U Up? – "Mom Kisses Son, Major Ick"
Hosts: Jordana Abraham & Jared Freid
Date: October 22, 2025
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Jordana and Jared take on some of the dating world's most delightfully cringey topics — from wild family boundaries to awkward relationship misunderstandings. They dive into listener emails about being falsely accused in a Facebook gossip group, dissect the “mom kisses son on the lips” dilemma, and debate birthday etiquette and partner expectations. As always, they bring humor, sharp observations, and unexpected takes on what’s “ick” and what’s just picky in modern dating.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Welcoming Fall & Small Talk (01:19–06:56)
- The hosts banter about sweater weather, adulthood markers like switching to hot coffee, and regional weather bragging, with Jared noting the “suckers up north” talk now that he's in Florida.
- Jared gives a brief personal update about buying a new, more grown-up home, plus anecdotes about his mom's intense home-scouting style—a theme that sets up family discussions later.
Quote:
"I brought my parents to like sniff it out... Give me an extra set. Yeah, it's like bringing a drug sniffing dog. Bringing my mom." – Jared (06:45)
Expertise & The Internet’s "Fake Experts" Problem (07:23–11:46)
- Discussion about knowing your "lane," resisting fake expertise online, and the perils for influencers who try to be all things to all people.
- Jared: “The skill of being an influencer is knowing your lane... It is hard. That is a difficult thing.”
Memorable Moment:
Their riff about the value of real expertise versus internet “experts,” and how staying in your lane as an influencer is a valuable (often ignored) skill.
Dating Content, Value, & Humor in Advice (11:47–13:35)
- The hosts explain how U Up? tries to offer both humor and utility, agreeing that content needs to be useful, funny, and insightful — not just viral.
Pet Problems & Partnership Dynamics (13:35–15:39)
- Jordana discusses her dog Ronnie’s health issues, honesty in sharing pet care duties, and family blame games.
- The ongoing dialogue about family roles subtly ties into later topics about boundaries and enmeshment.
90s Nostalgia Interlude (16:12–22:00)
- Jared references the TGIF TV block and its theme song, exposing an age-gap between the hosts, and prompting nostalgia about 90s sitcoms and kids' shows.
- Brief musings on Sesame Street’s fading cultural presence and the weirdness of the “Dinosaurs” TV show finale.
- This playful segment lightens the mood and showcases their natural comedic chemistry.
Quote:
"This is the divide in our age... 36 and 40 is knowing this song." – Jared (16:43)
Listener Emails & Dating Dilemmas
1. Accused in the "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" Facebook Group (29:24–42:49)
The Situation:
- A listener matched with a guy who turned out to be cast on a Bravo reality show.
- After a few dates, he accused her (twice!) of posting about him in the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” Facebook group, based on a tip from another woman he was seeing. She was innocent but became collateral damage in dating paranoia.
Host Take:
- Both agree: The issue wasn’t a misunderstanding, but how the guy handled it (suspiciously and defensively).
- Jared introduces his "Dog vs. Squirrel" dating metaphor:
- Dog: a guy who really wants to date you—won’t get scared off by drama.
- Squirrel: a guy just looking for sex—will bolt at signs of trouble or commitment.
- The Facebook drama simply exposed his intentions and forced a decision.
Quote:
"There's nothing you can do to scare a guy away that wants to date you first... Guys who want to fuck you are like squirrels. Guys who want to date you are like dogs." – Jared (37:22)
Larger Insight:
- These kinds of "misunderstandings" are usually a cover for a decision — not a reason a real connection disappears.
- The guy is prepping for reality TV, keen to avoid scandal, but his paranoia and aversion to commitment are crystal clear red flags.
2. Icky or Picky? – Mom Kissing Son on the Lips (45:05–59:08)
The Situation:
- A listener ended things with her boyfriend because he and his mom kissed on the lips, sometimes for a few seconds, accompanied by overly affectionate gestures (thigh squeezing, face holding).
- She questions if this is an “ick” or if she’s being too picky, detailing her research into cultural norms and the conclusion that no broad culture really supports adult parent-child lip-kissing as “normal.”
Host Debate:
- Jordana: Firmly in the “ick” camp, calling it boundary-crossing and indicative of unhealthy enmeshment.
- Jared: Plays devil’s advocate, suggesting if the family is healthy and loving and the only weird thing is the lip kissing, maybe it’s just “picky.”
- They joke about ranking familial weirdness (kissing, thigh-squeezing, being called “hottie,” etc.).
