7 Traits Quality Men Seek in a Woman (That Have Nothing to Do With Age or Looks)

What are the traits quality men seek in a woman? Here are the top seven, and you might be surprised by what they are! — Let’s be honest — dating over 50 can feel like a trip through the Twilight Zone. You meet someone great, there’s chemistry, and then… poof. He disappears. Or worse, he […]

traits quality men seek in a woman

What are the traits quality men seek in a woman? Here are the top seven, and you might be surprised by what they are!

Let’s be honest — dating over 50 can feel like a trip through the Twilight Zone. You meet someone great, there’s chemistry, and then… poof. He disappears. Or worse, he sticks around but you’re carrying the emotional weight of the entire relationship.

Here’s what you need to know: quality men — the ones who are emotionally available, kind, and ready for a real partnership — are not just looking for someone young, cute and clever (although we’ll take the compliments). They’re looking for a woman who brings emotional maturity, self-awareness, and depth to the table.

If you’re wondering how to attract that kind of man, you’re in the right place. Here are seven powerful traits quality men seek in a woman — and yes, you can embody them all without losing yourself.

7 Traits Quality Men Seek in a Woman

1. She Doesn’t Plan a Future Before There’s a Present

It’s easy to get swept up in the fantasy — especially when someone ticks a few boxes on the first date. But quality men want to build a relationship with someone grounded in the now. When you’re already naming your future rescue dog together after two dates, it can be a red flag.

Staying present allows real connection to unfold naturally. It’s not about being aloof — it’s about pacing yourself and letting reality catch up with chemistry.

2. She Doesn’t Overanalyze Men

Wondering what his last text really meant or decoding every pause on the phone is exhausting — and frankly, not sexy. Quality men value women who trust their intuition and don’t need to play detective to feel secure.

If something feels off, you get curious and ask about it. If things are going well, you let it be easy. That energy is magnetic.

3. She’s Vulnerable and Communicates Her Feelings and Needs Directly and Kindly

Quality men don’t expect perfection. They want real. That means you’re not afraid to say, “Hey, I felt hurt when you canceled last minute,” or “I’m looking for a relationship where we check in regularly.”

It’s not about making demands — it’s about expressing what’s true for you in a way that invites connection rather than conflict.

4. She Is Clear About Her Must-Haves and Doesn’t Try to Force a Relationship When It’s Not a Good Fit

We’ve all done it — stayed a little too long in a not-so-good situation, hoping things would magically improve. But a woman of value doesn’t force it. She knows that compatibility isn’t about potential — it’s about alignment.

When something’s off, she doesn’t make excuses. She lovingly blesses and releases.

5. She Knows Her Worth and Won’t Compromise the Important Stuff for Anyone

You’re not auditioning for a role in his life — you’re co-creating a relationship. That means knowing what’s non-negotiable (emotional availability? kindness? consistent communication?) and not shrinking or settling just to be chosen.

Quality men are drawn to women who choose themselves first. That’s what makes you truly irresistible.

6. She’s Curious, Not Judgmental

We all have baggage. But a woman who can hold space, ask thoughtful questions, and remain open — rather than jumping to conclusions or moral high ground — creates safety and trust.

Curiosity says, “I want to understand you.” Judgment says, “I need you to be different.” Guess which one invites deeper connection?

7. She Has a Full Life Without a Man, But Knows How Much Her Life Will Be Enhanced With the Right Partner

You’ve cultivated joy, purpose, and pleasure on your own — and it shows. You’re not looking for someone to complete you, but to complement you.

That balanced energy — grounded in independence, yet open to intimacy — is what makes love flourish.

If you see yourself in this list — amazing! Keep shining. And if you’re still working on some of these traits, that’s what dating in midlife is all about — growing, healing, and becoming the version of yourself who attracts (and chooses) the love you deserve. And remember: It’s never too late to go on your last first date. 💕


If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with me and explore how private coaching can help! https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join my free Facebook group, Your Last First Date https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of my books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating: Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love.

