Dating in 2025 is exhausting. If you're feeling burnt out, frustrated by ghosting, or questioning whether good people even exist anymore, this episode is for you.
In this raw, filter-off solo episode, I'm taking the dating coach hat completely off and sharing my honest experience as someone actively dating in the modern landscape. With 79% of millennials and Gen Z reporting dating app burnout, you're not alone in feeling like modern dating is a mess—because it absolutely is.
I'm getting real about the challenges we're all facing: profiles that give you nothing to work with, the waiting game after matching, the normalization of ghosting (which 91% of daters consider the worst trend in modern dating) and the frustration of people saying one thing while their actions show something completely different.
But here's what matters most: even with all these frustrations, I still have amazing dates. I still meet wonderful people. And I still believe you can date from a grounded, optimistic place—without losing yourself in the chaos.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
"The behavior you're receiving from other people that can make dating really challenging has nothing to do with you. The moment you're able to disconnect your worth or your value from the situation, the easier it is to be like, okay, yeah, that sucked, but to also move on."
- Madden Zappa
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY:
We NOW have an Instagram. Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
✨As always, we do not gatekeep how to date smarter. If this episode moved you or taught you something new, think it would be beneficial for others to hear, please take a moment to follow, leave a review, and SHARE! Pass this episode along to someone who would love it too or head on over Instagram to share the most recent episode.
Feeling burned out from dating apps? You're not alone—79% of users report dating app fatigue. In this episode, I sit down with Erika Ettin, founder of A Little Nudge and dating coach for 15 years, to break down exactly what makes online dating profiles stand out and how to actually convert matches into dates.
Erika shares her "Name Your Five" framework for creating profiles that spark conversation, the biggest mistakes that quietly sabotage connection, and why successful people often struggle the most with modern dating. We dive into profile photo strategies, the art of first messages, texting between dates, and when to move from app to in-person.
If you're swiping but not connecting, getting matches but not dates, or feeling like dating has become another exhausting chore, this conversation is full of practical insights that will shift how you approach online dating entirely.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
"Your trip to Europe is fleeting. Your potential partner, hopefully, is for a long time. So perhaps people should spend more time on their dating profile than planning vacation. You spent 10 hours planning your trip to Europe but only five minutes on your Hinge profile. That math doesn't add up."
- Erika Ettin
CONNECT WITH ERIKA:
Erika Ettin is the Founder of A Little Nudge, a consulting company that helps people navigate the world of online dating, from first click to first date. She is also the author of the book Love at First Site.
Erika studied economics at Cornell University and received her MBA from Georgetown. She started A Little Nudge in 2011 (after a seven-year career as an economist). She is responsible for many relationships, marriages, and the confidence some people simply need to “get out there.”
A Little Nudge has been featured in media around the country, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CBS, and Ask Men, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated dating column.
Erika's Instagram: @alittlenudge
GET YOUR VERY OWN THE SKIN DEEP DECK RIGHT HERE!
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY:
We NOW have an Instagram. Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
✨As always, we do not gatekeep how to date smarter. If this episode moved you or taught you something new, think it would be beneficial for others to hear, please take a moment to follow, leave a review, and SHARE! Pass this episode along to someone who would love it too or head on over Instagram to share the most recent episode.
The holidays can bring up complicated feelings when you're single—but what if you stopped treating this season like something to survive and started owning it instead? In this solo episode, Madden gets raw and honest about navigating holiday gatherings without a partner, the unexpected clarity that can come from seasonal reflection, and why your relationship status has nothing to do with how fulfilled your life actually is.
If you've ever felt the weight of being the only single person at a party, fielded awkward questions from well-meaning relatives, or caught yourself wishing for a plus-one—this episode is for you. Madden shares personal stories from recent holiday experiences and offers practical language for handling those inevitable "so, are you seeing anyone?" conversations with grace and confidence.
