Smart Dating Academy - The Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Smart Dating Academy Podcast
Smart Dating Academy helps busy, successful professionals to jump start their dating lives. We have a results-oriented, fun 8 step process - which transforms you into a better dater - helping you find "the one".
This podcast is meant to help you put more love in to your life, and more life in to your love
What if the secret to finding love isn’t becoming more impressive, but becoming more you?
In this episode, I sit down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer of VaynerX, to talk about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and self-worth in dating.
We explore how the way you show up at work mirrors how you show up in love, and why being your real self is the key to finding a healthy, lasting relationship.
If you’re dating after divorce, rebuilding confidence, or ready to find love again without settling, this episode is for you.
Apply to work with our dating coaches: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
How Your Mind Shapes Your Love Life and It’s Bigger Than You Think
What if your dating struggles aren’t about timing or luck but your thoughts?
In this eye-opening episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf to reveal how your mind is driving your relationship patterns.
If you’re dating after divorce, feeling stuck, or ready to find love again, this conversation will change how you see everything.
You’ll learn how to break unhealthy cycles, build emotional availability, and date with clarity and confidence.
👉 Apply to work with our dating coaches: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
🌐 https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Dr. Caroline Leaf's website: https://drleaf.com/
What if the key to better dating was simple curiosity?
In this episode, Bela Gandhi talks with Alison Armstrong about understanding men, improving communication, and finding love again without frustration.
If you are dating after divorce or feeling stuck, this conversation will change how you approach relationships.
Apply to work with us:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Alison's website: AlisonArmstrong.com
Michelle is a therapist who helped others heal from toxic relationships, but wasn’t sure love was possible for herself.
In this episode, she shares how she found love overseas on Instagram and what finally shifted her mindset from doubt to belief.
If you’re navigating dating after divorce, struggling with emotional availability, or wondering if love will happen for you, this story will inspire you.
In this episode:
Dating after heartbreak and divorce
Finding love in unexpected places
Emotional availability and mindset shifts
High-value dating advice for professionals
👉 Apply to work with our dating coaches: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
🌐 https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Dating after divorce can feel overwhelming but it can also be your greatest opportunity for growth and real love.
In this episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with divorce and co-parenting expert Michelle Dempsey-Multack to talk about how to heal, rebuild confidence, and date with intention.
You’ll learn how to know if you’re ready, how to avoid common dating mistakes, and how to create healthy, emotionally available relationships.
If you want to find love again without repeating the past, this episode is for you.
Apply to work with us: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
If you keep attracting the wrong people, this episode will change everything.
Bela Gandhi sits down with Stephan Labossiere of Stephan Speaks to talk about emotional availability, healing patterns, and how to finally find healthy love after heartbreak or divorce.
You’ll learn:
- Why you repeat relationship patterns
- How to spot emotionally unavailable partners
- What it really takes to build a healthy relationship
If you’re ready to stop settling and start dating smarter, this one is for you.
Apply to work with us:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
What if dating success had less to do with luck… and more to do with negotiation?
In this episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with negotiation expert Kristen Prinz to reveal how understanding your needs, setting boundaries, and advocating for yourself can transform your love life.
Whether you're dating after divorce, feeling stuck, or ready to find love again, this conversation will help you stop settling and start creating the relationship you truly deserve.
👉 Apply to work with us:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
🌐 https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Kristen's website: https://www.prinz-lawfirm.com/
Pre-order Kristen's book: https://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Negotiation-Shift-Matters/dp/1399832409/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SXXhMeK-iH4yKHrx_BoWxw.GzA2czqZss9itoPteaBJUF-CXW1VNg3gyaz0ttWipI0
What if dating success had less to do with luck… and more to do with negotiation?
In this episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with negotiation expert Kristen Prinz to reveal how understanding your needs, setting boundaries, and advocating for yourself can transform your love life.
Whether you're dating after divorce, feeling stuck, or ready to find love again, this conversation will help you stop settling and start creating the relationship you truly deserve.
👉 Apply to work with us:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
🌐 https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Kristen's website: https://www.prinz-lawfirm.com/
Pre-order Kristen's book: https://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Negotiation-Shift-Matters/dp/1399832409/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SXXhMeK-iH4yKHrx_BoWxw.GzA2czqZss9itoPteaBJUF-CXW1VNg3gyaz0ttWipI0
In this eye-opening episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with relationship expert Terri Cole to talk about boundaries, self-worth, and why high-achievers often struggle to find love.
If you are dating after divorce, feeling burned out, or wondering why you keep attracting the wrong people, this episode will shift everything.
You will learn how to stop overgiving, raise your standards, and finally create the healthy, balanced relationship you deserve.
👉 Apply to work with our dating coaches: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
🌐 https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
In this heartfelt episode, Bela Gandhi sits down with relationship expert Robin Ducharme to talk about forgiveness, emotional availability, and how to break free from toxic relationship cycles.
You will learn:
• How to heal after unhealthy relationships
• Why forgiveness unlocks emotional freedom
• The power of saying “I’m sorry” in love
• How to stop over-functioning in dating
• What it means to be an elevator person
If you are dating after divorce, heartbreak, or burnout, this episode will change how you approach love and healthy relationships forever.
Apply to work with our dating coaches:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Website: https://realloveready.com/
Real Love Ready on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realloveready/
Robin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinducharmeofficial/
Robin's book: https://geni.us/RealLoveReadyBook
Dating after 50 can feel intimidating — especially if you’ve been out of the dating world for years.
Maybe you're divorced.
Maybe you're widowed.
Maybe dating apps feel overwhelming.
But here’s the truth: some of the healthiest and happiest relationships actually begin in midlife.
In this episode, Smart Dating Academy founder Bela Gandhi shares the mindset shifts and strategies that help singles successfully navigate dating after 50, dating after divorce, and online dating in midlife.
If you're wondering how to approach dating in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond, this episode will help you date with confidence, clarity, and optimism.
In this episode you’ll learn:
• The biggest mistake people make when dating again after a long relationship
• Why the midlife dating pool is stronger than most people think
• How to stop repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
• Why online dating feels overwhelming — and how to approach it differently
• Why chemistry isn’t always the best indicator of compatibility
If you’re ready to date smarter in midlife, Bela is also hosting a live workshop:
Dating During Midlife and Over 50 Love Lab
👉 Register here:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/lovelab-dating-during-midlife
Love does not have an expiration date — and your best relationship may still be ahead.
Are hidden self-worth patterns quietly sabotaging your love life?
In this powerful episode, Bela Gandhi and Dr. Amanda Hanson explore how childhood conditioning, emotional availability, and nervous system patterns impact dating, relationships, and finding healthy love.
If you are dating after divorce, feeling stuck in unhealthy attraction cycles, or ready to find love again without settling, this conversation will help you shift from overgiving and burnout to confidence and alignment.
You will learn how self-worth, inner child healing, and emotional awareness directly influence who you attract and how you build lasting relationships.
👉 Apply to work with our dating coaches: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Feeling anxious about dating? You are not alone.
In this episode of The Smart Dating Academy Podcast, Bela Gandhi sits down with therapist Kevin Mimms to unpack dating anxiety, emotional availability, and how to calm your nervous system so you can find love again.
If you are dating after divorce, newly single, or simply exhausted by modern dating, this episode gives you practical tools to feel confident and grounded.
You will learn:
• Why dating anxiety happens
• How to regulate your nervous system
• How to stop avoiding and start building confidence
• What emotional availability really looks like
• How to create healthy relationships without settling
Ready to work with a relationship coach?
Apply here: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Visit us: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
In this episode, Bela Gandhi is joined by Dr. Justin Garcia, Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute and author of The Intimate Animal, for a fascinating conversation on modern dating, emotional availability, and healthy relationships.
They explore why humans crave both intimacy and novelty, how sex influences connection, why dating apps feel overwhelming, and what actually helps high achieving women and men find love again without settling.
This episode blends research, compassion, and real life dating wisdom you can actually use.
Apply to work with our dating coaches:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Purchase Justin's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Animal-Science-Fidelity-Live/dp/0316594032
Healing your past changes how you show up in love.
In this episode, Bela Gandhi talks with Laura Day, NYT bestselling author of Prism and celebrity 'intuitive': Seven Steps to Heal Your Past and Transform Your Future, about emotional patterns, intuition, and why awareness is the key to healthier relationships.
They explore how unresolved experiences shape dating choices and how real transformation begins with understanding yourself.
This episode is for anyone ready to stop repeating old patterns and start creating relationships with clarity and intention.
👉 Apply to end frustration and loneliness -- learn our framework and get mentoring to find love:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Laura's website: LauraDay.com
Laura's book: https://www.amazon.com/Prism-Seven-Steps-Transform-Future/dp/1954118708
Laura's IG: @lauradayintuit
What if love does not look the way you imagined, but feels better than you ever expected?
In this Smart Dating Academy Podcast episode, Bela Gandhi shares Elayne’s inspiring journey from dating confusion to a healthy, committed relationship.
This conversation explores:
- Dating tips for professionals
- Emotional availability in real relationships
- Why unexpected love is not settling
- How to find love without compromising your values
If you want to find love again with confidence and clarity, this episode will stay with you.
Apply to work with our dating coaches:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Website:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
How Monica Broke Her Dating Patterns & Found Real Love
In this inspiring episode, Bela talks with Smart Dating Academy client Monica Campbell, who shares how she moved from dating the wrong people to attracting a healthy, emotionally available partner.
You’ll hear the shifts that changed everything, from breaking old patterns to using the Dating Funnel to date with clarity, confidence, and joy.
If you’ve ever wondered whether love is still possible for you, this episode is your reminder that it absolutely is.
Apply to work with Bela and our coaching team:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Learn more: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com
Dating again after a long marriage can feel overwhelming.
In this inspiring conversation, Bela talks with Jeannette, a Smart Dating Academy client who rebuilt her life after divorce.
She shares how she healed, learned confidence, and by working with SDA, found a healthy relationship later in life.
If you want hope and practical wisdom about dating after divorce, this episode is for you.
👉 Work with our coaches:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
What happens when you’ve tried everything to find love and decide to go big?
In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, Bela Gandhi talks with Lisa Catalano, the woman who rented 12 billboards in San Francisco to find her husband. They explore what inspired her to take such a bold step, how the world reacted, and what she has already learned about confidence, courage, and connection!
✨ Whether you’re dating after divorce, in midlife, or just feeling stuck. This conversation will remind you that it’s never too late (or too bold) to find love.
🎯 Apply to work with our dating coaches: smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Let’s be real: dating in today’s swipe-right world can feel like a game you didn’t sign up for. Between ghosting, mixed signals, and second-guessing your own needs, it’s easy to wonder: Am I doing this right?
In this empowering episode, I sit down with Dr. Jeanne Michele — relationship specialist, psychologist, and author of The Infidelity Cure — to talk about what it really means to date and love authentically. Jeanne brings her signature blend of heart, wisdom, and straight talk to help us see dating not as a performance, but as a mirror — a reflection of who we are, what we want, and where we might be holding ourselves back.
Together, we dive into:
- The difference between dating and relationshipping — and why both matter in building healthy love
- How to have Courageous Conversations that honor your needs without pushing love away
- The subtle ways we betray ourselves in relationships (and how to stop repeating old patterns)
- Why dating is one of the best mirrors for self-awareness — and how to use it for growth
- How to stay open-hearted in love while still protecting your truth and boundaries
This conversation is an invitation to approach love with courage, compassion, and clarity. Whether you’re single, dating, or redefining what love means to you, Jeanne’s insights will help you stop settling, start honoring yourself, and finally create the kind of authentic connection you deserve.
🎧 Tune in now and learn how to bring more authenticity and joy into your dating journey.
💌 And if you’re ready for personalized support to make dating feel fun, empowering, and successful, reach out to us at Smart Dating Academy. Our expert coaches can help you build the confidence, clarity, and strategy you need to find the love you deserve.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
ating fatigue is something almost every single one of us has felt at some point. Maybe you've been dating for what feels like a century -- maybe you're exhausted by the dating apps (which can feel like "Human EBay"), endless small talk, or the emotional ups and downs of trying to find “your person"; if so this episode is for you! Bela Gandhi sits down with Smart Dating Academy coach Ilene Collins to unpack one of the most common — and overlooked — challenges in modern dating: dating fatigue.
Ilene has been a powerful SDA coach for five years and has been a repeat voice on the podcast - responsible for MANY client success stories! This episode will give you a sneak peek of how Ilene met her husband Mark (broke every SDA rule, haha!) and help you see how two people that are different religions, races and careers can build a happy life together! And, Ilene brings both her personal experience and coaching expertise to the conversation, sharing how to spot the early signs of burnout and the mindset shifts that can make dating fun again. Together, Bela and Ilene explore what’s really behind dating fatigue — from unrealistic expectations to dating on autopilot — and how to reset your energy, focus, and optimism.
You’ll learn:* Why dating fatigue happens (and how to know when you’re in it) * The biggest mindset mistake that keeps people stuck in frustration - and the BEST mindset reset (you won't want to miss this because it is POWERFUL) * How to take a healthy break — without giving up on love * How to meet people in real life * How to make a GREAT first impression * Practical steps to make dating feel joyful, not draining * What it means to date with intention and curiosity
Whether you’re new to dating or you’ve been at it for a while, this episode will help you find your spark again and remember that dating can actually be exciting, fulfilling, and full of possibility.
✨ Ready to fall back in love with dating?
Reach out to Smart Dating Academy for expert coaching, personalized strategy, and support that helps you meet amazing people — without the burnout. Visit SmartDatingAcademy.com to learn more.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Dating doesn’t have to feel like the awkward lunchroom of middle school — and in this episode, we’re showing you exactly how to leave that behind. I’m joined by our very own Smart Dating Academy coach, Kathy Citera, who brings her trademark humor, wisdom, and lived experience to the table.
Kathy knows firsthand what it’s like to re-enter the dating world — she candidly shares her journey from post-divorce dating at 50 to becoming a coach who now helps others navigate dating with confidence and joy. Together, we talk about how dating can feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
- Why dating feels like “middle school” for so many adults — and how to shift out of that mindset.
- Post-divorce dating at 50: Kathy’s real-life lessons on rediscovering yourself and dating authentically.
- How to bring fun, joy, and levity into dating without losing seriousness about your goals.
- Knowing yourself first: Why self-awareness is the biggest game-changer in dating success.
- Practical tips to “make dating fun again” — and why having the right mindset can change everything.
This is a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud, and refreshingly honest conversation about dating — no games, no gimmicks, just straight talk on how to enjoy the process again. Whether you’re just getting back out there or you’ve been swiping for years, you’ll walk away feeling lighter, more hopeful, and ready to see dating as an adventure rather than a test.
💌 Ready to make dating fun again in your own life? Contact Smart Dating Academy today to learn how our team of expert coaches can help you date smarter, build confidence, and finally find the love you deserve. Click here to get started!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
What if the love you’ve been waiting for isn’t about luck, but about alignment?
In this episode of the Smart Dating Academy Podcast, I’m joined by therapist Jaime Bronstein. With over 20 years of experience, Jaime has helped countless singles heal and grow!
We break down why manifesting love is not about magical thinking—it’s about shifting your mindset, trusting your intuition, and clearing out the fears that keep you stuck - Smart Dating style :) We dive deep into the process of identifying the negative narratives you’ve been carrying and replacing them with empowering beliefs that attract the right partner—not just any partner.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
The key steps to manifesting love in an authentic, grounded way.
Why healing old wounds and limiting beliefs is non-negotiable for attracting your soulmate.
How to connect with your intuition and let it guide your dating decisions.
The fear-based “Dating Personas” Jaime sees most often—and how to break free from them. Jaime’s fun acronyms for spotting non-negotiables and red flags* so you can date smarter.
Why fear and doubt can become a self-fulfilling prophecy in love—and how to stop it.
How to know when you’ve truly found your person.
If you’ve ever wondered why love feels so hard—or why you keep attracting the wrong people—this episode will change the game.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
What happens when you stop putting pressure on every date and start living like “Vacation You”? For Colleen, it changed everything.
In this episode of the Smart Dating Academy Podcast, I sit down with Colleen Sarihan, whose journey is a reminder that love can show up when you least expect it—and often in the most magical ways.
Colleen first heard me speak at a women’s networking event (hosted by my good pal Anna Valencia, who is now City Clerk of Chicago). During Q & A - someone started their question by saying, "I swear, there are ZERO good men left in Chicago. Every time I leave Chicago, I meet guys everywhere!" I told her that something must be shifting inside of HER that makes her more open & receptive when she LEAVES Chicago -- that it's not a "no guys here" issue! You could hear a silence fill the room. Little did I know that a certain audience member, Colleen, was intently listening to this answer, and it shifted her mindset that DAY. Fast forward a year: Colleen had just lost her job, her landlord was selling her condo, and she had bought a one-way ticket to Rome. With no expectations and nothing to lose, she decided to fire up the dating apps—simply to enjoy good food and new company. That’s when she met Vaibhav on Hinge - and was CONSCIOUS about bringing "vacation Colleen" to the date! A year to the day after their first date, they were married—followed by a beautiful summer celebration blending Hindu and Western traditions. You need to hear the whole episode to hear how magical this whole story is!
Today, Colleen and Vaibhav are the proud parents of two wonderful children, after navigating IVF together, and their love story is proof of what can happen when you stay open, playful, and true to yourself.
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Colleen’s “Vacation You” mindset shifted everything in her dating life.
- The role spontaneity and curiosity played in meeting her husband.
- Why their love felt easy from the start—without the games or drama of the past.
- How embracing uncertainty led to adventure, commitment, and eventually, family.
Colleen’s journey is a beautiful reminder that so much can change when you give yourself permission to live fully and trust the process. Who knows? Your own “Vacation You” moment might be right around the corner.
Need help with getting your mindset into 'vacation me?!" Are you ready to invest in yourself as Colleen and so many others have to find love? You have two choices:* Do nothing, and have no new results :( * Join our "Dating During Midlife and Over 50 Love Lab" -- GREAT choice to dip your toe back into the water! Click HERE to get more info and get your spot -- it's ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!! *
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Ready to finally understand the cosmic blueprint of your love life? In this episode of The Smart Dating Academy Podcast, Bela sits down with celebrity Vedic astrologer and relationship coach Carol Allen to reveal how ancient astrology meets modern relationship science—helping you find (and keep) the love you deserve.
Blending the ancient wisdom of Vedic astrology with modern relationship research, Carol reveals how understanding your astrological chart can help you find your soulmate, deepen an existing relationship, or finally break free from love patterns that have been holding you back. From compatibility and timing to the little-known astrological “red flags” to watch for, this conversation will inspire you to stop leaving love to chance—and start aligning with your romantic destiny.
Carol has been featured on E!, EXTRA, Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers, and in Chicken Soup For The Soul and Woman’s World. She’s the author of Love Is In The Stars – The Wise Woman’s Astrological Guide To Men, and her work has helped thousands discover the power they have to attract, enhance, and sustain great love.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How Vedic astrology* differs from Western astrology—and why it can be a game-changer for dating
* The “astrological timing” secrets that can make finding love easier
* Compatibility factors that go beyond sun signs (and what to avoid!)
* How to work with your chart to heal old patterns and attract better relationships
* Why love isn’t just fate—it’s also about the actions you take
* Learn a bit about Bela and her husband Andy's love stars in this episode
Don’t wait for the stars to align by accident—let Carol Allen show you how to make them work for you. Click the link to book a session: https://carolallen.isrefer.com/go/wgr/bela/
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Have you ever had that gut feeling about someone—but ignored it? Or maybe you felt a deep soul pull toward someone who later broke your heart? If so, this episode is for you.
In this soulful and eye-opening conversation, Bela sits down with Nikki Novo, a bestselling author, proud Cuban-American, and master intuitive who’s known for helping people create purpose-driven lives by reconnecting with their inner knowing. Nikki is the creator of the Soul-Led Living podcast, and her work has been featured everywhere from Oprah Daily to Cosmopolitan.
Nikki’s journey from fashion editor to spiritual teacher began with a love story that didn’t go the way she planned. But through heartbreak, she found healing—and discovered that your intuition might just be the most powerful dating compass you’ll ever have.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between following your heart and intuition
- What “dating intuitively” really means—and how to start doing it
- Why heartbreak can be the beginning of your spiritual awakening
- How to spot the difference between fear and true intuition
- What a soulmate is (and what it definitely isn’t)
Whether you’ve lost faith in your gut, are craving deeper connection, or are just curious about soulmates and signs, this episode will help you slow down, listen up, and lead with truth.
🎧 Hit play to find out why the best dating strategy might just be… your intuition.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I’m so excited to share this week’s powerful story, featuring a journey of resilience, radical self-growth, and finding remarkable love later in life. In this unforgettable episode, you’ll meet our client Shari—a vibrant, creative powerhouse who, after divorce and two breakups with the same man, rewrote her love story at 64.
Yes, you read that right. Three chapters. One love. Two rounds with Smart Dating Academy. And a lot of healing in between.
Shari’s story is full of heart, humor, and deep wisdom about what it takes to truly attract the right partner—and how to recognize your person even when life throws curveballs (and maybe even a little divine intervention).
We talked about:
💔 Life After Divorce & Starting Over:
After 24 years of marriage and being the first in her friend group to divorce, Shari felt completely untethered. Can you relate to that “lost at sea” feeling? She shares how she built a new life piece by piece, starting with getting back to work and rediscovering who she was outside of being a mom and wife.
🛠️ Doing the Work—For Real:
Two breakups with Dave were the wake-up call she didn’t know she needed. Shari went all-in on self-growth: Smart Dating Academy, therapy/EMDR, dating with intention, and more! She dove into creativity and travel, realizing that independence is a muscle that needs to be exercised.
🔁 When He Came Back (Twice!):
Every chapter with Dave came with its own set of lessons. The first time was magical but emotionally stuck. The second was deep but still misaligned. The third? That’s where the transformation happened. For both of them. Dave realized his issues, and was now doing his work too.
❤️ What Made the Third Time Different:
The universe got involved (seriously—wait until you hear about all the serendipitous sightings), and this time, it was different. With honesty, clarity, and deep commitment to each other’s growth, they reunited—this time forever. No games. No guesswork. Just mutual respect, love, and a whole lot of laughter.
🎯 Relationship Lessons You’ll Take Away:* Why “the work” matters before and during a relationship * What it looks like when a man is truly ready and what he is willing to do * How to have the hard conversations without blowing things up * The importance of tone, timing, and knowing when to pause * Why traditional therapy is powerful—and why your partner should be doing it too
Shari’s story is a story for anyone who thinks it might be too late, or too hard, or that they’re too much. Her journey reminds us that healing is nonlinear, love can evolve, and when two people are truly growth-minded, the possibilities are… well, remarkable.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
We’ve all been there—betrayed, blindsided, or just broken open by love gone wrong. But what if your biggest heartbreak could lead you to your biggest breakthrough?
In this rich, soul-stirring conversation, Bela sits down with Arielle Ford—bestselling author, spiritual teacher, and modern-day love alchemist—to talk about her first novel, The Love Thief. Part spiritual romance, part thriller, this story takes readers on a wild emotional ride through heartbreak, karma, and ultimately, deep healing.
With her signature wisdom and warmth, Arielle opens up about the real-life inspiration behind the book (yes, some of it really happened), how her own journeys through India shaped the mystical elements of the story, and why she believes healing our hearts is the ultimate act of self-love.
Whether you’re recovering from a relationship that shook you to your core—or you’re simply craving a juicy, wise read that blends love with spiritual insight—this episode will crack your heart wide open in the best way.
💥 In this episode, you’ll hear:
🫶 How The Love Thief was born from experiences with heartbreak
🧠 The psychology behind why smart women fall for narcissists and sociopaths
🚩 Red flags to watch out for in love—and how to stop ignoring them
🌍 What Arielle discovered on her spiritual journeys through India
🔮 Why Arielle says "you should ALWAYS listen to Bela!"
