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Published on:

28th Nov 2023

The Love Doctor's Guide to Dating and Grey Divorce

In today’s episode I am joined by my dear friend, Dr. Duana Welch. Dt. Duana has been on the show a couple times, and today we are really focusing on dating advice after a gray divorce. We talk about why gray divorces are happening more often and what the reasons may be behind that. Dr. Duana educates us on what individualism is and how it impacts relationships. She then shares some advice on how to start dating after divorce, setting up your dating profile, and what things to look for in a future love in hopes that it’ll last forever! Tune in to hear some great tips and learn more about love and lasting relationships. 

In this episode:

  • [3:17] Dr. Duana Welch shares her story of finding love again after divorce.
  • [5:37] Why are gray divorces happening more often?
  • [10:41] Why has individualism started to develop in long term marriages?
  • [11:40] What can someone do to prepare themselves for finding love later in life?
  • [13:49] Are we less happy because of individualism? 
  • [18:35] What are the steps for a woman to find love?
  • [29:31] A final piece of advice from the love doctor.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Every year that a man is single, whether he's single because his wife died or because he never got married, or because he's divorced, or any combination of these, as soon as he's single, his odds of death from all known causes increases by a factor of six. This is not as high for women because they tend to have more social support.
  • Science shows that when people are looking at dating apps, they’ll likely swipe right on people who are 10% better looking than they are. The likelihood of you choosing who to date only based on looks won’t lead you to matching with your perfect partner. Learning more about their character is more important than their looks. 
  • If you can find and be someone kind and respectful, your love life is going to go great. And if you can't, it will not.


Quotes: 

“In an individualist society, people tend to have a longer strategy of adulthood. So what that means is they get married later and everything about their life happens a little bit later and there's just not the taboo about divorce that there used to be. So, I think those are a lot of the reasons why this phenomenon is happening, but I also know from research that we never stop needing love.” - Dr. Duana Welch


"If you don't ever have to sign on for problems, then you probably aren't going to sign on for relationships because relationships bring joy, but they also bring challenges. What we need is not necessarily collectivist or individualist. We need interdependence. We need to find someone where we help each other feel safe enough where we can mutually depend on each other and we can mutually put the other person's needs co-equal with ours. In the absence of that, you're going to find a lot of unhappiness and even higher divorce rates.” - Dr. Duana Welch


“Men routinely read women as interested in them who make full eye contact while smiling at them with a real eye crinkling smile.” - Dr. Duana Welch


Guest Bio: 

Dr. Duana Welch (pronounced DWAY-nah) is known for dating advice, dating coaching, online dating coaching, relationship advice, relationship coaching, and marriage coaching that relies on science rather than opinion to help men and women find and keep the love of their lives. A former professor in Florida, California, and Texas across 20 years, she has contributed to NPR, PBS, Psychology Today, and numerous other outlets and podcasts. Her first book, Love Factually: 10 Proven Steps from I Wish to I Do, is now out globally in five languages; its revised and updated edition released in 2022. Love Factually for Single Parents is the second book in the series, specifically geared for finding the right partner not only for readers, but their families. All Duana’s books rely on science rather than opinion to help men and women find and keep the right partner. She is an expert for Paired, the couples relationship app. Her client practice is global, via Zoom and other technologies.


Want more love in your life? Whether you’re single, partnered, or questioning anything about relationships, get coaching with Dr. Duana Welch.


Resources: 

Love Science Website

Love Factually 10 Proven Steps from I Wish to I Do

Lesa Koski Website

Lesa’s Online Courses


To receive real-time alerts that your child is safe, visit https://www.soberlink.com/partners/different


I am so honored to introduce my FREE Co-Parenting Masterclass. This masterclass shares tools to co-parent well even with a difficult co-parent. You will learn the 5 C's of a Co-Parenting Plan and a free bonus resource with Certified Divorce Lending Specialist, Tami Wollensak, sharing what you want to consider regarding the family home. Sign up to receive a video replay at https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass

Mentioned in this episode:

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About the Podcast

Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski
Real conversations for women over 40 about faith, fitness, and fresh starts
Mindset, movement, and faith after 40—because midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s your comeback.

Welcome to Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to rewrite the rules, reclaim their joy, and rediscover their purpose. Whether you're navigating divorce, rediscovering your health, deepening your faith, or learning how to have fun again—you’re in the right place.

Host Lesa Koski—wife, mom, coach, and seasoned mediator—brings real talk, relatable wisdom, and expert interviews to guide you through midlife reinvention with grace and grit.

In each episode, you’ll get practical tools and empowering conversations on:

Mindset & personal growth

Faith & spiritual connection

Fitness, movement & health

Divorce, marriage & relationships

Fun, purpose & starting fresh in the second half of life

This isn’t just self-help. It’s soul-level transformation. Get ready to do life different—because your next chapter starts now.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is a podcast about thriving through Cancer, taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

About your host

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Lesa Koski