What do men actually want in modern dating — and are women making dating harder by trying to control the outcome?

Dating coach and Daddy Academy host Niko Emanuilidis returns to Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for an unfiltered conversation with Alexandria Rizik about how to date like a man, why men pull away, masculine and feminine dynamics, attraction, sex, commitment, and the dating behaviors that can make or break a relationship.

Niko breaks down why a woman can make the first move — but why what a man does after that matters more. They talk about what healthy pursuit actually looks like, why inconsistent behavior shouldn't be confused with normal dating, and how women can take control of their dating lives without chasing a man or forcing a relationship forward.

Alexandria and Niko also get into dating apps, modern hookup culture, when to have sex in a new relationship, exclusivity, performance anxiety, body count, male and female friendships, long-distance relationships, boundaries, anxious dating patterns, and knowing when to walk away.

Plus, Niko explains why appreciation and admiration matter to men, what he means by “leaning into wifey,” and why the right relationship should leave you feeling secure rather than constantly questioning where you stand.

In this episode:

If you're navigating modern dating, relationships, situationships, dating apps, commitment, masculine and feminine energy, or trying to understand how men think, this episode is for you.

Love Sex LA: Unfiltered is hosted by Alexandria Rizik and features candid conversations about dating, relationships, sex, culture, health and everything people are thinking but not always saying out loud.

90 Day Fiancé stars Paula and Thomas join Alexandria Rizik on Love Sex LA: Unfiltered to unpack their unconventional love story, the drama viewers didn’t see coming, and what their marriage is really like after filming.

Before they were a couple, Paula and Thomas were best friends living in two different countries. Then Thomas flew to Brazil and confessed his feelings for Paula — while she still had a boyfriend. Years of long distance, an engagement and a move later, the two discovered that being in love and actually living together are two very different things.

In this episode, Paula and Thomas get candid about whether opposites really attract, the difference between chemistry and compatibility, family involvement in relationships, money, cultural differences, boundaries vs. control, and the clashes over perfume and their home that became major storylines on 90 Day Fiancé.

They also break down the 90 Day Fiancé Tell All, including the prank Thomas says left him feeling gaslit, who surprised them most, and Paula’s upcoming revelation — without spoiling what’s still to come.

Plus, Paula explains her belief in manifestation, why she covers her belly button to protect her energy, and the miniatures she uses to manifest everything from money to houses. And Thomas shares what it was really like flying to Brazil to pursue Paula before they were ever officially together.

In this episode:

Watch until the end for Paula and Thomas on where their relationship stands now — and whether living together has made them more compatible or just better at navigating their differences.

Subscribe to Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for unfiltered conversations about dating, relationships, reality TV, pop culture and modern love.

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Serena Kerrigan joins Alexandria Rizik on Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for an unfiltered conversation about dating in your 30s, confidence, relationships, egg freezing, and what it actually takes to find healthy love.

Serena — creator of the “You Are the Prize” philosophy and author of Let’s Fucking Date — opens up about the heartbreaks that shaped her, becoming “Serena Fucking Kerrigan,” and what happens when the dating expert has to confront her own patterns.

Alexandria and Serena get into dating with intention without letting the biological clock or societal pressure send you into panic, the difference between confidence and emotional armor, wanting to be taken care of while still being fiercely independent, and Serena’s decision to freeze her eggs at 28.

They also talk about why so many women mistake anxiety for chemistry, what changed when Serena finally experienced safe and healthy love with Felix, how female friendships influence our romantic relationships, and which Sex and the Citycharacter Serena really is.

Plus, Serena puts her own dating philosophy to the test with Date or Ghost, rapid-fire dating questions, and one very important question: can “I’m the prize” ever become “I’m never the problem”?

In this episode:

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What can a divorce lawyer teach you about choosing the right person to marry?

James Sexton, New York City divorce attorney, bestselling author, and one of the internet’s most recognizable voices on marriage, divorce, dating, sex, and infidelity, joins Alexandria Rizik on Love Sex LA: Unfiltered to reveal the relationship red flags people often ignore before marriage — and the problems that eventually lead couples to divorce.

After more than two decades of watching relationships fall apart, James explains what separates someone who is great to date from someone who is actually great to marry.