🎭 Why happiness might be the wrong goal—and what to aim for instead
🎶 What love actually is - and isn't!
✨ Plus: how you can rewrite your love story, one conscious choice at a time.
Whether you’ve been burned by love or you’re finally ready to turn the page on a painful chapter, this conversation is your reminder that you can rebuild—and you don’t have to do it alone. Arielle shows us that heartbreak isn’t the end of your story…it might just be the beginning of your most powerful transformation yet - and that you should enlist the help of Smart Dating Academy to help you along the way!
Here is a link to the pre-sale of Arielle's book so you can redeem the bonuses! https://www.arielleford.com/the-love-thief/
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
💌 Ghosting, Modern Dating & Advice You Actually Need with Meredith Goldstein
Let’s face it—dating in the digital age is a wild ride. One minute you’re vibing in the DMs, the next… they vanish into thin air. If you’ve ever wished for a wise older sister (with a killer sense of humor) to decode modern love for you, this episode is it.
In this honest, hilarious, and totally validating convo, I sit down with Meredith Goldstein—beloved Boston Globe advice columnist and author of the “Love Letters” column and podcast—to unpack the messy, magical, and maddening ways we fall for each other in today’s world.
Meredith has been answering love and relationship questions for over 15 years, offering grounded, compassionate advice that makes you feel seen. Her memoir, Can’t Help Myself, and YA novel Chemistry Lessons prove she knows a thing or two about both heartache and humor.
In this episode, you’ll hear us dive into:
👻 What ghosting really says (and how to stop blaming yourself)
📝 The behind-the-scenes of writing a wildly popular advice column
💡 Why your questions—no matter how “silly” they seem—deserve to be heard
🦠 The emotional complexity of pandemic dating, and what it taught us about connection
🤝 How empathy can be your secret weapon in dating (yes, even when you’re pissed)
Whether you're in the dating trenches, trying to figure out where it all went wrong, or just love a good love story, this episode is a balm for your heart—and a laugh-out-loud reminder that you are not alone.
🎧 Press play and get ready for some refreshingly real talk about love, loss, and everything in between.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
What if flirting wasn’t awkward, dating didn’t feel like a second job, and attracting love could be playful and powerful?
In this episode of the Smart Dating Academy Podcast, I sit down with the dazzling Lauren Frances, and let me tell you—she brings the magic. From the moment she opens her mouth, you’ll understand why she’s been dubbed The Flirt Fairy by Victoria’s Secret and The Doctor of Love by EXTRA. Lauren knows how to light up a room—and more importantly, how to help you do the same in your love life.
We get into it all: how to flirt without feeling fake, why boundaries are the ultimate aphrodisiac, and how to gracefully exit the “situationship spiral.” If you’ve ever felt like your romantic GPS was off, Lauren’s loving (and hilariously spot-on) advice will have you re-routing with a smile.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- How to make flirting fun again (yes, it’s a skill—and yes, you can totally learn it!)
- Why flirting is less about seduction—and more about connection
- What a Love Magnet Makeover is—and how it can help you glow from the inside out
- The politics of dating: how to read signals, set standards, and navigate modern romance like a pro
- How to avoid relationship ruts and start attracting high-quality connections
If you’ve ever felt like dating was more stress than sparkle, this episode will remind you that love isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being playful, powerful, and totally aligned with who you are. You’re not too late. You’re not too much. You’re just getting started.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
If you’re done with surface-level situationships and ready for soul-stirring, conscious connection—this one’s for you. ✨
In this episode, I sit down with internationally recognized dating and relationship coach Angela Nicole Holton for a heart-opening, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to attract lasting, authentic love.
Angela was named one of Yahoo’s Top 10 Relationship Coaches of 2020 and is the author of “Date Night Ideas for Couples” (endorsed by none other than Dr. John Gray of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus) and “The Secret Method to Conscious Love.” She teaches dating from the inside-out, helping individuals and couples tap into their authentic truth so they can love—and be loved—fully and fearlessly.
This conversation will inspire you to ask better questions (of yourself and others), show up with unapologetic authenticity, and date in a way that feels good in your soul.
We get into:
💫 Why being present matters more than being impressive — and how authentic energy makes you magnetic on a first date.
🧠 How curiosity and intentional questions spark real connection — and turn first dates into powerful data collection, not performance.
✨ The game-changing role of self-worth in dating — and how doing the inner work shifts what (and who) you attract.
🚩 Why honoring your truth helps you date with clarity — and how tuning into your feelings reveals whether someone truly aligns.
🧘♀️ How self-love transforms your dating life — and why the relationship with yourself is always the starting point.
Angela's wisdom is deep, soulful, and practical—like having your most evolved, heart-centered girlfriend give you the loving truth.
If you’re craving a new way to date—one that feels aligned, conscious, and truly magnetic—this episode will have you rethinking everything (in the best way possible).
🎧 Tune in now and get ready to date with more purpose, power, and pleasure.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Let’s face it—first dates can be awkward. You’re sitting across from someone new, trying to figure out if there’s a spark… while also wondering what the heck to say next. Sound familiar?
In this juicy episode of the Smart Dating Academy Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Jess Carbino—often dubbed “the Dr. Ruth of the Swipe Right generation.” With a resume that includes time as the in-house sociologist at Tinder and Bumble (yes, really!), and now on her second doctorate in clinical psychology, Jess brings savvy to the world of modern dating.
Together, we dig into the art of creating real conversation on first dates—the kind that moves beyond surface-level chit-chat and into connection territory. 💡
You’ll learn:
- Why small talk isn’t actually small (and how to make it meaningful)
- How to avoid the dreaded interview-date vibe
- Easy, go-to questions that open hearts and spark chemistry ❤️
- What people really want to talk about—and how to listen with intention
- The surprising power of self-disclosure and emotional availability (without oversharing)
Whether you're getting ready for date #1, date #100, or just starting to dip your toe back in the dating pool, this episode is your conversational compass. Trust me—after hearing this, you’ll walk into your next first date feeling confident, curious, and totally in your element.
👉 Tune in now and let’s get the convo going!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Let’s be real—dating at any phase can feel like walking a conversational tightrope. How much is too much? What’s not enough? When should I ask? What do I say if they ask me about something that I don't want to talk about? And how do you strike that magical balance between showing up as your radiant, authentic self and still being curious, fun, and engaging?
In Part 2 of our juicy conversation, I’m back with the brilliant Lindsay Anderson, one of Smart Dating Academy’s most beloved coaches, and we’re continuing our deep dive into how to absolutely crush it on a first date.
We cover:
💥 Why “go-to” questions matter—and the one thing they must do if you want real connection
🧠 How to prepare (mentally and emotionally) so you don’t blank out or get stuck in small talk
🤔 The difference between curious and interrogating—and how to make your date feel seen, not screened
🙋 The right questions to ask to delve deeper into this person's background that are CRITICAL to know!
✨ How to keep the vibe light, flirty, and fun, even when you’re diving into deeper topics
🚫 The “date derailers” that can unintentionally kill the spark (and what to do instead!)
💬 How to gracefully redirect a convo that’s gone off course
🧭 Why self-awareness is your dating superpower—and how to tap into it
This episode is about more than just asking the right questions. It’s about showing up in a way that makes your date want to get to know you - and YOU get to know them by asking and listening for the RIGHT things. It’s about enjoying the moment, being present, and creating space for genuine connection.
Because here’s the truth: The best dates don’t feel like interviews. They feel like magic. ✨
So, whether you're just getting back out there or want to elevate your dating game, press play now. You’re going to love this one. 💕
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Ever wonder what makes a truly great date, and what are the best questions to ask (and how)? In this must-listen episode (part 1 of 2), the brilliant and longstanding Smart Dating Academy coach Lindsay Anderson and I sit down to break down the art of dating with confidence, ease, and authenticity. If you’ve ever felt awkward on a date, struggled with what to say or what to ask, or worried about making a lasting impression, this episode is for you! ✨
We dive into:
- The key traits of a great date 💡—and how to show up as your best, most authentic self.
- How to spark meaningful conversations 🗣️—and avoid awkward silences.
- The most important questions to ask on a date ❓—and how to ask them in a way that feels natural and engaging.
- The biggest dating conversation mistakes 🚫—and how to turn them into connection-building moments.
If dating feels more stressful than fun, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Tune in to learn practical, expert-backed strategies to help you date with confidence and enjoy the process. ❤️
🎧 Listen now and transform your dating experience!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Ever ignored a red flag 🚩, hoping it would go away? Or felt blindsided by betrayal? You’re not alone—and it’s time to get real about why we sometimes lie to ourselves in relationships.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jane Greer, a renowned marriage and family therapist, psychotherapist, and author of Am I Lying to Myself? How to Overcome Denial and See the Truth. With decades of experience helping people navigate love, loss, and trust, Dr. Greer reveals how denial and betrayal shape our relationships—and how to break free from patterns that hold us back.
We dive into:
💡 Why we stay in denial about relationship problems. Whether it’s a bad partner, an unhealthy dynamic, or something we don’t want to admit—Dr. Greer explains why we turn a blind eye (and how to stop).
💡 The psychology behind betrayal. How does betrayal happen? And why does it hurt so much? Get expert insight into the emotional impact of broken trust.
💡 Red flags you shouldn’t ignore. Learn the subtle (and not-so-subtle) warning signs that signal it’s time to pay attention.
💡 How to rebuild trust after betrayal. If you’ve been hurt, is there a way forward? Dr. Greer shares strategies for healing, whether you choose to stay or walk away.
💡 Breaking free from toxic relationship patterns. Do you find yourself in the same situations over and over? Here’s how to change your story and start making better choices.
If you’re ready to stop making excuses, see the truth in your relationships, and build healthier connections, this episode is a must-listen!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Ever feel like you're giving too much in relationships—and getting little in return? Or struggling to communicate what you truly need? You’re not alone.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Henry Cloud, a world-renowned clinical psychologist, leadership expert, and New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries—a book that has transformed the way millions navigate relationships. With over 20 million copies of his books sold, Dr. Cloud brings deep wisdom (and a dose of humor) to the art of setting healthy limits while still fostering connection.
We dive into:
- Why boundaries are essential for thriving relationships. Whether in dating, friendships, or family dynamics, Dr. Cloud explains why saying no can actually bring you closer to the right people.
- How to recognize unhealthy patterns. Learn the red flags of toxic relationships and how to break free from cycles that drain your energy.
- The secret to confident communication. Struggling to express your needs? Dr. Cloud shares simple yet powerful ways to set boundaries without guilt or fear.
- Dating with emotional intelligence. Discover how self-awareness can help you attract healthier, more fulfilling connections.
- Overcoming the fear of rejection. Rejection isn’t just about the other person—it’s about how you respond. Dr. Cloud offers a fresh perspective that will change the way you see it.
If you're ready to level up your relationships and stop settling for less than you deserve, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
What if you could transform your dating life with just a few mindset shifts and practical strategies?
In this episode, I sit down with Nichole Farrow, a renowned relationship coach with over a decade of experience helping singles and couples navigate love with confidence. As a resident expert on BBC 5 Live, Nichole has guided countless people in strengthening their relationships—starting with the most important one: the relationship with themselves.
We dive into: Why confidence is the key to dating success. Bela and Nichole break down how self-assurance impacts attraction and gives us real-world strategies to build it. * The power of first impressions. From body language to the energy you bring into a room, learn how to captivate your date before you even say a word. * Navigating rejection like a pro. Let’s face it—rejection is part of the dating game. But Nichole shares a fresh perspective that will help you bounce back stronger. * Dating etiquette that actually matters. Forget outdated rules—Nichole reveals the small yet powerful ways you can show respect and authenticity on a date. * Self-awareness & emotional intelligence in relationships.* How tuning into your emotions and understanding your patterns can help you attract the right partner.
If you’re ready to level up your dating life with expert-backed strategies and a fresh dose of confidence, this episode is a must-listen! If you're ready to change your dating life, message Smart Dating Academy today through its website at www.smartdatingacademy.com
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
In this heart-opening episode, I sit down with the incredible Shelley J Whitehead—a highly sought-after relationship coach who has spent decades helping people heal from heartbreak, refine their relationship skills, and build the love lives they truly deserve.
We talked about:
- How to move forward after heartbreak—the key mindset shifts that will help you heal and open your heart again.
- Breaking free from past patterns—how to recognize and release relationship habits that no longer serve you.
- Building confidence in dating—simple but powerful strategies to show up as your best, most authentic self.
- Navigating the dating world with clarity—how to identify red flags, green flags, and make empowered choices in love.
- Shelley’s expert advice on attracting the right partner—why self-love is the foundation for a thriving relationship.
If you’ve ever felt like love has passed you by or that you keep attracting the wrong people, this episode is for you! Shelley shares her wisdom with warmth, humor, and deep insight, making this conversation a must-listen for anyone ready to embrace love again.
Listen now and take the first step toward the love life you deserve!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
In this captivating episode, I sit down with the incredible Sara Jane Ho—an international etiquette expert, Emmy-nominated host of Netflix’s Mind Your Manners, and author of the book of the same name.
From her early days in Hong Kong to earning degrees from Exeter, Georgetown, and Harvard Business School, Sara brings a wealth of wisdom and charm to the table. Together, we dive into the art of dating with grace, confidence, and authenticity—and why etiquette is about so much more than just which fork to use!
We talked about:
- Why etiquette matters in modern dating. Sara shares her unique perspective on how understanding etiquette can help you foster deeper, more meaningful connections. Spoiler: It's not about being stuffy or old-fashioned—it’s about being thoughtful and authentic.
- Practical tips for first dates that set you apart. Learn Sara’s go-to advice for making a stellar first impression—from body language to choosing the perfect setting.
- How to handle rejection with elegance. Let’s face it, rejection is tough. But Sara gives us actionable advice for navigating it with confidence and class, so you come out stronger on the other side.
- Building self-awareness and confidence. Sara opens up about her own journey and how she’s learned to balance vulnerability with strength. Her story is a testament to the power of self-discovery and self-respect.
- The surprising link between etiquette and self-love. Did you know that treating others well starts with how you treat yourself? Sara explains how cultivating self-love and respect can transform not only your dating life but every relationship in your life.
Tune in to this episode if you’re ready to elevate your dating game, embrace your most confident self, and learn how to "mind your manners" in the most empowering way possible!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
In this electrifying episode, I sit down with the brilliant Alison Fragale—a professor, distinguished scholar of organizational behavior at UNC Chapel Hill, and the powerhouse author behind the transformative book Likable Badass. Alison brings her sharp insights and relatable wisdom to help us understand the delicate balance between being liked and being respected, and how we can do BOTH to maximize results in personal and professional lives! Great advice across the board, for life AND love!
We talked about:
* HOW to be a likable badass! What the difference is between being likable and being respected—and why you shouldn't have to choose.
Practical strategies for showing up confidently without sacrificing authenticity.
How to overcome the fear of being judged when speaking up.
Alison's personal journey and the inspiration behind Likable Badass.
The science of confidence and how small mindset shifts can create big results.
Tune into this episode if you're ready to own your space, amplify your voice, and develop your inner & outer "likable badass!"
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Welcome to this week's episode, where we dive into the love story of all love stories! When it comes to finding love, everyone’s journey is unique—but they often share the same ups and downs. This week, I’m thrilled to introduce Lauren, an inspiring woman who went from feeling stuck in her love life to meeting her dream partner. With insights from our coaching team, including the extraordinary Ilene Collins, Lauren’s story proves that love can blossom when you least expect it.
Lauren’s transformation wasn’t just about meeting "the one"; it was about becoming the best version of herself first. She embraced her fears, overcame self-doubt, and found clarity in her values—all while navigating the challenges of dating in the modern world.
We talked about:
- Lauren’s Journey: From frustration to fulfillment, hear how Lauren stayed hopeful and open to love.
- Key Strategies for Success: Learn about the mindset shifts and actionable steps that helped Lauren attract her ideal partner.
- Overcoming Doubts: How Lauren silenced her inner critic and found confidence in the process.
- Support Systems: The role of coaching and community in Lauren’s journey.
- Love in Action: Real-life tips on navigating the dating world with authenticity and grace.
Lauren’s story is a reminder that love is out there, and it’s waiting for you to claim it. If she can do it, so can you!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
In this enlightening episode, I welcome the brilliant Dr. Jenny Taitz—a clinical psychologist, UCLA faculty member, and author of the transformative book Stress Reset. Together, we dive into actionable strategies for managing stress, staying grounded, and transforming your mindset for success in dating and beyond. She's also the author of one of my favorite books, "How to Be Single and Happy!" Whether you're navigating the emotional rollercoaster of modern relationships or looking to level up your personal growth, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical tools.
We talked about:
How stress impacts your dating life and decision-making.
* Simple yet powerful techniques to reset your mind in moments of overwhelm.
* The science behind stress and why it’s not just “in your head.”
* Why self-compassion and mindfulness are key to successful dating.
* How Dr. Taitz's personal journey inspired Stress Reset*.
Tune into this episode if you want to feel more confident and centered in your dating life!
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Marilyn Chinitz—a powerhouse attorney with over 40 years of expertise in family law and divorce. Her wisdom, wit, and compassionate approach to navigating life’s trickiest transitions are unparalleled. Whether you're curious about protecting your assets, healing after heartbreak, or setting yourself up for a thriving relationship, this episode has golden nuggets just for you.
We talked about:
- The Art of Resilience: How Marilyn turned decades of challenging cases into a masterclass on thriving after setbacks.
- Dating After Divorce: Tips for re-entering the dating world with confidence and clarity.
- The Power of a Prenup: Why these agreements aren’t just for the wealthy—they’re tools for communication and trust.
- Red Flags vs. Green Lights: Spotting the signs of a strong, healthy relationship.
- Self-Care in Transitions: Marilyn’s personal strategies for staying vibrant, focused, and fabulous at any age.
What steps are you taking to build resilience and confidence in your relationships? Remember, the road to love and fulfillment starts with understanding your worth and protecting your peace.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I’m so excited to share this week’s powerful story, featuring a journey of resilience, hope, and finding love again against the odds. In this heartfelt episode, we dive into the incredible experience of one of our listeners who, at 48, faced a life-changing loss: the sudden passing of her husband from a heart attack. Grieving and single for over a decade, she never imagined herself dating again, let alone getting remarried.
But everything changed when a friend issued a life-altering challenge: give Match.com a shot for six months. Little did she know that this challenge would lead her on a transformative journey, one that would ultimately bring her to the doors of the Smart Dating Academy.
We talked about:
Overcoming the Fear of Starting Over: Imagine not dating for over 32 years. How do you even begin to navigate the dating world again? We discuss the struggles and triumphs of re-entering the dating scene after loss.
* The Power of Support and a Clear Process: Teresa opens up about how the guidance, tools, and support from the Smart Dating Academy helped her identify and attract the right type of partner.
* Defining What You Want in a Partner: Why is knowing what you want so important, and how can you stay true to that vision? We explore the mindset shifts that made a difference.
* Taking Things Slow and Building Friendship First: The magic of getting to know someone as a friend before diving into romance, and how this approach created a solid foundation for her current marriage.
* Using the Marriage Map Tool*: Learn about the impact of this tool and how it guided Teresa to determine if her partner, Curtis, was the right match.
Teresa's story is a beautiful reminder that love can come back into your life when you least expect it, and that with the right approach and support, you can find a partner who complements your life perfectly.
Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I’m thrilled to bring you a special guest this week, Coach and Conscious Relationship Teacher Veronika Amaya. Veronika is a relationship expert with a unique global perspective on dating and connection, and in this episode she will help us uncover the “missing pieces” that can keep us from forming genuine bonds. Veronika has a wealth of knowledge on the emotional nuances that make relationships thrive and offers down-to-earth tips for bridging those gaps to find and maintain meaningful connections.
We talked about:
* How to recognize what’s truly missing in modern relationships and why it matters
* Simple, practical steps for building deeper connections in a fast-paced world
* The art of vulnerability, and why it’s often the key to authentic intimacy
* How cultural perspectives shape our connections and understanding
* Ways to identify and shift patterns that may be keeping you from feeling seen and understood
Veronika is a treasure trove of insights for anyone who feels that their connections could use a little more depth or clarity. She invites us to look within, encouraging a fresh perspective that feels both reassuring and actionable.
Website: https://www.veronika-amaya.com/
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Heather's Journey to Self-Love and Self Discovery - What I Learned at Smart Dating Academy
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I’m beyond thrilled to have Dr. Nadine Macaluso (Dr. Nae, as I call her!). on today’s episode! Dr. Nae’s story is nothing short of jaw-dropping — she was married to The Wolf of Wall Street himself, Jordan Belfort. But this conversation isn’t just about her past; it’s about her incredible journey of survival, healing, and growth. Dr. Nae has taken what she’s learned from that chapter of her life and is using it to help others break free from toxic relationships and trauma bonds (she went back to school and got her doctorate as part of her journey to help herself and others).
We had such an amazing chat, and I know you’re going to love it! Dr. Nae has been through it all, and she’s come out the other side stronger, wiser, and ready to share her insights on how to stop repeating old patterns and start thriving in healthier relationships.
We talked about:
Her experience with trauma bonds and why we keep picking the same type of partner
How to break free from unhealthy patterns and build a stronger sense of self
What it really takes to heal after trauma and thrive in love again
Why choosing healthier partners isn’t just about avoiding red flags, but learning to trust yourself
The power of resilience and how to bounce back from hardship
I can’t wait for you to hear this episode! Dr. Nae’s story is powerful, and her advice is game-changing if you’ve ever struggled with toxic relationships.
If you love the episode, please subscribe, rate, and share it so we can keep bringing you these incredible conversations!
Website: Drnae.com
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
In this heartwarming love story episode, I sit down with our beloved client Tara, an accomplished attorney from Chicago, who shares her incredible journey of love and self-discovery. Tara's story begins in a traditional household, where arranged marriages were the norm, and she herself entered one that didn't quite work out. However, through her resilience, career-focused mindset, and our Smart Dating work together, Tara redefined what love meant for her, and found a relationship that truly aligned with her heart.
We dive deep into the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and how she overcame cultural expectations to create her own love story.
We talk about:
- The emotional and mental complexities of arranged marriages and why they may or may not work for everyone
- The importance of being open to growth and self-awareness when navigating relationships
- How a career-driven woman can balance love, self-worth, and ambition without compromising on any
- Strategies Tara used to stay resilient and open to love after her marriage didn’t work out
- How mindset and support can help you attract the right relationship
Whether you've had an arranged marriage experience, are navigating modern dating, or just love a good love story, Tara's journey will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and ready to take control of your own relationship destiny.
Ready to rewrite your love story? Tune in to this episode and learn how you can find your own version of love, no matter where you start. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a review if you enjoyed Tara’s inspiring journey!
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Title: Beyond Mars and Venus: Relationship Skills for TODAY with Dr. John Gray
I couldn't be more excited to have Dr. John Gray, who wrote one of the most well-known and trusted relationship books of all time: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (the #1 bestselling book of its decade). We had such a good chat that you're going to love; John lost his loving partner of decades and has found love AGAIN! We talked about love, loss, new love, and getting the BEST out of your partner - whether your relationship is brand new or decades old. He has appeared repeatedly on Oprah, as well as on The Dr. Oz Show, TODAY, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and others. He has been profiled in Time, Forbes, USA Today, and People.
We talked about:
- How he got over his wife of 34 years' passing and how he found love again
- What the biggest change in relationships is since he wrote his first book
- What the difference is in what men need and women need in a relationship
- Enlightened sexuality and what it means
- Why men need to reconnect with their masculine side and women with their feminine side
- How to have a happy relationship
Can't wait for you to listen to and LOVE this episode! If you love it, please subscribe to our podcast, and feel free to give it the top rating so we can keep it going for you!
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I am super excited to have Todd Baratz as a guest on the podcast. Todd is a renowned psychotherapist and sex therapist whose innovative approaches to mental health and relationships have established him as a leading figure.
