A year and a half ago, I paused the True Love Podcast. An episode I posted got some really harsh comments and I didn’t feel ready to expose such a vulnerable part of myself and receive that kind of feedback. But, I do still want to find love and I want to help other women like me find it too, so I’ve decided to renew this podcast again and promising you a day of content every day. When I returned to the podcast comments after I decided to start recording again, I saw some amazing and beautiful words of support from people who loved the show and appreciated the authenticity. That got me more excited than ever - to do this for all of us who want true love. So, let’s go! (Plus I’m going to share some juicy details on everything that’s happened this year and half and where I am with it all today)

Hi all, maybe I’ll look back at this time as my all-time low, most dejected moment in dating and laugh at how far I’ve come and it was all just luck. Or maybe, this is the time I’ll have the insight that will help me grow.

In any event, I watched this interview with Stacy Katz and Bela Gandhi and thinking it may all be about fear. But can it be surmounted? Hard to tell.

After my discouraging/discouraged message, I’m ready to share my update from my first date since renewing my bumble efforts.

I wanted to hold myself accountable with an honest update on how my renewed dating efforts are going. And the answer is bad. The dating apps are so boring and exhausting. It’s hard to see myself to be so judgmental and fearful, and know I’m blocking my own way. I feel like I don’t know what I’m looking for or even if what I’m seeking is worth the search. But at this point, the only way that feels valid to me is to keep following that red thread of desire to its fruition. Thanks for tuning in.

In this episode, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to Wendy Kraly, a therapist who met her wonderful husband and had her child at 41. Wendy beautifully articulates the challenge so many women face in their thirties of deciding if they most want to go for the partner, go for their baby, or simply go with the flow. When Wendy let go, started enjoying herself, and took a break from looking for “the one,” she found clarity. One day, she got sick, and it hit her: she didn’t have anyone to bring her soup.

She renewed her quest for a partner and placed an ad in the now-archived Craigslist long-term relationships section, which led to meeting a man she fell in love with at first sight. The kicker: after being unlucky in love for so many years, she got pregnant easily. Wendy really got me thinking about my own experiences with dating, hopes, and fears, and helped me so much in considering the next steps and internal work that still needs to be done.My main takeaways were:-Don’t be too hard on yourself. A lot of finding your partner is simply luck.-Think about your dealbreakers, not your dealmakers, and get a friend to hold you accountable.-When you’re 40, you’re a lot clearer about what you need in a relationship.-You don’t have to follow every person’s advice because the advice that works for one person may not work for you.-There are a ton of amazing short guys out there.-A partner should add value, not take it away.-Don’t swipe left on a bad photo—no really, don’t.-You want your person to give you a feeling. Focus on that feeling, rather than -being nitpicky about their pros and cons.-What she loves about being married: being part of a team. She and her husband each have their own strengths that complement each other beautifully.And last but certainly not least, fall in love with everyone you meet.

In my second interview, I talk to my cousin Barbara who just had her second child at age 42! She discusses dating in NYC, moving to Dallas and really zoning in what was important to her in a marriage, including some elements that surprised her, like the politics of her partner. While Barbara acknowledges how rough online dating can be, she also is a shining example of how online dating can yield amazing outcomes. It’s truly inspiring to see how much she loves her family, loves being married and loves being a mom. But it was through finding her own happiness and fulfillment first that she was able to open the door to finding a partner.As single women, we’re often fed a story that when they stop looking and wanting someone, he’ll magically show up. But ultimately, the takeaway here is that finding “the one” is a combination of work and a lot of luck.Barbara says: “Dating a lot of luck and it’s hard work. What’s really important? Is this a good person who will take care of me? Will he be a good father? That’s what really matters.” Resources Mentioned: Shani Silverhttps://www.shanisilver.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Single-Revolution-Dont-match-Light/dp/1544525303https://amzn.to/3ykIpgkPlanned Parenthoodhttps://www.plannedparenthood.org/Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enoughhttps://amzn.to/4fk4nkj

Oh my gosh! I’m so excited. I got my first comment on the podcast! And to my surprise, it’s from a single guy in Las Vegas. In this episode, I share the conversation, respond more to Jason and explore questions like setting expectations, male fertility, and changing ourselves to open the door to meeting that perfect love.

An update on dating apps: I’ve decided to leave Tinder for a while and try out Bumble again, being super selective about swiping with men who want marriage, children and seem like they’d be good fathers and husbands. In this episode, I explain my reasoning for the change and give an update on what’s happened so far! Resources Mentioned:BumbleTinderHingeDate-onomics by Jon Birger

I’m so very excited to share my first recorded interview with my inspiring Cousin Debbi who married Mike and had her daughters at ages 36 and 39. Debbi is a strong, independent entrepreneur who found her own happiness before she met her husband and was fully prepared to have kids on her own if things went that way, but she met wonderful Mike, who knew she was the one and gave her all the time she needed to come around. Her older daughter just got married and her younger one is getting married this year! Cousin Debbi encourages us all to take a chance on a great guy who could be a wonderful husband and father, and to look for a man who supports you. She also invited us all to the Women’s March Mass Call happening tonight!Habitat for Humanityhttps://www.h4h.org/Women’s March Mass Callhttps://www.mobilize.us/womensmarch/event/652633/Tuesday, July 237:30 – 9pm EDT

This episode is a recap of my first interview with a woman from Brooklyn who found love later in life and got pregnant with her beautiful baby boy at the age of 43 with her long-time on and off boyfriend who claimed he didn’t want a kid. She gives lots of great tips on manifesting kids, thinking realistically about the partner/baby order of events at age 43 and alternative paths to motherhood. This one is a bit raunchy, so prepare. yourself! Her main advice to me : Have the baby now !I really wanted to record this conversation, but the woman I was interviewing didn’t realize it was going to be a podcast and wasn’t ready to share such intimate personal details publicly so I hope my recap is helpful for now!