The Love Drive with Shaun Galanos

In this solo episode, Shaun shares what life has looked like over the last several months and why this season has felt especially hard. He talks about grief, heartbreak, instability, and what it has been like to live without a fixed home while still trying to keep moving forward.In this episode, Shaun opens up about the death of his father, losing his dog Roger, a romance that stirred up old wounds, and the strange discomfort of living in transition. He reflects on self-doubt, feeling untethered, and the pressure to be doing better when life feels messy and unresolved.He also answers listener questions about regretting the end of a good relationship, the difference between grief and self-forgiveness, fear, freezing, and how to speak honestly about hard things.This one is tender, funny, raw, and deeply human.Timestamps:(00:24) Welcome Back And Name Story(01:08) Recording On The Move(03:21) Episode Roadmap And Pep Talk(06:11) Heartbreak Grief And Losing Roger(14:02) Self Doubt And Finding Home(21:14) Build A Life Proud Of(23:06) Sweet Voicemail And Self Doubt(26:20) Stop Negative Self Talk(28:13) Breakup Regret And Hope(33:58) Crisis Hotline Lessons And WrapSend Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at podcast@thelovedrive.com. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too. To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen. Links & Resources:Farewell, Roger Substack postBay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)Dan Savage episodeUpcoming Summer Retreat - Love Camp. June 5 -7 at Kripalu Yoga Wellness Center in Western Massachusetts. Learn more and join: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-loveConnect with Shaun:Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedriveRead my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.comThe Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

Dan Savage is officially the first guest of The Love Drive relaunch and it's the perfect way to kick off the relaunch.Dan is a legend in the world of sex, love, and relationships. He is the host of the Savage Lovecast, the writer of the long-running Savage Love advice column, and someone whose work has shaped how many of us think and talk about sex.In this episode, Shaun shares the story of double texting Dan to beg him to be on the show, how he used to refer to himself as the ‘younger and straighter Dan Savage,” and gets into why he downloaded Grindr. They get into herpes stigma, Shaun’s personal experience, Dan’s GGG philosophy, polyamory, age-gap relationships, and the politics shaping modern dating. They also talk about why straight men are often judged more harshly for sexual curiosity, why erections do not always equal arousal, and Dan’s pushback on the Burned Haystack Dating Method.There is also a candid conversation about Shaun’s past work as an erotic masseur in San Francisco, along with detours into Heated Rivalry, sexual openness, and the campsite rule.This one is sexually explicit, very funny, and full of honesty.Timestamps:(00:42) Shaun introduces Dan Savage(04:12) Dan Savage joins The Love Drive(09:36) Herpes stigma and the truth about disclosure(15:54) Heated Rivalry and what straight people can learn(21:33) Why straight sex needs more honesty(25:05) Shaun’s erotic massage story(28:26) Sex work, loneliness, and human connection(33:38) Politics, masculinity, and modern dating(40:46) Burn the haystack or stay open to love(52:39) Why straight men are judged for curiosity(01:09:20) Age gaps, the campsite rule, and leaving people betterSend Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at podcast@thelovedrive.com. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too. To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen. Links:https://savage.lovehttps://www.instagram.com/dansavage/Love Camp: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-loveConnect with Shaun:Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedriveRead my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.comThe Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

I’m both very excited and a tad nervous about relaunching my old podcast, The Love Drive.Excited because I love having conversations about sex, love, and relationships with other experts, thought leaders, and everyday people. Hosting a podcast is great fun, by the way. And I still have so much to learn about the subject.And, nervous because a lot has happened over the past few years, and my confidence in many areas isn’t where it used to be. I’ve also felt a lot of grief since my father passed a few years ago, and I’m feeling more tender and vulnerable ever since. And yet, here we go.Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect this month. New episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the month of March. Thanks for being here, and enjoy!

The Love Drive podcast is back: a funny, no-nonsense podcast about sex, love, dating, and modern relationships - for hopeful romantics, love cynics, and everyone in between. Hosted by love coach Shaun Galanos.In this episode:• How this all started: A San Francisco taxi and real conversations about love. Check those out here. • What to expect: Raw, radically honest talks with guest experts, everyday names, and regular people, and solo Q&A episodes.• The vibe: Vulnerability, humor, curiosity, and healthy conversations about love, sex, and dating. Timestamps:(00:00) We're back, baby(02:27) What this show is really about(04:56) Raw truth, healthy masculinity, zero bro-nonsense(05:58) What you can expect(07:18) Call me: your voicemails fuel this show(08:50) Scared + stoked (both can be true)(11:42) Thank youAnd I’m over the moon to have author and sex advice columnist Dan Savage as our first guest. Join us this Thursday. Send me your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email me at  podcast@thelovedrive.com. I prefer voicemails and voicememos, but texts/emails are OK too. To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. I love hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen. Relevant LinksRetreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedriveRead my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.comThe Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

