Episode Details
May 23, 2025
33 minutes
- Early Relationship Crucibles: Doug shares how his first high school heartbreak taught resilience, while Jeremy reveals using sports as emotional armor against vulnerability.
- The Modern Dating Shift: How micro-missteps in digital communication now determine romantic success in swipe culture.
- Ghosting Psychology: Examining why dating apps enable emotional detachment and instant abandonment cycles.
- Boundaries & Baggage: Why personal accountability transforms relationship baggage into growth opportunities.
- Masculinity Reexamined: Challenging societal expectations that pressure men to suppress emotional expression.
Featured Quotes
"Ghosting isn't just rejection - it's the digital age's ultimate avoidance tactic. Real connection requires sitting through discomfort."
Jeremy Axel
""I used sports as emotional body armor. True intimacy begins when you drop the defenses and own your vulnerabilities."
Doug Cox
Episode Transcript And Overview
How has dating transformed in the decade of swiping? In this raw episode of Never in Reverse, Doug and Jeremy confront the double-edged sword of modern romance. From Doug's formative heartbreak to Jeremy's journey from emotional avoidance to accountability, they dissect how dating apps amplify ghosting culture while paradoxically making genuine connection harder. The hosts explore why today's micro-judgments of digital interactions determine romantic outcomes, how unprocessed rejection triggers compound vulnerability, and why boundary-setting separates healthy relationships from toxic cycles. Through personal stories and psychological insights, they reframe masculinity through emotional courage and offer practical tools for navigating today's complex dating landscape - whether you're swiping or committed.
Timeline Notes
Introduction
Today’s conversation is about dating. Doug’s first relationship in high school taught him how to deal with heartbreak, and that things will not always work out as they initially seem they will.
Jeremy found it easier to hide behind sports and his other interests in early relationships to avoid having to be vulnerable. He learned to take accountability and use mistakes to improve.
Notable Guests
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
A best-selling author, national speaker, and serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience in mortgage banking.
Over the years, Bill has worked closely with hundreds of high-net-worth individuals, helping them strategically grow wealth as a Fund Manager for more than 13 years.
He’s also a trusted voice in the industry, serving on the Government Relations Committee of the American Association of Private Lenders.
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
I'm the founder of StaffHero, where we help growing businesses scale without the chaos connecting them with skilled remote assistants and automation systems that save time and cut costs.Before this, I spent over ten years in healthcare and business development, constantly spotting the same problem: amazing teams burning out under the weight of busywork. That’s what pushed me to build StaffHero.
Now, I focus on helping business owners get their time back and build systems that let them grow with freedom and focus.
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover is No B.S. Executive Coach, whose mission is to Challenge the Best to Become Better.
He is also:
• An Ex- White-Collar Felon.
• A “Recovering” Federal Trial Lawyer.
• A Subject Mater Expert on failing and recovery.
• Who is a TEDx speaker, Vintage Speaker, Forbes contributor, and an author whose book, WorkQuake™, is endorsed by Marshall Goldsmith, a Top 10 Business Thinker.
• An Executive Coach With 30 years of experience who advises and coaches executives in organizations with up to $1 billion in annual revenue.
• A Starbucks addict, and
• A Chicago Bears fanatic.
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit is the Founder of Business Success Consulting Group and the host of the Systems Simplified podcast. With nearly three decades of experience as an industrial engineer and process consultant, she has helped hundreds of growth-focused companies systematize their operations to scale successfully.
Known as “The Process Guru,” Adi specializes in designing and implementing turnkey systems that reduce dependence on the owner, empower teams, and increase profitability. Her clients range from fast-growing trades businesses to multi-location professional service firms, and she is a trusted advisor to CEOs across the U.S.
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe is a pioneer in divorce mediation who has been helping couples navigate the end of their marriages with dignity and financial wisdom for over 17 years. As co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, Joe combines his MBA in Finance with specialized training from Harvard, MIT, and Northwestern University to guide couples toward agreements that protect both their emotional wellbeing and financial futures.
Joe pioneered virtual divorce mediation in 2011, nearly a decade before others adopted online practices during the pandemic. His results speak for themselves: Equitable Mediation Services maintains a 98% case resolution rate, significantly higher than the industry average of 70%.
