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The Wrong OnesAuthor: Operation Podcast
An Operation Podcast original show, The Wrong Ones is an anonymous, unfiltered deep dive into the relationships that cracked us openand the wisdom we gathered along the way. Hosted by an unnamed (but very relatable) woman who's loved, lost, healed, and repeated, this podcast explores the plot twists we never saw coming, the breakups that felt like identity crises, and the late-night epiphanies that changed everything. With new episodes weekly, we ask the uncomfortable questions, reflect with a bit of humor, and always leave room for growth. Because sometimes the wrong ones... lead you exactly where you're meant to be. Language: en Genres: Personal Journals, Relationships, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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A Different Way to Start the Year
Episode 31
Monday, 5 January, 2026
A New Year conversation about self-investment, self-trust, and why alignment—not being chosen—changes everything. In this first episode of the new year, The Wrong Ones opens with a recalibration rather than a reinvention. This is not a "new year, new me" episode. It's a grounded, psychology-forward exploration of what it actually means to choose yourself—consistently, holistically, and without turning self-care into performance. This episode unpacks one of the most misunderstood dynamics in modern dating: why emotionally healthy men tend to deeply value women who take care of themselves—not because of aesthetics or "high value" branding, but because self-investment signals self-regard, stability, competence, and agency at a nervous-system level. We move beyond surface-level advice to examine how physical, mental, emotional, and financial self-care fundamentally shift relational power dynamics, attachment patterns, and partner selection. Through psychology-backed insight and long-form reflection, this conversation reframes self-care as self-leadership. We explore how choosing yourself changes what you tolerate, who you attract, and how you move through relationships without abandoning your identity. The episode closes with a prompt to enter the year focused not on becoming more desirable—but more devoted to yourself. This episode is for anyone who's done chasing potential, confusing anxiety with chemistry, or shrinking to be chosen—and is ready to build a life where alignment, not performance, sets the tone. Reflection Prompt of the Episode: Where are you outsourcing your worth—and what would change if you became the primary investment in your own life this year? What would the self-respecting version of you stop negotiating? What would she choose on an ordinary day? Resources & Concepts Mentioned: Thin-Slice Perception (Social Psychology) Signaling Theory (Evolutionary Psychology & Economics) Nervous System Regulation & Embodiment Attachment Theory (Secure vs. Anxious Dynamics) Protest Behaviors in Attachment Social Exchange Theory Intermittent Reinforcement & Dopamine Loops Self-Determination Theory (Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness) Halo Effect in Perception Conscientiousness & Long-Term Mate Selection Self-Schema & Identity Preservation Values-Based Self-Leadership Internal vs. External Reward Systems ----- As always: if you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to follow, rate, and subscribe — it truly helps us grow and reach more listeners. Come say hi on Instagram @thewrongonespodcast An Operation Podcast production
