Last First Date Radio

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and our freedom” – Viktor Frankl

This is one of my favorite quotes, because it describes the importance of pausing when something triggers us. We don’t react – we respond. In our Western hustle culture, pausing is not encouraged, but it’s one of the most important things we can do to help us have bette...

Is modern dating broken? My podcast guest, Emma Smith, is a licensed therapist who specializes in trauma, sex therapy, and LGBTQ+ healthcare. A former military consultant, she has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and sexual assault survivors. She writes The Intimate Philosopher on Substack, and in her free time loves reading, running, crafting, and all things sparkly.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

• The bigges...

Being more present on dates will help you enjoy dating much more. It will help with first date anxiety. It will help you focus less on trying to predict whether or not you might have a future with this person, because how could you know that on a first date? In short, being present when you date helps you relax and enjoy every date. Here are five ways to be more present on dates!

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Ever struggle with writing a wedding speech? Dubbed "The Humorist" by the New York Times, Brian Franklin is the Co-Founder of Vows & Speeches, which he founded in mid-2021 with his wife and business partner, Nicole Franklin.  Prior to 2023, Brian was the founder and President of an award-winning political consulting firm, where he oversaw messaging, communications (including speechwriting), and advertising for state and federal...

Did you know that clutter can negatively impact your dating life? It can cause stress, anxiety, and discourage romantic connections for many reasons. People who have a lot of clutter might be embarrassed to bring a date to their home. Clutter can also make it difficult to enjoy quality time together with your romantic partner. Here are five ways clutter might negatively impact your dating life and how to begin to heal.

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Did you know that seven words can change your life? Jerry Giordano is an award-winning advertising copywriter/Creative Director working and living in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and Dallas. He is a co-producer of TEDx events, penned four screenplays, studied comedy at Chicago’s Second City, and performed sketch comedy in NYC and LA. He collects old cameras, photographs manhole covers, is a JFK assassination nut, meditates, an...

When you have more money than your boyfriend, it can potentially lead to uncomfortable situations. Should you contribute a larger portion to shared expenses? What about travel? Do you have concerns about power dynamics, his feelings of insecurity, or either one of you becoming resentful of the other? This is a topic that comes up a lot in my coaching practice, which is why I’m sharing some of the key challenges and strategies for w...

Do you want to know how to increase intimacy in your life? Danielle Harel, Ph.D., and Celeste Hirschman, M.A., are co-founders of the Somatica® Institute. They revolutionized intimacy and relationship coaching with their experiential Somatica Method. They have trained over 1,000 coaches, authored three books, and inspired countless people to embrace vulnerability and rediscover desire.

In this episode:

• How to start practicing int...

Why do we repeat toxic patterns in dating and relationships? Why do we choose unavailable or abusive partners? The short answer is we seek what’s familiar to us. We’re drawn to people who remind us of our most unhealthy relationship with one or both of our caretakers growing up. It’s an unconscious attempt to heal our childhood wounds. Our rational mind doesn’t choose our toxic partners. That’s why it’s important to get support to ...

How do you heal anxious attachment? Trevor Hanson is an internationally recognized coach and therapist specializing in transforming anxious attachment into secure relationships. After overcoming his own struggles, he left Tesla to pursue his passion for healing. With a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, he’s helped thousands globally through The Art of Healing and his signature method, "The Secure-Self Journey."

In this episod...

What’s the best timing for introducing a partner to your friend group? This is an important step in a new relationship, and the timing can vary depending on many factors. Here are five things to consider before deciding when the time is right and three potential downsides to introducing too early.

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How do you become sexually empowered? My podcast guest, Lauren Elise Rogers, is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach Her holistic and embodied approach is deeply rooted in her own pain-to-purpose journey. Lauren brings an empathetic and non-judgmental approach, offering practical tools that empower her clients to take ownership of their pleasure and grow in confidence and connection...

So many of us miss red flags in relationships. We minimize them, excuse them, and ignore behaviors that are warning signs early on. Why do we make excuses for bad behaviors? Why do we have red flag blindness? I’m sharing six reasons why we miss red flags, and four things we can do if we ignored these signs in the past.

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Do you want to learn how to break barriers in neurodiverse relationships? Dr. Matt Zakreski, PsyD, is a professional speaker and clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent folks. He has spoken more than 400 times on stages and podcasts about supporting neurodivergent people in all walks of life. Dr. Matt specializes in taking knowledge of the brain, human behavior, and clinical psychology and making that a...

Texting on dating apps can be quite challenging. How do you begin communicating with a total stranger? How do you keep the conversations interesting and engaging without sharing too much too soon? How do you get off text and onto a date? Even if your photos are fabulous and your bio is great, you may still be struggling to get a good conversation going on the dating apps so you can see if your match is actually a good match. I'm sh...

Stop losing yourself in relationships! Married for over thirty years, Robin Temple and Michael Moore can help you have healthier relationships. They have led workshops and retreats for more than 1,500 couples and have trained dozens of leaders in couples work. They provide retreats and coaching that delivers positive change quickly and predictably, providing couples with surprisingly rapid improvements in understanding and happines...

Blending families later in life can be quite challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. Each partner brings older children from previous marriages into the new relationship, requiring unique adjustments and considerations due to their ages and their family of origin. Adult stepchildren can also be a great addition to families who remarry in their later years. Following are some of the challenges and benefits of blending famili...

Why do people cheat? As Chief Strategy Officer of Ashley Madison, Paul Keable oversees the strategic direction of Ashley Madison, emphasizing discretion, authenticity, and innovation within the dating industry. Under his leadership, the platform has implemented initiatives such as user verification through government IDs to combat fraudulent activity and build trust among members. As the platform continues to evolve, Keable’s insig...

We all have difficult people in our lives, and communicating with difficult people can be especially challenging. Sometimes these people are strangers that we encounter at the grocery store. And sometimes they are friends, coworkers, family members, or the people we date! 

Whoever it is, there are helpful strategies you can use when dealing with these kinds of people. Following are my top five.

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