Posts

The Fears that Sabotage Relationships

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What are the fears that sabotage relationships? Dr. Maria-Elena Lukeides helps us explore why good relationships fall apart. — What are the three key fears that sabotage relationships? That was the topic of discussion with Dr. Maria-Elena Lukeides. She is a Sydney-based Clinical Psychologist, meditation teacher, and pioneer in psychedelic-assisted therapy in Australia. With nearly 30 years in mental health, she integrates clinical psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness, and psychedelic therapy to explore trauma, healing, and human connection, drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience. In this episode, we covered: The three key fears that hold us back in life and love What happens in relationships when people are unaware of the fears they carry How to begin to overcome our fears and have better relationships with ourselves and others EP 716: Dr. Maria-Elena Lukeides – The Fears That Sabotage Relationships Highlig...

How Does Living Apart Together Redefine Romance After Fifty?

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Have you considered a living apart together relationship? If you value your independence and want partnership, this might be for you. There’s a quiet revolution happening in relationships, and it might surprise you. More and more people over fifty are choosing to be deeply committed to a partner while keeping their own home. They’re calling it LAT, short for Living Apart Together. And while it might raise eyebrows at a family dinner, it’s one of the most intentional, self-aware relationship structures I’ve seen people embrace later in life. I’ll be honest: when I first came across this concept, I was intrigued. It resonated with something I’d been thinking about for a while. A relationship built on real desire rather than shared square footage? Yes, please. When “Together” Starts to Feel Like Too Much Here’s something I hear from women in my coaching practice: they spent decades pouring themselv...

Trading the “Perfect” Life for a Real One

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Jane Garnett traded her so-called perfect life for an authentic one. Listen to her story in this episode of Last First Date Radio. — Jane Garnett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with nearly 20 years in practice and the author of the memoir, This Time with Feeling (May 2026). Her work focuses on helping people get unstuck, particularly during life transitions where things look “right” on the outside but don’t feel aligned internally. In this episode: That moment when you realize you need to let go of the “perfect life” to have an authentic life Why so many people feel stuck, even when they’ve done everything “right” How to tell the difference between a phase of discomfort and a life that truly needs to change Our “inherited scripts” and how they shape the lives and relationships we end up in EP 715: Jane Garnett – Trading the “Perfect” Life for a Real One Highlights from this episode Auth...

Do I Even Want to Date Again? How to Figure Out What You Really Want

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“Do I want to date again? Is it worth the effort at 68 years old?” I answer this dating dilemma here and on the podcast. — I’m so excited to introduce something new here at Last First Date: Dating Dilemmas . Readers and listeners submit their real dating questions and dilemmas, and I answer a selection of them right here on the blog, and on Last First Date Radio as video and audio episodes. If you have a dating dilemma you’d love answered, submit yours here: https://tinyurl.com/datingdilemma Our first Dating Dilemma comes from a woman who sent in this question: “How do I determine if I even want to date or have another relationship? 68 years old, two marriages (24 and 10 years). A few long term relationships. Last one ended over a year ago. I am financially secure and have some good friends. Like having my own space. I do miss intimacy but that is not guaranteed with men in my age range. Every time I start to prepare to go on the...

How the Alpha Male Mindset Sabotages Relationships

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How is the alpha male mindset sabotaging dating and relationships? Listen to Dave Rossi, a recovering alpha male who remarried after changing how he approached dating. — Dave Rossi is the author of Alphas Die Early: For the Man on a Mission—And the Women Who Love Him and the #1 bestselling book The Imperative Habit: 7 Non-Spiritual Practices Towards Spiritual Behavior – For Happiness, Health, Love, and Success. Dave’s work challenges outdated models of masculinity and success, guiding men to move beyond performance and into authenticity, emotional strength, and purpose. His perspective helps individuals build deeper, more meaningful relationships by aligning how they live with who they truly are. In this episode: Why the alpha male mindset is sabotaging dating and relationships How to date with more discernment The importance of defining your values and boundaries when dating Why difficult conversations are crucial to intimate relationships ...

5 Surprising Benefits of Having Difficult Conversations

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There are so many reasons you should be having difficult conversations in dating and relationships. Here are the top five. — Most of the conversations we talk about in the world of dating and relationships focus on what can go wrong when things get hard. And there is good reason for that. Conflict handled poorly does real damage. But I want to focus on what happens when a hard conversation goes well, because in my experience, that outcome is far more powerful. And the benefits of having these conversations, the real ones that matter to you, are worth understanding clearly before you talk yourself out of having them. Here are five things that can genuinely shift when you learn to speak up. 1. You Discover Whether the Relationship Works for You One of the most important things a difficult conversation does is give you real information about the person you’re with. How does he respond when you tell him something he might not want to hear? ...

How to Overcome Limerence and Find Real Love

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How can we overcome limerence and find true love? Amanda McCracken wrote a fabulous book on this topic. Tune in to the pod to learn more. — Do you want to overcome limerence and finally have a healthy relationship? My podcast guest, Amanda McCracken, wrote the book on how to stop infatuation to find authentic love. She’s a journalist passionate about experiences that highlight the intersection of wellness, travel, and relationships. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, Vogue, and many others. She is considered a “limerence expert” and intimacy advocate. Her 2023 TED Talk, “How Longing Keeps Us From Healthy Relationships,” and her podcast, The Longing Lab, highlight how longing can become self sabotaging and shares how to change our patterns of longing. McCracken is also a part-time university instructor, massage therapist, triathlon coach, and competitive athlete.  In this episode: The key characteristics of limerence ...