Ready For Love with Hilary Silver

#86: From Walls Up to Wide Open: Meryl’s Reset on Love & Life

If you’ve ever rejected a man because his name annoyed you… this episode is for you.
 
Hilary sits down with award-winning interior designer and unapologetic former love-skeptic Meryl Stern, who admits she once dismissed perfectly good men for crimes like “bad vibes” and “unfortunate first names.” (Her words.) But beneath all that discernment? A woman hiding behind a beautifully curated emotional wall.
 
Inside Ready for Love, Meryl didn’t just “work on herself” — she resigned from decades-old childhood roles, stopped earning love by overgiving, and rewired her identity from martyring do-it-all to woman who actually receives. Now, she runs a luxury design firm with her daughter, just completed a 12,000 sq ft project featured in Architectural Digest, and treats dating the same way she treats client selection: You don’t pick me. I pick YOU.
 
She’s single, self-possessed, and fully uninterested in settling, which, around here, counts as a success story.
Episode Highlights:
When “I’m just independent” is actually code for I don’t trust myself to choose well
Why nitpicking men is just fear in fancy clothes
The homework assignment that broke her identity wide open
How healing self-worth bleeds into business, leadership, and money
Dating rule #1: You don’t get picked—you pick
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet award-winning designer & RFL alum Meryl
02:00 The moment she realized her “independence” was actually a wall
05:40 How journaling cracked her open
08:10 The resignation letter that rewired her self-image
12:30 Building a business with her daughter (without killing each other)
16:45 Her three-year AD-featured dream project
18:50 Current relationship status? Selectively single
20:30 The real measure of success: Would the old you tolerate this?
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
 
✨ Ready to stop repeating the same patterns and finally create the love you deserve? 
 
🎯 Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
 
💬 Apply for a free Love Breakthrough Call with my team: https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#85: The Worst Dating Advice for Women...And Yes, I’m Mad About It!

Ever seen those videos promising to “make him obsessed with you in 5 texts” or “7 tricks to make a man worship you like a queen”? Yeah… Hilary’s not having it.
 
This week, she’s calling BS on the toxic, clickbait dating advice flooding YouTube. From “dark psychology” tactics to straight-up patriarchal conditioning, this advice is designed to manipulate women, keep them second-guessing themselves, and—let’s be honest—get them to buy something.
 
Hilary breaks down four reasons why these tactics are not just wrong but harmful—and why they’ll never lead to real love. Instead, she gives you the only dating advice you’ll ever need: trust yourself. When you stop twisting yourself into a pretzel to please men, you stop attracting the wrong ones and start naturally attracting the right one.
 
If you’re tired of playing games and ready to finally show up as the woman you actually are (and be loved for it), this episode is your wake-up call.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why “clickbait” dating advice is built on manipulation, not empowerment
The four major problems with toxic, prescriptive dating tactics
How inauthenticity sabotages real connection (and yourself in the process)
Why advice centered on him keeps women stuck in patriarchal conditioning
The simple, powerful truth: trusting yourself is the only dating advice you’ll ever need
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Worst Dating Advice for Women
01:39 Dark Psychology Tactics in Dating Advice
03:05 How Manipulation Backfires in Relationships
04:20 Prescriptive Advice vs. Trusting Yourself
05:14 Why Man-Centered Dating Advice Hurts Women
06:08 The Only Dating Advice You’ll Ever Need
06:39 Ready for Love’s Authentic Approach
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
✨ Ready to stop repeating the same patterns and finally create the love you deserve? 
 
Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
 
Apply for a free Love Breakthrough Call with my team: https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#84: How Investing in Yourself Can Change Your Love Life

Lori Young, a Ready for Love alum, decided she was done settling for crumbs of affection, heartbreak, and controlling men. Instead of buying the couch she’d been saving for, Lori put that money into herself—and it changed everything.
In this conversation with me, Lori shares how she broke old patterns, stopped confusing drama for chemistry, and learned to ask for what she actually wanted. Today she’s married to a secure, steady partner, thriving in her career, and bold enough to run for city council.
If you’ve ever found yourself replaying the same relationship story and wondering why nothing changes, Lori’s story will challenge you to ask: when are you going to stop playing small and finally invest in yourself?
 
