Avsnitt
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Sometimes healing is not just talking. Sometimes it’s learning to feel safe in your body again.
In this episode, Alicia sits down with Georgia Verry about Conscious Combat Club, a Melbourne-based charity using trauma-informed martial arts to support women and gender-diverse people impacted by violence. They chat through gender-based violence, fight-flight-freeze responses, dissociation, breathwork, grounding, and why reconnecting with the body can be such a huge part of recovery 🌿
What makes this conversation so special is how practical it is. Georgia breaks down what actually happens before someone joins a class, how triggers and boundaries are handled, why choice matters so much, and how the team is building a space where people can move, pause, cry, rest, try again, and be supported through it all.
This episode is honest, hopeful, and such a different way to think about healing. If this conversation speaks to you, please check out Conscious Combat Club, share their work, or donate if you’re able. Love you dAlings 🩵
1:18 — What Conscious Combat Club does and why it exists
4:59 — Why martial arts can help trauma recovery
5:28 — Traditional self-defence vs trauma-informed martial arts
12:27 — Dissociation, eating disorders, and reconnecting with the body
15:48 — Why breathwork does not work for everyone
19:51 — Building Conscious Combat Club and turning it into a charity
25:23 — Inside the trauma-informed gym and grounding room
29:50 — How to join Conscious Combat Club
32:23 — Why long-term access matters more than short-term programs
36:41 — The ten-year vision for Conscious Combat Club
45:48 — Pound and ground: the nervous system homework
48:26 — How to support Conscious Combat Club
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Welcome to the DA group chat where everyone is late to the pop culture moments but somehow still screaming with excitement!! 🩵✨
We’re catching up on the MOST important, VERY unserious business from the week: Sabrina Carpenter and Madonna, Hailey Bieber’s new Rhode beauty products, Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding, Shrek 5, Kyle Sandilands’ huge radio settlement, and a new mermaid movie with major Dance Academy universe energy.
And of course, because we apparently cannot help ourselves, there’s more Off Campus spiralling, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders chat, Shrinking, Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song, and a little audition chaos thrown in for good measure 🎭
Grab something cosy, come catch up with us, and tell us which pop culture rabbit hole you’re currently living in. Love you SO much dAlings!!! 🩵
1:39 — Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and car-dancing music
3:30 — Rhode beauty updates and the new products everyone is watching
4:49 — Zendaya in Shrek 5 and the character design drama
5:40 — Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding update
10:31 — Kyle Sandilands, ARN, and the huge radio settlement
13:39 — Manifesting a sunny Gold Coast filming job
15:01 — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is back and things have changed
17:05 — Shrinking, Off Campus round two, and why the rewatch hits different
18:21 — Garrett’s mouth acting and the scene the girls cannot move past
19:41 — Audition updates and working with people you swore you never would
20:34 — Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song and late-in-life Swiftie energy
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Join our Facebook group:
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Watch us on YouTube:
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Recs/Homework:
Listen to the Madonna remix — The car-dancing recommendation of the week
Watch Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — The new season is out and worth the watch
Watch Shrinking — A comfort show with great writing and big feelings
Rewatch Off Campus — Round two hits even better
Listen to Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song — Sweet, catchy, and emotional
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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dAlings, we have updates, we have chaos, and we have a VERY exciting Off Campus moment to scream about 🥳🩵
The girls are back with retreat prep, toddler bedtime progress, mum-life brain tabs, listener questions, American Sweethearts chat, and a major Dance Academy full-circle moment that has everyone absolutely spiralling in the best way 👀 Like… the fangirling is real.
Then the episode turns into a gorgeous little reminder that your 20s do not have to be your whole story. The girls talk growing up, figuring yourself out, wrong relationships, career pivots, self-worth, and the kind of wisdom you only get after living through the messy bits.
This one feels like a cosy bestie debrief with a side of nostalgia and a tiny life lesson. So remember, you are perfect just the way you are, dAlings, and we will always (ALWAYS) love you 🩵
Who knew wool was actually the most low maintenance fibre in your wardrobe?! The Dirt Company gave us some tips and tricks to make sure you never ruin your favourite wool pieces ever again. Shop The Dirt Company's refillable, Australian-made laundry products and get their delicate confidence guide FOR FREE with every purchase of their Wool and Delicate Detergent until the end of winter https://thedirtcompany.com.au/
3:34 — Big-girl-bed win and the parenting hack that actually worked
9:05 — Trying for another baby, timing, career dreams, and the mental load
13:28 — The invisible mum load: appointments, groceries, hormones, and resentment
19:05 — Off Campus found the girls and everyone fully spiralled
23:04 — The group chat meltdown and why “yes, and” friends are elite
25:18 — Dance Academy, Off Campus, and manifesting a cameo
30:45 — American Sweethearts, listener questions, and future episode ideas
32:54 — Your 20s: feeling lost, career pressure, and relationships that were not it
41:43 — Why your 30s can feel softer, clearer, and more like you
48:50 — Regrets, body image, self-worth, and learning to back yourself
57:24 — Recs and homework: massages, reset time, and cosy winter essentials
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Book a massage — Even a quick massage counts. A little bit of body care and nervous system love.
