Life Academy

Alicia Banit & Dena Kaplan

On screen frenemies to real life besties, so of course we started a podcast! Stay tuned for your weekly questionable life lessons from Dena Amy Kaplan and Alicia Banit. Class is in session!

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29 episodes
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Wednesday · 30 min
Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E9 | We Need To Talk About THAT Kiss
This episode takes us straight into one of Dance Academy’s most iconic side quests: Kat becoming a music video girlie 💃🎬 This week, we live-react to 'Heartbeat' episode and unpack the Miles Kelly storyline, what filming those dance scenes was really like, the wardrobe choices we still have questions about, and the scenes Alicia was much more nervous to film than anyone realised. And then there’s the kiss. Let’s just say the director had notes 😭 Come rewatch Dance Academy with the girls who lived it, remembered half of it, and are discovering the rest right alongside you, dAlings 🩵 1:14 — Reacting to the opening music performance 3:35 — The boys get VERY competitive behind the scenes 7:14 — Dena wanted Kat’s music video storyline BADLY 10:03 — The music video shoot begins 14:45 — Dena’s intense 5AM Dance Academy workout routine 16:56 — Alicia reveals how nervous she was filming the dance scenes 19:49 — The moment Alicia knew the kiss was coming 20:24 — THAT kiss… and the director’s brutal note 😭 22:34 — Filming the Miles Kelly music video 26:40 — The role was originally meant for Ruby Rose?! 27:18 — Watching the finished music video for the first time 29:09 — Final reactions to Episode 9 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 20 · 17 min
H2O Cast Wants A Reboot—Is Dance Academy Next? | Pop Culture
Apparently all roads lead back to an Australian teen drama 😭🇦🇺 This week, we unpack Kendall Jenner allegedly funding the romance, the H2O reboot that should absolutely exist, what Kat and Abigail would be doing now, and the Sydney Sweeney ad that has the internet very divided. There’s also reality TV tea, an Emmys red carpet debrief, a little Nicole Kidman appreciation, Practical Magic 2 hype, and some very unexpected Sandra Bullock lore. As always: under-researched, over-opinionated, and somehow still committed to the assignment. Pop culture homework complete, dAlings 🎭💅 1:04 — Kendall Jenner’s alleged sugar mummy era with Jacob Elordi 4:07 — The H2O reboot that apparently nobody wanted?! 6:13 — Could Dance Academy: Next Generation actually work? 8:28 — Sydney Sweeney’s controversial sports campaign 15:22 — Alix Earle’s reality show and the Alex Cooper fallout 17:59 — The Emmys red carpet debrief: hits, misses and fashion crimes 19:23 — Nicole Kidman, beauty tweaks and red carpet reactions 21:19 — Shailene Woodley’s look gets absolutely roasted 22:02 — Practical Magic 2 and the Sandra Bullock love fest 22:54 — Why 28 Days has been watched way too many times 23:40 — Final thoughts 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 15 · 58 min
The Night We Became Kat And Abigail Again | Life Lately
Okay… we might have accidentally unlocked a new Life Academy era 👀🎭 After months of talking about the live show, we finally got on stage; and meeting our dAlings in real life hit way harder than either of us expected. There were tears, Dance Academy throwbacks, a surprise guest, a very big “wait… should we actually take this on tour?” moment. There’s also some VERY exciting acting news, the reality of returning to set after years away, and an airport story so unnecessarily chaotic that honestly… of course it happened to us 😭 To everyone who came, watched, listened, sent us love, or has been here quietly supporting us from the start - thank you. We’re beyond grateful for every single one of you 🥹🩵 2:18 — The forgotten airport bag and pre-show travel chaos 7:02 — Getting ready for the Life Academy live show 11:21 — Meeting our dAlings and why it hit so hard 17:12 — Behind-the-scenes chaos before going on stage 22:03 — The live show begins and the first big laugh 23:50 — Tim Pocock joins us on stage 27:20 — Could Life Academy go on tour? 30:24 — Back on set after five years and two new acting jobs 40:05 — Bondi dreams and the trip home from hell 49:10 — Period chaos, trying for another baby, and wrapping the weekend 51:14 — Recs and final thank-yous 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: Abrand jeans — Stretchy, comfortable jeans with a flattering fit. Best&Less — Affordable summer clothes and matching sets for holiday packing. Famesick by Lena Dunham — A book rec with behind-the-scenes stories, career reflections, and plenty of tea. Boody period underwear — Soft, comfortable period undies that can handle a heavier flow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 8 · 57 min
