Life Matters - Full program podcast

With the recent rise of dating apps, the world of romance can feel quite foreign to anyone looking for love after the end of a long relationship. Hilary Harper answers questions about what she learnt while documenting and sharing her own foray into the world of online dating after 50 in the audio series — Dated.  And in Ask Aunty, how do you handle an upselling hairdresser when you're at the salon and your they suggest extra products and treatments while you're in the chair.

Things are going well with Gene. It's the happily ever after Hilary hadn't considered would come so soon, if at all. At this stage of life, Hil wonders what she's looking for in the long term and where this dating quest is supposed to lead her.   An in 2014, Matty Hannon set out on the adventure of a lifetime. But, near the start of the trip, he met Heather Hillier. After a few months of letter writing, she agreed to join him and his tale of adventure became a love story.

How do you deal with people who lie, overshare, or don't respect your feelings? Hilary confronts the reality that the people she meets on the apps might challenge her trust while looking inward at how her baggage affects her interactions. Older daters are covered in scars. Some heartbreaks and hang-ups significantly influence how we connect with others. So, how do we protect ourselves while trying to be vulnerable with strangers? An Hilary takes a hard look in the mirror and considers her relationship with her body and sexuality. With the help of sex therapist Tanya Koens, she learns how to overcome the trauma of her past and embrace pleasure again with someone new.

The way we meet potential lovers has changed drastically over the past decade, moving from pubs and parties to the online space. How can we navigate these new tools, learning how to craft the perfect profile and grappling with the flat way we have to represent ourselves to catch a mate today. And if you decide that separate beds are the answer for your relationship, how do you manage that conversation with a partner who might not feel the same way?

Two years after the breakdown of her 20-year marriage, Hilary Harper feels like she might be ready to date again. But how do you pick up the pieces and work out when you're emotionally ready to resume the quest for love? And how do you figure out what you want? Plus what role does class play in our closest relationships? Especially if the person we love comes from a very different socio-economic background than the one we grew up with?