In My Hometown

Why don’t people just get divorced instead of committing murder? What are we teaching our sons and daughters about consent? And who’s secretly getting Botox? Food, family and culture writer Pamela Rothbard is back with Jamie Stein for another candid, funny and provocative conversation about the stories everyone’s talking about. This week: The Cornell 7 case: Sexual assault allegations, consent, ac...

We spend nearly two decades raising our kids to become independent—and then they do exactly what they’re supposed to do: they leave. So why can the empty nest feel so destabilizing? Clinical psychologist Dr. Joann Finkelstein, and author of Sexism and Sensibility , joins Jamie Stein to talk about the transition no one really prepares parents for: what happens to us when our kids don’t need us in t...

Empty nest. A new normal. The Lindsay Clancy case. And the TV shows and pop culture we can’t stop talking about. Family, food and culture writer Pamela Rothbard joins Jamie Stein to get into what’s been on their minds lately—and what a lot of us are talking about after 40. In this episode: • The reality of the empty nest: The unexpected mix of freedom and loss when the kids leave—and figuring out...

You worry about your kid’s grades, their roommate, whether they’ll make friends and if they’ll call home. But what should you really be worried about?  Dr. Jill Grimes — aka The College Doc and author of The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook — joins Jamie and Pascal for a revealing conversation about the things parents should be thinking about before their kids leave home — including some y...

Millions of viewers watched Joan Vassos make history as the first—and so far only—Golden Bachelorette. But the experience didn’t just change her love life—it changed her life. In this episode of In My Hometown , Joan joins Jamie Stein and Pascal for a candid conversation about finding love later in life, family, grief, resilience, and what it’s really been like since the cameras stopped rolling. J...

After Part 1, one thing became clear: the conversation wasn’t over. The response to Mike Zimmerman’s story was unlike anything we’d seen. Audience questions challenged assumptions, explored the emotional impact of his discovery, and made us realize there was much more to discuss. So we invited Mike back. In Part 2, author Mike Zimmerman returns to answer the questions our audience couldn’t stop as...

Modern dating can feel more complicated than ever—but does it have to be? Relationship expert and Smart Dating Academy founder Bela Gandhi doesn't think so!  She joins Jamie Stein and Pascal to talk about what really works when it comes to finding love after 40. From dating apps and first dates to unrealistic expectations, attraction, and relationship-ready partners, Bela shares practical adv...

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has captured national attention. But for NewsNation anchor Marni Hughes, her case is part of a much bigger mission: shining a light on missing persons cases that too often fly under the radar. Marni joins Jamie and Pascal to share the latest developments in the Nancy Guthrie case and take us inside NewsNation’s “Missing” series. She opens up about why this work h...

For nearly two decades, Reality Steve (Steve Carbone) has been one of reality TV’s most influential insiders, breaking stories, sharing spoilers, and changing the way fans follow their favorite shows. In this episode of In My Hometown , Jamie Stein and Pascal sit down with Reality Steve for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of reality television. They discuss Bachelor Nation , Ta...

What do men really think about dating after 50? In this special episode, Jamie Stein puts co-host Pascal in the hot seat for an unfiltered conversation about love, relationships, attraction, confidence, and his infamous “French standards.”  Drawing from questions submitted by our community—and a few of Jamie’s own—Pascal shares his candid opinions on first impressions, chemistry, red flags, modern...

What if the thing preventing you from attracting the love—and the life—you want isn’t timing, luck, or even chemistry? What if it’s confidence? In this episode, Jamie and Pascal sit down with dating strategist, confidence expert, matchmaker, and host of The Charisma Quotient podcast, Kimmy Seltzer, for a conversation about dating, attraction, confidence, and finding love after 50. Kimmy shares her...

Writer, former model, mom, and Netflix Age of Attraction cast member Erin Timm joins Jamie and Pascal for a revealing conversation about the gap between the life we imagined and the life we actually get. From becoming a single mom at 20 to navigating health challenges, difficult relationships, self-doubt, and the realities of never marrying, Erin reflects on the choices, setbacks, and unexpected t...

From Playboy Bunny and nine-time Playboy cover model to one of Chicago’s most recognizable media personalities and society columnists, Candace Jordan has spent decades at the center of celebrity culture, media, fame, and reinvention. In this episode of In My Hometown , Jamie and Pascal sit down with Candace for a "candid" conversation about what really happened behind the scenes at Playb...