This isn't about pretending you're fine when you're not. It's about understanding that you can simultaneously enjoy your life AND desire partnership. Both things can be true at once. And more importantly, your confidence doesn't come from having someone by your side—it comes from choosing yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
"Your relationship status—whether you're single, you're dating, or the state of your current relationship—that is not the most important and most interesting thing about you. It never was. It never will be unless you're the one deciding that. You are so much more than whether or not you have a partner."
- Madden Zappa
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY:
We NOW have an Instagram. Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
✨As always, we do not gatekeep how to date smarter. If this episode moved you or taught you something new, think it would be beneficial for others to hear, please take a moment to follow, leave a review, and SHARE! Pass this episode along to someone who would love it too or head on over Instagram to share the most recent episode.
Anxious attachment isn't a life sentence—it's a pattern you can heal. In this transformative episode, internationally recognized relationship coach Trevor Hanson shares his journey from working at Tesla while trapped in toxic relationships to helping thousands break free from anxious attachment patterns.
If you've ever felt like you're dating the same person repeatedly, sabotaging healthy relationships, or addicted to the highs and lows of chaotic love—this episode is your roadmap to change.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The real difference between anxious, avoidant, and secure attachment styles
Why you keep attracting unavailable partners (and how to stop)
The TEMPO Cycle framework for identifying and breaking your patterns
How to build genuine safety within yourself before seeking it in others
Why healing while dating isn't just possible—it's powerful
The emotion-logic gap and why knowing better doesn't equal doing better
"There's an emotion-logic gap. There's a logical part of you that totally gets it in the front part of your brain. But then there's an emotional part of your brain that stores all your subconscious content. Too often we try to activate the front part of the brain to fix the emotional base brain. And it doesn't work. You literally aren't even turning on the right part of the brain to fix it. That's why you can learn all day long what a healthy pattern looks like and still get sucked into the same old stuff."
- Trevor Hanson
CONNECT WITH TREVOR:
Trevor is an internationally recognized coach dedicated to helping individuals and couples create secure, thriving relationships.
After overcoming his own anxious attachment, breaking his jaw, ending a toxic relationship, and leaving a corporate career at Tesla, he found his purpose in helping others find their secure self.
With a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and advanced training from some of the world’s top attachment experts, Trevor has helped thousands of clients around the globe. He’s been featured by the Gottman Institute and has spoken to audiences of over 10,000.
As the founder of The Art of Healing, he teaches his signature Secure Self Method to help people step into emotional confidence and build the kinds of relationships that last.
Trevor's Instagram: @theartofhealingbytrevor
Free! Seminar From Anxious to Secure
Join the Secure Self Club (Go from anxious to secure in 120 days!)
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY:
We NOW have an Instagram! Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
⭐As always, we do not gatekeep how to date smarter. If this episode moved you or taught you something new, think it would be beneficial for others to hear, please take a moment to follow, leave a review, and SHARE! Pass this episode along to someone who would love it too or head on over to Instagram to share the most recent episode!
Should couples combine finances after marriage? Financial therapist Lindsay Konchar shares expert advice on money conversations, avoiding financial infidelity, and building wealth together.
In Part 2 of our conversation with financial therapist Lindsay Konchar, we dive deep into the money questions that come up when relationships get serious. From combining finances to navigating financial infidelity, this episode gives you practical tools for building a financial foundation that actually supports your relationship instead of stressing it out.
What You'll Learn:
"We are not just keeping up with the Joneses anymore. We are keeping up with everyone. Social media is a huge culprit of that. For anybody that's like, I don't give a shit what other people think about me - that's a huge red flag. Every single human being on planet Earth gives a shit about what other people are thinking about them. And they should. What that is all about is having a sense of belonging. You want to belong with your friends, your chosen family. That's okay. But you need to understand how your money is reflected in that."
