Love, Laughs, and Lessons

How do you know when a relationship is unhealthy—and when it's emotionally abusive? In this episode of  Love, Laughs & Lessons , Dr. Frankie Bashan and Denise Rai sit down with licensed mental health counselor and author Kate Mageau to explore the hidden dynamics of emotional abuse, gaslighting, love bombing, and the long road to healing. Drawing from both her personal experience and years...

What actually causes couples to keep having the same argument over and over again? In this episode of Love, Laughs & Lessons , psychologist Dr. Frankie Bashan and certified relationship coach Denise Rai sit down with couples therapist Raffi Bilek to unpack the deeper emotional dynamics behind relationship conflict, communication breakdowns, emotional disconnection, and recurring arguments. Raf...

What happens when childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we love, parent, communicate, and move through the world as adults? In this episode of Love, Laughs & Lessons , psychologist Dr. Frankie Bashan and certified relationship coach Denise Rai sit down with therapist, educator, and attachment specialist Dr. Sasha Reiisi to explore the lifelong impact of childhood trauma, emotional regulation...

What happens when a high achieving woman realizes she has mastered everything in life except love? In this candid and powerful conversation, Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai sit down with relationship mentor Shilpa Cacho, who works with driven women ready to stop chasing validation and start building emotionally mature partnerships. Shilpa shares the deeply personal story that changed her life. After a...

What does it actually take to find lasting, secure love in today's swipe-right culture? In this episode, Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai sit down with two powerhouse guests who approach love from completely different angles: Cheryl Maida, matchmaker extraordinaire with 16+ years of experience, and Amber Lavin, a counselor and coach who rewrote her own love story using mindfulness and somatic healin...

There is a reason you keep ending up in the same relationship with a different face. Nancy Pickard calls it the mysticism of marriage: we go out, we date everyone, and somehow we land on the one person most likely to stick a searing hot rod in our eyeball. Not because we are broken, but because our wounds are trying to get our attention. In this episode, Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai talk with the li...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alysondra Duke, a counseling psychologist, certified sexologist, author, and entrepreneur who blends psychology, sexuality, and intuitive healing to support emotional wellness and transformation. We talk about forgiveness as a loaded term, not a moral performance, and why people stay stuck when they are waiting for closure they may never receive. Dr. Duke brea...

In this episode, we sit down with therapist and mother daughter coach Brittney Scott for an honest conversation about forgiveness, family wounds, and the pressure to “be the bigger person.” Brittney breaks down why forced forgiveness can stall healing, how the mother daughter relationship becomes the first blueprint for trust, attachment, conflict, and self worth, and what it looks like to release...

In this episode, we sit down with Sky Blue Kutchie, certified relationship, intimacy, and sex therapist and pleasure advocate, for an honest conversation about desire, connection, and the myths that keep so many people stuck. We unpack what really impacts libido, why “bad sex” is often a signal of disconnection, and how intimacy can deepen and evolve with age. Sky also breaks down the spectrum of...

Podcast Description In this episode of Love, Laughs, and Lessons, Dr. Frankie Bashan and Denise Rai welcome relationship and marriage expert Larry Bilotta, known for helping individuals navigate midlife crises and rebuild marriages from the brink of divorce. Drawing from his personal experience in a turbulent 27-year marriage followed by transformation in its 28th, Larry shares his philosophy that...

In this episode, we sit down with  Delia Joseph , Certified Professional Coach, trained mediator, microaggression facilitator, and founder of Improveology Lifestyle Coaching. Known as a “quiet storm,” Delia brings a powerful blend of compassion, clarity, and experience to the often-overlooked conversation about forgiveness. We talk about the kind of forgiveness that isn’t performative. The kind yo...

In this episode of Love, Laughs & Lessons, we sit down with trauma therapist and coach Fanny Tristan for a powerful conversation about what it really costs to be "the strong one." Fanny shares her story as a firstborn daughter, the child of Afro-Peruvian immigrants, and someone who grew up navigating mental illness, code-switching, and high expectations. We talk about how perfectioni...