How to Transform Anxious Attachment into Secure Attachment

How do you transform anxious attachment into secure attachment? My guest, Trevor Hanson, has a 5-step framework that will help you heal. — 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 […]

anxious attachment

How do you transform anxious attachment into secure attachment? My guest, Trevor Hanson, has a 5-step framework that will help you heal.

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 episode:

  • The 4 essential elements to healing anxious attachment that most people miss.
  • The key mindset shift that most people overlook when trying to become secure.
  • A look at the structured plan Trevor uses to help clients develop a secure attachment.
  • A clear direction on how to start healing.
  • A powerful approach for creating self-trust, confidence, and safety within yourself.
  • How to take the next steps in your journey to healing anxious attachment.

EP 658: Trevor Hanson – Transforming Anxious Attachment into Secure Attachment

What is anxious attachment, and how does it impact our relationships?

There are two criteria to meet to be anxiously attached. You have fear of abandonment or fear of losing connection with others. You feel love is scarce and your ex is the only one for you.The second is a lack of self-esteem. It might not be conscious.

The TEMPO cycle is something we created to show how anxious attachment impacts our relationships 

T: Trigger. Creates a fear of abandonment. 

M: Meaning. What meaning do we make out of that trigger?

E: Emotion. What do you feel?

P: Protect. In a relationship, we begin to protect ourselves by shutting down or people-pleasing.

O: Outcome. What happens in the relationship and in you?

What are the 4 essential elements to healing anxious attachment that most people miss?

  1. Recognize the inner child part of you that created people pleasing or other rules that love has to be earned. Learn how to approach, nurture, and heal that part of you. 
  2. Healing looks like
    1. Be compassionate and kind to our inner child. 
    2. Listen to the so-called truths we believe about love 
    3. Validate. Be empathic to your inner child. 
    4. Truth – Create safety and trust for your inner child.

What are the next steps to healing anxious attachment?

If your partner triggers you and you feel that they don’t care about you, recognize that your inner child is triggered. If you tend to go to protection and start judging them and pointing out their bad behavior, your partner is now triggered and might get defensive and shut down.

If you can map out what’s going on, you can interrupt the cycle. Ask yourself what you want to do at every point of the trigger. If you recognize the meaning you’re making, you can change the meaning to something else. Maybe you need to communicate with them about what you need. Maybe you need to regulate your emotions. If you’re still upset, you can ask yourself what the outcome is that you are seeking. When you know your TEMPO cycle, you have power to interrupt it.  Learn how to be vulnerable and ask for what you want from your partner. This is about co-regulation.

What are your final words of advice for anyone who wants to go on their last first date?

My last first date happened when I became secure. There’s a scene in the Barbie movie where Ken is jealous, and he feels scarcity. On the outside, he looks confident. But he was insecurely attached. When I healed and filled my own cup, I saw the women I dated less as rescuers and more as potential partners. Build your sense of security. 

Connect With Trevor

https://linktr.ee/trevorhanson

Watch this episode on Youtube


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse

If you’ve ever experienced narcissistic abuse, this episode with Dr. Alina Kastner is for you. Learn how to break free! — How do you break free from narcissistic abuse? Dr. Alina Kastner, MSc, is a leading Vienna-based psychotherapist. Working with individuals, couples, and families across all backgrounds, she brings “bold systemic therapy with a twist” […]

narcissistic abuse

If you’ve ever experienced narcissistic abuse, this episode with Dr. Alina Kastner is for you. Learn how to break free!

How do you break free from narcissistic abuse? Dr. Alina Kastner, MSc, is a leading Vienna-based psychotherapist. Working with individuals, couples, and families across all backgrounds, she brings “bold systemic therapy with a twist” to match her clients’ fire and courage. Her specialty: promoting deeper intimacy, connection and clarity while helping people navigate trauma and narcissistic abuse; the latter of which was the focus of her doctoral thesis.

