| Podcast Name | Role | Best Episodes (Themes) | |--------------|------|------------------------| | The Hook Up (triple j / ABC) | Regular expert guest | Dating app burnout, ghosting ethics, digital consent | | This Connected Life (hosted by Portolan) | Co-host/creator | Each episode explores tech’s impact on relationships | | Sex & the Single Aussie | Creator/host | Deep dive into dating app data, user stories, and intimacy |
From Vivid Sydney to boutique cultural salons, she joins tech founders and psychologists to debate the ethics of the dating industry. Why Her Work Resonates
: Apps maximize user engagement and corporate profit by intentionally weaponizing the fundamental human need for connection. From Academic Text to Audio Airwaves: The Power of Podcasts
Host: If you're interested in learning more about Lisa's research and film, be sure to check out the event details on our website. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more conversations with researchers and creatives making a difference in their fields. lisa portolan phd thesis podcast film event best
To truly understand her impact, one must look at the intellectual engine that drives her work: . But unlike most doctoral dissertations that gather dust on university library servers, Portolan’s research has found a vibrant second life in the mediums she studies—specifically, podcasts and film events .
In the evolving landscape of academic research, the traditional doctoral thesis—often bound in heavy paper and relegated to a university library shelf—is no longer the sole vessel for intellectual discovery. As the digital age reshapes how knowledge is disseminated, scholars are increasingly turning to multimedia formats to breathe life into their work. At the forefront of this intersection stands Dr. Lisa Portolan, whose innovative approach to her PhD research exemplifies the power of the "best" practices in modern scholarship. By weaving together the rigor of a thesis, the accessibility of a podcast, and the visceral impact of a film event, Portolan has created a multifaceted platform for engagement that redefines what it means to be a public intellectual.
: She recently appeared on Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg , discussing whether there is any escape from the paradigms created by dating apps. Literary Contributions and Events | Podcast Name | Role | Best Episodes
What sets Lisa Portolan’s work apart is her commitment to studying the "intricateness" of romantic mastertropes rather than reducing them to simple, black-and-white conclusions. Her work is lauded for:
Her thesis challenged a decade of conventional wisdom that argued digital interaction was "less than" face-to-face contact. Instead, Portolan proposed a theory of digital intimacy —suggesting that the affective, emotional bonds formed via screens and soundwaves are not degraded copies of real intimacy but entirely new forms of relationality.
I've compiled a report on Lisa Portolan's PhD thesis, podcast, film event, and other related activities. Here's the report: And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast
Lisa Portolan’s trajectory provides a masterful blueprint for modern doctoral students, academics, and filmmakers alike. It proves that a PhD thesis does not have to be confined to a dusty archive.
: It was co-created with filmmaker Ruth Borgobello after the two met at the Italian Film Festival.
The Core Thesis: Dating Apps and the Commodification of Intimacy
The podcast's episodes captured a unique historical moment, documenting phenomena like the return of exes, the embrace of friendships as primary relationships, the creation of "iso-partners" and "iso-hook-ups," and the eerie sight of "tumble weeds on the dating apps". Her ability to pivot from academic researcher to empathetic host, guiding listeners through heart-felt stories while providing sharp cultural analysis, is a skill that has made her a highly sought-after guest on other leading podcasts as well, including .