Why I Finally Reported My Former Therapist | Life Lately
“EXCUSE ME?? Your therapist did WHAT?” dAlings, this episode takes a turn 😭 We start with the usual chaos: live show excitement, mum guilt, Bali dreams, acting feelings and a little accidental OnlyFans brainstorming!! Before Dena drops one of the wildest stories we’ve had on Life Academy. She shares what happened with a former therapist she once trusted completely, how blurred the boundaries became, why she didn’t see the red flags at the time and what finally made her realise just how unhealthy the whole dynamic had been. Big love to anyone who’s had to untangle a relationship they once thought was helping them 🩵 3:53 Isla’s behaviour improves + the sweetest parent trend 9:13 Why Alicia couldn’t watch the Logies 12:31 Podcast research somehow turns into an OnlyFans spiral 18:40 Bali retreat, mum guilt & needing to actually receive 28:11 Dena’s car skincare “life hack” 36:12 Dena reveals the therapist relationship that crossed major boundaries 42:40 Why Dena finally reported her 46:16 The “past life” story that now sounds completely wild 49:17 Alex saw through the therapist immediately 50:32 Recs/Homework 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: kit: hand soap — Dena’s pick for a luxe-feeling hand wash without going full Aesop pricing. Denada mango protein ice cream bar — A sugar-free, high-protein dessert Dena says she’s currently obsessed with. @briestrongerthancancer — visit Kendra Bird’s Instagram stories and click the affiliate links, which she says help generate money for families going through childhood cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 30 · 28 min
Taylor Swift Has A Thousand Wedding Guests & NOT ONE Photo Has Leaked?! | Pop Culture
Pop culture is giving us absolutely no peace this week, dAlings 🍿 We’re back with another wildly unqualified catch-up featuring unexpected celeb pairings, relationship updates, Taylor Swift theories, a little Off Campus chaos and an Anne Hathaway performance that has Dena rethinking EVERYTHING. There’s also some heavier news in the mix, plus a few very random detours because obviously we cannot stay on topic. Drop the pop culture story we absolutely HAVE to talk about next week 🩵 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 1:07 Belmont Cameli + Martha Stewart in the most random ad pairing 2:37 New Harry Potter casting & the J.K. Rowling controversy 5:39 Kim Kardashian & Lewis Hamilton go public 7:50 The sad celebrity news dominating the week 12:36 Postpartum mental health & the Lindsay Clancy case 16:16 Travis Scott’s surprise role in The Odyssey 17:29 Our latest Taylor Swift wedding photo theory 18:43 Alicia on why she still can’t watch the Logies 19:38 Moulin Rouge! is coming back to Australia 21:02 Nicole Kidman’s undercover Ibiza raving era 22:55 Anne Hathaway’s HUGE year & Mother Mary 26:15 Final pop culture thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 25 · 1 hr 4 min
Why I Finally Admitted I'm Struggling with Body Image | Life Lately
We’re grateful for our bodies… but some days, loving them is really bloody hard 😭 This week gets a little more honest than usual, dAlings. Dena opens up about cancelling a Sydney photoshoot because her body confidence had hit such a low point, and we talk about that awful space where you can know all the “right” things about body positivity, gratitude and self-love… and still look in the mirror and feel completely disconnected from yourself. We also get into Alicia’s own insecurities around ageing and her face, why raising daughters makes all of this feel even more important, and how we’re trying to model self-compassion without pretending we’ve magically figured it all out. Plus, there’s a very sweet friendship moment, toddler updates, beauty recs and some classic Life Academy chaos to balance out the heavier stuff. Tell us what helps you feel more like yourself again on the hard body-image days, dAlings 🩵🩵 3:04 Therapy, nervous-system overload & finally letting it all out 6:21 Toddler survival mode is slowly easing 8:24 A surprise gift & a very sweet bestie moment 13:21 The honest body-confidence conversation 19:49 When someone telling you “you’re beautiful” isn’t enough 26:35 Grieving the body and identity you used to have 31:12 Why inclusive sizing still has such a long way to go 37:43 Trying not to pass body issues down to our daughters 45:50 Why self-compassion has to be modelled, not just taught 51:19 Raising kind girls who can also stand up for themselves 57:18 Recs/Homework Recs/Homework Dermal lip balm — Alicia’s new replacement for her much-missed discontinued Blistex... Morphe setting spray — Dena’s current favourite for keeping makeup in place without killing the finish. Full blood work — Dena’s homework after discovering a significant B12 deficiency that may have been contributing to fatigue and brain fog. 