Quotes:
"If you can start a count once it's happening, it's too long." – Jordana (48:07)
"I'm more bitter ex than I am on bad family because she's writing in about her ex." – Jared (50:00)
"Any man who's so close to his mother that... he tells me to off, basically—that's a man who's too close to his mom." —Jordana (56:40)
Resolution:
- Jordana sees it as a dealbreaker for what it represents about boundaries.
- Jared suggests it could be survivable ("picky"), but freely admits most people would find it a major ick.
3. Birthday Mishap – Does “Happy Birthday” Matter? (79:56–86:42)
The Situation:
- A listener is seeing someone who attended her family birthday celebration, but forgot her actual birthday the next day (texted at 11:58pm). She admits she was hurt.
- The broader issue: lack of effort is a sign of his overall commitment level.
Host Take:
- Jared downplays the specific “Happy Birthday” miss—since he was at the party—but acknowledges the real issue: the relationship is unbalanced, and she feels underappreciated because she's doing most of the work (traveling, planning).
- If he wanted to invest, he’d have shown more effort; his lack of birthday enthusiasm is just a symptom.
Quote:
"He gets to walk around, be this great guy when... he's not being a great guy. When he can just end at any time." – Jared (84:39)
4. Q4 Ultimatum: Proposal or Dealbreaker? (67:17–75:16)
The Situation:
- A woman in a long-term relationship wonders whether to break up if her boyfriend doesn’t propose on their planned couples' trip, especially as she’s planning to buy a house for both of them.
- He had a decent “excuse” last year (accident, surgery), but now she’s worried she’s being taken for granted.
Host Perspective:
- Both agree: You shouldn’t have to set quotas or deadlines for engagement (“engagement should happen after a series of conversations, not as a complete surprise” – Jordana).
- If you’re keeping mental score of exchanges (e.g., house = ring), something’s off.
- The lack of communication is the real red flag, not just the absence of the ring.
5. Red Flag or Dealbreaker: Arguing with Restaurant Staff (87:10–92:06)
The Situation:
- A date tries to get them into a fully booked restaurant without reservations; when refused, he argues with the staff about visible empty tables.
Host Opinions:
- Both see it as a red flag (Jordana: “No reservation is already a red flag”) with Jared noting, “making someone’s life miserable to help your own is not a good way to go.”
Bonus:
Jared jokes about pretending to have made a reservation and faking it at the host stand—another “ick” for Jordana (“now not only do you not have a reservation, but you’re a liar”).
Humorous & Memorable Moments
On Families that are “Too Close”
"Big make out fam. That’s us." – Jared, tongue in cheek (47:44)
On Married Women Giving Unsolicited Advice
"Nothing sounds more married woman at a younger bar... If a married woman told me to look up from my phone at a bar, I would roll my eyes so hard they may not stop rolling for the rest of my life." – Jared (60:01)
On Signs a Woman is “Wondering” about Relationship Status
"The ‘we should’ woman is not breaking up with herself. She’s making you do it. I respect it." – Jordana (78:16)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:19 – Fall small-talk, moving updates, family involvement in big decisions
- 07:23 – The expertise discussion (“stay in your lane”)
- 13:35 – Jordana’s pet woes & household blame-sharing
- 16:12 – TGIF theme song & 90s nostalgia
- 29:24 – Main story: Accused in “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” group
- 45:05 – The “Mom Kisses Son on the Lips” email and debate
- 67:17 – Red Flag/Deal Breaker: Proposal ultimatum
- 79:56 – Ignored birthday — what’s the big deal?
- 87:10 – Red Flag/Deal Breaker: Complaining at a restaurant
Tone & Vibe
The episode strikes a balance between irreverent humor and genuine empathy. Jared and Jordana riff easily, offering practical advice and witty metaphors (“Dog vs. Squirrel” typology), and aren’t afraid to call out red flags. Both hosts push each other’s thinking, especially on sensitive issues like family boundaries. Their open, conversational vibe makes the episode both entertaining and insightful for anyone navigating the complex world of modern relationships.
Final Thoughts
For listeners:
If you’ve ever wondered whether your icks are justified or if a misunderstanding really tanked a connection, this episode will validate your gut, give you new language for the “dog vs. squirrel” you’re dating, and (probably) gross you out with the family kissing debate.
Sound off in the comments:
Is kissing parents on the lips ever NOT an ick? Which dealbreaker made you cringe?