U Up? | “My Friend & My Ex Are Hooking Up!”
Hosts: Jordana Abraham & Jared Freid
Date: April 10, 2026
Episode Overview
This Friday Feels episode dives into the dynamics of friendship, ex-relationships, and the messy aftermath when those worlds collide—specifically inspired by the public drama within the Bravo reality universe. Jordana and Jared dissect not only the “friend and ex hooking up” conundrum but also offer their trademark commentary on modern dating, including reading real listener emails on ‘icky or picky’ dating moments and a scenario where a listener is navigating dating in the notorious “Seattle Freeze.”
Segment 1: The Reality Friendship Triangle & Relatability
[02:21–17:40]
Key Discussion Points
- Amanda & West’s Relationship Saga: The hosts return to a pop culture story they’d discussed earlier, now with an official (but vague) joint public statement from Amanda and West that they are “figuring out their feelings.”
- Mixed Messaging & The ‘Situationship’ Trauma:
- Jared’s take: It's “woman who kind of likes the guy who felt like she had to say something and guy who doesn’t give a sh*t. And she can’t say they’re in a relationship because he would go, ‘no we’re not.’” ([04:32])
- Jordana: The statement reads more like a “weird guy…trying to tell you he’s hooking up with someone but doesn’t really want to say exactly what’s going on.” ([02:52])
- Online Critique & Optics:
- Discussion of the backlash, particularly on TikTok, and the strategic missteps of using a “we statement” rather than individual statements.
- Notable Quote, Jared: “As a dating podcast opinion first, as an expert... That was woman who kind of likes the guy...” ([04:32])
- Jordana: Critiques the performative vagueness and lack of ownership in the couple’s statement.
- Relatability & Emotional ‘Gray Areas’:
- Why do people care so much when single friends hook up with each other’s ex “situationships?”
- Jordana: “There’s this feeling where it seemed like they were headed there and then there was a pulling away... you feel like you have no right to feel that way in a black-and-white way.” ([09:16])
- The pain of not having an “official” relationship to validate your hurt.
- Friend Code & Sympathy Politics:
- The pressure for Amanda to “be in love” with West to warrant sympathy instead of just admitting she wanted to hook up.
- “All signs point to woman who cared about herself and getting off a little bit. At its minimum, she just wanted to get off...” — Jared ([05:59])
Memorable Moments
- Dissection of Mixed Messaging Men:
- “The most irritating thing about him… he thinks he’s a good guy.” — Jordana ([14:49])
- Jared: “Men get away with stuff like that because we are considered to be people with no, like, awareness.” ([15:56])
- Reflection on the different standards for men and women in hookup culture, and sardonic empathy for “the men just having fun in the Hamptons.”
Segment 2: Jared Meets the Parents
[21:05–25:31]
Key Discussion Points
- Jared recounts visiting his girlfriend’s hometown, feeling like he’s entered “the woods.”
- Gift strategy wisdom: He brings a Bread’s Bakery babka to win over the family—attributed as a pro move.
- “If you’re meeting a girlfriend’s parents and there’s a niece, you will blow them away with a gift for the niece.” — Jared ([25:03])
- Jordana approves of this as a simple way to stand out.
Segment 3: Listener Email—“Icky or Picky?”
[29:30–38:17]
Scenario
A listener writes that a mutual Instagram contact started texting after connecting, but within minutes of exchanging numbers, he sends a long, detailed “diary entry” about his day—complete with photos.
Key Insights & Quotes
- Jordana: A couple of anecdotes would have sufficed. “It does show a lack of knowing how to have a conversation…sending pictures and the person has not responded…shows a lack of conversational skills.” ([33:21])
- Jared: “Her description made this seem way worse… it was affable…just a little gooberish.” ([34:57])
- On the follow-up “cool cool”:
- Jared: “The cool cool… is the more annoying part. Like, I don’t need… you don’t know my text habits yet… you kind of have to take the loss on his end right now.” ([36:14])
- Both agree that not responding is a bit harsh and that the “ick” really comes in with the too-familiar, too-soon tone and the chaser “cool cool.”
