Life Academy

By Alicia Banit & Dena KaplanSociety & Culture Education

Life Academy episodes

March 24 Life lately: Bye Poo Era & Welcome Kinder Mum Friendship Era!
Poo era who?! Welcome to the kinder mum friendship era!!! 💜
Alicia made a mum friend at drop off and squealed in her car about it – we're entering a new chapter darlings. She also MC'd her first wedding, and we need to chat about Crocs being poisonous???
Dena thinks Alex might propose on their 9am date (gut feeling activated), retreats have been chaotic, she's got a new acting agent, and we end up talking about why women read spicy books instead of watching porn.
Such a big catch up energy this week!!! And we missed you guys so muchhhh 💕
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Little Soles: Paediatrician-approved kids shoes that slip on like Crocs but aren't poisonous! Aussie brand, designed for busy little bodies.
Gaia Detangler Spray: Natural, organic, magic in a bottle – brush through knotty toddler hair without the screaming.
Benefit Benetint: The OG lip and cheek tint – chuck it on with no makeup and you don't look like a corpse at kinder drop off.
Nature Time: Go pick fruit, sit in the garden, watch dogs at the park – we all need it right now.

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53 min
March 17 Harry Style's Album Flops! Was Kyle & Jackie O a Publicity Stunt?
DAlings! Okay so we're doing something different today 💅✨ There's so much going on in pop culture right now and we have OPINIONS!! Dena's heartbroken over Harry Styles' new album (Aperture is incredible but the rest???), Alicia's obsessed with Wuthering Heights and Jacob Elordi in that corset scene, we're both fuming at Timothée Chalamet for calling ballet a "dying art" (as former dancers we have WORDS), and we unpack everything going on with Kyle and Jackie O.Fair warning – this is chaotic, we know nothing, and we had to fact check approximately zero things.

Enjoy!!! 💕

0:00 Did Harry Styles Album Flop?
6:00 Wuthering Heights Review!
10:00 Jacob Elordi – The corset scene changed everything
12:00 Hamnet Review... MUST WATCH15:00 Oscar Season - Our picks
19:00 Timothée Chalamet Drama – Ballet is "dying"???
24:00 Kyle & Jackie O – Publicity Stunt?
31:00 The Pitt – The show winning everything (Dena can't watch it)
33:00 Wrap Up – Let us know if you want more pop culture eps!

Follow ut at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamyhttps://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcastJoin our

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Wuthering Heights: Go see it – cinematically insane, Jacob Elordi and that corset scene, enough said.
Hamnet: Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, heartbreaking and beautiful.
The Pitt: Winning every award, set in an ICU, everyone says it's incredible.
Aperture by Harry Styles: The one good song from the album (sorry Harry stans).

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35 min
March 15 Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E2 | Secrets We've Never Told You
We're baaaack with another rewatch and this time it's Episode 2 baby!!! 🎬✨
You guys demanded we do every single episode so here we are and honestly we're loving it. We chat about that little kangaroo joey who deserves an award 🦘, how STUNNING Sydney looks in those drone shots, Abigail's villain era kicking off, and the iconic pointe shoe to the face moment 🩰💥. Alicia spills on actually jumping into Sydney Harbour with actual sharks (!!) 🦈 while Dena talks about how hard it is to act bad at hip hop when you're lowkey great at it lol 💃
Whether you're rewatching along with us or hearing these stories for the first time, this one's full of behind-the-scenes secrets, real talk and a lot of laughing at ourselves 😂
Subscribe, leave a review and tell us your fave Ep 2 moments. We love you!!! 💛
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast

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25 min
March 10 Life Lately: Baby Number Two!? and Daycare Drama
We're back and we're BACK period 💅✨
Literally – Dena's period came back after a whole year so baby number two is ON!!! We're manifesting getting pregnant at the same time because how good would that be?!
We also need to talk about cliquey kinder mums (Alicia's been fully ignored at drop off like multiple times??), Dena went full mama bear when a daycare teacher called Maya "stubborn" on her first day, and honestly we're just two tired mums holding it together. Messy houses, 150 unread emails, crying in the kitchen – you know the vibe.
Oh and Dena's going on a solo retreat to Bali in September – details on her Insta if you want to come!!! dm her for the deets.
This episode is about us and you - THE tired mums guild. You are not alone in this journey Dalings!!! 💕
2:00 DENA'S PERIOD IS BACK – After a year off HRT!!!
6:00 Big Life Decisions – City vs country, renovations & medications
8:00 Life Academy Anniversary – Almost 1 year & nearly 1 million downloads!
16:00 THE KINDER MUM DRAMA – Why is Alicia being ignored?!
22:00 Maya's New Daycare – The "stubborn" comment & Dena's mama bear moment
31:00 Strong-Willed Girls – Why we need to protect their confidence
33:00 Dena's Bali Retreat – Solo trip in September, details on Insta!
39:00 Messy Houses & Mum Guilt – Alicia cried in her kitchen
42:00 Recs – Sunglasses for small heads & walking pads!
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Bellini Sunglasses: Finally found sunnies that fit a small head – Alicia's obsessed!
Walking Pad: $180 from Amazon – get your steps in while studying or working. Game changer!
Codral: Dena's go-to when she feels a cold coming on – knocks it out in 48 hours.
Bali Retreat: Dena's going solo in September – fitness, healthy food, somatic work & divine feminine energy. DM her if you want in! https://chelsea-faye.mykajabi.com/fayeretreat

