Single and Not Settling

Vanessa Maree - Your Wingwoman!

Welcome to "Single and Not Settling," the podcast where dating meets empowerment. I'm Vanessa Maree, your wingwoman! Single and Not Settling is more than just a dating podcast. It's a celebration of women embracing their solo journeys while living their best lives. We explore dating, personal development & women in business because being single isn't just about finding a partner — it's about finding yourself! Together, we'll uncover the secrets to self-love, re-discover our worth and learn to trust our intuition in all matters of the heart. So grab your favourite beverage and settle in!

  1. 2 FEB

    45. Attachment Bonds. Why we get hooked on emotionally unavailable men!

    Have you ever felt deeply attached to someone — even when, logically, you knew the connection wasn’t aligned or going anywhere? In this episode, I’m unpacking attachment bonds — what they are, why they form so quickly (especially with emotionally unavailable men), and how they can feel magnetic, consuming, and confusing… even when you’re otherwise grounded, self-aware, and doing the work. I share a very real and recent personal experience that began with a simple moment of silence — a message read but not replied to and how that activated an attachment bond in my nervous system. From there, I take you step-by-step through the exact process I used to move through it, regulate myself, and gently release the attachment. In this episode, we explore: - Why attachment bonds are normal (and not a sign that something is “wrong” with you) - How to calm your nervous system when attachment is activated. - How we unconsciously hand our power away and how to call it back. - Why emotionally unavailable men often trigger attachment more strongly. - The difference between being attached to a person vs being attached to a feeling. - Cord cutting and energetically speaking to that person. I also share the grounding phrases that supported me through this process, including: “I’ve already released this.”“I choose reality.” And one of the most powerful truths from this experience: What feels magnetic is often what feels familiar to an old part of us not what is aligned to our future self. If you’ve ever felt pulled toward someone you knew wasn’t right, this episode will help you understand why and show you how to come back home to yourself with compassion, clarity, and self-trust. This is only Part 1, there was so much more to share, come back for Part 2! Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Say "hello" by sending an email to hello@vanessamaree.co

    38 min
  2. 19 JAN

    44. Saying NO to New Years Resolutions. Why I'm doing 2026 Differently

    New Years Resolutions?....Nope not subscribing to that this year! Each year we are told to write out our dreams and goals for the New Year, to put in actions steps that make us feel like failures if we did not reach them. But what happens when we are just not feeling it? If 2025 did a number on us and we are still reeling from the pain and heartbreak it brought? Vanessa Maree lays it out in this episode from her own experience and how she is doing 2026 differently. She also shares: Her experience from her first social media troll and what it taught her - ouch but thank you.A massive identify evolution and what she has been doing to navigate through it.What next? When you are piecing yourself back together you get to decide what that looks and feels like.A viral New Years Eve ritual. did she eat the grapes or not?!How Vanessa Maree is flipping the script on New Years Resolutions and asking herself a set of questions each month (make sure you write these down!).The advice for the month is "you do you", simple but also so powerful at the same time. This one will leave you feeling relieved, calm and trusting that you are not alone in the feelings you are experiencing right now. Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Say "hello" by sending an email to hello@vanessamaree.co

    42 min
  3. 22/12/2025

    43. #realtalk. Triggers, Truth and How I Feel about being Single at Christmas

    This wasn't the episode I planned to record. I wanted to record an episode to hype up single women at Christmas, reminding you that you are enough, that it is OK to be single and that your life has so much meaning and value. While I still believe that to be true, I didn't have it in me to show up that way this time. So instead, I am being real with you...more so than usual. In this episode, I share openly what the past few weeks have brought up for me, the triggers, the quiet grief, the reflection that comes when the year is ending and you find yourself questioning your life's alignment, your choices and where you are right now. I share why I have pulled away from social media, how a short trip to Byron Bay shifted so much, who showed up back into my life during Mercury Retrograde and the clique advice about being in a "high vibration", "you create your own reality and can change it at any time". Single women are exhausted! So, if you are ending 2025 feeling reflective, uncertain, and quietly question where you are at, this episode is for you. No silver linings. No trying to "fix things" Just honesty, self compassion and permission to feel it all. If this episode resonated with you, I would love to hear from you. Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send an email to hello@vanessamaree.co

    35 min
  4. 24/11/2025

    41. Let's Talk Matchmaking! An Alternative to Finding Love with Megan Gourlay

    In this episode, Vanessa Maree sits down with the incredible Megan Gourlay, a heart-led matchmaker and the founder of Love With Me. Together, they explore what it really takes to find aligned love in today’s world, from mindset to emotional readiness to the practical steps of matchmaking. Here’s what we dive into: From Corporate to Cupid, Megan opens up about her journey from the corporate world into matchmaking, what pulled her toward love, connection, and helping people meet their person.We get real. Megan shares the relationship and dating challenges that cracked her open (including an appearance on a popular dating reality TV show), shifted her path, and ultimately inspired her to guide others into healthier, aligned connections.Megan walks us step-by-step through how she gets to know her clients on a deep level. Their values, desires, and references and how she uses that to create intentional, compatible matches instead of surface-level pairings.If you’re a single woman who’s exhausted, jaded, or losing faith — Megan offers the grounded, compassionate truth that will help you reconnect to hope, self-worth, and possibility.Also, stay tuned to the end as Vanessa Mare makes an announcement you do not want to miss! Get in touch with Megan Gourlay here: www.lovewithme.com.au Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    35 min
  5. 13/10/2025

    38. Good Men Still Exist with Brad Barnett

    In this grounding and vulnerable conversation, Vanessa Mareesits down with Brad Barnett, a fire dancer, speaker, and man on a mission to be “a beacon of hope for women who have bad stories.” Brad opens up about his past, including a pivotal momentthat changed how he shows up in relationships and life. He shares his journey from old patterns to self-awareness, and how choosing celibacy has helped him reconnect with his values and purpose. Together, they unpack: - What men really mean when they say they’re “too busy”or avoid emotional honesty. - The importance of communication, respect, and taking accountability. - Why women should honour themselves as divine beings — the portal of life — and stay discerning in who they allow into their energy. - What it looks like when a man is genuinely doing the innerwork. This conversation is a reminder that good men do exist…(evenVanessa Maree was a little lost for words at the end!!) and that healing and respect can come from both sides. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about growth, integrity, and the power of self-respect in modern dating and connection. Connect with Brad and book him for private events: @bradthefirebender 💌 If you loved this episode, I’d love for you to: Connect with Vanessa Maree ⁠⁠⁠@vanessamaree_wingwoman⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast page ⁠⁠⁠@singleandnotsettling.podcast⁠⁠⁠ Or share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it today!

    1h 4m

About

Welcome to "Single and Not Settling," the podcast where dating meets empowerment. I'm Vanessa Maree, your wingwoman! Single and Not Settling is more than just a dating podcast. It's a celebration of women embracing their solo journeys while living their best lives. We explore dating, personal development & women in business because being single isn't just about finding a partner — it's about finding yourself! Together, we'll uncover the secrets to self-love, re-discover our worth and learn to trust our intuition in all matters of the heart. So grab your favourite beverage and settle in!