In this episode, Alexandria and James discuss:

• The biggest red flags to look for while dating • How to tell if someone is marriage material • Chemistry vs. compatibility — and whether “the spark” is overrated • The most common reasons couples get divorced • The warning signs that often appear before cheating • Whether a marriage can survive infidelity • Sex, desire, and sexual compatibility in long-term relationships • Money, separate finances, and financial incompatibility • Whether everyone should get a prenup • The questions every couple should ask before getting married • The qualities James sees in couples whose marriages actually last • His most controversial opinions about modern dating, hookup culture, relationships, and marriage

They also get into celebrity and high-net-worth divorce, crazy prenup clauses, dating after divorce, falling in love with someone’s potential, whether people really change after marriage, and James’s perspective on what actually makes love last.

If you’re dating, considering marriage, engaged, navigating a long-term relationship, or simply wondering how to avoid choosing the wrong partner, this episode is a masterclass in relationships from someone who has spent his career seeing exactly how marriages fall apart.

Follow Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for more conversations about modern dating, relationships, sex, marriage, culture, and everything no one wants to say out loud.

Vanderpump Rules Season 12 star Jason Salvatore Cohen joins Alexandria Rizik on Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for a candid conversation about reality TV, relationships, OnlyFans, and the season that put his dating life under a microscope.

Jason opens up about his experience on Vanderpump Rules, his approach to dating and attraction, whether he was actually ready for a relationship, and how it felt having his personal life play out in front of millions of viewers.

He also talks about the season’s most talked-about relationship moments and what he wishes people understood about him off camera.

We also get into Jason’s path from studying medicine to modeling, acting, working at SUR, reality TV, and OnlyFans, plus his dynamic with his cousin Chris and the attention surrounding some of their content.From dating and chemistry to cast dynamics, DMs, and life after Season 12, Jason gives his side of the story completely unfiltered.

In this episode of Love Sex LA: Unfiltered, Alexandria Rizik sits down with Mark L. Walberg, longtime host of Temptation Island, to talk about love, cheating, red flags, commitment, and what really makes relationships last.

After spending years watching couples put their relationships to the ultimate test, Mark has had a front-row seat to some of the most complicated relationship dynamics on reality TV. He shares what Temptation Island has taught him about infidelity, trust, communication, emotional connection, and why some couples stay together while others ultimately walk away.

Alexandria and Mark get into the difference between chemistry and compatibility, the warning signs people ignore in relationships, whether cheating always means the relationship is over, and how to know when a relationship is worth fighting for. Mark also opens up about marriage, lasting love, and the relationship lessons he’s learned both on and off camera.

If you’ve ever wondered why people cheat, why we ignore red flags, whether trust can be rebuilt after infidelity, or what makes a relationship survive long-term, this episode is for you.

Topics include: Temptation Island, Mark L. Walberg, cheating and infidelity, dating red flags, toxic relationships, marriage advice, relationship advice, trust after cheating, commitment, communication, reality TV relationships, healthy relationships, and lasting love.

Subscribe to Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for more candid conversations about dating, relationships, sex, pop culture, reality TV, and modern love.

Venus Binkley is opening the vault. 👀

After spending Vanderpump Rules Season 12 as the cast’s go-to confidante, Venus is finally telling his side of the story—and nothing is off limits. On this episode of Love Sex LA: Unfiltered, Venus gets candid about the Vanderpump Rules cast drama, the friendship fallout with Marcus, the Marcus, Kim & Natalie triangle, what really happened behind the scenes, and the major difference between what viewers saw on TV and what actually happened when the cameras weren’t rolling.

We’re getting into the secrets, hookups, betrayals, alleged lies, leaked information, unaired moments, and Vanderpump Rules reunion drama that fans didn’t get to see. Venus reveals what really happened between him and Marcus, whether he believes Marcus and Natalie ever hooked up, what Kim knew, which cast members were hiding the most, and whether some of the season’s biggest storylines told the full story. Plus, we talk about the tension between the OG Vanderpump Rules cast and the new generation, his history with Scheana, reunion apologies that didn’t land, what happened after filming stopped, and whether Venus would trust this cast enough to return for Vanderpump Rules Season 13.

And because this is Unfiltered, we put Venus in the hot seat with Date or Ghost, rapid-fire questions, and F*ck, Marry , Divorce before asking the question everyone wants answered: What’s the one secret Venus has been protecting that he’s finally ready to tell?

If you love Vanderpump Rules spoilers, Bravo reality TV, cast interviews, reunion breakdowns, behind-the-scenes gossip, reality TV drama, Vanderpump Rules Season 13 speculation, and unfiltered celebrity interviews, this episode is for you.

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When life doesn’t go according to plan, it doesn’t mean you’re behind—it might mean your best chapter is just beginning.