We talked about:* His new book "How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind" * Reframing how we approach relationship issues * How to deal with breakups * The difference between cultural diagnoses and true toxic traits * What "hurt potential" is, how it can impact new relationships, and what we can do about it * How to craft a "relationship contract" * The first step we can all take today to improve our relationships
This episode has so many great take-aways to build healthier and more fulfilling relationships. It all starts with developing more self-awareness and getting to know ourselves on the inside. In addition to his clinical practice, Baratz is a prolific writer and speaker. His insights are regularly featured in various media outlets, where he discusses topics ranging from romantic relationships to individual mental wellness.
Website: https://www.toddsbaratz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourdiagnonsense
New Book: How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Guest: Jill Foos, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC) with a rich background in psychology and functional medicine health coaching.
This week, we come to you with one of your favorite things to hear because it's HOPEFUL, a Smart Dating Academy real-life love story. Jill was a coaching client who found the lid to her pod and started her own business.
Jill met her husband at a young age and they eloped to get married and had 5 kids. Jill started seeing the red flags early on, and that they were on separate pages just a few years into the marriage, but they stuck it out for 24 years and eventually got divorced.
Jill and Bela met in 2018 when she wasn't dating yet. She knew she needed help getting back into the dating world and decided to start working with SDA. Lindsay and I helped Jill figure out what characteristics and traits she SHOULD BE looking for in a partner to make her happy -- vs. the standard "checklist" women often use!
After setting up her dating profile on the apps, Jill really embraced the whole process and dated for about 18 months. What was her 'last first date'? A wonderful set-up date by a friend with a man named Noah. She immediately liked Noah during their first date because he made her laugh. This was during Covid, so they kept it slow and got creative with their dates.
After about 6 months of dating, Jill moved a block away from Noah and half a year later her lease was up and she moved in with Noah. They have been in a relationship for 4 years now and are still going strong. The relationship feels easy and their blended family, which includes both of their kids, Jill's ex-husband and his new partner, gets along well and spend holidays together. And Jill started a new career as well, as one can when they have happy love! She is now a dedicated National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC) and the founder of Jill Foos Wellness. She's helping women and look better at all ages, but especially during midlife.
I hope that you are inspired by Jill's story. She felt like her life was shattered, but she built it back up step by step and is now in a better place than ever.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week on the podcast, I have the absolute pleasure to interview Elizabeth Earnshaw, a renowned Gottman therapist and bestselling author (she has a new book coming out in September!) who is the owner of a thriving family and marriage therapy practice. She is known for her popular Instagram account @lizlistens and has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, and more.
Elizabeth and I delve into various crucial topics concerning relationships and stress management.
We talk about:* What a healthy relationships is and what kind of stressors are faced by couples and singles * How to recognize and address stress in relationships, both external (work, family) and internal (relationship dynamics) * What "stress spillover" is in a relationship * The significance of emotional regulation in conflict resolution and the importance of taking pauses during heated moments * The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse in relationships * Recommended strategies like to de-escalate conflicts and regain composure before addressing issues * The importance of early stress recognition to prevent conflicts from escalating * The need for self-awareness in maintaining healthy communication
Elizabeth shares such valuable insights and this is a must listen if you want to focus on managing stress and fostering healthy communication in relationships.
Website: elizabethearnshaw.com
The Balancing Act | Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT | Substack
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week, I welcome Natalie Lue to the Smart Dating Academy podcast. She is a boundaries and relationship coach and the creator of one of the longest running self-help blogs in the world, BaggageReclaim.com. Natalie helps people understand how their emotional baggage is interfering with their ability to live their lives happily and authentically.
We talk about:* The impact emotional baggage has on relationships * The connection between emotional availability and people-pleasing behavior * The significance of boundaries in personal growth and relationship dynamics * Learning to say no and setting healthy boundaries * Recognizing and addressing emotional baggage to avoid repeating negative patterns in relationships * Prioritizing self-respect, self-acceptance, and making decisions that align with one's true self to foster healthy and fulfilling relationships
This episode is a must listen if you would like to establish healthy boundaries and cultivate meaningful and genuine connections in romantic relationships AND personal relationships.Blog: www.baggagereclaim.co.uk
Website: www.natalielue.com
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week, I'm so excited to introduce my friend and former client, Stacy Katz to the podcast. Stacy is a sought after mindset coach who helps women create more Relaxation and Power with her R.E.L.A.X Mindset Method. Her approach is rooted in real-world experience, making it both
relatable and actionable. She has over two decades of experience in mindset and peak performance. She has guided C-level executives and leadership teams inside some of the biggest global brands like HP, Verizon, Spotify and more.
In this episode Stacy and I explore how you are going to get more relaxed and more powerful in dating and in your entire life.
We talk about:* The concept of limiting beliefs and how they affect our results in and out of the dating world * How we can transform limiting beliefs and non-useful thinking * What it means to “listen for the gold” on a date and how it can create deeper connections and make others feel safe and supported in relationships. * How Stacy became to focus on being Relaxed and Powerful * How someone should begin the practice of developing compassionate self-forgiveness, especially if they’ve had tough dating experiences * How focusing on internal alignment and being psychotically optimistic can positively impact dating and overall life experiences
Stacy is offering a special gift to the listeners of The Smart Dating Academy podcast:
An Energy Audit to help you understand how different aspects of your daily life and routine either contribute to or deplete your energy levels. This is a key first step in creating your Relaxed and Powerful Life. Go to www.stacykatz.com to get your gift!
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
I had the absolute pleasure to have a conversation with the amazing Vienna Pharaon about how breaking family patterns can liberate the way we live and love.
Vienna Pharaon is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City’s most sought after relationship therapists. She has practiced therapy for over fifteen years and is the founder and owner of the group practice, Mindful Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been
featured in The Economist, Netflix, Vice, and Motherly, and has led workshops for Peloton and Netflix, amongst others. Her book "The Origins of You" is a National Bestseller.
We talk about:* Why we adopt and adapt to family's beliefs and behaviors * The difference between belonging and fitting in * How origin wounds, such as prioritization and belonging wounds, can impact relationships and the ability to trust others * How we can heal from these origin wounds and break free from unwanted patterns * Why tolerating discomfort and taking risks are necessary for change and empowerment.
You will learn so much from Vienna about the impact of attachment, authenticity, and family dynamics on relationships and how origin wounds can shape our behaviors and choices in relationships. This is a must listen if you want to heal and break free from unhealthy patterns and create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Website: https://viennapharaon.com
Instagram: @mindfulmft
What is Your Origin Wound? Quiz: https://1wsm6geg69z.typeform.com/to/d981R7Cl
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Bela has a wonderful conversation with Relationship Maven Dr. Abby Medcalf. She is a psychologist, author, podcast host and TEDx speaker who has helped thousands of people think differently so they can create connection, ease and joy in their relationships (especially the one with yourself)!
With over 35 years of experience, Abby is a recognized authority and sought-after speaker at organizations such as Google, Apple, AT&T, Kaiser, PG&E, American Airlines and Chevron and she’s been a featured expert on CBS and ABC news, and has been a contributor to the New York Times, Women’s Health, Psychology Today, Well+Good and Bustle.
They talk about:* The number one problem in relationships (and it's not what you think!) * The importance of identifying and clarifying your own needs and standards in a relationship * What trust in a relationship is built on * What boundaries should be based on how to communicate them EFFECTIVELY * Collaborative questions can deepen understanding and connection in conversations * Giving others the benefit of the doubt and seeking clarification before making assumptions
This is a must listen if you want to gain invaluable insights and guidance to improve your relationship and create more fulfilling connections with your partner. Dr. Abby is truly a gem!
Website: https://abbymedcalf.com
Newly Released Book: Boundaries Made Easy; Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week we welcome Dr. Heidi Brocke to the podcast and you will LOVE the gems that she will drop on us! Dr. Heidi Brocke is a Toxic Relationship Awareness & Healing Specialist. After spending 14 years in an extremely emotionally and narcissistically abusive relationship she broke the chains and turned her past into her passion. She’s an international keynote speaker, recipient of Empowering Women in Business of The Year award by Inspiring Lives Magazine, and has been featured in both Forbes and Time Magazines for the dedication given to her clients and for her work in the toxic relationship area.
We talked about:* Spotting a Toxic Relationship (and wait til you hear her 'unconventional' checklist) * Trusting Your Gut (your internal alarm system!) * Understanding Emotional Abuse (it can be very sneaky) * Taking the Time to Heal * What to Do When Children are Involved * Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing YOU * Reaching Out for Support
Dr. Heidi wonderfully highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing toxic relationships. This is a must listen! Trust your instincts, take care of yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’ve got this!
Website: www.coachingwithdrheidi.com
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This episode will take the mystery out of the BEST and most humane way to break up with someone that you've been dating for any extended amount of time, and is with Natalia Juarez. Natalia is a seasoned relationship coach specializing in heartbreak. Following a broken engagement at the age 29, she redefined heartbreak as an opportunity for transformation. In 2014, she started helping individuals in navigating romantic hardships and fostering healthy relationships.
We talk about:* How one can be sure that breaking up is the right decision * How to not blindside your partner with a breakup * Choosing the right time and place to initiate a breakup * In what circumstances it would be appropriate to break up through a phone call or text * Strategies to maintain firmness while also showing compassion during the breakup conversation * Setting boundaries after a breakup to ensure both parties have space to heal * When it's appropriate to consider reestablishing contact after a breakup
Natalia's Website: Lovistics.com
Follow Natalia on IG: @thebreakupcoach
Free Breakup Scripts
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week I welcome my esteemed colleague and great friend Jenny Stevens to the podcast. Jenny is a licensed clinical counselor turned personal/ professional/divorce coach. She is known as 'The Champion for Change' having gone through her own share of difficult life changes.
We talk about:* How working with SDA has helped her find the lid to her pot * The difficult changes that Jenny had to navigate to lead her to where she is now * How to redesign your life in 3 simple steps * The importance of mindset and breaking free of our limiting beliefs * The Top 5 mindset hacks * How to break free from perfection and overthinking
Jenny will inspire you to not wait for a life changing event to create the life you want. You can do anything you set your mind to! Life is so short, don’t wait!
https://jennystevenscoach.com/
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week we welcome the wonderful Kendra Allen to our podcast. Kendra is a breakup coach, host of the Heal Your Heartbreak Podcast, author of The Breakup Workbook, and founder of Break Up Bestie. She shares how she saw a huge gap online for practical and healthy heartbreak advice, after going through a series of painful breakups. So, she set out to fill it in.
We talk about:* The first steps to take to get through the beginning of a breakup (and it starts with sharing your true feelings!) * Why it's not good to numb away the breakup * The importance of the No Contact rule in healing * How moving on from a breakup is similar to the experience of getting sober * Kendra's stance on on-again, off-again relationships * Navigating social media when it comes to your ex * Practical things people can do to help to heal from a breakup * Why routines are so important when going through a breakup
You will love this episode! Kendra is such a wealth of knowledge and you will learn so much about how to navigate this difficult time.
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This week on the podcast I chatted with the amazing Sharon Pope about the secrets to keeping a relationship healthy.Sharon Pope is a certified Master Life Coach and Relationship Expert helping women and men get the tools they need to improve, heal, or release their struggling marriages. She is a
seven-time international best-selling author and has appeared in numerous media outlets and online publications, including the “Modern Love” column of The New York Times.
We talked about:* What led Sharon to become a certified Master Life Coach and Relationship Expert * How we can become the best version of ourselves to attract and sustain the relationship we want * How we can become more self-aware * What Sharon learned during her divorce and how she met her new husband * The one (most important) thing to look for in a partner (if you want a long term, committed, connected, loving relationship) * Essential relationship tips before you say "I Do" * Tragic mistakes that absolutely destroy a relationship and how to prevent them * How to start conversations of evolution in a relationship and what questions to ask your partner
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contactFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
*This conversation covers AMAZING gems, including:
--3 Myths About Men (these are awesome, and have to do with 'the chase', sex, and feelings)
--The differences between men's & women's brains (I about passed out when I learned this - it makes COMPLETE sense)
--The AWESOME four communication archetypes (are you a lioness, puppy, koala bear or scorpion)?
--How to get men to HEAR you (and it doesn't have to do with raising your voice)!
--What are some quick communication tips that women can use in challenging situations with men?
--How to get men or anyone to help you (it's called the 'appreciation' sandwich)
--The ONE simple daily practice to stay in balance
--How we can tell if our lives are OUT of alignment (and how that affects our dating lives)--Why 'going hard' is BAD for a relationship
--What 'coming from a place of love' can do to blossom your love for EVERYONE in your life.
Sandy Weiner, Bela's guest, is the founder of Last First Date, is a TEDx speaker, relationship coach, author and podcast host.
Sandy's communication archetype quiz is here: https://lastfirstdate.com/4-communication-archetypes/#sthash.HVO24czW.dpbs For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact*Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
Megan's love story with Nick is wonderful, and you will hear yourself in her story. She wasn't comfortable around boys growing up, and started dating after college (side note, Bela and Megan were college friends who had lost touch for many years). Megan knew a few things: she knew she wanted lasting love, wasn't picking the right people, and that she wasn't getting the results she wanted. A college friend told Megan about Bela's Smart Dating Academy, and Megan enlisted their professional help because she knew that she wouldn't get different results doing the same things over and over again! In this episode, Megan tells her story of dating 'life of the party' guys, and how she cast her net wider to find the 'life of the party's best friend who's an accountant' type of guy :) She put her profile on a unique app that she mentions, and was VERY dubious when she received a “you have a match”message….she saw the guy and he looked good but you’ll hear why she almost didn’t message him back……You will relate to this and it shows why taking risks can sometimes be the best decisions you’ll ever make!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode will blow your mind (no pun intended) - we are talking about using Psilocybin (mushrooms) in a regulated, facilitated environment to remove traumas! I welcome back the awesome Dr. Michelle Roberts as a guest on SDA. Michelle is a Pulitzer winning journalist, professor, and psychotherapist who specializes in working with women who have complex trauma disorders (or have experienced narcissistic abuse). In her work she helps women discover how past trauma influences their current relationships.
We talked about:* What "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing" (EMDR) therapy is * How you can know if you might benefit from EMDR * What psychedelic-assisted therapy is and how the outcomes are different from traditional therapy * How psilocybin therapy helps heal from relationship trauma * The safety nets that are in place for psilocybin therapy (you are not just popping acid!) * Real-life stories about women who've gone through psilocybin therapy for their relationship issues and are now in healthy and happy relationships * If everyone can try psilocybin therapy to fix their picker
If you are ready to 'pick" the right person, get on our VIP coaching program waitlist (we do exceptional 1:1 work, as you can hear in the dozens of "Love Story" episodes on this show)!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Smart Dating Academy client love stories are YOUR favorites (and ours too) - these stories are from people just like you who started our process with a healthy dose of excitement and nervousness! I am so excited to have Ruth tell you one of the most unique, awesome, and unexpected love stories in this week's podcast. Ruth is an amazing high level executive client who is full of life. After her beloved husband passed away years ago, Ruth felt like the rug was pulled from under her and she felt lost after this unexpected loss. Once she found her footing again, she decided to date casually, because finding a new partner wasn’t a priority.
Through her dating process, she realized that she now wanted someone wonderful and available. Understanding that her priorities had changed, she contacted Bela, after a friend told her about Smart Dating Academy. Ruth attended one of Bela’s workshops for C200 Professional Women, and after some back and forth decided to work with SDA to find love again. Ruth came to Chicago for her photoshoot and worked with Ilene on perfecting her profile and what characteristics Ruth is looking for in a partner by looking at the elevator people in her life.
After launching on the apps, Ruth looked through the responses and talked to a few people. But one stood out. His name is Tony and the caveat was that he was traveling back to his home country of Nigeria, which threw a curveball at Ruth. Nevertheless, Tony and Ruth talked on the phone and on FaceTime every day for over 4 months, before they met for the first time in person. Tony kept splitting his time between the US and Nigeria and they kept their relationship going. Ruth loves Tony’s integrity and knows that she has found the lid to her pot. Ruth and Tony have lots of plans for the future.
Ruth's story is an inspiration that no matter where you are on your journey or in your career and no matter your age, love can come to you in an unexpected package with the right guidance and love coaches!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
I am excited to have Wendy Sloane as my guest.
Wendy is a former TV producer for The Phil Donahue Show and The Geraldo Rivera Show. During her career in broadcasting, she covered some of the biggest news stories of our time, including the O.J. Simpson and JonBenet Ramsey murders. She was also the host of the popular radio show "What's Up with Wendy" and started her popular podcast "Divorce Doesn't Suck" during Covid - about new perspectives and how to move forward and focus on the future and take the chance to restart with a blank new canvas.
We talked about:* Her career as a TV producer and what led her to change her career * How her divorce led her to start her podcast * What she knows now that she wish she knew then about divorce * How dating looked like for her as a single mom * Her experience with long distance dating (there were alot of FaceTime dates!) * The process of smart dating * The Golden Bachelor Show
Listen up if you are a single man or woman dating at any time! Our conversation about Wendy's ideal man turned into a mini-coaching session about how to be a smart dater! So many great takeaways (and most things apply to women of all ages!). You don't want to miss this episode!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Get ready to dive deep into the world of hormones with the charismatic Dr. Anna Cabeca! She is known nationally as The Girlfriend Doctor and is host of The Girlfriend Doctor Show. Dr. Anna is triple-board certified and a fellow of gynecology and obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine.
From testosterone to estrogen, progesterone to dopamine, each hormone has its own unique influence on our emotions and behaviors towards our partner.
In this episode, we will dive deep into the mysterious interplay between oxytocin and cortisol, and how it affects your romantic relationships, friendships, interpersonal dynamics, and overall well-being. She explains how the 'love hormone', oxytocin, can breathe life into your relationship, and grab practical tips to boost your oxytocin levels naturally through diet. We also talk about the secret behind the ebb and flow of intimacy as she demystifies the fascinating hormonal changes over time.
It's time to get intimate with your hormones, get enlightened, and spice up your life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
I couldn't be more excited to have a conversation with the fabulous Tamsen Fadal - I met Tamsen while doing dozens of love segments on her TV Show in NYC on PIX11. Tamsen is an award-winning journalist (she won 13 Emmy awards!), speaker, author, podcast host and menopause advocate. She is dedicated to championing women’s stories being bold in midlife and beyond and shares advice and education on menopause, relationships, divorce and career so that women do not feel alone during this stage in their lives.
We talk about:* Starting a matchmaking business before dating apps existed and what she learned from that * Tamsen's experience with divorce and dating after divorce * How she met her 2nd husband and how she knew he was the one (and she didn't think she would ever remarry!) * Advice on dating and meeting the one in midlife * What an "easy relationship" REALLY means * The moment that made her become a menopause advocate * Tamsen's advice on taking the action to lead a fulfilling life * Make-up tips (check out her IG for more amazing tips)
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This week we are bringing to you your favorite kind of episode: another love story from one of our dear clients who will inspire you with her self-awareness, action, and authenticity at a young age. Bianca is a 36-year-old Chemist who lives in Ontario, Canada. Bianca describes herself as a late bloomer and an introverted, independent woman by nature. By her mid-twenties nearly everyone she knew was married and often to the only person they had ever dated. Bianca was puzzled on how this worked for them, but not for her.
After several unsuccessful relationships, Bianca still couldn’t analyze what had specifically gone wrong. One day, she saw Bela on the Steve Harvey Show and on Good Morning America and got in touch with Smart Dating Academy. Through coaching and devoutly following the advice from Bela and Lindsay, she realized that she had so many false beliefs that were holding her back. Bianca soaked everything up during her sessions, got more confident in dating, AND adopted the mindset of being psychotically optimistic in her entire life.
At the start of 2021, Bianca met Derek online and after their first date she thought that she would not hear back from him. But she did! They went on a second date and many more to follow. Bianca got to know him more and more and Bianca realized that he is the lid to her pot. Bianca and Derek got married last year in 2023 and couldn’t be happier to be real partners in life. She is absolutely adorable, and you will hear your own story in hers.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This week, Dr. Wendy Walsh joins me to talk about the science of love. Known as America's Relationship Expert, Dr. Wendy Walsh is an award-winning television journalist, a Radio Host & Podcaster, the author of three books on relationships & thousands of print and digital articles.
Dr. Wendy shares with us how she got to where she is today and how she went from news anchor to relationship expert, as well as what we can do to attract the best love.
We talk about:
What attachment theory is and how you can change your attachment style
How different attachment styles work together in a relationship
The importance your "tribe" plays in picking the right partner
What butterflies in your stomach really mean
What to do to get over being attracted to "bad boys" (and this may take a long time)
The RIGHT way to process your feelings (shame is the hardest one to process!)
The role self love and positive talk plays in finding true love
How to have emotional conversations and why is it important in building great relationships
What boundaries really are and how to enforce them the right way
This episode is a must listen! Dr. Wendy drops so many lovely gems during our conversation that you don't want to miss!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this week's episode, I'm having a conversation with the lovely Dr. Sheva Assar about how we can amp up our confidence, especially in the dating world. Dr. Sheva is a clinical psychologist and she has a specific interest in the areas of self confidence, establishing and maintaining healthy, fulfilling relationships, and living authentic, value-oriented lives. Dr. Sheva believes that the relationship that we have with ourselves, particularly how we think and respond to ourselves, is the foundation for our relationships with others. Let that sink in for a moment!
We talked about:
How we can be more confident in a world that often makes us question ourselves* How to challenge our own self-doubting beliefs & why writing them down before dates is so useful!
Ask open-ended questions to build authentic relationships
How we can express how we feel the RIGHT way during a conflict/ disagreement
Ways to be more authentic throughout the dating process
How investing in other areas of our world can make us a more confident dater
This episode is a must listen if you want to be more authentically YOU during dates!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
WIll dating a friend ruin the friendship? The answer to this question, as you might expect, is complicated, and there isn't a firm yes or no. It's going to depend on you, and the person. Before you get into the relationship, look at this person crucially. Listen to this amazing podcast where Bela explains the eight crucial things to consider before jumping into a relationship with a friend (and she has a LOT of experience with this with her own marriage and clients)!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela will share an amazing set of sentences that she learned serendipitously from Dan Harris that will bring you more joy, ease, and reduce anxiety. It has changed her world in the last week, and everyone she has shared it with has LOVED it. Today, she's giving it all to us in this jewel of a mini episode. Be ready for things to change for you in a very loving way.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This week I'm having a fun conversation with Lane Moore, who was the "sex / relationships" editor at Cosmo, is an award-winning actor, author, and comedian. Moore is most famously known as the creator and star of one of the most well-reviewed comedy shows in the world, Tinder Live, where she projects her dating app onto a screen, swipes through profiles live on stage, and the audience votes whether she swipes right or left, to cathartic, hilarious, and surprisingly kind results.
We talk about:* Fun moments on her Tinder Live shows
Her books "How to be Alone" (and it starts with accepting who we are and what we need) and "How to Find Your People"
What self-love and self-worth really means (I love her defintion)
How a pet can help you feel healthy, happy, and unconditional love and heal from heartbreak
How to form authentic adult friendships
Different attachment styles and what they mean in friendships
Friend breakups: How to know when to leave and how to do it
The ONLY time ghosting is ok
What being vulnerable REALLY means
You don't want to miss this high energy episode filled with awesome advice on how to find YOUR people.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Get ready to be inspired by another true "finding love story" from one of our awesome clients that found the most amazing love (and it took a longgg time)! Massive plot twist here, by the way, that you won't believe, so listen to the WHOLE thing! Courtney Bass Sherizen is a badass HR Executive with two degrees from Harvard and is also a certified yoga teacher. She just celebrated her 4 year wedding anniversary and has a 2 year old. But just a few years ago she was in your shoes looking for love.