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: Dermal lip balm — Alicia’s new replacement for her much-missed discontinued Blistex... Morphe setting spray — Dena’s current favourite for keeping makeup in place without killing the finish. Full blood work — Dena’s homework after discovering a significant B12 deficiency that may have been contributing to fatigue and brain fog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 18 · 1 hr 12 min
From Ballerina to Lawyer to Matcha Maiden | Sarah Davidson
If you’re in your 20s wondering why everyone else seems to have a plan… this one is VERY much for you, dAlings. This one is a very special episode because THE Sarah Davidson — yes, our girl from Seize the Yay — is joining us today!! At this point, we genuinely think Sarah has had about nine different careers (god bless a too-talented girl 😭), and somehow every single one makes sense when you hear the full story. From ballet to law, Matcha Maiden to content creation, she talks about why none of those chapters were wasted — even the ones that felt completely random at the time. We also have such an honest chat about being adopted, becoming a mum, learning to live with anxiety and panic attacks, and why sometimes the career you’re meant to have literally doesn’t exist yet. There are SO many little nuggets in this episode for anyone feeling lost, behind, scared to change direction or just deeply unsure what the hell they’re doing 🩵 3:02 Meet Sarah Davidson: ballerina, lawyer, founder & creator 7:58 Growing up adopted & how it shaped her identity 14:46 Motherhood changed how Sarah thought about her birth mother 19:36 The ballerina era & realising dance might not be forever 27:35 Leaving ballet, losing direction & nearly getting expelled 34:16 How Matcha Maiden actually started 36:24 The health crisis that changed everything 40:16 Selling the business & realising bigger isn’t always better 41:56 Why your dream job might not even exist yet 46:03 How to stop overthinking & train yourself to take risks 50:24 Sarah opens up about depression, panic attacks & anxiety 59:10 How Sarah taught herself content creation & editing 1:01:56 Working mum guilt, creativity & never having enough time 1:03:10 Recs/Homework 1:07:15 “If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive” 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 14 · 29 min
Tom & Zendaya Are Unstoppable in Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Pop Culture
Pop culture is absolutely refusing to have a quiet week, dAlings 🔕🩵 We’re back in the trenches with Verity finally getting its movie moment, Anne Hathaway seemingly starring in everything, Zendaya continuing her world domination, and the very chaotic question of whether Kyle Sandilands’ new paid show is actually worth the money. Then Alicia Silverstone is heading back to Clueless, RAYE is being linked to Michael B. Jordan, and somehow we end up reliving Dena’s failed attempt to get into Berghain. There’s also Taylor Swift rerelease theories, Ariana Grande stepping back from the spotlight, Off Campus relationship detective work, Pamela Anderson entering her beautifully unbothered era, Brittany Snow joining The Housemaid universe, and a Timbaland performance that leaves us asking… what exactly are we watching here? Tell us what we missed, because apparently the internet is moving faster than we are 💀 Chapters: 1:53 Verity, Anne Hathaway & the trailer that gave us chills 2:58 Zendaya, Tom Holland & Hollywood domination 3:59 Kyle Sandilands’ new paid show gets reviewed from afar 6:18 Alicia Silverstone, Clueless & a Barry’s Bootcamp encounter 7:59 RAYE + Michael B. Jordan sends us into a spiral 8:38 Dena’s failed Berghain mission with RÜFÜS 11:20 Taylor Swift rerelease theories & the missing wedding photos 12:29 Ariana Grande stepping back from the spotlight 14:00 Spilt Milk Festival, RAYE & Lewis Capaldi 15:42 Off Campus beauty campaigns, Josh Heuston & relationship gossip 19:50 Pamela Anderson’s new era + The Housemaid casting 22:27 Timbaland performing Say It Right without Nelly Furtado 24:26 Netflix recs, Toy Story & whether the girls are cinema-ready 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 11 · 35 min
Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E7 | The Crushes Were MESSIER Than We Remembered
Dance Academy, but make it IMAX… because we’re watching it WITH you 🩵🩵 We’re watching Season 1, Episode 7 together and there is SO much going on. Bad-on-purpose hip-hop, Kat and Tara being an absolute crush disaster, Sammy quietly falling for Abigail, and enough early-2010s wardrobe choices to keep us emotionally occupied for the full episode. We also spill some very random memories from filming — old auditions, dancers we’d worked with before the show, the Sydney location we still miss, and the absolute nightmare of trying to dance, hit your mark, stay in time AND act at the same time. Honestly… we forgot how much was packed into this show 🍿 Same episode. Whole new experience. Welcome to the live watch special dAlings🩵 0:50 Dena on deliberately dancing badly as Abigail 6:02 The Dance Academy location we still can’t get over 7:46 Tim trying to dance 9:54 Kat enters + the audition story we still remember 12:50 “You’re the best dancer I know” 14:17 Kat, Sammy & the crush confusion gets messy 18:02 The hardest Dance Academy scenes to film 20:58 Cariba Heine: from mermaid to ballerina 23:29 Sammy tells Kat: “I love you… just not like that” 28:13 Sammy finally admits how he feels about Abigail 31:43 Proof Kat liked Christian first? 33:10 Our verdict on the first live rewatch 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 4 · 43 min
Are Our Dancing Days Over? Mum Life, Pain & Missing The Old Us | Life Lately
The stage is gone, but the part of us that belonged there never really left. 🎭 This week is a mix of genuine relief and absolute emotional carnage. Dena’s back procedure may have finally worked (thank GOD 😭), Alicia is surviving a very intense toddler phase, and one innocent trip to the park ends with magical unicorn ponies, an hour-long meltdown and Bluey being called in as emergency support. Underneath the chaos, we talk about something much bigger: what happens when the thing that shaped your identity is no longer part of your life. There is grief, jealousy, yearning and a lot of love for the girls we used to be… because honestly, sometimes you don’t miss the job, you miss who you were when you were doing it. Plus, the very important discovery that neither of us was ever built for running 💀 0:57 — Finally getting relief from chronic back pain 4:37 — Self-care, fake tan disasters and trying to feel human again 11:16 — Time-poor mums, marathon friends and why dancers cannot run 15:06 — Dance Academy memories and pushing past physical limits 16:08 — Grieving the performer identity and the life that never happened 20:51 — Unicorn ponies, a public meltdown and the Bluey emergency 24:11 — Toddler boundary battles and living in survival mode 28:17 — The public bathroom meltdown that broke Alicia 31:42 — Overwhelm, nervous-system freeze and why replying feels impossible 33:47 — Acting doubts, rejection and being better at supporting each other 37:48 — Recs, beauty swaps and the future Life Academy tour 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: LOOPS face masks — A mask that leaves the skin feeling hydrated, plump and extremely looked after. Brown mascara and eyeliner — A softer alternative to black for a more flattering everyday eye look. The Loving Tan 10 Min Express Self-Tanning Body Mask — A quick cream-style tan with no strong smell and minimal waiting around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 3 · 29 min
The Odyssey Has Us Ugly Crying | Pop Culture
We’re in full film-girlie mode this week, dAlings 🍿🎬 This week, we’re deep in the pop culture trenches with Natalie Portman friendship drama, Nicole Kidman romance rumours, an Olivia Wilde obsession that has officially become a full-time job, and Alicia’s very enthusiastic review of The Odyssey. There are also strong feelings about Anne Hathaway, Hollywood double standards, sad girl summer, and whether Tom and Zendaya are secretly married. Then, just as we’re wrapping up, we find out the live show has SOLD OUT… after both of us spent the week quietly wondering whether anyone even listens to this podcast. Emotional whiplash, but make it Life Academy. Now tell us: The Invite or The Odyssey for your next movie night? 🎬🩵 3:14 — Natalie Portman friendship drama and the book based on her life 5:40 — Nicole Kidman romance rumours and Hollywood double standards 7:00 — The Olivia Wilde rabbit hole and why The Invite is a must-watch 11:45 — Alicia finally sees The Odyssey and has THOUGHTS 15:08 — The darker meaning, morality and emotional weight of the film 18:36 — Anne Hathaway hate and why the criticism makes no sense 20:47 — Tate McRae, Britney energy and sad girl summer 22:18 — Hacks, Spider-Man and Tom and Zendaya marriage rumours 23:32 — Where are Taylor Swift’s wedding photos? 26:03 — The live show sells out and the podcast confidence crisis 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 28 · 39 min