Try a sensory deprivation float — A quiet reset for anyone feeling like they have 5000 tabs open.
Cleanseē Studio — A self-care rec for anyone wanting a proper glow-up and body reset.
Lil Hottie heat pack — An electric heat pack that warms up fast and stays cosy for hours.
Write to your younger self — A tiny homework moment: write one thing you wish your 20-year-old self knew.
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Heyyy dAlings, just so you know this episode starts with clean hair and immediately becomes absolute CHAOS 🤣🤣
We’re back with the realest parts of life: being busy mums, toddler chaos, sleep struggles and everything else that's keeping us awake until 2AM 💀
The things keeping us grounded? 🥹 Gratitude, self-love, journaling, resilience, family support, and a tiny homework task that might make you feel a little softer toward yourself this week.
We hope every mum listening feels a little less alone after this one! 🩵
3:00 — Dena’s chaotic morning: new rug panic, running late, and acupuncture magic
7:02 — Big-girl-bed update: four-hour bedtimes and parenting patience
9:50 — Alicia’s park story
13:05 — Sweet young boys, supermarket manners, and hope for future generations
20:54 — Weaning off breastfeeding and the emotional side of letting go
23:56 — Privacy? Never heard of her: toilet boundaries and toddler logic
26:16 — Teaching updates and exciting things we can’t talk about yet
29:12 — Chiropractic disaster story and the most mortifying adjustment ever
31:04 — Dreamwork homework: gratitude, self-love, resilience, and journaling
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/homework:
Gratitude check-in — Write down two things you’re grateful for each morning!
Self-love practice — Name two things you love about yourself every day for two weeks.
End-of-day pride list — Before bed, write two things you’re proud of yourself for that day, even if one is just “I got through it.”
Life Bloom Journal — A guided journal with prompts for gratitude, self-love, pride, and daily reflection.
Fluffi freckle pen — A cute little beauty rec for quick, natural-looking freckles.
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Pop culture class is in session dAlings… and please remember, your two favourite girls are not qualified 😅🩵
Dena is DEEP into podcast-listening research mode 🎧, Alicia is the MOST active member of busy gal club 💅 and somehow together they cover everything from Euphoria and Toy Story 5 to Robert Irwin at the Logies, Legally Blonde, KATSEYE, the Kardashian boyfriend universe, and more 👀
It’s giving group chat energy but with microphones 🎙️ The girls are guessing, reacting, spiralling, manifesting invites, defending their favourite shows, and absolutely promising nothing is properly fact checked. Which, honestly… is kind of the whole point 😂
Take a seat, relax, get cosy, and come spill some hot tea with us ☕ You guys are the best dAlings!!! 🩵
0:44 — Welcome to pop culture — we don’t fact check
2:00 — Euphoria finale spoilers: Rue, Nate Jacobs, and chaos
5:09 — Taylor Swift & Toy Story 5
6:56 — Robert Irwin is hosting The Logies and the girls want an invite
10:10 — Anne Hathaway, facelift rumours, and the slicked-back hair trick
11:38 — Off Campus rewatch and Heated Rivalry winning big
13:03 — Dena’s KATSEYE obsession and why Alicia needs to watch Pop Star Academy
16:01 — Legally Blonde prequel: Elle Woods is back
18:02 — The Wentworth spin-off
20:17 — Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton, and the Kardashian boyfriend group chat 👀
24:19 — Wrap-up: gossip, no fact checking, and loving the silly era
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Pop Star Academy — Dena’s main homework for Alicia. Global girl group training, K-pop energy, Dance Academy vibes on crack.
KATSEYE behind-the-scenes Coachella video — For anyone already in their KATSEYE era or ready to become obsessed.
Heated Rivalry — The girls haven’t watched yet, but the hype is officially noted.
Legally Blonde: Elle — Add the prequel series to the watch list because Reese Witherspoon being involved makes it feel promising.
