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, triple-board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, discusses aging powerfully and sexily at ALL ages, emphasizing the importance of body composition, tracking, and lifting heavy weights. She shares tips on measuring and improving body composition and the benefits of weight training and resistance training. Bela and JJ also discuss the challenges of finding a long-term partner and offer three key tips for aging powerfully.

Bela talks with best-selling author Debra Fine about the importance of small talk. Topics include Debra's journey from being an engineer to improving her conversation skills, the art of active listening and digging deeper in conversations, the significance of small talk in dating and creating chemistry, balancing talking and listening, overcoming the fear of rejection, developing the skill of being a good conversationalist, and the power of small talk in building connections.

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