Flirtin After Forty

This week a calendar reminder informed me it’s been 16 years since I got engaged—which is not exactly the kind of notification a divorced woman expects to wake up to. That moment sent me thinking about old engagement rings, what to do with them, and how funny it is that some things from the past just… linger.

I also share a few co-parenting moments from middle school basketball season th...

I really loved him. And I really wanted it to work. But wanting something isn’t the same as it being right.

After a tough fight, a dark weekend, and a long therapy session, I had to listen to the quiet voice I kept trying to override — my gut. In this episode, I talk about ending it (yes, over text), the difference between “nice” and “kind,” and why sometimes choosing your own peace feel...

In just one week, everything shifted. Season two launched, J-Man listened to the podcast, and somehow we’re cautiously trying again.

This episode is about growth you don’t always see day-to-day — how much you’ve actually evolved, healed, and changed over time. It’s about not losing yourself in relationships, learning to fill your own bucket first, and asking the big question: do we need ...

Season two starts with me coming back to myself. In this episode, I talk openly about ending my relationship with J-Man — someone I deeply care about — and what it looks like to listen to your gut even when the decision hurts. This isn’t about blame or big drama; it’s about recognizing incompatibility, honoring your needs, and choosing not to ignore that quiet voice inside anymore. I’m s...

This week’s episode is a heavier one.

I talk about why I stepped back last week and how hard it’s been to process what’s happening in our world — especially when it stops feeling political and starts feeling deeply human. From ICE activity near my kids’ school to conversations with friends who “aren’t really paying attention,” I share how exhausting it can be to care when others have the...

This week I’m not in crisis — but everything feels a little… smoky. From cringey dating-text advice I refuse to use, to Etsy hate mail over a $9 card (free shipping included, relax), to tech failures, bank chaos, and the never-ending mental load, it’s been one of those weeks where nothing is on fire — but everything is irritating.

I talk about why asking for help feels so uncomfortable f...

I found a good guy — and realized that wasn’t the ending, it was the beginning.

In this episode, I’m sharing what happens when the honeymoon phase fades and real life steps in: a first big fight, a birthday that didn’t go as planned, and the uncomfortable work of navigating a healthy relationship after past toxicity. From a Costa Rica trip that brought both joy and clarity, to learning h...

I felt called to record one last episode before the year ended — from my bed, late at night, with a lot on my heart. This episode is about choosing my word for 2026 and why “receive” feels both right and wildly uncomfortable.

We talk about letting go of force, stopping the uphill push, and trusting that you don’t have to chase what’s already finding you. I share why receiving isn’t quitt...

The holidays are here, my emotions are loud, and I’m showing up exactly as I am — messy moments included. After shelving a previously recorded episode that didn’t feel right, I open up about blended-family dynamics, holiday exhaustion, hormones, and how an innocent Uno game turned into a full-blown feelings spiral. It’s a candid reflection on wanting to be seen, carrying the mental load,...

I’m back after an unplanned two-week break filled with jello shots, favorite-food Thanksgiving, and a whole lot of rest. Things with J-Man are going so well it’s actually making me a little uncomfortable — apparently “safe and stable” is a new relationship skill I’m learning. And because the universe won’t let my life get too calm, the Colorado singles pages delivered absolute chaos: a m...

This week, the universe threw me into a full-on cosmic spin cycle. Between opening a life-changing navigation center for the City of Aurora and navigating the Northern Lights energy, every man from my romantic archives decided to resurface — the one-date wonder, the post-divorce almost-relationship, even an ex’s ex-wife. Oh, and J-Man showed up for me in the sweetest way.

It was emotiona...

I’m not stalking, I’m just researching — that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. This week I went down a LinkedIn hole, found out the lieutenant got married, and had one of those “holy sh*t” moments that makes you question everything. But don’t worry, I balance the heavy stuff with some of the most cringe-worthy singles posts you’ve ever heard — from men offering “stay pretty” allowances...

This week, I’m getting real about the moment I accidentally told one of J-Man’s friends I might love him — and then completely spiraled. I started questioning what “I love you” really means and why my instinct was to retreat the second I felt vulnerable. It’s a story about fear, honesty, and learning to stay open even when it feels uncomfortable. Plus: burr baskets, Venmo stalking, and w...

You know it’s a full weekend when I meet the friends, get called by the ex’s name, and still end up fielding a drunk text from my former situationship. I’m navigating the highs of new-relationship milestones and the lows of late-night nonsense — all while reminding myself that boundaries aren’t ultimatums and that 1 a.m. is officially past my flirting hours.

This week, I’m talking about that weird mix of joy and panic that hits when things start to feel too good to be true. From a dream breakup in Vegas to realizing I don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules for love or life, I’m learning what it means to build something healthy—my way. Oh, and just wait until you hear how my 13-year-old totally out-romanced me with a “boo basket.”

Sam’s late-night text proves some men never learn—if you can’t say sorry, don’t say anything. But this episode isn’t just about eye-roll moments. I also finish telling the hardest story I’ve carried: my time with the Lieutenant, the choices I made, and the assault that changed everything. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s part of why I value the kindness I have in my life now.