Society & CultureRelationshipsEducationSelf-Improvement

Dating Intentionally

Talia Koren

What if modern dating didn't have to feel exhausting, confusing or like a second job? Dating Intentionally is the podcast for singles who are done with outdated dating rules and are ready to date with clarity, confidence and purpose.

Whether you're back in the dating pool after a breakup, using the apps for the first (or millionth) time, trying to stop attracting the wrong people, or just figuring out how to find your person in all the chaos, you're in the right place. Dating Intentionally is your how-to guide for making decisions that align with your values while finding joy in the process.

Hosted by Talia Koren, Dating Intentionally dives into practical advice to help you attract better matches, build real connections and move toward the relationship you want - no matter what season of life you're in. Talia shares realistic, grounded advice from her experience going on 150 dates with over 60 people in under a year before meeting her husband, plus helpful conversations with guest experts, therapists and authors to guide you in your early dating journey.

Tune in for new episodes on Tuesdays!

If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, Dating Intentionally is for you:

Why do I keep attracting the wrong people?

How can I slow down in early dating?

How do I stop going for emotionally unavailable partners?

How many dates should we have before we define the relationship?

How do I tell the difference between green flags, red flags and dealbreakers?

How do I get back out there after a breakup?

Where can I meet people who want a serious relationship?

What are the signs they're interested in me?

How do I know if we're compatible?

How do I stop wasting time on dead-end dates?

Play

Open in

47 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 37 min
English

Episodes 47

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Today · 47 min
313. How To Meet More People Without Relying On Dating Apps
This episode is sponsored by Timeleft! Get 20% off your membership with code PODCAST20 and start meeting new people in your city. In this episode, I’m talking with one of my listeners, Danielle, about dating in your 30s, putting yourself out there in real life, and how taking the pressure off can make dating more enjoyable. Danielle shares how she’s been expanding her social circle, trying new experiences, and approaching dating with a “do it for the story” mindset. We talk about getting clear on what you want, taking initiative when you meet someone you’re interested in, and why it’s worth putting yourself out there even when it doesn’t lead to a date. We're getting into... Balancing being happy single with looking for a relationship Meeting new people without making dating the only goal Our experiences with Timeleft events Getting comfortable going to events alone Knowing when your social battery needs a break Taking initiative when you meet someone you’re interested in Giving someone your number without putting pressure on them Plus, Danielle and I answer a dating dilemma from a listener who wants to reconnect with a guy she went to high school. MORE FROM DATING INTENTIONALLY Date Tracker: Start your 7-day free trial! (iOS link) Take the quiz: What's holding you back in dating? Say hi on Instagram Book a 1:1 with me Submit a dating dilemma
November 3 · 25 min
312. 7 Signs They Actually Like You in Early Dating
How do you know if someone likes you early in dating? In this episode, I’m breaking down the clearest signs someone is romantically interested in you, the signals that are way too easy to overanalyze, and the number one way to get clarity when you’re confused. I'm getting into... The seven biggest signs someone is genuinely interested in you Why consistently showing up matters more than flirting, texting style, or body language How to tell if your connection is actually progressing over time Why someone can like you even if they don’t show interest exactly the way you would The social media “signs” you should probably stop reading into The number one way to confirm whether someone likes you Why showing your own interest can save you from weeks of analyzing mixed signals When confusion in early dating is normal — and when it starts becoming concerning The difference between someone being interested in you and someone simply enjoying your attention Why someone liking you still isn’t enough to make a relationship work long term Why you should go into dates assuming the other person wants to be there Plus, I answer a Dating Dilemma from a listener who has a crush on his coworker. MENTIONED Ep 191 - Tips for dating a coworker Date Tracker: Start your 7-day free trial! (⁠iOS link⁠) PARTNERS Want to meet people IRL? Get 20% off Timeleft with code PODCAST20. MORE FROM DATING INTENTIONALLY ⁠Submit a dating dilemma⁠ Take the quiz: What's holding you back in dating? Say hi on Instagram Book a 1:1 with me Thanks for listening!
October 30 · 50 min
311. Former Tinder Sociologist Explains What We Get Wrong About Dating Apps w/ Dr. Jess Carbino
What if dating apps aren’t the problem, but the expectations we bring to them? In this episode, I’m talking with sociologist and dating expert Dr. Jess Carbino about how dating apps have changed the way we meet people, why we put so much pressure on finding an instant connection, and how to approach dating with more intention.Jess shares what she learned from her time as Tinder’s 25th employee, why the spark isn’t the only thing that matters when choosing a partner, and how romantic relationship
October 27 · 28 min
310. When They Seem Interested But Their Actions Don’t Match (Dating Dilemmas)
What do you do when someone’s words say one thing, but their actions tell a different story?In this episode, I’m answering four Dating Dilemmas about confusing behavior, mixed signals, and figuring out whether a connection is actually right for you. We’re talking about someone who keeps dating you but won't define the relationship, someone who says they’re ready to date but isn’t available, a long-distance connection that goes nowhere, and a relationship that starts intensely and then ends abrup
October 23 · 1 hr 6 min
309. How Falling in Love Turns Into Lasting Love w/ Kristy Scher
What if building a lasting relationship has less to do with falling in love and more to do with knowing yourself, choosing the right person, and learning how to love someone who is different from you? In this episode, I’m talking with relationship expert Kristy Scher about why we can’t rely on chemistry and the excitement of falling in love alone to build a lasting relationship, and how developing self-awareness and taking responsibility for our own behavior can change the way we show up in rela
October 20 · 37 min
308. Why Dates Feel Platonic (And How to Build Romantic Connection)
Have you ever gone on what felt like a really good date, only to get the dreaded “I had a great time, but I didn’t feel a romantic connection” text afterward?In this episode, I’m breaking down what actually creates romantic connection in early dating and 10 ways to make it easier for that connection to develop without forcing chemistry, performing, or trying to convince someone to like you.I’m getting into...What a romantic connection actually feels like in the first few datesWhy a great convers
October 16 · 52 min
307. Stop Dating Like You’re Running Out of Time w/ Alex Daly
What if getting divorced wasn’t the end of your love story, but a chance to rebuild your life and learn to date in a completely different way? In this episode, I’m talking with dating-after-divorce creator Alex Daly about dating after divorce, rebuilding your life from scratch, and how approaching dating with curiosity and an experimental mindset can help you figure out what you actually want.Alex shares her experience of getting divorced in her late 30s, moving to a new city, and re-entering th
October 13 · 32 min
306. It's Ok If You're Not Aligned On How Fast (Or Slow) To Progress In Early Dating
How fast should a relationship actually move? In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the trickiest parts of early dating: what to do when you and the person you’re dating aren’t moving at the same pace. We’ll talk about why pacing mismatches are so normal, how to tell when a relationship is simply moving slowly versus going nowhere, and how to navigate it when one person is ready for the next step before the other.I'm getting into...Why there’s no universal timeline for becoming official, hav
October 9 · 54 min
305. The Truth About 50/50 and Dating as an Ambitious Woman w/ Stefanie O’Connell