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We missed you dAlings and honestly… we have SO much to catch up on 🥹
Alicia's first solo trip to Townsville was everything her soul needed: incredible people, deep conversations, and a moment on that sailboat we will not be getting over any time soon 🥹 Dena meanwhile had one of the hardest weeks she's had in a while, said a bittersweet goodbye to Twerk After Werk, and dealt with a toddler who packed an entire suitcase to move into mum and dad's room!!!
Oh and they are both DEEP in their Off Campus era and one of them may have already DM'd Garrett Graham!?!? No further questions.
Love you SO much dAlings 🩵
2:05 — Dena's update: feeling better, back at school and a secret campaign shoot
6:07 — Alicia's Townsville trip!
13:57 — Magnetic Island, a sailboat and the smallest world moment
18:30 — Reflecting on the Harrison James episode and child safety
24:25 — Isla's scary night: 000 and staying calm under pressure
32:14 — The nasal rinse that saved winter and a PSA for Melbourne cold season
39:00 — The au pair's 30th birthday and why she has become family
43:38 — Maya's big girl bed: the packed suitcase, the 4am standoff and she finally got it
50:18 — Twerk After Werk closes: the end of an era and why it was the right call
54:27 — Rainbow unicorn birthday planning, Kmart haul and the new IKEA furniture
57:58 — Off Campus, Garrett Graham and the DM we are not discussing further
1:02:30 — Recs/Homework: Monte bag, Friends Keep Secrets and Jetstar deals
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
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Recs/Homework:
Monty Bag — Australian small business, Mary Poppins energy.
Friends Keep Secrets — Lil Dicky and Selena Gomez messing around in a house with celebrities. So funny!!
Nasal Rinse — Non-medicated and genuinely miraculous for winter colds.
Jetstar — Genuinely cheaper, genuinely great.
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It’s Life Lately and this week the nervous systems are… not thriving 😅🩵
Dena is feeling low, overwhelmed, and behind on life in that very real way where even replying to messages feels like a full-time job. Alicia is also coming down from a scary health moment with Isla that had her back in protective mum mode and running on pure adrenaline.
Somehow though, the episode still finds its sparkle 🥹 We talk Sydney, The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere, travel chaos, the most beautiful Pass Around The Smile live show, and all the ways rejection can secretly be redirection. Plus Mother’s Day, manifestation, vision boards, savage toddlers, book chat, beauty recs, and maybe a tiny little Life Academy live show dream being planted 👀
This one is soft, messy, magical, and very much for anyone who needs to feel less alone this week 🩵
This episode is brought to you by Protect-A-Bed: https://protectabed.com.au/
1:19 — Dena’s low battery era: feeling flat, sore, and overwhelmed
4:32 — Alicia’s scary late-night mum moment with Isla’s breathing
9:12 — Running on adrenaline: health anxiety, nervous systems, and the crash after stress
13:25 — Sydney chaos: The Devil Wears Prada premiere and one very angry man
24:47 — Rejection as redirection: agents, auditions, breakups, and career pivots
32:02 — Dance Academy dreams, acting paths, and “God was listening” moments
34:13 — Vision boards, Bali manifestations, and dreams that actually came true
37:34 — Mother’s Day: sweet moments, savage toddlers, and “do you love me?” chaos
44:07 — Book chat, beauty recs, and the girls’ latest little obsessions
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Pass Around The Smile — Cleo’s podcast, live show, oracle cards and journals.
Vision boards — Dena’s manifestation homework. Sit down, make one, and actually let yourself dream a little.
Elsie Silver books — Dena’s spicy romance book rec before the TV adaptation comes out.
Breeze Balm BB Cream — Dena’s current everyday skin rec. Juicy, buildable, and very glowy.
MCoBeauty lip/cheek tint — Alicia’s Benetint-style rec!
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Cuteness alert!! Teddy is taking over the studio today 🐶🩵
This week we’re launching a brand new monthly segment: Favourite Four 💌 aka the four things we’ve been obsessing over and aggressively sending to each other all month long.
And trust us… this lineup is GOOD. We’re talking the chicest dog products from Mochi and Michi (Teddy is now booked and busy as their newest ambassador 🐶), a skincare find from Serasilk that genuinely shocked us, the most gorgeous pieces from Francesca Jewellery, and the unexpected fashion era Kmart is currently having that we cannot stop talking about.
Basically prepare to leave this episode wanting to do some retail therapy 💅🏼
Todays’ episode gets a little vulnerable 🤍 We chat mental health, chronic pain flare ups, relationship tension and why postpartum depression still isn’t talked about enough. Naturally in true us fashion we switch gears to DEVOURING Off Campus, Brett Goldstein's new movie with J-Lo?? 👀, and the wild moral dilemma of Margo's Got Money Troubles.