Our Biggest Life Academy Announcement Yet | Life Lately
Nothing says Life Lately like toilet drama, an eye emergency and a late-night hotel escape 💀 We catch up on the week’s chaos, from an unexpectedly traumatic trip to Bluey Live and a health-anxiety spiral to uni overwhelm, comfort food and the caravan-park mattress that forced Dena to stage a late-night escape. We also have some very exciting news: Life Academy is heading back to Sydney Dance Company for our first-ever live show (check out our socials NOW for more info!). Plus, we share the lululemon looks we’re currently living in - from buttery-soft pants for yoga, pilates and lounging to polished wide-leg trousers that take you from school drop-off into the rest of your day without sacrificing comfort (AKA we’re OBSESSED 😮‍💨🤌). Come for the toilet-paper debate, stay to shop our Favourite Four products from July below. Love you, dAlings 🫶 #LifeAcademy #LifeLately #MumLife #lululemon #BestieChat 00:40 — The Toilet-Paper Debate: Scrunching vs Folding 02:43 — How Bluey Live Ended in an Eye Emergency 06:12 — Getting an Eyeball Flushed at Hospital 09:06 — When Health Anxiety Takes Over 11:51 — Uni Overwhelm, Ambition and Trying to Keep Up 16:22 — The Caravan-Park Trip That Went Very Wrong 18:34 — Dena’s Secret 10:30PM Hotel Escape 21:46 — Life Academy’s First-Ever Live Show 23:42 — How to Enter the Jetstar Live-Show Giveaway 26:26 — July Favourite Four: Fashion, Skincare and Beauty 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 Shop Our Favourite Four Products From July: Dena’s Look: lululemon Groove Wide Leg High-Rise Pant - Dena’s featured buttery-soft, weightless pants in Nulu fabric, styled with her full lululemon look. https://creatorsold.io/lululemon/lifeacademythepodcast/life-academy-favourites] Alicia’s Look: lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Wide-Leg Trouser - Alicia’s featured polished, tailored trousers in four-way stretch Luxtreme fabric, styled with her full lululemon look. https://creatorsold.io/lululemon/lifeacademythepodcast/life-academy-favourites Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask: A peel-off mask for hydrated, glowing skin.https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/159896/medicube-collagen-night-wrapping-mask Benefit Pocket Pal: A dual-ended lip and cheek tint with gloss for an easy everyday look. https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/en-us/product/pocket-pal-POCKETPAL.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 23 · 48 min
UNFILTERED chats on dating apps, ghosting & bare minimum men | Life Lately
We came for a cosy catch-up and somehow ended up fixing modern dating 😭 We’re talking school holidays, magical fairy days, friendship, burnout, trauma study, body pain and the daily chaos of looking after both toddlers and pets. There is also psychic baby news and a tiny daddy’s girl with absolutely no respect for personal boundaries. We also have a LOT to say about ghosting, dating apps, emotional unavailability and why the bare minimum is suddenly being treated like romance. Plus, paparazzi culture, misplaced justice and a very quick detour into Taylor Swift’s stadium wedding because apparently that is where peace lives now. Honestly… this one is cosy, chaotic and slightly furious. Love you dAlings 🩵 0:48 — School holiday magic, dinosaurs and the fairy era 5:49 — Girl trips, missing friends and the isolation of mum life 7:52 — Trauma training, lived experience and becoming a therapist 19:30 — Psychic baby predictions and another girl joining the family 23:03 — Winter date-night guilt and the three-hour bedtime routine 25:18 — Modern dating is dismal and why ghosting hurts so much 32:02 — Graffiti, crime and what society chooses to punish 34:19 — Prince Harry, paparazzi and the cost of public harassment 37:45 — Taylor Swift’s stadium wedding and iconic behaviour 40:57 — Creative freedom, brand