- Lindsey Konchar
CONNECT WITH LINDSEY:
Lindsey is your favorite financial therapist for women and couples, here to help you feel excited about money! (Yes, it's possible!) Money is more than just a math problem; there is always so much more to the equation. Merging behavioral therapy and financial education, Lindsey helps you live your dream life!
Lindsey's Instagram: @financialtherapistlindsey
Join Financial Self-Care's GET OUT OF DEBT course WAITLIST
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY
We NOW have an Instagram! Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
⭐ As always, we don’t gatekeep how to date smarter.If this moved you or taught you something new, take a moment to follow, leave a review, and pass this episode along to someone who would love it too.
Can money make or break your relationship? In Part 1 of this two-part series, financial therapist Lindsey Konchar reveals why financial compatibility matters just as much as emotional connection—and how to talk about money without the awkwardness.
Discover why your money habits were formed by age 10, when to bring up finances while dating (hint: earlier than you think), and how to lead with vulnerability instead of interrogation. Lindsey shares the conversation starters that actually work, explains why confidence with money is the most attractive quality you can have, and breaks down what really matters when assessing financial compatibility.
Whether you're single, casually dating, or getting serious with someone, this episode will change how you approach money conversations—and help you build stronger, more financially aligned relationships from the start.
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
- Your money habits are established by age 10 based on what you saw modeled- Financial therapy combines behavioral change with tactical money management- Confidence with your finances is more attractive than your income level- Lead money conversations with vulnerability, not interrogation- The best time to talk finances is dates 3-5, not on date 20- High earners often live paycheck-to-paycheck just like everyone else- Money dates create safe spaces for ongoing financial conversations
"When you feel cool and confident and collected in your relationship with money, when you are at ease with your money, you carry that. You stand a little taller, your shoulders relax a little bit more because you know where your money is going. And that confidence is what now you are bringing to that relationship. That's what is so attractive for people."
- Lindsey Konchar
CONNECT WITH LINDSEY:
Lindsey is your favorite financial therapist for women and couples, here to help you feel excited about money! (Yes, it's possible!) Money is more than just a math problem; there is always so much more to the equation. Merging behavioral therapy and financial education, Lindsey helps you live your dream life!
Lindsey's Instagram: @financialtherapistlindsey
Join Financial Self-Care's GET OUT OF DEBT course WAITLIST
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
STAY UP TO DATE WITH WE'RE DATING THE SAME GUY
We NOW have an Instagram! Follow us over at @datedifferentlyco
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
⭐ As always, we don’t gatekeep how to date smarter.If this moved you or taught you something new, take a moment to follow, leave a review, and pass this episode along to someone who would love it too.
More than 90 percent of Gen Z report feeling frustrated with dating apps, and 79 percent of college-age people say they don't use dating apps regularly. If you're exhausted by the swipe culture and ready to date differently, this episode is for you.
Francesco Amati found his wife through Instagram—not by DMing strangers, but by creating intentional content about the love he wanted to attract. They dated long-distance between Canada and New Jersey for six months before getting married, and their relationship proves that conscious connection transcends physical proximity.
This conversation explores how emotional intelligence, inner child healing, and spiritual alignment transform your dating life from the inside out. Francesco shares practical frameworks for assessing emotional compatibility, breaking toxic patterns, and becoming the version of yourself who can hold the relationship you desire.
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"When I finally walked away from what wasn't good for me, I opened up space for what is good for me. This time, I'm not going to settle."
- Francesco Amati
CONNECT WITH FRANCESCO:
Francesco Amati is a spiritual teacher and conscious relationship mentor who helps people cultivate inner union and attract authentic partnership without dating apps. Following his spiritual awakening in 2012, Francesco has integrated lessons from marriage, divorce, and toxic relationships into a teaching practice that bridges ancient wisdom with modern dating challenges.
Through his program, The Path to Sacred Union, Francesco guides individuals to heal attachment wounds, develop emotional intelligence, and align with their highest self. His approach emphasizes that your external reality reflects your internal state—meaning the relationship you attract is the vibrational match of who you're being, not who you're performing to be.
