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Love Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Sexual Winter: When Desire Pauses (But Nothing’s Wrong)Midlife brings shifts—some welcome, some disorienting. One of the most confusing? When your desire goes quiet for a while. This week, we're talking about sexual winter. This season doesn’t get enough airtime, especially among midlife women navigating shifting roles, changing hormones, and the pressure to always be “on.” This episode is for you if you've ever wondered: Why don’t I want to have sex? Is this just a phase or something else? How can I stay connected to my partner when I’m not feeling sexual? Wil...2025-05-0710 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Why Midlife Body Changes Are a Mindf*ck and a MasterpieceWhat do you do when your reflection surprises you? When you catch a glimpse and think, Wait… when did that change? In this episode, Stacey shares an unfiltered reflection on aging, intimacy, hydration (yes, hydration), and her evolving relationship with the woman in the mirror. Tender. Honest. Very midlife. In this conversation: The difference between fixing and tending to yourself The soft grief and quiet joy of watching your body change Confidence that comes not from how you look, but how you stay This is no...2025-05-0216 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Sexual Autumn: Embracing Slow Sex and Deep PleasureThis week on Love Is…, we’re exploring Sexual Autumn—a season that doesn’t get nearly enough celebration. Unlike the urgent heat of summer, autumn brings a slower, deeper sensuality. Touch becomes more intentional. Foreplay is a full-body conversation. Arousal builds in layers. It’s richer and more satisfying. Might even feel otherworldly. In this episode: How to honor your body when it takes longer to warm up Why spontaneity isn’t necessarily the gold standard for good sex What to do if you and your partner are i...2025-04-3010 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Sexual Summer: The Season of Desire That SizzlesThis week on Love Is..., we’re diving into Sexual Summer—the season of peak desire. If spring is awakening, summer is full bloom. It’s spontaneous. It’s primal. It’s the kind of hunger that lives in your skin and hums through your whole body. For women over 40, sexual summer might hit hardest in midlife, when pregnancy is no longer a worry, and pleasure becomes a top priority. In this episode, we explore: How sexual summer shows up in midlife (even if it skipped your twenties) What to...2025-04-2311 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Welcome to Sexual SpringIn this week's episode of Love Is..., we’re beginning a new four-part series called Sexual Seasons—because desire isn’t static. It changes with us. Especially in midlife, when everything from hormones to heartbreak can shift how we feel about sex, touch, and our own bodies. Today, we’re exploring Sexual Spring—that delicious season of reawakened desire. It’s the sudden tingles. The unexpected turn-on. The moment you catch your reflection and think, Oh hey... I remember her. 🌸 Whether you're single, partnered, post-breakup, post-baby, or just resurfacing after a long internal winter—this episode invi...2025-04-1608 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Love That Calls You InThis is a little bonus minisode I had to share while the feeling was still fresh. It’s about the kind of love that doesn’t fix — it holds. The kind that doesn’t shame — it calls you in. The kind that doesn’t keep you company in the dark — it helps you find the switch. And if you’re ready to stop betraying yourself in the name of being nice, needed, or helpful… Me, Again is that kind of calling in. That kind of love. Applications clos...2025-04-1103 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.The Truth About Self-AbandonmentThis week on Love Is…, we’re talking about self-abandonment. Not the hashtag version. The everyday, seemingly simple but often repeated moments where we override what’s true. In this episode, I’m dropping gems about : ✨ What self-abandonment looks like in real life ✨ The childhood roots of shrinking to be loved ✨ A relationship story I’ve never shared publicly ✨ And why healing starts with noticing If you’ve ever smiled when you wanted to cry, said yes when your body said no, or stayed quiet to keep the peace… this...2025-04-0909 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Why Is It so Hard to Receive?In this week's episode of Love Is..., I’m unpacking something tender and true: the resistance we feel when someone offers us care, love, or support—and how it messes with our nervous systems. We’re exploring: Why “I’ll do it myself” can feel safer than softness. The hidden cost of always being the strong one. And why learning to receive is actually the most radical relationship shift you can make. I also share a story about a client who couldn’t orgasm with her partner because she co...2025-04-0209 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.When Your Inner Child Has the WheelHey love, Ever catch yourself in the same argument? Or feel that familiar urge to shut down, chase, or fix—even when you know better? Your inner child might be behind the wheel. Again. In this week’s episode of Love Is, I’m breaking down how childhood survival strategies sneak into our adult relationships, why