Chaotic, warm and very very us. Love you dAlings SO much
1:00 — Dena opens up: mental health struggles & chronic pain flare ups
7:35 — Tension in relationships and what chronic illness really does to a relationship
17:45 — Real chat about post natal depression
23:49 — Dena’s show obsession: Off Campus & the hottest cast
26:07 — Brett Goldstein manifested a rom com with J.Lo & we are OBSESSED
32:20 — Margo’s Got Money Troubles: Elle Fanning, OnlyFans & what would YOU do?
35:28 — Book club chat & why we need one on the Facebook group
38:25 — FAVOURITE FOUR LAUNCHES! Inner Healing matching mum & daughter jewellery
41:55 — Mochi and Michi: Teddy models the harness, poop stash & stunning dog bowls
47:10 — Seresilk: the exfoliator that genuinely shocked us both
50:30 — Francesca Jewellery: the locket with Alex & Maya inside
53:10 — Kmart: the slay era neither of us saw coming!
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Mochi and Michi — Australian made, female owned dog brand. Harness, collar, poop stash & stunning bowls. Use code LIFEACADEMY20 for 20% off https://mochiandmichi.com/
Seresilk — The pure silk exfoliating cocoon that makes zero sense but leaves your skin unreal. 100% biodegradable, sensitive skin approved, lasts 2 years https://seresilk.com.au/
Francesca Jewellery — Custom lockets with your favourite people’s photos inside. The most beautiful gift you can give or ask for
Kmart — $14 dresses. $59 trenches. Bomber jackets. Need we say more
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⚠️ Trigger warning: The following podcast episode contains topics which may be distressing to some viewers.
“There is no happy ending. But there is a hopeful ending.” - Harrison James.
This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after it ends 💙 Harrison James is a survivor, an activist, and one of the most extraordinary humans to ever walk into the Life Academy world.
Abused by his stepmother from ages 13 to 16 😔 Forced into silence for years. Brought to his knees at 19. And yet, he took every single piece of that pain and turned it into real, tangible, legislative change 🙏
Today, he’s passed laws in four Australian states. He’s written a book. He’s about to become a father again. And he sat down with Alicia to share ALL of it: the abuse, the silence, the legislation, the healing, and what it actually means to transform pain into purpose.
This is not an easy listen. But it is an essential one. Please share this with someone in your world who needs to hear it 💙 We are so grateful Harrison trusted us with his story.
🚨 If you, or someone you know, is in need of support, please contact LifeLine on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue at http://www.beyondblue.org.au.
📱 For emergency crisis support, call 000
1:47 — Where it all began — Harrison opens up about his childhood 😔
4:12 — His father saw what was happening and said nothing
7:20 — The conversation with his mum in the passenger seat of a car 🥹
24:50 — "I didn't want to be here anymore" — the plan, the dream, and the decision that saved his life
29:38 — The "Your Reference Isn't Relevant" campaign — changing how courts treat convicted offenders
34:33 — Four states down, four to go — what real change looks like 🇦🇺
40:49 — Writing the book — and the toll it took to tell the whole truth
48:23 — Meeting Bella on Instagram, a first date in Italy & choosing peace 🥹
58:30 — The numbers that can't be ignored — and why silence is the real epidemic
1:06:55 — What's next: choosing contentment over the fight 💙
1:13:19 — Dreamwork: Healing Through Unsent Letters — Harrison's exercise from Chapter 1
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Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
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You know what time it is… it’s REWATCH time babyyyy 🎭💅
This episode had EVERYTHING — chaos opinions about the opening credits (still tragic 💀), deep dives into Jewish cultural pressure and academic expectations, and some really honest, personal storytelling from Dena about growing up in that environment.
We also get some amazing behind-the-scenes tea about bringing Tom and Jeff into a real Shabbat experience 🕯️🍷, Patrick continuing to be outrageously talented on screen, and Kat & Christian serving chemistry that honestly should’ve come with a warning label 🔥
Plus lots of nostalgia, confusion (because why don’t we remember our own show?), and plenty of laughing at ourselves the whole way through 😂
If you’re rewatching with us or just here for the stories, we love you heaps 💛
1:00 - Dena’s "Unnecessary" Hate for the Opening Credits
3:29 - Growing up Jewish: The Pressure to be a Doctor or Lawyer
7:02 - Behind the Scenes: Taking Tom & Jeff to Synagogue
9:16 - Christian at the Cemetery (Alicia is watching this blind!)