Why do so many couples who believe in equality still end up falling into traditional gender roles? I’m joined by Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez, author of The Ambition Penalty, to talk about what happens when money, ambition, power, and gender collide in dating and relationships.We get into why women’s success can create unexpected tension in heterosexual relationships, what happens when a woman earns more than her male partner, and why saying you want an equal relationship is very different from
October 6 · 26 min
304. Essential Texting Do's & Don'ts For Early Dating (throwback)
Texting can create SO much unnecessary anxiety in early dating. You’re wondering if you’re texting too much, if you should text first, why they suddenly seem less responsive, or whether someone who’s great in person but terrible over text is actually worth pursuing.In this episode, I’m breaking down what texting should actually look like before, after and between dates so you can stop analyzing every message and focus more on the connection happening in real life.This episode originally aired in
October 2 · 52 min
303. The Science of Getting Past Small Talk (And What To Share on Dates) w/ Vanessa Bohns
What if the secret to better dates isn’t saying the “right” thing, but worrying less about how you’re coming across and getting more curious about the person in front of you? In this episode, I’m talking with experimental social psychologist and author Vanessa Bohns about the science of what we say, what we hold back, and how other people actually respond to us.Vanessa breaks down why we often underestimate how much people like us, why vulnerability tends to go over better than we expect, and ho
September 29 · 33 min
302. How Do You Know If You’re In a Healthy Relationship?
How do you actually know if you’re in a healthy relationship? In this episode, I’m breaking down the four pillars I believe healthy relationships are built on: responsiveness, safety, freedom, and connection. We’ll talk about what each one actually looks like, where we tend to get it wrong, and how you can start building these qualities from the very beginning of dating.I'm getting into...What it really means to feel understood and cared for by your partnerWhy validation doesn’t mean agreeing wi
September 25 · 1 hr
301. How To Navigate Jealousy In Dating & Relationships w/ Ally Iseman
What if jealousy wasn’t a sign that something is wrong with you or your relationship, but an emotion you could actually learn from? In this episode, I’m talking with relationship coach Ally Iseman about why jealousy gets such a bad reputation, what it’s actually trying to tell us, and how to work through it without blaming your partner or shaming yourself.Ally breaks down the different types of jealousy, including insecurity, comparison, fear of abandonment, distrust, and retroactive jealousy, a
#55
September 22 · 36 min
300. How to Stop Trying to Control Everything in Your Love Life (Dating Dilemmas)
Dating comes with a lot of frustrating uncertainty. You can’t know if attraction will grow, whether someone will choose the relationship, or how another person will react when you tell them the truth. In this special 300th episode of Dating Intentionally, I’m answering your dating dilemmas about what happens when you want certainty, but the situation simply can’t give it to you yet.We’re getting into four dating dilemmas:How long should you give someone to warm up physically when you’re tired of
September 18 · 50 min
299. How to Stay Open When You’re Fed Up With Dating w/ Serena Kerrigan
What if dating felt less like a stressful search for your person and more like an experience you could actually enjoy? In this episode, I’m talking with Serena Kerrigan, creator and author of Let’s Fucking Date, about lowering the stakes in dating, stopping the need to control the outcome, and staying open to connections that don’t look exactly how you expected.Serena shares how meeting her boyfriend challenged her assumptions about age, success, and what the “right” partner should look like, pl
September 15 · 28 min
298. 7 Dating Mistakes That Make Finding a Relationship Take Longer
Feel like you're done wasting time on the wrong connections? I get it! In this episode, I'm breaking down seven of the most common mistakes I see people make in early dating, from dating someone's potential and staying in situationships to taking constant dating breaks, avoiding uncomfortable conversations, and being pen pals. I'm also sharing what to do differently so you can protect your time and energy and get closer to the relationship you actually want.In this episode, you'll learn:Why dati
September 11 · 55 min
297. Hidden Ways Low Self-Worth Shows Up in Dating (And How to Change It) w/ Dr. Marisa G. Franco
How much is your self-worth affecting the way you date? In this episode, I’m talking with psychologist and author Dr. Marisa G. Franco about how our past experiences can shape what we believe we deserve, how we interpret rejection, and even our ability to accept love from someone who genuinely likes us. We’ll also explore what it means to build self-worth and how to stop dating from a place of fear and start going after what you want.We’re getting into how to...Understand the difference between
September 8 · 29 min
296. How to Spot (and Break) the Dating Patterns Keeping You Stuck
There's a reason you keep dating the same people in different fonts: it's your dating patterns.In this episode, I'm sharing the three patterns I discovered while tracking my own dating life, how they were getting in the way of the relationship I actually wanted, and what I did differently once I could finally see them. I'm also walking you through a simple way to identify your own patterns and turn them into experiments so you can start getting different dating results.In this episode, you'll le
September 4 · 57 min
295. How to Give Someone a Chance Without Settling w/ Jordanne Sculler
How do you stay open-minded in dating without settling for less than what you want? And what happens when someone treats you well, checks a lot of the important boxes, but something still feels… off?In this episode, I’m joined by licensed therapist Jordanne Sculler to talk about the messy, nuanced parts of dating that don’t fit neatly into a set of rules. We unpack why familiar relationship dynamics can feel more attractive than healthy ones, why self-awareness alone doesn’t always break old pat
September 1 · 30 min
294. 5 Tiny Habits That Will Transform Your Dating Life
In this episode, I'm sharing 5 tiny habits that can help you get better dating results, feel more confident and in control, and make dating a little more enjoyable. We’ll talk about how to make decisions without endlessly second-guessing yourself, learn from your dates, show interest without playing games, protect your mindset from dating negativity, and get clear on intentions early.In this episode, we cover:How being more decisive can build confidence and self-trustWhy tracking and reflecting

Showing 1–20 of 47 episodes