Why do we stay in relationships that erode our confidence, self-worth, and happiness? In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of trauma bonds and how empathy—one of our greatest strengths—can become our biggest weakness in toxic relationships. We’ll explore why we get stuck in these cycles, the danger of hoping someone will change, and how to reclaim your power by prioritizing your own well-being. If you’ve ever felt trapped in a relationship that’s draining your energy and warping your reality, this conversation is for you. Tune in for practical insights, empowering advice, and a reminder that your compassion should always extend to yourself first.

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward breaking free.

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►► Transform Your Relationship With Life Learn More About the Matthew Hussey Retreat at . . . → http://www.MHRetreat.com ►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Ask Matthew AI Your Biggest Dating Question for Free Now at. . .  → http://www.AskMH.com

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Matthew sits down with Laurie Woolever—author of Care and Feeding: A Memoir—to explore the journey of reclaiming one’s voice after years of living in the shadow of larger-than-life figures like Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali.

Topics covered:

• Why Laurie finally chose to write her memoir after decades in food media.

• What it's like to stop headlining other people’s lives and start showing up in your own.

• Her path through addiction, shame, and sobriety—and how it shaped her.

• The emotional toll and moral complexity of writing honestly about people she’s loved.

• The collapse of a marriage and the ripple effects of one deeply vulnerable moment.

• Infidelity, accountability, and what radical self-acceptance really looks like.

• Why “nice but boring” often hides deeper emotional safety—and how to spot a mature relationship.

• Dating in your 40s and beyond.

• What “playing the tape forward” teaches us about addiction, impulse, and the allure of red flags.

• Advice for people stuck in toxic attraction loops or mourning heartbreak they fear they’ll never get over.

Whether you’re grappling with heartbreak, questioning your worth, or trying to navigate the messy terrain of self-reinvention, this episode will feel like a conversation with someone who’s lived it and survived to tell the truth.

 

🔗 Links

•  Buy the book - Care and Feeding: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever 

• 🎥 Watch our Dating Made Simple Replay (available until midnight on Friday, May 30): LoveLifeReplay.com

• 💬 Try Matthew AI and ask your first questions for free: AskMH.com 

• 🎟️ Join us at the Miami Retreat (October 18-19): MHRetreat.com

• 💞 Become a Love Life Member and join future live events: JoinLoveLife.com

The rules of modern dating can feel so confusing. You don’t know how much texting is too much, how to make the first move, or whether to keep trying if their interest is hot and cold.

In this week’s video, I sat down with bestselling author Jay Shetty for his On Purpose podcast to talk about how to have confident, attractive communication and reject the shallow culture that defines so much of modern dating. If you’re tired of playing games and want to find real, honest love, this is for you.

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►► Want Your # 1 Dating Problem Solved Personally? Ask Matthew AI Your First Question Now at. . . → http://www.AskMH.com

►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com ►► Transform Your Relationship With Life in One Powerful Weekend. Learn More About my Weekend Retreat at →  http://www.MHWeekendRetreat.com

Can you relate to this . . .

You’ve been dating someone for months and see them once or twice a week. You’ve gotten into a pretty good rhythm, but at the same time, things aren’t really moving forward either. You’re wondering: “Do they like me? I feel like they do, and yet, I don’t know whether this is going anywhere . . .”

In this week’s brand-new video, I give you 3 specific things to look for when you want to know if someone’s serious (or headed in that direction).

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►► Transform Your Relationship With Life Learn More About the Matthew Hussey Retreat at . . . → http://www.MHRetreat.com ►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Ask Matthew AI Your Biggest Dating Question for Free Now at. . .  → http://www.AskMH.com

What REALLY kills relationships? We often think it’s huge differences in personality or values that cause break ups, but just as often it’s the small, subtle, repeated behaviours that lead to relationships ending.

From the "Four Horsemen" of relationship conflict to the resentments that go unspoken until it’s too late, Matthew, Stephen and Audrey explore how these silent killers show up—and how to catch and heal them before they do lasting damage.

Topics include

• A deep dive into criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling (and how they sabotage love)

• Why “repair” matters more than perfection in long-term relationships

• The unconscious reasons some people can't say sorry and how to deal with it

• How resentment builds when we don’t feel seen, appreciated, or included

• The importance of creating a relationship culture where nothing is off-limits to talk about

• A listener question about red flags before marriage

• The difference between expecting love to be perfect vs. building a love that lasts

Links mentioned:

• 🎥 Watch the Dating Made Simple Replay (available until May 30th): https://www.LoveLifeReplay.com

• 💬 Try Matthew AI and ask your first questions for free: https://www.askMH.com

• 🎟️ Join us at the Miami Retreat (October 18–19): https://www.MHRetreat.com

• 💞 Become a Love Life Member and join future live events: https://www.JoinLoveLife.com

📧 Have a story, question, or want to share your favorite podcast moment? Email us at: [email protected]

What does emotionally available love really look like? In this new video, I break down six key signs of emotional availability so you can spot the difference between fleeting attention and real intention.

