If you've ever gone through a breakup that left you gasping for air weeks or months later—refreshing their profile, replaying every moment, wondering what went wrong—this episode is for you.

In today's conversation, host Madden sits down with Cole Zesiger, breakup and relationship coach and author of Exes and No's: The Breakup Advice You Don't Want to Hear, to dive deep into how we can truly move from heartbreak to healing. Cole has helped thousands of people rebuild after love loss, blending psychology, attachment theory, and practical tools to guide them back to peace and power.

EPISODE TIMELINE:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Why This Episode is For You
• 02:15 - Meet Cole Zessiger: From Divorce to Helping Thousands
• 04:30 - The Two Mindsets That Keep You Stuck Post-Breakup
• 07:45 - Mourning the Person AND the Future You Imagined
• 10:20 - Step One: The Complete Detox From Your Ex
• 13:40 - Cole's Credit Card Confession: The Trap of Staying Connected
• 16:15 - Understanding How Your Brain Wires Memories of Your Ex
• 19:30 - Step Two: Building a Life You Actually Like
• 23:10 - The Two Ways to Be Happy After a Breakup
• 26:45 - Why Helping Others Accelerates Your Healing
• 30:20 - Navigating Trust, Betrayal, and Forgiveness
• 34:50 - The Lemon Cart Analogy: Why Forgiveness is a Gift to Yourself
• 37:15 - Attachment Styles Explained: Secure, Anxious, Avoidant & Disorganized
• 41:00 - The Raft Metaphor: Three Ways to Heal Your Attachment Style
• 44:30 - How to Date Without Losing Yourself in the Relationship
• 47:20 - Finding Your Divine Center Beyond Your Partner
• 49:10 - The Pattern That Keeps People Stuck in the Same Relationship Cycles
• 50:35 - The Power of Correct Levels of Accountability
• 51:20 - Final Advice: Be Curious About Your Future

IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:

• The two most common mindsets that keep people stuck post-breakup
• What a real detox from your ex looks like (hint: it's more than just no contact)
• Why forgiveness isn't letting them off the hook—it's setting yourself free
• How to understand your attachment style and stop repeating the same dating patterns
• The "raft metaphor" for building emotional stability in relationships
• Why helping others is actually one of the fastest ways to heal yourself
• How to know if you're truly healing or just stuck in the same cycle

"When your present isn't happy, when there's nothing to look forward to and nothing to be happy about in the moment, your brain is just going to want to stay in the past. So we need to start building things in the moment, and that can start as small as possible—brushing your teeth or making your bed. And then you build out from there."

- Cole Zesiger

CONNECT WITH COLE:

Cole Zesiger is a breakup and relationship coach who helps people navigate heartbreak and rebuild their lives after love loss. After getting divorced at 23 and jumping into another failed relationship, Cole embarked on a journey to understand breakups, attachment theory, and what it really takes to heal.

Over the past three years, he's built a community of 750,000+ followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, creating content that blends psychology, vulnerability, and practical tools. Cole is the author of Exes and No's: The Breakup Advice You Don't Want to Hear, a must-read guide for anyone ready to stop repeating heartbreak cycles.

Outside of coaching, Cole is married to his wife Jocelyn, has a one-year-old daughter, and enjoys playing guitar, listening to rock music, and riding his dirt bike and Harley.

Cole's Instagram: @coachcolezesiger

Cole's TikTok

Preorder Ex's and No's:

https://coachcolezesiger.com/exsandnos

Connect with Madden:

Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa

Important Podcast Links:

Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)