What keeps passion alive after the honeymoon phase? In this episode of  Love, Laughs & Lessons , Dr. Frankie and Denise sit down with Dr. Diane Mueller, known as  The Libido Doc , to talk about the science and soul of lasting desire. Dr. Diane explains how dopamine drives attraction, why novelty fuels intimacy, and how flirting can rekindle connection. She clears up misconceptions about vibrat...

If you think love should feel natural, intuitive, or just “click,” you might be setting yourself up for confusion, resentment, and unmet needs. In this episode, licensed therapist and confidence coach Talia Bombola gets real about how communication—or the lack of it—is sabotaging modern relationships. She breaks down why so many ambitious women end up carrying the emotional weight in partnerships,...

This isn’t just another dating episode. It’s a straight-talking, hilarious deep dive into sex, dating apps, rejection, and doing it all without losing your dignity. Our guest, Maureen Pound, is a solo parent by choice, self-made millionaire, and author of  How to Get Laid on Tinder (for Men Who Care) . She joins us to break down the emotional mess and magic of modern dating—offering real advice fo...

How the Moving On Formula helps you stop chasing the chaos and start choosing yourself   What if the real breakup you need isn’t with your ex, but with the story that’s been keeping you stuck? In this honest and empowering episode, breakup and relationship coach Lucy Price joins Dr. Frankie and Denise to unpack what really keeps people locked in toxic relationship cycles. Lucy opens up about her o...

What happens when laughter meets the complexity of mental wellness, and you stop pretending everything is fine? Anastasia Lindsey, an expert in mental health and holistic wellness, joins Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai in an eye-opening discussion about the power of humor, emotional resilience, and embracing the messy, beautiful aspects of life. Anastasia candidly shares her journey through personal ch...

What happens when your body stops feeling like a safe place to be? Natalie Bedard, also known as Nat² (“Nat to the Second Power”), is a trauma-informed emotional healing expert who teaches folks how to reconnect with their nervous systems, regulate emotions, and reclaim a sense of inner safety. In this episode, Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai explore the power of emotional sobriety, what it really mean...

What do you do when life falls apart twice in one year? Kim Sorrelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. Four months later, her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died just six weeks after his diagnosis. In the aftermath, Kim didn’t retreat. She launched a one-year journey to understand what love really means, and what she discovered will stay with you long after the episode ends. This...

This isn’t your typical divorce story. In this eye-opening conversation, high-conflict divorce strategists Lisa Johnson and Chris Barry explain what happens when divorce becomes a weapon — and the family court system becomes the battlefield. Their clients are often accomplished, emotionally intelligent, and deeply empathetic — and that’s  exactly  why they were targeted. Legal abuse isn’t random....

What if trauma wasn’t your whole story—but the spark that helped you reclaim it? In this intimate episode, author, speaker, and justice advocate Lizbeth Meredith joins us to explore how we can find joy, connection, and purpose after devastating life events. From surviving domestic violence and parental kidnapping to solo travel across six continents, Lizbeth shares what it really takes to build a...

What if betrayal isn’t the end of your story—but the beginning of your transformation? In this powerful episode, Dr. Debi Silber—founder of the PBT Institute and a pioneer in betrayal trauma recovery—joins us to unpack the deep and lasting impact of betrayal on our health, relationships, and identity. Drawing from her own personal experiences and groundbreaking PhD research, Dr. Debi reveals the f...

Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai sit down with Lydia Kimmerling—a master life coach, speaker, and energy alchemist—whose story will make you rethink everything you believe about success, happiness, and the path to purpose. Lydia opens up about what it took to walk away from a “picture-perfect” life that wasn’t truly hers. Through meditation, surrender, and radical self-honesty, she found her way into a...

Dr. Frankie and Denise Rai sit down with therapist and coach Jenna Jake, whose specialty lies in guiding shy individuals—especially men—through the complexities of connection and dating. Together, they unpack the subtle yet powerful dynamics that shape relationships for the shy and neurodivergent, exploring how emotional safety, authenticity, and consent can transform the dating experience. Jenna...

In this powerful episode of  Love, Laughs, and Lessons , Dr. Frankie and Denise sit down with disability advocate and upcoming author  Emily Goodson  for a raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation about dating, desire, and self-worth. After a childhood brain injury left her partially paralyzed, Emily spent years hiding that part of herself—until the isolation of the pandemic and a heartbreak cra...