In this episode:

  • What exactly is narcissistic abuse, and why it’s so difficult for people to see when they’re experiencing it
  • The first step to protect yourself from a narcissist
  • The biggest misconceptions about narcissism in the media
  • How to tell the difference between an emotionally unavailable partner and a true narcissist
  • Small acts you can take to begin rewriting your story of narcissistic abuse

EP 706: Alina Kastner – How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse

Highlights of this Episode

What is narcissistic abuse – common signs
• Narcissistic abuse is primarily psychological: gaslighting, lack of empathy, exploitation for admiration (“supply”), envy, devaluation and discard.
• Victims feel confused, anxious, walk on eggshells, and may develop PTSD/C-PTSD.
• Pattern: intense love-bombing → gradual devaluation → isolation → increased confusion.

Who is vulnerable & why
• People raised with narcissistic or fragmented caregiving often unconsciously seek familiar (unhealthy) attachment patterns.
• Compassion toward family is different than compassion toward a romantic partner; trying to “fix” a narcissist rarely works.
• Highly compassionate people can be especially susceptible.

Healing and practical self-care steps
• Start small: meditation, breathwork, therapy, journaling. Break healing into manageable steps.
• Invite and feel painful emotions (e.g., use the “pain hour”) rather than only intellectualizing.
• Create must-haves / deal-breakers lists for relationships; be flexible on “nice-to-haves” but firm on non-negotiables.

Dating, differentiating avoidant vs narcissist, and co-parenting
• Avoidant vs narcissist: avoidants can usually self-reflect and are willing to work on attachment issues; narcissists lack empathy, deflect blame, and won’t respect boundaries.
• Early testing: look for consistency of actions with words over time; many red flags surface within weeks.
• Dating tips: prefer profiles/actions that “show” values (not just boastful claims); listen for listening, empathy, and groundedness.
• Co-parenting with a narcissist: aim for no emotional engagement; communicate facts neutrally; use lawyers if necessary; maintain modeled behavior for children.

Watch on YouTube

Connect With Alina


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

FREE download: “The Green Light Guide to Dating After 50: How to Show Interest Without Chasing” https://lastfirstdate.com/green-light-guide/

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

It’s Never too Late to Rewrite Your Happily Ever After

It’s never too late to rewrite your happily ever after. Author, Laurie Collister shares her inspiring story on the podcast. — Laurie Collister is living proof you can rewrite your happily ever after. She is a counselor, journalist, and debut memoirist. After graduating from Kenyon College, she worked as a litigation paralegal, market analyst, investigative […]

happily ever after

It’s never too late to rewrite your happily ever after. Author, Laurie Collister shares her inspiring story on the podcast.

Laurie Collister is living proof you can rewrite your happily ever after. She is a counselor, journalist, and debut memoirist. After graduating from Kenyon College, she worked as a litigation paralegal, market analyst, investigative journalist, and, most recently, as a counselor on LA’s skid row. In this checkerboard of professions, she learned how to harvest the hidden – key to penning A Different Kind of Vow: Rewriting My Happily After, due out April 7, 2026, as well as The Last Home on the Left, about her fourteen years working on skid row, to be published in May 2027. Laurie lives with her extended family and dog Bella on a cul-de-sac in Los Angeles.

In this episode:

  • What is the “other kind of vow”?
  • Learning about love in your 30s and 40s
  • How journaling can change your life

EP 704: Laurie Collister – Rewriting Your Happily Ever After

Highlights of this episode

A Different Type of Vow and Relationship Insight

  • Laurie coined “A Different Type of Vow”: prioritize a personal purpose/sacred vow over seeking marriage as your primary identity.
  • Focusing on personal purpose prevents losing oneself in relationships and attracting mismatched partners.
  • Warning against the giver-taker dynamic; build relationships with mutual healing and shared goals.