11:15 - Sammy’s Dad & The Perfect Hebrew Prayers
14:44 - The "Sexy" Chemistry Between Kat & Christian
16:11 - Alicia’s First Ever Scene & "White Purple" Lips
20:15 - Alicia’s Comfort Watch & Depression Era
22:09 - Why Episode 5 was "Boring" Without Abigail and Kat
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Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
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Pop culture girlies are HERE and we are NOT holding back 💜😭
We went to The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere in Sydney and it was boujee, chaotic and honestly one of the most fun nights 🎬✨ We got told to "move along" off the red carpet because there was "actual talent" arriving 😳
The movie though? An absolute 10! Meryl, Emily, Anne, all back and better than ever. And the fun fact that Meryl Streep based Miranda Priestly on egotistical MALE directors and not Anna Wintour?! We cannot 👏
Then things get juicy. Lena Dunham's bombshell new book Famesick is out and Dena's love affair with Adam is officially over (😭 RIP). We've also got Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz's engagement, all our Met Gala hot takes including whether bleached eyebrows are a vibe or a crime, Rihanna hinting at new music, Taylor Swift's Love Story origin story which is genuinely hilarious, and the Oscars finally putting their foot down on AI 👏
Another week, another chaotic pop culture debrief, dAlings 💜
00:54 The Devil Wears Prada 2 Sydney premiere recap
03:58 Getting moved along on the red carpet
06:25 Devil Wears Prada 2 fashion facts & Anna Wintour influence
10:16 Meryl Streep says Miranda wasn’t really based on Anna Wintour
11:46 Sydney Sweeney’s cut Devil Wears Prada 2 cameo
13:29 Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz engagement rumours
15:33 Met Gala fashion reactions
17:39 Lena Dunham’s Famesick and Girls nostalgia
19:14 Jack Antonoff, Lorde rumours & Adam Driver stories
22:03 Rihanna new music rumours & Fenty confusion
23:41 Coachella headliner rumours
24:13 AI-generated work banned from some Oscars categories
Follow us at:
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Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
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It’s Life Lately and honestly… your girls are not okay, but in a very iconic way 😭💜
Dena is tired, overwhelmed, running late, and deep in her “why is my ADHD brain like this?” era 👀 Meanwhile Alicia has had an absolutely unhinged week — late to teach at Thomas Lacey’s dance school, scraped her car on her own fence, and came home to find poor Muddy had fully destroyed the house. Like… walls were involved 💀💀💀
But in between the disasters, things got really beautiful 🥹 Dena saw The Drama on date night and broke down crying over Alex, unconditional love, and the kind of love that makes you want to tattoo it. Plus toddler birthday planning, spiritual practices, and some VERY spicy pop culture tea for next week 👀
Please tell us we are not alone in this chaotic era dAlings!!! 💜
1:47 — ADHD, we see you: time blindness, alarms, and mum-life chaos 👀
6:38 — Alicia’s first fail: 30 minutes late to teach acting
12:36 — Girls’ night chaos: wrong time, rushed outfit, and the car scrape 💀
20:21 — The baptism was cute… then Muddy destroyed the house 😭
24:45 — Alex vs Maya’s pink ball: the toddler meltdown we all saw coming
33:08 — Self-care has left the chat: Bali, uni, volunteering, and burnout
38:00 — Spiritual practices, oracle cards, and magical women ✨
47:30 — New studio, same chaos — plus this week’s recs/homework
54:15 — Spicy pop culture homework: Lena Dunham, Adam Driver, and next week’s tea 👀
Follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/denaamy
https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Oracle or affirmation cards — Alicia’s homework is to sit down, pull some cards, and let a little magic back in ✨
Ditto PMDD supplements — Dena says she’s genuinely noticed a difference with her PMDD symptoms.
Honey’s Gummies Cunnies Gummies — Creatine, but make it sour lolly vibes.
Pop culture homework — Watch The Drama and read up on the Lena Dunham / Adam Driver tea before next week 👀
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We are BACK dAlings and honestly… we've had a week 😔💜
Some weeks you're absolutely smashing it. Other weeks your car gets towed mid-facial, you reverse into a stranger's car, and your toddler looks you dead in the eyes and says "I don't love you." This is one of those weeks for Dena...😭😭😭
Alicia's not doing much better 😅 Health anxiety has been quietly taking over her nights, and this week it got bad enough that she left a dinner party before the mains even arrived. She also opens up about the International Women's Day speech she gave at Queen's College, Melbourne Uni — and how writing it all down reminded her of just how much she's actually survived 🥹
Plus: the au pair conversation Dena's been too scared to have publicly (YES and don't judge her!!), why resilience is sometimes just exhausting, and the parenting repair moment that hit different 😢
This is the episode for anyone who's ever felt like they're failing at everything all at once, and needed someone to remind them they're not. Love you dAlings SO much 💜
1:52 — Dena's disaster week: towed car, a free facial, and a $680 bill
8:00 — "I don't love you" — Maya's bedtime rejection and Dena's ADHD trauma spiral
13:22 — Alicia's mum guilt: yelling at Isla for an accidental wee (and the repair)
19:55 — Alicia's Queens College speech — resilience, rejection and the women who lifted her
30:32 — Learning to receive compliments & knowing your own worth
32:45 — Health anxiety spiral: how Alicia talked herself out of a dinner party
38:30 — Dena opens up about having an au pair — $300/week and why it saved her family
44:43 — Recommendations: home organisation, Gemma La Prê lip stains & more
47:57 — Life Academy hits 1 million downloads + exciting things coming for you dAlings
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Au Pairs Australia: Search the Facebook group to find your match. Do your due diligence: police checks, working with children's card, trials!