micromanagement and trusting creators 42:39 — Recs, social media culls and The Self Retreat 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: Romyli jewellery — Personalised necklaces with initials and meaningful birthstones; a sweet gift without the scary jewellery price tag. Social media cull — Unfollow the accounts and brands that make you feel worse, then intentionally follow people who inspire, teach or make you laugh. The Brick — A phone-boundary tool to help break the automatic doom-scrolling habit. The Self Retreat — A one-day retreat for anyone who wants a proper reset without committing to the full three-day experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 20 · 26 min
Zendaya, Tom Holland & The Odyssey Press Tour Has Us Obsessed | Pop Culture
The pop culture department is open again and yes, we work entirely off vibes 😎😎 This week, we unpack the suspicious Fourth Wing profile pictures, Taylor Swift’s wedding that apparently had a thousand guests and a raffle, the Britney Spears movie and Dena’s very unexpected journey from techno girl to full Swiftie mum. Honestly… Meryl Streep the chicken may be the sweetest pop culture story of the week 🍗🍗 We also talk about Tom and Zendaya being offensively adorable, Olivia Wilde making couples therapy but cinematic, and Alicia refusing to be pressured into Dena’s “best actress of our generation” agenda. Plus, Dena’s tiny IMDb debut as “girl with pram”, an Aussie making waves with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi roaming Byron Bay dressed like they’re escaping a dystopian government. We overshare, we speculate, you’re welcome dAlings 🩵 1:03 — Fourth Wing casting rumours and Josh Heuston speculation 4:45 — Jack Antonoff’s reported breakup and the Instagram archive dilemma 6:12 — Inside Taylor Swift’s enormous wedding 10:23 — Taylor Swift, body image and being a role model 12:27 — The Britney Spears biopic and who could possibly play her 13:56 — Tom Holland, Zendaya and The Odyssey press tour 16:24 — The actresses everyone loves… but Alicia does not 18:39 — Remembering Sam Neill and Dena’s first acting role 22:51 — Aussie Faith Ward enters the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders universe 23:32 — Jacob Elordi and Kendall Jenner’s terrible Byron Bay disguise 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 14 · 1 hr 1 min
Are Our Acting Days Over? Mum Life Got Real | Life Lately
This episode is basically a support group for tired mums and ex-theatre kids 🎭 We catch up on toddler concerts, bedtime chaos, big feelings, back pain, phone addiction, Peppa Pig drama, and the never-ending battle of trying to parent while also staying emotionally regulated. We also talk about the state of Australian theatre, audition doubts, creative burnout, the privilege of having time to make art, and the weird way everyone helps pregnant women… then disappears once the baby arrives (this is crazy!!!!!) This is one of those Life Lately chats that starts with mum chaos and somehow lands in a very real conversation about creativity, identity, support, and trying to keep a dream alive when life is already full. Come for the toddler chaos, stay for the arts industry crisis. Love you dAlings 🩵 1:09 — Back spasms, chiro chaos, and tiny doctor energy 6:13 — Toddler dance concert, stage confidence, and proud mum tears 11:21 — Health anxiety, bedtime tricks, and the bucket saga 21:34 — Three-year-olds, big feelings, and parenting boundaries 26:30 — Peppa Pig slander, screen time, and toddler catchphrases 36:33 — Australian theatre is struggling and why it matters 41:18 — Acting doubts, auditions, and whether the dream changes 47:31 — Nepo babies, creative privilege, and having time to work 51:21 — New mums, invisible support, and the help that disappears 57:20 — Recs: one-day retreats, dry mouth spray, jewellery, and phone boundaries 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: The Self Retreat — A one-day retreat option for anyone who wants the full reset experience but cannot commit to three days. Biotène dry mouth spray — A practical rec for dry mouth, especially if medication makes talking feel like a puffer sponge situation. Melanie Amber jewellery — Waterproof, everyday jewellery that can survive showers, sleep, and real life. The Brick — A phone-boundary tool for anyone trying to stop carrying their phone around like a second limb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 10 · 27 min
Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E6 | I Am Going To Get In Trouble For Say This...