Spiritual Journey and Career Shift

  • Laurie pursued a spiritual quest, worked at an international Hindu organization, and learned self-love through meditation.
  • Transitioned to counseling (master’s degree) and worked 14 years on Skid Row helping clients find vocation and home.
  • Found belonging and purpose in community work rather than in romantic relationships.

Journaling and Self-Discovery

  • Uses long-term journaling to gain objectivity, uncover patterns, relieve emotional pressure, and guide life decisions.
  • Journaling helped Laurie identify hidden emotions (e.g., rage) and contributed to creative output and healing.

Cultural Critique and Practical Advice

  • Argues the “American Dream” script needs rewriting to focus on shared values, growth orientation, and mutual goals rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist.
  • Advice for those wanting to be happily single: anchor yourself in your sacred contract/purpose; seek love in multiple forms; avoid entering relationships from scarcity.

Connect with Laurie:

Watch this episode on YouTube


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

FREE download: “The Green Light Guide to Dating After 50: How to Show Interest Without Chasing” https://lastfirstdate.com/green-light-guide/

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

How to Heal Your Relationship

If you want to know heal your relationship, listen to this episode. Dr. Rachel Glik shares helpful tips to strengthen any relationship. — Rachel Glik is a licensed professional counselor with 30+ years as a couples and individual therapist in private practice. Since 2014, she has been a regular feature on the Fox 2 AM […]

heal your relationship

If you want to know heal your relationship, listen to this episode. Dr. Rachel Glik shares helpful tips to strengthen any relationship.

Rachel Glik is a licensed professional counselor with 30+ years as a couples and individual therapist in private practice. Since 2014, she has been a regular feature on the Fox 2 AM show in St. Louis as a relationship and mental health expert. Her book, A SOULFUL MARRIAGE: Healing Your Relationship With Responsibility, Growth, Priority, and Purpose was published February 4, 2025.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

  • The essential four pillars that can positively transform and heal your relationship
  • The eight friendships that can influence a relationship 
  • How to diffuse tension in an emotional argument using the love seat listening method 
  • Why we should reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth
  • One step someone could take today to create a stronger relationship

EP 646 : Dr. Rachel Glik – How to Heal Your Relationship

What are the essential four pillars that can positively transform and heal your relationship? 

  1. Pillar one: Responsibility. We’re each responsible for our happiness and well-being. We have to know ourselves and individuate.
  2. Pillar two: Growth. Most people struggle with the growth pillar. That’s where conflict comes in. We use our friction to grow individually and then together.
  3. Pillar three: Priority. We make each other the most important person in our lives besides ourselves. Nothing will come between our connection.
  4. Pillar four: Purpose. If we don’t have a sense that we make the world better through our bond, it’s a challenge. Extend out of your collective.

What are the essential eight friendships that can influence a relationship? 

  1. Emotional friendship. Your partner is a confidant. You trust them. They are attuned and you feel safe with them.
  2. Sexual and physical friendship. The physical is touching and holding hands. Sexual is how well you’re matched.
  3. Parenting friendship. Kids or pets – are you aligned?
  4. Financial friendship. Are there secrets? Lies? Is there a ‘we’?
  5. Recreational friendship. Do you have fun together, laugh, enjoy each other.
  6. Spiritual friendship. Share a similar mindset and view or support each other’s view.
  7. Domestic friendship. Do you do well as roommates? Does it feel democratic or harmonious?
  8. Community friendship. Part of an organization? Do you volunteer?

How do you diffuse tension in an emotional argument using the love seat listening method? 

It’s the opposite of the hot seat. When couples argue, we need to slow it down and take turns. One person is in the love seat. You listen and they talk. It’s structured and keeps the ego and reactive part of us at bay. Each person feels heard. Reflect back with active listening skills. Conflict is an opportunity to grow.

What is one step someone could take today to create a stronger relationship?

Show appreciation to someone who’s important to you. Pause, breathe, relax and open your heart to the experience of them in your life. 

What are your final words of advice for anyone who wants to go on their last first date?