This is a final apology episode for ghosting you all, where you can find me, and a sneak peek of the first episode of my new project, Voicemails to Dad, where, you guessed it, I leave voicemails to my recently deceased father.  You can find my writing on substack here: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/ You can find the Voicemail to Dad podcast here: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/podcast Again, thank you all for being here.  Love, Shaun 

Hey friend. Thanks for being here.  Here are the links I promised: Getting Your Needs Met Course: http://www.gettingyourneedsmet.com Trusting Love 2023 Retreat: http://www.trustinglove2023.com In Bloom Love And Relationship Summit In-person tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-bloom-a-love-and-relationships-summit-presented-by-real-love-ready-tickets-434006423897?aff=ShaunGalanos Virtual tickets:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-bloom-a-love-and-relationships-summit-presented-by-real-love-ready-tickets-434035199967?aff=ShaunGalanos And, that's it for now. Have a lovely week. 

Nora McInerny is an award-winning podcast host of ‘Terrible, Thanks For Asking,’ speaker, and author of several books, including her new book “Bad Vibes Only.”  Shaun and Nora discuss vulnerability porn, their relationship with social media, and how they feel about posting everything online. What you'll learn (or why you should care): Toxic positivity and “good vibes only” mentality How to love people we deeply disagree with How to accept that people’s lives are not as perfect as we think Where to find Nora Buy her new book “Bad Vibes Only” Listen to her podcast Nora on Instagram Nora's website   Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. Group support and weekly calls. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub    Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://www.shaungalanos.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive 

Hey gang, here's a little update for you. ❤️   Application to be my social and course assistant: https://forms.gle/9DWxnXLJYBgazyFE7   Love Camp 2023: www.lovecamp2023.com

This episode guest is Vanessa Bennett, Codependency Expert and Holistic Psycho-Therapist and author of “It’s Not Me, It’s You”. Vanessa talks about what codependency is, if it’s always bad and how we can balance being dependent with another person without being “needy”. Shaun and Vanessa discuss how people have lost connection with their feelings, and offer examples for how to express feelings with someone who might not be comfortable with having such conversations.   What you'll learn (or why you should care): What to do if your partner is following hotties on IG What it’s like dating a therapist as a therapist Chemistry and attraction and their role in relationship building Where to find Vanessa Preorder her new book “It’s Not Me, It’s You” Vanessa on Instagram   Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. Group support and weekly calls. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub    Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://thelovedrive.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive 

Oh boy. Here's a stream of consciousness about the importance of spark, chemistry, and attraction when meeting a potential partner. 

Our guest is dating and love coach Damona Hoffman, who's been coaching people for over 15 years on online and offline dating. In this episode, Shaun and Damona share their best online dating practices, what to ask on a first date, and how to best screen for people who are a good match. Shaun and Damona answer some rapid-fire questions, including What are guys looking for during the first date? Who pays for the first date? What to do if he's a nine but follows 1000s of Instagram models? What you'll learn (or why you should care): Does sex on the first date change things?  Why guys who have dogs in their dating profiles get more matches How to make long-distance relationships work Where to find Damona Damona on Instagram Listen to Damona's podcast    Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. Group support and weekly calls. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub    Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://thelovedrive.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive  Newsletter https://thelovedrive.com/newsletter

A little pep talk on finding great people to love and that no, all the good ones aren't taken (and you should be careful about that belief - confirmation bias is a doozy!)

I'm excited to re-launch (and teach) one of my most popular courses: The Emotional Availability Course - Open up to Love   www.feelyouremotions.com   This course is for you if you want to: Become more emotionally available to those that matter Recognize emotional availability in others Experience more intimacy in your current relationship Learn to sit with and process emotional discomfort Turn towards intimacy with an open heart Learn to open up slowly to people who are safe and loving   You'll walk away with: Seven Ways to Identify Emotionally Available People How to Avoid Shutting Down When It Gets Too Intense Three Techniques to Release Emotional Anxiety and Fear How to Talk About Your Feelings With Courage (even if you're not sure what you're feeling) The Importance of Holding Space for Your Loved Ones The Four Types of Unavailability Preventing You From Finding Love   You'll get: 5 hours of live training with me All sessions recorded with English captions All your questions answered (through live recorded Q&A and written questions) Lifetime access to the session videos (download them after the course is over) Lifetime access to my private Facebook group Downloadable PDF of all techniques and scripts A 100% money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the course   www.feelyouremotions.com   We'll meet over four weeks starting August 11. All sessions are 90 minutes in length and recorded if you can't attend live.   Thursdays, August 11, 18, 25, and September 1 at noon PST / 3 PM EST / 7 PM GMT   Sign up before August 5 and get $50 USD off the course price and free access to the Simple Relationship Communication webinar ($77 value).   This month-long course starts on August 11. $247 before August 5, $297 after.   If this course resonates with you, I hope you join us.   www.feelyouremotions.com

