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Laura Stassi

Creator and Host, Dating While Gray

Laura Stassi is creator and host of the podcast Dating While Gray: the grown-up’s guide to love, sex and relationships. She explores issues and relays true stories about seeking, finding and keeping love after age 50.  Online dating, sexual intimacy, deal breakers – everything’s on the table.

Laura was married for almost 30 years before getting divorced. Newly single, she turned to friends and relationship experts for advice on navigating the dating scene. On Dating While Gray, Laura shares the lessons she’s learned and introduces you to other gray daters as we weather the wild world of love.

Laura is also an award-winning writer of health, wellness and medical features for military families, and she’s the author of several nonfiction books for young readers. She has two grown children and lives outside of Washington, D.C., in Reston, Virginia, with a shepherd-retriever mix named Jade.

  • In this season of reflection and resolution, Season 4 concludes with a generous sprinkling of inspiration. On this episode, three stories of unexpectedly forging new life paths … because who says older people are too set in their ways to change?
  • Love does, indeed, make the world go ’round … and to live happy and full lives, our closest connections need not be romantic ones. On this episode, three stories of platonic intimacy.
  • Whether it’s criminals disguised as ardent online suitors or players who mix love bombing and gaslighting, deceptive people can damage our trust and sense of stability … not to mention our finances. So when it comes to the search for romance, can we keep the faith while circumventing the deceivers?
  • Anita has not lived with her parents since leaving for college. But during the pandemic, many Millennials and Gen Zers returned home. For some of them, especially those with unpartnered parents, this meant new and unexpected insights into their parents' love lives. Anita shares an episode of the podcast “Dating While Gray” that features conversations between parents and their adult kids about the ongoing search for a happily ever after.
  • Just in time for the breakup season, aka Turkey Drop, Laura shares an encore episode from WUNC’s podcast Embodied. Host Anita Rao is joined by “Love Letters” advice columnist Meredith Goldstein and Slate advice columnist Stacia Brown. They dish out advice on topics including navigating social media after a romance ends, and what to do with physical reminders. (Ask Laura, who burned her wedding dress after splitting, for her hot take on this.)
  • Adult children of single parents … are they a source of emotional support and strength, or a disruptive influence in finding a “happily ever after”? We explore with guests including the millennial daughter of our ever-so-curious host.
  • It’s a pivotal moment on the path to romantic love. Will the initial meeting with a potential special someone lead to the desire for more, or the urge to flee?
  • Selfies taken in public bathrooms … and in beds, with comments about gettin’ busy under the covers. Some online dating profiles are so cringe-worthy, they’re comical. Still, they can make for a disappointing experience. Maybe it’s time to return to the basics? On this episode, how to craft an appealing love pitch.
  • The end of a romance often feels lousy – literally! Studies have shown that losing love can lead to significant health hazards. So when love dies, can we do anything to ensure we don’t suffer terminal consequences?
  • Many older people venture into dating with high hopes for the outcome. Are they rewarded – or does reality bite?