This episode is part two of my beautiful conversation with Lara Bokovay, where we continue diving deep into the energetic side of dating, intimacy, and connection.We explore:

• The energetic exchange during intimacy - what it means to invite someone into your energy field, and how to become discerning about who you allow into your space.
• Lara’s perspective on where dating is headed, given the challenges many people face with finger-pointing, old patterns, and cycles that keep repeating.
• Signs and synchronicities. How the universe is always guiding us, offering answers, and showing us that what is meant for us will never pass us by.
• Energetically connecting with your divine masculine or feminine counterpart, and how those connections can show up in your life even if they’re not physically beside you.
• Ways to tune into this connection even if you don’t consider yourself “psychic” or highly intuitive (yes, you can do this too!).

One of my favorite moments from our chat was when Lara asked “What does it feel like to be loved the way you want to be loved?”This episode is an invitation to reflect, trust, and lean into the deeper layers of love and connection.💌 If you haven’t listened to Part One yet, make sure you go back and catch it first!

This episode is your reminder that it’s okay to be single, it’s okay to wait, and it’s okay to hold onto the vision of the love you truly desire.

I sit down with coach, intuitive, and psychic Lara Bokovay, who shares her raw and inspiring journey of walking away from a five-year marriage, choosing celibacy for five years, and doing the deep inner work to heal her wounds and reconnect with her authentic self.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The power of asking yourself: How do you want to be loved? And are you ready to receive it?
• Why validation from men isn’t the same as alignment, and how universal redirection shows up.
• Healing the wounded feminine, unpacking family wounds, and reclaiming sovereignty.
• The truth about intimacy: physical closeness doesn’t equal emotional depth.
• Why being single is not a punishment, but a season to build your empire and strengthen your self-worth.

Most importantly, Lara shares her passionate belief in being patient and uncompromising when it comes to love. Her words are a permission slip for every single woman listening.

“Hold the vision of what you want for yourself, there is no compromise” 

“Acknowledge the ‘not right now,’ and keep living your life. What is meant for you will not pass you by.”

This episode is for the woman who needs the reminder that solitude is better than settling, that self-worth is found within, and that the right partner will meet you with clear intentions when the timing is divine.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation!

💌 If this conversation spoke to you:

Connect with Lara Bokovay and find out more about her work here: ⁠https://www.larabokovay.com/⁠

Connect with your host Vanessa Maree on Instagram @vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠

Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠

Share this episode with a friend who needs the reminder not to settle!

In this solo episode, I’m giving you an update on my recent singles event, sharing how Reiki has been a game-changer for opening my heart again, and revealing a little Hinge hack that has men sending the first message (yes, it’s actually working!).

Singles Events Update!

I talk about the beautiful connections that happen when people come together without pressure or expectation, like how walking in nature and not needing constant eye contact can ease nerves and open up real conversations. I share a story about a woman who hadn’t been on a date in a long time, and how just having a genuine chat with a man helped her build confidence again.

I also address one of the biggest misconceptions: that you’ll instantly meet your future husband at a singles event. Instead, I invite you to shift your perspective, these events are about opportunities. You might meet a new friend, a business collaborator, or another woman who becomes your wingwoman. By letting go of rigid expectations, you open yourself up to receiving exactly what you need in the moment.

Reiki Update!

Reiki has been paramount in my own journey of opening my heart. I share how Reiki helps dissolve stuck emotions, unblock your energy, and create space for connection. Beyond Reiki, I touch on other ways to open your heart, through kindness, compassion, gratitude, and simply being of service to others.

Finally, I share a fun discovery on the Hinge dating app: the way you word just one prompt can completely change the dynamic and make men feel safe enough to message you first. This little tweak has already been working for me, and I’ll tell you exactly how.

💌 If you loved this episode, I’d love for you to:

Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠

Follow the podcast page ⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠ Or share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it today!

In this heart-opening chat, Vanessa Maree interviews Ash Edelman, mindset coach and breathwork facilitator, to explore what it means to be a man today, how we heal through relationships, and a reminder that good men do exist (yes, really).

Heads up: There are a few minor audio dropouts – Ash was calling in from Dubai!

What we dive into:

• How bringing men and women together in healing spaces creates real transformation.
• Why both sexes just want to be seen, understood, and safe to open up.
• Letting go of past relationship wounds to show up fully and consciously in dating.
• The moment Ash drew a line in the sand and turned his life around.
• His biggest teacher? Marriage. And the personal development it forced him to start.
• How breathwork helped him unlock emotional suppression and shift trauma.
• Vulnerability as strength, and why men need to be safe to feel by their partners.
• Understanding attraction: how partners mirror your current level of awareness..
• The energetic exchange of dating — including the debate on who pays
• Masculine & feminine polarity: Why women are shifting more masculine, and what men actually need to lead
• His real advice for women navigating modern dating
• And of course… Where are all the good men? Ash weighs in.

