When Jennie Young, Ph.D.*, developed the Burned Haystack Dating Method®, she drew on her expertise in applied rhetoric and critical discourse analysis to help women read dating app profiles in ways more likely to lead to successful partnerships. As the method gained traction, it became clear that learning how to interpret language, patterns, and what is communicated passively — not just explicitly — allows women to protect their time, strengthen their confidence, and stay empowered in conversation.

In this talk, Jennie will explore how breaking down communication helps women step out of discouraging dating cycles and take greater control of the relational narrative. She will examine how clearer standards, stronger self-trust, and an understanding of power and communication dynamics can support more intentional, respectful connections. While rooted in dating culture, these insights extend far beyond dating apps, offering tools for navigating communication, boundaries, and relationships more broadly — and reshaping how we engage with others.

Reception and book signing to follow event. Purchase Jennie's book here.

FOR MEMBERS OF CONGREGATION RODEF SHOLOM ONLY: 
If you're in need of virtual options, reach out to mhi@rodefsholom.org.

Rodef Sholom’s REAL Mental Health Initiative is generously supported by the Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation.

*Jennie Young, Ph.D., is the creator of the Burned Haystack Dating Method® and a writer and professor at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Trained in classical and applied rhetoric, her work explores feminism, communication, and dating dynamics, translating academic insight into accessible, practical frameworks for a broad public audience. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney’s, Ms. Magazine, The Independent, HuffPost, Education Week, and Inside Higher Ed.