Talia Lichstein and Sydnee Paige: NYC Influencers Who Prefer (Much) Older Men

We’ve written extensively about nympholepsy and age-gap relationships in pop culture. Our traditional sources have been books, films, television streaming shows, and other sources of that sort. But most recently, podcasts have provided us with a plethora of content. Take Talia Lichstein and Alexis Barber’s Bad Vibes podcast and Sydnee Paige's Syndee in the Sheets podcast.

Just like the age-gap memoirs we’ve recapped, Paige and Lichstein made a number of contradictions about their age-gap relationships. Let’s start with Lichstein, but let’s start at the end.

On the last episode of Bad Vibes “No More Bad Vibes” (Apr 29, 2022), 23-year-old Lichstein shared that during her freshman and sophomore (teen) years at Berkeley, she had a “ridiculous amount” of age-gap sex but that the “risky - dangerous” sex was done to be validated by men and her sorority sisters.

“Girl, if I could only tell you the crazy shit that I did my freshman and sophomore year of college. I lived to do risky - dangerous […] sex. Doing crazy things. Meeting up with people [via Hinge] who were too old for me […] Having a ridiculous amount of sex.”

“I would always be the one in my sorority to always have funny [sex] stories to tell.”

But now, approximately five years later, Lichstein says that she has sex for fun, to be young, and to have a good time, like when she performed oral in a parking lot - but not to be validated:

“Like me blowing that guy in the parking lot. That was a fun thing that I did. Not because of validation but because that guy was hot, and I was having a good time. And I was like, ‘This is funny.’ I really wanted to. Like, I was turned on and horny. Not because I wanted to impress him […]”

However, on “Vibe Check” (Feb 10, 2022), the very first episode of the podcast, Lichstein confessed that she lives for validation.

“I love when people DM me and ask for my phone number. I love when people tell me I’m hot. I love when men slide into my DMs. They can be the ugliest people on earth. I live for this validation [….] I don’t need that kind of lack of validation […] I need that heavy in my life.”

And on “Breaking Up With Friends And Beefing With Andy Cohen” (Mar 10, 2022), Lichstein reiterated her “unapologetic” need for validation. On the episode, Lichstein said that she accidentally performed oral sex. “So, I tripped, and my mouth fell on my friend’s dick - basically.” That was done after Lichstein’s friend advised her that they shouldn’t have sex, which she took as a challenge.

Lichstein: “Of course, he’s saying we can’t sleep together; so, I’m automatically like, ‘Well, now we have to.’ Even though I don’t find him that attractive.”

Barber: “Honestly, I would do the same.”

Lichstein: “Exactly, when a guy tells you that you’re not gonna fuck. Obviously, you’re only thinking about fucking; so, ever since, it’s been my mission to fuck this guy who I’m not even attracted to [...] It’s the validation.”

Barber: “I’m happy that you’re unapologetic about that.”

And Lichstein elaborated on one of her freshman year age-gap affairs. She related that when she was 18, she had a “fun little adventure” with a 28-year-old that lasted for three months during which he gifted her Lyft gift cards to cover her travel expenses from campus to his place.

“I had about a three-month thing when I was a freshman in college; so, he worked at some tech company in San Francisco. He was much older than me. I was having so much fun. Oh my God. It was such, like, a fun little adventure. He, for either Valentine’s Day or my birthday, he did what I think is perfect. He got me a [Victoria’s Secret] gift card [...] In addition, to another present [Lyft gift card] that was completely not sexual; so, he really balanced it out […] I was only 18-years-old seeing a 28-year-old man.”

On “You Don’t Know Me” (Feb 24), Lichstein shared her reasons for dating, “almost exclusively”, men whom were “a little too old”. She said that guys her age “suck”, but that age-gap affairs are beneficial, educational, and fun.

“It can be really beneficial to date an older guy […] Guys our age suck. I really get a lot from dating guys who are older than me. Like I feel like they benefit my life in so many ways. I’ve learned so much about life […] It’s just fun to hang out with them. “

“An older guy could be that perfect example of a guy who has a net positive value in your life […] These people are established. They know what they are doing.”