Francesco's Instagram: @_francesco.amati_
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
If you've ever gone through a breakup that left you gasping for air weeks or months later—refreshing their profile, replaying every moment, wondering what went wrong—this episode is for you.
In today's conversation, host Madden sits down with Cole Zesiger, breakup and relationship coach and author of Exes and No's: The Breakup Advice You Don't Want to Hear, to dive deep into how we can truly move from heartbreak to healing. Cole has helped thousands of people rebuild after love loss, blending psychology, attachment theory, and practical tools to guide them back to peace and power.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"When your present isn't happy, when there's nothing to look forward to and nothing to be happy about in the moment, your brain is just going to want to stay in the past. So we need to start building things in the moment, and that can start as small as possible—brushing your teeth or making your bed. And then you build out from there."
- Cole Zesiger
CONNECT WITH COLE:
Cole Zesiger is a breakup and relationship coach who helps people navigate heartbreak and rebuild their lives after love loss. After getting divorced at 23 and jumping into another failed relationship, Cole embarked on a journey to understand breakups, attachment theory, and what it really takes to heal.
Over the past three years, he's built a community of 750,000+ followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, creating content that blends psychology, vulnerability, and practical tools. Cole is the author of Exes and No's: The Breakup Advice You Don't Want to Hear, a must-read guide for anyone ready to stop repeating heartbreak cycles.
Outside of coaching, Cole is married to his wife Jocelyn, has a one-year-old daughter, and enjoys playing guitar, listening to rock music, and riding his dirt bike and Harley.
Cole's Instagram: @coachcolezesiger
Preorder Ex's and No's:
https://coachcolezesiger.com/exsandnos
Connect with Madden:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Important Podcast Links:
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
What if the endless healing work you're doing is actually keeping you stuck? In this raw and transformative conversation, sexual liberation coach Sammy Schultz shares her journey from numbing sexual trauma with alcohol to becoming the strong woman she needed growing up—and how that completely changed the way she dates.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"Instead of begging an external universe to give you what only you can give you, you have to become the center of your universe. You become the universe and you give it to yourself. You stop asking for things and you just give it to yourself. Rather than going out and being like 'maybe someone will choose me,' it's 'let me see if this place, this person, is amazing enough for me.'"
- Sammy Schultz
CONNECT WITH SAMMY:
Sammy Schultz is a sexual liberation coach who helps women become the strong woman they needed when they were growing up. After spending years numbing sexual trauma with alcohol and facing a life-threatening health experience, Sammy got sober and began her healing journey—which eventually evolved into teaching women how to stop healing and start living.
Ten years ago, Sammy started a YouTube channel to share her journey of sexual healing, even after the platform threatened to delete her content. Since then, she's helped countless women transform their relationship with their bodies, their sensuality, and their worthiness in love and money. Sammy specializes in combining neuroscience and sensuality to help women break free from people-pleasing patterns, set powerful boundaries, and date from a place of wholeness rather than fixing themselves.
Her approach is bold, unapologetic, and refreshingly honest—teaching women that the "bitchy," "demanding" version of themselves isn't something to apologize for, but something to worship.
Sammy's Instagram: @sammybelove
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
IMPORTANT PODCAST LINKS:
Submit YOUR dating stories and questions: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous
What if the quiet habit shaping men's views on sex, intimacy, and connection is something almost nobody talks about in dating? In this raw, eye-opening conversation, Jeremy Lipkowitz uncovers how porn actually rewires the brain, impacts real-world intimacy, and shows up in the relationships we're trying to build. This isn't about judgment. It's about awareness, accountability, and understanding what's really happening beneath the surface.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"Every single addiction is about escaping unpleasant emotions, running away. In order to overcome addiction at the root source—not just blocking it or being sober for a little bit, but actually overcoming it and uprooting the addiction—you have to start getting skillful with working with your emotions. You have to develop healthier coping mechanisms for when a strong emotion comes. So much of porn addiction is rooted in boredom. Guys are just bored. They don't know what to do with themselves."
