Reviews

I love you both SO much and am a huge supporter of this podcast, tell everyone about it, am a Benefits subscriber and look forward to every episode. Also a listener of Jtrain, Oversharing and The Betches podcast. But please I beg you--never discuss Vanderpump rules again. I wanted to gouge my eyes out during that segment. Fewer people care about the unreality of reality TV than you might think! Still 5 stars and still love you though. Hi Jordana.

I’m editing my original review, so I hope Jordana still reads this. You and Jared are incredible, and I have listened since day 1. However, Les Misérables does not take place during the French Revolution. It’s about the June Rebellion of 1832, also knows as the Paris Uprising of 1832. I wouldn’t have mentioned it, except you said it twice now.

Just here to say I love ya J & J! Thanks for always being there so I don’t have to listen to my own thoughts!

My mom texted me “u up?“ last night and I can’t unsee it now. Thanks J&J for the laughs! I save the podcast episodes (esp benefits) for my rougher mental health moments & the content never fails to lift me up.

This podcast is a wonderful combination of solid dating advice (Jordana & Jared are very insightful and reflective) and entertainment (always makes me laugh). I particularly love hearing about Jordana’s marriage (thank you for showing us that marriage is never perfect the way romcoms tried to get us to believe) and Jared’s past relationship (more on this, please). As someone in a long-term relationship, I would love to hear more discussions around relationships as this podcast tends to lean more toward the “he ghosted after the second date” type content. One piece of feedback- please keep in mind that not all women in their mid-twenties and older are out to find a husband as quickly as possible. I know this was a huge priority for Jordana but some of the viewpoints come across as regressive. Not all women are on a desperate singular mission to lock down a man. The amount of times this is just assumed is sometimes hard to listen to (this isn’t the 1950s), and the frequency with which a women’s biological clock is mentioned is exorbitant.

Love this show, can’t say enough about how great the show is, and have shared with many friends/acquaintances! Writing a review to say, please keep ads off for subscribers 🫠🚩P.S. I love faux pas.

From the February episode on Jared being upset that a date said he looked like someone she knew who was ugly: Jordana is a carbon copy of Christopher from the Sopranos and Jared looks like Dan Levy if Dan Levy had joined a frat. Edit: I’m married, but most of my friends are dating around. It’s fun to listen to the podcast and discuss, and it gives me a window into what they’re up against. The podcast is hilarious—both Jared and Jordana are really funny and open, but I wish Jared would give Jordana a little more room to breath. It would be nice to hear Jared speak more candidly about his relationship and for both hosts to consider LGBTQ dating scenarios. A lot of their commentary is very gendered and not always applicable. As someone in a relationship, it would also be fun (I hope) to hear more about problems within long term things instead of people who have been on a few dates. Overall, it’s a fun listen even if you’re not dating.

Sharing this here because I know Jordanna will see it. When I say the Les Mis segment is my favorite segment all time of any podcast … I mean it. I could not stop laughing and my boyfriend who probably has no idea what Les Mis is just looked puzzled as I laughed to my AirPods. Love you both. Thank you for all the goodness U Up brings. ♥️

I am a loyal listener and benefits subscriber and absolutely love the show. It’s super relatable and funny and J&J’s dynamic is just priceless! Jordana, ignore these haters when you’re reading through the reviews lol SOS Segment not my favorite but will always be a fan!!!!!

Tbh

Loyal listener since the very first episode. Incredibly funny, authentic, real, and relatable dating podcast, and I’m obsessed with J&J’s dynamic. Thank you for the weekly (twice now!) laughs. To update this review - I still think this is the best podcast of all time. Reading other reviews, the problem is not that Jared is depressed - he’s clearly gay/not interested in women. There is no way he hasn’t found someone he really likes unless he’s just simply not into the opposite sex. I wish he had more self awareness and the courage to admit this to himself, would make the show and his life so much better!!

First, I have listened to the pod for years, am a subscriber, and love the energy between Jared and Jordana. I’ve been sitting on writing this but it is painful to listen to Jared project his negative outlook onto every situation, and his general attitude shift is concerning. Maybe it might be time for him to metaphorically align his chakras (go to Israel?), take the summer off, and come back to the awesome balance this show used to have? :) I truly love Jared and have seen his stand up, etc… don’t want to actually go anywhere but the man needs a break.