Today's guest is Yana Tallon-Hicks, a past podcast guest on how to be an ethical hookup, ethical slut, sex writer, therapist, and author of ‘Hot and Unbothered: how to think about, talk about, talk about, and have the sex you really want.’ In this episode, Shaun and Yana talk about sex, shame in receiving feedback from our partner(s), and trying new things more than once. Shaun and Yana take listeners' questions all about sex, answering doubts such as, Will vibrators desensitize my clitoris? How to be more comfortable with my body? How to squirt, deal with premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, and more! What you'll learn (or why you should care): How to find new sex activities to try with yourself and your partner Porn and its role in sex education Why blowjobs are hard to give The Yes/No/Maybe List Where to find Yana Yana on Instagram Yana’s website  Order Yana's new book - Hot and Unbothered.   Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub  Learn more about Shaun Galanos Website https://www.shaungalanos.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive  Newsletter https://thelovedrive.com/newsletter

Seerut K. Chawla, an integratic psychotherapist discusses about the dangers of cancel culture and of “Instagram therapy”.  In this episode, Seerut and Shaun talk about the problems with dating in the modern world, why older men date younger women and the idea of being a forever-student.   What you'll learn (or why you should care): How consistency and hard work trump talent and the fallacy of the "overnight success" How to deal with short bouts of depression How to speak to yourself more kindly, while staying accountable   Where to find Seerut: Seerut on Instagram Seerut’s webiste Seerut on Twitter   Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. Group support and weekly calls. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub    Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://thelovedrive.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive  Newsletter https://thelovedrive.com/newsletter

Welcome to The Love Drive Helpline, where I answer questions you submit via voicemail. Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline ~~~ Today's question comes from Stephanie. [edited for brevity's sake]   "I just recently met a guy on Saturday. We met and had an instant connection, hung out all day, and ended up having sex. Do you think that that screws up the beginning of a relationship? " ~~~~   Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline Most of my links: https://www.shaungalanos.com/hello My online courses: https://www.shaungalanos.com/courses Support my work: https://www.shaungalanos.com/join

Couples coach Lane Allison talks about conflict resolution, relationships and intimacy in this episode. She explains different approaches for how to resolve conflicts with your partner(s).  Shaun and Lane open up about previous relationships, cheating, and choosing between taking breaks or breaking up.   What you'll learn (or why you should care): Practical techniques for de-escalating conflicts with your partner(s) What to do if you think you are being cheated on How to keep a long-distance relationship healthy and fun   Where to find Ilana: Lane on Instagram Lane on Tik Tok Book a session   Join The Lovebird Club A private community for those who value love, trust, and intimacy. Group support and weekly calls. For contributing lovebirds only: https://thelovedrive.com/thelovebirdclub    Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://thelovedrive.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive  Newsletter https://thelovedrive.com/newsletter

Ilana Dunn, the host of ‘Seeing Other People’ podcast, talks about modern dating, her experiences, and advice. She answers dating questions, from getting to know new people to understand when a relationship has come to an end. Shaun and Ilana discuss deal breakers in relationships, how to not overthink being single, and share past dating experiences   What you'll learn (or why you should care): How to be friends with your ex and date other people Where to find dates outside of apps and how to approach people you are interested in Reasonable expectations when you start dating   Where to find Ilana: Ilana’s “Seeing other people” podcast on Spotify and Apple Her podcast on Instagram Ilana on Instagram  Ilana on Tik Tok   Learn more about The Love Drive Website https://thelovedrive.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive  Newsletter https://thelovedrive.com/newsletter

Welcome to The Love Drive Helpline, where I answer questions you submit via voicemail. Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline ~~~ Today's question comes from Ivy. [edited for brevity's sake]   "I caught my partner of two years on dating apps and meeting up with other women. Can somebody who habitually lies ever truly change your opinion and what they might have to do to make that change fully?" ~~~~   Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline Most of my links: https://www.shaungalanos.com/hello My online courses: https://www.shaungalanos.com/courses Support my work: https://www.shaungalanos.com/join

Welcome to The Love Drive Helpline, where I answer questions you submit via voicemail. Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline ~~~ Today's question comes from Sam. [edited for brevity's sake]   "I am HIV-positive, and I've been on treatment and undetectable for several years. I'm just starting to date new guys again, and I'm having a really difficult time with the disclosure conversation. I'm not public with my status, and there's a lot of stigmas out there for HIV. So these conversations just make me really nervous. Do you have any advice or tips on having tough conversations like this?" ~~~~   Leave your question here: https://bit.ly/lovedrivehelpline Most of my links: https://www.shaungalanos.com/hello My online courses: https://www.shaungalanos.com/courses Support my work: https://www.shaungalanos.com/join