How to Date During Covid with New York Times Reporter, Valeriya Safronova

“The broad rules of consent still apply, but they’re just being applied in new ways. To me, it’s always about making sure that you’re clear on your expectations. I think it’s better to ask if something is ok than to be afraid it will be awkward, especially during the pandemic.” - Valeriya SafronovaDating can be challenging in the best of times, but what is a single person to do while in the midst of a global pandemic? These times have brought up new issues when it comes to dating, and today on Brave By Design I’m speaking with someone who literally wrote the article on hooking up during Covid-19 to help shed some light on these topics. Valeriya Safronova is a reporter for The New York Times Style section, where she writes features on culture, personal technology and gender. She was a 2019-2020 Fulbright journalism fellow based in Munich.As Valeriya reveals, even though we are in a new world with new rules the same old problems exist with dating. She learned many things from speaking with individuals who are navigating the dating world right now, and this is why it’s such an enlightening and eye-opening conversation to be having on the podcast today. Connect with Valeryia: https://twitter.com/vsaffronRemember to hit SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen to podcasts!What You’ll Hear In This Episode: If Valeriya feels the pandemic is pushing people towards fast-tracking their romantic relationships [6:36]Her thoughts on sliding the scales of safety versus mental health, and managing the risk factors associated [8:58]Tips for when you’re getting judgement from others [11:59]The real reasons that Valeriya decided to write her article [16:06]What everyone needs to understand about consent and boundaries [18:11]Ways to manage the difficult conversations with others around these topics when they arise [19:41]Additional Links & Resources: Valeriya’s New York Times Article, True Stories of Hooking Up During Covid-19Her Twitter Support the show