Update Feb 2023: I love the lightning round!! SOS episodes - not so much. Also, why so many Jared detractors?? I actually think he’s being very authentic to how he is feeling and doing lately - and I *really* appreciate that. And as a fellow dater, I see the validity of many of his observations, and they make me feel less alone out there - yes, even the negative ones! Since when is it Jared’s job to make the dating market look rosier? ORIGINAL REVIEW: Funny enough, it was a match on Hinge (went nowhere) from whom I first heard of U Up?. Now, I’ve turned multiple friends onto the pod as well. I *love* the advice from J&J. And I speak as an older audience member with many years of relationship/dating experience who has basically arrived at all the same lessons J&J dispense, via my own lived experience! That’s how I know the lessons are true. I especially appreciate Jared’s straight-male angle - the truth that he tells (breaks my heart that 90% of the reader emails can be solved with “S/he’s just not that into you”) is like a splash of sobering cold water. Must admit, I’m not into the long intros - but only because I love more time for the actual emails and advice! Thank you, J&J! P.S. Especially in the big coastal metro areas (and Chicago!), there are a TON of older (40+) single people who are also facing dating challenges (including some unique to that demographic, e.g., age discrimination against women, especially on the apps). Might be really interesting to address… Just a brainstorm. :)

I have been a huge fan for years of the pod and always go back and listen to unplayed episodes. I love Jared and jordanas chemistry and takes, loved the live show, and I’ve seen Jared’s standup live. However, Jared’s interview style is truly AWFUL! Between the recent jay shetty interview and the SOS episodes, his questions are so unnecessary and make certain parts of the interview last much longer than needed. Jordana should take the lead on interviews and Jared can still provide his advice because he really is so funny and love his insight but his comedic take isn’t needed throughout every episode especially during interviews.

I love the lightning round!

Hi Jordana :) love knowing you read all of these. J&J are so funny, vulnerable, relatable, smart, and helpful! Their conversations about being “a disgusting” have honestly made me feel so much better about myself :’) They work very hard to make sure they are consistently delivering an amazing show for their fans. No matter what your relationship status, you will always laugh along and I cannot recommend it more !! Love her tik toks but don’t love Maddie on the pod

**Repeatedly turns down volume as Jared bursts out and interrupts the guest and/or Jordana over and over** I’ve been listening to this show since the beginning and love it. But that Jay episode reminded me of the early days when Jared’s interrupting would make me want to scream. Saying “sorry to interrupt” doesn’t make it okay! Your thoughts don’t supersede everyone else’s. Still a fan but oof!

My review title sounds dramatic but it’s true!! In my dating life I have always taken a back seat and been super anxious, but since I started listening 4 years ago, I have learned from Jordana and Jared’s advice how to set my own standards & stick to them, and they really have helped me change my perspective on what I’m looking for in a partner for the better! I love their POV of dating because it’s so much more empowering than other dating advice you hear on other podcasts and overall kind of centers around the idea of just being yourself, vulnerable, and honest Also I don’t understand all the Jared slander in the comments?! I listen to Jtrain and Oversharing and at this point I feel in a weird way friends with both Jared and Jordana even though they have no idea who I am lol Keep doing the lords work!

I like this podcast a lot. And benefits subscriber. And I certainly support the mission in that it is entertaining and relatable. The one thing I would perhaps critique is that a lot of the perspectives of the podcast is based on the premise that everyone is essentially the same; (the fat part of the bell curve). While this is a valid opinion, it underestimates "why" everyone is the same. So rather than easily dismissing people that choose to be on social media, or dating apps or consume popular media, realize that people that engage with these forms of media are influenced by it and their behavior, actions, and opinions are directly impacted by how they engage with certain forms of media. That is all to say, both hosts are clearly very smart and passionate, but more interesting and nuanced conversations would result from engaging with others. There are very interesting and amazing people and ideas unrelated to dating app ghosting and prepubasent instagram behavior.They have done this sometimes by bringing on Dan Savage or when they tiptoed around the concept of sexual racism with Ronny Chieng. Finally, I feel Jordana has so much to offer. I mean she is the prototype of an accomplished, beautiful, intelligent woman who is navigating relatable life circumstances in a lot of different ways. Her perspective is worth is weight in gold and I feel she takes a back seat.

