Bull Riding, Broken Necks, and Bad Dating Apps

Infidelity, Custody, and Witchcraft: One Dad’s Wild Ride Through Modern Dating

Dating after a traumatic breakup is hard enough. Add military deployments, full-time single parenting, and a string of truly bizarre dating encounters—and you’ve got Stephen’s story.

On this week’s episode of The Meat Market podcast, we sat down with Stephen, a military contractor and father of two, who’s navigating the chaotic world of modern dating after a shocking betrayal. His journey is at times heartbreaking, occasionally disturbing, and somehow still darkly funny.

The Ultimate Betrayal

Stephen’s story starts with a homecoming no one would want. After months deployed in Ukraine, he returned early to surprise his partner of ten years—only to find a 19-year-old boy hiding among stuffed animals in his children’s playroom.

Her reaction? Not remorse. Not panic. Just confusion: “What are you doing home?”

What followed was a clumsy attempt to paint the teen as an intruder, a lie easily unraveled by months of saved Snapchat messages confirming their relationship. The betrayal cut deeper when his partner eventually told their children she “didn’t want to be a mom anymore” and signed over full custody to Stephen.

Today, he raises their two daughters—ages 10 and 3—on his own while continuing his demanding career in military contracting.

The Dating Disasters That Followed

Post-breakup, Stephen dove into the dating pool—and quickly discovered it was more of a shark tank. Among the most memorable encounters:

• A woman who invited him over for dinner, only to have her young daughter run up and call him “dad”—a fact she failed to mention beforehand.

• A first date that ended with the woman trying to carve her name into his chest with her fingernails while whispering that “everyone needs to know you’re mine.”

• Her home? Filled with jars of dead animals, occult symbols, and her parents’ ashes proudly displayed.

It’s safe to say the man has stories.

Red Flags and Real Talk

Beyond the outrageous moments, Stephen’s episode sparks an important discussion about relationship red flags and the human tendency to ignore them. He openly admits to having seen warning signs in past relationships—especially around infidelity—and choosing to look the other way.

The conversation raises the age-old question: “Once a cheater, always a cheater?”

Stephen’s take is nuanced. While teenage mistakes might be forgivable, he believes repeated patterns of infidelity in adulthood are rarely isolated or accidental.

What Stephen’s Really Looking For

Despite the horror stories, Stephen remains grounded. He’s not looking for perfection—he’s looking for honesty, emotional maturity, and someone who respects the central role his daughters play in his life.

He’s learned to put everything on the table early: his priorities, his past, and his boundaries. No more sugarcoating. No more ignoring gut instincts.

And while the dating scene may feel like a “slaughterhouse,” as The Meet Market often jokes, Steven is proof that you can face the worst of it and still hold out hope for something real.

A Story for Every Single Parent Out There

Stephen’s journey resonates with countless single parents trying to date with integrity while shielding their kids from further harm. His honesty, resilience, and refusal to give up on connection make him more than a survivor of betrayal—he’s an example of how healing, clarity, and humor can coexist, even in the messiest seasons of life.

Because in the end, The Meat Market isn’t just about dating horror stories. It’s about learning how to spot the warning signs, laugh through the chaos, and never settle for less than the love—and life—you deserve.