This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Marilyn Chinitz—a powerhouse attorney with over 40 years of expertise in family law and divorce. Her wisdom, wit, and compassionate approach to navigating life’s trickiest transitions are unparalleled. Whether you're curious about protecting your assets, healing after heartbreak, or setting yourself up for a thriving relationship, this episode has golden nuggets just for you.

We talked about:

The Art of Resilience: How Marilyn turned decades of challenging cases into a masterclass on thriving after setbacks.

Dating After Divorce: Tips for re-entering the dating world with confidence and clarity.

The Power of a Prenup: Why these agreements aren’t just for the wealthy—they’re tools for communication and trust.

Red Flags vs. Green Lights: Spotting the signs of a strong, healthy relationship.

Self-Care in Transitions: Marilyn’s personal strategies for staying vibrant, focused, and fabulous at any age.

What steps are you taking to build resilience and confidence in your relationships? Remember, the road to love and fulfillment starts with understanding your worth and protecting your peace.   

Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.

I’m so excited to share this week’s powerful story, featuring a journey of resilience, hope, and finding love again against the odds. In this heartfelt episode, we dive into the incredible experience of one of our listeners who, at 48, faced a life-changing loss: the sudden passing of her husband from a heart attack. Grieving and single for over a decade, she never imagined herself dating again, let alone getting remarried.

But everything changed when a friend issued a life-altering challenge: give Match.com a shot for six months. Little did she know that this challenge would lead her on a transformative journey, one that would ultimately bring her to the doors of the Smart Dating Academy.

Overcoming the Fear of Starting Over: Imagine not dating for over 32 years. How do you even begin to navigate the dating world again? We discuss the struggles and triumphs of re-entering the dating scene after loss.

The Power of Support and a Clear Process: Teresa opens up about how the guidance, tools, and support from the Smart Dating Academy helped her identify and attract the right type of partner.

Defining What You Want in a Partner: Why is knowing what you want so important, and how can you stay true to that vision? We explore the mindset shifts that made a difference.

Taking Things Slow and Building Friendship First: The magic of getting to know someone as a friend before diving into romance, and how this approach created a solid foundation for her current marriage.

Using the Marriage Map Tool: Learn about the impact of this tool and how it guided Teresa to determine if her partner, Curtis, was the right match.

Teresa's story is a beautiful reminder that love can come back into your life when you least expect it, and that with the right approach and support, you can find a partner who complements your life perfectly.

Ready to redefine your dating life or need guidance on your journey to love? Visit Smart Dating Academy to learn more about our transformative programs.

I’m thrilled to bring you a special guest this week, Coach and Conscious Relationship Teacher Veronika Amaya. Veronika is a relationship expert with a unique global perspective on dating and connection, and in this episode she will help us uncover the “missing pieces” that can keep us from forming genuine bonds. Veronika has a wealth of knowledge on the emotional nuances that make relationships thrive and offers down-to-earth tips for bridging those gaps to find and maintain meaningful connections.

Veronika is a treasure trove of insights for anyone who feels that their connections could use a little more depth or clarity. She invites us to look within, encouraging a fresh perspective that feels both reassuring and actionable.

Website: https://www.veronika-amaya.com/

Heather's Journey to Self-Love and Self Discovery - What I Learned at Smart Dating Academy

I’m beyond thrilled to have Dr. Nadine Macaluso (Dr. Nae, as I call her!). on today’s episode! Dr. Nae’s story is nothing short of jaw-dropping — she was married to The Wolf of Wall Street himself, Jordan Belfort. But this conversation isn’t just about her past; it’s about her incredible journey of survival, healing, and growth. Dr. Nae has taken what she’s learned from that chapter of her life and is using it to help others break free from toxic relationships and trauma bonds (she went back to school and got her doctorate as part of her journey to help herself and others).

We had such an amazing chat, and I know you’re going to love it! Dr. Nae has been through it all, and she’s come out the other side stronger, wiser, and ready to share her insights on how to stop repeating old patterns and start thriving in healthier relationships.

We talked about:

Her experience with trauma bonds and why we keep picking the same type of partner

How to break free from unhealthy patterns and build a stronger sense of self

What it really takes to heal after trauma and thrive in love again

Why choosing healthier partners isn’t just about avoiding red flags, but learning to trust yourself

The power of resilience and how to bounce back from hardship

I can’t wait for you to hear this episode! Dr. Nae’s story is powerful, and her advice is game-changing if you’ve ever struggled with toxic relationships.