Lichstein confessed that she’s never “really” been taken advantage of by an older man. “[…] I don’t think I’ve ever really been taken advantage of or hurt by these men. Like, I’ve never done anything that I really regret.” But she did say that, “It’s very easy to be taken advantage of.” Consequently, she strongly advised against age-gap sexting and/or age-gap sex tapes. (Oddly, Lichstein stated that men are reluctant to ask (older) women for nudes, because (older) women are too smart to sext. #really)

Towards the end of the episode, Lichstein shared that she started having age-gap affairs at an early age when, as a high school freshman (≈ 14-years-old), she went to prom with an approximately 18-year-old senior.

“Speaking of age gaps, I was a freshman [when] I went to prom with some senior. Oh my God, it was the coolest thing of my life.”

She elaborated on “Dating: The Good, The Bad, & the F*cking Annoying” (April 7, 2022) that the reason seniors asked her, a mere freshman, to prom was due to her large fountains. Lichstein bragged, “I had big titties from a young age.” Consequently, she asked rhetorically, “I wonder where - how long I’ve had this thing for older guys?”

And on “WTF Does LYLAS Mean?” (Mar 3, 2022), after being verified on Instagram, Lichstein exclaimed:

“Congratulations to every [older] man I’ve fucked! […] Sorry your boyfriend fucked a verified girl. All the ladies out there. ‘Sorry.” It’s so cool! It makes my boobs ten times bigger. All my thirst traps are ten times hotter.” #validated

In addition, on the “WTF Does LYLAS Mean?” episode, Lichstein shared that she had an upcoming date with a mere 30-year-old whom she met at Fiddlesticks Pub in the West Village. Both Barber and Lichstein were surprised that the James Morrison look alike wasn’t even older.

Barber: “You and another person over 30.” [#smh]

Lichstein: “Yeah.” [Laughs] “Here we go.” “Me and my 30-year-old. God. This is pretty young for me - honestly.”

Barber: “I agree. It is. It really is. It really is.”

On “The Slap Heard ‘Round The World” (Mar 31, 2022), Lichstein (over) shared that she had the “most sexual” Bat Mitzvah, “[...] where everybody, like, made out and grinned on each other.” Then she complained, “I think it’s a crime that I didn’t get fucked silly in it.” It referring to a revealing dress that she wore to an event in Manhattan, wore in a TikTok, and posted on Instagram (i.e., “jerk off material”). Referring to it again, she advised, “If you want to see my titties, they’re out on Insta.” Subsequently, Barber asked, “Old dude is visiting?” To which Lichstein replied in the affirmative and shared that she spent a couple of nights with him at his “nice hotel”.

It turns out that Lichstein’s attraction to older men began even before high school.  Per a tweet that she spoke about on “It’s Complicated: Family Holidays Edition” (Apr 14, 2022), a “younger” Lichstein masturbated to Dr. Egon Spengler of Ghostbusters (1984).

“It’s so cute and trendy now to be into Jewish guys. Back in my day, I was a freak for masturbating to [Dr. Egon] Spengler from Ghostbusters […] I was obsessed with this guy when I was younger.”

Since Ghostbusters premiered in 1984, 23-year-old Lichstein wasn’t born; thus, it wasn’t clear how much “younger” she was when she masturbated to images of Dr. Spengler. However, on “Over Coachella, Revolve’s Sh*tshow Festival, & Leave Rihanna Alone” (April 21, 2022), Lichstein elaborated a bit. “I have always liked that man [i.e., Dr. Egon Spengler] since I was a child.”

In the end, Lichstein is pro age-gap relationships, but with no sexting and/or sex tapes.

[Note: Bad Vibes is no longer vibing. Barber said that she was “very busy”, but Lichstein spilled that Barber was “faced with the options” from her prestigious and well-paying day job. Otherwise, Barber would be, ironically, Googling for a new position. Lichstein: “If I were making the money that you were making […] I don’t think that I would risk it for this podcast either - this once weekly podcast […] Your decision is the one anybody would have made faced with the options that you were faced with - absolutely.”]