Connect with Ash for mindset coaching, breathwork sessions or attend his private events find him here: @consciously_ash

Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠ Check out my latest event for singles or book in a Reiki session!

Single and Not Settling is now on Instagram! Head over to ⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠ to stay up to date with episode releases and your hit of dating empowerment!

In this episode, Vanessa Maree is joined by the radiant Isabelle Prestia. Isabelle is a social media and marketing coach & NLP Practitioner and the founder and host of her own podcast, Start Somewhere.  In this episode, she shares her deeply personal journey of calling off her engagement just 12 months ago after a whirlwind romance that saw her engaged within six months.

Isabelle opens up about the control she experienced, the signs she ignored, and how pushing through discomfort led to the unravelling of her relationship. We talk about:

- Recognizing pink flags early on and not brushing them aside.

- ‎Trusting your intuition even when you’re being gaslit or betrayed.

- ‎The bravery it takes to choose yourself and walk away from what you thought you wanted.

- Healing after heartbreak and handling the moment the rug is pulled out from underneath you.And of course, we get into Isabelle’s ultimate glow-up—how she turned her pain into power, relocating to a new city, building a life of alignment, and becoming an abundant, magnetic force in her business and personal life. Her story is a beautiful reminder that when we release what no longer serves us, we create space for everything we’re truly meant for.

This episode is for every woman who’s ever felt herself losing her sparkle in love. It’s your reminder to tune into your intuition, hold your standards high, and never forget who you are.

Oh, and wait until you hear Isabelle’s post-breakup theme song—it’s a whole vibe 🔥

Connect with Isabelle on Instagram @isabelle.startsomewhere

More of Isabelle's links and Freebies! Click here

Connect with Vanessa Maree @vanessamaree_wingwoman NEW Event for Singles has been posted! Grab your spot NOW!!

Single and Not Settling is now on Instagram! Head over to @singleandnotsettling.podcast to stay up to date with episode releases and your hit of dating empowerment!

This episode isn’t my usual chat about dating, it’s something deeper.

Today I’m sharing the honest, raw side of personal growth: the real cost of uplevelling. 

As women, when we begin working on ourselves, we often don’t expect the ripple effect it has on every part of our lives. We shed layers. Who we were at the beginning of our journey, the friends we leaned on, the standards we accepted for ourselves, they don’t always align with the woman we’re becoming.

We evolve.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why it’s not always the friends you expect who’ll be in your corner cheering you on when you start a business or personal growth journey.

• Releasing expectations that your milestones will not be celebrated the way you celebrated others’ weddings, engagements, and baby showers.

• How evolving means making peace with friendships changing, and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

• What has helped me in the moments of grief and when loneliness washes over. 
• A final reflection encouraging you to do the thing that scares you, because what comes up is guiding you toward the life and love you’re meant for.

I hope this conversation feels like a big exhale and a reminder that shedding old versions of yourself is a sign of growth, not failure.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it on your socials, or send it to a friend who’s also on their personal growth journey. Don't forget, if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple, please rate and review, it helps share this message with more women who need to hear they’re not alone.

Single and Not Settling is now on Instagram! Head over to @singleandnotsettling.podcast to stay up to date with episode releases and your hit of dating empowerment.

Connect with Vanessa Maree on Instagram @vanessamaree_wingwoman and don't forget to grab your free eBook "The Empowered Single Woman".

We've hit 30 episodes!

I'm so grateful to every single one of you who has tuned in, shared feedback, or sent me a DM about how this podcast has landed with you. It's what keeps me going, and I’m so excited to bring you this next heart-opening conversation.

In this episode, I’m joined by Phoebe Rogers, a Clinical Psychologist, Couples Therapist, and author of “When Will It Happen for Me?” a book written especially for single women seeking healthy love.  Her message is simple yet powerful: To find the relationship you truly deserve, the one that feels safe, mutual, and aligned, you have to start with the one you have with yourself.

This conversation is deep, validating, and full of practical takeaways for any single woman who is tired of being told she’s “too much” or “not enough.”

Together, we dive into:
- What Schema Therapy is and how it helps uncover the patterns and wounds from childhood that shape adult relationships.
- How your inner child might be influencing your dating experiences today.

