Love, Actually: Modern Relationships, Dating & Marriage
Love, Actually is a narrative podcast hosted by Riley Colhoun about the messy and unpredictable reality of modern relationships. Each episode features intimate conversations about dating, marriage, and the emotional landscapes people navigate in love. The show explores themes such as communication breakdowns, compromise, first dates, and the shift from singlehood to commitment. Episodes also cover jealousy, rebuilding trust after betrayal, long-distance relationships, blended families, social media's effect on romance, and money stress between partners. It is aimed at listeners looking for understanding, comfort, or practical wisdom in their romantic lives, whether they are newly dating or married for decades.
Episodes
Why You're Angry at Your Stay-at-Home Spouse (And How to Stop) | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun tackles the silent relationship killer: resentment between working and stay-at-home spouses. If you find yourself feeling angry at your partner for not doing enough, or trapped in a role that feels invisible, this episode provides a compassionate framework for understanding the root causes of marital friction. We explore how the unequal distrib
When Mom Says It Wasn't That Bad: Healing Minimized Trauma | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the painful and isolating experience of having your trauma minimized by family members, particularly mothers who say things like 'It wasn't that bad' or 'You're too sensitive.' This conversation is essential for anyone navigating complex family dynamics, healing from childhood emotional neglect, or struggling with the aftermath of gasl
When Adult Kids Stay Too Long: Loving Them Without Losing Yourself | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun addresses the complex and emotionally charged topic of adult children who stay in their parents' homes indefinitely. This guide is essential for parents struggling with the tension between loving their grown children and protecting their own need for privacy, autonomy, and peace. If you find yourself feeling resentful, anxious, or trapped in yo
Supporting a Friend’s Transition While Questioning Your Own Beliefs | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun addresses the complex emotional landscape of supporting a friend’s gender transition while grappling with your own deeply held beliefs, religious traditions, or cultural expectations. This conversation is essential for anyone who loves someone who is transitioning but feels confused, guilty, or afraid that their internal questions might damage
When Distance Makes You Lose Yourself: Reclaiming Boundaries in Long-Distance Love | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the psychological toll of long-distance relationships where one partner loses their sense of self through excessive compromise. This guide is essential for individuals in LDRs who feel they are shrinking to keep the connection alive, addressing the specific anxiety of waiting for texts at 2 AM and the erosion of personal identity when
When Silence Hits Harder Than Yelling: The Pain of Stonewalling | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the profound emotional pain and psychological impact of stonewalling in modern relationships. Stonewalling is often mistaken for a healthy need for space, but when used as a weapon to punish or control a partner, it constitutes emotional abuse. This episode distinguishes between constructive time-outs, which involve clear communication
Loving Someone With Severe OCD: When Love Isn't Enough | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the complex and often exhausting reality of loving someone with severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Host Riley Colhoun addresses partners who feel overwhelmed by the constant anxiety, rituals, and emotional toll that clinical OCD places on a relationship. The discussion is designed for anyone navigating a partnership where one partner struggles with
When He Won’t Talk Money: Breaking the Silence on Future Planning | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the deep emotional and psychological barriers that prevent partners from discussing money and future planning. When a partner refuses to talk about finances, it is rarely just about numbers; it is often rooted in shame, anxiety, trauma, or fear of vulnerability. This episode provides a compassionate yet firm analysis of why silence aro
The Mental Load Is Killing Your Love Life (And How to Stop Carrying It) | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun tackles the silent relationship killer known as the mental load. If you find yourself feeling like the only adult in your household—remembering dentist appointments, buying toilet paper, and planning dinners while your partner waits for instructions—you are not alone. This episode is essential listening for anyone struggling with invisible labo
Why Small Broken Promises Hurt More Than Big Lies | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the profound emotional impact of small broken promises in modern relationships. While society often focuses on grand betrayals or major lies, this conversation highlights how repeated minor inconsistencies—like forgetting to call, missing small commitments, or ignoring 'bids for connection'—can erode trust and destabilize a partnership
When He Lied About Money: Forgiving Non-Sexual Betrayals | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun addresses the complex and often overlooked pain of non-sexual betrayal in modern relationships. If you have discovered that your partner lied about money, hidden debts, or falsified career achievements, you may feel isolated by a society that minimizes these offenses with phrases like 'at least he didn't cheat.' This episode validates that grie