Women over 50 are no longer being sidelined in conversations around love, attraction, and dating — they’re becoming the romantic leads. On this episode of In My Hometown , Jamie and Pascal explore the growing conversation around older women dating younger men — and the double standards that still exist around age, attraction, confidence, and modern relationships. Joining the conversation is Vaness...

What would you do if you discovered your father had been living an entirely separate life — with another wife and children — just 6 miles away (in a neighboring suburb)? In this compelling episode of In My Hometown , Jamie and Pascal sit down with author Mike Zimmerman to discuss the shocking true story behind his shocking memoir, Suburban Bigamy: 6 Miles Between Truth & Deceit . Mike opens up...

Is age really just a number in dating? And does it depend who’s older?  This week on In My Hometown , Jamie and Pascal sit down with Theresa DeMaria, 54, from the hit Netflix show Age of Attraction—hosted by Nick Viall and Natalie Joy. Theresa and John's (27) relationship on the show made headlines their 27 year age gap. Now she’s sharing what really happened—behind the scenes, off camera, an...

What does it really take to reinvent your career (and life) —and start a completely new chapter? In this episode of In My Hometown , Jamie and Pascal sit down with Mara Smith, founder and CEO of Inspiro Tequila. After a successful career as an attorney and business strategist - and years focused on raising her family, Mara made a bold pivot—launching a premium tequila brand in a male-dominated ind...

The Bachelor Mansion Takeover finale recap + Dating slang terms (Putting Pascal to the test) and Real Red Flags!! In this episode of In My Hometown, Jamie and Pascal recap the full season of HGTV’s Bachelor Mansion Takeover and share their unfiltered hot takes—from the finale results to what worked (and what didn’t). Dating Slang - are you up to date? Modern dating realities Red flags  vs. green f...

The cancellation of The Bachelorette sent shockwaves through Bachelor Nation — and Dina Lupancu and Parisa Shifteh (fan favs from Grant's season) join In My Hometown to share their perspective. We discuss what was seen in early promos, how the news is being received within Bachelor Nation, and what this moment could mean for the future of the franchise. Dina and Parisa also open up about life...

Jordan Heller and CK (Charles King) join Jamie and Pascal to talk about what life really looks like after The Golden Bachelorette (and ofc Taylor Frankie Paul and The Bachelorette cancellation and fallout). From the unexpected brotherhood that came out of the show to navigating love, relationships, and big decisions later in life (in our Golden and Going Golden Era)—this conversation goes far beyo...

Chock Chapple joins In My Hometown for a candid conversation about life after The Golden Bachelorette—and the two unexpected love stories that came out of it. From his relationship with Joan to the lasting bond with the “mansion men,” Chock reflects on what it means to build real connection beyond the show—and how that continues to shape his life today. He shares what it’s been like navigating lon...

Bachelor Nation took fans on a walk down memory lane with The Bachelorette: Before the Rose and Reunion, bringing together women from 22 seasons of The Bachelorette to share advice and perspective with the franchise’s newest lead, Taylor Frankie Paul. In this episode of In My Hometown, Jamie Stein and Pascal are joined by Golden Bachelor finalist and friend of the show Jordan Heller for a fun and...

The Bachelor mansion might be the most overdue renovation in reality TV. In this episode of In My Hometown, Jamie and Pascal break down the new HGTV show Bachelor Mansion Takeover, where Bachelor Nation meets design and home renovation. Twelve fan-favorite contestants from ABCs The Bachelor and The Bachelorette (and Bachelor In Paradise) return to the most famous house in reality TV to redesign an...

Marriage changes over time — especially in midlife. In this Golden Era conversation of the In My Hometown podcast, Jamie and Pascal sit down with marriage and couples therapist Amy Lombardi to talk about what really keeps long-term relationships strong — and why couples sometimes start to drift. From communication styles to emotional and physical intimacy, we explore the patterns Amy sees in her w...

Ever wonder which supplements actually matter — or how to make sure your medications are truly working for you as you get older? In this episode of In My Hometown, Jamie and Pascal sit down with pharmacist and health counselor Donna Goodhart for a practical, eye-opening conversation about personalized health after 40. Donna breaks down how to optimize your prescriptions, avoid common supplement mi...