Season 1 Episode 6 said ballet episode… but secretly gave us lore, longing, and a full prequel request 🩰🩵 We are back in the real dancer world: pointe shoes, rehearsal chaos, empty theatre nostalgia, questionable styling, and all the tiny ballet details that made Dance Academy feel way too accurate. But underneath all the pirouettes, this episode is quietly doing the MOST!!! Kat and Abigail have history, Sammy is starting to look at Abigail differently, Alycia Debnam-Carey enters the chat, and suddenly everyone needs to know what happened four years ago 🫢🫢🫢 This one is nostalgic, funny, a little dramatic, and very “wait… why is there so much tea in this ballet school????" 🩵 1:17 — Pointe shoe chaos and why the ballet details feel so real 6:11 — ADR, outdoor scenes, and the lines that had to be re-recorded 7:55 — Alycia Debnam-Carey enters and the full-circle Apple Cider Vinegar moment 13:33 — Kat, Natasha, childhood wounds, and Sammy having Cat’s back 15:46 — Jenna’s ballet, no doubles, and the Kat-Abigail friendship lore 20:16 — Sammy and Abigail, the ballet date, and Tom’s beautiful acting 23:48 — Ballet insecurity, casting feelings, and why this episode still hits 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 7 · 24 min
Britney Spears’ Sons Are On The Runway Now?! | Pop Culture
Pop culture class is back and today’s lesson is: never underestimate a celebrity family feud, an ex at a concert, or a fandom with receipts 😱🩵 This week, we are catching up on Call Her Daddy drama, Off Campus relationship tea, Adam Hyde becoming the new face of Bonds, Ariana Grande’s Ricky Alvarez moment, and the Beckham family saga that is giving rich-people group chat meltdown 👀 There’s also Britney Spears’ sons entering their runway era, a very necessary “stop talking about women’s bodies” moment, and a creator-to-brand public service announcement: if you hire funny people, please let them be funny. This one is gossip, giggles, theories, tangents, and two unqualified besties doing their civic duty by being late to the news. Tell us what we missed, because statistically… it was a lot. Love you dAlings!!! 🩵 This episode is brought to you by Protect-A-Bed: https://protectabed.com.au/ 1:06 — Call Her Daddy drama and the Unwell Network allegations 7:13 — Adam Hyde as the new face of Bonds 13:11 — Ariana Grande, Ricky Alvarez, and the Thank U, Next lyric moment 15:30 — Why everyone needs to stop commenting on women’s bodies 16:33 — The Beckham family saga and Brooklyn’s DoorDash ad 18:39 — Britney Spears’ sons make their modelling debut 21:19 — Why brands need to let creators create 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 1 · 53 min
The Truth About Trauma, Dissociation & Why Your Body Remembers | Georgia Verry
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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 26 · 22 min
Cariba Heine, Mermaids & Our H2O Nostalgia Spiral
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 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: 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 23 · 1 hr 3 min
The Off-Campus Cast Knows Who We Are?! We’ve MADE It!! | Life Lately
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: 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: 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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