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47 min
March 03 Life Lately: We Answer EVERYTHING
It's Life Lately time besties!!! 💜💜

We're doing an Ask Us Anything and you guys did NOT hold back with the questions! We're talking tattoos, piercings, love languages, Home and Away auditions, and yes – we finally answer all your Dance Academy questions 😂

Big moment: Dena made the Dean's Honour Roll and we're still screaming about it!!! We also have a lot of thoughts on feeling lost in your 20s (spoiler: it's normal and you'll be fine). Oh and someone asked if Dena's had a nose job which made us laugh – it's just contouring guys!!! Makeup tutorial coming soon 👀

This one's a quickie but a goodie. So much love in the questions you guys sent – we see you!!! 💕

0:00 Intro – Headaches, blue eyeliner & Maya the Avatar
8:00 Q&A Begins – Tattoos & piercings (Dena wants a Kendrick lyric!)
13:00 "I'm So Proud of Myself" Moments – Isla, the podcast & nearly 1 million downloads
17:00 Advice for Women in Their 20s – It's okay to be lost
22:00 Rapid Fire Questions – Love languages, Home and Away auditions & more
29:00 The Nose Job Question – It's just really good contouring!!!
30:00 Makeup tutorial coming soon!

Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast

Recs/Homework:
Blue Eyeliner for Brunettes: Makes your eyes POP – Dena's obsessed! Mecca Max one is amaze!
Buff Nail Studios: Ask for Talitha in Mornington – her nails last 7 weeks!!!
Put Yourself Out There: Send the email, ask for the work experience, find a mentor.
Enjoy Your 20s: Get lost, make mistakes, have fun – your 30s will come soon enough!

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30 min
February 24 Life lately: Gut and Mental Health Magic with Dr Verena
Okay besties we are SO excited for this one!!! 💜💜💜
Dr Verena Raschke-Cheema flew all the way from Sydney to sit with us and honestly, this woman changed Dena's life (Like actually changed it). She helped her through the darkest time – addiction recovery, gut health chaos, mental health stuff, everything.
Dr. Verena's a nutritional scientist, a PhD, a kinesiologist which means she can literally muscle test what your body needs?! We go deep about kids immunity (Alicia needs help with Isla!), the gut-brain connection, hormones, and she even does a breathing exercise with us. Plus her cookbook is a staple in Dena's kitchen!!!
If you've ever felt like you've tried everything and nothing works – this episode is for you. So much wisdom, so much hope, so much goodness in this one. 💕
0:00 — Dana's raw origin story: addiction, benzos & hitting rock bottom
3:09 — What Dr Verena actually does (and why people come to her as a last resort)
7:34 — How kinesiology muscle testing works — and the science behind it
15:15 — The full protocol: blood tests, microbiome mapping, genetic testing + kinesiology
17:05 — Why kids keep getting sick — spleen, zinc deficiency & emotional stress
21:30 — #1 reason people see Dr Verena: gut health and everything connected to it
28:44 — Treating gut health AND the mind simultaneously — why one without the other fails
33:46 — NAD, longevity genes & what Kim Kardashian is actually onto
35:19 — Dr Verena's 30-day homework: the 2-minute breathing technique that switches off fight-or-flight
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/doctorverena
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
2-Minute Breathing: Inhale for 4, exhale for 6 – do it for 30 days and watch your nervous system reset!
Dr Verena's Cookbook: "Dr Verena's Kitchen" – sugar free, paleo, keto, low FODMAP recipes that actually taste amazing: https://doctorverena.com/
Taylor Swift Eras Tour Doco: Even if you're not a Swiftie, this will convert you. She's a phenomenon.
Bared Footwear: Comfy AND stylish – Dena wore them to the AACTAs!

