How do you actually get over a breakup, and why does it feel so impossible? In this episode, I'm chatting with author and mental health advocate Kelsey Darragh to unpack the science of heartbreak, why no-contact is so difficult, and what actually helps you move forward after a breakup (It's not the closure moment you think it is).

From healing after a long-term relationship to knowing when you're ready to date again, this conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone struggling to let go of an ex or rebuild trust in love.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the story you tell yourself about your breakup matters
• The psychology behind no-contact (and how to stick with it)
• The truth about where closure comes from
• How to know when you're ready to date again
• Heartbreak vs. mental health: when to seek extra support
• Whether you should tell a new partner about mistakes you've made in past relationships

At the end, we tackle a dating dilemma about whether you need to disclose past cheating before entering a new relationship.

CONNECT WITH KELSEY

On Instagram

Get her new book, Don't Do What I Did

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! bbvibes.com/DatingIntentionally

FREE STUFF

Dating Guides: 90 questions, FAQ, text templates & more

CONNECT WITH ME

Submit a dating dilemma

Slide into my DMs on IG

Watch the pod on YouTube

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not sure who's worthy of a first date? In this episode, I'm sharing my exact process for deciding who gets a first date, including the one screening step I wish I'd done more of before meeting people in person.

• The 3 questions to ask yourself before meeting someone
• What's actually worth paying attention to on a profile (and what to ignore)
• Why over-vetting someone like a job interview backfires
• How texting for too long creates a false sense of intimacy
• Why a quick phone or video screening call beats weeks of DMs
• How vetting works differently when you meet someone offline vs. on the apps

At the end, I tackle a dating dilemma from a woman whose boyfriend of three months lied about his age.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

How to nail a first date from start to finish

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! bbvibes.com/DatingIntentionally

FREE STUFF

Dating Guides: 90 questions, FAQ, text templates & more

CONNECT WITH ME

Submit a dating dilemma

Slide into my DMs on IG

Watch the pod on YouTube

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's finale week, which means we're wrapping up this season of Love Island Lessons with five final dating takeaways from Love Island USA Season 8. In this episode, I'm breaking down why exclusivity has a place in modern dating (and why it's not the same as being in a situationship), how to recognize breadcrumbing before you get emotionally invested, and why waiting for someone to change is one of the biggest traps you can fall into. I also share my thoughts on what the compatibility challenge got wrong and why meeting the family is such a meaningful milestone in a relationship. Plus, we recap the finale couples, the winners, and the biggest dating lessons from the villa.

MENTIONED IN THIS EP

Tips for meeting the parents (and other relationship firsts)

How to tell if you're compatible before you catch feelings

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I sit down with Hinge's Love & Connection Expert, licensed marriage and family therapist Moe Ari Brown, to unpack what Hinge's latest LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E. Report reveals about modern dating. We dive into why so many first dates feel like they're going nowhere, the surprising "question deficit" that's making it harder to build connection, and why clarity is becoming one of the most attractive qualities in dating today.

You'll learn...

• Why so many people aren't asking enough questions on dates and how it's impacting attraction.
• The best first date habits that actually lead to stronger connections.
• What Hinge's latest dating research reveals about how dating is changing in 2026.
• Why uncertainty is making people more intentional about what they want in a partner.
• The difference between saying you're emotionally available and actually showing it.
• How to communicate your intentions without killing the vibe.
• Why consistency matters more than grand romantic gestures.
• The case for embracing a slow burn
• How to build attraction through curiosity, clarity, and genuine connection.
• A listener dating dilemma: What do you do when you have a crush on your non-binary friend and can't tell if the feelings are mutual?

Whether you've been frustrated by awkward first dates, mixed signals, or conversations that never seem to go anywhere, this episode will give you practical insights—and a fresh perspective on what actually helps relationships get off the ground.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! bbvibes.com/DatingIntentionally

FREE STUFF

Dating Guides: 90 questions, FAQ, text templates & more

CONNECT WITH ME

Submit a dating dilemma

Slide into my DMs on IG

Watch the pod on YouTube

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Summer dating is the best, IMO. Vacation flings, coordinating dates when everyone's going away, dating app struggles and more - we get into it all in this guide to dating in the summer. At the end, I tackle a dating dilemma about a promising Hinge connection that fizzled out after both people traveled, and how to tell the difference between someone losing interest and your own anxiety talking.