If you’re tired of wasting time on people who aren’t serious, I also share how to recognize emotional availability early on . . . without coming across as too intense. Plus I reveal the subtle behaviors that separate healthy connection from love bombing, so you can protect your heart and invest in the right person.

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►► Want Your # 1 Dating Problem Solved Personally? Ask Matthew AI Your First Question Now at. . . → http://www.AskMH.com

►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com ►► Transform Your Relationship With Life in One Powerful Weekend. Learn More About my Weekend Retreat at →  http://www.MHWeekendRetreat.com

In today’s Rewind episode, I talk about what might be the most insidious form of ghosting.

If someone ghosts you after a couple of tepid dates (which doesn’t feel good, don’t get me wrong) you can usually assume they just weren’t feeling the chemistry . . .

But what does it mean when someone pulls away after saying they want to be exclusive, or after texting constantly and telling you they want to see you all the time?

In this episode, I give you three reasons why someone might do this, what you should do when it happens, and the strange reason why they may choose to ghost but leave the door open. You can’t miss this topic!

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►► Transform Your Relationship With Life Learn More About the Matthew Hussey Retreat at . . . → http://www.MHRetreat.com ►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Ask Matthew AI Your Biggest Dating Question for Free Now at. . .  → http://www.AskMH.com

Matthew, Audrey, and Stephen dive into what truly makes a long-term relationship successful—beyond the clichés. Whether you’re in a new relationship, struggling with resentment, or simply curious about what happy couples do differently, this episode is packed with insight from experts on what really makes love last. In this episode:

• Results from a 20,000-person Instagram poll on what people think makes a relationship last.
• The Gottman Institute on bids for connection, and the 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions.
• The toxic buildup of micro-resentments—and how to address them early.
• How to repair arguments when one person wants space and the other wants closeness.
• Relationship “hacks” you’ve never heard of (including love mapping and emotional buttons).
• Why “perfect” couples still argue—and how to argue better.
• The Michelangelo Effect: how great couples help each other grow.

Links: 🎓 Free masterclass on love & dating: LoveLifeTraining.com 💬 Submit a voice or written question: [email protected] 🎟️ Get your tickets for Matthew’s 2025 retreat: MHRetreat.com 🛏️ Get 40% off Cozy Earth products with code LOVELIFE: CozyEarth.com - - -  → Follow the Love Life Podcast @lovelifepod → Follow Matthew @thematthewhussey → Follow Stephen @stephenhhussey → Follow Audrey @theaudreyhussey 

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a pattern of falling for the wrong people, you’re not alone—but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes. In this video, I’ll show you how to rewire the way you experience attraction. In it, I share five specific shifts that will help you break free from the patterns sabotaging your love life. From microdosing on emotionally unavailable exes to losing yourself in someone who isn’t ready, we’re getting honest about the real cost of staying in cycles that erode our confidence and waste our time. 

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►► Want Your # 1 Dating Problem Solved Personally? Ask Matthew AI Your First Question Now at. . . → http://www.AskMH.com

►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com ►► Transform Your Relationship With Life in One Powerful Weekend. Learn More About my Weekend Retreat at →  http://www.MHWeekendRetreat.com

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder . . . especially when the person you’re into seems to forget you exist when you’re not in the same room?

When you’re together, life couldn’t be better. You have off-the-charts chemistry, they’re totally focused on you, and your connection feels genuine.

The catch?

When you’re apart, you feel invisible as communication slows to a crawl and often drops off completely.

As a result of these mixed signals, you’re essentially living in two completely different realities, and you’d do anything to get some clarity. You might even ask yourself: “Should I try to invest in this relationship even more to show how serious I am? Or would it be better to mirror their behavior and go cold?”

In today’s Rewind episode, I walk you through what you must absolutely NOT DO in this hot and cold scenario . . . plus I give you two very specific text messages that can (finally!) get you out of this frustrating situation.

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►► Transform Your Relationship With Life Learn More About the Matthew Hussey Retreat at . . . → http://www.MHRetreat.com ►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Ask Matthew AI Your Biggest Dating Question for Free Now at. . .  → http://www.AskMH.com