#11: Is Valentine's Day a multi-billion dollar marketing ploy perpetuated by soulless corporations? Yes. But is it the perfect time to make an extra effort to show love to yourself and others? Also yes.

After hearing Episode 10, listener Matt decides to step up his game and writes in asking for good date ideas. Determined to leave this world less boring than they found it, Amanda and Julia rattle off nineteen.

From physical activities that won't leave you sweaty, to a surefire way to exude BDE, this list has range. Whether you're a nude painting enthusiast, a vandal, or something in between, we've got you covered.

After giving you the fish, the girls teach you how to fish by sharing their proprietary list of six qualities that separate a meh date from a great one.

Because if it's not fun, what's the point?

The Recs of the Week this week are a Custom Vintage Viewfinder and a Custom Postcard Book.

DM your questions to @much.needed.advice on Instagram to be featured on future podcasts.

*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#10: We know you love us for our popular Valentine's Day episodes. We're serving up another this year with the help of Ryan Rysyk, couples counselor, master advice-giver (Virgo, duh) and bff.

(15:30) Ryan helps us answer Ben's question about moving from casual to intentional dating. If you know you're ready for a relationship but it's just not happening, this is the episode for you. We also cover desperate vibes and other turn offs, reasonable deal breakers and dating profile tips. 

(36:15) The Recs of the Week are all sleep-themed. Ryan recommends a sound machine or free app for white noise to fall asleep to; perfect for drowning out your future boyfriend's snoring. Julia obsesses over her new Sunrise Alarm Clock, which goes perfectly with her favorite sleep headphones, and Amanda recommends the Alo Humidifier for supple skin, plump lips, and calming aromatherapy.

DM your questions to @much.needed.advice on Instagram to be featured on future podcasts.

*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#9: Remember screen names and hotmail? Take a trip down memory lane with us, featuring one of Amanda's embarrassing stories from middle school.

Then Sarah writes in, curious about confidence. Confidence comes off as deceptively effortless, but it's actually hard won through a ton of personal investment. The good news is: you can be whomever you want to be - even a confident person! Julia & Amanda target this topic from every angle: recognizing friendships that can hurt your confidence, handling embarrassing moments with ease, asking others for what you need, and more. Of course, it wouldn't be an MNA pod if we didn't mention the role of personality tools like the Love Languages, Myers-Briggs or Enneagram.

The Recs of the Week are SugarBearHair, which is $29.99/month on Amazon, and Insight Timer, the #1 free app for sleep, anxiety and stress, which you can find in any app store.


*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#9: We start off strong with Amanda reliving her cookie-related injury and subsequent cookie-related epic fail.

Then, Amanda and Julia tell you why they think starting New Years resolutions January 1st is ridiculous and how the third week of January is the move (note the publish date of this episode).

Amanda explains why her co-workers have popped her zen bubble and Julia finally tells a Prince story involving a dishwasher and a gun. Somehow all of this leads to the girls making up the Much Needed Advice company values on the spot.

We end with the girls giving one piece of advice from 2022, one thing they're proud of, and one thing they are leaving behind. 

DM your questions to @much.needed.advice on Instagram to be featured on future podcasts.

#6: Sam writes in worried he hasn't found his "passion". While Sam is at the ripe old age of 28, Julia & Amanda assure him there's time for the stars to align. They reject the notion there's one true "passion" out there for everyone and take more of a democratic approach to finding joy in life by staying curious, productive, and action-oriented. Because when it comes to your career, you'll have many lovers. And that will make you all the more interesting.

The Recs of the Week are the EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 and the Cube Timer aka "Cube".


*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

Amanda and Julia are back after a one-year hiatus and promise to bring you weekly episodes if you bring us one sponsor for the low price of $1 US dollar per ad. And we're huge in the Virgin Islands. If you are someone or know anyone who writes jingles, send us your MP3 using the tagline "the podcast for people who want to know what to do." Oh, also this is an advice podcast. DM your questions to @much.needed.advice on Instagram and listen here for our reply. Bye!

#8: First, Julia & Amanda reveal their proprietary podcast prep process (hint: it involves drinking martinis in sweats).

Then, listener Rob is a "solopreneur" wary of taking the leap to full-blown entrepreneur by hiring employees. The girls reassure him that it's surprisingly easy to let someone else to do your work for you, and how delegation has changed their lives for the better. You'll get advice on effective delegation and management from both the business-owner and corporate-climber perspective.

Finally, the Recs of the Week are the “pillow slides” aka EQUICK Slippers and The Skinny Confidential’s hot mess ice roller.

*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#4: Join the girls as they chat with Ailis Garcia about their favorite subject: sleep. Ailis is the founder of The Strong Movement, a consultancy that offers custom science-based programs and assessments to support the well-being of people, groups and organizations. She studied the science of well-being at Penn so she knows what she's talking about.

We know, we know... it's 2023 and everybody knows that sleep is important. What you may not know are the sneaky ways you could be sabotaging your slumber.  Ailis breaks down the science of sleep, why the timing of your sleep matters, and how to get better sleep so you can thrive.

The Recs of the Week are our sleep faves: Julia’s obsession, the Sunrise Alarm Clock, which goes perfectly with her favorite sleep headphones, and Amanda’s favorite the Alo Humidifier for supple skin, plump lips, and calming aromatherapy while you dream. Listen to the end of Episode #10 for more details.

DM your questions to @much.needed.advice on Instagram to be featured on future podcasts.

*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#5: Listener Margaret is desperate for tips to combat her perfectionist ways, and the gals give a pretty perfect response if they do say so themselves. Get ready for mantras, gadgets, physical movements, and more...because they've been there before.

Then, Gaby gets swerved by a Grade-A Love Bomber and needs help dissecting the situation. This is your complete guidebook for coping with someone who likes to love ya then leave ya...then return in your dms every six months for the rest of your life.

Last but not least...the Recs of the Week are the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush and the Native Union 10-foot charging cable for the iPhone.


*Our recommendations are based on things we use and love. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting MNA!

#3: The holidays are upon us, and if you're like MNA listener Gen, you're planning to spend some of this time with your significant other's family. Julia & Amanda share their playbook on tackling gift-giving for people you've never met, hitting dinner conversations out of the park, and mopping the floor with their mom's tears (in a good way). It's no holds barred when it comes to the holiday hustle for the one you love. (Can you tell we know sports?)

If you took our advice, tell us how it went by DM-ing us @muchneededadvicepod on Instagram. Give us 5 stars, review and subscribe. We'll see you in the new year.