Organised Abode (Belle): Melbourne-based home organiser who will change your life. Can't get Belle in? Clear out your wardrobe and donate. Best feeling ever ✨
Gemma Lepre French Kiss Lip Stain: The lip stain that does NOT budge. Find them on Instagram 💋
Therapy: Alicia's finally committing. Don't wait, dAlings 🙏
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Okay DALINGS… the rewatch chaos continues and WOW this one unlocked some very vivid memories 😂
This ep was one of the very first things we ever filmed, so naturally we’re roasting ourselves the entire time – from the questionable outfits (who approved those??) to trying to figure out our bodies on camera for the first time 🫠
On top of that, we get into the friendship dynamics and unpack why poor Kat honestly deserved so much better in this episode 😭 There’s also plenty of behind-the-scenes moments, including Alicia getting absolutely pelted with a soccer ball (multiple times), Dena going full chaos mode between takes, and a certain HOT extra that we need you guys to help us find immediately 👀
We hope you enjoy this unhinged trip down memory lane. Love you! 💜
3:21 - Tara Lying Straight to Kat’s Face
5:59 - Spotting the "Hot Extra" (Adam, is that you?)
7:02 - The Raw Egg Throw Breakdown
8:14 - The Origin of "Clammy Sammy"
11:18 - Being Dressed by "Old Ladies" on Set
14:02 - Dena’s Very First Scene Ever Filmed
15:03 - Alicia’s Real Soccer Ball to the Face
19:10 - Dena’s Opening Credits Controversy
21:46 - The "Bloody Beautiful" Slow-Mo Ending
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The producer of DANCE ACADEMY is here DALINGS!!! 💜💜💜
Joanna Werner – the legendary producer who created the show that changed all of our lives – is finally here. We're talking origin stories (she and Sam had the SAME vision at 3am after drinks!!!), the insane casting process where Alicia ate a banana while the whole class waited, why Dena was always Abigail, and the devastating decision behind killing Sammy.
Plus Joanna gets real about IVF, being pregnant while filming the movie in New York, and how she built boundaries as a working mum in an industry that used to pretend families didn't exist.
This episode is pure magic and we're so grateful she's part of our story 💕
2:13 The Origin Story – How Joanna met Sam Strauss at 3am
12:04 Alicia's audition – "If she can dance, she's in the show"
21:02 The final callbacks – Who would be Kat?
24:06 The banana incident – Alicia stopped the whole audition to eat
31:19 DENA ARRIVES – Car troubles but she made it!
32:48 "She's Abigail. Go." – Joanna always knew
40:46 Thank you for Dance Academy – The gift that keeps giving
50:28 Why we killed Sammy – The truth behind the decision (it was nearly Ben!)
57:00 Dance Academy season 4? – What would it take?
1:00:18 Alicia's rec – Go to the dentist!
1:01:50 Dena's rec – Imperfect Women on Apple TV + chocolate coconut water
1:03:53 Joanna's rec – Audiobooks! James, Scar Tissue, Anna Karenina
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Go to the dentist: Joanna's root canal exploded after Dance Academy – don't wait!
Imperfect Women: Apple TV series starring Elisabeth Moss – Dena's obsessed.
Chocolate Coconut Water: Coca Bella brand, icy cold – Alicia hates it, Dena loves it.
Audiobooks (Audible): James by Percival Everett (Booker Prize winner), Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis, Funny Story by Emily Henry, Anna Karenina (the 28-hour classic!)
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Is the world turned upside down or is pop culture just so unhinged right now?! 💜
First up – Dena drops some SERIOUS tea about Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom from Coachella (you wanna hear this)!! Speaking of Coachella, Sabrina Carpenter put on a full Broadway musical and made Taylor Swift's show look basic (sorry not sorry). Justin Bieber played YouTube videos on his laptop and we have THOUGHTS.
