If you’ve ever experienced narcissistic abuse, this episode with Dr. Alina Kastner is for you. Learn how to break free!

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How do you break free from narcissistic abuse? Dr. Alina Kastner, MSc, is a leading Vienna-based psychotherapist. Working with individuals, couples, and families across all backgrounds, she brings “bold systemic therapy with a twist” to match her clients’ fire and courage. Her specialty: promoting deeper intimacy, connection and clarity while helping people navigate trauma and narcissistic abuse; the latter of which was the focus of her doctoral thesis.

In this episode:

• What exactly is narcissistic abuse, and why it’s so difficult for people to see when they’re experiencing it
• The first step to protect yourself from a narcissist
• The biggest misconceptions about narcissism in the media
• How to tell the difference between an emotionally unavailable partner and a true narcissist
• Small acts you can take to begin rewriting your story of narcissistic abuse

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Are they a narcissist or avoidant? Here are five ways to tell the difference in the early stages of dating after 40.

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In the early stages of dating, it can be confusing when someone pulls away, sends mixed signals, or struggles with emotional closeness. Two patterns that often get mistaken for each other are narcissism and avoidant attachment. Both can involve distance and inconsistency, but the underlying motivations are very different.

Understanding the difference matters. An avoidant person may struggle with vulnerability but still care deeply about you. A narcissist, on the other hand, tends to center the relationship around their own needs and ego. Here are five ways to tell the difference.

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Emotional vampires will suck the life out of you. If you have people like that in your life, this episode is for you!

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Do you have emotional vampires in your life? Daniel Ratner  is a relationship coach, speaker, and author helping people build healthier connections by recognizing draining patterns and setting stronger boundaries. A former entrepreneur turned personal growth expert, he is the author of Infinite Marriage and The Ten Secrets to a Passionate Marriage, with his upcoming book (January 2026) Emotional Vampires teaching readers how to protect their happiness from toxic people. Through his coaching, books, and public talks, Daniel provides clear, practical tools for improving self-esteem, cultivating “keepers,” and creating relationships that fuel joy.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

• What is an “Emotional Vampire,” and how can someone tell if they have one in their life?
• Why so many of us tolerate draining relationships far longer than we should
• The most common categories of Emotional Vampires
• How to set boundaries without feeling guilty or burning bridges?
• Can Emotional Vampires change, or is it about learning how to manage them?

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If you keep hunting for red flags in your relationships, stop! Dr. Isabelle Morley shares insights into the biggest problems with dating.

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Dr. Isabelle Morley is a clinical psychologist, EFT-certified couples therapist, and author. She writes a blog for Psychology Today and has been featured in The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, Vox, and more. Dr. Morley also serves on the founding board of the UCAN Foundation and provides couples therapy in the Boston area. We’re talking today about her new book, “They’re Not Gaslighting You”.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

• Why we’re obsessed with words like “narcissist” and “gaslighting” in dating
• How our relationships are affected by hunting for red flags and other ways we try to diagnose our partners
• What to say if someone accuses you of having a psychological disorder

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Jerry Giordano wrote a book about seven words that can change your life. Find out what they are in this episode of Last First Date Radio!

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Did you know that seven words can change your life? Jerry Giordano is an award-winning advertising copywriter/Creative Director working and living in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and Dallas. He is a co-producer of TEDx events, penned four screenplays, studied comedy at Chicago’s Second City, and performed sketch comedy in NYC and LA. He collects old cameras, photographs manhole covers, is a JFK assassination nut, meditates, and lives in the moment. He’s also the author of Your 7 Words to a Happier You; unlock the story sabotaging your relationships. 

In this episode:

• What is “Your 7 Words to a Happier You” about?
• What does “unlock the story sabotaging your relationships” mean?
• What the discovery of the 7-word sabotaging story done for relationships 
• What the 7 words have to do with getting into one dysfunctional or narcissistic relationship after another

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If you’re prone to falling in love quickly, watch this video. You’ll learn how to slow down and choose the right match for you.

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Falling in love quickly can feel exciting, like you’ve finally found your match. And then, when you become physically intimate, your brain begins to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. You become infatuated and begin to obsess over this new person in your life. Combine that with your romantic ideas about love, and you’re head over heels in love. But are you really in love? If you tend to fall in love quickly, it’s probably affecting your ability to enter into healthy relationships. Here are five ways to slow down the dating process so you can balance your heart and head and find a healthy relationship.

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