#259 Should Women Lower Their Dating Standards—or Should Men Raise Theirs?

TikTok has given us a whole new vocabulary for talking about relationships—red flags, gaslighting, love bombing, avoidant attachment, narcissism, trauma bonding and more. And while having language to recognize unhealthy relationship patterns can be incredibly valuable, have we started using those labels a little too freely? In this episode, I explore the good and the not-so-good side of social media relationship advice and whether constantly analyzing our partners' behavior is helping us make healthier choices—or making us suspicious of perfectly imperfect human beings. Because sometimes a red flag really is a red flag... and sometimes he's just getting on your nerves. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

Can a little relationship math actually help keep a couple connected? In this episode, I'm talking about the viral 777 Relationship Rule—the idea of intentionally making time for a date every 7 days, a night or getaway together every 7 weeks, and a vacation every 7 months. I'm sharing what I think the rule gets right, where real life might make the formula a little unrealistic, and whether relationships really need a schedule to keep connection from getting lost in work, kids and everyday responsibilities. Maybe the numbers aren't magic—but the intention behind them just might be worth paying attention to. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

Are women's dating standards really too high—or are women simply becoming less willing to accept relationships that don't add enough to their lives? In this episode, I dive into the ongoing debate about women being told to lower their standards in order to find or keep a partner. There's a big difference between expecting perfection and expecting communication, effort, respect, emotional availability and genuine partnership. So instead of immediately asking women what they're willing to lower, maybe we should also be asking whether some men are willing to raise what they're bringing to the relationship. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

Prenuptial agreements often get a bad reputation, but what if the prenup itself isn't the problem? In this episode, I share why I don't think prenups are inherently good or bad. Instead, I believe the real insight comes from how the conversation unfolds. Are both people willing to negotiate? Is the agreement fair? Does each person feel heard and respected? Sometimes the biggest lesson isn't whether you should sign the prenup, it's whether the way your partner approaches the conversation tells you something important about the marriage you're about to enter. This episode is about fairness, communication, and paying attention to the relationship dynamics long before you say, "I do." - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

Closure is something so many of us search for after a breakup or divorce. We replay conversations, hope for apologies, or imagine that one final talk will somehow make everything make sense. But what if closure isn't something another person can give you? In this episode, I explore the idea that the most meaningful conversation about your relationship may not happen with your ex at all. Instead, it might be the honest conversation you have with yourself—accepting what happened, acknowledging what you've learned, and giving yourself permission to move forward, even without all the answers. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

In this episode, I reflect on a documentary that brought back a deeply personal memory and sparked an important conversation about boundaries, consent, and self-worth. Sometimes the people we love ask us to do things that don't align with our values or make us feel emotionally or physically safe. When that happens, it can be incredibly difficult to stand your ground, especially if you're worried about disappointing your partner or damaging the relationship. In this conversation, I share my own experience and why I believe protecting your peace, your values, and your body is never something you should have to apologize for. A healthy relationship should never require you to betray yourself. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

In this week's 5 Tips episode, I challenge five common pieces of relationship advice that I don't see the same way anymore. Some have been passed down for generations, while others have exploded on social media in recent years. From "love conquers all" to "Time heals all wounds," I share why I think some of our most accepted relationship beliefs deserve a second look. Sometimes healing isn't just about moving on from a relationship. It's about unlearning the ideas that shaped how we viewed love in the first place. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

In this episode, I introduce a simple idea I've been thinking about called the 75/25 Rule. It's not a scientific formula, just a different way of looking at relationships and self-worth. If you've built a life where you're generally happy on your own, why would you choose a relationship that consistently leaves you feeling less fulfilled? This conversation explores why a healthy relationship should add to your life rather than become something you tolerate simply because you don't want to be alone. Sometimes the best relationship standard isn't perfection, it's asking whether your life is genuinely better together than it is apart. - - - - - - - - Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news...There is now a place where you can find printable to help you along on your journey. All based around my 5 chapter methodology. for more information Click Here! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

In this episode, I share my very honest thoughts about Love Island and why I struggle to watch it. While I understand it's entertainment, I can't help but question the relationship dynamics it celebrates and the messages it sends about love, self-worth, and how people should treat one another. From disrespect and emotional games to the way women are often expected to tolerate behavior they shouldn't have to, this episode explores why I think it's worth paying attention to the stories we consume and the relationship standards they quietly normalize, especially for younger viewers. Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news! Now you can find everything you need in one spot! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"

In this episode, I revisit one of the romance novels I loved in the 1990s and was surprised by what I saw through today's lens. What once felt romantic now looked very different, filled with relationship dynamics and red flags that I barely noticed years ago. It made me wonder how the books, movies, and love stories we grew up with may have quietly shaped our expectations of relationships without us even realizing it. This conversation isn't about criticizing an old book; it's about exploring how our perspective changes with experience and why it's worth questioning the stories that taught us what love was supposed to look like. ---------------- Want that chapter checklist just Click Here! Great news! Now you can find everything you need in one spot! want to listen to this podcast off of apple, visit www.JosieFalcon.com you can email me at [email protected] If you want to just send me a quick note, you can find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Josie.Falcon And lastly, If you would like to interact with me and share with others please join my Facebook group  "Separation, Divorce & Starting Over"