- What to do when you're stuck blaming your parents (and how to move forward with compassion)

- A beautiful visualisation tool to reparent your younger self and help her feel safe and seen.

- A moment I share where I checked in with “Little V” during a trigger and how I supported myself.

- Why the games and tricks to “win” a man just don’t work long-term.

- Her own story of heartbreak, healing, and why she felt called to write this book, because she believes she’s cracked the code.

- The difference between doing the inner and the outer work in your self-love journey.

Grab your copy of “When Will It Happen for Me?”  here: https://www.therelationshipspace.com.au/when-will-it-happen-for-me-book

Connect with Phoebe Rogers on Instagram: [insert handle]

Connect with Vanessa Maree: https://www.instagram.com/vanessamaree_wingwoman/

Follow Single and Not Settling on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/singleandnotsettling.podcast/

Single and Not Settling is now on Instagram! Head over to Instagram and follow ⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date with episode releases and your hit of dating empowerment!This episode is a little different, I was recently interviewed on another podcast, and I knew I had to share it with you too.

This conversation dives into the real, and powerful moments that shaped my journey into personal development, healing, and helping other women do the same.

Whether you're navigating dating, building a life you love, or simply tired of playing small,  this one’s for you. Here’s what we cover:

• My pivotal “aha” moments that led me into personal growth, including the relationships that cracked me open.
• How low self-worth shows up in dating — and why your relationship with yourself is everything.
• Giving yourself the love you seek, instead of relying on dating apps, external validation, or distractions.
• What financial independence means to me and why it's essential for women, especially those leaving unsafe relationships.
• What it’s really like being a corporate employee by day and entrepreneur by heart, and the lessons I’ve learned
• Practical ways to start designing a life that aligns with who you are, including vision boards and intuitive action.
• My final message for single women

If you would like a copy of my free eBook "The Empowered Single Woman, head over to my Instagram and reach out!

Connect with Vanessa Maree and ask her a question, head on over to vanessamaree_wingwoman

In this bonus episode, I’m announcing something I’ve been working on behind the scenes, and if you’re single and living in Melbourne, you’ll want to hear this!

I’m officially hosting my first singles event on June 15, actually I don’t like calling it a "singles event." This is an event for singles.Here’s what I cover in this episode:

• Why these events are for single people who are missing out — because their friends are now married, in relationships, or raising kids.
• What makes our events unique: no pressure, no awkward small talk, no loud bar scenes — just real connection in peaceful, nature-based settings.
• How we’re creating a space where you’re seen, heard, and held — building confidence and helping you gently open your heart to connection.
• A powerful visualisation tool you can use to welcome in more connection (even if you can’t make it to the event)

Event details for 15 June are in the link below. Spots are limited, so if this resonates, don’t wait!

And if you know someone this is perfect for, send it their way.

Grab your ticket here

Connect with Vanessa Maree on Instagram

Follow Single and Not Settling on Instagram! @singleandnotsettling.podcast

Single and Not Settling is now on Instagram! Head over to Instagram and follow ⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠ to stay up to date with episode releases and your hit of dating empowerment!

In this continuation of my reflections on Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey, I dive into the second half of the book, the parts that hit home, and the parts that made me raise an eyebrow (or two). While some of the advice is valuable, other parts…well, let’s just say I have thoughts.

In this episode, I explore:

• Do men even have standards? Or are they just chasing "the cookie"? If that’s the case, can we really be shocked when they take what’s easy and offer nothing in return?
• Are men trying to be better—or are we just hoping they’ll step up? It’s time for women to stop waiting and start getting crystal clear on our own standards.
• Questions to ask before catching feelings: Steve suggests five key questions to understand a man’s values. I unpack these and share how to know if you’re a priority or just a pit stop.
• Communicating your standards like a queen, not a “crazy” chick: Apparently, we need to deliver our needs the “right way” to avoid upsetting a man (sigh). But yes, how you express yourself does matter.
• Confessions from your Wingwoman: I get real about a date I went on (even though I knew the outcome). Spoiler: I’m human too. We all slip sometimes, but let’s not confuse desire with delusion.
• Watch what he does, not what he says: Ask yourself: If he couldn’t speak, would I still know how he feels about me based on his actions alone? That’s where the truth lives.

Want support with your dating standards, mindset, and self-worth? My free eBook The Empowered Single Woman dives deep into all these topics. It’s your go-to guide to help you:

• Define your values
• Set high standards (Stop settling for breadcrumbs when you deserve the whole damn bakery)
• Understand your own patterns and beliefs
• Self Care because we know dating can feel like a rollercoaster sometimes!

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/vanessamaree_wingwoman/