Episode Highlights:
The Saturday night moment that pushed Lori to finally say “enough”
Why investing in yourself is smart money
The Chinese finger trap metaphor that freed her from control games
How to stop chasing fireworks and start choosing safe, steady love
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Lori Young
02:53 The Journey to Self-discovery
05:55 Investing in Yourself
08:52 Lessons from the Ready For Love Program
12:09 Embracing New Opportunities
14:57 Navigating New Relationships
17:49 Finding Authenticity
21:04 Celebrating Growth and Success
23:57 The Power of Community
26:58 Fearless, Unafraid, Unintimidated
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
 
✨ Ready to stop repeating the same patterns and finally create the love you deserve? 
🎯 Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
💬 Apply for a free Love Breakthrough Call with my team: https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#83: What Matters MORE than Who You Are Meeting

You can spend thousands on a matchmaker or swipe until your thumbs go numb, but if you keep running into the same disappointing patterns, the real question isn’t “where are all the good men?” The real question is how are you showing up when you meet them?
In this episode, Hilary unpacks why so many smart, successful women struggle in love even when everything looks perfect on the outside. Ghosting, mismatches, and one-sided relationships aren’t the problem themselves—they’re signals of something deeper. When self-doubt, fear, or insecurity color your energy, the wrong men move closer and the right ones step away.
So how do you stop chasing quick fixes and instead become the woman who naturally attracts the kind of love you want? Hilary shares why identity work—not dating hacks—is the real key, and what changes when you finally treat yourself as the priority first.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why spending money on a matchmaker rarely fixes the real issue
The “tree” metaphor that explains dating struggles at the root level
How self-doubt and fear act like a magnet for the wrong men
What high-quality men actually notice (and what makes them turn away)
Why identity work is more powerful than any dating tactic
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Matchmaker Myth
01:05 The Real Problem: Who You’re Being
02:31 The Tree Analogy of Dating Patterns
06:01 Why You Attract the Wrong Men
09:09 Identity Work and Self-Worth
10:54 Why Matchmakers Fail
13:00 Becoming Your Future Self
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
 
✨ Ready to stop repeating the same patterns and finally create the love you deserve? 
🎯 Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
💬 Apply for a free Love Breakthrough Call with my team: https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#82: If You think Men are Intimidated by You, Listen to This!

If you’ve ever blamed your single status on men being “intimidated,” it’s time for a reality check. That story might feel good at the moment, but it’s keeping you from the very connection you want.
In this episode, Hilary calls BS on the idea that your success is the reason love hasn’t worked out. With 25 years of experience coaching powerhouse women, she breaks down what’s really going on when you hear that “intimidating” feedback. Spoiler: it’s less about men being scared and more about the energy you’re putting out.
Hilary shows how many women hide their softer, more vulnerable sides behind achievements, creating a vibe that feels aloof or unapproachable. The good news? You don’t have to shrink your brilliance to find love—you just need to integrate the strong and the soft so you can be powerful and open.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why “men are intimidated by me” is a story that keeps women stuck
What’s really happening when you hear that feedback on dates
How success can become a shield that hides your softer side
The vibe that comes across as guarded or unapproachable
Why you don’t need to shrink your achievements to attract love
The key to integrating strength and vulnerability so connection can grow
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The “Men Are Intimidated by Me” Myth01:50 Why Mainstream Advice on Intimidation Misses the Point03:57 The Tootsie Pop Analogy: Tough Exterior, Soft Inside04:29 Hiding Behind Success and Achievements05:41 How to Integrate Strength and Vulnerability
07:15 Breaking Free and Inviting Love In
 
If you’re tired of hiding behind your résumé and ready to let love in, this episode is your wake-up call.
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
🎯 Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass

