Dating coach and podcast host Lakshmi Rengarajan joins Aransas Savas to challenge everything you think you know about finding love after 40. Discover why traditional dating advice fails midlife daters, how to build authentic connections through storytelling, and why your forties and fifties might actually be the perfect time for romance.

What You'll Learn:

-How to reframe dating without biological clock pressures

-The difference between connection and communication in early dating

-Why "wasting time" with the "wrong person" might actually be valuable

-How to create 15 magnetic stories that showcase your authentic self

-The concept of "romantic hope" and living romantically regardless of relationship status

-Why understanding dating culture is crucial before jumping in

-How to date as your full, evolved self rather than a younger version

Timestamps:

02:45 - Why standard dating advice fails people over 40

07:30 - The advantages of dating without deadlines

12:15 - Connection before communication: the real art of dating

18:30 - How to prepare for dating (hint: it's not just downloading apps)

22:00 - The story about yourself you need to master

28:45 - The "invisible at a certain age" myth, debunked

35:00 - Two-hour phone detox before dates

38:15 - Living a romantic life with or without a partner

Key Takeaways:

-Dating in your forties and fifties offers unique advantages when you're not rushing against biological clocks

-The best connections happen when you focus on getting to know the other person rather than evaluating them as a potential partner

-Learning to tell engaging stories about yourself is crucial for all relationships, not just romantic ones

-"Romantic hope" is about living with an open heart, not necessarily about finding a relationship

Resource Links:

The Later Date Today Podcast

Follow Lakshmi on social media for dating insights: @thelaterdatertoday @later_Lakshmi

Guest Bio: Lakshmi Rengarajan is a dating culture researcher and coach focused on midlife dating. Host of The Later Date Today podcast, she has worked to make dating culture better for more than 15 years, from designing one-of-a-kind singles events to actually working at Match.com, studying the art of the set-up, and learning about midlife dating today.

Host Bio: Aransas Savas is a leadership coach, researcher, and host of The Uplifters Podcast. Connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Visit her website at theuplifterspodcast.com.

Keywords: dating after 40, midlife dating, dating coach, relationship advice, authentic connection, dating without pressure, romantic hope, dating culture, finding love later in life, second chance romance