At some point in your life, you’ve probably reflected on how the men and women who raised you shaped the way you love.
What happens when one parent is more absent? Or when one of the people you feel safest with passes away?
How do those experiences follow you into adulthood—into the kind of woman or man you become, the romantic partners you choose, and the way you handle trust, conflict, and ultimately, love?
Today’s guest is Bobby Jacobs.
On paper, Bobby has built an impressive life. He was a professional volleyball player and is now the owner of Fit 3 Six Five Meals, a meal-prep company here in Orange County.
But today, I’m much more interested in the man behind all of that.
Bobby was raised by a single mom while his father spent much of his life in prison. He grew up watching firsthand what it looked like for a woman to carry the weight of a family.
And while he did have a father figure in his stepdad and a deep bond with his grandma, he experienced deep loss when both were taken from him.
When you’ve experienced abandonment and loss early in life, does part of you always prepare for the people you love to eventually leave?
And what does that do to the man you become—and the way you show up in love?
Today, we’re talking about the experiences that shaped Bobby’s view of masculinity, the relationships that taught him what it meant to be a man, and what he believes men and women may fundamentally misunderstand about each other.
We’re also getting into the stuff we don't always say out loud when it comes to modern dating: standards, non-negotiables, traditional roles, heartbreak and what happens when the person you love isn't the one you end up with.
I wonder ... maybe the bigger question isn’t what kind of love do you want?
It’s when so much of what you learned about love came through absence and loss, how do you learn to believe that love can actually stay?
This is Bobby's story.
@bobbyjacobs