I was late to the party and started listening in 2019 after hearing Jared on one of my other favorite podcasts. I wish I had started listening sooner because I know it would’ve made me a better dater. I recommend it to every one I know that’s single. No joke, even to some girl I just met at a work conference who was talking about her struggles. Jared and Jordana are hilarious and have that perfect cohost energy, but they also give the most relatable dating advice. I got married in 2020 so certainly not the target demographic at this point, but still learn so much about relationships in general I can, and do, put into use. Do yourself a favor and become a benefits subscriber- it’s so nice to get to know people I listen to every week on a deeper level.

Longtime listener! I have loved hearing Jordanna’s evolution from anxious dater to married woman over the years. Jordanna has taken an active role in solving her “dating problems,” from reading books, to going to therapy and more, and that has been very rewarding to listen to. Now it’s time for Jared to do the same. Jared should start by reading Attached.

Hilarious, and insightful dating advice.

Ok, I really like this show and have been a subscriber for awhile now but honestly I don’t know if it’s just me but is Jared getting louder and more obnoxious / bitter than ever? Also LOATHE when he talks over/interrupts her. Like honestly I think this show would be just as great if it was Jordana and a rotating male opinion.

Absolutely love the podcast and have been a long time listener. I’ve been a U Up w/ Benefits subscriber for a while as well and really enjoy it. However, I feel disappointed by the price increase. Sometimes the bonus episodes won’t even load on the Apple podcast app. Please reconsider!

Love the banter between Jared & Jordana! I like the concept of the podcast and think they give good advice!

Listening to Jared’s dating troubles I used to do this as well. So when my (now husband) was super interested the first few dates initially I pushed him away. But then after a month or so of casual dating, I texted him half heartedly one day, and he then responded with a break up text - essentially he didn’t feel I was giving much effort and the connection wasn’t there like he initially thought. I was shocked.. he had seemed so enthusiastic initially but he wasn’t willing to get strung along. So my advice to Jared is just because someone is super interested on date four doesn’t mean they want to marry you. They are just liking what they see so far. Not every girl is dying to marry you. If it seems like that, are you attracting a certain type of person? You might get to date 12 and they will realize you aren’t quite it for them either. If you cut it off at date 3 each time you still barely know the person.

Been a listener for years and a subscriber to benefits. Love this show and the very real and raw conversations! Having trouble listening to a bunch of the benefits episodes that wont load though. Hope there’s a fix for that soon!

I have been obsessed with this podcast for almost a year now, and I can’t get enough! Jordana and Jared have hilarious banter and bounce off each other so well. With that being said, the recent shift to talking about Jared’s dating life on every episode and every benefits episode is pretty depressing. Jared says the same thing every time about how he wants to be in a relationship but isn’t really motivated and won’t ever go on a second date with someone. It really seems like he’s wasting a lot of women’s time as well as his own. If I were single, I would be so disheartened hearing about a man who continues to go on dates with women and never once is actually invested in them. I think it would be valuable for him to dig deeper into why he acts the way he does, before continuing to hurt himself and others. Otherwise, loving the pod and the commentary, and excited to hear Jared on Oversharing.

I love the pod, have listened to every single episode for years and will continue to do so! However - I do get very frustrated w the generalizations that are made about women and their biological clocks putting them at some horrible disadvantage in dating situations. Women have full agency in dating and not all women are so desperate to settle down and have children that they will swipe on anyone on apps or put up with poor behavior in relationships, etc. I know Jordana struggled w some of this prior to meeting Mike so maybe she is speaking from her experience, but I think recognizing that her experience isn’t EVERY female experience would be helpful. More female empowerment please!!

I’ve really enjoyed the podcast over the last couple years - they have a realistic perspective on dating situations and obviously have great banter. It’s still entertaining, but any discussion of Jared’s dating life is exhausting to listen to. It generally makes me turn it off altogether. They have identical discussions every week on his ambivalence towards dating, while he expresses a desire to get married (cognitive dissonance I suppose)? Personally, I see no value in discussing Jared’s personal life. Otherwise a fun show!