Overthinking About Flirting

Magical Overthinkers

Amanda Montell & Studio71

Education, Science, Society & Culture

4.3 • 636 Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why does flirting feel so natural for some people and completely impossible for the rest of us? This week, Amanda is joined by dating coach and relationship expert Francesca Hogi (@dearfranny) to overthink the art and anxiety of flirting. Together they unpack why flirting often gets misunderstood as manipulation or performance, how modern dating apps have scrambled our instincts, and why genuine curiosity might be the most underrated flirting skill of all. From the fear of coming on too strong to the panic of missing signals entirely, they explore the psychology behind attraction and the subtle ways we communicate interest. A playful spiral about eye contact, mixed signals, and why flirting might actually be less about being charming and more about being present. - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The weight is over. Last One Laughing is back and it's even more brutal than last time. Share your biggest regrets. I don't regret this hair cut. What did you ask for? The Shaggy Slim Shady? Joining us this series we have... Romish Wengrenner Nathan, Diane Morgan, David Mitchell, Mel Gedroich, Amy Gledhill, Alan Carr, Bemi Sola, Ikemelo, Sam Campbell, Maisie Adam and Bob Mortimer.
0:21.6	Anyone want a song?
0:22.6	No.
0:23.6	Last One Laughing, new series, watch now.
0:26.6	Only on Prime Video.
0:29.6	McDonald's cards are here.
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1:01.7	Welcome to the magical overthinkers podcast, a show for thought spirallers, exploring the subjects we can't stop overthinking about, from confrontation to workaholism.
1:08.5	If you identify as someone who lives in their head, an overthinker, a thought
1:13.8	spiraler, a dreamer, then you're in the right place. This podcast is here to soften the clash
1:21.3	between our innately mystical, irrational, stone age brains and the overwhelm of the information age.
1:30.2	It's here to help us think a little less about the things that don't matter and more about
1:35.3	the things that do. I'm your host, Amanda Montel, author of the book that inspired this podcast,
1:41.4	The Age of Magical Oversinking, out now on paperback. And today, we're
1:45.6	overthinking about flirting. And we're doing so with the only flirting guru I would trust
1:58.3	with this squirmy subject matter. Her name is Francesca Hogi.
2:03.0	She has had a fascinating career trajectory.
	...

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