My Daughter Says I'm Wrong

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: My Daughter Says I’m Wrong
Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Podcast Network: SiriusXM

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura takes a caller whose daughter is going through a painful divorce after a decades-long marriage. The caller is conflicted about whether her daughter should be interacting with new men before the divorce is finalized—especially in her current (and soon to be ex) husband's presence—and is worried her own advice might have been wrong. Dr. Laura delivers her unfiltered perspective on loyalty, boundaries, and standing up for yourself during marital breakdowns, with her signature blend of candor and empathy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller’s Situation: The Background

• The caller’s daughter is divorcing her husband after 37 years because he had an affair with the wife of his late friend.
• The husband, a truck driver, admitted to the affair when confronted and then continued, moving in with the other woman.
• The daughter has since started talking to another man on Match.com, and the situation escalated when her estranged husband, still covering bills, walked in while she chatted with this man on speakerphone.

2. Caller’s Concerns and Dr. Laura’s Response

• The caller feels her daughter was wrong to talk openly with the new man in front of the not-yet-ex-husband; she fears this will upset him since he’s still financially involved.
• Dr. Laura sharply challenges the caller’s logic:
  • Dr. Laura: “So you think your daughter shouldn't be talking to another man in front of her husband who's shacking up with another broad? Are you nuts?” (03:06)

3. Ownership, Jealousy, and Legal Responsibilities

• Dr. Laura points out that the estranged husband legally owes the bills and is no longer entitled to moral sensitivity after betraying the marriage.
  • Dr. Laura: “He's legally responsible for paying whatever the court has said he's supposed to pay.” (05:57)
• The only reason for his jealousy and outrage at hearing the new man, Dr. Laura argues, is possessive thinking, not love or fairness.
  • Dr. Laura: “I know why he cares. Because he... he still owns her vagina in his mind.” (06:46)
  • Caller: “Yeah, that's true. Yeah, he's jealous. Yeah, you're right.”

4. Mother-Daughter Dynamics and Making Amends

• Dr. Laura tells the caller that siding with the husband is damaging her relationship with her daughter.
  • Dr. Laura: “But if you want to maintain a relationship with your daughter, you better stop the approach you're taking is my advice.” (06:15)
• Dr. Laura’s prescription: the mother should apologize to her daughter without extensive explanation.
  • Dr. Laura: “So call her up, say you're sorry.” (07:14)
  • Dr. Laura: “You didn't want him to just say, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at it right. That's it. You don't have to get very specific. It's okay.” (07:39)
  • The caller repeats the advice: “Okay, just say, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at it right.”
  • Dr. Laura: “Yeah.” (07:36)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Laura's bluntness injects both humor and clarity:
  • “Are you nuts?” (03:06) — calling out the illogical double standard.
  • “He still owns her vagina in his mind.” (06:46) — Dr. Laura’s pointed take on marital possessiveness.
• The caller’s realization and eventual agreement is an instructive moment in the conversation:
  • Caller: “That's why I called you, Dr. Laura.” (07:08)

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Quote | |---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:27 | Caller introduces the marital affair and fallout | | 02:59 | Dr. Laura’s incredulous reaction to mother’s logic | | 03:06 | Dr. Laura: “Are you nuts?” | | 05:57 | Dr. Laura asserts legal/business logic over emotional sensitivity | | 06:46 | Dr. Laura: “He still owns her vagina in his mind.” | | 07:14 | Dr. Laura advises apologizing to daughter | | 07:39 | Dr. Laura suggests a simple apology without over-explanation |

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Tone & Style

Dr. Laura is, as ever, direct and unsparing—quickly identifying misplaced loyalty, naming unhealthy dynamics with sharp imagery, and encouraging decisive, relationship-saving humility. The caller is humble, willing to learn, and ultimately receptive to Dr. Laura’s advice.

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Conclusion

Takeaway:
When dealing with divorce, Dr. Laura urges family to support the aggrieved party and not to perpetuate outdated or unfair double standards—in this case, focusing empathy and solidarity with the daughter instead of appeasing the unfaithful husband’s residual feelings. Her advice: keep apologies simple, acknowledge mistakes, and move forward to safeguard important relationships.