they’re so sticky, and how to start choosing differently—without blaming your past. Once you know who’s driving, you can gently take the keys back. Want to go deeper? I created a f...2025-03-2610 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.10 Tips For Talking About SexNo one teaches us how to talk about sex. That means we learn the hard way —by fumbling or mumbling —which is no bueno. That ends today. This week on the podcast, I’ve got 10 tips for making these conversations a little bit less uncomfortable. From timing it right (not while you’re getting busy) to the build-up (think Eiffel Tower—start at the base, not the tip). You’ll be talking pleasure, desire, and boundaries with confidence in no time! You can thank me later. Mentioned in Episode 25:2025-03-1910 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.3 Strategies for Navigating Their SilenceAs a kid, silence in my house was heavy. Not the peaceful kind – the kind that sits on your chest and makes you hold your breath. That's probably why I followed my former husband from room to room trying to make him talk it out. Not my proudest moment, but hey, we're all learning here. In this week’s episode, I explain what happens when someone goes silent—they’re probably not rejecting you, by the way. I also share three strategies that will change how you handle the “silent treatment.” Plus, I’m dropping dim...2025-03-1219 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Why Love Hurts So GoodIn this week's episode of Love Is..., I discuss a recent challenge in my relationship that had me questioning the real purpose of relationships. Here's what we're exploring: Why relationships bring up our sh*t How conflicts can be doorways to healing What happens when we get curious instead of defensive I share insights from relationship experts Terry Real and Esther Perel, as well as an honorable mention from Marianne Williamson. If you're in the messy middle of relationship growth right now —bless you. This one's especially fo...2025-03-0509 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.What Really Makes Sex Amazing?Today on Love Is..., I'm getting real about something that might surprise you: the best lovers aren't necessarily the most skilled ones. We're diving deep into: Why emotional safety matters more than technique What happened when a lover actually listened The "work" that transforms sex from good to unforgettable Gentle Warning: This episode contains adult themes (not explicit, but definitely a grown folks' conversation). If you've ever wondered why "technically perfect" sex sometimes feels empty or why simple moments can feel electric - this one's for you.2025-02-2616 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.When Connection is Reduced to a ClickIn Episode 21, we're having an honest conversation about unsolicited photos of genitalia and what they reveal about modern seduction (or lack thereof). This is bigger than d*ck pics – it's about how technology has changed the way we approach desire, connection, and intimacy. We’re digging into: The difference between seduction and harassment (with wisdom from Esther Perel) Why quick hits of attention leave everyone feeling empty A fresh perspective on boundaries that puts you back in control How to choose connection over convenience This conv...2025-02-1915 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Does Your Partner Pass the Sniff Test?Remember when I promised we'd start getting into the juicy stuff? Well, today we're talking about something rarely discussed in relationship conversations: why your nose might be the most honest matchmaker you have. In Episode 20, I'm breaking down three crucial reasons why odor compatibility matters in romantic relationships (and yes, I'm sharing my own experiences too). We're diving into pheromones, sexual chemistry, and why that "ick" might be more significant than you think. And if you've ever found yourself secretly loving—or hating—how your partner smells —I’d love to he...2025-02-1209 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.True Confession… I’ve Been HidingThere is something I need to tell you… I've been holding back —in my content —on this podcast. Playing it safe. Shrinking to fit. Not bringing my A-game. That ends today. This episode is my line in the sand—a confession, a promise, and a glimpse of what's to come—raw, juicy conversations about relationships, desire, intimacy, and sex—basically the kind of things we share over wine but rarely talk about in public. (And next week? We're diving into what your partner's scent says about compatibility. Yes, really.) No. 👏🏾More...2025-02-0506 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.5 Things That Nobody Tells You About Starting OverWhen the longest relationship I never had ended (not a typo), someone said to me, “New chapter, new year.” That was so not helpful. Good is not a feeling I’ve ever felt at the end of a relationship. Even when ending it was good for me. I know you get it. This week on the pod, we are talking about five things nobody tells you about starting over. This episode is a shorty — 5 minutes. But it’s juicy! P.S. Are you a regular listener? Leave a revi...2025-01-2204 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.“Is Busy Your Perfect Alibi?”Your calendar might be full, but what's really keeping you unavailable? In this week’s episode, we are talking about why many of us are more comfortable with exhaustion than connection. 