Ready to explore the essential essence of human connection and the pursuit of true love? Join show host Pat Barbarito and featured guest Beatty Cohan, nationally recognized psychotherapist and sex therapist, for an enlightening conversation on why romantic relationships are so challenging.

As Pat points out: Connection of the heart goes way beyond being physically present. And Beatty reveals – through her exclusive 10-step formula to create and maintain a successful partnership – exactly what it takes to find or create that genuine connection.

Key Topics:

• The fundamental need for connection
• Understanding your own needs…and baggage
• Importance of communication and problem-solving
• How societal norms and media influence our perceptions of relationships
• Empowering yourself through relationship education

Whether you're single, dating, or in a long-term relationship, Pat and Beatty’s heartfelt conversation guarantees you'll leave with valuable tools to better your love life.

BONUS: Ready to apply science to your pursuit of love? Be sure to explore Beatty’s ten-step formula outlined in her book "For Better or Worse Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love." Based on data provided by over 450 clients before the book was written - 93% of whom returned to say they had avoided the relationship disasters of the past and successfully assessed their partners.

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

Dating can often feel like a game – one where too many of us have played the fool. But what if you could spot the red flags before wasting time on the wrong person?

In this episode, host Pat Barbarito welcomes show favorite Dr. Duana Welch, relationship expert and author of Love Factually, to discuss the red and green flags of dating.

From spotting deal breakers early to understanding the difference between real and pseudo intimacy, this episode outlines a roadmap to dating with clarity and confidence. If you’ve ever ignored warning signs or hesitated to ask the hard questions, this conversation is for you!

Key takeaways include:

• Why dating can feel overwhelming but is still worth engaging in
• The biggest mistakes people make when choosing a partner
• The importance of defining your own personal deal breakers early
• Why pseudo-intimacy can lead you astray
• The one sentence you need to end a relationship with clarity

If you’re ready to stop wasting time on the wrong matches and start dating with intention, tune in to Dating Red Flags & Green Lights: A Smarter Path to Love with Dr. Duana Welch now.

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

It’s the third anniversary of Heartbreak & Hope! How fitting, then, that host Pat Barbarito takes our annual moment of reflection to discuss the complexities of what has been coined the third act of life.

In her typically candid fashion, Pat shares the lessons she’s learned about many gifts of aging, the challenge of professional evolution, the benefit of simple joys, the value of multi-generational relationships, and the specter of loneliness as we age.

Key takeaways include:

• Aging is a time for continued growth and self-awareness, not just a decline.
• Professional reinvention and mentorship become more meaningful with age, and don’t avoid being both mentor and mentee.
• Asking for and receiving understanding from loved ones can quickly improve the quality of later years.
• Finding joy in simple, everyday moments can be deeply fulfilling.
• Elders offer invaluable lessons, and it’s essential to listen to their stories. (But don’t discount the young!)
• Loneliness is a common challenge, and building connections is crucial.

Whether you're already in your third act or seeking inspiration as it nears, Embracing The Third Act; Heartbreak & Hope Turns 3’s heartfelt reflection on aging, reinvention, and the continued importance of human connection will leave you feeling empowered to embrace life's changes with hope, humor, and humility.

BONUS: Pat references From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks and Jane Fonda’s acclaimed Ted Talk about the longevity revolution and Life’s Third Act in the opening moments of this episode. Be sure to check those out at your leisure!

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

If mastering money is one of your 2025 goals, this episode of Heartbreak & Hope is a must-listen! Podcast host Patricia Barbarito welcomes featured guest Stacy Francis, President & CEO of Francis Financial and founder of Savvy Ladies, and, together, they explore how financial literacy can help break cycles of abuse, build confidence, and prepare for a brighter, more secure future.

Pat and Stacy’s lively conversation covers:

• how witnessing the financial abuse of her grandmother sparked Stacy’s passion to provide women with the financial knowledge, resources, and tools to build a solid foundation irrespective of romantic partnerships;
• why normalizing conversations about money could be key in improving both individual relationships and the global community;
• how to handle the unspoken taboo around women being the primary earners in relationships, offering Farnoosh Torabi's “When She Makes More” for additional perspective;
• what the rise in women aged 18-26 actively seeking financial advice and education indicates for the future;
• the value of teaching children about money and incorporating transparency around family finances;
• how financial advisors are paid, including a snapshot of the different fee structures you’ll need to consider;
• what women should look for in a financial advisor, and how to get the best, most transparent support; and so much more.

Financial literacy is essential for women (and men!) navigating life’s toughest transitions – whether divorce, loss, or unexpected financial hardship.

BONUS: Learn more about Savvy Ladies’ unique, compassionate approach to financial advising, and its emphasis on providing wrap-around services to help women with everything from retirement planning to insurance and estate planning.

And check out Stacy’s Kiplinger’s article “Women Who Bring Home the Bacon Are STILL the Ones Frying It Up in a Pan” for even more insight!

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

Do you wish your love life had that little something extra, but find yourself avoiding true connection like vampires sidestep garlic? Or does your dating profile showcase a version of you only Dr. Frankenstein would believe was real?

