Why do we stay in relationships that erode our confidence, self-worth, and happiness? In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of trauma bonds and how empathy—one of our greatest strengths—can become our biggest weakness in toxic relationships. We’ll explore why we get stuck in these cycles, the danger of hoping someone will change, and how to reclaim your power by prioritizing your own well-being. If you’ve ever felt trapped in a relationship that’s draining your energy and warping your reality, this conversation is for you. Tune in for practical insights, empowering advice, and a reminder that your compassion should always extend to yourself first.

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward breaking free.

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►► Transform Your Relationship With Life
Learn More About the Matthew Hussey Retreat at . . . → http://www.MHRetreat.com

►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Ask Matthew AI Your Biggest Dating Question for Free Now at. . . → http://www.AskMH.com

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Matthew sits down with Laurie Woolever—author of Care and Feeding: A Memoir—to explore the journey of reclaiming one’s voice after years of living in the shadow of larger-than-life figures like Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali.

Topics covered:

• Why Laurie finally chose to write her memoir after decades in food media.
  
  

• What it's like to stop headlining other people’s lives and start showing up in your own.
  
  

• Her path through addiction, shame, and sobriety—and how it shaped her.
  
  

• The emotional toll and moral complexity of writing honestly about people she’s loved.
  
  

• The collapse of a marriage and the ripple effects of one deeply vulnerable moment.
  
  

• Infidelity, accountability, and what radical self-acceptance really looks like.
  
  

• Why “nice but boring” often hides deeper emotional safety—and how to spot a mature relationship.
  
  

• Dating in your 40s and beyond.
  
  

• What “playing the tape forward” teaches us about addiction, impulse, and the allure of red flags.
  
  

• Advice for people stuck in toxic attraction loops or mourning heartbreak they fear they’ll never get over.
  
  

Whether you’re grappling with heartbreak, questioning your worth, or trying to navigate the messy terrain of self-reinvention, this episode will feel like a conversation with someone who’s lived it and survived to tell the truth.

• Buy the book - Care and Feeding: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever
  
  

• 🎥 Watch our Dating Made Simple Replay (available until midnight on Friday, May 30): LoveLifeReplay.com
  
  

• 💬 Try Matthew AI and ask your first questions for free: AskMH.com
  
  

• 🎟️ Join us at the Miami Retreat (October 18-19): MHRetreat.com
  
  

• 💞 Become a Love Life Member and join future live events: JoinLoveLife.com
  

The rules of modern dating can feel so confusing. You don’t know how much texting is too much, how to make the first move, or whether to keep trying if their interest is hot and cold.

In this week’s video, I sat down with bestselling author Jay Shetty for his On Purpose podcast to talk about how to have confident, attractive communication and reject the shallow culture that defines so much of modern dating. If you’re tired of playing games and want to find real, honest love, this is for you.

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►► Want Your # 1 Dating Problem Solved Personally? Ask Matthew AI Your First Question Now at. . . → http://www.AskMH.com

►► Order My New Book, "Love Life" at → http://www.LoveLifeBook.com

►► Transform Your Relationship With Life in One Powerful Weekend. Learn More About my Weekend Retreat at → http://www.MHWeekendRetreat.com