Maps are cool, but they don’t prepare you to walk the terrain. Richard cuts through the noise to what matters most: who you are, what you want, and why getting clear on both changes everything.

Long form:

Most men re-enter the process of dating assuming that the sites and services out there currently will work for them rather than something they need to prepare for. They believe confidence will cover for the fact that they haven’t defined what they want. The simple truth is clarity always wins, in sales, in negotiation, and in love.

Richard Strother is a dating and relationship mindset coach. He works with men who’ve lost a spouse or been blindsided by divorce, though the clarity work he does is useful to anyone who’s discovered that “just get back out there” doesn’t prepare you for the reality.

He’s been in front of rooms his entire career. From his years of experience as a trainer at Apple, to working with individuals and groups as a coach. He’s comfortable, direct, and given the weight of the topics he covers (grief, identity, and what it means to start over), he’s surprisingly light hearted and fun to listen to.

In 2018 he lost his wife of 20 years. He eventually figured out what came next. Then he wrote a book about it. It’s called Dating Doesn’t Have to Suck, and he means that literally.

Short form:

Most men re-enter dating without knowing what they actually want. Richard Strother has made a career of fixing that.

He’s a dating and relationship mindset coach working with men navigating life after loss or divorce — though the clarity framework he teaches is useful to anyone who’s ever swiped right and wondered why it still felt wrong.

In 2018, he lost his wife of 20 years. He eventually figured out what came next. Then he wrote Dating Doesn’t Have to Suck. Something that he means literally.

Dating Doesn’t Have to Suck is the no-bullshit field guide for men who lost a spouse or were blindsided by divorce and are trying to figure out who they are now — and what they actually want. It is also surprisingly relevant for those who are disenchanted with the current state of dating.

If you’re booking guests, feel free to grab a full review copy by clicking HERE.

It’s a protected PDF — watermarked, no printing.
(I’m surprisingly reasonable about excerpts. 😉)

One of the most common misconceptions around “moving on” is that we have to leave the past behind. This often leads to guilt and/or shame around abandoning or dishonoring the person we lost, or losing the memories and the connection to the life or even the identity we had before.

Moving forward means acknowledging the experiences, both good and bad, that have shaped who we have become. Reconciling the past as foundational to become more integrated individuals while honoring the people we’ve lost by incorporating the values and traditions we shared.

Imagine setting sail on a ship without a charted course or a compass, driven solely by the pursuit of treasure. It’s a risky endeavour with a slim chance of success. Yet, many people approach finding a serious, long-term relationship in much the same way, without truly knowing what we want (and need) in a partner.

Having clarity about our strengths, values, unique needs and preferences allows us to stand authentically and  attract the very people and circumstances that lead to what we want most—fulfilling relationships that celebrates the amazing people we are.

The marketing dating sites use talk about their algorithms to match people. Humans defy simple quantification, and trying to couple people via trite and limited data can, at best, match for broad compatibility but not chemistry or connection.

Bland and generic profiles, lazy or unappealing photos are all too common and quickly disregarded. An eye-catching profile needs to demonstrate both clarity and authenticity which stand as a beacon to the people you want to attract.

You often hear about the necessity of “good” communication in relationships. But what constitutes “good” communication? In reality , all relationships, from a simple transaction in a shop to the most intimate partnerships, come down to expectations—and transparency around those expectations. It is the root of the trust we build, the purpose for communication, and wings on which relationships soar.

Masculinity is being redefined whether we like it or not. Blindly continuing the misconception of strength as the denial of fear, vulnerability, or fault is no longer an option. The very foundation of our relationships continues to shift from traditional roles to consensual agreements. It is here that we must find our center, know ourselves, our values and our limits to be able to communicate the roles we can and will personify. From inner peace we find both strength and conviction to choose the road less traveled.

What the Why (Episode 9) with Barbara Anne – 33 min. (Mar 4th, 2024)
Watch on:  Vimeo

Tendrils of Grief with Susan Ways – 45 min. (Mar 25th, 2024)
Listen on:  Apple | Spotify | Website 

Love & Dating Gurus with Dr. Dan and Industry Experts – 32 min. (Jan 19th, 2024)
Listen on:  Apple | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart

The Unshakable Habits Podcast with Stephen Box – 56 min. (Nov 22nd, 2023)
Listen on:  Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Youtube

Next Page Podcast with Laura and Todd – 61 min. (Oct 31st, 2023)
Listen on:  Apple | Spotify | Acast

Bringing Intimacy Back with Dr. April Brown & Coach Kay – 32 min. (Oct 12th, 2023)
Watch on: YouTube  

The Yakking Show with Peter Wright & Kathleen Beauvais – 29 min. (Sep 11th, 2023)
Listen on: The Yakking Show Website | YouTube Listen on: Apple | Spotify | Google

The Mountain Top Podcast with Scot McKay – 35 min. (July 27th, 2023)
Listen on: Mountain Top Website | Apple | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | Google

The Prime Life Project (with Daniel James) – 68 min. (July 4th, 2023)
Watch on Youtube | Listen on Spotify | Apple | Amazon | Tune In

The Crazy Over 40’s Life (with Caroline Brown) – 35 min. (May 25th, 2023)

What is Manly? (with Damian Andrews) – 93 min. (May 24th, 2023)

Unfiltered Discussions (with Brian Howard) – 60 min. (May 15th, 2023)

Brain Fry – 43 min. (May 8th, 2023) -> Listen on: Spotify or Google

Live with Theadora Vosse – Your BreakUp Bestie – 48 min. (April 28th, 2023)

Sex Advice for Seniors – 42 min. (April 18th, 2023)

Meet The Elite Podcast – 5 min. (April 12th, 2023)

Bridges Bulletin – Old School Coaching For The Modern Man – 33 min. (April 7th, 2023)
Click here for Video | Click here for Audio

Game On with Jackson Stuart – 41 min. (March 24th, 2023)

The Gooders – 19 min. (March 29th, 2023)