If you keep going on dates but secretly believe the dating pool is a dystopian wasteland, host Pat Barbarito and featured guest love coach Junie Moon want you to know that hope, happiness, and life-altering fulfillment can be found in the shadows – if you’re ready to face the unconscious truths lurking within your heart and soul.

This high-energy, compelling episode explores the transformative practice of shadow work and its profoundly positive impact on navigating midlife relationships.

Through illuminating insights and personal anecdotes, Pat and Junie explain how past experiences shape current choices in love, the importance of authentic self-expression in cultivating healthy connections, the danger of listening to that well-intentioned inner voice, and so much more.

Conversation highlights include:

• Understanding Shadow Work. An exploration of shadow work as a vital process for uncovering unconscious beliefs and behaviors that hinder personal growth and relationship success. Learn how unexamined fears and experiences can create blind spots that affect dating and relationship dynamics.
• The Role of the 'Risk Manager'. Insight into the internal part of ourselves that protects us from perceived dangers, often leading to people-pleasing behaviors and avoidance of real self-care. Discover how our internal self can even weaponize shame in an effort to keep us safe.
• Shifting Perspective on Past Pain. Understanding the impact of previous relationships and family dynamics on current love lives, as well as the inherent danger of not fully healing those childhood traumas. Explore the concept that we often attract partners who reflect our unhealed wounds, reinforcing the need for personal healing to break this cycle.
• Midlife Empowerment. Embracing the fact that self-respect can be reclaimed, and love lives can be actively shaped with the benefit of life experience, leading to even better relationships. Includes a thought-provoking discussion on whether hitting rock bottom is necessary for personal growth, with insights into how many women can make positive changes without extreme circumstances
• The Value of Community. How becoming your most authentic self can lead to more genuine relationships that enrich your life and expand your possibilities. Appreciate that navigating the journey alone is not the bleak prospect it once was, and mentors, coaches, and other supportive communities are all within your reach.

BONUS: Do you know your love avatar? Junie’s two-minute Discover Your Love Avatar quiz reveals your level of relationship readiness, identifies your Love Superpower, and recommends next steps to consider as you rewrite your own love story!

Take the quiz today for valuable insights that can help you embrace your actual desires and rewrite your own love story!

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

Whether you’re approaching 50, or that particular birthday has been in the rearview mirror for a while, we all recognize the half-century mark as a pivotal moment in life.

Host Pat Barbarito invites featured guest Maria Leonard Olsen to share just how transformative her own milestone was and how she overcame personal struggles to begin navigating the next chapters of life with intentionality and hope.

The conversation covers:

• the influence of one’s family of origin, and the impact of childhood trauma;
• the peace found in facing fractured relationships, alcoholism, and marital dysfunction;
• the necessity of overcoming shame and embracing change;
• how Maria’s determination to tackle 50 new-to-her challenges led to the creation and publication of 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life; and
• what the future of being in her 60s holds for the intrepid author, attorney, public speaker and podcaster.

BONUS INFO!

Becoming Your Best Version (Podcast)
https://www.marialeonardolsen.com/podcast

50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life (Book)
https://www.amazon.com/50-After-Reframing-Next-Chapter/dp/1538109646

Website
https://www.marialeonardolsen.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialeonardolsen

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FiftyAfter50/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

Do you think women of a certain age are no longer interested in sex? Think again!

Host Pat Barbarito welcomes featured guest and sexual health changemaker Dr. Anika Ackerman to share the latest data, research, and anecdotes that clearly debunk this myth, and, instead, offer information about the numerous options that promote stellar sexual health – regardless of the number of candles on this year’s birthday cake.

Conversation highlights include:

• The importance of intimacy and its correlation to the longevity of a relationship;
• Top patient concerns, including lack of desire, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urgency (genitourinary syndrome); vaginismus (extreme tightness of the vaginal muscles);
• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), examining hormonal imbalance and activity of neurotransmitters in the brain;
• Everyday libido ‘killers’;
• Libido enhancers - two FDA-approved medications and a few natural options
• Benefits of vaginal estrogen;
• Pelvic floor therapy – what it is and why it works;
• Use of laser, radio frequency, and high intensity focused electromagnetic energy to rejuvenate the vagina, and so much more!

If you, or a woman you love, is feeling the heartbreaking reality of perimenopause or menopause or watching the impact of a lower libido on their own self-confidence, this “all awkward questions welcome” conversation is for you!

Special thanks to our wonderful listener (who asked to remain anonymous) for suggesting this topic and explaining how beneficial this information was in her relationship.

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.

Happy Valentine’s Day; we’re TWO!!! Host Pat Barbarito celebrates the second anniversary with her usual blend of frankness and fearlessness, offering a little no-nonsense insight into:

• the financial and emotional costs of divorce,
• the justice delivered (or not) through the divorce court,
• the ripple effect of your divorce on your longtime definition of family,
• how to reinvent, redefine, and rediscover who you are after the demise of your marriage, and so much more.

Be sure to listen to the end for a few words of support and some of Pat’s personal steps to embracing the new reality as a divorcee!

Be sure to follow Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, or bookmark the official podcast webpage to keep the entire library at your fingertips.