Flirtin After Forty

In this episode, I’m talking about the aftermath of my very questionable “can we be friends with benefits?” experiment with J-Man — and yes, you were all right. Bad idea. I know. I knew it too, but apparently I needed to gather my own evidence like a little emotional scientist. After one “indiscretion,” the door reopened to texting, feelings, sad conversations, and the very strange experience of b...

In this episode, I’m talking about one very strange, emotional, maybe magical day — 6/26/26 — where I somehow spent nearly seven hours on the phone, which is hilarious because I swear I don’t even like talking on the phone. The day started with a text from J-Man about anger, hurt, and everything that was still sitting between us. That turned into a long conversation about the breakup, what happene...

In this episode, I start with Father’s Day, teenage boys testing out pickup lines at my kitchen table, and me maybe being a questionable mom while casually giving advice on how to flee golf course security. So, parenting. Nailed it. Then I finally watch Ted Lasso after avoiding it for years because it reminded me of someone from my past. And, annoyingly, it’s amazing. It sends me down a little emo...

In this episode, I’m catching you up after a solo trip to Cabo that I desperately needed. I went into the trip stressed, overwhelmed, and carrying way too much from work, life, summer, and the J-Man breakup — and somehow came home lighter, happier, and a little more restored. I talk about what it’s really like traveling alone, including the beautiful parts, the awkward parts, and the part where I...

The last few weeks have been heavy. Work stress, co-parenting stress, emotional stress… just one of those seasons where it feels like everyone needs something from you while you’re quietly trying to hold it all together. And this week, I realized something about myself: I’m really good at surviving alone. But I’m terrible at asking for help. In this episode, I talk about what happened when I final...

In this episode of Flirtin’ After Forty, I’m catching you up on a heavy couple of weeks — co-parenting disappointment, the aftermath of calling out my ex-husband, and the sadness of realizing that J-Man and I are no longer together. I talk about what it feels like to advocate for your kids, stop protecting people from the consequences of their choices, and navigate the guilt that can show up when...

This week I’m talking about something that hit me harder than I expected: my son’s eighth grade continuation, the milestone moment, the packed gym full of families, and the empty seat where his dad should have been. I went into the day thinking it was just another school ceremony, but watching my son look for his dad — and realizing he wasn’t coming because he forgot — broke my heart. In this epis...

This week came in swinging. My dad ended up in the hospital, work was frantic, my son had school stuff going on, I had bizarre dreams, a snake tried to move into my house, and somehow a barking dog at a job walk almost finished me off. I realized I’m really good in the middle of a crisis — I can make a plan, handle the facts, and keep moving — but the crash usually comes later. In this episode, I’...

This week, I’m talking about Mother’s Day, disappointment, mental load, and the tiny moments that make women wonder, “Why am I managing everyone’s common sense?” After a week with my mom in town, my kids home, and a very quiet house finally to myself, I realized how much I value my space — and how complicated the idea of living with someone again feels at this stage of life. I also share the Mothe...

This week felt like a weird mix of everything—snow days in May, finishing a home project I’ve been avoiding for eight months , and one of the most ridiculous dating profiles I’ve ever read. But really, this episode is about moms. With Mother’s Day coming up, I’m talking about the invisible load we carry, why this day actually matters (yes, it does), and how I’ve learned to make it special—even as...

I had one of those days—running between nine projects, exhausted, getting hit with “what’s for dinner?” the second I sat down—and I almost lost it. But then I found something that completely flipped my mood… my very first dating profile. Like FULL novel-length, 20-prompts, oversharing-in-the-best-way dating profile. And honestly? She was confident. Hopeful. A little unhinged (in a fun way). And ve...

I didn’t record last week… and honestly, that kind of says it all. In this episode, I’m sharing a very real update—yes, I’m dating J-Man again. But it’s not a fairytale reunion. It’s complicated, it’s uncertain, and I’m asking myself some hard questions. He’s showing up differently. We’re communicating better. In a lot of ways, this is what I said I wanted—something safe, stable, and supportive. S...

