In this episode, you’ll learn the relationship skills you need to have the lasting connections you yearn for.

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Lauren Reitsema’s interest in relationship skills began when her parents divorced after almost 20 years. Seeking to understand better patterns for her own future, she earned a Bachelor in Communication from TCU. Lauren is the author of In Their Shoes, a book dedicated to helping parents better understand and connect with children of divorce. She has been a speaker for over 15 years, teaching a variety of relationship skills to youth, adults and corporate teams. Lauren, her husband, Josh, and their three children are avid skiers, outdoor enthusiasts and Broncos’ fans.

Joneen Mackenzie is an RN and former first lieutenant in the USAF Nurse Corps. She founded the Center for Relationship Education, which has certified more than 15,000 educators in its REAL Essentials relationship skills curricula. She participates in national public health standards policy through numerous board memberships. She and her daughter, Lauren Reitsema, are the authors of the new book, Relationship Essentials: Skills to Feel Heard, Fight Fair, and Set Boundaries in All Areas of Life, and they both live in Colorado.

In this episode of Last First Date Radio:

• Relationship tools from the book, Relationship Essentials
• How we can reconnect a world divided post-pandemic
• Why setting boundaries is an act of kindness
• How “being interested makes you interesting”
• Why fighting is a natural and healthy part of life
• Tools for handling conflict effectively

If you tend to overshare on dates, or you get uncomfortable when your date overshares, you MUST watch this video!

Do you overshare on dates? Have you ever been on a date with someone who overshared? In this video, I discuss what oversharing is, why it can be a problem in dating, and what we can do about it.

What conversation are you avoiding with a partner, friend, or date? Are you afraid to have important (scary) conversations? Watch this video!

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Many of us avoid conversations that we need to have. What conversation are you avoiding? Are you afraid to find out if the man you’re dating wants a relationship? Afraid to ask your friend to pay you back? Afraid to ask someone out? In this video, Max and I discuss the conversations we avoid, why we avoid them, and how to have those tough conversations…without freaking out!

He texts but doesn’t call. What do you do? Assume he’s not interested or it’s a red flag? Before you do that, watch this video!

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If a man texts but doesn’t call, what does it mean? Is it a red flag? Is he a terrible communicator? Is something wrong? In this video, you’ll learn what to do when he texts but doesn’t call.

In this video, you’ll learn how to break the anxious-avoidant relationship trap so many find themselves in.

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Have you ever found yourself in an anxious-avoidant relationship? If you’ve ever felt anxious and insecure about the love of a partner who said they felt smothered by your needs (or vice versa), you might be caught in this very common relationship pattern. In this video, you’ll learn how to identify and break the anxious-avoidant relationship trap.

Learn the 5 boundary mistakes that could be sabotaging your love life. Listen in to hear Theresa Byrne and I discuss boundaries!

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Are you making these 5 boundary mistakes? If so, you might be sabotaging your love life. My guest, Theresa Byrne, is an inner power expert, 4th Degree Black Belt/ Master Instructor,  and a Certified Positive Intelligence© Coach. She teaches people how to change their physiology and mitigate their stress response in just three seconds by using their inner power. Arianna Huffington chose Theresa’s 2019 TEDTalk as one of the “Top 10 Most Meaningful TED Talks.”

She’s impressive! That’s why I reached out to her to co-lead our comprehensive 8-week boundaries course Boundaries for Beautiful Relationships, and the upcoming Boundary University, a one-stop-shop for all your boundary needs. I’m excited to have Theresa on the podcast to talk about the top 5 boundary mistakes that sabotage love, and what you can do to stop making those mistakes on your journey to your last first date.