Courtney was on a long and arduous journey when it came to dating and was longing to find a lasting partner and to be a mom. Her parents saw Bela on the Steve Harvey Show and encouraged Courtney to reach out to SDA, which changed her course forever and fixed her picker. You literally will not believe how Dan won Courtney's lasting love and marriage - still blows me away (yes, men that want to be with you will move MOUNTAINS to be with you)
You will hear:
- How Courtney had to overcome self doubt and fear when it comes to dating
- How she found out about Smart Dating Academy
- How the online dating stats used to bring her down
- How she used to hide parts of herself and held up barriers to protect who she was - which prevented her from showing up in relationships
- How she fixed her picker with Lindsay's help
- How Dan reached out to Courtney, and why she said NO at first :)
- How she KNEW she wanted to be a mother, and wouldn't settle for less
- How Courtney left Dan, and why he came back SHORTLY thereafter (and what changed) - this is truly amazing
- How they blend their families together (Courtney is African American and Dan was raised in the Jewish faith)
You will absolutely love Courtney telling her love story! Love came in an unexpected package for her and it can come for you, too!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This week the amazing Kate Anthony, author of The D Word: Making the Ultimate Decision About Your Marriage and the creator of the groundbreaking online coaching program, Should I Stay or Should I Go? came to chat with me about all things involving the decision if we should divorce or breakup.
Kate empowers women to find their strength, passion, and confidence even in the most disempowering of circumstances and helps them move forward with concrete plans.
There are some of the incredible insights that Kate shares with us to help you navigate one of the toughest decisions of your life.
Kate talks about:* The very first thing women need to look at when trying to make this decision (which is not what you might think!) * How to get to know yourself again * The Research that shows why women are often unhappy in their marriages (which will blow your mind) * Why women often feel like they aren't enough without a partner * What you should feel in a healthy relationship and an emotionally abusive relationship * What feeling to look for in a relationship that are major red flags (and that applies for all non-heterosexual relationships) * What the difference is between a narcissist and a sociopath
You don't want to miss this awesome episode! Even if you are not thinking about divorce, you can get so many eye-opening and great takeaways.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
JJ Virgin, Fitness Hall of Famer, triple-board certified nutrition expert and TV personality, has an amazing conversation with Bela about aging powerfully and sexily at ALL ages! JJ is 60, and you'd think she was DECADES younger while looking at her. She explains why body composition is crucial, why tracking is good for you, lifting heavy things is "everything" and HOW to do this. She is inspiring and will kick your new year off in an AMAZING way!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode is for EVERYONE -- single, coupled, introverted & extroverted!! Bela talks with best-selling author Debra Fine, about HOW to make 'small talk' and WHY it's so important! You'll hear:
- Small talk is a SKILL - not a gift the lucky were born with
- How Debra, an introverted engineer, realized she did not know how to interact with people at work conferences
- How she thought losing 75 lbs would 'make her better' at small talk, but it didn't
- Why Rex, and one conversation, changed EVERYTHING for her
- How to "be prepared" - and feel great before any conversation
- Why "what keeps you busy" is a WAY better question than "what do you do?"
- How to look for 'free info' that people give away about themselves
- How to BE a good conversationalist (being an 'introvert' is no excuse)
- How she met the love of her life - and WHY she knew he was the one
- How to exit conversations with the "wrap up" rule - so no one holds you hostage!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Bela interviews Dr. Justin Garia, Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute and Scientific Adviser to Match.com. Justin leads Kinsey, the foremost experts and thought leaders on sex/sexuality. We discuss the hottest topics in sex research, why second dates really matter, the upsides and downsides of dating apps, aging & sex (and the Golden Bachelor), orgasms for younger and older singles, and the TOP 5 thing singles are REALLY looking for in relationships according to Match's research on "Single In America!" You won't want to miss this episode !
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Everyone's favorite segments are the love stories! Dr. Laura, a physician in Chicago, found love online at 49 years old! She had never been married, had a great career, and suffered from a bad picker. Laura said to herself, "If I can do an Ironman, I can find my soulmate!" Laura heard an interview with Bela, and she reached out to find her soulmate! That action changed the course of everything, and helped her find her amazing FBI agent husband, Doug! You'll hear:
- How Laura went through some cruel times in school because of a birthmark
- How her 'bad picker' started back in high school (crushed hard on gay guys - didn't know they were gay)!
- How she started falling for emotionally unavailable ones in her 20s (starving artists, long-distance, and more)
- This continued on well into her 40s, while her career was booming and she became a full fledged Iron Man triathlete!
- She heard Bela interviewed by Arielle Ford, and reached out to Bela
- What the key things Smart Dating Academy (SDA) did to FIX HER PICKER!
- How her "last first date" happened with Doug, who was an FBI agent that had adopted three daughters from China!
- How she knew, finally that Doug was the ONE!! (it's Bela's favorite word about relationships - spoiler alert)
- How they got married at a ceremony at her house and are living happily ever after!
It's Peak Dating Season, and the perfect time for YOU to start YOUR new plan to find love! If Laura can do an Ironman AND find her SOULMATE, so can YOU!! Schedule your 1:1 session with us today to "be like Laura" and make 2024 the year that changes EVERYTHING!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Dr. Marisa Cohen joins Bela talking about the four 'relationship killers' that harm every relationship from dating to friendships to family. And, you'll hear HOW to have difficult conversations with ANYONE in your life without harm. We also talk about the loneliness epidemic, how Marisa experimented with going on 30 'new friend' dates in 30 days (and if that worked to cure loneliness), how mindset is everything, and how Marisa met her husband on a dating app!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Want to glow from the inside out? Don't miss one word of this conversation with beauty expert and visionary Angela Jia Kim of Savor Beauty. When Angela (a concert pianist) broke out in a horrible rash before an important concert (due to some lotion she applied), she made it her mission to create a system that was loving from the outside in. In this episode, you will learn:
-How your inside is reflected on the outside
- Why water is actually crucial to our skin
-Why washing your face at night is important to mental health
-How to layer on skincare the way you dress for a Midwest winter -- thinnest to thickest. She explains it ALL!
-How mindset is crucial and how to have the best one!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Part 2 of this episode is amazing! Bela and Lindsay of Smart Dating Academy are back, discussing MORE secrets that have made their clients successful in finding love! Here are some nuggets you'll hear:
Where there is smoke, there is fire - Most of my divorced clients can point to something very specific early on that indicated something wasn’t right.
People make time for things they want! There is no such thing as being “too busy” when someone is ready to date. They will ALWAYS make time. Even if it’s just for a quick cup of coffee. The busier someone is and the less they prioritize you is a sign that their “taxi light is not on”….they aren’t ready.
Believe that you are a catch and act like one! He or she is lucky to meet you and they will earn you. Create an identity around dating.
Everyone is afraid of rejection. You are afraid. They are afraid. It’s neutralized.
What you think about dating decides your outcome! Mindset is everything! Our positive clients who embrace dating (even when it is DRY AS A DESERT) find love because they never give up. Our clients who decide they hate it…usually don’t.
What can you do to become psychotically optimistic???
Old trauma often shows up in new relationships.
· Pay attention to what people tell you in the beginning.
· Past trauma has a big impact on ability to find love without therapy
· Know their triggers so you can avoid them in a relationship. Clarify if you might have misinterpreted something.
Never assume! Just ask. Don’t make assumptions…ask. Clearly define the relationship and you won’t be surprised down the road
Sex changes everything, and how to have the best sex of your life
The people around you shape who you are! You are the combination of the 5 people you spend the most time with! When it comes to finding love, make sure you share what’s going on with people who are encouraging and supportive. Like us….ahh!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela interviews renowned podcast host of the "Daily Meditation Podcast" Mary Meckley - which has been downloaded over 200 million times! Mary demystifies meditation for hard-charging types; you DON'T have to sit in lotus position and have your mind free of thoughts. Instead, it's about turning your attention to your inner self, and listening to what it's saying! 90% of our thoughts are negative and repetitive. Meditation has been scientifically proven to make us more confident in dating which is AWESOME. Start with a mindfulness minute, and the magic will start to happen. Mary says that the majority of her listeners either are considering ending a relationship or wanting to find a new one; meditation can help with both! Listen to why sitting up with a straight spine and looking upwards with your eyes helps. Why, "trust perfect timing" is a wonderful mantra to keep, and how 3 deep breaths can calm you down instantly. This episode is awesome, and you'll feel peaceful and confident just listening to it!
Links:
Website: www.SipandOm.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/
Bio:
Mary is the creator and host of the popular Daily Meditation Podcast which has been downloaded over 200 million times. Mary also has a meditation app called Sip and Om where she helps you to create a complete meditation lifestyle including meditating, journaling, tracking healthy habits, monitoring moods, and setting intentions. You can join Mary for a daily meditation on her podcast or her app.
Mary Meckley is a certified meditation and yoga teacher. She teaches millions of people each week how to meditate, reduce stress, and sleep better. She is the creator and host of the popular Daily Meditation Podcast which has over 50 million downloads. Mary also has a meditation app called sip and om where she shares a complete meditation lifestyle including meditating, journaling, tracking healthy habits, monitoring moods, and setting intentions. Mary lived in Japan for several years where she studied Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) and the Japanese tea ceremony. Sipping a cup of green tea launched her into a quest for inner stillness.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
"Long Distance" Love Story: Linda finds love with Brett through a Facebook Group (and they're in their 50s)
Listen to this week's inspiring Smart Dating love story with our client Linda, a physician from Chicago. Linda had some fears, and a self-proclaimedly "bad picker." She got married in her 40s (red flags in his online profile even back then). As her light started to dim in her marriage, she played smaller and smaller while his behavior got worse and worse. One day, she came home to a letter from his mistress attached to her windshield wiper. She didn't want to get divorced, until a divorce attorney said, "I've seen this movie thousands of times." She filed, got divorced, and her light started to shine brightly again. As she said, "I became fabulous again." When she attended a med school reunion, a friend of hers suggested Smart Dating Academy. She went through our process, and learned to how 'pick' High GHQ guys, and MET HER GUY BRETT IN A FACEBOOK GROUP! We teach people how to use all 3 'levers' to meet people -- online dating, meeting people in real life, and getting friends to 'fix you up.' Her friend Sara Jane sent a DM to "Brett the Vet" on behalf of Linda, and the rest has been history. They have made a long distance relationship work, and are so in love, Smart Dating style (with good coaching helping to keep it on track). Listen to this episode, and Linda will capture your heart, and inspire you that love can come from ANYWHERE, even a professional Facebook group, and can thrive across state lines!!
Remember, love will come to you in an unexpected package, in an unexpected place, at an unexpected time. It's your job to be READY! If you're ready to be the next LInda, go to www.smartdatingacademy.com and fill out a contact form to get on our waitlist for Peak Dating Season. You're NEXT to find love!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela talks to one of the world's great love luminaries, Dr. Helen Fisher, who has been studying romantic love for over 50 years. Helen is a prolific author, researcher, TED speaker, and Chief Scientific Officer at Match.com. You will be RIVETED by this episode, where you will hear:
- What exactly is ROMANTIC love, and what are the markers of it?
- Why love is a drive like hunger and thirst - it's involuntary!
- HOW you keep romantic love alive for decades
- What is the biggest difference between "new, hot in love" couples and couples that say they're still "in love" after decades - and this is documented by FMRI brain scans!
- Why marriage keeps us healthier
- How Helen met and married in her 70s!!
- Why 'positive illusions' are critical to relationships
- What are the THREE KEY things singles on Match say that are IMPORTANT to them?
- Why online dating makes meeting people harder
- Helen's wisest gem advice at the end -- don't miss this!
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to this episode with Dr. Anna Garrett! She was a pharmacist who realized that she was filling lots of prescriptions to "react" to medical issues, but that no one was really looking for the "cause" of the issues. She went back and became certified in Functional Medicine, and has a practice to help women feel GREAT in midlife. She will discuss the differences between perimenopause, menopause, weight gain, what hormones NEED to be looked at (and their proportions), and why dating during this time can be awesome for both women (and the men that are dating them)! She gives her great gem of advice to men at the end of the episode which will make you laugh!
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Today's world can feel more disconnected than ever, and yet we are WIRED for connection. Humans crave it from family, friends and romantic partners. How do we begin to "feel seen" and reconnect with people? Dr. Jody Carrington opens up with a BANG with her story of finding out about her adopted sister when she was in her late 30s (this story will GRIP you). Jody pursued her Masters, PhD, and made online dating a JOB (went on dates at 10am and 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays). She met her husband, is a mom of 3, and a renowned therapist, author, and speaker. In this episode, you will learn:
-"We are just here to walk each other home" -- why that Ram Dass quote hangs above her desk and why you NEED to make this your outloook
-The best skill you can teach yourself in dating
-What is the most grounding force in the world that can make you feel better right away?
-Why agency and gratitude make dating FUN
-Why an emotionally regulated partner is SO important
-What 4 minutes of eye contact is for!
You'll fall in love with Dr. Jody,
BIO
Dr. Jody Carrington is a renowned psychologist sought after for her expertise, energy and approach to helping people solve their most complex human-centred challenges. Jody focuses much of her work around reconnection – the key to healthy relationships and productive teams.
As a bestselling author, speaker, and leader of Carrington & Company, Jody uses humour, and all she has learned in her twenty-year career as a psychologist to empower everyone she connects with. In her latest book, Feeling Seen, she dives into what it takes to reconnect a disconnected world.
Jody’s message is as simple as it is complex: we are wired to do the hard things, but we were never meant to do any of this alone.
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to Bela chat with Britt Frank very candidly about how we ALL have trauma, and how to get UNSTUCK! Britt became a neuropsychotherapist after experiencing addiction and abuse - and is artful at helping people get out of their own way as she did. She defines trauma as anything that is "too much, too fast, or too soon" for our brains. Trauma to our brain is what indigestion is to the stomach. Here is what you will learn in this amazing episode:
- What is trauma and what is trauma response?
- What are the "3 Steps to Unstuck" - and how can you start this TODAY?
- Why we should ditch the "WHY?"
- What can trauma from a past romantic relationship look like and manifest itself?
- What is pattern interruption and why is it so important in healing trauma and getting off of autopilot?
- What are some tools to break old habits?
- Hear Bela's awesome idea to get yourself included in new events that family and friends are hosting!
Bio:
Britt Frank, LSCSW, SEP is a licensed neuropsychotherapist and author of The Science of Stuck(Penguin Random House), named by SHRM, Esquire, New York Magazine, and The Next Big Idea Club as a must-read. Britt received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her master’s degree from the University of Kansas, where she later became an award-winning adjunct instructor. Britt is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, Fast Company, Psych Central, SELF, and Thrive Global
Website (and where you can buy the book): https://www.scienceofstuck.com/
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela chats with Dr. Alexandra Solomon about her new book, "Love Every Day" - and we talk about so many things including:
- Can we get better at relationships?
- Toxic Monogamy - What does it mean, and why is it fostered by "Disney" and the Hollywood industry?
- Attraction -- does being attracted to someone while you're in a relationship mean the death-knell of the relationship?
- What is 'micro-cheating' and how to know if you're doing it! The best test and so easy to do....
- Why a deep friendship is KEY to a successful relationship
- Why great sex long term is also fueled by friendship
This episode is awesome, and if you're ready to invest in Dr. Solomon's book, put this link in your browser to buy it! https://bit.ly/3Lu449e
Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is internationally recognized as one of today's most trusted voices in the world of relationships, and her framework of Relational jmSelf-Awareness has reached millions of people around the globe. A couples therapist, speaker, author, and professor, Dr. Solomon is passionate about translating cutting-edge research and clinical wisdom into practical tools people can use to bring awareness, curiosity, and authenticity to their relationships. She is a clinician educator and a frequent contributor to academic journals, and she translates her academic and therapeutic experience to the public through her popular Instagram page, which has garnered over 200K followers. She is on faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University and is a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Her hit podcast, Reimagining Love, reaches tens of thousands of listeners across the globe each week and features high-profile guests from the worlds of therapy, academia, and pop culture. She is the award-winning author of two books: Taking Sexy Back and Loving Bravely.
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela chats with Julia Arndt, founder of the PPM (Peak Performance Method) about key practices to becoming the BEST version of yourself. Julia didn't have an easy path - even though if you look at her, you would think that. She originally hails from Germany, has lived in 5 countries over the last 14 years and speaks three languages fluently. After working at Google in Silicon Valley for seven and a half years while the company grew from 30.000 to 100.000 employees, Julia BURNED OUT and took 3 months leave to figure out her life - which led her to teaching over 10,000 employees at huge companies how to do this themselves. She has been cheated on, moved countries, and has figured out how to help us:* Love ourselves (so we aren't 'addicted' to the feelings of romantic love) * Destress ourselves * Ask 3 important questions to decide HOW to handle a 'not-awesome' situation * How to create a life you want * How to create the steps to DO IT...
You'll learn a great deal in this episode (and do email me your lists to share if you'd like -- spoiler alert - there's homework)! If you like Julia's planner, put this link into your browser to order it (https://amzn.to/3rkXnQ4).
If you're ready to find the lid to your pot, and this episode inspired you to TAKE ACTION, email datecoach@smartdatingacademy.com TODAY and inquire about how we can help you to get on track!
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode is genuinely amazing - Bela chats with relationship therapist Carole Cullen about the secrets to the happiest relationships! Carole is trained by the Gottman Institute, and you will hear so many gems including:
- What being 'vulnerable' means on dates and HOW to do it (without oversharing)! Great tips on how to do this date by date
- Why being vulnerable connects you in the right ways
- What is a "Love Map" and why you relationship needs one?
- How many positive to negative interactions should one have for a happy relationship?
- How do you truly send 'appreciations' to your mate?
- What does 'turning towards' mean and how does it positively affect your relationship?
- How has Carole put even the most troubled relationships back on track, and what it takes for both people to do?
You will LOVE this and if you did, we would LOVE for you to share this episode, and tag us on your social media! We will give you some love back! You can tag us @smartdatingacademy on Instagram or Facebook!
If you're ready to find the lid to your pot, and this episode inspired you to TAKE ACTION, email datecoach@smartdatingacademy.com TODAY and inquire about how we can help you to get on track!
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to Tom Blake, dating columnist and author offer his wisdom to women from a man's perspective about Dating Over 50. Tom was thrust into the dating world when his wife of six years called him on Christmas (while he was visiting his elderly mom) to let him know that she and her kids had moved out! He started a column helping other singles in his age bracket, and has been writing about this since 1994. He lost his partner of 25 years last year, and has been online dating for the past year. You'll hear:
-How Tom missed his date walking by in the bar because her photos were SO outdated
-His favorite date
-The Biggest Mistakes Women Make
-What he thinks about long distance
-How to make yourself 'available'
-Why the amount of time someone has been divorced or widowed doesn't always matter
Tom is sweet, honest, and since you wanted more male voices, we are delivering!
If you're ready to invest in the love of your life, and if you're tired of being single, schedule a one hour session with Bela to change the trajectory of your dating life!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela chats with her long standing Smart Dating Academy coach Lindsay Anderson in a 2 part episode to review the secrets of her most successful clients! Lindsay has been helping people find love for over 20 years, and has helped thousands of singles find love! They will discuss the patterns that have HELPED their clients most! You won't want to miss any of this, and here are some highlights of the episode:
1) You won’t know who the love of your life is based off on online profile or a first date - and hear WHY!
2) Ignore the clock - internally and externally! How and why to do that!
3) Doing something everyday adds up to big results over time - what's the best routine?
4) Treasure Hunting - How people find love in the most unexpected places!
5) Diversify your dating life - how do you do that?
6) Where there is smoke, there is fire....Kick the tires, and hard!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to this incredibly authentic episode with somatic trauma practitioner Karlee Holden and Bela. Karlee specializes in helping people for the last 20 years in poor relationships develop better boundaries, overcome anxiety and overthinking, more self-love and self worth to create the life they want! In the course of the conversation, Bela reveals a tough moment in her day with her son which Karlee helps her to handle more authentically (turns into a live coaching session). We all have little and big traumas that we can use our body and minds to heal, and Bela's son Max makes a debut on the podcast which was powerful :)
Karlee will tell us:
-What is considered trauma?
-Why is setting clear boundaries so important for our emotional well being?
How we can attract more love and healthy relationships?
How you treat yourself is how others will treat you. What does that look like?
What are some actions we can do to create self love, care and boundaries?
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to this awesome mini episode where Bela tells you what the newest trend of "BEIGE FLAGS" are. What are your 'beige flags', and when can a beige flag turn into a red flag? Tune in for a succinct answer to this question, and know EXACTLY what to look for!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this mini episode, you'll hear the most awesome, easy way to get over your sadness, grief, heartbreak & disappointment about your breakup! And it'll take you no time to do the exercise Bela recommends - listen NOW to amp up your healing!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
According to new studies, what is the #1 Relationship Killer (spoiler alert - it's NOT money or infidelity) according to 46% of divorcing couples? To answer the question, we invited Susan Guthrie, divorce attorney with over 30 years of experience and host of the "Divorce and Beyond" podcast to talk to us about it. You won't want to miss this whether you're single or coupled at any age! If you're dating, you'll know what to look for, and if you're in a relationship, you can navigate this! Susan talks through the data, and Bela talks about HOW to make sure your relationship doesn't end up THERE (and how to ensure a GREAT relationship)!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Kate Anthony, Divorce Coach and Host of "The DIvorce Survival Guide Podcast" tells us about the 21st century narcissist. She explains:
- What is the definition of a narcissist and why have you had a change of heart on the term?
- Are there more narcissists today than ever before? Oof!
- What is the difference between narcissist, abuser, sociopath and why doesn't the "diagnosis" even matter?
- Do narcissists ever change?
- Why divorce rates climb for second and third marriages?
- What's the difference between a narcissist and a sociopath?
- When is it best to begin dating post-divorce?
- What do you feel are the reasons that men typically move on faster post-divorce?
You'll learn a lot, and enjoy Kate's fun style - she's smart, fun, and gets straight to it!
If you're ready for a change, book your consultation with us at www.smartdatingacademy.com
If you want to pre-order Kate's AMAZING new book (drops in October), here it is on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QoeKJM
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This week's episode is a FUN one with Erin Keating who talks about her tips on being "Hotter Than Ever." Erin tells the story about how she blew up her life at age 50 and started to reinvent herself to become a more authentic version of myself TODAY (rather just living in the results of the goals she had for myself and my life 20 years ago). She also describes her unconventional dating "Rumspringa" the year following my separation (her year to explore and 'sow her wild oats'), and 4 things you can do to be Hotter than Ever.
Erin Keating is an award-winning television development and production executive and single Mom to twin tweens living in Los Angeles. Her podcast Hotter Than Ever reflects the authentic, messy, sexy, funny and inspiring stories of women over forty.
Erin’s passion for smart, brand-defining original programming has led to zeitgeist-shaping shows like Portlandia, along with the first-ever made-for-mobile scripted series. Her career has included senior creative roles at Snapchat, Big Beach TV, IFC TV and Magna Global Entertainment. She climbed the television ladder at BBC America, NBC and Comedy Central.
Recent shows created under Erin’s watch have included the Emmy-winning James Corden’s Next James Corden, the WGA Award winning drama Class of Lies, the WGA Award nominated thriller Breakwater and the NAACP Image Award-nominated Two Sides. Erin also conceived the drama Vida (Starz), produced the documentary Fatherless (Fusion), and executived the hell out of the iconic sketch series Portlandia (which won a Peabody and a bunch of other fancy statues) along with other comedy, dramedy and animated series.
Erin grew up in the basement theaters of downtown NYC, where she produced and performed in live comedy shows at venues like The Slipper Room and The Zipper Factory. She started out as an actor, studying theater at Oberlin College, Meisner technique at Ward Studio, and improvisation at The Second City Training Center in New York.
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode is a wonderful, inspiring story of Midore T, who lives in NYC. Midore saw Bela on a national NBC show called, "1st Look" and knew she needed to enlist some help with her dating life. She is now happily married to John, and tells her story in detail. Here is the form that Midore filled out to contact us:
Send us your question or what you're interested in!:
Hi Bela,
I contacted you once about 5 months ago this year via email (not from this form).