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44 min
February 17 Life Lately: All The AACTA Awards/Red Carpet Tea ☕
Dalings!! we have so much to catch you up on!!! 💜

The Gold Coast was absolutely everything, Isla's first theme park holiday (she's a little adrenaline junkie omg), AACTA red carpet glam, pool days at The Star feeling like actual queens, and our panel where we got to hug so many of you!!! Our Mexican fans are UNREAL 🇲🇽🥹

We also had some big feelings this week. We're opening up about body image, feeling insecure in our dresses even when everyone said we looked great, and leaving the awards SO inspired to get back into acting. Oh and Dena had to see a podiatrist who looked like Heath Ledger so that was fun 😂

It's chaotic, it's emotional, it's US. We love you guys!!! 💕

Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/the.clinical.coach/
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast

Recs/Homework:
Salt and Ripple Activewear: Aussie brand with shorts that don't ride up – perfect for us curvy gals!
MontiiCo: School bags, lunchboxes and drink bottles – beautiful quality.
Benefit Bang Bad Gal Lash Mascara: Dena's new holy grail – lifts, volumises and gets every tiny lash!
Banana Hair Clips: They're back baby! Perfect for a long ponytail without the effort.

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1 hr 32 min
February 10 Life lately: Attachment Theory, EMDR & A Qualified Life Coach with Janelle Corlass-Brown
It's a big one today besties! 💜 We kick things off with the usual chaos – Alicia survived a 44-degree night with no power (thank god for Makita fans), Dena wandered around the city for 40 MINUTES looking for her car, and we're getting so excited for the AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast!!!
Then, we're joined by our beautiful friend Janelle Corlass-Brown! She's a clinical psychologist who we've known since our dance school days, and honestly Janelle is the warmest, most nurturing human 🥹🥹. She breaks down attachment theory in a way that finally makes sense, explains what actually happens in EMDR therapy (yes, she brought the buzzy things!), and asks us questions that had us both in tears 😭😭.
This episode is full of lightbulb moments and like always, we LOVE you guys! 💕
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy/
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit/
https://www.instagram.com/the.clinical.coach/
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
\Recs/Homework:
Rare Beauty: Blush, contour stick and lip liner – so blendable and user friendly!
Grounding: Feet in the grass, deep breaths. Simple but powerful.
Self-compassion: Hold your face, be gentle with yourself. We're always with ourselves!
AAPI Directory: Looking for a therapist? Start here: https://aapi.org.au/

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1 hr 21 min
February 03 Life Lately: 37, C-Sections & The 2 AM Cleaning Club with Lucy Olympia Young
It’s a birthday catch-up with your daling besties and honestly, Dena is a whole new woman! 🎉🎉 She’s officially 37 and apparently, that means staying up until 2 AM vibing to her new Olivia Dean vinyl (yes, we are obsessed). Alicia spills the tea on her AACTA Awards dress disaster—a gorgeous, sparkly, sexy couture piece but... didn’t fit, leaving her in a last-minute styling scramble.
Then, we’re joined by the absolute force of nature: Lucy Olympia Young! She breaks down her "scuba tank" core analogy, which will completely change the way you think about your pelvic floor, and gives us the raw truth on C-section vs. vaginal recovery. (Spoiler: neither is the "easy way out".) she is an expert on perinatal fitness and a general girl boss!
Honestly, we both have a massive girl crush on her, and you will too! 💕
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lucyolympiayoung/
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Oura Ring: Track sleep, latency, and recovery—just maybe wait until the first year of twins is over!
Worry Rings: Aesthetic gold rings that work like a fidget spinner for the ADHD or anxious darlings.
"His and Hers": A Netflix murder mystery series that’ll have you guessing until the very end.
BumpStrong App: http://www.bumpstrong.com/
Perinatal training that helps you understand the "why" behind every move.

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1 hr 10 min
January 27 Life Lately: Facing Depression and Surviving The Poo Era!
It’s a “Life Lately” catch-up with your daling besties (Yes we still can't decide)Today Dena spills the tea on using ChatGPT as a red carpet stylist and Alicia shares a major ego boost from Pilates where she was mistaken for a 21-year-old.

We also get real about the “sobering” side of turning 37. Dena opens up about fighting depression for over half her life, the fear of the “ground crumbling” , and why she’s a huge advocate for Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy.

Finally, the “poo era” continues with a total parenting fail at a brewery, think no nappies, a stomach bug, and the legendary mums who saved the day. Plus, a beautiful poem that reminds us we’re all just figuring it out, one day at a time.

If you are enjoying the pod please review, share and subscribe and join our private fb group to be on the most wholesome part of the internet.

Connect with us:

Follow us at
www.instagram.com/denaamy
www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast

Join our Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FY3kDRxvQ/

Watch us on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast

Recs/Homework:
Perfume: TULITA (All natural essential oils with rose quartz crystals).
Health: Drink two litres of water a day for better skin and energy.
Poetry: Check out Ria and Miles (Ray Bennett)

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32 min

About Life Academy

From the publisher's feed

On screen frenemies to real life besties, so of course we started a podcast! Stay tuned for your weekly questionable life lessons from Dena Amy Kaplan and Alicia Banit. Class is in session!