Modern dating can feel more complicated than ever—but does it have to be?

Relationship expert and Smart Dating Academy founder Bela Gandhi doesn't think so! She joins Jamie Stein and Pascal to talk about what really works when it comes to finding love after 40.

From dating apps and first dates to unrealistic expectations, attraction, and relationship-ready partners, Bela shares practical advice for navigating today’s dating world with more confidence and less frustration.

Plus, Bela puts Pascal’s dating truths to the test, weighing in on where she agrees—and where she thinks he might have it wrong.

Whether you’re divorced, widowed, newly single, or simply wondering if lasting love is still possible, this episode is full of practical advice, surprising insights, and plenty of laughs.

In this episode:

• Why dating feels harder than ever
• The biggest mistakes people make when looking for love
• Dating apps vs. meeting people in real life
• Green flags, red flags, and deal breakers

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has captured national attention. But for NewsNation anchor Marni Hughes, her case is part of a much bigger mission: shining a light on missing persons cases that too often fly under the radar.

Marni joins Jamie and Pascal to share the latest developments in the Nancy Guthrie case and take us inside NewsNation’s “Missing” series. She opens up about why this work has become so important to her, the cases and families that have stayed with her, and what she has learned from sitting across from people living with unimaginable uncertainty.

Can media attention actually help bring someone home? Why do some missing persons cases become national stories while others struggle to be seen? And what happens when the headlines fade but families are still searching?

It’s a powerful conversation—and a reminder of the persistence, hope, and difference we can make by keeping these stories alive.

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: Meeting Marni Hughes
00:35 - Nancy Guthrie Case: The Latest Updates
02:54 - The Ransom Note Controversy & FBI Retraction
05:54 - $1 Million Reward & The Guthrie Family Power
08:02 - Behind the Scenes: Reporting from Arizona
09:32 - Targeted? The Role of Notoriety & TMZ
13:35 - Amy Hilyard: The Oakland Coffee Shop Owner Case
17:15 - The Reality of Adult Disappearances & Mental Health
19:43 - Ally Lowitzer: A 16-Year Mystery Revisited
22:51 - The Scale of Missing Persons in the USA
23:51 - Success Stories: How NewsNation Found a Trafficked Teen
26:06 - International Cases: Jimmy Gracey in Barcelona
28:08 - Danger Abroad & The "Invincibility" of Youth
31:26 - James Weston Higginbotham: The Search in Japan
34:10 - The Toll of Reporting on Tragedy
36:52 - Expert Advice: What to do if a Loved One Goes Missing
37:56 - Inside Crime Con: The True Crime Community
40:48 - Cold Cases vs. Active Investigations
42:19 - The Future of DNA & Genetic Genealogy
45:51 - The Legacy of Gabby Petito & The Missing Series
47:04 - Outro: Final Thoughts with Marni Hughes

For nearly two decades, Reality Steve (Steve Carbone) has been one of reality TV’s most influential insiders, breaking stories, sharing spoilers, and changing the way fans follow their favorite shows.

In this episode of In My Hometown, Jamie Stein and Pascal sit down with Reality Steve for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of reality television. They discuss Bachelor Nation, Taylor Frankie Paul’s new dating series, Love Island, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and where reality TV is headed next.

They also explore the future of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Golden Bachelor, why networks may be overlooking the powerful 50+ audience, and how the reality TV landscape has evolved over the past two decades.

Whether you’re a longtime Bachelor Nation fan or simply love behind-the-scenes stories from the world of reality television, this conversation offers an insider’s perspective on the biggest shows, the biggest headlines, and what viewers can expect next.

In this episode:

• Reality Steve’s journey from blogger to reality TV insider
• The future of The Bachelor franchise
• Is The Bachelorette really coming back?
• Taylor Frankie Paul’s new reality dating show
• Why the 50+ audience is reality TV’s biggest missed opportunity
• Love Island, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and today’s hottest reality TV trends
• Behind-the-scenes stories from nearly 20 years covering reality television

In My Hometown is hosted by Jamie Stein and Pascal and features honest, unfiltered conversations about reality TV, relationships, life after 50, reinvention, and the stories shaping today’s culture.