

Dating Beyond Borders
Marina Iakovleva
Welcome to the Dating Beyond Borders Podcast!
I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world!
Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits.
Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.
I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world!
Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits.
Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 12, 2026 • 59min
Ep. 94 - The Hard Truth About Dating in Paris: Power Games, Nonchalance, and Cheating
This week, I chat with Penelope, a French-American woman living and dating in Paris. We dive into the truth behind “the city of love”—the reality of dating in a city defined by nonchalance, where excitement often comes before commitment, and marriage and family can take a backseat to more transient encounters. We compare France and the U.S. on nuance, dating labels, and end goals, and tackle age-old questions like: Are French men great lovers? Do they cheat more? And are French women really intimidating?Say hi to Penelope: https://www.instagram.com/penelope_brg/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Feb 10, 2026 • 15min
Men on Vulnerability: Sweden vs Mexico vs Korea (Mini Pod)
In this podcast snippet, I speak with men from Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea about what makes them feel emasculated in relationships. We also talk about vulnerability — whether men feel safe opening up today, and what actually makes them feel “less than a man.”Say hi to Max: / _maxem_ Say hi to Carlos: / charliealbarrancomedy Say hi to KT: / ktpark_striking Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: / datingbeyondborders Dating Beyond Borders channel: / datingbeyondborders

Feb 7, 2026 • 1h 18min
Ep. 93 - Do Men in Sweden, Mexico & Korea View Relationships Differently?
In my first-ever in-studio podcast, I sit down with three men from Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea to unpack one of the most talked-about topics today: masculinity. We explore how masculinity is defined in their cultures, what they were taught about being a man, how they view a man’s role in relationships, and which qualities they value most in a partner.Say hi to Max: https://www.instagram.com/_maxem_/Say hi to Carlos: https://www.instagram.com/charliealbarrancomedy/Say hi to KT: https://www.instagram.com/ktpark_striking/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Wanna join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Jan 30, 2026 • 1h 8min
Ep. 92 - Dutch Directness, Dry Humor & Cultural Shock (Ft. Double Dutch)
In this episode, I speak with Derek, an American living in the Netherlands with his Dutch husband, about the cultural nuances that often get overlooked—how Americans and Dutch people express enthusiasm differently, what humor works (and doesn’t), and why these differences are often misunderstood online.Say hi to Derek: https://www.instagram.com/letsdoubledutch/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Jan 25, 2026 • 9min
French vs Americans: parenting, perfection & individualism 🇺🇸🇫🇷 Ft. Multilingual Nest (Mini Pod)
I talk to Alisa, an American who has lived in French is married to a French man about the differences in American and French mentality: from parenting, to the perfection culture so present in France, the slow living vs hustle and why Americans tend to leave parties earlier.Say hi to Alisa: https://www.instagram.com/multilingual_nest/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Jan 8, 2026 • 59min
Ep. 91 - Truth About Being in a Relationship with a Nigerian Man (Ft. Igbo Podcast)
This week I sit down with Ifunanya, a Nigerian-American podcast host, and her Nigerian husband, Ugo. We unpack Nigerian relationship dynamics — from their biggest cultural miscommunications, to what Ugo did before they were even dating that most American men wouldn’t think twice about, expectations for men and women in Nigeria, and the cultural nuances that shape relationships there. Say hi to Infunanya: https://www.instagram.com/igbopodcast/Check out Igbo and Yoruba classes (FREE trial): https://shorturl.at/5PBSFEach week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Dec 30, 2025 • 15min
Brazilian Woman Switches Countries on Dating Apps.. Found Her Swedish Match (Mini Pod)
In this snippet, I talk with Ana, a Brazilian woman who, tired of the dating scene in Brazil, changed her Tinder location to Sweden to meet someone more aligned with her values. She is now in a relationship with a Swedish man and lives in Sweden. Ana shares what it’s really like dating a Swedish man, the cultural differences she noticed, and her advice for anyone who feels stuck dating in a place that doesn’t match their energy, values, or long-term goals.Say hi to Ana: https://www.instagram.com/ana.marcal/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Dec 19, 2025 • 52min
Ep. 90 - Turkish Relationships Hit Different ... And Here's Why (Ft. Turkish on Board)
This week I’m chatting with Jülide, a Turkish content creator who now lives in Belgium and is in a relationship with a Belgian partner. We dive into Turkish relationships — how space and individuality are viewed (and why “me time” basically doesn’t exist), what makes Turkish women different in relationships, and why family approval can make or break everything.https://www.instagram.com/turkishonboard/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Dec 12, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep. 89 - The Truth About Being in a Relationship With a French Man (Ft. Multilingual Nest)
I chat with Alisa, an American content creator married to a French man who also teaches French pronunciation. We dive into the key differences between French and American relationships, the mentality gap between the two cultures, and even how parenting styles compare.Say hi to Alisa: https://www.instagram.com/multilingual_nest/Her course: https://soundfrench.learnworlds.com/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the DBB newsletter? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 25min
Ep. 88 - These are the WORST cities to find love in 2025? (Ft. Alex Limanówka)
In this episode, I sit down with psychologist and psychotherapist Alex Limanówka to break down the best and worst cities to find love in 2025. We go through each “worst” city on the list, talk about what the dating scene is actually like there, debate whether it deserves its spot, and even add a few of our own. Got thoughts or experiences to share? We’d love to hear what you think!Say hi to Alex: https://www.instagram.com/therapy.by.alex/List here: https://www.timeout.com/news/the-best-and-worst-cities-for-dating-and-finding-love-according-to-locals-020525Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the newsletter? https://datingbeyondborders.eo.page/newsletterSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders


