Podcaster Julia Gaitho Joins Dating App in Search of Long-Term Love 

Podcaster Julia Gaitho has revealed she has joined Bumble in search of a long-term relationship, saying she sees no reason to hide her dating life from the public.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Gaitho confirmed she recently created a profile on the app under her own name and is enjoying the experience a shift from a previous stint on the platform that she described as unfulfilling. “I just started the other day. I’m loving it, so much fun,” she said. “Why would I hide? You’ll find me there anyway.”

Gaitho said the difference this time lies in her mindset. Rather than treating the app as a means to an end, she has chosen to lead with curiosity and openness.

“I’ve been on Bumble before, and I didn’t like it. It was boring. But now this time I was like, I just want to have fun,” she said. “And I’m really enjoying meeting people.”

That philosophy is stated plainly in her bio, which reads: “If we cannot achieve a romantic connection, I am happy to maintain a friendship.” Gaitho insists the line is not a lie. “I actually genuinely mean that,” she said.

For her, the first meeting is about testing whether an online connection holds up in person. She recounted a debate with a match who proposed an activity for their first date. “He wanted to do an activity, and I kept saying, ‘Can we just have a drink, or let’s have a meal? Because I want to first see if this chemistry translates physically from the dating app.’”

That instinct has already paid off, not always romantically. Gaitho said she has met men whose messaging banter was strong but whose in-person chemistry fell flat, with the feeling mutual on both sides. Rather than parting ways, several have become genuine friends. “Imagine, we are boys, we do video calls while we are cooking. They are my new girlfriends, and I love it,” she said.

She also acknowledged the awkwardness that can come with dating in the public eye, including matches who question whether they measure up.

“They feel like I’m not doing something for them. Maybe I’m too tall. I’m too talkative. I’m too whatever,” she said. “It’s neutral. It’s not like this guy is wishing for me.“

She has also navigated the opposite scenario when someone couldn’t remain just friends because their feelings ran deeper. In that case, the two agreed to let things settle and see how the relationship progressed. When asked directly whether she is on Bumble to meet new people or to find love, Gaitho said, “I’m looking for love, a long-term relationship,” she said.

She credited a fellow public figure with encouraging her to date openly rather than in secret. “I have another friend who is also a public figure, and she was like, ‘Why the hell not? Live your life.‘”