The holiday season is upon us. Cathy and Samantha share their stories of holidays past, present and future and tips for getting through to January. As we all know, the holidays can be very emotional and complicated as often as they can be merry and full of cheer. Make plans with your friends, try not to over indulge in food and drink, have low expectations for everything and everyone, be kind to others and, most importantly--take good care of yourself. Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. Podcast artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

Guest Caroline joins us to discuss a listener question about where to go on a first date and we get into over-planned dates, spontaneous dates, coffee dates, the friend zone, “cuffing season”, and the possibility of a misshapen eggplant.   We discuss the uncertainty we all are living with in the world right now, post-pandemic virtual burnout which has resulted in our disinterest in the dating app logarithms and our desire for seeking out  friendship and/or love with others IRL.    The Pear Ring (“the world’s biggest social experiment”) https://pearring.co/en-us Cuffing Season 2023 article: https://www.wellandgood.com/cuffing-season/amp/ Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. Podcast artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

Samantha’s friend, Joe, joins us to discuss his journey from “horrible husband” to consciously working on, and being present in, his current relationship. His journey includes two marriages, children, coming to terms with his extra-marital affairs, a cancer diagnosis, getting (and staying) sober and being accountable for his actions. Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. Podcast artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

Samantha and Cathy share notes on their re-reading of the book, “Attached” (discussed with Laura in Ep 12), both realizing they may not actually be “avoidant attachers” as had previously been thought (by both of them!) They also discuss Taylor and Travis, the Golden Bachelor and read a clarification text from Cathy’s 26 year old daughter about Situationships.   Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. Podcast artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

After the demise of her 17 year marriage, our friend Chandra actively dated for a few years before finding her current partner. She credits lots of good therapy, understanding what she wanted and what she could bring to a relationship, to finding herself where she is now. It was not a smooth road--there were dating app scammers, ghosting and other trials, but she persisted to her goal of being in a partnership where she can be her best self. Tune in to hear Chandra's inspiring story (and tips for dealing with bats in the house). Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. Podcast artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

So, you’ve been on a few dates with someone and things are starting to heat up--what are you experiencing? Are you able to discern whether this person is really right for you? The big red flags tend to be obvious, but what about the yellow flags? (Those certain things that might give you pause). Some yellow flags can be personal, and unique to you, and some might indicate unhealthy or controlling behavior. Proceed with an open heart, open mind and open eyes! In between “senior moments” and other distractions, Samantha and Cathy discuss their own yellow flags and explore the difference between dating, situationships and friends with benefits.   Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. RBL artwork: Good Parts @goodpartscle --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

Our friend Laura joins us to discuss attachment styles as outlined in the book "Attached" by Amir Levine, MD and Rachel S.F. Heller, MA. Laura and her partner read this book in the early days of COVID and it inspired them to understand themselves and one another better. Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

It's a classic Samantha and Cathy grab bag episode. We touch on Tinder fails, "love languages", first dates, second dates, a first kiss that resulted in COVID and how to let someone know, nicely but firmly and clearly, that you are not interested in another date (and much more!)… Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

In today's episode we meet Cathy’s longtime friend Lisa who shares her story of working through past trauma and heartbreak to be open to love now. Lisa talks candidly about relationship red flags she experienced and how being single and taking the time to work on her own stuff is how she is finding herself present and more open in her current relationship. (In this episode Samantha references the ACE score which is the Adverse Childhood Experience study--search for more info online, if you're interested) Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has 4 children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow Rust Belt Love on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message

Samantha and Cathy review the dating apps they have been using- Hinge, Match, Bumble, and two apps geared toward the older folks- Our Time and Silver Singles. They discuss how to have a successful experience on a dating app from setting up a thoughtful, simple profile to browsing potential dates. It all starts with a positive attitude and understanding what success means to you (and having good photos!). Samantha and Cathy are two (50+) single women talking about love, dating, friendships, family, divorce etc. from the suburbs of the Rust Belt, USA. Samantha is a masters level independently licensed clinical social worker supervisor, licensed independent chemical dependency counselor supervisor and DBT-Linehan Board Certified Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health therapy. She has two children. Cathy works in a local healthcare system as a program manager and yoga instructor. She has four children. Tune in to hear their stories and musings on life and relationships. Find and follow us on Instagram @RBLovePod Podcast music: umumumu by ⁠⁠⁠Fania Katz⁠⁠⁠ is licensed under a ⁠⁠⁠Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License⁠⁠⁠. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rustbeltlove/message