This episode of Playdate became something I could’ve never anticipated or planned for. What began as a regular episode, turned into an unexpected Q&A, and then somehow, into a full-on, very real mental breakdown. From the very beginning of the episode, I genuinely couldn’t form a sentence, gather a thought, or pull myself together, and the more time passed, I continued to feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, unconfident, and emotional while trying to push through it. I was going back and forth with the decision to release this... Instead of cutting it out or pretending everything was fine, I ultimately made the choice to leave it in - because this is the reality sometimes.

We live in a world where social media shows the most polished version of people. The wins, the aesthetic moments, the perfectly articulated thoughts — but this episode is the complete opposite of that; the messy side, and the human side. The days where you wake up feeling off, nothing goes according to plan or as expected, and having to change course in real time; all while still trying to give yourself grace throughout it all.

I thought last week was the most vulnerable episode that I've released, but as it turns out, this may very well top that one. I’d be lying if I said releasing this isn’t sending me over the edge a bit, but the whole point of this podcast is to be raw, authentic, and to embrace our flaws. If you’ve ever had one of those days where your mind feels scrambled, your emotions take over, or you feel frustrated with yourself for not being “on,” this conversation is for you. It wasn’t one of my best days, but at least it was a real one.

I hope you have a good laugh at my tears… I’m sure one day looking back, I’ll be laughing at it too.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

I talk about embracing uncertainty, shooting your shot, and how to move through life with the kind of self-trust that can’t be shaken by rejection or fear. Because when you truly know what you bring to the table, you stop shrinking yourself to fit into rooms that were never meant for you. This episode is a reminder to stop doubting your path, stop doubting your worth, and trust that everything that’s happening is really just shaping you into the person you’re becoming, and the story that’s meant to unfold.

This episode was really therapeutic for me, and I hope you can find peace and comfort in it too.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

We also dive into the importance of protecting your energy and surrounding yourself with people who genuinely inspire, motivate, and elevate you. There’s something really powerful about hearing from people who started with nothing but an idea and watch them fully bring that vision to life. Sometimes the biggest transformation begins the moment you decide to stop doubting yourself and fully go after the life you want.

This episode is full of perspective, wisdom, and encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, discouraged, or afraid to take the leap toward the life they really want. Whether you’re building a career, a business, a creative passion, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this episode is a reminder that your environment, your mindset, and your consistency matter.

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.

This conversation is about resilience, redemption, and the courage it takes to choose a different path, even when it feels impossible. Change isn’t always easy, but it is always possible, and Emily’s journey is living proof that you can rebuild, rise, and come back stronger than ever.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your past or unsure of your next step, this episode is your reminder - your comeback is waiting for you.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

We talk about the push and pull between anxious and avoidant dynamics, the confusion & clarity between intuition and anxiety, and why emotional unavailability can feel more exciting than real, stable love. We unpack the reality of narcissistic relationships - how they affect your sense of self, why leaving is so hard, and what true healing actually looks like on the other side. Charlie shares not just insight, but practical tools on building secure attachment, navigating no contact, breaking trauma bonds, and learning how to feel safe in love again.

For anyone who has ever questioned their worth in a relationship, struggled to trust again, or found themselves repeating the same patterns with different people, this episode is for you. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear, that your past does not disqualify you from healthy love, and that understanding yourself is the first step to changing everything.

I hope this episode brings you solace and comfort wherever you are in your journey. Whether that be healing, learning, or starting over; just know that you are not behind. You are becoming more aware, more intentional, and more aligned with the kind of love you truly deserve.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

Topics we cover:

• The 4 attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, fearful-avoidant)
• Relationship anxiety vs intuition
• Narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, and trauma bonding
• Why we stay in unhealthy relationships
• Emotional unavailability & modern dating
• Healing patterns and building self-worth
• No contact, breakups, and starting over

And then there’s a version of me now that understands: the right people don’t require you to prove your worth to be loved.

I share the lessons about what it means to love deeply without abandoning yourself, about the difference between giving from a full place versus giving to be chosen, and realizing that being a loving person was never the problem… it was where, and how quickly that I was placing that love. I talk about boundaries, self-worth, pacing, overthinking, and the quiet shift that happens when you stop trying to be everything for someone, and start being everything for yourself.

You don’t have to rush your healing, you don’t have to force clarity, but you do owe it to yourself to pay attention to the patterns that keep repeating and to believe that you are allowed to choose differently. Because the life you want and the love you deserve, often begins the moment you stop abandoning yourself to keep something else.

If this found you at the right time, that’s not by accident. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t. But most importantly, don’t forget that you’re allowed to grow, to change, and to choose better for yourself. Over and over again.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

We get into how it all started... The foundation of The 97 Collective, the transition from photography into directing, what it looked like building something from the ground up, and what it actually felt like stepping into rooms that once felt out of reach. Dragan shares how his mindset has shifted as the stakes got higher, and what it takes to keep evolving creatively without losing your identity; about how his mindset has evolved as the opportunities got bigger. We also dive deep about the reality behind the work. The pressure, the pivots, and the moments that don’t go as planned.