Unless it’s really not good for you, allow yourself to embrace the imperfection of the relationship. Look out for where you’re searching for someone to complete you or be perfect. If there’s enough there and you feel you can grow together, normalize that every relationship has imperfections. 

Watch this episode on YouTube

Connect With Rachel


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

How to Become More Emotionally Available in Dating

How do you become more emotionally available in dating? In this episode, we discuss some simple steps you can take today. — How do you become more emotionally available in dating? My podcast guest, Brooke Bralove, has the answers! She is a Psychotherapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy Practitioner. She helps women […]

emotionally available

How do you become more emotionally available in dating? In this episode, we discuss some simple steps you can take today.

How do you become more emotionally available in dating? My podcast guest, Brooke Bralove, has the answers! She is a Psychotherapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy Practitioner. She helps women and men let go of perfectionism and move toward greater authenticity, joy, pleasure, and connection. She has been in private practice in Bethesda, MD for over 20 years.

In this episode:

  • What is ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) and how does it work in relationships?
  • What are some common emotional blocks people carry into dating, and how do they show up?
  • How can past experiences or trauma impact someone’s ability to connect emotionally with a partner?
  • What are practical steps or exercises listeners can try to become more emotionally available?

EP 696: Brooke Bralove – How to Become More Emotionally Available in Dating

Can you explain what ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) is and how it works in relationships?

ART is a treatment modality created in 2008 to take distressing images or feeling states and change how the brain stores them. It’s through bilateral eye movements, gestalt therapies, and image replacement.

What are some common emotional blocks people carry into dating, and how do they show up?

The three most common blocks are betrayal, feelings of not good enough, and rejection. I learned about ART after a terrible breakup. I did so many different therapies, and I was completely stuck. Someone told me about ART, and after two sessions, I felt neutral about the breakup instead of stuck. 

It works by taking the incident (learning your partner had an affair) that is playing over and over, you process it in your mind instead of talking about it, and you work through it like a scene in a movie. Paired with eye movements, you replace those images with positive images. Your body moves from having negative sensations to positive ones.

How can past experiences or trauma impact someone’s ability to connect emotionally with a partner?

We become emotionally dysregulated when we feel unsafe due to past trauma. You can’t form connections when you’re dysregulated. We have many tools for emotional regulation, such as self-run eye movements and EFT tapping. There are youtube videos with vagus nerve exercises to reset your system. We heal in safe connection. 

What are practical steps or exercises listeners can try to become more emotionally available?

Learn how to tell when your body is regulated. We need to teach ourselves what safe love feels like. Challenge your relationship to vulnerability. It’s a skill we can learn by practicing it, because we need it for deep connection, to be seen and known for who we are and be loved for our authentic selves.

What are your final words of advice for anyone who wants to go on their last first date?

Don’t dim your light or contort yourself to be liked. Find your inner spark and shine it. Learn how to regulate your nervous system. Be vulnerable. Stop following the same old patterns, and begin to feel good in your body. 

Watch this episode on YouTube

Connect With Brooke


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

FREE download: “The Green Light Guide to Dating After 50: How to Show Interest Without Chasing” https://lastfirstdate.com/green-light-guide/

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

The Rise in Gray Divorce Among Couples Over 50

There’s a rise in gray divorce, divorce after 50. Why? Tune into this episode with Dr. Dana McNeil to find out! — Why is there a rise in gray divorce? Dr. Dana McNeil, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed couples therapist and Certified Gottman Therapist specializing in emotional safety, relationship repair, and long-term compatibility. She is […]

gray divorce

There’s a rise in gray divorce, divorce after 50. Why? Tune into this episode with Dr. Dana McNeil to find out!

Why is there a rise in gray divorce? Dr. Dana McNeil, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed couples therapist and Certified Gottman Therapist specializing in emotional safety, relationship repair, and long-term compatibility. She is the founder of The Relationship Place and Therapy Getaway, where she provides intensive couples therapy for high-conflict relationships. Dr. McNeil serves on the Advisory Board of MYA and is a national media expert and frequent speaker on modern relationships.