As for Sydnee Paige, she opined “On the "Dating Up (& Older)" (Feb 3, 2020) episode of her Syndee in the Sheets podcast, “When you’re with the right person, age isn’t really a factor - it’s not something you think about or even feel. You’re with the person and not the number.”

However, unsurprisingly, like Lichstein, Paige’s episode is littered with contradictions. For instance, initially, Paige said that older men date younger women because:

●      Older men like the power imbalance:

"[T]hey date younger, because they like the power imbalance [...]”

●      Older men feel that younger women "are deserving of less commitment":

“They’re seeking out younger girls, because they feel like they owe them less. They’re picking you, because they think that you are deserving of less commitment.”

●      Older men feel "entitled to younger women": “

“For a lot of these [older] men they feel that they are entitled to younger women.”

Which one is it? Is it all three? Does it depend on the man? #rhetoricalquestion Then, seemingly contradicting the power imbalance theory, Paige gave three, seemingly, contradictory reasons men date younger:

●      Older men feel that younger women are more valuable than older women:

“They have this insanely fucked up idea that younger women have more value."

●      Older men are typically obsessed with younger women:

“I think that the other problem with dating older men when you’re younger, especially when you’re female identifying, is that you do become the target of obsession super easily.”

●      Older men are typically invested in the pleasure of younger women:

In addition, Paige dissuaded young women (under the age of 18) from having age-gap affairs. (Cancel culture prevention disclaimers?) However, the bulk of the episode was pro age-gap relationships. #confusing

In the episode, Paige shared that "Tom", her very first boyfriend, was 12 years older. They met shortly after Paige's 18th birthday; thus, "Tom" was 30. And he inspired Paige to grow intellectually and sexually. "Tom", whom Paige was "crazy" about, taught teen Paige how to masturbate, which she said was "hot", and he even purchased Paige's first teen sex toys.

“My first boyfriend was 12 years older than me. The next was 5 years. And then 8 and so on. You get the picture. I don’t even think I’ve kissed anyone within 5 years of my age since I’ve become a legal adult.”

"Tom was truly my first love. He taught me everything I know sexually [...] He really, like, inspired me to grow. But he was a lot older than me. And when I met him, I felt so fucking cool. I was like, “Wow, this super good looking, very well-off accomplished guy is into me [...]”

However, Paige and "Tom" broke up, because "Tom" didn’t want to fully commit. Wait, does that mean that Paige wanted to fully commit? (FYI: "Tom" doesn't date older women, because he feels pressured to get married.")

And 20-year-old Paige went out with a guy who’s 35, whom she had "great" sex with - on the first date. Paige shared a touching moment from the date:

“[...] he told me what year he graduated college, and I remembered that I was 7. That was a weird moment. But he was so sweet though. Also, he was great in bed.”

In addition to "Tom" and the 35-year-old, Paige dated, among other older men, retired NBA players and movie producers.

Approvingly, Paige gave some age-gap dating advice to budding teleiophiles. She advised young women to frequent Cipriani Downtown, which she referred to as “sugar daddy central”. And she advised downloading Hinge. (Although, Paige met a(n) (obsessed) 32-year-old Manhattan based physician on Seeking Arrangements, she doesn't advise using the service.) Lastly, she advised young women to ignore negative opinions about age-gap relationships.

“If you are dating older, people are bound to have [negative] opinions about it. You don’t have to listen to them. But they’re gonna talk and try to figure out why you’re with that person. Even if they’re the most perfect person in the world for you.”

In addition, Paige (inadvertently) gave some age-gap relationship advice to men. She said that men should take control, take the lead, be stable and, simply, be old(er).

“I think leadership is the sexiest thing ever. So, when I’m dating older people it feels more like a natural situation to let them take the lead.”

“People have more stability with age [...] which I really crave."

“The added level of age is also a turn on. Like I mentioned. I know I shouldn’t say it but like someone needs to be honest about that shit.”

There you have it. Talia Lichstein and Sydnee Paige's - two NYC influencers whose brand is sex but with a twist (i.e., older men). Lichstein opined that age-gap affairs are beneficial, educational, and fun. And Paige is attracted to older men, because they take control, they take the lead, they’re stable and, simply, they’re old(er).