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/contact Follow 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/contact Follow 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/contact Follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/smartdatingacademy/

Discover myths about men, differences in brain wiring, communication archetypes, and tips for effective communication. Learn how to get men to listen, use the 'appreciation' sandwich, and find balance in life. Explore the impact of alignment on dating, relationships, and personal happiness.

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