concern: "I think you're too caught up on the age. I think his age has nothing to do with your age. … Him being 33, he's an adult man. He can make his own decisions… He's not a baby." [11:36]

• Chemistry & Sexuality:

  • Yamaneika describes the dynamic, chemistry, and her spiritual approach to sex:
    "Everything that I do as a Scorpio is spiritual. Sex is spiritual… If I don't know you, how can I? We just fucking. And I don't like that." [14:35]
  • Candid talk about great sex: "A couple times I sucked the condom off his dick. … I was clenching so much..." [18:32]
  • On aging and confidence: "When you get older, the way you don't give a shit... Seven years ago, I'd be like, I would never say any of this." [19:07]

3. Listener Emails & Dating Dilemmas

a) Boyfriend’s Video Game Habit

• [22:52] – [37:11] Email from a man whose girlfriend resents his gaming habit.
  • Yamaneika’s strong gaming perspective: "I would leave her immediately. Game over. There's no explaining to her—he's already done it." [23:53]
  • Jared questions whether it’s not the gaming itself but the emotional withdrawal when arguing that's the issue.
  • Both hosts highlight the need for honest communication without demonizing hobbies and discuss unhealthy relationship dynamics where any separate activity is perceived as abandonment.

b) “Petty or Prudent”: The Witch Flyer

• [39:09] – [46:34]
  • Email about a break-up revenge flyer seeking a witch to curse an ex, seen posted in Philly.
  • Yamaneika: “Don't wish your ex ill. Even if they did ill to you … That energy is a waste of time when you wish your ex ill.” [41:46, 43:09]
  • Jared: “It’s hard because they can never get … Life is never gonna get bad enough for them. If it does, you’ll feel kind of badly.” [42:09]
  • Both mostly see the flyer as a cathartic, harmless art project since no names were given.

c) Red Flag or Dealbreaker Games

• Kitten Stroller Walks
  [46:47] – [49:57]

  • A woman is embarrassed by her boyfriend walking a kitten in a stroller.
  • Both hosts agree it’s not a dealbreaker, even read as positive: “If my man walked a kitten in a stroller, I would suck his dick on the street.” (Yamaneika, [48:55])
  • Commend the boyfriend for doing something "that won’t get him laid," seeing it as secure selflessness.

• Body Count Confessions & Age Gaps
  [50:04] – [60:54]

  • 37-year-old woman is dating a 24-year-old man and is anxious about sharing her body count of 52 (his is 5).
  • Yamaneika reflects on energy exchange in relationships: "That's a lot of energy exchange and spirit exchange. … It is draining. And then I have less to give to the next." [51:45]
  • Jared sees “body count” as a noisy but ultimately irrelevant distraction, encouraging openness but warning against self-stigmatization.
  • Both agree: the real concern with large age gaps is whether the younger partner has finished "finding themselves," not necessarily their number of sexual experiences.
  • On men asking about body count: “If you and I don’t work out… now I gotta add you to the roster!” [56:21]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On self-worth and aging:
  “If you can't quickly get on board with how amazing I am, you gotta beat it, right? Like, and instantly.” – Yamaneika [06:00]

• On refusing to perform emotional labor for men:
  "We're taught to be men's peace, right? …But no, nigga, now. Love me now. No, no, no, no. Now." – Yamaneika [06:51]

• On generational growth:
  “That jump from 24 to 30 has a lot of growth in it… and you've already hit three of them growths that he hasn't hit yet.” – Yamaneika [59:48]

• On pet-related dealbreakers:
  "If my man walked a kitten in a stroller, I would suck his dick on the street." – Yamaneika [48:55]

• On body count and maturity:
  “When someone asks for a body count, you know… you're showing that you are insecure about other people. …I would never ask the question because I don't care." – Jared [57:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] – Jordana update & reflections on motherhood age
• [04:00–20:00] – Yamaneika’s age-gap dating breakdown
• [22:52] – Gaming argument listener email
• [39:09] – “Petty or Prudent” witch flyer segment
• [46:47] – Kitten stroller red flag
• [50:04] – Body count/age gap relationship deep dive

Episode Takeaways

• Age Gaps: They’re not inherently problematic, but both parties need self-awareness around life stage and priorities.
• Self-Value: Don’t compromise or make yourself smaller for a relationship—expect and demand partnership that matches your energy.
• Relationship Hobbies: It’s important (and healthy) for partners to have their own interests, and that isn’t inherently a relationship defect.
• Sex & Intimacy Stories: Cultural hangups about “body count” often distract from the more important question—are both people ready for what they want, and can they be honest about it?
• Humor as Healing: Serial dating fails and wild “witch revenge” fantasies are best enjoyed as personal catharsis—not weapons.

Hosts’ Social Media:

• Yamaneika Saunders: On tour with Chelsea Handler, follow for dates and comedy clips
• Jared Freid: Instagram @jaredfreid, performing nationwide

Follow the podcast:
@u.up.podcast on Instagram
Subscribe for bonus eps at subscribe.betches.com

This episode is full of laughs, affirmations, and unfiltered realness—a must-listen for anyone considering dating younger, setting boundaries, or simply trying to get through their love life with a little more humor and self-respect.