When Their Ambition Outshines Your Dreams: Finding Balance | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the complex dynamic when one partner's ambition significantly outpaces the other's dreams, leading to feelings of invisibility and emotional erosion. Hosted by Riley Colhoun, this conversation is essential for individuals in long-term relationships or marriages who feel they have become an 'audience member' in their own lives, watching their partner chase su
Why I’m Scared to Say 'Forever': Healing From Parents' Divorce | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the deep-seated fear of commitment and saying 'forever' that often stems from parents' divorce. If you find yourself panicking when a new partner mentions future plans or feeling like vulnerability is a trap, this conversation is for you. We unpack how childhood trauma creates a 'working model' where love equals loss and closeness equa
The Heavy Silence After You Tell Your Partner the Truth | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the profound and often terrifying silence that follows a difficult confession in a romantic relationship. Host Riley Colhoun addresses listeners who have just revealed a long-held secret—whether it involves financial loss, emotional infidelity, or deep-seated shame—and are now facing the hollow stillness that follows. The discussion is designed for individua
Why You Feel Like a Fraud for Needing Help with Adult Tasks | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the pervasive and often silent feeling of being an imposter in your own life. Many adults struggle with deep-seated shame when they realize they don't know how to perform basic tasks like balancing a checkbook, fixing a leaky faucet, or loading a dishwasher correctly. This episode is specifically for those who feel like frauds, believi
The Guilt of Feeling Relieved When a Difficult Relative Dies | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun addresses the profound and often unspoken guilt associated with feeling relief when a difficult relative dies. This conversation is essential for anyone who has experienced complicated family dynamics, emotional abuse, or toxic relationships where the death of a loved one brings not sorrow, but a sense of liberation. The episode validates the b
He Won’t Talk About Tomorrow: How to Date Without a Plan | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun tackles the exhausting ambiguity of dating a partner who refuses to discuss the future. If you find yourself feeling like the only one holding the map in a relationship where 'tomorrow' is a forbidden topic, this conversation is for you. We explore why some men avoid commitment talks, distinguishing between healthy caution and active avoidance,
When Adult Children Won't Leave: Setting Boundaries Without Losing Your Heart | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun tackles the complex and emotionally charged topic of adult children who refuse to leave home. This guide is designed for parents struggling with enmeshment, enabling behaviors, and the loss of personal autonomy in their own houses. If you are feeling suffocated by a grown child’s presence but fear being seen as selfish or cruel, this episode of
The Humiliation of Being the Third Wheel in Your Own Life | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the painful and common experience of feeling like a third wheel in your own life. This guide is designed for individuals navigating new relationships, long-term partnerships, or deep friendships where they feel excluded from inside jokes, shared histories, or intimate moments with their partner and their best friend. If you have ever f
Missing the Person You Were Before Marriage: A Quiet Grief | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the quiet, often unspoken grief that many married individuals experience when they feel they have lost touch with their pre-marriage identity. This is not a critique of marriage itself, but rather an invitation to acknowledge the complex emotions surrounding autonomy, individuality, and the subtle erosion of self within long-term partn
Why Boredom Feels Like Heartbreak in Secure Love | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the confusing phenomenon where boredom in a secure relationship feels indistinguishable from heartbreak. If you have ever sat on the couch with your partner and felt a pang of disappointment because the 'butterflies' are gone, this episode is for you. We dissect why our brains interpret the absence of anxiety as a lack of passion, expl
When Gaming Takes Priority Over Your Marriage: A Love Actually Episode | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the complex and painful dynamic when video gaming takes priority over marriage and romantic partnership. This conversation is specifically designed for women who feel lonely while sitting next to their partners, realizing they have become background characters in their own relationships. We unpack the specific type of loneliness that a
The Shock of Your Partner's Secret Second Career | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the complex emotional landscape of discovering a partner's secret second career. This isn't just about infidelity; it’s about the collapse of shared reality and the shock of realizing you’ve been left out of a significant part of your partner’s life. If you’ve ever found a hidden phone, an unknown bank account, or a mysterious routine,
How to Handle Seeing Your Ex at a Wedding or Party | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually provides a comprehensive guide on how to handle seeing your ex at a wedding or party with grace, composure, and emotional stability. Host Riley Colhoun addresses the visceral, biological reaction many people experience when confronted with a former partner in a social setting, validating that the physical jolt of anxiety is a normal response wired into our attachment