My first marriage ended in divorce over 10 years ago...and ever since I was busy building my career as an architect in NYC. My last relationship was a long distance one with an Italian man in Italy, which lasted a bit over a year. At a time of its break-up, I began studying Italian, which I still am. I love all things Italian and travels to Italy a lot. In My recent vacation, i spent a week in Umbria, being in a Yoga Retreat and another week in Puglia (a heel of a boot of Italy).
I decided to contact you because I would love to meet men with a similar passion (in life, travel, culture, language) to have a solid relationship with and eventually to get married. It's been challenging because I am a very young 50 yr. old, and easily mistaken for 30 something. While I am often attracted to younger men, it's not about their biological age, but about their spirit. I love kids though I might not be able to have my own . So, meanwhile, I have two kitty girls. Anyway, I am interested in a Coaching Package. Please contact me to discuss this process. Thanks & I look forward to hearing from you!
Midore
In this episode you will hear: * Her BIG learning curve, and the massive mindset shifts Midore made around dating * How she had an accountability partner for dating in her office (who was also a Smart Dating client), and their weekly dating meetings * How her first relationship ended up being with someone with 'red flags' and how we told her to end it (which ended perfectly) * How she dated on her own again after Raymond, and decided to come back to Smart Dating for a second round of coaching (and that was the magical round) * How she realized she had been attracted to 'narcissists' * After her 'reboot', how she had the WRONG time for her first date! * What she suggested for her second date (and he said YES) * How they got engaged on October 13, and how COVID affected their wedding in Oaxaca Mexico * How she has made a career pivot, and is coaching architects to live their best lives!
You'll love this episode, and hear the beautiful Midore tell her story. And how love can come in an unexpected package! You'll be inspired to dip your toe, or JUMP into the pool as she did. It's never too late to find love :)
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela has an amazing conversation with somatic coach Sarah Baldwin about getting "unstuck" and it's NOT what you expect. And getting unstuck requires a thorough understanding of and healing of...wait for it.....your nervous system. Sarah has been through unspeakable trauma, and after years and years of therapy, began somatic healing for herself, which became her purpose. In this episode, you will hear about:
1) How our nervous system is responsible for EVERY perception we have
2) How to learn to regulate ourselves?
3) What are daily neural exercises we can all do (if we're in fight, flight, or freeze)?
4) What is neuroception, and what database does it draw up from our brain?
5) How our nervous system is our best friend, and how it protects us?
6) Different breathing techniques for every situation that will make you feel better, instantly
You will LOVE this episode, and learn SO much. Sarah is amazing, and we are so happy to have had her on the episode.
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
How to Optimize Your Health, Balance Your Hormones and Lose Weight - with Megan Ramos
Bela has an incredible interview with one of her personal heroes, Megan Ramos, best-selling author of "The Essential Guide to Intermittent Fasting for Women." Megan and her business partner, Dr. Jason Fung, are some of the most renowned researchers in health and fasting. Intermittent fasting is something that can benefit so many of us, and the benefits are massive overall. Listen to Megan drop her best gems including:
- How we have been sold a 'bill of goods' about what & when we should eat
- How the average American woman has tried 126 diets by the age of 50
- How Megan hired Canada's most expensive nutritionist and trainer, and ended up gaining over 80 lbs (and developing Type 2 Diabetes at 27)
- Why have we become 'unhealthier' as the decades have gone on
- How to fix things for good, and it requires NO money, special foods, etc.
Bela loves Megan (and Dr. Fung) and learned of their work on a girls' weekend in 2021. Her life and health have changed for the better since then, and we hope you will find this episode incredibly enlightening!
If you want to purchase Megan's new book (which is GREAT and easy to read), click here to purchase: https://amzn.to/3qZUX90
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Holly Capps Cayce will tell you her ENTIRE love story which started with her parents' perfect marriage (leading to her marriage in her 20s which was NOT perfect). After two decades of dating narcissists, and lots of other characters, Holly took the leap and did the Smart Dating Academy "Love Lab Workshop" - which started her journey to finding David, the lid to her pot! Holly got married last month (June 10, 2023), and is 56 years old. It is NEVER too late to find love, and Dating Over 50 is the perfect time to start! You'll enjoy this cute, feel-good, relatable journey that Holly details -- including:
- How she thought that love happened like in the movies, girl meets boy, fall in love, live happily ever after! Right? Nope!
- How she never learned how to date, and married her first boyfriend
- How he decided to divorce her
- What the next 20 years of dating brought
- How she thought her relationship of 6 years was "the ONE" until she realized he was a textbook narcissist
- How she realized that she needed to 'level up' her dating life
- How she heard of Smart Dating Academy (through a podcaster who got married using Smart Dating Academy)
- How she tried to date 'unassisted' after the Love Lab, and met the "Earwax" guy (and called Bela that afternoon to sign up for coaching)
- How her funnel developed & what shifts were CRUCIAL for her
- The moment she knew that David was 'the one'
- How David surprised her with the engagement, and what made her cry
Holly found love, and so can YOU! Join the July 16th Love Lab called "Dating Over 50!" by clicking HERE!
Seats are limited and you will NOT be sorry -- be like Holly and start with the Love Lab!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode will get you happy and PSYCHOTICALLY OPTIMISTIC! Bela interviews happiness coach Steffani LeFevour on how happiness, regardless of WHAT is happening, is only a few decisions away. She offers some CONCRETE strategies to get happy in this episode including:
- Creating a new reality (and trashing old limiting beliefs around, "I'm not worthy, good enough, or lovable" -- OOF!)
- What S+S+S=R means - and how it's the formula to happiness!
- Why you should get a complaint bracelet (and how to use it)
- Why the wrong thoughts confuse the universe in dating
- How to make DATING APPS more fun!
- What to focus on while on the apps to make dating WAYYYYY more successful!
If this episode inspires you to get SUPPORT around being your happiest self, sign up for a one hour consultation with Bela NOW -- it's the best investment you can make in yourself! Click or put this link in your brower now: https://bit.ly/3NLRDXW
BIO: Steffani LeFevour is an international speaker, a best selling author, and a self proclaimed personal growth junkie. Through her passion of coaching and writing she's helped thousands of people master their mindset and transform their relationships so they can live happier on a daily basis. As a happiness coach, she's studied human potential and has been in the business of self improvement for over 25 years. When she's not chasing after her 2 kids, you can find her writing, traveling, working from Soho House www.coachwithsteff.com
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Arielle Ford is one of the best known love gurus out there, and returns to the Smart Dating Academy podcast to talk soulmates, how to connect with your soulmate even before you meet, what the quantum field is and how our soulmate is looking for US too. And, Arielle has a new book that drops the week of June 26th called the "Love Thief" - her first romantic novel (she's written over 10 non-fiction best-selling books). In this episode you'll hear:
- The meditation from the Love Thief that Holly does, that begins to lighten her loss and come into loving energy again.
- How to send a golden cord of light to your soulmate, who is looking for it!
- Why Arielle believes happiness is not our ultimate goal
- How if you've had your heart broken, how you can heal again!
- The signs of love bombing and narcissism that her main character fell for (and how it sounds like SO many of us out there)
You'll love this soulful episode with Arielle, and if it inspires you to find GOOD, HEALTHY, HIGH GHQ love, reach out to Bela for a one hour consultation with her!
And, order Arielle's "Love Thief" here! It's awesome and you'll see yourself in so much of it! https://bit.ly/3Nhw6VG
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Have trouble with difficult conversations? Get tongue tied, get angry, or always give in? On a date with someone who won't stop talking? This episode will help you manage yourself so you can say almost anything in a way that brings the relationship to a better place. Bela interviews prolific author/TedX speaker & coach Sam Horn, whose new book "Talking on Eggshells" helps with everything you're afraid of saying. Why do we 'talk on eggshells?' Because we are afraid of hurting people, saying the wrong thing, or offending someone. Once you have the skills, you won't be afraid anymore!
In this episode, you'll learn:
-The six words that saved an employee her job, and can help you EVERYWHERE there is conflict
-How to show proactive grace, and how it helped Sam's aunt diffuse a sticky situation in a hospital (genius). You'll learn the most important question to ask yourself in ANY tough situation before you react
-What you should know about the other person before you start talking
-What a 'pattern interruption' is and why it's genius at changing the course of conflict
-How one word can shape even a toddler's behavior (vs. what we all normally do, lol)
-The 3 A's to use whenever you've done something wrong which will soften the situation IMMEDIATELY
You'll learn how to communicate more effectively on dates, with your family, with people that constantly complain, and with that date who doesn't stop talking....
Buy "Talking on Eggshells here! https://bit.ly/3N6obKE
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Fill out our podcast listener survey by putting this link into your browser: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/survey
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
A recent study came out that said the average dater decides in 19 minutes whether they want to see the person again or not! Is this true? If so, how do you maximize your chance for 'acing' the impression? Bela explains the TOP things to do to make a great first impression, and the WORST things that will get you thrown back to the pond immediately. Tune in for this gem-filled, high energy episode!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode is amazing, and Bela chats with the brilliant, prolific author Amy Ferris (author of "Mighty Gorgeous, A Little Book About Messy Love). Amy's life has been the most incredible journey, from watching her father get arrested (and then acquitted), leaving home at 15 years old to go live on a commune (Jewish girls did NOT do that back in the day), lots of bad men along the way, and the connection to the RIGHT one (during the filming of a movie she wrote, directed by Anthony Minghella, and starring half a dozen Hollywood icons). Amy is a fierce advocate for women, and for helping us to love EVERY SINGLE PART of ourselves. You'll hear her best, grooviest advice, her love lessons, why people-pleasing is so detrimental, how to "Own Your Life", why "Self Love is Good Love is Grand Love is Love", and why we shouldn't waste time
About Amy Ferris:
Amy Ferris is an author, editor, screenwriter and playwright. Her memoir, Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis (Seal Press),was adapted into an Off-Broadway play in 2012. As a screenwriter, she co-wrote the film Mr. Wonderful and was nominated for a Best Screenplay Award (BET, Black Reel Award) for her adaptation of the film Funny Valentines. Her YA book a greater goode was published by Houghton Mifflin. As an editor, she curated Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and Feeling Blue (Seal Press) and co-edited the anthology Dancing at The Shame Prom (Seal Press). She recently co-authored the book Old School Love (HarperCollins) with Rev Run of Run-DMC fame. In 2019, she was named one of Women’s eNews’s “21 Leaders for the 21st Century,” and in 2021 she was a recipient of NextTribe's, “Women of the Year.” Amy is a co-founder of the Milford Readers and Writers Festival. She makes her home in Pennsylvania.Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, I invited Andy, my husband of 26 years to join me on the podcast. When I asked him to come on with me, he didn't miss a beat, and said "sure!" When I asked him what we should talk about, he reminded me of something amazing. Last year, for our 25th anniversary, his gift to me (amongst other) was a list called, "My Lessons from 25 Years with the Perfect Mate." He wrote all of the things he has learned, and we talked about his favorite 6-7 in sometimes raw ways. The ones that will most help you, and what's made our relationship stand the test of time. Has it always been easy? No. We've had ups and we've had downs. We've lost a baby, we've lost jobs, we've had two mortgages at the same time, and the list goes ON. You'll hear some gems in this episode about why your partner should be your best friend, and how you show up for each other in good times and bad, in sickness and health.
And, click here to fill out the podcast listener survey!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This love story is epic, from the way our client Lilah and Bela met (in a Limited store fitting room), to Lilah's Smart Dating journey to meeting the third and final love of her life, the handsome Dani. Let's say she made the first move with the message, AND, spoiler alert, SHE asked HIM to marry her while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro! Hear how she did it all in this beautiful story!
You'll hear:
-How Lilah moved herself to Chicago and extricated herself from a bad relationship
-How she started killing it in her career in software sales at Microsoft, Google, etc
-What Bela said to her in the fitting room that made her send Bela a text
-What happened at their first lunch at "Summer House Santa Monica"
-How Lindsay helped Lilah tactically with the apps
-How Lilah sent the first message to Dani, and what was in his photos that made HER reach out (on Match)
-Why she met him for coffee THE SAME DAY of their phone call
-Why they went out once every three months for the first half of the year!
-What was the date that cemented it for her, and how he was the "man with a plan!"
-Why their relationship is so amazing (they are different races and nationalities)!
-How LILAH asked Dani to marry her!!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, you will indeed learn the secrets to getting along with everyone better - from new dates, existing partners, colleagues, friends, kids and more! Gabrielle's YES method is unveiled, and Bela and her discuss strategic gems to using conflict to get ALL relationships to a better place! You'll learn how to deal with someone belligerent, how to say a 'real' no without hurting someone's feelings, about the woman who offered Gabrielle a chocolate cake for giving birth and NEVER gave it (and how Gabrielle handed it, lol), and SO much more!
BIO: Gabrielle Hartley is a nationally recognized online mediator, divorce attorney, co-chair of the American Bar Association Mediation Committee, TEDx Speaker, and author of the acclaimed book "Better Apart: The Radically Positive Way to Separate."Her upcoming book, "The Secret to Getting Along and Why It's Easier Than You Think," is set to release this May, and is endorsed as a Must-Read by Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain's Next Big Idea Book Group. It unlocks the potential for better relationships with just three simple steps for conflict resolution. Gabrielle also shares her insights in her weekly newsletter, The Conflict Code, and is frequently quoted as a media expert in the peaceful divorce
You can pre-order her bookThe Secret to Getting Along (And Why It's Easier Than You Think): 3 Steps to Life-Changing Conflict Resolution
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Janai Norman from GMA is an example of courage favoring the BOLD, and her story of love, dating and her career will inspire you. This episode is very special, because 5/5 is Janai's 5 year wedding anniversary, AND she is adding the 5th member to her family (found out she is pregnant with her third, and it's being covered in People Magazine this week)! You're hearing it here FIRST on the Smart Dating Academy podcast! How did a girl from the cornfields of Dekalb, IL make it to Good Morning America? Unwavering vision, setting goals, doing whatever you have to do, and her favorite mantra which is "Courage Favors the BOLD!" She started as an intern at ABC News (how she got there is a great part of the show), what her 'screensaver' was on her phone that kept her ON TRACK, and what the fateful song was that was a sign to her. While in Florida for work, she decided to FINALLY get on Tinder, and went on her last first date. How did the song play into this? What is their relationship like? What's it like being married to a national news anchor? Hear it all!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
On this week's episode, relationship expert Damona Hoffman joins Bela to talk about dating and Chat GPT! How could/should we use it today? What are gender roles in dating in 2023? Who pays? What do we want vs. need? And how does empathy work in dating? Can you date with more empathy? This conversation is AWESOME and will teach you and make you think! Damona and Bela have a fun relationship, and you will hear the lively banter -- you'll feel like you're in the room with them!
Damona Hoffman is a regular contributor to the Drew Barrymore Show, NPR, the LA Times, and the Washington Post. Damona is also the official US Dating Coach of OKCupid and hosts the Dates & Mates podcast!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
If you're feeling like dating is 'meh', this episode is for YOU! Bela goes through seven different things you can do today to change up your dating results - and the changes are small (and VERY EASY)!! If you need a dose of psychotic optimism, and some fresh outlooks on what to do with online dating, real life dating, new games to play, listen TODAY!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Rebecca Feinglos had more trauma than the average 'bear.' She lost her Mom to brain cancer as a young teen. On the first day of COVID lockdown, she got a call that her father (her best friend on Earth) passed away unexpectedly. As Rebecca began to recover from the shock, and entered the abyss of the COVID lockdown, she realized that her marriage needed to end. She filed for divorce in 2021 as a 30 year old, and realized she had NEVER lived on her own (had never been without a 'man' in her life). She decided to unplug her life for one year to GRIEVE. Simply grieve, and whatever came with that. She went on a coast to coast roadtrip, visited her Grandmother in England, and every single day she gave herself time to grieve her losses. She started a blog called "Grieve Leave" which has thousands of followers which documented her 'year of grieving' to help people going through all kinds of grief - death, divorce, loss of jobs, etc - because EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US is grieving something. And, our culture prides resilience, but gives us zero strategies on how to grieve. When her divorce finalized, she threw a party for 14 of the women who 'picked her up' off the ground, and they went to the Adele concert. Rebecca wore a "divorce tiara" and they held up a sign to Adele that said, "Your album got me through my divorce." Adele, being surprised by the sign (and having gone through divorce herself), made a beeline for Rebecca, hugged her (footage captured FOREVER!), and they cried together about how our friends are the most important things in our lives. Listen to Rebecca tell her story, and one of her BEST tips to grieve a breakup/divorce that you can start TODAY.
About Rebecca Feinglos
Rebecca Feinglos is a grieving educator and advocate. Rebecca founded the popular blog “Grieve Leave” (www.grieveleave.com), where she has been documenting her experience on a year-long grief sabbatical. Rebecca started “Grieve Leave” as a way to process her own grief and loss— she lost her mother in her teens, her father in 2020, and most recently her husband in a drawn-out divorce— but has since provided tangible learnings and resources, with a healthy dose of humor, creating an entire movement around taking intentional time to grieve. She shares her own grieving process daily and provides insightful commentary and advice with her audience of over 8K predominantly female millennials. Prior to becoming a go-to resource for the grieving, Rebecca's career spanned state and local policy as well as education. She served as the chief policy and strategy advisor for the Division of Child Development and Early Education in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and as the Early Childhood Policy Associate for the Chicago Mayor’s Office. Rebecca started her professional career in service as a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Fort Worth, Texas through Teach For America. She is a graduate of Duke University and earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. Rebecca is originally from Durham, North Carolina, where she currently resides with her two dogs.
About Grieve Leave
Grieve Leave is a movement that inspires grievers to intentionally take time to process the feelings that come with loss. In December 2021, Rebecca Feinglos quit her job to take a sabbatical year—to grieve. She called her journey “Grieve Leave,” and documented her thoughts on her blog and social media. Through sharing knowledge, advice and tangible resources, and creating a space for others to grieve, Rebecca has expanded Grieve Leave beyond her own personal journey and has grown into a community of thousands. Whether you’ve lost a pet or you’ve lost your parents, grief is not one-size-fits-all. Grieve Leave is a community built to support others in learning to grieve all of our losses. There’s no wrong way to grieve.
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode was SO much fun! I interviewed Danielle who has created a life she LOVES at the age of 30. She's a famed TV host, entrepreneur, podcaster, and a dear friend. She has interviewed Taylor Swift, Michael B. Jordan, Helen Mirren -- and Larry King says that she 'has the ability to make people feel seen." In this chat, Danielle shares with us:1. The way she got to know herself (it has to do with 800 questions....) 2. What happened when she got her first dream job (hives might be involved, spoiler alert)! 3. How to be WAY more interesting at dinner parties 4. What dating tip I gave her that has talked her into getting back into the game (woo hoo me!!) 5. The new product she has created to make conversations REAL
I know you're going to get some good laughs and information from this podcast. You'll be inspired by how Danielle has brought more love into her life with work, AND, how she is going to start dating!!
And as always, if you're doing the same thing over and over again, if you don't know how to vet the dates, know you have a problem that needs solving, we can help you at Smart Dating Academy!
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
I grew up in a very loving home. I would always watch my parents and see how in love they are with one another. I always wanted to experience a love like theirs. I wanted to find a man who would love me as much as my dad loves my mom. I always thought I would get married by the age of 25 and have my first child at 27.
I had a list in my head for a perfect guy in mind. He would be tall, handsome, funny, family oriented, kind, generous, love to travel and adventurous. When it came time for me to start dating, I was not very successful, my timeline came and went. I got asked out a lot and went on many dates, but I was not able to make a connection with any of them.
As I approached 30, the guys who came in my life were all narcissists, controlling or not lookingto settle down. I wasted years dating guys who were not right for me and caused me lots of heart ache. My friends and family would always tell me that I am a great catch, and I would find the right person when the time is right, I always wonder when my time would come?
At some point even my parents’ friends tried to set me up on dates. They always liked me to link up with their sons since they knew me and my family, but it would never work out.
When I was 31 and after yet another failed relationship, I was very upset one day wanted to find some funny videos on YouTube. I came across a video of Steve Harvey show segment with Bela as a guest on the show. I immediately started researching her and learned about SDA. I reached out and started working with Bela and Ilene.
I soon realized I need to change my whole approach and ways when it comes to dating and finding my perfect match. I flew to Chicago and met Bela in person during the photo shoot. Her and everyone in her team were so gracious to me and gave me confidence that I have been lacking.
They helped me build my profile, how much time I should spend on the app, screen out red flags and most importantly not to lose hope, because I tried online dating on my own before and I was not successful.
On December 2021, I messaged a man who I thought would be a great match for me. I read over his profile with Ilene and analyzed it several times 😊 He was exactly what I was looking for. I realized he is very family oriented and adventures. Luckily, he messaged me back and we went on our first date. What I liked about him on our first date, other than the fact that he was very handsome, funny, and charming is that he asked lots of questions and truly tried to get to know me. We had the best time during dinner and the rest is history… we kept on going on dates and spending more time with one another, went on vacations together and on out 1 year anniversary he asked me to marry him… of course I said YES!!!
Now we live together, and life could not be any better. My fiancé is the sweetest, kindest, most gentle man I have ever met. He loves me for who I am. He is my biggest supports and cheerleader in life. He helped me to be a better person. He makes me feel loved in a way that no one ever has. We are getting married on October 28th 2023.
He comes from a very loving family. They are very close to one another and made me feel welcome.
We grew together as a couple and continue to do so.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode is FILLED with gems with our guest, Divorced Women's Empowerment Coach & Healer Wendy Sterling. Wendy's story, chronicled in her new book, Divorce Sucks Now What, is a gripping example of taking your own life and OWNING it. Your divorce didn't happen to you, it happened FOR you. In this episode, you will hear:
1) How Wendy found out that her husband was cheating
2) What was the moment that she knew it was OVER?
3) Why did she put up with abusive treatment, and how did she 'get her voice' back?
4) What was her contribution to the marriage's demise, and what was on 'her side of the street?"
5) What did the Smart Dating Academy "Online Dating Love Lab" teach her?
6) How did she start dating again?
7) How did she meet her husband?
You'll hear so many gifts in this episode, and you'll learn to use your own voice, and take responsibility for YOUR OWN life and happiness. If you'd like to buy Wendy's book, click here to buy: https://bit.ly/3FqSd8P
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Bela talks with Spiritual Medium Erika Gabriel about opening yourself up to love! This episode will blow your mind because you will learn:
1) Erika's BEST trick for lowering anxiety immediately
2) How to Know if you're operating from fear or intuition
3) What the KEY to manifesting your mate is (it's not what you think!)
4) What are the "False Agreements" we make with ourselves?
5) What are the 3 things that block people from love??
If you like our conversation, GIVE THIS A RATING! It's the BEST way to give back :). And, if you want more Erika, we will do an IG LIve on Wednesday 3/15 where she will answer YOUR questions!
If you'd like to check out Erika's site or new course, click here: https://smerikagabriel.thinkific.com/courses/the-way-1
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela will share an amazing set of sentences that she learned serendipitously from Dan Harris that will bring you more joy, ease, and reduce anxiety. It has changed her world in the last week, and everyone she has shared it with has LOVED it. Today, she's giving it all to us in this jewel of a mini episode. Be ready for things to change for you in a very loving way.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Today's podcast is with an amazing former client named Anushka, an Ivy League graduate who was having trouble finding love, listened to a podcast, found Bela, and started her dating adventure! In this episode, you will hear:
- How Anushka Found Her AMAZING Husband Online!
- Anushka's journey from childhood to adulthood and her struggles in finding love.
- Anushka's experience with online dating and her lack of success.
- Anushka's parents' attempts to set her up with potential partners.
