Becoming Relationship Ready: Recent Episodes
Lila Turner
“I was not half a person trying to become whole. I was now a whole person ready to become part of a couple.”
Leslie Zinn shares her journey from growing up in a turbulent household to becoming a single mom and eventually finding a deeply supportive relationship. Her story is filled with warmth, humor, and unexpected turns, showing how healing and self-awareness can open the door to connection. Through parenting, entrepreneurship, and a little Latin dancing, Leslie discovered what it means to be present, soft, and truly ready for love.
Key Takeaways
- Healing through presence and love can transform our relationship.
- Being reactive doesn’t mean you’re broken; learning to pause and recognize old patterns can shift everything.
- Sometimes the most meaningful relationships come when you’re not looking, and a relationship can thrive when you’re no longer trying to protect yourself from being hurt.
Find Leslie at Arden’s Garden and LinkedIn.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide that offers a radically different approach to dating and relationships. Instead of focusing on “working on” yourself or the relationship, her book emphasizes the importance of truly understanding yourself. By uncovering and living from the deepest, truest version of who you are, you can transform your inner trust and profoundly deepen your connections with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“You can show up with just a feeling. You don’t have to have a neat bow on it.”
Not everyone reacts the same to really hitting it off with someone new. Sometimes things going really well with a new romantic connection can be overwhelming. Meet Katie, whose first steps into a new relationship brought more than just excitement - they stirred a wave of unexpected anxiety. In this episode, Katie shares how a profoundly deep connection with someone new unearthed old mental habits and emotional tension, even though, intuitively, this new person felt right. Through gentle self-awareness and a shift in perspective, she discovered how turning toward her own calm allowed her to show up fully, speak honestly, and experience the relationship as it unfolded - with a spacious, nurturing pace.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety amid connection: Feeling overwhelmed in a new relationship doesn’t always signal something going wrong - it can reveal how past stories can color and “thought haunt” our present joy.
- Letting go of perfection: Stepping away from expectations of the “ideal” person or the “right way” creates space for real connection and enjoyment, even when things feel uncertain.
- Speaking from peace, not irritation: Communicating openly - even through discomfort - feels different when it comes from inner steadiness instead of reactive emotion, nurturing a culture of mutual understanding.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“I had to see that being in charge was not leaving any room for presence and feeling. Letting go of perfection opened space for real connection and intimacy.”
Lila and Dre Wien explore how courageous choices and deep self-trust can create a life that feels bold and beautiful, whether you’re building a boutique or finding the right partner. Dre opens up about taking risks - from moving across the world to starting new businesses - without the fear of breaking something. Along the way, she shares how connecting with her body and embracing softness transformed both her career path and her marriage.
Key Takeaways
- Dare to try new paths by knowing you can always change your mind.
- Let go of perfection and allow room for presence and connection in your life.
- Lean into self-awareness to strengthen bonds and invite more softness alongside ambition.
Discover Dre’s sustainable clothing shop at ladderCLE.com and dive into her human design work at Take Care, Love Dre.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“You can be a mother, a business leader, a friend, and still be yourself. You don’t have to wear a different hat in every role.”
Tracy Marlowe shares her warm, honest journey of becoming herself again after a long marriage, building a business that empowers women, and finally finding love without losing herself in the process. She opens up about the quiet courage it took to heal, rediscover what lights her up, and align her life with the love she desired. Her story reminds us that relationships can feel expansive, not confining, when we allow ourselves to be fully seen and known.
What You'll Love About This Conversation:
- Take time to heal before seeking love so you can attract what truly aligns with you rather than what simply fills a gap.
- Get clear on what you want and believe you can have it, knowing you don’t have to settle for less than what feels true to you.
- Allow yourself to be fully yourself in all areas of life, because showing up as your whole self is what makes space for the right love to find you.
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn and at her company, Creative Noggin.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“It’s not about finding someone to fix your loneliness. It’s about building a life you love and inviting someone into it.”