- Jeremy Lipkowitz
CONNECT WITH JEREMY:
Jeremy Lipkowitz is a former Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, and ICF-certified executive coach who helps high-achieving men break free from compulsive behaviors—especially porn addiction—and build lives of integrity, discipline, and deep fulfillment. With over 13 years of meditation experience and hundreds of days spent in silent retreat, Jeremy blends ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science to guide individuals toward emotional resilience and personal freedom.
Jeremy left higher academia after confronting his own struggles with addiction, shame, and self-judgment. A brief period of monastic training in Myanmar deepened his mindfulness practice and marked the start of a lifelong commitment to personal growth and service.
As the founder of Unhooked Academy and host of the Unhooked Podcast, Jeremy is a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and educating the public on effective, science-based recovery strategies. His work helps men overcome shame, understand the neuroscience of addiction, and create lasting transformation through mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and habit change.
Jeremy's Instagram: @jeremylipkowitz
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
IMPORTANT PODCAST LINKS:
Submit YOUR dating stories and question: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
Monthly Date Giveaways: Date Differently Drop
It's so easy to get swept away in early dating when you're texting nonstop and spending all your free time together, slowly drifting from friends and hobbies . But what if dating could ADD to your life instead of becoming your whole life?
Welcome to Season 2 of We're Dating the Same Guy!
After a wild weekend in Vegas that felt like a movie scene, Madden shares how to not get lost in and swept away by your dating experiences: connecting to your purpose.
After a trip to Vegas—accidentally booking an RV, electric car anxiety, sketchy neighborhoods, desert windstorms, and an unexpected romantic encounter that could've been straight out of a film. But instead of getting swept away into fantasy and daydreaming like Madden would have in the past, she stayed grounded. Listen to find out how.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"Your purpose reminds you that your life does not pause just because someone new is entering it. Dating is meant to add to your life, but it's not meant to become your whole life."- Madden Zappa
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden Zappa is a Minneapolis based dating coach and host of "We're Dating the Same Guy," a podcast helping people break free from repeating dating patterns. Through expert conversations and real-life stories, Madden empowers listeners to date more intentionally, understand their attachment styles, and build relationships aligned with their authentic selves.
MADDEN'S INSTAGRAM: @maddenzappa
IMPORTANT PODCAST LINKS:
Submit YOUR dating stories and question: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
Monthly Date Giveaways: Date Differently Drop
What if the key to lasting love isn't chemistry or compatibility—but conscious engineering?
In this episode, Madden sits down with relationship coach Scott Wild, whose background as a software engineer gives him a radically different lens on relationships. Scott helps us understand how to build partnerships that don't just survive—they actually thrive through intentional design.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"Intimacy is the revealing of my heart, my hurt, or my play. That's the thing that people actually love—you want to feel someone playing, you want to feel what's true for somebody. Pure intimacy is like a gift, just an offering." - Scott Wild
CONNECT WITH SCOTT:
Scott Wild is a relationship coach who helps people build strong, lasting partnerships filled with trust and connection. He has expressed as a software engineer, manager, professional athlete, facilitator, and a decade as a practitioner of ethical polyamory, giving him a diverse perspective to share. Scott has spent years guiding people through relational intelligence practices and supporting them in creating healthier, more fulfilling romantic lives. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and two young children.