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If you need relationship clarity, Dr. Laura’s hotline remains open. This episode delivers her signature clarity and tough love for anyone stuck on the sidelines of a relative’s marital split.

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Thanks for listening to my call of the Day, brought to you by Vibriance Super C Serum, the skin care product I use twice a day. Visit vibrance.com drlaura to save 37% and get free shipping. Remember, you can hear my radio program daily on Sirius XM Triumph. And connect with me 24 [e-mail] welcome to the program. Thank you.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

How are you, Dr. Laura?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Great, thank you. How can I help?

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

My daughter is getting a divorce after 37 years she's been together. Her husband was a truck driver and why. Why he. He is going, he's having an affair. She found out with her his friend friend who just passed away's wife who he had been consoling on the phone. And so someone called her and said, your husband, you know, he's a truck driver, is having an affair. And she confronted him and he said yes, he wouldn't do it again. And then another friend of the woman called and said he's still doing it, so she left him. Well, they're after going to have to sell their house. He's moved out. He's moved in with this woman. And my daughter has gotten on match.com and she's talking to a guy. So I told her I thought it was a bit too soon and her husband's coming over to get stuff out of the house and she was talking to this guy the other day and she had it on speakerphone and. And her husband got really upset because he's still paying the bills and the divorce, you know, is not final yet. So I told her I didn't think she should be talking to this guy in front of her husband, so she's angry with me.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Wait, wait. You mean her husband, the guy who's shacking up with another broad?

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Yes.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So you think your daughter shouldn't be talking to another man in front of her husband who's shacking up with another broadcast? Are you nuts?

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Well, it's in their house that he's still paying the bills on.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

That's legal. That's legal. That's legal. That's legal. What the hell are you doing?

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I know.

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[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Well, I just thought, you know, that he would be upset about paying, so what he's thinking.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Why are you worrying about his being upset? He's legally responsible for paying whatever the court has said he's supposed to pay.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Yes. Yeah, that's true.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Why are you siding with him?

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

I'm really not. I just want.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Yes, you are.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

To stay in the house for a couple months.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Yes, you are. Yes, you are. Her lawyer will take care of that. But if you want to maintain a relationship with your daughter, you better stop the approach you're taking is my advice.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Okay. Okay. So just don't give any input to their situation. Right.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Well, specifically input. That sounds like you're so concerned about his feelings.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Yeah, well, that's what she said. He's living with her. Why does you know he cares? I'm talking to a guy, so.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Oh, I know why he cares. Because he. He still owns her vagina in his mind.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah, he's jealous. Yeah, you're right. He's jealous. He left the other day without saying anything because she was talking to the guy and had him on speakerphone, so you're right.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Good, good. I hope. I'm glad she did that.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Well, yeah, you're right. That's why I called you, Dr. Lara.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So call her up, say you're sorry.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Okay, I'll do that. So he's still. He thinks he still owns her vagina. I like that. That saying. That's true. That's true, Dr. Laura. Oh, thank you very much. So call her up and say, I'm sorry. Right.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Yeah.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You know, you didn't want him to just say, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at it. Right. That's it. You don't have to get very specific. It's okay.

[Caller to Dr. Laura]

Okay. Just say, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at it. Right. Okay. My brother loves you and he says you need to call Dr. Laura. So I'm glad I did. Thank you, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You're very welcome, sweetheart. Thank you. Hey, we're having fun. Give me a call. There's stuff going on in your family and your life, with your friends. You know it. So give me a call. Let's talk about it. Maybe we can tweak it a bit, make it better, tolerate it better. My number, 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course. I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

[Spy Drama Character 1]

Nobody would ever think that people like us would be spies.

[Narrator/Streamer Announcer]

Streaming on Peacock.

[Spy Drama Character 2]

The one thing the Russians would never do is bring on a woman.

[Spy Drama Character 3]

Most people are not cut out for it. But these women are not most people.

[Spy Drama Character 1]

That is terrifying.

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It's exciting.

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It means we're alive.

[Spy Drama Character 1]

No, it means you're about to be dead.

[Narrator/Streamer Announcer]

Starring Amelia Clarke and Haley Lou Richardson.

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To the kgb, I'm a person of interest. But you two are ponies.

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Ponies.

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Persons of no interest.

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