Kate Morgan joins Lila to talk about why high-achieving women often get stuck in their love lives and how the same intentional approach that builds strong teams can help you build a meaningful relationship. She shares her honest insights on why many women shrink themselves to fit into relationships that don’t truly feel right. This conversation is an invitation to stop settling, get connected to yourself, and create the type of love that feels aligned with the life you’re building.
What You'll Love About This Conversation:
- Clarity is kindness: Get connected on what feels right to you deep down instead of staying in the confusion trying to make something work that keeps you stuck and settling.
- Don’t shrink to fit: Stop hiding what really matters to you just to keep someone around who isn’t willing to grow with you.
- You can be whole and still let someone in: Kate wasn’t searching for someone to “complete” her as a single mom building her career, and it was from this grounded place that she allowed partnership to find her.
About Kate
Kate Morgan is the founder and CEO of Boston Human Capital Partners, where she helps startups build and retain top talent with straightforward, strategic hiring guidance. She revolutionized recruiting with the embedded partner model, helping startups scale intentionally and effectively. As the author of Custom-Fit, she equips founders with practical tools for building successful teams with cultural alignment. When she’s not solving complex hiring challenges, you’ll find her riding horses, hiking Sedona’s red rocks, or attempting yoga with a smile.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others. Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“When I got quiet, I just knew it was okay. There was nothing to worry about.”
Susan Marmot’s journey through heartbreak, self-discovery, and true connection is powerful. She opens up about marrying young in search of safety, leaving a marriage that no longer served her, and the surprising, grounded way she eventually found love again. Not by fixing herself, but by being deeply present and trusting her inner wisdom. This conversation is heartfelt, funny, raw, and full of life lessons that will resonate with anyone who’s ever doubted whether real love is still possible for them.
Learn more about Susan at The Big Simple.
What You'll Love About This Conversation:
- From lost to found: Susan shares how she went from choosing relationships out of insecurity to finding real partnership by listening to and trusting her inner voice.
- Letting go of overthinking: She learned to stop bringing every anxious thought into her relationships, creating space for a deeper connection to flourish.
- Love that feels like home: Her second marriage is built on presence, playfulness, and mutual respect - and it all began with one simple decision to stay in the moment.
Next Step: If you're feeling stuck in love, ask yourself: What would change if I stopped trying to figure it all out and followed what feels right now?
Text a Friend: If you found this episode helpful, please message a friend to listen. To help out, here’s a possible message you could send them!
Remember when you said you were scared to leave because of the kids? Susan’s story might give you the courage you need.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“I always used to feel responsible for somebody else’s future—and that’s gone. Now, I just enjoy it for as long as it works out.”
Lila Turner sits down with her sister, Zebedee, for a refreshingly real conversation about life after heartbreak, redefining connection, and the magic of dating without the pressure. Zebedee shares her journey from COVID-era breakup blues to building a vibrant, flirt-friendly life rooted in honesty, clarity, and her own invention: the "undate." This episode is full of wit, wisdom, and a radically new take on how to meet people, without the usual rules, pressure, or romantic scripts.
What You'll Love About This Conversation:
- The "Undate" Revolution – Learn how Zebedee created a completely unpressured, joyful way to meet new people without the heavy expectations of dating.
- Being Unedited in Relationships – Discover how showing up honestly (and unedited) can open up deeper communication and surprising clarity.
- Healing + New Starts – Hear how Zebedee rebuilt trust in herself and others post-divorce, and why she believes joy and grief can coexist.
Next Step: Try an “undate” with someone you’re curious about - no pressure, just connection.
Text a Friend: If you found this episode helpful, please message a friend to listen. To help out, here’s a possible message you could send them!
I think you’ll like this episode because Zebedee basically invented a way to meet people that skips all the awkward “is this a date?” tension.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“Burlesque reminds me: I don’t have time to hate my body anymore. It’s a working machine, and I should be celebrating it, not critiquing it.”