On a lighter note – Jacob Elordi and Kendall Jenner were spotted making out at the after party – two tall hotties, we're obsessed. And since we're talking about Jacob, we also get into the Euphoria premiere drama – Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney are beefing and the cast literally hates each other?!
Your two unqualified pop culture journalists are back and we love you!!! 💕
1:58 Coachella 2026 – Let's get into it
7:24 Sabrina Made Taylor Swift Look Basic – Sorry not sorry!
9:53 Dena's Coachella Story – Meeting Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom backstage
11:21 Ruby Rose Accused Katy Perry Of SA – The Melbourne allegations
12:09 Jacob Elordi & Kendall Jenner – Two tall hotties at Coachella
13:52 Margot Robbie Mum-Shaming – Why are people mad she looks hot?!
16:11 Euphoria Season 3 Drama – Zendaya vs Sydney Sweeney & cast beef
21:26 Khloé & Lamar Documentary – Addiction, fame & heartbreak
25:21 Report Card – Sabrina A+++, Euphoria drama D
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella Set: Watch it on YouTube – Fosse, Flashdance, Dirty Dancing, Chicago & Chorus Line references!
Khloé & Lamar Documentary: "Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom" on Netflix – fascinating look at addiction.
Olivia Dean: Keep an eye on her – one to watch!
Euphoria Season 3: Now streaming on HBO/Binge.
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It's Life Lately time DALINGS!!! 💜
Let's address the elephant in the room – NO, Dena is not engaged. Alex took her on a mysterious 9am date and she was convinced it was happening... but it was pottery. POTTERY. The most wholesome, very Alex thing ever 😂
We're deep in our self-care era (Soak Haus head spa literally reset our nervous systems), Dena's organisation hyperfocus is giving ADHD queen, Maya had her first playdate and it was absolute chaos, Alicia got a sign from her grandparents that made her sob, and Dena has a story involving laxatives and a bush…. You've been warned 💀💕
We love you, we overshare, you're welcome 💕
1:19 THE 9AM DATE – Was it a proposal? No. It was pottery 😂
3:22 Dena's Organisation Era – ADHD hyperfocus, pantry goals
13:47 soak Haus Head Spa – Nervous system reset, stars on the ceiling
16:27 Squeeze Therapy – Biohacking, red light, compression boots
21:08 Thrifter – Rent a rack, sell your secondhand clothes
24:58 Maya's First Playdate – Full meltdowns, toddlers can't share
34:27 Alicia's Grandparent Signs – The psychic moment that made her cry
40:10 Cleo Massey Event – We're guests at Pass Around The Smile!
43:25 THE BUSH STORY – Laxatives, acro, zero regrets 💀
48:40 Recs – Electric toothbrush & manicures with your kids
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Suri Electric Toothbrush: Charges once a month, UV sanitising travel case – life changing!
Soak Haus Head Spa: Japanese head spa in Melbourne – nervous system reset in one appointment.
Cleansee Studio: Holistic facial with lymphatic massage – Alicia's skin is glowing!
Therapee: Biohacking wellness in Eltham – red light, compression, oxygen therapy.
Thrifter: Rent a rack, sell your secondhand clothes – sustainability queen energy.
Library Hack: Borrow 20 books for 12 weeks FREE – bedtime stories sorted!
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We're back dAlings!!! 💜 Your two unqualified pop culture experts here to tell you what we know (which is not much) and what we think (which is A LOT).
First up: Zendaya and Rob Pattinson's press tour for The Drama – she's so PR trained it's insane, and he just... makes stuff up in interviews?! We also need to talk about Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi – because no, they're not in love, it's literally just good marketing (we've been in those meetings!!!) Then we get into the Louis Theroux Manosphere documentary (Alicia cried, it's horrifying), Tyra Banks showing zero accountability in the ANTM doco.
Oh and Dance For Your Life – the Aussie dance film that had us sobbing, Devil Wears Prada 2 is coming, and Aussie makeup is trending!!!
1:39 The Drama – Zendaya & Rob Pattinson's press tour
6:36 Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi – It's marketing, not romance!!!
12:38 Louis Theroux Manosphere Documentary – Alicia cried watching it
16:49 America's Next Top Model Documentary – Tyra Banks, zero accountability
19:30 Dance For Your Life – The Aussie dance film we're obsessed with
20:24 Emily & Max – we're rooting for you!!!