If you love the episode, please subscribe, rate, and share it so we can keep bringing you these incredible conversations!

Website: Drnae.com

In this heartwarming love story episode, I sit down with our beloved client Tara, an accomplished attorney from Chicago, who shares her incredible journey of love and self-discovery. Tara's story begins in a traditional household, where arranged marriages were the norm, and she herself entered one that didn't quite work out. However, through her resilience, career-focused mindset, and our Smart Dating work together, Tara redefined what love meant for her, and found a relationship that truly aligned with her heart.

We dive deep into the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and how she overcame cultural expectations to create her own love story. 

We talk about:

Whether you've had an arranged marriage experience, are navigating modern dating, or just love a good love story, Tara's journey will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and ready to take control of your own relationship destiny.

Ready to rewrite your love story? Tune in to this episode and learn how you can find your own version of love, no matter where you start. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a review if you enjoyed Tara’s inspiring journey!

Title:  Beyond Mars and Venus: Relationship Skills for TODAY with Dr. John Gray

I couldn't be more excited to have Dr. John Gray, who wrote one of the most well-known and trusted relationship books of all time: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (the #1 bestselling book of its decade).  We had such a good chat that you're going to love; John lost his loving partner of decades and has found love AGAIN!  We talked about love, loss, new love, and getting the BEST out of your partner - whether your relationship is brand new or decades old.  He has appeared repeatedly on Oprah, as well as on The Dr. Oz Show, TODAY, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and others. He has been profiled in Time, Forbes, USA Today, and People.

We talked about:

Can't wait for you to listen to and LOVE this episode!   If you love it, please subscribe to our podcast, and feel free to give it the top rating so we can keep it going for you!  

I am super excited to have Todd Baratz as a guest on the podcast. Todd is a renowned psychotherapist and sex therapist whose innovative approaches to mental health and relationships have established him as a leading figure.   

We talked about:

This episode has so many great take-aways to build healthier and more fulfilling relationships. It all starts with developing more self-awareness and getting to know ourselves on the inside.   In addition to his clinical practice, Baratz is a prolific writer and speaker. His insights are regularly featured in various media outlets, where he discusses topics ranging from romantic relationships to individual mental wellness. 

Website: https://www.toddsbaratz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourdiagnonsense

New Book: How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind

Guest: Jill Foos, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC) with a rich background in psychology and functional medicine health coaching.

This week, we come to you with one of your favorite things to hear because it's HOPEFUL, a Smart Dating Academy real-life love story. Jill was a coaching client who found the lid to her pod and started her own business. 

Jill met her husband at a young age and they eloped to get married and had 5 kids. Jill started seeing the red flags early on, and that they were on separate pages just a few years into the marriage, but they stuck it out for 24 years and eventually got divorced.

Jill and Bela met in 2018 when she wasn't dating yet. She knew she needed help getting back into the dating world and decided to start working with SDA. Lindsay and I helped Jill figure out what characteristics and traits she SHOULD BE looking for in a partner to make her happy -- vs. the standard "checklist" women often use!   

After setting up her dating profile on the apps, Jill really embraced the whole process and dated for about 18 months.   What was her 'last first date'?  A wonderful set-up date by a friend with a man named Noah. She immediately liked Noah during their first date because he made her laugh. This was during Covid, so they kept it slow and got creative with their dates.

After about 6 months of dating, Jill moved a block away from Noah and half a year later her lease was up and she moved in with Noah. They have been in a relationship for 4 years now and are still going strong. The relationship feels easy and their blended family, which includes both of their kids, Jill's ex-husband and his new partner, gets along well and spend holidays together.  And Jill started a new career as well, as one can when they have happy love!  She is now a dedicated National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC) and the founder of Jill Foos Wellness. She's helping women and look better at all ages, but especially during midlife.

I hope that you are inspired by Jill's story. She felt like her life was shattered, but she built it back up step by step and is now in a better place than ever. 

This week on the podcast, I have the absolute pleasure to interview Elizabeth Earnshaw, a renowned Gottman therapist and bestselling author (she has a new book coming out in September!) who is the owner of a thriving family and marriage therapy practice. She is known for her popular Instagram account @lizlistens and has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, and more.

  

Elizabeth and I delve into various crucial topics concerning relationships and stress management. 

We talk about:

Elizabeth shares such valuable insights and this is a must listen if you want to focus on managing stress and fostering healthy communication in relationships.

Website: elizabethearnshaw.com

The Balancing Act | Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT | Substack