- How Anushka discovered SDA and reached out to Bela and Lindsay.
- Anushka's experience with SDA and how they helped her change her approach to dating.
- The rules Anushka followed and how they helped her get more dates.
- Anushka's first date with her now-husband.
- Anushka's second date and her husband's direct approach.
- Anushka's success in finding love through following SDA's rules.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Listen to this chat with Sheri Salata, the woman who was Oprah's right hand Executive Producer when Oprah ruled the planet! Sheri wrote a book called "The Beautiful No", and we chat about her life at Oprah, and when she decided to pursue her OWN life at 56 years old. She will tell you HOW she did it, and has the BEST life she could imagine! You'll love this inspiring episode, and want to HOP into your own best life ASAP!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
WIll dating a friend ruin the friendship? The answer to this question, as you might expect, is complicated, and there isn't a firm yes or no. It's going to depend on you, and the person. Before you get into the relationship, look at this person crucially. Listen to this amazing podcast where Bela explains the eight crucial things to consider before jumping into a relationship with a friend (and she has a LOT of experience with this with her own marriage and clients)!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Kristy is a professor at the University of Alabama, and had two things that are so familiar to many of us. First, she had a wonderful marriage but lost her husband Dave to Glioblastoma too early.
When she was vulnerable, a man from 'high school' came back to sweep her off her feet at her most VULNERABLE time, and hear the story of what happened with the "Narcissist" - and how she got rid of him. Kristy started to date with our 'guard rails' around her, and met Greg, a wonderful man.
Listen to how she navigated her grief, her job promotions, the loss of her Mom, and a narcissist -- to finally come out on the other side to win in the love game. An inspiring story of courage and perseverance - and you don't always know what a narcissist is when you're IN IT.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In today's episode, Bela discusses how to "love bravely" with Dr. Alexandra Solomon. She is a couples therapist, a Northwestern University professor, and a brilliant mind. In this podcast we talk about:
1) What does it take to "love bravely"?
2) Why is relational self-awareness so important?
3) How to talk to yourself (hint - if you wouldn't say something to your best friend, you shouldn't say it to yourself)
4) What are the 3 patterns we can take on from our family of origin?
5) What are the lists to make to determine what you value from your family, and what you don't?
6) Why communication is so key to love and sex
7) How to share feedback with your partner (this is SO good, and can avoid dreadful arguments)
Dr. Solomon is the author of "Loving Bravely", "Taking Sexy Back", and the host of the "Reimagining Love" podcast!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela has a beautiful conversation with Dawn Anderson, Smart Dating Academy client, who lost her husband Mike in a tragic farming accident. After a dark period of grief and change, Dawn reached out to Bela for a coaching session, and then worked with Smart Dating Academy to find "Moussaka Matthew" -- the new love of her life. Listen to how she did it all, from her first sighting of Bela on Steve Harvey, to getting engaged at the Eiffel Tower in 2022! This story will make you know that true love can happen not just once, but twice.
Dawn has written a book about her grief journey, called "The Darkness and the Stars." It's truly a story of loss and hope. All proceeds go to the Mike Anderson Foundation , a charitable organization that was created in his honor, to spread light and help others in need.
A link to purchase her book is here: https://bit.ly/3iVbXtk
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Today, Bela defines "infla-dating" which is a term that has swept the media! She's breaking it down here, and infla-dating means dating with inflation in mind! She will tell you:
- How inflation is impacting the dating scene?
- Tips for you to budget for dates
- Budget friendly date ideas for both singles & couples
- Bela & Andy's fun favorite date, starting when they got married!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Welcome to the “Dating Super Bowl” week!! This week is a daily short episode answering one of your most pressing questions in less than 10 minutes!
Todays episode is the best answer to the ever controversial question, “WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO START AND END A DATE”
Listen to Bela’s wise, broad thinking advice on this question and a new episode each day this week!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Welcome to the “Dating Super Bowl” week!! This week is a daily short episode answering one of your most pressing questions in less than 10 minutes!
Todays episode is the best answer to the ever controversial question, “WHY ARE YOU AFRAID OF COMMITMENT?”
Listen to Bela’s wise, broad thinking advice on this question and a new episode each day this week!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Welcome to the “Dating Super Bowl” week!! This week is a daily short episode answering one of your most pressing questions in less than 10 minutes!
Todays episode is the best answer to the ever controversial question, “HOW DO YOU TAKE THINGS SLOW, SO THEY LAST?”
Listen to Bela’s wise, broad thinking advice on this question and a new episode each day this week!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Welcome to the “Dating Super Bowl” week!! This week is a daily short episode answering one of your most pressing questions in less than 10 minutes!
Todays episode is the best answer to the ever controversial question, “Who Pays for the Date?”
Listen to Bela’s wise, broad thinking advice on this question and a new episode each day this week!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Bela interviews founder of "Divorced Girl Smiling" Jackie Pilossoph on her top 10 reasons you might not get asked out again (spoiler alert - some of them do NOT have to do with you)!! A few are that your date decided to get back together with an ex, and they haven't done 'their work.' For the rest of them, LISTEN to the episode for an in depth conversation on the reasons, and lots of real-life stories to back up the list!
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!! Make sure you join our "Online Dating Love Lab" on January 8th from 1pm-4pm to FILL YOUR FUNNEL with great people. You won't have to worry about if someone didn't call you back because you'll have so many great options to choose from!! Link to register: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Jackie Pilossoph is the creator and Editor-in-chief of DIVORCED GIRL SMILING, a media company comprised of a website, podcast, mobile app and professional resources. Pilossoph, who holds a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism, is a former television news reporter and features reporter and writer for the Chicago Tribune. Her syndicated weekly column, LOVE ESSENTIALLY, was published in The Pioneer Press, The Chicago Tribune, and all Tribune Publishing editions for 6 1/2 years. Pilossoph was also a Huffington Post divorce blogger for five years. To learn more, visit: www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com.
What is a Dating Board of Directors and how do you develop one? Listen to this amazing mini-podcast jam packed with information on how to get amazing set ups from your networks! Bela lays out the step-by-step process to do it and if you do, you'll potentially have a WHOLE new dating funnel!
Good Morning America Segment (talking about 3 Ways to Boost Your Dating Life - Including Dating Board of Directors) - https://bit.ly/3GoMcue
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this mini laser focused episode, Bela answers one of the top dating questions -- how many times should I date someone before calling it quits?
Do not miss ANY of this episode, because you will learn about chemistry (what to do if you feel butterflies, and what if you feel nothing), how long you should let it 'simmer', and what red flags get someone thrown out RIGHT AWAY without question. And, what do you do if something might be a red flag but you're not sure? Listen in and hear it all!!
We hope you are listening to this wonderful series of podcasts and please rate and review if you're enjoying them!!
And, as promised, here is a link to the 1/8 Online Dating Love Lab (zoom workshop) which will be LIVE from 1pm-4pm!! Get your spot now, and thank us later lol! Put this link in your browser to register: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Update Description
In today's mini episode in honor of Peak Dating Season, Bela explains 10 BIG red flags that you're dating a PLAYER! Here are 3 of them, and to hear them ALL, listen to this amazing mini-episode which will open your eyes WIDE!1. They're super smooth in their approach. They know exactly what to say and what to do - how to flirt with you. 2. They say they're "not looking for anything serious" or "just something fun!" 3. They're not consistent about being in touch -- it could be hours, days, or longer between when you hear from them
We hope you are listening to this wonderful series of podcasts and please rate and review if you're enjoying them!!
And, as promised, here is a link to the 1/8 Online Dating Love Lab (zoom workshop) which will be LIVE from 1pm-4pm!! Get your spot now, and thank us later lol! Put this link in your browser to register: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Update Description
The biggest mistake people make is NOT having a dating funnel! Listen to this short, info packed episode where Bela cuts through the brush to tell you:* Why you should have a dating funnel * Why everyone is dating everyone until you've had the EXCLUSIVITY conversation! * How do you build a dating funnel? Listen to yesterday's episode - pick an app, and have great photos and a great profile (if you don't have those join our Online Dating Love Lab)! * How to answer the question, "Are you dating other people?" if someone asks! * When can you shut down your dating funnel??
If you want to maximize your chances of finding love in 2023, join the January 8th, "Online Dating Love Lab" by putting this link in your browser! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Update Description
This week is a GREAT week as Bela is doing a mini daily episode from Monday through Friday, answering your most pressing dating questions! What are the best dating apps for 2023 and why? Tune in to hear the dish about Tinder all the way to Raya! Tune in tomorrow to hear, "How to Create a Dating Funnel and How to Date Multiple People at the SAME TIME!" Are you ready?? This show will get you fired up and educated at warp speed!
And, click HERE to join our January 8th Online Dating Love Lab - it's the BEST present you'll give yourself for 2023, and you are WORTH it!
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Lindsay (SDA Dating Coach) and Bela discuss Peak Dating Season - which officially begins on 12/26/22. We will talk about:
- What is Peak Dating Season? Why does it happen?
- When is the busiest online day of the year and why?
- What you should do to get ready for it!
- Great photos (dos and don'ts of photos)
- Why YOU aren't the best judge of your own photos and should have someone in your life help you
- Having positive profile text (we come up with a "Top 10" List idea that's SUPER fun)
- What night of the week is best for messaging?
- What men should do that they don't do enough of!
- Why you should have goals and celebrate your successes each week?
- The biggest dating gift you can give yourself?
If you loved this episode, a HUGE gift to us would be to write a review! Or share it with friends that SHOULD be dating smarter!
If you're ready to jump into 1:1 coaching with us, go to www.smartdatingacademy.com and fill out a form. It's the best gift you'll give yourself - the gift that will keep on giving
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy for more free tips and tricks!
How do you get over the awful things that life throws at you? This episode's guest, Dr. Neeta Bhushan explains the formula for that. Her new book called, "That Sucked. Now What?" is an explanation of HOW to get through the 'suck' and to rise again.
Bela and Neeta met over coffee at Whole Foods when Neeta was single almost a decade ago. Neeta has experienced more loss by the age of 19 than most people do in a lifetime. She lost her father, mother and younger brother starting at the age of 15, and by 19 years old, she was raising her younger brother. She went on to get a DMD degree, and open up dental practices, with financial success but a hole inside of her. She married someone she thought her parents would 'approve' of, and after his last 'punch' (literally to her face) on New Year's Eve, 2011, she left him and began to rebuild her life. Neeta has found love, had kids, founded the "Global Grit Institute" and so much more. In this episode, you will hear:
-How Suffering is part of Being Human 101
-How to Avoid the Victim Mentality
-How to Create "Bounce" in your life, and the 4 factors that lead to bounce (resilience)
- Your Upbringing
- Your Current Environment
- Your Emotional Capacity
- Your Self-Awareness
-After you 'bounce', the 5 Steps to 'fly forward!'
- Falling
- Igniting
- Rising
- Magnifying
- Thriving
- Spreading Your Wings
Neeta and I implore you to get 'coaching' in any area you need it. I have coaches, she has coaches, and we have been there to coach each other. If you need a 'kick in the pants' to get some help for Peak Dating Season, click this link to set up a consultation with us! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
To buy Neeta's Book click here: https://www.amazon.com/That-Sucked-Now-What-Embrace-ebook/dp/B0B4ZF99PS
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In an ever-changing dating world, it can be hard to stay positive. We often have two choices, we can be optimistic or pessimistic. The NYT reports that optimists earn more money, have better relationships, and even live longer! Today, I will explain to you not only how to rewire your brain for optimism, but PSYCHOTIC OPTIMISM! Psychotic optimism is something Smart Dating Academy is renowned for, (believing in your CORE that love exists for you) and today, we pull back the curtain on our best techniques to become a psychotic optimist! And yes, optimism can be learned - you don't have to be born with it!
You will learn how to:
Identify the negative voice in your head, give it a name, and TALK BACK TO IT!
Reframe Situations, Positively Reframing Them (so important)!
How to make 2 lists that can bring you JOY (and avoid pain)
How to Evaluate the Company you Keep and decide if they're good for you or Debbie Downers!
Why volunteering is good for your mind and soul
Why Gratitude is KEY and why you should religiously write down 3 things you're grateful for.
Exercise -- Get the Dopamine GOING!
Do something you're afraid of every day.
Make a playlist of happy songs!!
Connect with a friend or family member you haven't talked to in a while
And, most importantly, Peak Dating Season is coming up - so it's time to AMP UP the psychotic optimism! It's time to get your profile in EXCELLENT shape - and there is nothing better you can do than schedule a one hour consultation with us to make sure you're at the top of your game. Email datecoach@smartdatingacademy.com, or check our website for more details :)
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Nicky's love story is amazing. She met Bela at a holiday party sometime around 2010 when she was in her 20s (Nicky was a colleague of Bela's husband Andy at the time).
She was a successful professional who didn't have a lot of relationship experience, and pursued dating as she would her work life. Trying different things like matchmaking, speed dating, How About We, dating apps -- but had an epiphany that was work related. She said, "if I was doing something at work for 10 years and didn't get the results I wanted, I would really reevaluate and change my approach." She enlisted some help from Smart Dating Academy at the age of 34, and found love just before the pandemic, and prevailed over the pandemic. She got engaged recently in Italy, and will share her awesome and relatable story in this episode. If you are looking for a husband and maybe kids in your 20s, 30s, or 40s - or just a partner at any age, listen to this episode for inspiration and delight! You'll hear:
- How Nicky was floored at how her approach to dating wasn't working, and what 'video' inspired her to change
- How she BECAME the fun that she wanted to have on dates
- How she dated before (just swiping 'quantitatively), and looking for instant
- chemistry
- What SDA rule she "expedited" under careful guidance
- How she didn't own any flour when Lucas asked her to cook pizza at her
- apartment
- Why Elevator people make ALL the difference
- How Lucas made her feel on the first date (which was different than ANYONE
- else she had dated)....
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela chats with celebrity stylist and author Andrew Gelwicks about how a kid from Ohio grew up, moved to Manhattan, and realized he was meant to be a stylist.* How did he get his first break? * What is it like to style Catherine O'Hara, Uzo Aduba, Bette Midler and so many more? * What inspired him to write his book, interviewing some of the most iconic/influential gay influencers, and what did he learn from writing his book? * What is his best tip to look YOUR best no matter what age or size you are?
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this amazing episode, you'll have your mind BLOWN by my chat with Dr. Roksana Badruddoja (Dr. Rokbad) about how fixing your picker is about MORE than just your attachment system and your relationship with your parents. The way we show up in relationships can be 'wired' into us, and the trauma of generations before us can come into us without us even being aware of it! My mind was blown, and I'm sure yours will be too! You'll hear:
What is Family Constellation Therapy? * How does something that happened to an ancestor impact our relationships, like our love life? * What is trauma? * What is love? * What is the relationship between (romantic) love and trauma? * Why is it important for singles looking to enter the relationship/dating world and couples before committing to one another to do this work?*
Bio:
Dr. Roksana Badruddoja is an an inherited family trauma liberation scholar; a family constellation therapist; a tenured full professor of sociology, women and gender studies, and critical race and ethnicity studies and the Chair of the Department of Sociology at Manhattan College; and a queer mother to four fierce energy beings. Dr. Badruddoja focuses on inherited family trauma as a platform to explore how people interact in their relationships. Here, Dr. Badruddoja thinks deeply, every day, about how vulnerability and woundedness are imagined and how trauma impacts the ways in which we show up in the world. Dr. Badruddoja is the author of National (un)Belonging: Bengali American Women on Imagining and Contesting Culture and Identity (Brill/Haymarket, 2022), the editor of “New Maternalisms”: Tales of Motherwork (Demeter, 2016), and a contributor of Good Girls Marry Doctors: South Asian Daughters in Obedience and Rebellion (Aunt Lute, 2016).
web: drrokbad.com
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Mindy is a successful entrepreneur, and a single mom of two teens. Her parents were loving and supportive - and had a 'love hard' but 'fight hard' dynamic. Listen to her story of how she was set up with her husband at 19, how she built a business with him. Her gut started to tell her something was wrong, and she learned he was having an affair with Mindy's best friend (who was now their office manager). Talk about gaslighting and lies - oy! After the divorce, she did therapy, and jumped back into the dating pool, and yes, she dated someone WORSE than him afterward (you'll hear what happened at the two month mark). At the end of 2021, she was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and decided to take the 'steering wheel' of her dating life. You'll be inspired as to how she embarked on her "new and improved" love journey and how she was guided to slowly find love. And she did. Mindy is just like so many of us - going from bad to worse. Learn what she did to turn her love life into magic during this episode helmed by both Bela and Lindsay.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
In this episode, Bela interviews Tripp Kramer, a coach who teaches shy men how to talk to women! This conversation is riveting because we hear what he teaches guys about approaching women (ladies and gents, you're gonna want to hear this)!
-How Tripp went from a shy introverted guy (at the University of Illinois) to a confident man -- and now teaches self-conscious men about meeting women!
What is his TED formula for approaching women?
-How do you deal with the fear of approaching attractive strangers?
-What is "man crack"? (Spoiler Alert - it's ANYTHING! Listen to what he tells Bela about HOW a woman can approach a man)
-What are the subjects that Tripp says ALL women will talk about, and are GREAT ways to make conversation? "Chick Crack" (this is hilarious)
-How do you deal with rejection?
-Are there things women can do to increase their attractiveness to men?
-Are there things women can do to have more men approach them?
-Do men like it when women approach them?
Tripp has GREAT advice for anyone looking to make better conversation with people!
BIO: Tripp Kramer is an international dating coach for men. He created his "TED system" to help shy men confidently attract the women they desire. In his earlier years he was a shy guy who figured out through trial and error how to get better and meeting, dating and finding the right type of woman for you. He currently has a popular podcast on iTunes called "How To Talk To Girls" and has a book called Magnetic which teaches all his secrets on dating and attraction.
www.trippadvice.com/chick-crack
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Dating as a widow is certainly different than dating at any other point in your life. Many have lost amazing partners, and the 'love of their lives.' This is the story of Jody LaVoie, entrepreneur, Mom, mentor, CEO, and now, a smart dater. Jody tells the story of how she met her husband Steve, how wonderful their love was, and how his life was brutally ended by an employee. Jody steered their company to sale, and her 3 daughters (and herself) through the grief tunnel. She finally felt ready to date in 2018, and has re-entered the dating pool. How do her kids feel? How do her in-laws feel? Listen to her amazing story, and you'll fall in love with her. AND, learn what NOT to say or expect when you date a widow/widower.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Is it possible to find love over 50? Hell yes!! Is it possible to find love over 70? Hell yes!! Kathy, from a rural town/state found love at 71, and shares her entire story of how she did it (online)! * Kathy was divorced after 42 years of marriage * She lives in a small rural town, in a Southwest state and was a stay at home Mom * She was blindsided by her husband when she went to surprise him for Mother's Day (by his new girlfriend) * She was left with $400, and had to borrow $ from her daughter to hire a divorce attorney * She rose, battled through the dark tunnel, and became stronger / more resilient * She dated for nine years, but something just wouldn't click. * She saw a dating coach on Steve Harvey that she liked :). (enter Smart Dating Academy), and finally hired them. * She transformed her dating life. Her look, her mindset, her online profile, her parameters, all of it. * She met Ruben online and they are now living together (he asked her daughter for her blessing on that) * They're planning a 'commitment' ceremony * She's found the lid to her pot, who makes her SO happy. * It's possible at ANY age!
LInks:
BE LIKE KATHY & JOIN OUR DATING OVER 50 LOVE LAB!!
The workshop that started it ALL for her is coming back for the FIRST and ONLY time in 2022! It's 3 hours, over Zoom, on 10/29/22 from 1-4pm CT - and was the VERY first step Kathy took. Get your spot by putting this link into your browser, now!
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/dating-over-50-love-lab
To read Kathy & Ruben's Story on our website: https://bit.ly/3S3815f
Arthur Aron's 36 Questions (the fun questions Kathy and Rubin asked each other): https://www.rd.com/list/arthur-aron-36-questions/
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Top 10 Things To Do When You’re Dating After Divorce
1. Do the work – DO therapy / coaching. Make sure you have processed the relationship, and most importantly, know what YOUR part in the relationship break up was
2. Hire someone to help you
3. Fix Your Picker – Have you noticed that your ‘picker’ is broken? Get help around this – it’s due to social media, attachment, not knowing what you need vs. want, evolution, and more
4. Get Psychotically Optimistic about your future – does the thought of dating excite you?
5. Get online the right way – Take this seriously!!
a. Have great photos
b. Write a great profile
c. We don’t pick great photos of ourselves!
6. Have a dating strategy – 15 minutes in the morning/evening
a. Date multiple people at the same time
b. If you’re a single parent, use video to be efficient! Crazy can’t hide for more than 10 minutes
c. Only go on a few dates per week!
7. Keep things slow!! You’ll probably want to rush out especially if your love cup is empty. Wait 15 dates so you don't get any love bombers/narcissists, etc. Time is the most important commodity in dating!
8. Don’t go over to anyone’s house prematurely. Listen to WHY in the episode!
9. Get physical if and only if you want to. There is no such thing as a 3 date rule!! Only do what you’re comfortable with. There is NO pressure to do anything, and if someone is making you feel bad that you’re not ‘fast enough’ they’re not for you
10. Only take advice from people who can guide you correctly. Your friends mean well, but probably not well-versed in dating. Goes back to rule #2 to hire someone to help you!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Cheating -- If you see someone's partner cheating, do you tell them? This week's episode breaks it ALL down!
What sparked this whole episode was a text Bela received from someone that said:
"Have you ever had a client that was on a dating app, and saw someone else’s significant other/someone they’re dating on a dating app? Do I tell the person? I mean, I would want to know but now every woman would want to know. I told someone once and they stopped talking to me. What do I do?"
I gave her some advice but more importantly, I was SO curious to hear what YOU think, so I ran a poll on Instagram last week, and the results were AWESOME. Tune into this sweet 25 minute episode to hear ALL the dish including:
- Should you tell someone that their partner is cheating?
- How many of you have been cheated on?
- How did the VAST majority of people find out they were cheated on?
- If someone told you that your partner was cheating, were you mad?
- What's the best way to give yourself comfort that your partner isn't cheating?
- HOW should you treat someone who tells you your partner is cheating?
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
How do you make sure you are having safe sex? Whether you're out there dating, or thinking of dipping your toe into the pool, this episode with Dr. Lauren Streicher will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know (fact and fiction) about safe sex including: * Do you have to have 'sex-sex' (intercourse) to get an STI? Spoiler alert - no. * What should you do to 'get tested'? * The Top 5 tests in Dr. Streicher's "STI screen" * What men think about 'vaginal grooming' today - and what Dr. Streicher's survey says! * What if you can't have an orgasm? She divides it into two groups -- NEVER had one before, and HAD them before but can't now... * What are "safe sex panties"?? * Does wearing a condom protect you from all STIs? * What's the whole deal with 'anal sex' and how should you 'do it' if you want??
This and SO much more in the episode! Just make sure you're ALONE when you're listening to this -- you don't want to be with your Mom or your kids!!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
How do you create amazing personal and professional networks? Today's guest, Larry Kaufman (the King of Linked In with over 30,000 contacts and author of the NCG Factor) wil tell us HOW he has cultivated deep, meaningful relationships with literally thousands of people through his method of authenticity, and NCG (networking, connecting and giving). And it's not the 'ugh' type of networking. In this episode, we will show you specifically:
- How to SHINE in any interaction you have (a date, an interview, a new friend)
- What "If you Lead With Yourself, You Leave With Yourself" means, and how to AVOID this!
- How to be a true "giver" vs. a "taker"
- How to tell someone they're talking too much (not asking you ANYTHING about yourself - ahem, has this NEVER happened to you on a date, lol!?)
- How to never "show up and throw up."
- How to get set up with amazing singles (Smart Dating Academy's "Superconnector" strategy)
- How Larry met his wife at McDonald's (yes, she was wearing burgundy polyester)
- How Larry helped a CEO in transition to get a great gig, and to fall in love!