In this episode, Asha, also known as Pat Elle, shares her remarkable journey from marketing professional to professional burlesque performer. Through vulnerability, humor, and authenticity, she explores themes of identity, cultural representation, and the power of embracing sensuality. Asha’s story celebrates breaking stereotypes, owning individuality, and learning to love oneself fully.
Key Takeaways
- Finding Empowerment Through Burlesque: Asha discusses how burlesque became her anchor, transforming her relationship with her body and giving her the confidence to challenge societal norms.
- Redefining South Asian Representation: Through her performances, Asha blends traditional cultural elements with modern art to challenge stereotypes about South Asian women and reclaim cultural narratives.
- The Journey to Vulnerability: Asha shares her personal growth, highlighting the importance of authenticity, learning to be vulnerable, and creating space for self-love.
Want to hear more about how Asha overcame self-doubt and embraced her authentic self? Tune in to the full episode and follow Asha on Instagram at @pat__elle to see her artistry in action.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“I realized so much of what I thought was true wasn’t. I rebuilt my life with just two principles: Tell the truth and be kind.”
Lila gets honest with Rhino Julie, an entrepreneur and fearless truth-seeker who shares her remarkable journey of self-discovery, relationships, and resilience. From overcoming self-doubt to reshaping her beliefs, Rhino Julie’s story is a testament to the power of following what feels true. She opens up about how she navigated an unhappy marriage, transformed her passion for fitness into a thriving business, and redefined dating through a fearless and practical approach.
Key Takeaways
- Finding Truth in Hard Times: Rhino Julie shares how hitting rock bottom helped her reevaluate her beliefs and embrace a life built on honesty and kindness.
- Redefining Dating as a Businesswoman: She explains her innovative strategy of treating dating like her business, applying structure and intention to the process to attract the right partner.
- Living Fearlessly: From leaving an unhappy marriage to starting a fitness boot camp while overweight, Rhino Julie proves that courage and self-trust can lead to transformative growth.
You can hear more from Rhino Julie on YouTube.
Lila has a new book!
Lila has written a self-help guide offering a radically different way to date. It shows the importance of understanding yourself rather than working on yourself or your relationship. Establishing the deepest, truest version of yourself will dramatically improve your inner trust and connection with others.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
“The biggest thread running through my own relationships, from 16 to now at 52, is the relationship I’ve had with myself.”
Lila Turner is back with a solo episode, and this time, she’s sharing something deeply personal - her brand-new book, Becoming Relationship Ready: Discovering a Radically New Way to Date. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of how the book came to be, from her early struggles with writing to realizing that she had to include her own story. With warmth, humor, and honesty, Lila reflects on the central theme of her book: the relationship we have with ourselves is the foundation for every other relationship in our lives.
Get your copy of Becoming Relationship Ready on Amazon, Waterstones, or as an eBook at https://www.relationship-ready.co.uk/relationship-ready-book.
About the Podcast
If you have found us because of a friend's recommendation or because you have stumbled across us, welcome. Before you continue…what you will not find here are tips on how to flirt or find your ideal partner. You don’t need to know how to flirt; that will come naturally when you are just you. As far as finding the perfect partner - most of our clients say they would not have picked their current partner, yet they are happier than they have ever been in a relationship - the imagination is just too limited when it comes to finding a good fit or understanding what happiness means.
We can help you show up in your love life with fresh thinking, opening a world of possibilities. With a new way to approach dating - a new dating life is just one thought away. Join us to discover what keeps you from finding the real connection you are looking for so you can be Relationship Ready.
Meet the host, Lila
Lila founded Relationship Ready in 2016 to help people feel and find love, regardless of whether they are single or in a relationship. She believes everyone deserves to be in a loving relationship, and sometimes, the simplest things stand in the way.
Lila left a twenty-year career as a womenswear designer to join the One Thought team as a Partner and Director. She still designs, develops, and provides programmes for organisations and individuals to address the ‘leaky bucket’ issues people face in their lives and organisations.