#81: Attach Too Quickly? How to stop the Cycle of Disappointment

Wanting love and being ready for it aren’t the same thing. You might be on the apps, going on dates, even hiring a matchmaker—but if you keep finding yourself in the cycle of “hot and heavy” followed by fade and fizzle, the problem may be pacing.
In this episode, Hilary unpacks the anxious dating behaviors that push love away and she lays out five concrete ways to date with emotional security rather than a sense of urgency. From keeping your schedule intact, to knowing when to hold back on texting or intimacy, Hilary shows you how to stop spiraling into fantasy and start building real connection—without losing yourself in the process.
If you’ve ever skipped Pilates to wait for his call, or decided you were all-in by the third date, this conversation is your reset. 
 
Episode Highlights:
Wanting love vs. actually being ready for it — why they’re not the same
The role of pacing and how falling too fast sabotages connection
Matching his effort, not his potential, to avoid heartbreak
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Are You Really Ready for Love?03:27 The Pitfalls of Falling Too Fast04:52 Five Ways Women Date with Confidence05:03 Tip 1: Stay Focused on Your Own Life
06:05 Tip 2: Keep Early Dates Short and Intentional07:08 Tip 3: Match His Effort, Not His Potential07:51 Tip 4: Delay Physical Intimacy09:15 Tip 5: Don't Build a Bond Over Text10:08 Attracting Emotionally Available Men
 
Healthy, emotionally available men are attracted to confidence, patience, and balance—not eagerness or desperation. Date from security, and you’ll naturally filter out the wrong men while attracting the ones who are truly ready.
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
 
👉 Watch Hilary’s free masterclass: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
Or apply for a free breakthrough call with her team at https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#80: Dating Over 50 is Actually The Best Time

Most women I talk to over 40, 50, and 60 say the same thing: “I never thought I’d be here, dating at this stage of life.” And let’s be honest, midlife dating often gets a bad rap. But the truth? It can be the BEST time in your life to find real love… if you know how to approach it.
In this episode, we talk about why dating now can be easier, more authentic, and more fulfilling than ever—and how shifting your perspective can change everything.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why dating now can feel easier and more authentic than ever
The freedom that comes from wanting—not needing—a partner
How showing up as your true self changes who you attract
Why self-acceptance is magnetic
How trusting yourself shapes every choice you make in love
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Dating Over 50: Why It’s the Best Time for Love  
00:53 Meet Hilary 
01:47 Midlife Dating Truths  
02:07  Reason 1: Maturity & Clarity  
03:44 Reason 2: Desire, Not Need  
05:08 Reason 3: Authentic Self  
07:06 Reason 4: Confidence & Magnetism  
08:52 Reason 5: Self-Trust & Boundaries
10:28 Why It’s Never Too Late for Love  
 
Dating now isn’t about chasing chemistry or proving your worth—it’s about finding a true, equal partnership that adds to your already beautiful life.
 
✨ I’m Hilary Silver, LCSW, former psychotherapist turned master coach and founder of Ready for Love. I help high-achieving women show up in love as confidently as they do in their careers.
💡 Through this podcast, I share my WOMAN-centered, SELF-centered approach—time-tested methods that blend psychology, brain science, relationship skills, and no-BS dating advice.
🎙️ Since 2017, we’ve helped over 10,000 women with a 98% success rate, making Ready for Love the #1 program in the world for women who’ve tried everything else.
🎯 Watch my free masterclass to learn the proven 4-step Ready for Love Method: https://readyforloveinc.com/masterclass
💬 Apply for a free Love Breakthrough Call with my team: https://readyforloveinc.com/apply