- How to truly approach connections and "give" (people will NEVER forget)
- What to do if you're with a taker!
Relationships are at the center of the human experience, and the primary reason for people's happiness. This episode has GREAT advice for anyone whether you're single or in a relationship! You'll learn tips on how to be a better human and friend.
(Brief Bio):
Larry Kaufman is the Best-Selling Author of The NCG Factor – A Formula for Building Life-Changing Relationships from College to Retirement. He is a connector, giver, and rainmaker who lives his life to help others succeed. He is a Senior Level Sales & Operations Leader running the Midwest Region for Jefferson Wells. Larry has also been a globally-published speaker and trainer on LinkedIn for more than a decade. Larry is an investor and advisor to several local technology companies and supports a number of local and national charities. Larry resides in a Chicago suburb with his wife and two children.
Book Link: https://lnkd.in/g6xyVq5N (The NCG Factor on Amazon)
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela talks to client Marilyn Dollar about how she found love after TWO bad marriages -- one was at the age of 17 (involving physical abuse), and the other was the father of her children (infidelity). In a prior podcast episode, Sugar mentioned how a Smart Dating Academy Instagram Live episode with Marilyn changed her dating life, so we invited Marilyn to tell ALL of you the story that inspired Sugar. Marilyn is so relatable - we all have Marilyn inside of us. Listen for the following gems:
- What made Marilyn realize she needed help in the dating process (it might have to do with a boyfriend that she only spent time with in the bedroom or Home Depot)
- How Marilyn changed so much that she found love AND was promoted from an "Admin" four levels to "Global Marketing Manager"
- What happened 7 days after Marilyn met Bela & Lindsay at the Four Seasons, and why didn't Bela recognize her?
- What site she MET the love of her life on (hint....it's NOT Bumble or Hinge or Match)
- What parameters she changed to bring Jim into her filter, that would have NEVER brought him to her beforehand?
- Does a dozen roses on date 1 mean he's a "love bomber?"
- How she deprioritized "height" and found a tall guy anyway!
- What's Marilyn's BEST advice for you at the end? It has to do with light, and it's NOT what you might think it is
You will get chills listening to Marilyn's story, and be inspired that the lid to your pot is just one message away!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Part 2 of this episode is amazing! Bela and Lindsay of Smart Dating Academy are back, discussing MORE secrets that have made their clients successful in finding love! Here are some nuggets you'll hear:
Where there is smoke, there is fire - Most of my divorced clients can point to something very specific early on that indicated something wasn’t right.
People make time for things they want! There is no such thing as being “too busy” when someone is ready to date. They will ALWAYS make time. Even if it’s just for a quick cup of coffee. The busier someone is and the less they prioritize you is a sign that their “taxi light is not on”….they aren’t ready.
Believe that you are a catch and act like one! He or she is lucky to meet you and they will earn you. Create an identity around dating.
Everyone is afraid of rejection. You are afraid. They are afraid. It’s neutralized.
What you think about dating decides your outcome! Mindset is everything! Our positive clients who embrace dating (even when it is DRY AS A DESERT) find love because they never give up. Our clients who decide they hate it…usually don’t.
What can you do to become psychotically optimistic???
Old trauma often shows up in new relationships.
· Pay attention to what people tell you in the beginning.
· Past trauma has a big impact on ability to find love without therapy
· Know their triggers so you can avoid them in a relationship. Clarify if you might have misinterpreted something.
Never assume! Just ask. Don’t make assumptions…ask. Clearly define the relationship and you won’t be surprised down the road
Sex changes everything, and how to have the best sex of your life
The people around you shape who you are! You are the combination of the 5 people you spend the most time with! When it comes to finding love, make sure you share what’s going on with people who are encouraging and supportive. Like us….ahh!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Bela chats with her long standing Smart Dating Academy coach Lindsay Anderson in a 2 part episode to review the secrets of her most successful clients! Lindsay has been helping people find love for over 20 years, and has helped thousands of singles find love! They will discuss the patterns that have HELPED their clients most! You won't want to miss any of this, and here are some highlights of the episode:
1) You won’t know who the love of your life is based off on online profile or a first date - and hear WHY!
2) Ignore the clock - internally and externally! How and why to do that!
3) Doing something everyday adds up to big results over time - what's the best routine?
4) Treasure Hunting - How people find love in the most unexpected places!
5) Diversify your dating life - how do you do that?
6) Where there is smoke, there is fire....Kick the tires, and hard!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Have you ever wondered if someone was 'interested' in you? Body language is a critical part of attraction - and understanding it can help you to not "blow" an opportunity! And, you can understand how to BEST use it to your favor, and indicate your interest to someone! In this episode, Bela discusses 7 key signs of attraction, with a whole section on what "men" vs. "women" do when they're 'showing interest!' You'll love this short and sweet episode - and make sure you save it to play and replay!
93% of attraction/first impressions comes from non-verbal communication! We will discuss:
- How to use your eyes for maximum attraction and HOW someone looks at you to know if they're interested
- What our FEET will tell us
- What preening is, and how men/women do it...
- What kinds of questions indicate interest
- What is 'mirroring' and why does it indicate interest (or not)!
And so much more! Bela will take you through each point quickly, in a way that. you will clearly remember!
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
What are some SMALL changes you can make TODAY for BIG results in your dating life? Bela goes through 8 ways that you can have positive changes instantly, and here are some things she will cover!
- What online parameters can you change for biggest results? Bela will tell you the ones that MATTER and where her clients have had success!
- Start playing the game 3 Blind Mice online (described in detail)! You never know WHO you'll meet!
- How can you change your story? Listen for how Jill changed her story and got a GREAT date by one tip...
- What time do you go online every day? Why does doing a different time matter?
- How long should you be on a site or an app? Should you buy a 1, 3, 6 or 12 month plan?
- How do you change up your mood instantly for a date?
- Why does your 'internal clock' derail you?
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Know the signs of a catfisher or con-person that aren't so obvious? Bela and Ilene drop ALL the bombs here -- from their real life client experience, and highlights from the Tinder Swindler that could happen to ANY of us! There's a little bit inside most of us that has the "Disney fairy tale ending" wish inside of us (both men and women). And, that can make the smartest of us susceptible to red flags such as :
- Receiving a message from someone who seems 'too good to be true' (their photos & profile are the stuff of legends)
- Over the Top gestures
- Tries to lure you off the dating site
- Won't pick up spontaneous calls / Facetimes
- You have a feeling in your gut something is off…..
- They ask for personal info but don't give their own
- You don't see their home life
- Take on trusted identities- military, service, working abroad
- They don't keep their promises
And there are WAY more tips/clues that you'll hear in the episode. It's short, sweet and FULL of gems - so make sure you download this one to be in the know at all times.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Rachel DeAlto, author of Relatable, and TV relationship expert and I discuss being "relatable", and why it's so much more than being "likable." It's about someone wanting to connect with you on a deeper level, because you emit 3 things. This episode will help you to have better relationships in dating & while making new friendships! Here are some amazing things you'll hear in the episode:
-The 3 factors to being "relatable!" -- Connect, Communicate and Inspire
-
One in four Americans report that they have zero friends (twenty years ago it was one in ten)
-
How many 'connections' we need to actually be happy (you'll be happy to hear what Rachel reports)
-
The best ways to meet new people in an easy way
-
How to become more relatable even if you have social anxiety
-
Why digging into your 'personality flaws' makes a big difference
-
If you're wondering whether you're "positive" - we talk about the "Positivity Scale" and what things impact your positivity
Enjoy the episode, and share it with everyone who needs it to put more love and relatability into the world!
Here is a link to Rachel's book:
RACHEL'S BIO
Rachel DeAlto is a communication and relatability expert, media personality, and speaker. She is the author of “relatable: How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere (Even if It Scares You)” (Simon & Schuster’s Tiller Press, Fall 2021).
Rachel has appeared as a relationship expert on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight and TLC’s Kate+Date.
Rachel DeAlto maintains a law degree, a Master’s in psychology, and an influential social media presence, engaging and inspiring over150,000 active followers over her platforms.
In addition to her regular appearances, Rachel has also been featured on a multitude of media outlets including The TODAY Show, Access Hollywood Live, and Fox News. She has also given three TEDx talks including Being Authentic in a Filtered World which is featured on TED.com.
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy
Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Sugar is a 46 year old woman working at a large multinational firm, who sits on many non-profit boards (including her alma mater, Purdue U)! She was married to a man she met in college, and went through a devastating divorce after 10 years. It took Sugar 8 years to get back on her feet. She had a lot of anxiety & tons of self-doubt around doing this again, and she bravely started her journey one year ago. Was it easy? No. Did she find love and prevail? Yes! This inspiring story will make you know that love exists for ANYONE that wants it, including you. Learn what Sugar did to find love, including: * The Perfect Storm in her life that pushed her off the edge * The fortune cookie message that said, "You need to make more time for romance" * How her demons did a "number" of er self confidence * How her "stubbornness" held her back (and it's SO similar to most of our clients and what they WANT vs. NEED) * How psychotic optimism became her motto * How Marilyn Dollar's success story on Bela's IG Live show inspired her to really put it into high gear, and change the way she dated * Her Dating "FUN"-NEL and how she made it FUN * What site she met Justin on, and he lives 100 miles awayyyy....Whattttt? * Their first date was on his birthday * Their first trip together * What's going to happen now that he is moving to Dallas to go to pilot training school???
Tune in to the WHOLE episode to hear this darling story, and Sugar told her story to inspire YOU to find love!
Check out Sugar's story on our website at https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/success-stories/sugar-and-justin
Join our free newsletter database by signing up here: www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram at @smartdatingacademy Schedule your consultation with us here! We are on a waiting list, and would love to help you! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
What is Quantum Love? It's a concept created by today's amazing guest, Dr. Laura Berman. Listen to EVERY word, because it will take your breath away, and teach you how to ATTRACT the most amazing love into your life: Quantum love is the ideal combination of exciting and safe love - the type we ALL desire. Dr. Berman tells us: 1) How she got into this work? 2) How she created the concept of Quantum love, and the INSTANT results she saw with Ethan 3) How to think about the type of love you want, which is how you want to FEEL 4) How to ground yourself to get into 'the zone' (Bela asks her to guide you through EXACTLY how to do this) 5) Why it's an amazing way to attract likeminded people to you 6) How to manifest the perfect mate 7) Why Quantum love is the basis for the "Law of Attraction" (ie, it's the "Secret of THE Secret") You will feel yourself shifting from shame/guilt to peace/safety during this episode. I'm SO excited to hear what you think! Dr. Laura Berman is a therapist specializing in sex, love and relationships. She's a best-selling author of nine books, and an award-winning radio and TV host. She's starred in and hosted four TV series on OWN, Showtime, and Discovery Health, and is a regular guest expert on daytime news outlets. Dr. Berman is also the host of The Language of Love, a podcast focusing on love, sex & relationships from a mind, body and spirit perspective. Link to her love quiz: https.//drlauraberman.com/quiz
Link to her book, Quantum Love:
Want to make your face gorgeous and glowy all summer long? Listen to this episode with Enisa, Smart Dating Academy's chief hair/makeup guru! You can use these tips today and ALWAYS -- even in the dead of winter when you're going on vacation to somewhere warm! And, if you like this episode, a link to MORE is below! Here are some of the gems you'll hear: "Good Makeup starts with good skin!" How do you 'prep your skin' for this time of year to make it GLOW? What's Enisa's biggest secret to anti-aging? What's the difference between BB and CC cream? Enisa thinks everyone knows this - but Bela had to ask for clarification!! Why you may need two shades of foundation (oohhhh)... The best way to achieve a unified look -- and what Bela learned about having it 'dry' vs. 'wet!' The best way to keep a light 'berry lip' for the summer And, the most important thing to have it all stay in place (and wait for it because she spills the beans on her FAVORITE product here)!
Listen to the WHOLE episode and you'll have tips to glow up!! And, if you liked the episode, here is the Makeup Webinar that has been invested in by hundreds of people! (learning HOW to apply, live with Bela & Enisa showing you how, and their FAVORITE products), click here! You'll learn how EXACTLY to apply your skin prep, foundation, concealer, eye shadow, liner, mascara, contouring, and giving yourself an "eye lift" with a trick!!! And, we will email you a detailed product list of EVERY product we used. This webinar has blown people away! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/webinars
Follow us on Instagram for free tips 2x/day @smartdatingacademy And, subscribe to our FREE newsletter at https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
In honor of Independence Day, I'm so excited to share my own 7 tips with you about how to appear more attractive and INDEPENDENT on your dates, and in relationships! These are things I practice in my own life, and I know that you'll learn some new things here, and be able to EXECUTE them as well! 1) Create a life for yourself that you love, and talk about the things that you love to do. 2) Start traveling & doing things on your own -- go on trips alone, go to restaurants alone, museums, all of the things! you can be your own best company! 3) Learn to recognize and deal with your own emotions! Don't expect someone to mind read and always do the right thing. 4) Have friends outside of your relationship! And spend time with them! 5) Develop a hobby of your own that you are passionate about! And immerse yourself in it, and talk about it! 6) Learn to be interdependent not co-dependent! 7) When you're in a relationship, realize that your relationship can't be EVERYTHING for you! You'll put too much pressure on the relationship, and too much pressure on the other person Spend some time thinking about the other things in your life besides your relationship that are important to you, and start to take action on that!
If you want to book a 'mock date' practice session with us, or need any kind of coaching, go to www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you want to hear more from us, subscribe to our newsletter (www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact), or follow us TODAY on Instagram (@smartdatingacademy)
Dating anxiety is something even the best daters can feel sometimes. What are some easy ways to help diminish the anxiety, so we can present the best / most authentic version of ourselves? I called on my colleague Ilene Collins, dating coach extraordinare at Smart Dating Academy, to discuss this. She's got a great background in mental health coaching as well, and this conversation was amazing. You'll learn:
How to stay in the PRESENT moment (if you have anxiety, you're living in the past or catastrophizing the future). Ilene shares her favorite, easy ways to bring you "BACK" to this moment.
Why getting active before a date can REALLY help (I share my Peloton hack) How is your messaging to self (Cheerleader or judge?) BEST self care and dating routine (spa, fav music, candles) If you're feeling anxious on a date, are you REALLY listening to the other person? We talk in depth about this.
Why "listening to understand" is SO important, and helps immensely with anxiety Why the video date is AWESOME to do before a 'real' date - and how to use it to lower fears HOW to get prepared - prepare for a date like you would a job interview! What questions give you anxiety? Role play with a friend, or do a session with us! If you want to book a 'mock date' practice session with us, or need any kind of coaching, go to www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you want to hear more from us, subscribe to our newsletter (www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact), or follow us TODAY on Instagram (@smartdatingacademy)
Dr. Terri Orbuch is a renowned love researcher. During this episode, she and Bela have an incredible chat that spans the biggest reasons for divorce, what makes for the happiest relationships, love vs. lust (how to tell which it is), and how to know if someone is 'the one.'
You will hear about:
- Dr. Terri's NIH research project that has been following the same couples for over 30 years (how many couples divorced, and how many of them found love again - and this is super inspiring)!
- What is the #1 factor that leads singles to find love?
- What are some additional ways that singles can improve their odds of finding love – based on science?
- How does someone know if a relationship is the right one?
- The 4 keys ways to distinguish lust vs. love
- Why 'picking your battles' is usually the wrong strategy
- Why conflict is so important (what happened to the 12 couples that reported NO conflict)
- What you should do EVERY MORNING with your partner to maintain love (and it's not sex, lol)
- Your new book is called “Secrets to Surviving Your Children’s Love Relationships.” Briefly – what is it about? What motivated you to write it?
- How to get over the HURT of infidelity or relationship trauma --
- What conversations are most important for parents to have with their children?
This episode is one you will want to listen to again, and again and again. We certainly are! If you'd like to get our free newsletter, sign up at www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you don't already, follow us on Instagram, where we have GREAT videos and reels of the podcast segments! Follow @smartdatingacademy If you'd like to schedule a consultation, sign up https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
BIO: Dr. Terri Orbuch (aka The Love Doctor®) is a world-renowned relationship expert, author, speaker, therapist and relationship coach, Distinguished Professor at Oakland University, Research Professor at University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, and media personality. She is also the director of a landmark study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she has been following the same couples for over 3 decades. Dr. Orbuch is widely published in scientific journals and the author of “5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good to Great.” and “Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps to a New and Happy Relationship.” Her latest book, “Secrets to Surviving Your Children’s Love Relationships” was published in March 2022. Dr. Orbuch has been featured in such publications as, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and TIME magazine and has appeared on The Today Show, MSNBC, The Katie Couric Show, ESPN, HuffPost Live, and CNN. Her TEDx talk has over 2.8 million views. For more information, please go to: DrTerriTheLoveDoctor.com.
Andrea Javor is just like you in so many ways. She's beautiful, smart and successful (works in marketing AND as a divorce coach). Andrea, like so many of us, had a broken picker. Her parents are wonderful, and she's surrounded by love, but healthy romantic love had always eluded her. She was divorced twice before she 'fixed her picker' and found love with Jason. Listen to this sweet story, and you'll not only be inspired, but pick up LOTS of nuggets that she drops for you! We will discuss: -- The message that Andrea wished she got from her parents while growing up -- Why she thought her first husband was IT, and how that QUICKLY unraveled. --How she embarked on a BIG self-healing and learning journey, and found so much love within herself... --How the years of therapy didn't fix her picker (oy) --What happened in her second marriage? Why was it worse than the first? --When she knew she had to do something different --What she learned about HERSELF during date coaching -- and the root of her dating issues (spoiler alert--anxiety)... --How she did NOT settle, and how her man is "old-school normal" and awesome --How she met 'the one' and how we know this one is a KEEPER! She is incredibly happy, and I love sharing these stories of hope with YOU. Please know that your time will COME to find love. Remember, no matter who you are, if you want it, love will come to YOU! It's a when, not an IF! If you'd like to get our free newsletter, sign up at www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you don't already, follow us on Instagram, where we have GREAT videos and reels of the podcast segments! Follow @smartdatingacademy If you'd like to schedule a consultation, sign up https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Weight gain is something most of us have struggled with, or will struggle with at some point in our lives - whether we are male or female. Is it just me, or does it seems harder with each year to keep it off? In this episode, I chat with one of the most renowned physicians in the US, Dr. Lauren Streicher about why we gain weight (especially in mid-life & menopause), and HOW to get rid of it in a healthy way. We are all beautiful as we are, and it is NOT necessary to have six pack abs or be a size 2 to find love. What this episode will tell you is how to get to the BEST and healthiest version of you, because how you feel impacts everything relationship you're in (especially if you're dating or in a romantic one). Here are just some of the topics we covered: 1) How does metabolism change throughout life? This answer blew my mind, btw! 2) Why sleep is MORE important than ever in the 'battle of the bulge.' 3) Where the "muffin top" comes from, and why... 4) What men REALLY think about our thighs, butts, and cellulite (it's hilarious)... 5) What's the WORST type of fat to gain and why? 6) A great substitute for a date that keeps you healthy and happy! 7) How you can manage 'drinking' calories in a better way (I have started to do this, and it's magical)! 8) What you should offer to bring to a party and WHY it benefits you 9) Lauren's FAVORITE book for weight loss (listen to find out) If you loved this episode, please give it a review - we LOVE LOVE LOVE reading them, and if we can figure out who you are, we will send you a personal note back (you can email us through our website about your review at www.smartdatingacademy.com) If you're READY to find LOVE, schedule a consultation with us at www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you want more FREE tips, follow us on Instagram @smartdatingacademy Bio: Dr. Lauren Streicher is a top gynecologist, professor at Northwestern University, author of multiple books about women's health, and the host of the podcast "Dr. Streicher's Insider Info - The Menopause Podcast."
Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on
DrStreicher.com
Instagram@DrStreich
Twitter@DrStreicher
Facebook @DrStreicher
YouTube DrStreicherTV
Books by Lauren Streicher, MD
Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat
Sex Rx- Hormones , Health, and Your Best Sex Ever
The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy
What is Love Bombing vs. Love Seeking, and How Can You Take Control? In this amazingly informative episode, Bela and Dr. Katherine Helm discuss the VAST differences between a Love Bomber (bad) and a Love Seeker (good). They address the following questions in depth: 1) What is love bombing? 2) Why is love bombing harmful? 3) What is the difference between a love bomber and someone who is romantic (a love seeker)? 4) What's the KEY step to know the difference between the two types? 5) What do love bombers want from you? 6) How do you know if you’ve been love bombed? 7) What should you do if you are in a relationship with a love bomber? What signs existed in Netflix's Tinder Swindler? 8) What should healthy boundaries look like regarding romantic gestures early in a relationship?
You will not be confused anymore after you hear this episode between a bomber and a seeker, and you'll know EXACTLY how to TAKE CONTROL of the situation! BIO: Katherine Helm, PhD is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Graduate Programs in Counseling at Lewis University, Romeoville, IL. She is also a practicing psychologist in part-time private where she sees individuals and couples. Katherine has authored several publications about racial and cultural issues in mental health, couples’ issues, and pedagogy in multicultural courses and has an extensive background facilitating counselor trainings. Katherine has had several media appearances on radio and video and is a TEDx speaker. She is a sought-after author, presenter, public speaker, professional trainer, and clinical supervisor.
If you love this episode, please rate, review and SHARE!! If you are INSPIRED to seek help with you love life, sign up for our newsletter at www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact If you are REALLY INSPIRED to make changes, schedule a 1 hour consultation with Bela! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This is a WONDERFUL episode where you will hear Bela FIREHOSE you with the 7 things you NEED to do this summer to find love! This episode will educate you and INSPIRE the heck out of you - you'll want to RACE onto the dating scene armed with these 7 things!! 7 Things you NEED For Summer Love!!
1) Get Psychotically Optimistic about Love and that you WILL Find Love!! Get rid of the cobwebs and monkey mindsets that keep you stuck (and Bela will explain an easy trick on how to do this)!
2) Deep Dive into Yourself – Fix Your Picker! Oof - this is a biggie. Look at your relationship history, and know that the common denominator is YOU. Are you chronically picking the wrong people that ghost, cheat, or bore you?
3) Build Your Dating Funnel – Think of your dating life as you would a "horse race" where you are the PRIZE!!! She explains how and why to do this!
4) Start Online Dating the Right Way
5) Have a Daily Dating Routine – Doing something daily is great, and Bela explains her tried and true way that clients master this!!
6) Don’t Skip Video Dates! She gives you compelling reasons why you should NEVER skip video!
7) Plan Fun Dates that are side to side! Spoiler alert - you will have more interesting conversations AND build ATTRACTION!! If you love this episode, please rate, review and SHARE!! If you are INSPIRED to seek help with you love life, sign up for our newsletter at www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact If you are REALLY INSPIRED to make changes, schedule a 1 hour consultation with Bela! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
Arielle Ford is a love and relationship expert, and a leading personality in the personal growth space - she's been a pal of Bela's for many years. This episode is FILLED with answers to questions that have been wrestled with for centuries, and they break it down for you step by step: 1) What is LOVE? (Spoiler Alert - Bela and Arielle are in 100% agreement about the definition)! And, Bela discloses the book that made her understand love back in college....Curious? :) 2) What is the unknown secret to relationship success everyone needs to know? 3) Why you should wear "rose colored" glasses when it comes to seeing each other (or, use Dr. Laura's "defense attorney" trick we talk about in detail)! 4) Why we must learn to be personally responsible for our own happiness in life and especially in relationships.... 5) The universal law that can be sued to find your soulmate 6) How Arielle met her soulmate (an amazing story that started with a dream)! 7) Does everyone have a soulmate and how many can you have in a lifetime? You will LOVE the gems in here -- and if you do, and you're READY to find love, we are here for you! Click www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram - www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy
Silvia Foti is an amazing woman, author, high-school English teacher, and a client of Smart Dating Academy who found love. Silvia was willing to share her inspiring story with all of YOU to show you that love is possible under even the toughest of circumstances.