Scott's Instagram: @scottsolowild
Free Discovery Call to improve your relationship: scottsolowild.com
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
IMPORTANT PODCAST LINKS:
Submit YOUR dating stories and question: Date Differently Diaries (completely anonymous)
Monthly Date Giveaways: Date Differently Drop
In the season 1 finale of We're Dating the Same Guy, host Madden sits down with fellow podcaster Alexis to break down the movie "The Materialist" and what it reveals about modern dating patterns, attachment styles, and the choice between financial security and emotional connection.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
CONNECT WITH ALEXIS:
Alexis is a fellow Minneapolis Podcaster and host of Let if Flow Podcast
Alexis's Instagram: @destinationalexis
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden is a dating coach and host of "We're Dating the Same Guy" podcast, helping individuals identify and break destructive dating patterns. With expertise in attachment theory, feminine energy, and modern relationship dynamics, she creates a safe space for exploring the deeper psychology behind our romantic choices. Through vulnerable conversations and expert guests, Madden guides listeners toward more secure, authentic relationships.
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Tired of feeling anxious and insecure in your relationships? In today's episode, relationship coach and spiritual guide Kevin Crenshaw reveals why your dating patterns might be rooted in a deeper spiritual search - and how cultivating a relationship with God can transform the way you love.
Kevin shares his raw journey from being a chronic people pleaser whose first three relationships ended in betrayal, to finding spiritual security that completely shifted his approach to love. We explore how anxious attachment often masks a search for the divine, why your "ideal partner" list might actually be describing God, and practical ways to build genuine spiritual connection.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"People hurt you, not God. Build your own relationship. Look for people producing spiritual fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. Not just moments of it, but supernatural, consistent fruit that surprises you." - Kevin Crenshaw
CONNECT WITH KEVIN:
Kevin Crenshaw is a relationship coach, spiritual guide, and author who has spent over a decade helping people transform their love lives through healing anxious attachment and building spiritual security. After his own journey from people-pleasing codependency to authentic spiritual connection, Kevin now guides thousands in understanding how their relationship with God directly impacts their human relationships. His upcoming book "Perspectives" (releasing September 2025) is a collection of poetic reflections mapping his decade-long journey toward freedom, healing, and divine connection.
Kevin's Instagram: @the.heart.guy
Join the Waitlist for Kevin's new book Perspectives
STAY CONNECTED WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Are you tired of dating emotionally unavailable men? In this vulnerable conversation, sex and relationship therapist Joe Molinari breaks down why so many men struggle with emotional availability and what you can do about it.
Joe shares his personal journey from emotional avoidance to vulnerability, explaining how childhood conditioning creates patterns that pull men away from connection. We explore attachment styles, the dangerous appeal of "twin flame" relationships, and practical steps both men and women can take to create more secure relationships.
Whether you're trying to understand the men you're dating or working on your own emotional availability, this episode offers hope and practical tools for creating the secure love you deserve.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"The best thing you can do is learn more to be present to yourself. Learn to connect to yourself emotionally, connect to yourself in a very present embodied way. That is a path towards finding your own security within yourself. And that's the best first step for also meeting other people who are an authentic connection for you." - Joe Molinari
CONNECT WITH JOE:
Joe Molinari is a psychotherapist and coach specializing in sex, trauma, and relationships. Whether working with individuals, couples, or groups, Joe invites his clients to pursue a path toward more presence, authenticity, and a sense of aliveness. Joe brings a deep curiosity about how we connect, overcome, and grow. His approach is collaborative, sex-positive, and full of heart (and usually a bit of humor too). He’s passionate about helping people move from shame and stuckness to connection, pleasure, and a sense of freedom. Whether it’s talking about intimacy, healing old wounds, or finding more ease in everyday life, Joe creates space for the whole messy, beautiful human experience.