Lila is a regular conference speaker and presenter in the UK and abroad. Her clients vary widely, including leaders, engineers, filmmakers, teenagers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. Lila also works with professional women through her executive coaching programme.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
"Consent isn’t a checkbox - it’s part of the intimacy, part of the playfulness."
The Becoming Relationship Ready podcast is back! In this episode, host Lila Turner speaks with Nicole Banister, an award-winning TV show host, presenter, international change-maker, and sex positivity activist.
In this insightful episode, Lila and Nicole explore open conversations about intimacy, consent, and connection. Nicole shares her bold approach to dating, her experiences with long-term casual lovers, and how she manifested her current partner through intention and self-awareness. This episode is packed with wisdom on embracing vulnerability, communicating authentically, and trusting your intuition in relationships.
Lila just released her new book, Becoming Relationship Ready. Learn more on Lila's website and buy today!
Key Takeaways
- The Power of Asking Questions: Nicole shares how asking about a partner's sexual health upfront is more about gauging their attitude toward openness and self-care than the answer itself.
- Manifesting with Intention: She describes her journaling practice, writing down what she desired in a partner, and how trusting the universe led her to meet Charles.
- Redefining Consent: Nicole explains why consent should always be an enthusiastic "yes" and how open conversations can deepen connection and trust.
Connect with Nicole
- Connect with Nicole on Instagram
- Watch on YouTube
- Follow on LinkedIn
- My Basketball Team blog
About the Podcast
If you have found us because of a friend's recommendation or because you have stumbled across us, welcome. Before you continue…what you will not find here are tips on how to flirt or find your ideal partner. You don’t need to know how to flirt; that will come naturally when you are just you. As far as finding the perfect partner - most of our clients say they would not have picked their current partner, yet they are happier than they have ever been in a relationship - the imagination is just too limited when it comes to finding a good fit or understanding what happiness means.
We can help you show up in your love life with fresh thinking, opening a world of possibilities. With a new way to approach dating - a new dating life is just one thought away. Join us to discover what keeps you from finding the real connection you are looking for so you can be Relationship Ready.
Meet the host, Lila
Lila founded Relationship Ready in 2016 to help people feel and find love, regardless of whether they are single or in a relationship. She believes everyone deserves to be in a loving relationship, and sometimes, the simplest things stand in the way.
Lila left a twenty-year career as a womenswear designer to join the One Thought team as a Partner and Director. She still designs, develops, and provides programmes for organisations and individuals to address the ‘leaky bucket’ issues people face in their lives and organisations.
Lila is a regular conference speaker and presenter in the UK and abroad. Her clients vary widely, including leaders, engineers, filmmakers, teenagers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. Lila also works with professional women through her executive coaching programme.
Connect with Lila
- Connect with Lila on linktree
- Buy Lila's book, Becoming Relationship Ready
- Follow Relationship Ready on Instagram
Credits
Andrew edited and mixed the podcast at 51 features. Connect at andrew {at} 51features {dot} com or https://treasuremint.com.
This week hear from Colette talk about marriage and feeling comfortable pursuing dating after a long-term relationship.
This week, Lila chats to Christine - a Three Principles-based therapist, marriage and family therapist, master addictions counsellor and much more - based in Hawaii - talking about relationships and finding connection over looking for the next person to make yo feel better.
Take a listen to Christine's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/psychology-has-it-backwards/id1533373977
This week, hear Joanna talk about her past and present relationships as well as how Relationship Ready helped her change her beliefs on dating.
This week, Lila chats with her sister, Zebedee on shifting your perspective and freeing yourself of scripted feelings after coming out of a 16-year relationship.
This week's guest is Julia, one of Relationship Ready's first clients who joins Lila to talk about how the programme helped her step away from her dating strategies and tick lists to find a true connection.
This week, hear from Chetna about her relationship experiences and how she's gone from having a 'relationship agenda' to now having freedom and trust in her own thoughts and decisions.
This week, hear from Katie about her relationship patterns, stumbling blocks and relationship hacks which have been a game changer for her.