Silvia was married for 35 years. Her mother died when Silvia was 38 years old, and her last wish on her deathbed was that Silvia finish her book, documenting her grandfather’s heroic military career in Lithuania. What Silvia discovered is that her ‘heroic’ grandfather was anything but that – he was helping Hitler exterminate thousands of Lithuanian Jews. It took Silvia ten years to process the grief of this – and another ten to write the book (which has brought death threats from around the world). Her daughter overdosed and passed away at the age of 21 in 2016. In 2019, her husband blindsided her with a divorce. Listen to this story of amazing perseverance, cleverness, and heart of how Silvia found her “federal agent” love – how they waited 15 dates for….you know….and how in LOVE they are today. He travels with her supporting HER career and book, and went at HER pace, showing her that a man that wants to be with you will move MOUNTAINS to be with you.
Here are some gems you'll hear!
· What is the Smart Dating Academy 15 date rule?? · How she felt when she got online (and got new pictures/profile)? · What happened when she ‘launched’ her profile on November 3rd? · How Ilene helped her get out of the ‘pen-pal’ phase… · What he brought her on the first date… · What he brought her on the SECOND date, and what she sprung on HIM! · Why the way he held her hand almost caused her to end it · What he said when she said she wanted to wait “15 dates” (one of the BEST moments of the show)! · How they've now spent over 1,000 hours together, and how in love they are….
Here is a link to book your consultation with Smart Dating Academy if you are READY to find love in 2022! https://bit.ly/3vIWY9n
Here is a link to buy Silvia’s AMAZING book: https://amzn.to/3N8CT2r
This episode is something you have ASKED FOR! Flirting, building charisma & confidence is something we ALL want to get better at - whether we are single or coupled! I brought on one of my favorite experts, Kimmy Seltzer, who is a confidence therapist, flirting wingwoman and personal stylist. There is something for EVERYONE in this episode - woman or man! * What is the magic formula, The Charisma Quotient and how do you use it to build a sexy confidence? * What is the 'outside-in' approach? * Why does everyone (including men!) need a red dress moment? What was Kimmy's (and it has to do with Birkenstock's and nursing bras).... * What is the biggest style mistake men make? And women? What are the 3 Cs for style makeovers? * Why is flirting such an important part of dating and being irresistible? * HOW can you flirt, especially if you're shy? * What is a flirting move you can start TODAY? * How do you take the fear out of flirting & rejection? * How did Bela's client who went to Harvard change her approach -- which led to her marriage? :) * What are the best conversation starters to make a chat feel FUN? * What are the common mistakes women make when it comes to flirting and being in their feminine? Men?
You'll love this episode -- I certainly did! If you did, rate it, write us a love note, and SHARE with your networks! We LOVE that, and will do a coaching giveaway for people who write reviews! If you want to hear more from us, click here to join our free newsletter database! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
If you're ready to find love and schedule a session with us, click here to invest in a session that will change your life! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
If you want Kimmy's free gift, click www.kimmyseltzer.com Kimmy's Bio: Kimmy Seltzer is a Confidence Therapist and Image Expert. With a vat of knowledge and experience as a therapist, certified style coach, dating coach, and matchmaker, she has helped people find lasting love and connection, attract success and build valuable relationships using her unique “confidence makeover” process. Using an outside-in approach, Kimmy implements targeted style, emotional and social intelligence in people’s lives using her signature formula, “The Charisma Quotient,” working on body language, first impressions, image/wardrobe and flirting and how it impacts attraction. This Los Angeles-based expert travels the country helping people discover confidence, charisma and connection as a speaker at National Matchmaking Conferences, eHarmony, Neutrogena, The Guild at Universal, UCLA and iDate. Kimmy is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post with appearances in Cosmopolitan, Oprah Magazine, Redbook, Reader’s Digest, AskMen, Fox News Magazine, Yahoo and the Washington Examiner, among a myriad of other publications. Kimmy has been the leading love expert on the traveling live dating show The Great Love Debate, ashow on Amazon Live with SwayTv, Kimmy’s Love Hub and the cable reality series, The Romance. You can also listen to her on her podcast, The Charisma Quotient and regular Ask Kimmy segments on the Chaz and AJ Morning Show on 99.1 PLR and 95.9 The Fox.
This conversation covers AMAZING gems, including:
--3 Myths About Men (these are awesome, and have to do with 'the chase', sex, and feelings)
--The differences between men's & women's brains (I about passed out when I learned this - it makes COMPLETE sense)
--The AWESOME four communication archetypes (are you a lioness, puppy, koala bear or scorpion)?
--How to get men to HEAR you (and it doesn't have to do with raising your voice)!
--What are some quick communication tips that women can use in challenging situations with men?
--How to get men or anyone to help you (it's called the 'appreciation' sandwich)
--The ONE simple daily practice to stay in balance
--How we can tell if our lives are OUT of alignment (and how that affects our dating lives)--Why 'going hard' is BAD for a relationship
--What 'coming from a place of love' can do to blossom your love for EVERYONE in your life.
Sandy Weiner, Bela's guest, is the founder of Last First Date, is a TEDx speaker, relationship coach, author and podcast host.
Sandy's communication archetype quiz is here: https://lastfirstdate.com/4-communication-archetypes/#sthash.HVO24czW.dpbs
For more free tips and up to date information, click here to register for the Smart Dating Academy free newsletter! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/
This episode is AMAZING with Rachel Zar, renowned sex and relationship therapist. We discussed ALL of the things you need to know - and make sure you don't have little ears around you while listening to this! 1) WHEN is the right time to have sex? 2) If you've had sex with someone, is it advisable / necessary to have sex every time? 3) What's the thing that causes the BEST sex, always? 4) What is the right thing to do with "hair down there"?? 5) How do you get to know your own body? 6) If the sex isn't good the first time, what should you do? 7) We don't want men to be inexperienced, but don't want them to have 'hooked up' with too many women? What gives? 8) When to talk about STI's? 9) What we should be focusing on during sex (hint - it's not just orgasm)! Listen to this episode, and if you love it (you WILL), please please write a review (it's worth it's weight in gold)! Share with friends as well! If this episode has inspired you to get back into the dating world, and your profile & photos need an overhaul, join our "Online Dating Love Lab" Zoom workshop on April 24th, from 1pm-4pm CST! Go to:
www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab to JOIN!
Spots are LIMITED! If you want to watch Bela's TEDx talk about the "Secret to Finding Lasting Love", click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIyvhq3zWLg&t=48s
Rachel Zar, LMFT, CST is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist who specializes in relationship and sex therapy. Rachel sees clients at Spark Chicago Therapy and at The Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause at Northwestern Hospital.
Colin Egglesfield is an AMAZING actor who has walked the red carpets of Hollywood, starring in "Something Borrowed" with the beautiful Kate Hudson. He's also been on All My Children and Melrose Place, just to name a few. Colin is a VERY eligible bachelor, and came on the podcast to talk about what men like him are REALLY looking for in women (he's dated both actresses as well as us 'normal' girls too)! We shared:
- How a kid from Michigan ended up being a Versace model (entered a contest)
- How he ended up in Hollywood
- What Colin is MOST attracted to
- Why he hasn't been married yet (it's not for lack of opportunity)
- His favorite quality in women
- What his BIGGEST turnoff is (oof!)
- Why dating is like auditions
- How to REJECTION proof your dating mindset (brilliant tip here)!
Listen to the whole thing, because it's full of juice and nuggets you'll want to share with ALL of your friends!
ONLINE DATING LOVE LAB - April 24!
To get your TOTALLY date ready for the summer, we have opened the doors to our small group, April 24th "Online Dating Love Lab!!" You'll know how to take AMAZING photos, which are your best photos, and you'll write 2 amazing profiles by getting our private workbook to do it! Seats are VERY limited, and get yours now! Bela will be hosting this with the SDA team on April 24th (1-4pm CST) via Zoom, and you can register/get a spot by putting this link into your browser!
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/the-online-dating-love-lab
Colin is hosting an Inspire Summit in Chicago, where Bela will be speaking on 4/23 -- and you can grab your tickets here (put this link in your browser)! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inspire-summit-2022-with-colin-egglesfield-tickets-302182224167
Don't forget to review the podcast, and share it on your social media feeds! We love the love!
And, sign up for the Smart Dating Academy newsletter (free) by filling out the form here: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram to get DAILY wisdom, laughs, and inspiration: @smartdatingacademy
In this episode, I discuss TOXIC friendships/relationships and staying out of the "RED Zone" with therapist Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo who is Shaquille O'Neal's "Head Coach for Happiness", author of "Get Out of the Red Zone", and mental health expert on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America and the New York Times.
We covered a TON, and you're going to love it all, especially:
- What are the signs of a toxic relationship?
- HOW to check our own internal dialogue before declaring a relationship toxic
- What are some steps to take if you are in a toxic relationship?
- Do toxic people REALIZE they're toxic?
- What is the Red Zone?
- What happens in the Red Zone?
- How do we know if we are in the Red Zone?
- How does being in the Red Zone impact our relationships?
- How can we get out of the Red Zone?
I hope you LOVE the episode, because I loved doing it! If you do, PLEASE give it 5 stars and a great review - it means the world to us! Sending you a cyberhug for it! :)
Dr. E's Bio:
In her first week of psychology school, Elizabeth was madly taking notes as her professor spoke, and something hit her. “Why do I have to get a Ph.D. to learn this information? We would all benefit from better understanding how our mind works and how to make it work for and not against us.” And this became her life mission: to share research-supported techniques to optimize your mindset and thrive in life.
Dr. E, as her clients affectionately call her, has personally helped numerous high-profile individuals achieve success. Her newest book entitled “Get Out of the Red Zone: Transform Stress and Optimize True Success” helps individuals and organizations better cope with stress to enhance engagement, productivity and profitability. Having worked with many Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola, Deloitte, UBS and Westinghouse, Dr. E is considered one of America’s most-trusted celebrity psychologists. Dr. E is passionate about helping people transform their personal and professional lives through proven methods.
Watch: TED Talk - The Secret to Lasting Love! (link is here if you need it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIyvhq3zWLg&t=128s)
Buy Dr. E's Red Zone book: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-Red-Zone-Transform/dp/1953445071/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=get+out+of+the+red+zone+book&qid=1647637436&sprefix=get+out+of+the+red+%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1
Book a session with us! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
This episode with Dr. Michelle Roberts is about women, narcissistic abuse, why it happens, and how to heal from it (this is what she researched and practices today). It blew my mind, because I didn't even know that C-PTSD was a diagnosis, and what it meant. It's SUPER significant in the dating world, and if you've had dating patterns, this episode will change them!
In this episode, we cover:
- How therapists are MISSING the C-PTSD diagnosis with their clients, and why
- How she became a crime journalist to doing groundbreaking work on narcissists, and women who are sucked into their lair
- How the ACES test will help you to define if you're at risk for C-PTSD
- The types of therapy that will HELP you to mitigate the C-PTSD
- What survivors struggle with the MOST
- How to stop gaslighting YOURSELF into staying in this relationship
- Understanding the HOOK that they have in you
- Knowing the BOTTOM line behaviors you can NOT accept
- Building your own sweet life & how to do that!
- How to surround yourself with people that love you, and how NOT to isolate yourself!
If you'd like to book a session with us to get help with dating, click: www.smartdatingacademy.com/11-coaching/coaching-call-with-bela
If you'd like to sign up for our newsletter, click: https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/contact
Watch Bela's TEDx Talk with almost 100K views on "The Secret To Finding Lasting Love!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIyvhq3zWLg
Dr. Michelle Roberts - Bio
Dr. Michelle Roberts is a psychotherapist, journalist, and professor. Her work focuses on the intersection of culture, relationships, and modern narcissism. She helps women break trauma cycles that keep them from becoming their whole, radiant selves. Her ground-breaking research identified and focused on survivors for the very first time. But almost none had been diagnosed with this severe form of trauma. In the only peer-reviewed survey of its kind, women who identify as narcissistic abuse survivors scored four times higher for the presence of childhood trauma than the average population. And nearly three out of four met the clinical criteria for complex post-traumatic stress disorder, or C-PTSD. Michelle has worked with more than 300 individual narcissistic abuse survivors to help them escape the often-unconscious patterns that keep them stuck in relational trauma cycles. With compassion and careful pacing, she helps them take deep plunges to the bottom of things.
This episode was a gem-filled chat with Stephanie Mansour about "Building Your Confidence at Every Age and Size!"
Stephanie Mansour is a nationally recognized Health & Fitness Expert and host of “Step It Up with Steph” on American Public Television. She is weight-loss coach for women. You can see her health, fitness, food, and lifestyle TV show on PBS stations across the country! Steph is also seen on Today Show, Dr. Oz, CNN, FOX and more. Steph reaches more than 52 million viewers per month. Stephanie is a certified personal trainer, Yoga instructor, Pilates instructor, professional life coach, and has her BA in Communications with an emphasis on Women's Studies and Psychology from the University of Michigan.
Bela and Steph covered 10 different tips, including the five counter-intuitive ways to build your confidence, and five things you can do before a date to get yourself into a good physical/emotional state! They both talk about their weight struggles, and give you TONS of tips for feeling & looking your personal best! Listen for:
- Bela's secret personal affirmation to put on your mirror that will make you do the RIGHT thing!
- The best thing to eat before a date to make you feel your best!
- The 3 steps to great posture during a date to make you look/feel more attractive
- Steph's 60 second facial trick to making yourself happy
- How to connect deeply to your "why" - and how that keeps you motivated!
- Why flexibility is the key to a great health regime (even while dating)
- Why self-care is good for you, and sexy to others
Join Steph for daily inspo on Instagram and in her new app, “Step It Up with Steph” full of daily challenges, workouts, recipes, and motivational exercises.
Sign up for the Smart Dating Academy newsletter by filling out any form at www.smartdatingacademy.com, and follow Bela on Instagram to get LIVE tips, Q&A and daily inspiration!
How Rachel Went from Betrayal to Love - and got out of the "Drama Triangle!" This week's episode is an amazing chat with serial entrepreneur Rachel Graham, about finding love & purpose after betrayal. Rachel is the founder of Evolve and Transform, co-founder of Healing Springs Ranch, and has a beautiful love story that came after lots of bumps & bruises along the way. She's so relatable, you'll want to listen to every word. She will help you to see that we ALL have a role in betrayal, and how to step out of the 'drama triangle.' Here are just a few gems that you will here in this episode: The darkest moment where Rachel found her purpose, while her house was flooding What HER contribution was (in her own words) to the betrayal she experienced. How she broke free of the victim mentality, and how we can ALL do that. How to find the 'meaning' in any mess that's presented to you How you can be the 'lotus flower in the muck' Why you can't go around the pain Why her boyfriend told her she's like Rapunzel (and you'll ALL relate to this) How to live your life through 'scars' and not 'open wounds.' Why most relationships have a shelf life (and what to do at that point) Her definition of rejection -- it's protection and redirection How she found love and is SO happy now (YAY)!! The Drama Triangle vs. The Empowerment Dynamic" - and how to switch from drama to empowerment To see photos of Rachel and her "Fly Guy" and the "Drama vs. Empowerment Triangles" as we promised in the episode, click here!! https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/success-stories/rachel-graham
Here's a link to get date coaching from Smart Dating Academy - www.smartdatingacademy.com
To hear live advice, monthly, on Bela's Instagram Live show - www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy
This episode taught me a lot about myself, and I hope it will do the same for you. It will change you to think about your core values in a NEW way. It'll inspire you to really think about yourself, who you are, and maybe what a better career is for you OR a better partner (there are TONS of similarities between job search and partner search)! In this episode, I interview the inimitable Ashley Stahl (I watched her Ted talk and knew I had to interview her, stat). Ashley Stahl is counterterrorism professional turned career coach and bestselling author of the book You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, Design Your Dream Career, and she's on a mission to help people get into a career they're excited about and aligned with. Through her two viral TEDx speeches, her online courses, her email list of 500,000 and her show, You Turn Podcast, she's been able to support clients in 31 countries in discovering their best career path, upgrading their confidence and landing more job offers. Ashley is also single, out there in the dating world, and is very open about her dating life (and you know I LOVE that). Here are just a few of the topics we cover this week! * Ashley tells people not to follow their passion. Why? Amazing answers that NO one gives us. * What was the moment that she knew that she was in the WRONG career at the Pentagon? * She teaches us how you REALLY define what your core values are. This was a mic drop moment for me. * What are some myths that keep people stuck in their career and life, and how do we become more experimental? * What were my 'dark years' in my life, and what were the two lists I made to find who i "am" and start Smart Dating Academy? * How do you get into your masculine/feminine energy for dates? * How do you get reconnected to yourself? * Why 'backing up' doesn't mean 'backing down' in life
If you'd like to read Ashley's book if you're considering a career pivot, here it is! https://amzn.to/37325aL
Bela has a REAL, in depth chat with celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, who has represented celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Dr. Dre, Kelly Clarkson, Jimmy Iovine, Maria Shriver, Stevie Wonder and the list goes on. Laura Wasser is also an author, entrepreneur, and Family Law expert. She is the senior partner at the law firm Wasser, Cooperman, Mandles, the founder and C.E.O. of It’s Over Easy, the online divorce service and one of the creators of the Next Chapter Collection of luxury candles.
Laura maintains that divorce is the great equalizer—it terrifies everyone, but that your next chapter can be better than ever! Bela and Laura talked about SO many things, including the following:
- How Laura became a divorce attorney
- What she thinks about love the second (or third or fourth) time around
- Why divorce sucks (she hosted a show called "Divorce Sucks")
- Is she single? :)
- Why a pre-nup can be a GREAT tool for a strong marriage
- How celeb marriage/divorces differ from 'our normal' ones
- What is part of her 'dating ritual'?
- Does everyone have just one 'lid to their pot' or could there be 'many'????
Here's a link to get date coaching from Smart Dating Academy - www.smartdatingacademy.com
To hear live advice, monthly, on Bela's Instagram Live show - www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy To get the amazing 'divorce' candles for your "next chapter" -- https://www.perfectdaycandles.com/nextchapter
Danielle who has created a life she LOVES at the age of 30. She's a famed TV host, entrepreneur, podcaster, and a dear friend. She has interviewed Taylor Swift, Michael B. Jordan, Helen Mirren -- and Larry King says that she 'has the ability to make people feel seen." In this chat, Danielle shares with us: 1. The way she got to know herself (it has to do with 800 questions....) 2. What happened when she got her first dream job (hives might be involved, spoiler alert)! 3. How to be WAY more interesting at dinner parties 4. What dating tip I gave her that has talked her into getting back into the game (woo hoo me!!) 5. The new product she has created to make conversations REAL
I know you're going to get some good laughs and information from this podcast. You'll be inspired by how Danielle has brought more love into her life with work, AND, how she is going to start dating!!
You can get the cards Danielle shared with us here at https://prettysmartshop.com/collections/shop/products/question-everything-card-deck-1
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy! Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more... Follow Bela on Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Smartdatingacademy.com
This episode is PURE fire, and so perfect for Valentine's Day. Nancy Hala is a renowned entrepreneur, podcaster, who became a Smart Dater with Bela. Nancy found love online and got married in September 2021 to the most magical man ever (and they're both over 50). Nancy and her podcast partner Sheri invited Bela to be the 'dating coach' on their podcast -- coaching Nancy to find love. This episode takes you through the WHOLE story, including: * Nancy's background as a single mom, raising two tiny kids on her own * How she intrepidly got online * What a man will do when he REALLY loves you * What her 'last first date' was, and what she noticed about David soon as they stood up * Why she knew he was 'the one' * How obsessed we are with 'the berry lip' * The photoshoot on the 100F day * Her best advice to women about finding love * How she lives in a magical forest now :)
For those of you that want to READ her full story, you can read it after you listen by putting this link in your browser:
https://www.smartdatingacademy.com/success-stories/nancy-and-david
And, please SHARE this episode with your friends that need it! And we would LOVE a review and your comments! If you're in need of any dating help, follow us on Instagram @smartdatingacademy, AND come to our www.smartdatingacademy.com, and fill out any contact form to receive our free newsletter with ALL of the things!!
Most people think that Peak Dating Season is in the SUMMER, but guess what? It's from 12/26-Valentine's Day! Why? Because half of US adults are SINGLE and they're making resolutions to get back into the dating pool and FALL IN LOVE! In this episode, I'll talk about HOW to take advantage of PEAK DATING SEASON (whether it's in this time frame or anytime)! 1. The Right Mindset 2. Apps - Which ones and how many? 3. Photos - what kind and how many?? 4. Profile Text - Is it important? 5. Dating Strategy - How to get the ball rolling?
If you're doing the same thing over and over again, if you don't know how to vet the dates, know you have a problem that needs solving, we can help you at Smart Dating Academy! Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more...
Follow Smart Dating Academy on
Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube SmartDatingAcademy.com
The "N" word -- "narcissist", is a word that is thrown around a LOT in our culture. We use it to describe people in our family, colleagues, bosses, friends, and more! But what are the REAL signs you're dealing with a narcissist? In this episode, I will tell you: The 9 actual parameters that therapists use from the DSM-5 to diagnose narcissism How narcissists will show up in your dating life The red flags that should make you run!! You will want to have this episode with you ALWAYS as you're dating, as a good check for you if you've had problems with this in the past, OR if you're just getting out into the dating pool after being divorced or widowed! If you're doing the same thing over and over again, if you don't know how to vet the dates, know you have a problem that needs solving, we can help you at Smart Dating Academy! Download this episode, share it on social media, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy!
Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more... Follow Bela on
Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube SmartDatingAcademy.com
In this episode Bela explores dating during and after divorce with Susan Guthrie. Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized as one of the Top Family Law and Mediation Attorneys in the country, has been helping individuals and families navigate separation and divorce for 30 years. Susan provides online divorce mediation and legal coaching services to select clients around the world. Susan is also the host of the "Divorce & Beyond Podcast". You can see more about Susan Guthrie here.
If you're doing the same thing over and over again, if you don't know how to vet the dates, know you have a problem that needs solving, we can help you at Smart Dating Academy! Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy! Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more... Follow Bela on Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Smartdatingacademy.com
In this AMAZING episode, Bela interviews Jill Sherer Murray, author of best-selling inspirational book, "Big Wild Love."
Jill shares with us the story of her own searching, and finding her Big Wild Love (and her TEDx talk about it has MILLIONS of views).
In this episode, Jill shares with us:
- Why she stayed in a relationship for 12 years that she knew wasn't going anywhere
- What finally happened to get her OUT of it (and it was in a bathroom)
- What she needed to let go of to find herself
- How she met her husband Dan online, and what she wore to the date that he thought was bizarre
- Jill's biggest piece of advice for you to find your Big Wild Love!
I know you're going to see yourself in this podcast - we are all Jill, or have been Jill. She is so forthcoming, and her book is AWESOME and the link to order it is here:
Big Wild Love: The Unstoppable Power Of Letting Go
Download this episode, share it on social, and sign up for our free newsletter by filling out any contact form on our site (www.smartdatingacademy.com). Follow us on Instagram as well @smartdatingacademy! Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more... Follow Bela on Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Smartdatingacademy.com
In this Instagram Live edition, Bela busts the biggest dating myths out there including:
1) Dating is a numbers game
2) You need to feel a spark of chemistry right away
3) You need to be in 'lust' right away
4) Online Dating is only for losers
5) Men take longer to fall in love
6) Men don't want to date successful women
7) Short men have no dating prospects
Bela Gandhi of Smart Dating Academy, is a nationally acclaimed dating & relationship expert. SDA offers the best tips to start to date smarter to help you find real and lasting love. Bela is a sought out correspondent and works with all major networks including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, NBC, Harry Connick Junior, Kelly Clarkson, ABC, FOX, CNN, JET, Essence, Forbes, WGN, and more...