Ep 24: He Won't Open Up Until You Stop Doing This One Thing

What if the reason men go quiet with you has nothing to do with how much they care, but more about whether they feel safe? For so many women in midlife, the closed-off man feels like rejection. You ask questions, you try to connect, and he shuts down. What you may not know is that his silence is not personal. It is biological, instinctual, and something you can actually change. In this episode, Laurie Gerber is joined by Allison Armstrong, one of the world's leading researchers on male psychology, who has spent over 35 years studying why men and women interact the way they do and what it costs us when we get it wrong. Armstrong brings her research directly to the questions that matter most for women navigating dating over 50: how to get men to talk, what men are actually attracted to, and how emotional safety in relationships becomes the foundation for everything else. Weaving in dating communication tips grounded in decades of evidence, she and Laurie unpack the relationship psychology behind attraction, silence, and complementary strengths in relationships, along with the surprising role a woman's own happiness plays in her love life. This is dating advice over 50 that goes far deeper than tips and tactics. Laurie draws on 25 years of applying Allison's work in her own long-term relationship, bringing an intimate honesty to this conversation. If you are a midlife woman trying to understand the men you are dating or the man already in your life, this episode will shift something fundamental in how you see them. And stay until the end. Allison reveals the three things she got wrong after 35 years of research. That alone is worth the listen. 🎧 In This Episode, Laurie Covers: 🗝️ The one-word swap that changes how much a man will open up to a woman 🔒 The concept of being "safe to talk to" and the everyday habits that cause men to shut down without you ever realizing it ⚠️ Why even a single well-meaning question can feel like an interrogation to men 🎯 A technique for learning everything you need to know about a man in early dating without asking a single question 🔒 The hidden threshold men use to decide what they'll never tell you, no matter how much they care 💫 What men are unconsciously scanning for when they decide a woman is "special" versus just attractive ❓ The three things Allison got wrong after 35 years of studying men and what she knows now ⏱ Timestamps 00:00–04:00 - Meet Allison Armstrong. 04:00–10:00 - Why Men Don't Discuss Feelings. 10:00–16:00 - How to Become Safe to Talk To. 22:00–28:00 - Getting Men Talking Without Interrogation. 28:00–34:00 - Your Happiness Is Your Responsibility. 34:00–42:00 - What Men Are Actually Attracted To. 42:00–53:00 - What Women Are Attracted To. 🔗 Links & Resources Allison Armstrong's Resources: 🔹 Making Sense of Men (e-book): https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/produ... Scroll down and click the purchase button that says "7.95 E-BOOK FOR ME" At checkout, enter promo code AlisonGift2025 (promo code expires 6/30/2026) 🔹Your Queen's Code Journey: Summer 2026 (Live webinar series) https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/produ... 🔹 The Essentials Package / LUX, Understanding Men or Understanding Women https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/curri... 🔹 Smart Singles: https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/curri... Laurie’s Free Resource: If you want clarity on what a healthy partnership looks like for you, Laurie walks you through the 3H method step by step in her free 75-minute training: 👉 https://www.lauriegerber.com/webinar Stay connected with Laurie: ▶️ YouTube:    / @lauriegerbercoach   📸 Instagram:   / lauriegerber_coach   👍 Facebook:   / lauriegerberdatingcoach   💼 LinkedIn:   / lauriegerber   🎙 Podbean: https://lauriegerbercoach.podbean.com/