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Showing posts from December, 2025

Why Hope Might Be the Real Secret to Lasting Love

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What’s the real secret to lasting love? My podcast guest, Dr. Julia Garcia, has a hunch it might be something that surprises you… — What’s the real secret to lasting love? My podcast guest, Dr. Julia Garcia, is a psychologist, author, and renowned speaker dedicated to empowering people through the science of mental health. She weaves her real, lived experiences with behavioral science to create practical, transformative strategies for lasting change. Whether through her TEDx presentations, her interactive workshops, or her book The 5 Habits of Hope, Dr. Garcia’s mission remains the same: to prove that hope isn’t just something you feel—it’s something you practice, one habit at a time. In this episode of Last First Date Radio: The secret to lasting love Why people struggle to hold onto hope in romantic relationships The 5 Habits of Hope Feeling Detours, and how they show up in our lives How to train yourself to have more hope EP 692: Dr. Julia Garcia – Why Hope Might Be t...

5 Questions to Ask Before You Become Exclusive

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How do you know if you’re ready to become exclusive? Ask yourself these important five questions before you stop dating others. — Exclusivity can feel exciting. It often comes with relief and hope. Finally, you’ve found someone great. But just because something feels good, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right. If you’re a woman in midlife and beyond, it’s important to slow down and check in with yourself. Before you agree to become exclusive, ask yourself the following five important questions. These are not questions for your date. They’re about taking care of yourself and honoring your values, your nervous system, and your future. 5 Important Questions to Ask Before You Become Exclusive 1. Do I feel emotionally safe with this person? Emotional safety is foundational. Do you feel calm, seen, and respected around them? Can you express a concern without being afraid of dismissal or defensiveness? Do their words and actions line up over time? Butterflies can distract you fr...

Breakup Recovery: How to Heal From a Breakup and Date Again

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How do you heal from a breakup and when do you begin to date again? Learn about breakup recover on the podcast with Cole Zesiger. — Cole Zesiger is a breakup and relationship coach specializing in breakup recovery, dating advice, and relationship coaching. After a divorce at 23 and another breakup soon after, he began sharing his journey on social media—growing to over 750,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more.  He has coached 2,000+ people through heartbreak, helping them either rekindle relationships in a healthy way or move on with peace. His practical approach blends psychology, attachment theory, and real-world strategies to guide people from heartbreak to healing.  When not coaching, Cole enjoys time with his wife and daughter, playing guitar, dirt biking, and exploring the mountains. His debut book, Ex’s and No’s: The Breakup Advice You Don’t Want to Hear, offers a proven roadmap to rebuild self-worth, master communication, and create healthy, l...

5 Signs of a One-Sided Relationship (and how to detach and leave)

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What are the signs of a one-sided relationship? And if you’re in one, how do you detach and leave? Learn more… — There comes a moment in every woman’s love life when she says to herself, I’m doing too much in this relationship. It feels unbalanced, and I’m not happy about it. Sometimes it happens after months of feeling unheard. Sometimes it comes after years of being the one who holds the relationship together while your partner coasts. At this stage of life, you know your worth more deeply than ever, which makes it all the more painful when the relationship you’re in rests entirely on your shoulders. If you’ve been wondering whether you’re in a one-sided relationship, here are five clear signs to pay attention to and some gentle guidance on how to detach with dignity and leave with your head held high. 1. You initiate almost everything. You make the plans, start the conversations, and check in first. You’re the emotional engine that keeps the connection alive. If you stop...

FAQ: How Does Modern Dating Works

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Frequently Asked Questions About Modern Dating 1. Introduction: What is Modern Dating? Q1: How has dating evolved from traditional to modern practices? Modern dating is a stark departure from the past, where family introductions, community events, or arranged marriages were common. Today, technology, shifting social norms, and cultural changes dominate. Unlike the past, where dating was often guided by collective expectations, modern dating prioritizes individual choice, digital connectivity, and self-directed relationships. Apps like Tinder and Bumble have replaced blind dates, while social media shapes how people present themselves and interact. Q2: What makes modern dating unique? Modern dating is defined by its  digital-first approach  (e.g., online profiles, algorithms),  evolving values  (e.g., prioritizing personal growth over traditional milestones), and  complex social dynamics  (e.g., navigating cultural differences and mental health challen...

Communication Patterns That Destroy or Create Connection

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What are some communication patterns that make or break a relationship? Tune in to this episode with Julie Nise to learn more. — Let’s talk about communication patterns that make or break a relationship. My podcast guest, Julie Nise, is a Relationship Trainer and Communication Strategist known for her direct, results-oriented approach. She has helped over 8,000 individuals and couples through challenges in communication, trust, and leadership. She has appeared on the Dr. Phil Show multiple times, and she’s a regular commentator on NewsRadio KTRH in Houston. In this episode of Last First Date Radio: Common communication mistakes couples make How to strengthen your relationships How relationship coaching differs from therapy EP 690: Julie Nise – Communication Patterns That Destroy or Create Connection What are some of the most common communication mistakes you see couples make, and how can they fix them? Women and men don’t understand each other. Expectations need to chang...

5 Powerful Reasons to Go No-Contact After a Breakup

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Why should you go no-contact after a breakup? Here are five powerful reasons to cut ties after a breakup, no matter how it ended. — Breakups hit differently after 50. You’re wiser, you know yourself better, and you no longer have the patience (or the desire) to entertain emotional chaos. Yet even with all that wisdom, walking away from someone you cared about can still feel difficult. One tool I recommend again and again, and one that women over 50 often resist at first, is no-contact. No texting. No checking in. No “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.” No peeking at his social media. And no, it’s not to punish him.
It’s to protect you. Here are five deeply important reasons to go no-contact after a breakup. 1. No-Contact Gives Your Nervous System Space to Reset Breakups can send your body into emotional overdrive. You might have racing thoughts, tight chest, looping pain, and those “maybe if I just reach out…” impulses. No-contact acts like an emotional reset button....

How to Feel Safe in Your Romantic Relationships

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If you want to feel safe in your romantic relationships, Jessica Baum wrote a wonderful book on this topic. Tune in to learn more. — Do you feel safe in your relationships? Most of us struggle with feelings of security and safety. Enter my guest, Jessica Baum, a licensed psychotherapist and author of SAFE—Coming Home to Yourself and Others and Anxiously Attached: Becoming More Secure in Life and Love . She explores the “Whys” of life: why we feel, connect, and experience the world the way we do. This passion led her to specialize in trauma, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology. She believes that connection to ourselves and others is at the heart of healing, and she uses a range of modalities to help individuals and couples return to wholeness. She’s the founder of the Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, and she leads the Conscious Relationship Group, a global coaching company offering support to clients worldwide.  In this episode of Last First Date Radio: H...