Is It Safe? Handling Jealousy When Your Partner Keeps Exes Close | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun tackles the complex and often painful dynamic of handling jealousy when your partner maintains a close friendship with an ex. This guide is designed for anyone navigating modern dating, new relationships, or long-term marriages where boundaries with past partners feel blurry or threatening. We explore the difference between friendly acquaintanc
Why Saying No to Family Feels Like Betrayal (And How to Stop It) | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the deep psychological roots of why saying no to family feels like a moral betrayal and provides actionable strategies for setting healthy boundaries. Host Riley Colhoun unpacks the invisible contracts we sign in childhood that tie our self-worth to our availability and utility, explaining how this conditioning triggers primal fears of abandonment when we at
When a Friend’s New Relationship Diminishes You | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the quiet grief and complex emotions that arise when a close friend’s new romantic relationship causes them to pull away. This guide is for anyone who has experienced the slow erosion of a friendship due to 'honeymoon gravity,' where a friend becomes emotionally unavailable as they merge with a new partner. We address the subtle violen
He’s Gaming, Not Cheating: Reclaiming Connection When Screens Win | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun addresses the silent but devastating loneliness that arises when a partner prioritizes video games over emotional connection. This guide is specifically for spouses and partners who feel invisible in their marriage, often described as feeling like a 'ghost' while sitting right next to someone who is physically present but mentally absent. The d
When Your Parents Reject Your Chosen Family: Boundaries & Belonging | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually addresses the painful and complex dynamic of parental rejection toward your chosen family. Host Riley Colhoun speaks directly to listeners who feel caught between their biological relatives and the partners, friends, or communities they have built for themselves. If you are grieving the loss of unconditional approval from parents who cannot accept your identity, rela
Dating the Unavailable: When Trauma Becomes a Wall You Can't Climb | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the exhausting reality of dating emotionally unavailable partners whose walls are built on unresolved trauma. This guide is essential for anyone who feels like they are hitting a glass wall in their relationship—where their partner is physically present but emotionally distant, leaving you walking on eggshells and analyzing every inter
Why Saying No to Gifts Hurts (And Why It’s Necessary) | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the complex emotional landscape of saying no to gifts in modern relationships. This conversation is essential for listeners navigating boundaries in dating, marriage, and family dynamics, particularly those who value minimalism, intentional living, or sustainable consumption. The episode addresses the specific guilt that arises when re
When Your Sibling’s Success Feels Like a Personal Failure | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the complex and often hidden emotion of sibling envy, addressing why a brother’s or sister’s success can trigger feelings of personal failure and shame. Host Riley Colhoun guides listeners through the psychological roots of this comparison trap, explaining that these feelings are not moral failings but natural human reactions to proximity and shared history.
The Slow Goodbye: When You Grow Apart From Your Spouse | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the painful but common phenomenon of growing apart from your spouse without a dramatic breakup or infidelity. This is not about shouting matches or clear villains; it is about the 'quiet devastation' of apathy, where two people who built a life together slowly become roommates sharing a mortgage and history, but losing their emotional
When Your Partner’s Crisis Becomes Your Full-Time Job | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually addresses the profound exhaustion and invisible labor experienced by partners in relationships where one person is undergoing a severe mental health crisis. Host Riley Colhoun speaks directly to those who feel they have become the 'keeper' of their partner's sanity, exploring the dangerous shift from supportive partnership to unsustainable caretaking. This guide is e
Holding Space for the Empty Chair: Infertility and Partnership | Love, Actually
In this deeply empathetic episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the complex emotional landscape of infertility within romantic partnerships. This guide is designed for couples navigating fertility treatments, those experiencing secondary infertility, or anyone seeking to understand how grief impacts marriage and dating dynamics when parenthood is delayed or denied. We move beyond
Gaslighting at Home: How to Trust Your Reality When It Feels Like a Lie | Love, Actually
In this episode of Love, Actually, host Riley Colhoun explores the insidious nature of gaslighting in long-term relationships and domestic settings. Unlike dramatic movie portrayals, real-life gaslighting is often quiet, subtle, and deeply confusing, leaving victims questioning their own sanity and memory. This guide explains how to recognize the signs of emotional erosion, such as keeping mental
The Quiet Grief of Outgrowing Your Best Friend | Love, Actually
This episode of Love, Actually explores the complex and often painful experience of outgrowing your best friend. Host Riley Colhoun addresses the specific type of loneliness that arises when you sit across from someone who once knew your soul but now speaks a different emotional language. This guide is for anyone navigating the quiet grief of drifting apart from long-term friends, offering validat
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