🔎 I have a simple practice for you: The Spacious Minute. It might reveal what your busy schedule is protecting you from. No meditation required. 🗣️ FREE Masterclass: Understanding Your Relationship Patterns Date: January 23, 2025 Time: 1pm PST / 4pm EST We'll skip the self-help clichés and dive straight into why we repeat patterns even when we see them coming. 2025-01-1516 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.7 Reasons Why “It’s Complicated”I spent years mistaking intensity for intimacy, choosing complicated over calm because at least I knew the steps to that dance. When someone consistently showed up—no games, no drama —it felt empty. But it wasn't about them. It was about how foreign safety felt to my nervous system. In this week’s episode, we explore seven reasons why we sometimes distance ourselves from good love, heading straight for the familiar territory of "it's complicated." Sometimes, the hardest part isn't finding good love – it's letting ourselves receive it. Plus, exciting news about Sovereignty, my new p...2025-01-0819 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.How Does Wanting Make You Feel?I've been thinking about our desires—not fleeting wishes but longings that remind us there's more to life than comfortable compromises. In Episode 15, we illuminate how many of us are caught in the familiar tension between gratitude for what is and hunger for what could be. There's wisdom in wanting; maybe it's time to stop apologizing for wanting more. P.S. If this episode resonates, you might want to check out Sovereignty—doors open next month. Get on the waitlist. Mentioned in Episode 15: Sovereig...2025-01-0110 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Return to Your KnowingWe used just to know things. Remember that? Before we started gathering a focus group of friends and consulting “The Google” at ridiculous hours to search for answers, we used to know things. And by knowing things, I mean we used to trust ourselves. This week, we’re discussing what happens when we trade that knowing for external validation. I share my bookstore epiphany. Some of my biggest downloads have happened in bookstores —go figure. Mentioned in Episode 14: Sovereignty is coming soon - join the w...2024-12-2510 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.When Anger is Wisdom 🔥There is so much to be pissed about. Living in a world that often expects us to manage everyone's feelings while minimizing our own. We’ve spent years trying not to coast on emotional autopilot. The exhaustion is real. In episode 13, we’re taking a deeper look at anger. I’m digging into why that simmering frustration is not a sign of bitterness —it’s proof that it’s time to make shift happen. We’re done apologizing for our feelings. Now is the time to begin trusting our inner knowing. Ready? Let’s go...2024-12-1812 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Love, Safety, and Plot TwistsI thought I was good at love. I prided myself on being patient and understanding —a shoulder to cry on. I consistently chose partners who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) show up for me. Not that I required them to. That changed the day I learned my longtime lover had jumped the broom. Oh, and I found out he was married on Facebook, by the way. Turns out I wasn’t as good at relationships as I thought. But I was good at staying safe. In this week's episode, we’re talking ab...2024-12-1114 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Your Body Whispers Before it ScreamsFrom mysterious anxiety to unexplained tension, our bodies speak a language we've forgotten how to hear. This week, we're exploring the quiet wisdom in our bones. If you’ve ever made a decision that seemed right but felt wrong, this episode is for you. Does your gut know things that your mind won’t admit? This is for you, too. Sometimes, the answers aren't between our ears. Maybe they’re hitched sin our breath, beneath the blades of our shoulders, or resting in the curve of our back. The body cannot lie. Let...2024-12-0409 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Grown Folks & FriendshipRemember when making friends was as simple as sharing your lunch at recess? In this week's episode, we're digging into the beautiful complexity of adult friendship – from the vulnerability of new connections to the evolution of decades-long bonds. From an unexpected prayer in a corporate bathroom to skinny dipping at 50, I'm dishing on 25 years of friendship with my girlfriend Christi, plus the question that revolutionized how I see friendship itself. Ever wonder how to ask someone to be your friend after 40? Let's discuss! Mentioned in Episode 10: Da...2024-11-2715 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.That Voice Isn’t YoursMost of us have a voice that tells us we’re “too much” or “not enough.” Episode 9 dives into how external criticism often becomes our inner dialogue. Sparked by Dr. Raquel Martin's insight about injected oppression, we're exploring where those limiting beliefs come from. How they shape our relationships, and what happens when we finally recognize them for what they are. Plus, a juicy homework assignment might change how you talk to yourself forever. Time to reclaim your voice. Mentioned in Episode 9: "Injected oppression evolves into internal...2024-11-2008 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Eroticism vs SensualityRemember when we used to wait months for a movie to come out? The buildup. The teasers. The sweet angst of anticipation. In Episode 8, I'm using a little nostalgia to break down the difference between eroticism and sensuality. We’re exploring imagination, presence and how these two forces play together in our relationships. And there’s a simple practice you can try at home to bring more of both into your daily life. You can thank me later. 