#79: 4 Dangerous Dating Blind Spots Revealed

Blind spots can quietly wreck your dating life long before you realize they’re there. And for high-achieving women, they’re sneaky. You can be doing all the “right” things on paper and still keep ending up with the wrong men—or no men at all.
Hilary’s breaking down the four biggest ones she sees over and over again. Are you sending mixed signals without realizing it? Mistaking career confidence for genuine self-worth? Letting yourself be chosen instead of actually choosing? Or telling yourself you’re “working on it” when nothing has actually changed?
Each blind spot comes with a hard truth and a way forward. And once you see them, you can’t unsee them—which is exactly how you stop getting in your own way.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why mixed signals can repel the kind of partner you actually want
The difference between situational confidence and genuine self-worth
How “being chosen” keeps you stuck in relationships that don’t fit
The myth that dating is a numbers game (and what really works)
Why self-awareness is the fastest way to change your love life
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 How Blind Spots Block Love
01:04 Hilary Silver and Ready for Love
01:36 Blind Spot #1: Ambivalence in Dating
04:15 Blind Spot #2: Low Self-Worth in High Achievers
07:04 Blind Spot #3: Waiting to Be Chosen
09:23 Blind Spot #4: Hoping Love Just Happens
12:22 How to Attract the Love You Want
 
Ready to stop being your own biggest obstacle? 
Apply for a call with Hilary’s team to see if Ready for Love is the right fit for you: hillarysilver.com/apply

#78: He Ghosted You? 3 Moves to Get Your Power Back

He disappears. No explanation, no closure, just gone. And you’re left questioning everything: Did I do something wrong? Was any of it even real?
In this episode, Hilary calls out the emotional whiplash of ghosting and gives you three power moves to shift out of helplessness and back into your worth. And no,  it’s not about getting answers from him, it’s about giving closure to yourself.
If you’ve ever been left on read and spiraled into doubt, this conversation is your emotional reset.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why ghosting feels like betrayal, even if it wasn’t serious
The trap of psychoanalyzing him (and how it keeps you stuck)
Three power moves to stop the spiral and reclaim your self-worth
How to make peace with the ending, without needing his permission
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 The Pain of Being Ghosted
02:53 Why Trying to Understand Him Keeps You Stuck
05:11 Power Move #1: Take Inventory Without Self-Blame
06:17 Power Move #2: Detach Your Worth From His Behavior
09:02 Power Move #3: Redefine the Experience and Reclaim Closure
11:20 How to Heal and What Comes Next
 
Being ghosted doesn’t mean you’re not worthy. It means he couldn’t meet you where you are. And thank God he’s gone before you invested any more of yourself.
💻 Watch Hilary’s free masterclass:  https://hilarysilver.com/masterclass/
💖 Apply for a breakthrough call: http://hilarysilver.com/apply

#77: Why Can’t I Find Men At My Level?

You’ve got your life together: thriving career, financial independence, emotional intelligence, and yet your love life? A hot mess of emotionally unavailable, underemployed, or unstable men. What gives?
In this episode, Hilary calls it like it is: this pattern isn’t about the men. It’s about you. More specifically, your subconscious beliefs, unresolved self-worth issues, and fear of real intimacy.
Hilary breaks down 7 brutally honest reasons smart, successful women keep dating down—and how to stop. From choosing men who need you so they won’t leave, to settling for “projects” instead of partners, she gets to the root of why high-achieving women sabotage their own love lives.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why you freeze (or flee) when a high-quality man actually shows up
How caretaking can be a way of earning love when you don’t believe you’re enough
The hidden fears that drive you to choose men who feel “safe” but drain you
Why identity work, not another dating strategy, is the real key to change
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Smart Women Keep Dating Down
01:25 What “Dating Down” Really Means
03:10 Reason #1: Feeling Not Good Enough
05:06 Reason #2: Tying Your Worth to Being Needed
07:03 Reason #3: Fear of Abandonment
10:15 Reason #5: Fear of Real Intimacy
14:29 Reason #7: Dating from Loneliness
16:03 How to Break the Pattern for Good
 
Hilary doesn’t just name the problem, she offers the way out. Because when you stop outsourcing your worth, everything shifts.
Want the kind of love that matches the rest of your success? Start by becoming the version of you who actually believes she deserves it.
🔗 Learn more about Hilary’s Ready for Love program: http://hilarysilver.com/apply