22:07 Aussie Makeup Trend – bronze skin, freckles, lined lips
23:01 Devil Wears Prada 2 – Anne Hathaway's press tour coming
25:04 Report Card – A+ Margot & Zendaya, F to manosphere & Tyra
Follow us at:
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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
The Drama: Zendaya & Rob Pattinson – don't look up spoilers, just go see it!
Dance For Your Life: Aussie dance documentary film – incredible, emotional, must watch.
Louis Theroux Manosphere Documentary: Hard watch but important – talk to your sons.
America's Next Top Model Documentary: Tyra Banks exposed – wild.
Devil Wears Prada 2: Coming soon – watch Anne Hathaway's press tour outfits!!!
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Time to sleep like a log DALINGS!!! 💜
Dr Sumedha Verma is a sleep psychologist and researcher who's here to bust every myth you've ever heard about sleep – and trust us, there are A LOT.
The 8-hour rule? Lies. Your Apple Watch sleep score? Useless. That spiral of "why can't I sleep" making it worse? YEP. We go deep on this one – Dena shares her insomnia and PTSD story (she couldn't even look at a bed without panicking), Alicia finally gets answers about why Isla faceplants walls in her sleep, and Sumedha drops so much knowledge we wish we knew years ago.
We needed this episode and we think you will too!!! 💕
This episode is brought to you by Protect-A-Bed: https://protectabed.com.au/
12:22 - Welcome Dr. Sumedha Verma — sleep psychologist & researcher
19:00 - Dena's insomnia story: PTSD, panic attacks & getting back to trust 💛
24:26 - The 8-hour myth — busted by a sleep expert
29:10 - Sleep & mental health: the bidirectional link (it's causation, not correlation)
36:24 - What is sleep hygiene? And why fear is the real sleep disruptor
39:00 - CBT for insomnia — the gold-standard treatment most people don't know exists
48:13 - Sleep drive explained: why napping can push out your bedtime for hours
52:00 - Sleep debt, body compassion & what happens when chemical dependency is involved
59:12 - Is insomnia hereditary? + How to access Medicare-rebated sleep psychology
1:02:30 - Recs & frameworks: fake freckles, rejection goals & sky bathing 🌌
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https://www.instagram.com/sleepwithdrv/
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https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Mental Health Care Plan: Go to your GP and ask for one – you can see a sleep psychologist through Medicare (up to 10 rebated sessions!)
Deep Sleep Helps: Dr Sumedha's practice – online program plus sessions https://www.drsumedhaverma.com.au/
Megan Thee Stallion / Cardi B: Windows down, music up – Sumedha's go-to for feminine energy.
The Self Retreats: Only 2 spots left for the rest of the year! Grab your spots!! And if you want to join Dena in Bali this is the retreat she’s attending! https://chelsea-faye.mykajabi.com/fayeretreat
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dAlings!! We have the most incredible guest on today and we are still freaking out 💜💜💜 Dr Emma Watkins is here – yes, THE Emma Wiggle, now Emma Memma – and honestly this woman is everything. She flew in to chat with us about her journey from Yellow Wiggle to PhD, creating Emma Memma with her deaf co-performer Elvin, and bringing Auslan to kids everywhere.
We go DEEP – how she became a Wiggle (there was no audition!!!), doing her PhD while touring four shows a day six days a week (!!!), and now running her own children's entertainment company with her husband and sister. Plus she collabed with BLUEY?! We also have the most beautiful conversation about endometriosis, fertility, and pushing through pain as performers.
This one is special. So much warmth, so much wisdom!!! 💕
1:00 Welcome Dr Emma Watkins – Dena's family connection & fangirling
7:00 How She Became The Yellow Wiggle – There was no audition!!!
10:00 The Wiggles Schedule – 4 shows a day, 6 days a week
14:00 Emma Memma Is Born – PhD research meets children's entertainment
20:00 The Bluey Collab – Dancing with Bingo and Bluey!!!
25:00 Endometriosis Journey – Surgery, pain, and speaking out
29:00 Fertility & Motherhood – An honest conversation about the future
34:00 Fame & Disguises – The wig that didn't work 😂
36:00 Emma's Mission – Making Auslan accessible for every family
39:00 Recs – Period undies, Soak House & Convo app
Follow us at:
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https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit
https://www.instagram.com/emmawatkinsofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/the.clinical.coach/
https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast
Recs/Homework:
Wunderthings Period Undies: Sleek, comfy, almost sexy – not like nappies! Dena's new obsession.
Soak House Melbourne: Head spa, scalp massage, sensory experience – Alicia fell asleep it was that good.
Convo App: Australia's first 24/7 on-demand sign language interpreting app – Emma's rec for businesses and families.
Emma Memma Live: Get tickets at Live Nation or https://www.emmamemma.com/
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