I hit my limit this week—between disgusting teenage bedrooms, a middle-of-the-night smoke detector meltdown, and just… life piling on, I needed out. So I went to Vegas. Alone. And somewhere between early morning slot machines, winning $$$ playing Keno, and meeting the kindest strangers at a bar, something shifted. This episode is about losing your mind a little… and then finding yourself again. Wh...

This week started with me feeling completely unmotivated… and ended with a big win I didn’t see coming. After weeks of waiting and assuming we didn’t get it, I got the call—and it was a yes. One of those moments where you realize the feeling you had all along? It was right. From there, I went down a rabbit hole on age-gap relationships (thanks, Netflix), and now I have questions. Like… how big is...

This week a calendar reminder informed me it’s been 16 years since I got engaged —which is not exactly the kind of notification a divorced woman expects to wake up to. That moment sent me thinking about old engagement rings, what to do with them, and how funny it is that some things from the past just… linger. I also share a few co-parenting moments from middle school basketball season that remind...

This week I’m feeling it — the moon, the exhaustion, the loneliness… all of it. In this episode I’m talking about the difference between being alone and feeling alone with someone, and why the second one might actually be worse. I miss J-Man, and not reaching out is harder than I’d like to admit. But I also know going back just because you’re lonely isn’t the answer. Then a simple text conversatio...

I really loved him. And I really wanted it to work. But wanting something isn’t the same as it being right. After a tough fight, a dark weekend, and a long therapy session, I had to listen to the quiet voice I kept trying to override — my gut. In this episode, I talk about ending it (yes, over text), the difference between “nice” and “kind,” and why sometimes choosing your own peace feels selfish…...

In just one week, everything shifted. Season two launched, J-Man listened to the podcast, and somehow we’re cautiously trying again. This episode is about growth you don’t always see day-to-day — how much you’ve actually evolved, healed, and changed over time. It’s about not losing yourself in relationships, learning to fill your own bucket first, and asking the big question: do we need “our perso...

Season two starts with me coming back to myself. In this episode, I talk openly about ending my relationship with J-Man — someone I deeply care about — and what it looks like to listen to your gut even when the decision hurts. This isn’t about blame or big drama; it’s about recognizing incompatibility, honoring your needs, and choosing not to ignore that quiet voice inside anymore. I’m sharing wha...

This week’s episode is a heavier one. I talk about why I stepped back last week and how hard it’s been to process what’s happening in our world — especially when it stops feeling political and starts feeling deeply human. From ICE activity near my kids’ school to conversations with friends who “aren’t really paying attention,” I share how exhausting it can be to care when others have the privilege...

This week I’m not in crisis — but everything feels a little… smoky. From cringey dating-text advice I refuse to use, to Etsy hate mail over a $9 card (free shipping included, relax), to tech failures, bank chaos, and the never-ending mental load, it’s been one of those weeks where nothing is on fire — but everything is irritating. I talk about why asking for help feels so uncomfortable for indepen...

I found a good guy — and realized that wasn’t the ending, it was the beginning. In this episode, I’m sharing what happens when the honeymoon phase fades and real life steps in: a first big fight, a birthday that didn’t go as planned, and the uncomfortable work of navigating a healthy relationship after past toxicity. From a Costa Rica trip that brought both joy and clarity, to learning how much in...

I felt called to record one last episode before the year ended — from my bed, late at night, with a lot on my heart. This episode is about choosing my word for 2026 and why “receive” feels both right and wildly uncomfortable. We talk about letting go of force, stopping the uphill push, and trusting that you don’t have to chase what’s already finding you. I share why receiving isn’t quitting — it’s...

The holidays are here, my emotions are loud, and I’m showing up exactly as I am — messy moments included. After shelving a previously recorded episode that didn’t feel right, I open up about blended-family dynamics, holiday exhaustion, hormones, and how an innocent Uno game turned into a full-blown feelings spiral. It’s a candid reflection on wanting to be seen, carrying the mental load, and why L...