Is modern dating in Singapore broken?
In June 2026, Kopi Date co-founder Liu Zhiqun joined host Natasha Ann Zachariah and SMU psychologist Dr Kenneth Tan on The Straits Times podcast The Usual Place (S1E97). The episode asks a blunt question: has modern dating in Singapore become harder, and have red flags, icks, and perfect-partner fantasies got in the way?
The conversation covers why people struggle to meet, how social media shapes romance, why many arrive on dates without their best self, and whether schools or government policy can fix lonely love lives. Zhiqun spoke from the work of curated 1:1 coffee dates and guided growth: not an app, not a matchmaking agency. Kopi Date hand-picks people for real coffee dates and helps members become clearer between them.
This page is our on-domain summary. For the full episode, listen on ST channels below.
Listen and watch
Episode S1E97 | Is modern dating in Singapore broken? | Published 4 Jun 2026. Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah. Guests: Liu Zhiqun (Kopi Date co-founder); Dr Kenneth Tan (Singapore Management University).
Straits Times article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/have-red-flags-and-icks-ruined-the-way-we-date-in-singapore
SPH Audio: https://audio.sph.com.sg/podcast-ep/01kt8t6dv705tzbqetr147zbjc/
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX
Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P
Kopi Date was a guest on this Straits Times podcast. That is not an endorsement of Kopi Date by The Straits Times.
Timestamp outline
1:53 - Has dating become harder?
5:29 - 21 years old, no dating experience
10:10 - The perfect partner problem
11:33 - Social media and romance
14:21 - Dating 101: teaching rejection in schools?
18:29 - Why people do not bring their best self on dates
21:46 - Why work for love?
27:15 - Is school the best place to look for love?
31:20 - Fear of being alone
32:34 - Red flags and icks
36:25 - Old-school gender rules in a modern world
41:52 - Can government fix our love lives?
Note: Public highlight timestamps from The Straits Times companion page. Spot-check against YouTube before treating as final.
Takeaways in our voice
Dating feels harder because the system rewards browsing over becoming. Swipe culture trains people to evaluate faces and exit fast. Real connection asks for presence, curiosity, and a little courage after the first awkward minute.
Unrealistic romance scripts are expensive. When social media sets the standard for chemistry, ordinary warmth looks like a failure. We care more about patterns you can grow with than a highlight reel.
Icks can protect you, or they can keep you lonely. Some exits are wisdom. Some are fear wearing a cute name. Guidance helps you tell the difference.
You do not get better at love by staying in your head. You get better by going on intentional dates, reflecting, and adjusting. That is why we pair curated 1:1 coffee dates with guided growth between them.
Fear of being alone is real. Settling is optional. The goal is healthy love you can stand inside, not a relationship as proof you are not single.
Nobody needs another marketplace. People need a calmer first date with someone hand-picked for values and readiness, then support to become clearer for the next one.
Proof: Since 2018 we have curated 30,000+ coffee dates in Singapore. Members rate us 4.6 from 383+ Google reviews. Plans start from $80 per curated date. We are not an app and not a matchmaking agency. We are curated coffee dates plus guidance.
Start here
If the episode left you thinking I want better dates, not more noise,” start here:
Success stories: /success-stories
The experience: /the-experience
Offline dating: /offline-dating
Membership: /membership
Not a dating app: /not-a-dating-app
Ready when you are: tell us your story at a Brew, and we will take it from there.
FAQ
Q: Who was on the episode?
A: Host Natasha Ann Zachariah spoke with Liu Zhiqun, co-founder of Kopi Date, and Dr Kenneth Tan, assistant professor of psychology at Singapore Management University. The episode is The Usual Place S1E97, published 4 June 2026.
Q: Does The Straits Times endorse Kopi Date?
A: No. Zhiqun was a guest on an ST podcast. Coverage and conversation are not an endorsement.
Q: What is Kopi Date, in one line?
A: Curated 1:1 coffee dates with human curation and guided growth between dates. Not an app. Not a matchmaking agency.
Q: Where should I listen?
A: YouTube, SPH Audio, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify links are in the Listen and watch block above.
Q: Is there a full transcript on this page?
A: Not in this version. We publish a summary, timestamps, and takeaways so the conversation is citable without republishing a full verbatim transcript.