😉 Mentioned in Episode 8: Esther Perel: https://estherperel.com/ 2024-11-1319 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.You Deserve a Partner, Not a ProjectEver find yourself playing mom to your partner? You know the drill — chronic fixing, saving, and problem-solving. (Raises my hand 🙋🏽♀️) In Episode 7, we're unpacking that sneaky urge to mother our romantic partners and how it might sabotage our relationships. From the allure of being needed to those familiar caretaking patterns, we learned way back when. I'm sharing five practical ways to shift from being someone's emotional mother to being their equal partner. Time to retire that superhero cape, love. You deserve a partner, not a project. 💕 2024-11-0618 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Who Are You?Who are you... beneath all the roles you play on a daily? Yep, we're going there. Episode 6 is juicy. It’s all about excavating the you buried beneath years of "shoulds" and expectations. And because I love a good map, I’m sharing a 5-step process for getting to the core of who you really are. This episode is a compass if you've been feeling lost —in your roles —in your relationships. This one might stir up some sh*t in a good way. But don't worry, I got you 😉...2024-10-3021 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Is Your Picker Broken?Your picker isn’t broken, my love. Don’t worry. You are not doomed to repeat the same relationship patterns forever. Episode 5 of Love Is… is a deep dive into why the “wrong” one might be one of your greatest teachers and how every connection —even the baddies —can catapult growth. Relationships are not vending machines for happiness. But they are fertilizers for evolution. Get ready to shift your focus from “who” you’re picking to how you’re showing up, and discover how to use curiosity to disrupt those pesky patterns. Remin...2024-10-2323 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Destigmatizing HerpesThis week, we're unpacking the herpes stigma. It's time to get real about this common condition that affects billions. Discover why herpes doesn’t define you and how it might even lead to more authentic connections. We'll explore why shame can't survive in the light and how to navigate those tricky disclosure conversations with confidence. In Episode 4, we’re reclaiming worth, embracing wholeness, and remembering that Love Is… always possible. Plus, I’m sharing deets about my upcoming book that's going to revolutionize how you think about sexual health conversations. Mentioned in Episod...2024-10-1624 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Maintaining Sexual DesireFeeling meh about your changing body? You’re not alone. In this episode of "Love Is," we're diving into the nitty-gritty of sex after 40. From responsive arousal to those "sandpapery" moments, we're unpacking it all. Episode 3 is about loving your evolving body, having those squirmy conversations, and rediscovering pleasure. Because midlife sex? It's a whole new adventure. Mentioned in Episode 3: The "Three Things" exercise: staceyherrera.com/threethings "Yes, No, Maybe" list: staceyherrera.com/yesnomaybe The Pleasure Chest: thepleasurechest.com/ 2024-10-0928 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.7 Ways to Add More Love to Your LovingLove and heartbreak hits different after 40... or is that just me? Let’s discuss! Episode 2 is all about choosing love, even when it’s hard with a capital H, and embracing the possibilities. I’ve got 7 unexpected ways to deepen your relationships—with others and yourself. I’m also jamming about why presence might be your new superpower and how letting go could revolutionize your love life. We’re just getting started! Mentioned in episode 2: Quotes: Our hearts connect with lots of folks in a lifetime, but...2024-10-0230 minLove Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Golden Ruling YourselfEver feel like you’re dragging a suitcase full of past hurts while hoping for a brighter future? In this debut episode of LOVE IS, we’re unpacking that emotional baggage and making room for joy. Discover why joy isn’t just a feeling – it’s a radical act of self-love. We’ll explore how treating yourself well creates a magnetic field that attracts the life and love you desire. Episode 1 is all about choosing joy, loving fiercely, and embracing the delicious possibility of right now. Discover why now is always the perfect time to choose love...2024-09-2516 min
Love Is... Midlife relationships, intimacy, friendship, and personal growth—for women ready to love themselves and deepen connection with the people they love.Official Trailer: Love Is..."Love Is..." with Stacey Herrera, the podcast where we're ditching the fairytales and getting down to the nitty-gritty of love after 40. 2024-09-1801 min