In the fast-paced world of modern dating, where swipes often replace substance, Dr. Lisa Portolan has become a voice for patience, intentionality, and emotional depth. As the host of the acclaimed Slow Love podcast, she explores how meaningful connections take time—a philosophy she lives out in her own life. But the origin story of her podcast co-host isn’t one of algorithms or dating apps. It began, fittingly, with an unplanned encounter at a film event in Sydney.
Exploring love, dating, and intimacy in the modern age, specifically looking at the impacts of dating apps and the pandemic. lisa portolan slow love podcast co-host met at film event
Lisa Portolan and her co-host Ruth Borgobello first met in at the Italian Film Festival in Canberra . The occasion was the premiere of Borgobello’s feature film, The Space Between , which was being showcased as part of the festival. In the fast-paced world of modern dating, where
The podcast, Slow Love , was subsequently born out of that initial interaction. It posits a counter-narrative to the "swipe right" culture of instant gratification. The show explores the nuances of taking time, building intimacy, and the "slow burn" of real romance—a fitting theme for a partnership that started as a slow conversation in a fast-paced environment. But the origin story of her podcast co-host
Slow Love: How a Chance Meeting at a Film Event Birthed a Modern Intimacy Podcast
: The podcast was conceptualized as an extension of Lisa's PhD research into intimacy and dating apps at the University of Western Sydney.
Witnesses describe the interaction as possessing an immediate "creative spark." While the room buzzed with surface-level networking, the pair reportedly retreated into a corner, dissecting the film’s themes of connection and disconnection. It was a classic "meet-cute" for the intellectual age—two distinct voices realizing they were humming the same tune.