In this episode:

  • Why there’s a rise in gray divorce
  • What erodes in long term marriages that leads to divorce later in life
  • How an empty nest amplifies relational issues
  • The emotional and identity challenges unique to later divorce
  • How to repair a fractured marriage later in life

EP 705: Dr. Dana McNeil – Why Is There a Rise in Gray Divorce Among Couples Over 50?

Highlights of this episode on Gray Divorce

Gray divorce trends & causes

  • Divorce overall down 35% since 2021, but ages 50–64 divorces up 43%.
  • COVID intensified existing relationship stressors by removing external outlets.
  • Common drivers: longer lifespans, financial independence of women, infidelity (20–40% over 50), parenting/“failure to launch,” retirement/financial disagreements, health/sexual changes.
  • Midlife brings identity shifts and grief that impact relationships and willingness to leave.

Relationship breakdown & Gottman framework

  • Gottman’s Four Horsemen that predict relationship failure: defensiveness, criticism, contempt, stonewalling.
  • Repeated presence of those behaviors slowly erodes relationship safety.
  • Repair attempts and bids for connection often get missed or ignored, deepening disconnection.
  • Rebuilding requires renewing friendship, updating “love maps,” shared meaning, and intentional repair work.

Empty nest & adult children co-parenting issues

  • Empty nest can trigger identity, purpose, retirement, and intimacy negotiations.
  • Adult children moving back or being enabled creates new conflict points and can be used as buffers for a dysfunctional marriage.
  • Lack of pre-planned conversations about adult-child expectations can fuel resentments and negative sentiment override.

Dating after divorce — practical guidance

  • Don’t “date potential”: evaluate who a person is now, not who they might become.
  • Prioritize friendship, character, and how someone handles crisis/emotions.
  • Take time after a breakup (often recommended around a year) to grieve and rebuild before serious dating.

Connect With Dr. Dana

Watch this episode on YouTube


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

FREE download: “The Green Light Guide to Dating After 50: How to Show Interest Without Chasing” https://lastfirstdate.com/green-light-guide/

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

Wedding Speech Disasters (and how to avoid them)

Brian Franklin can help you avoid wedding speech disasters! Listen to the podcast to learn the keys to writing a good wedding speech. — 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 […]

wedding speech

Brian Franklin can help you avoid wedding speech disasters! Listen to the podcast to learn the keys to writing a good wedding speech.

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 campaigns nationwide.

In this episode:

  • Why start a business writing wedding speeches?
  • What’s the process? 
  • What’s the right balance of humor vs. sentimentality? 
  • What about people with public speaking anxiety? 
  • Should people memorize, have everything typed out, or use bullets?

EP 661: Brian Franklin – Wedding Speech Disasters (and how to avoid them)

Why did you start a business writing wedding speeches?

I was writing speeches for politicians for a long time. As politics got uglier, I wanted to find other things to do. I was an officiant in a few weddings and some people came to me to help write speeches and vows for them. I enjoyed this new angle, and I’ve been doing it ever since!

What’s the process? 

Writing speeches and vows is similar to the process we take couples through. You have to treat a speech as if people have a tiny attention span. How will an audience drift off? I think about that. I start with an hour long interview to understand every aspect of their relationship. What are the funny and quirky parts? I take all the information and distill what’s funny and what’s interesting and will give insight into what makes this couple unique.

What’s the right balance of humor vs. sentimentality? 

It starts with what the couple wants. If they’re irreverent, they want the wedding to be fun. It’s usually a balance of 7 to 3. Some people are not so funny. Every good relationship has some humor, and it’s my job to find those things and weave them in.

What about people with public speaking anxiety? 

Practice the speech word for word to have muscle memory. Then, you can work on tone, stage presence, and everything else. It will help you stammer less and feel more comfortable at the event.

