Remember what you wanted in a partner when you were 22? How's that checklist holding up?
Maybe you wanted someone tall, attractive, financially stable, and ready to have kids. Fast-forward a couple of decades, throw in some heartbreak, a few wrinkles, maybe a divorce or a child or two, and suddenly that list looks a whole lot different.
This week on Desolate Dating, Haylie sits down with licensed clinical professional counselor Melanie Burner to talk about how our dating standards evolve as we get older. Melanie brings both her professional perspective and her personal experience navigating dating after divorce in a small Montana town.
We're talking about physical attraction, emotional availability, financial stability, parenting, and the difference between finding someone who checks your boxes and finding someone who actually makes you feel loved and supported.
And then there's the rural dating problem. When your dating pool is already small and spread across thousands of square miles, how many non-negotiables can you realistically have?
Connect with Melanie Burner, LCPC
Melanie is a licensed clinical professional counselor based in Montana who specializes in working with women with ADHD and autism. She is currently accepting clients and provides services to individuals located in Montana.
Email Melanie: melanie@teamingtogethercounseling.com
Be Part of Desolate Dating
Have a rural dating story, a hard-earned lesson, or an experience that might make somebody else feel a little less alone?
We want to hear it!
Share your story or submit a voice memo here.
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Thanks to our Presenting Partners:
The Moss Lodge by Arneson Contracting
A whimsical stay on the Milk River in Glasgow, Montana, with acreage to roam, a treehouse overlooking the river, a hot tub, and a main house built for entertaining.
Glasgow Dental Clinic
Keeping northeastern Montana smiling. Call (406) 228-2656.
And our Founding Sponsors:
Want to partner with the show? Email Haylie@ranchymedia.com.
© 2026 Ranchy Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Desolate Dating is created, owned, and hosted by Haylie Shipp and produced by Ranchy Media LLC.
Desolate Dating explores topics including loneliness, relationships, and emotional well-being. While we hope these conversations help listeners feel seen and connected, this podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health care.
If you are struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, your healthcare provider, or a licensed mental health professional.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are in the United States or Canada. If you are outside the United States or Canada, please contact your country's local crisis services or emergency resources. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.
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