Dating Intentionally

Emotional availability is one of the most desired traits in a partner, but it's so hard to find. In this episode, I'm walking through four real listener dilemmas that show how emotional unavailability actually shows up: from being blindsided by a breakup after a seemingly perfect relationship, to oversharing too early with someone you barely know, to getting stuck in a months-long holding pattern, to wondering if your sky-high standards are actually a wall. I'm breaking down what emotional availability really looks like, why "chasing the feeling" keeps people stuck, and how to start recognizing emotional availability so you don't miss it.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Episode 152 - a deeper dive on emotional unavailability
Episode 217 - with Julia Kristina, a therapist and expert on emotional intelligence and maturity
Episode 255 - healing anxious attachment with Rebecca Ore

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Boll & Branch: Get 15% off the softest bedding at bollandbranch.com/dating
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⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally
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I'm chatting with Hanna Anderson and Mackenzie Foltz, the co-hosts of The Dating Detectives, a podcast that combines real PI work with deeply ethical storytelling about people who got conned in love. We're discussing everything from what "dogfishing" actually is (and how it's different from catfishing) to the subtle early red flags most people miss, to why love bombing feels so good even when it's a setup. Mackenzie and Hanna also share their PI-approved guide to vetting someone you're dating without feeling "crazy," including the exact line to use when you've found something on them, plus practical safety tools every single person should know about. At the end, we tackle a dating dilemma about a guy who keeps liking other women's photos on Instagram after being asked to stop.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
"The Origin Story" — the case that inspired the show
The crypto catfish (FaceTime sob story episode)
The "time-traveling" investor episode
The Twitter vegan episode
The "evil stepmother" episode
My guest appearance on The Dating Detectives!

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off the softest bedding at bollandbranch.com/dating
Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:
⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally
MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT
Download my free dating guides (texting, reflections, FAQ)
⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠
SUPPORT THE POD
⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I'm covering how attraction actually works when you're dating for a long-term relationship, from how to know if you're attracted to someone and what's "enough," to how long to give it before walking away, to how attraction can grow over time and what it actually takes for that to happen. I'm also answering a few listener questions, and at the end, I tackle a dating dilemma about a confusing Bumble interaction.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Free dating FAQ guide
Stop looking for attraction on the first date
Dating outside your type
Flirting tips episode

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off the softest bedding at bollandbranch.com/dating
Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:
⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally
MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT
Download my free dating guides (texting, reflections, FAQ)
⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠
SUPPORT THE POD
⁠Rate on Apple
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I'm chatting with Keltie Maguire, a life coach who specializes in helping people navigate the kids-or-child-free decision — a topic we've never covered on this show before. After spending years as a fence-sitter herself before ultimately choosing a child-free life, Keltie now helps individuals and couples gain clarity on one of the most complex decisions they'll ever make. We're discussing everything from why "you'll just know" is terrible advice to why a pros and cons list won't actually help you, how to approach this decision when you're ambivalent, and why both people in a couple need to be willing to compromise. Keltie also shares how to talk about the kids question while you're dating: when to bring it up, what to put on your profile, and what to do when your person isn't sure. At the end, we tackle a dating dilemma about a woman who's finally found a stable, kind man she feels safe with, but she's embarrassed by how he looks.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Kids or Child Free Podcast (Keltie's pod)
We Are Child Free Podcast
The Baby Decision (book)
Amanda White's Substack, Fence Sitter

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off the softest bedding at bollandbranch.com/dating
Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:
⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally
MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT
Download my free dating guides (texting, reflections, FAQ)
⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠
SUPPORT THE POD
⁠Rate on Apple

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don't let your situationship stop you from getting into a relationship. In this episode, I'm getting into how situationships happen in the first place to why leaving feels impossible to the exact words to use when you finally end it. I share my own 2-year situationship story, break down the difference between situationships and casual dating or friends with benefits, and give you a real plan for healing that works. At the end, I tackle a dating dilemma about how to handle inconsistent communication early on when someone takes three days to confirm date plans.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Signs you're in a situationship (ep 69)

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off the softest bedding at bollandbranch.com/dating
Quince: Get 10% off and 365-day returns at quince.com/talia

CONNECT WITH ME:
⁠Slide into my DMs on IG @dating.intentionally
MORE FREE ADVICE & CONTENT
Download my free dating guides (texting, reflections, FAQ)
⁠Get more dating advice from me on YouTube⁠
SUPPORT THE POD
⁠Rate on Apple
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.