You'll learn...

• The conversation you need to have before you/they travel
• The biggest dating app mistake to avoid in the summer
• My tips for getting to the date quickly even when people's schedules are crazy
• Advice for deciding to take a break (or not) this summer
• How to navigate a vacation romance without the heartbreak and drama

MENTIONED IN THIS EP

Ep 277 with Camille Virginia about meeting people IRL

Ep 249 with Eric Resnick about revamping your dating app profile

Ep 186 on how (and when) to take a dating break

The waitlist for Date Tracker, my new dating journaling app coming soon!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card! bbvibes.com/DatingIntentionally

FREE STUFF

Dating Guides: 90 questions, FAQ, text templates & more

CONNECT WITH ME

Submit a dating dilemma

Slide into my DMs on IG

Watch the pod on YouTube

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Movie Night brought the drama and lots of lessons to learn about dating. I’m watching Love Island USA Season 8 to draw real-life dating lessons from it. This week (Episodes 23–29), I’m breaking down why feeling stressed more often than at peace is a major red flag, why even well-meaning friends can give terrible dating advice, and why you should check in with a friend before pursuing someone they're interested in. I also get into a better way to have the exclusivity conversation, what it actually takes to rebuild trust after betrayal, and why "fixing" a relationship is never one person's job. Plus, I share my thoughts on the aftermath of Movie Night and what all the chaos can teach us about healthy relationships.

MENTIONED IN THIS EP

Tips for becoming exclusive in dating

How to define the relationship

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Approachability is a skill you can learn. I'm chatting with Camille Virginia, author of The Offline Dating Method and founder of Master Offline Dating, who went from a socially anxious introvert to one of the leading voices on meeting people in real life. I LOVE her book and this convo was so helpful.

We get into:

• Where "high quality" like-minded single people are (and why you keep missing them)
• The limiting beliefs holding you back more than a lack of single people
• How to create a meaningful connection before you ever ask someone out
• Reading the signals that someone is open to being approached
• Sending signals that you're open to being approached

At the end, we tackle a dating dilemma about how to safely and gracefully exit a date that's gone wrong.

CONNECT WITH CAMILLE

Camille's Instagram

Camille's website

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Enter to win Bellesa products! bbvibes.com/DatingIntentionally

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

Download my free dating guides (texting, reflections, FAQ)

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I'm getting into how to gain more certainty in dating by figuring out if you're actually compatible with someone before you're in too deep emotionally. I'm breaking down the three tiers of compatibility (the big stuff, the important stuff, and the emotional stuff), the five things to look for in the first month of getting to know someone, and three ways to actually start building compatibility early on instead of waiting around to "discover" it. I also do a quick gut check for anyone seeing someone right now, plus why chemistry alone can never carry a relationship long-term and how Johnny and I built our own little love languages over time. At the end, I tackle a dating dilemma from a woman whose date ghosted her after they slept together on date two.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Download 90+ dating questions

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Casa Amor has officially arrived, and it exposed exactly why so many dating connections fall apart. I’m watching Love Island USA Season 8 to pull real-life dating lessons from the villa. This week (Week 4, Episodes 16–21), I’m breaking down why scorekeeping is a losing strategy, what having high standards actually looks like, and why asking about someone else's dating life too early can backfire. I also get into the red flag behind "I was just joking," why toxic attachments can feel stronger than healthy connections, and how hope can keep us stuck in relationships that aren't actually right for us. There's a lot to unpack after Casa Amor.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I'm chatting with Jacob Lucas, a dating coach who went from the boxing world to building a huge online following, helping people date with intention. We're discussing everything from his "love at first sight" story with his wife (and why he didn't act on those intense early feelings) to the difference between your gut instinct and your anxiety, to why some people text constantly but never actually make plans. Jacob also breaks down how to invite physical touch rather than force it, and why the right person never gets scared off by your boundaries. At the end, we tackle four listener dating dilemmas about long-distance dating with a busy partner, shooting your shot a second time, handling a too-touchy first date, and what to do when the conversation never goes below the surface.

CONNECT WITH JACOB

Instagram & TikTok: @jacoblucas101

YouTube: Jacob Lucas Dating Coach

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:

⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally

MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT

⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠

SUPPORT THE POD

⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.