In this special sponsored episode of the Anglotopia podcast, we interview Ben Elman, founder of datingacrossthepond.com (formerly Date British Guys). We discuss the history and evolution of Ben’s international dating platform, exploring the unique challenges and benefits of transatlantic relationships. The conversation covers cultural differences in dating between the UK and US, the appeal of British accents, and how communication styles vary between the two countries. Ben shares insights on building trust in online dating, the importance of video interviews, and success stories from his platform. The episode also touches on the impact of British media on American perceptions and the nuances of British humor. Links Dating Across The Pond Website Key Takeaways: International dating platforms can foster meaningful connections by allowing people to meet potential partners from different cultures. Paid memberships and video interviews can enhance trust and safety in online dating. Cultural differences between the UK and US, such as communication styles and humor, can add intrigue to transatlantic relationships. British accents are often appealing to Americans, though the distinctions between different UK accents may not always be apparent to US listeners. Transatlantic dating often leads to a slower, more deliberate process of getting to know each other, which can be beneficial for building relationships. The influence of British media in the US contributes to the appeal of dating British people. Sound bites “I think when you look at most international dating, you have to remember that the competition out there, for the most part, obviously you’ve got the big players, like Tinder, for example, and Bumble allow you to change your setting to be in another country. But that doesn’t mean that the people you’re seeing are particularly interested in people from your country or people from your nationality.” “I think Americans are a bit more literal. I think when they say something, that’s exactly what they mean. But when it comes to British, I think there’s a lot of different meanings to what they’re saying.” “I think in the UK, you can say the same thing in 10 different ways. And it could mean at least five to 10 different things. And I think that in America, they are much like, whatever they say is what they mean.” “I think that the American connection to the UK means that already right at the beginning, there’s this like goal of romance and love and this sort of interest level is higher in the other person’s culture.” “You watch British humor and it’s what’s not said that is really funny. And it’s where it could be two meanings and that’s where it’s funny.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Transatlantic Dating 04:59 Transition to Dating Across the Pond 11:00 Building Trust and Safety in Online Dating 14:05 Success Stories from the Platform 27:22 Cultural Differences in Dating 32:38 Communication Styles: British vs. American 43:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts