If you want the entry point into Portolan’s ideas, the podcast medium is it. Here’s why:

: Portolan hosts film events featuring movies that explore intimacy, isolation, or technological disconnection.

Dr. Lisa Portolan’s trajectory from a PhD thesis to a podcast and film event represents the absolute best of public scholarship. It provides a flawless blueprint for the future of education and entertainment.

Portolan is a frequent voice in the "slow love" movement and a regular commentator on Australian programs like The Today Show and The Drum .

Lisa Portolan’s influence extends into the visual realm, where her research provides the backbone for storytelling about modern life.

Lisa Portolan’s PhD work at Western Sydney University focused on the intersection of intimacy and technology, specifically looking at how dating apps reproduce or challenge traditional gender roles. Her research sought to move beyond a single "master trope" of digital dating to embrace the multiplicity and contradictions of human connection.

She is the author of Ten Ways to Find Love... and How to Keep It (Echo, 2025), expanding her expertise into practical dating guidance.

The foundation of this entire ecosystem lies in Lisa Portolan’s doctoral research at the University of Western Sydney .

“Swiping for Connection: A Phenomenological Study of Intimacy and Identity Construction on Dating Apps” (completed at the University of Sydney or Western Sydney University, where she has been affiliated).

The most significant output from this research is the book (Routledge, 2023). The book explores how a surge in dating app usage during COVID-19 reshaped modern romance, investigating user motivations, self-presentation, and the complex interplay of gender, power, and technology. It introduced a powerful concept co-developed with Dr Jodi McAlister: "jagged love" — the jarring, anxious feeling that arises when the desire for an organic meet-cute clashes with the pre-meditated, strategic culture of app-based dating.

Moving beyond the "sensational gloss" of media portrayals of dating.

Dr. Portolan has been involved in primarily as a commentator and panelist, rather than a filmmaker. Notable events:

Lisa Portolan: Yes! The event, titled "Screening Identity", will feature a screening of "In/Between" followed by a panel discussion with experts from the fields of media studies, sociology, and cultural studies. We hope to create a space for conversation and debate about the ways in which media representation shapes our understanding of identity.

: It was co-created with filmmaker Ruth Borgobello after the two met at the Italian Film Festival.

This article was written for readers seeking comprehensive information on Dr. Lisa Portolan’s interdisciplinary work, from her foundational PhD thesis to her engaging podcast and influential film events. For the latest updates on her projects, visit her official university profile or social media channels.

In the era of endless swiping and algorithm-driven romantic connections, understanding the impact of technology on human intimacy has never been more vital. Dr. Lisa Portolan, a leading researcher in digital intimacy, has emerged as a key voice navigating this complex landscape. Her extensive research—originating from her PhD thesis at Western Sydney University—examines how dating apps, especially during the pandemic, have transformed the way we form relationships, manage self-esteem, and navigate heteronormative dating scripts.

: Her research highlights a tension between traditional romantic ideals and the architecture of dating apps, which often foster a "hook-up" dynamic.