Should people memorize, have everything typed out, or use bullets?

I discourage bullet points, because this is an emotional event, and it’s a one-off speech that you won’t deliver again. It will also help with timing if you have everything written out.

What are some wedding speech disastors?  

First, speaking too long can be disastrous. People don’t nail the moment. Those speeches are tedious and awful. People don’t always use good judgment when speaking. They drink too much and go on too long. Typically it’s the father of the bride or the best man.

What are your final words of advice for anyone who wants to go on their last first date?

One consistent thing I’ve seen with all the couples I’ve interviewed was how they felt when they first met. On the first few dates, they talked for hours. Time flew by and they vibed. You may not be in love, but the conversation flows. If that’s there, give it a chance to see if love grows. Because a good relationship is an ongoing conversation. Also, focus on how they resolve conflict. That’s a good indicator of relationship success.

Connect with Brian

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If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

Why We Repeat Toxic Patterns in Relationships

Why do we tend to repeat toxic patterns in relationships and dating? Joan Childs has some insights you’ll want to hear! — Why do we tend to repeat toxic patterns in our relationships? My podcast guest, Joan Childs, is sharing her wisdom in this episode. She’s a renowned psychotherapist, author, and relationship expert with over […]

toxic patterns

Why do we tend to repeat toxic patterns in relationships and dating? Joan Childs has some insights you’ll want to hear!

Why do we tend to repeat toxic patterns in our relationships? My podcast guest, Joan Childs, is sharing her wisdom in this episode. She’s a renowned psychotherapist, author, and relationship expert with over 47 years of clinical experience. As a pioneer in Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy, Joan has dedicated her career to healing fractured relationships and guiding people toward self-actualization. Her therapeutic journey has included individual, couples, group, and family therapy, earning her certifications in transformative modalities such as EMDR, Hypnosis, and Inner Child Work.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

  • Why we repeat toxic patterns in relationships
  • Common mistakes couples make and how to avoid them
  • What to do when there’s a loss of intimacy in a relationship
  • The biggest myths about love and relationships

EP 649: Joan Childs – Why We Repeat Toxic Patterns in Relationships

What inspired you to write Do You Hate the One You Love?

 Over the years, I heard the same expressions from women that they hated how their partner behaved. I would ask why they were with someone they hated. They’d say they love him, but they hate the way he behaved. It’s common to have opposing feelings at the same time.

Why do we repeat toxic patterns in relationships?

Nobody should be subjected to abuse. A lot of women don’t feel they have options to leave. Ask yourself if this is something you want to do the rest of your life, especially if the other person isn’t willing to change. I try to help the person receiving the abuse. I ask why they stay.

We often repeat toxic patterns unconsciously due to childhood wounds.

“Who treated you like that as a child? When were you bullied? When do you fell ‘less than?” We discover the link between their past and the patterns that show up in dating and relationships.

The relationship lives in between the two of you, and if it becomes polluted and contaminated over time, not only are they the receivers of this toxicity, if there are children involved, they are the recipient of this toxicity until they break the pattern.

What are the most common mistakes people make in relationships, and how can they avoid them?

Don’t get between the sheets before two months. Know what you want in a relationship. Write those things down. How do you know you’ll get all that within a short amount of time? We tend to project onto a person before we know them. Be open. Share your concerns. Ask questions. Communicate openly to avoid the surprises when someone is not a good match.

What is one step someone can take today to break their toxic patterns in relationships?

Look at your past and recognize the behaviors they’ve brought into the here and now. I give a life history questionnaire to my patients to find out what their past was like. By the time they come in, I know where I need to go with them. Ask yourself if you want to change. It’s not easy, but it’s possible to change.

What are your final words of advice for anyone who wants to go on their last first date?

Identify what you can and can’t live with. What can you and can’t you live without? Look for those qualities. Understand that it takes time for those things to come out. Set boundaries and be honest with them if you like them. M. Scott Peck said, “Love is the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” That’s what you want in a relationship!