If you’re building something, sitting on an idea, or waiting for the right time to start, this episode is your reminder that there is no perfect moment. There’s just the decision to begin.

Thanks for being here, and wishing you all the happiness and success in your pursuit for success!

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.

We dive into the moments that push you to your edge. The fear, the uncertainty, and the quiet battles that often go unseen. She faced the deeply personal trial of undergoing treatments that altered her body, and the experience of losing her hair, and through it all, she discovered a new kind of strength. Nicole shares how these experiences reshaped her, and how letting go of the grudges, the distractions, and all the little things in between, can open space for clarity, gratitude, and purpose. Through it all, she shows what it truly means to be brave, and to keep going when even the path is uncertain. It taught her how to let go of what doesn’t matter and to hold closer the people and truths that do.

Through reflection, faith, and unwavering courage, she demonstrates how hardship can transform relationships, deepen gratitude, and reveal the parts of ourselves we didn’t even know existed. This conversation is a testament to resilience, perspective, and the quiet power of choosing hope even when it feels hopeless. By the end of this Playdate, you’ll feel inspired to face your own challenges with courage, to embrace the unknown, and to trust in your own strength to carry you through. A story of true bravery, faith, and the kind of strength that changes you forever.

Welcome to your next Playdate – conversations you don’t rush.

We explore what it really takes to build something from scratch - showing up even when no one is watching, trusting your own voice when the world tries to shape it, and having the guts to unapologetically be yourself in a space that rewards performance over authenticity. Zach opens up about his rise in the online community, the power of staying true under pressure, and how collaborating with bigger creators has opened unexpected doors.

But this isn’t just a story about strategy or drive, it’s about the fun and unfiltered moments that come when you put yourself out there. The mistakes, the laughs, the doubts - the experience that teaches you more than any guidebook ever could. This conversation is honest, reflective, a little wild, and reminds us why believing in yourself before anyone else does is the only kind of belief that matters.

If you’re building, creating, or just trying to figure out who you are in a world that constantly tells you who to be, this episode is a front row seat to what showing up fully and authentically yourself can do.

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.

What started as an unfiltered niche crashing out in her car, turned into an audience that resonates with the honesty, the humour, and the fact that she’s never pretending to have it all together. Between the random side conversations, the laughter, and the occasional unhinged tangent, we also get into the bigger picture. Chasing creative dreams, wanting to pursue acting, and figuring out how to turn internet momentum into something long lasting.

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is just start. It can be messy, loud, and a little chaotic - but behind every “overnight success” is someone who kept showing up, even when the path didn’t quite make sense yet. It’s funny, real, and a perfect example of what happens when someone stops trying to fit into a box, and creates one for themselves instead.

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.

This episode is an ode to honoring your body and your mind, devotion to your goals, and meeting the version of yourself that only reveals itself when you keep on going despite the hard days. If you’re in a season of growth, rebuilding, or recommitting to yourself, I hope this episode feels like permission to stay, to trust the process, and to keep on showing up.

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.

This isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about what shifted for me when I slowed down, listened inward, and started moving with more intention. I talk about the moments that stretched me, the patterns I had to unlearn, and the realizations that helped me step into a more aligned version of myself.

My hope is that something in this episode inspires you - whether it’s a mindset shift, a reminder you needed, or the courage to look at your own life through a different lens. If even one of these lessons helps you feel seen, inspired, or understood, then this Playdate did its job.

Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

This episode touches on a bit of personal history and upbringing, and looks at how prior experiences eventually lead us to where we are today. But more than that, it's a conversation about that universal feeling of being lost. Whether it’s navigating a non-linear path, or handling the internal pressure to have it all figured out, the core message is simple; we’re all in this together.

I talk through the process and reality of getting this project off the ground. The years of setbacks, the job losses, and the tiny signs that kept the fire alive. It’s a reminder that even when things feel like they're falling apart, they might actually be falling into place instead. This episode is for anyone who needs a little inspiration to keep going, to find a way, and to start betting on themselves.

Welcome to your first Playdate.

We discuss how he started creating his content, but more importantly, what it felt like to be in the in-between. The uncertainty, the pressure to keep going, and the quiet, internal questions that come up when you’re building something without knowing where it’s leading. Tommy opens up about the part no one really prepares you for - where growth isn’t obvious, progress feels slow, and you’re learning to trust your instincts in real time.

We also dive into the evolution of his work; from making short-form content to stepping into a director role, and how that shift asks more of you both creatively and personally, while stretching your skills, resilience, and understanding of storytelling. It’s not just about doing more, it’s about thinking differently, taking bigger risks, and letting go of the version of yourself that felt safe.

The beautiful thing is about this conversation is how light and funny it is on the surface, but it's really about how much honesty sits underneath it. We talk about doubt, timing, identity, and what it takes to keep choosing yourself, even when it may be uncomfortable or uncertain.

If you’re somewhere in the process - not at the beginning, and not quite where you want to be, this Playdate will feel like a spark to keep going. You've got this.

Welcome to your next Playdate — conversations you don't rush.