Alexandria and her sister Angelica get honest about dating in your 30s, unexpected life changes, modern relationships, and why being single in your thirties can actually be a superpower.

They play “Play Date or Ghost,” answer hilarious rapid-fire questions, and review dating etiquette from the 1950s. Were old-fashioned dating rules more romantic than modern dating—or completely unhinged?

In this episode:

• Why dating in your 30s can be empowering

Whether you’re single, dating, starting over, or learning to trust your own timeline, this episode of Love Sex LA: Unfiltered is for you.

Some friendships carry us through every version of ourselves—but how often do we stop and appreciate the women who continue to show up?

In this friendship episode of Love Sex LA: Unfiltered, we sit down with screenwriter and author Laura Lekkos to celebrate the beauty, importance, and lasting impact of adult female friendship. Inspired by Laura’s novel “All The Little Ways,” we discuss why friendships between women deserve to be valued just as deeply as romantic relationships.

From the friend who answers your late-night call to the one who stands beside you through motherhood, marriage, career changes, and unexpected life pivots, it’s often the little ways our friends love us that make the biggest difference. Laura shares why we shouldn’t take meaningful friendships for granted, how to nurture our connections as life becomes busier, and why making space for our friends matters—even when we’re entering different chapters.

We explore growing together without having to follow the same timeline, making new friends as an adult, and embracing the women who support us through every version of who we are becoming. We also discuss how motherhood can reshape friendships, the pressure women feel to become the “perfect mother,” and why the friends who support us through life’s detours often become the family we choose.

Plus, Laura takes us behind the scenes of “All The Little Ways”—a heartfelt women’s fiction novel about two unlikely friends, their journeys toward motherhood, and the unexpected bond that changes both of their lives.

And because no friendship episode is complete without a little chaos, Laura joins us for: 👻 DATE OR GHOST We give Laura dating scenarios, and she decides whether that person deserves another date—or an immediate ghosting. 🔥 RAPID FIRE Laura answers quick questions about friendship, motherhood, relationships, writing, and who she would cast if “All The Little Ways” became a movie tomorrow.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why female friendships deserve to be celebrated

• The little ways our friends show us they care

• Why we shouldn’t take meaningful friendships for granted

• How to nurture adult friendships when life gets busy

• Growing together while following different life paths

• Making new friends as an adult

• Friendship through motherhood, marriage, and career changes

• The importance of chosen family

• Supporting friends through major life transitions

• Maintaining your identity as your life evolves

• Laura’s transition from screenwriting to novel writing

• The inspiration behind “All The Little Ways”

• Laura’s dream cast for a movie adaptation

Whether you have a lifelong best friend, a new friendship you never expected, or someone who has quietly supported you through every chapter, this episode is your reminder to cherish the women who show up—and to let them know how much they mean to you.

Send this episode to a friend you never want to take for granted.

📖 Learn more about Laura Lekkos and “All The Little Ways”: https://www.lauralekkos.com/

🎧 Subscribe to Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for honest conversations about friendship, dating, relationships, identity, and navigating life in Los Angeles.

TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: What is one little way a friend has shown up for you when you needed it most?

Shayne Davis from Vanderpump Rules joins Alexandria Rizik on Love Sex LA: Unfiltered for an honest conversation about sobriety, sex, commitment, non-monogamy and the complicated relationships viewers watched unfold on reality television.

Known as the “player with a heart of gold,” Shayne opens up about who he really is beyond his on-screen persona—and what people may have misunderstood about him after watching the season. He discusses the challenges of dating sober in Los Angeles, defining casual relationships, navigating jealousy and determining whether female attention, sex or the chase can become substitutes for other addictive behaviors.

Shayne also gets candid about his fear of heartbreak, emotional vulnerability and why receiving the safety and nurturing he wants can sometimes make him pull away. The conversation explores ethical non-monogamy, monogamy, marriage, children and whether keeping relationships casual offers genuine freedom—or protection from the risks of commitment.

Alexandria and Shayne break down his Vanderpump Rules situationships, including his dynamics with Natalie and Angelica, unresolved chemistry, “playing house,” communication issues and what viewers did not see behind the scenes. He also explains why he chose to speak publicly about erectile dysfunction and what he wishes women understood about men’s sexual health.

Later, Shayne reflects on addiction, relapse triggers, protecting his peace and rebuilding his life after survival mode. He shares what sobriety has taught him, how he now helps others in recovery and the man, partner and entrepreneur he hopes to become.

The episode balances playful Bravo tea with a deeper conversation about addiction, intimacy, masculinity, trauma and personal transformation. 

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