Watch this episode on YouTube

Connect with Joan


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life

How to Break Barriers in Neurodiverse Relationships

How do you break barriers in neurodiverse relationships? Dr. Matt Zakreski helps neurodivergent people have healthier 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 […]

neurodiverse relationships

How do you break barriers in neurodiverse relationships? Dr. Matt Zakreski helps neurodivergent people have healthier 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 accessible and practical for people to improve their lives.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

  • A crash course in neurodiversity and how it impacts dating
  • How to break barriers in neurodiverse relationships
  • The challenges neurodiverse folks face when dating
  • How to navigate conflict and cultivate closeness
  • How to apply brain science to build stronger relationship

EP 656: Dr. Matt Zakreski – Breaking Barriers in Neurodiverse Relationships

What is neurodiversity?

It’s the word for all brains in the world. Neurodivergent brains function in a different way. One in five people are neurodivergent. 80 percent of people are neurotypical. Diversity means there are a lot of differences out there which make up the world. Being different isn’t a deficit.

How did you get involved in this field?

I spent most of my life hearing about what I couldn’t do as a person with ADHD. I can do some things really well, and other things not so well. I work with people of all brains of all ages. I like the 8-28 range of people. I was a child psychologist, and my kids grew up, so I started helping them, too.

How are relationships challenging for autistic, ADHD, and 2E folks?

We’re learning how to identify the different levels of neurodivergent. You can have ADHD and have tics and stim. For people who are neurodivergent, relationships can be challenging because they have sensory issues. Bars and restaurants can be overly stimulating to them. So, they might ask someone to come to their home, which feels unsafe to the person they’re dating. Sensory issues also come up in the bedroom.

How can neurodivergent people address challenges like sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, and miscommunication?

Flirting is an indirect form of communication. Prosody is how we change the meaning of a word based on the delivery. The neurodivergent brain reads it the same way, especially when there’s a nuance. I train them to look at cues, especially non-verbal. Direct eye contact can be uncomfortable for them. We talk about how much eye contact is necessary for connection. Online, it’s hard to have those skills. The neurodivergent person can ask questions to check if they’re reading the room correctly. Socializing is nuanced and complex. Dating requires courageous conversations, which are hard for many of us. Remember that dating should be fun and enjoyable. That’s the goal!

What are some ways to navigate conflict with a neurodiverse partner?

Neurodiverse people can be rigid around rules and justice. Define what rules are spoken and which are unspoken. Communicate clearly with them and don’t expect them to read your mind. Have honest conversations in a kind way. Send gift lists to them so they don’t have to read your mind. How we frame conflict is important. It’s never me vs you. It’s you and me vs the problem. Reframe the problem as something to be solved. Compromise is inherently productive. Ask yourself what a meaningful compromise would look like. Some things can’t be compromised. This is prosocial communication.

What are some tools and strategies for building emotional and physical connections?

First, no emotion is good or bad. You have a right to be disappointed if someone doesn’t want to be with you. It’s important to learn the language around that. The more aware we are about our emotions, we can be curious, not furious. When you’re curious, you can say,, “Tell me more, help me understand.” That will help you be more empathic and understanding. When you find yourself thinking, “I should be…” change it to “I could be…”.

How can we apply brain science to build stronger relationships and lasting connections and go on our last first date?

The goal of life is not to be happy. Happiness is an emotional state, and every emotional state is fleeting. Chasing happiness makes you less happy. The goal of life is to be regulated. The more regulated your body is, the more likely you’ll be to show up as the best version of you. To go on your last first date, take your date to a place where you feel most regulated and will show up as your best. People fall in love with the most authentic version of you.

Connect with Dr. Matt Zakreski

Watch this episode on Youtube


Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast here.

Apply to get FREE coaching on the podcast: https://bit.ly/LFDradiocoaching 

If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find love, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application

Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate

Get a copy of Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life