- Summary Judgment: She’s being both “picky and icky”—it’s understandable, but also a bit much to be so turned off.
- “She’s a picky, icky bitch.” — Jared ([38:06])
Segment 4: Listener Email—Seattle Freeze & The Move Dilemma
[41:06–60:23]
Scenario
A listener (26F in Seattle) describes a rare great date with a man (27), but she had mentioned she might move cities in a year. He texts saying he isn’t sure he wants to get involved if she’s leaving soon. She sends a long, earnest text, voice memo, and a YouTube video pitch for a ‘six-date exclusivity’ experiment—wanting to keep seeing him. He declines, gently.
Key Insights & Quotes
- On Overexplaining & Emotional Labor
- Jared: “There is no first date that could be good enough to make me go out with this person again, considering that text…” ([45:26])
- Both hosts note her text reads as “If I met the right guy, I wouldn’t move,” which places heavy responsibility on her date.
- Seattle Freeze Context
- Jared reads: “Seattle Freeze is…difficulty newcomers face in forming deep friendships with locals…an invisible wall.” ([41:06])
- Both agree the local dating environment is a real factor, but the outcome would be same in any city with this particular dynamic.
- On Disclosing a Potential Move
- Jared: She should definitely mention her truth; hiding it would be inauthentic, and transparency filters out incompatible matches faster.
- “The only time she wasted was watching a two hour YouTube video.” ([58:43])
- On the Date’s Decline
- Jared: “That’s as respectful as it gets. …He can’t handle the interpersonal relationship with someone who might move, or he asked you to be casual and you weren’t up for it, so he’s trying to find a way out.” ([54:03])
- Jordana: Ultimately, she’s glad the issue surfaced early: “She just found out a little sooner this way.” ([58:39])
- Takeaway
- Both hosts agree she did the right thing by bringing up her circumstances, even if it didn’t work out.
- Jared: “Let people live their lives the way she’s letting herself live hers.” ([60:03])
- Jordana: “You don’t really want to convince someone to go out with you who’s not excited to do that, especially by, like, a second date.” ([60:16])
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Mixed Messaging & Accountability:
- “At its maximum, it’s love and she fucked over a friend to get hers. I don’t know how we go to any other place…” — Jared ([05:59])
- On “Situationship” Pain:
- “It doesn’t feel like you necessarily have the right to feel that way in a black and white way…” — Jordana ([09:16])
- Classic U Up? Banter:
- “She’s a picky, icky bitch.” — Jared ([38:06])
- “Now this guy’s on a dating show, right?” — Jordana ([53:14]) on the multi-step, YouTube-pitched plan.
- Dating Self-Awareness:
- “She’s looking for another person to solve her problems, and I can feel that’s how I would feel.” — Jared ([55:25])
Timestamps & Navigation
| Time | Segment / Topic | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | [02:21–17:40] | Bravo friendship drama: Amanda & West; emotional fallout analysis | | [21:05–25:31] | Jared’s “meeting the parents” and gift giving pro-tips | | [29:30–38:17] | Listener Email: “Icky or Picky?” texting—over-sharing leads to ick | | [41:06–60:23] | Listener Email: Seattle Freeze, moving, and why men bail early |
Tone & Language
- Conversational, direct, playful, sometimes caustic, always delivered with knowing humor.
- The hosts swap between empathy and breezy detachment, offering both comedic takes and genuine advice.
- Frequent light cursing (“shit,” “fucking,” et al.), consistent with the show’s irreverent, honest brand.
Final Thoughts
This episode is quintessential “U Up?”: sharp-tongued commentary on real-world and reality-TV romantic messes, empathetic but forthright responses to listener dilemmas, and the hosts’ ping-pong banter that blends therapy, comedy, and tough love. Whether you’ve never been in a situationship or have been that friend with the ex, there’s something smart—and bitingly funny—to relate to here.