Joe's Instagram: @sextherapyjoe
STAY CONNECTED WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Would you go on a first date without alcohol? 39% of singles now say yes—and it's changing everything about modern dating. In this raw conversation, Alex Zauner (founder of Lucille's alcohol-free experiences and 11 years sober) reveals why removing liquid courage creates deeper connections and better relationships.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"Sober dating is not just going to help you in that relationship—it's going to genuinely help you to build your social skills and confidence in every aspect of your life. You're going to remember all the details, the jokes, your personality is going to shine through, and their personality is going to shine through." - Alex Zauner
CONNECT WITH ALEX:
Alex's Instagram: @alexandrazauner
Lucille's Instagram: @lucillesbottleshop
CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Dave from Love is Blind Minneapolis gets real about what happens when the cameras stop rolling. In this raw conversation, we dive into vulnerability in dating, trusting your intuition, and how reality TV changed his approach to relationships forever. If you've ever wondered what it's like to fall in love on national television and then learn even more about yourself in the process, this episode gives you a window into all of it.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"You can't really be yourself if you don't know who you are. You shouldn't date anyone with the intention of getting married or having a long-term future if you don't fully know yourself well enough." - David Bettenburg
CONNECT WITH DAVE:
David Bettenburg is a 33-year-old Minneapolis native who appeared on Love is Blind Season 8. Originally working in medical device sales (specifically aesthetic procedures), he now works as an Account Executive for legal solutions. Dave's journey on Love is Blind became controversial due to family interference and outside gossip affecting his relationship with Lauren O'Brien. Post-show, he's focused on self-reflection, therapy, and understanding his dating patterns to build healthier relationships.
David's Instagram: @davidbettenburg
STAY CONNECTED WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Ever wonder why you keep dating the same type of person? Brazilian brain health coach Fabiana breaks down the neuroscience behind dating patterns and reveals how your brain creates the relationship cycles you find yourself stuck in.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"There is no way you will find a partner who loves you if you're not being 100% your authentic self. Because they're going to fall for what you're showing, not for who you are. If you are acting to gain someone's love, you're not gaining their love—your character is gaining their love." - Fabiana
CONNECT WITH FABIANA
Brazilian-born brain health coach and viral Instagram creator (@fashionbyfabiana, 150K+ followers) who transforms women's relationship with aging and self-acceptance. Former corporate executive turned certified neuroscience coach, Fabiana combines 30 years of business experience with brain-based coaching to help women break limiting patterns and embrace authentic living. Her content on aging gracefully has reached over 20 million views, sparking global conversations about beauty standards and self-worth.
Fabiana's Instagram: @fashionbyfabiana
STAY CONNECTED WITH MADDEN
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
What happens when a man realizes he's the guy women don't want to date and completely transforms himself? In this raw conversation, dating and embodiment coach Tyler shares his journey from being disconnected and sabotaging intimacy to helping high-value women date differently.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa
Are you calling everything a red flag in dating? Dating coach and therapist Michelle O'Connell joins host Madden to decode the difference between red flags, yellow flags, and green flags in modern dating. Learn why your nervous system might confuse healthy partners for boring ones, how past trauma affects your ability to recognize good partners, and the subtle patterns that show up months into dating - not on date three. This episode reveals why we're quick to label behaviors as red flags when they might actually be signs of a healthy partner, plus actionable strategies for dating with curiosity instead of fear.
EPISODE TIMELINE:
IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:
"If you want a partner, you have to date. And when you date with a space and a mindset of curiosity and being open to all the different outcomes, you're going to have a better experience with dating. Don't date to validate your worth - date from curiosity." - Michelle
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:
Michelle O'Connell is a licensed mental health therapist and dating coach based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With over a decade of experience in trauma therapy, Michelle launched her dating coaching practice "Unstuck by Michelle" four years ago. She supports clients in building confidence, creating authentic dating profiles, identifying healthier partners, and developing mindful, intentional approaches to dating. Michelle brings a unique trauma-informed perspective that's both grounded and refreshingly real to the dating world.
Michelle's Instagram: @unstuckbymichelle
Michelle's Website
*NEW* Michelle's TikTok: @unstuckbymichelle
Michelle offers monthly dating support, beginning August 6, 2025. Please visit Michelle's website to find out more!
STAY CONNECT WITH MADDEN:
Madden's Instagram: @maddenzappa