Kismet: Real love stories of serendipity, cosmic timing, and meeting “the one”

Emily Callaway
  • 5.0 (1)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Kismet is a podcast spotlighting real love stories of destiny, timing, and serendipity. In each episode, guests recount the magical and unexpected twists of fate that led them to their person, how they nurtured their connection, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From missed connections to  chance encounters, Kismet celebrates the beautiful unpredictability of how we find our true match. 

  1. They Told Her She'd Never Find Love: When Disability Meets Destiny

    2D AGO

    They Told Her She'd Never Find Love: When Disability Meets Destiny

    Growing up, Michelle didn't quite fit in. She was diagnosed with three learning disabilities that required special tutoring and prevented her from being able to drive. Kids were mean and said hurtful things. She was told she'd never go to college or find love, and initially she believed it. The dates and relationships she had didn't inspire much confidence. Eventually, Michelle leaned into her strengths and found community within the artist circles in her town. She went to college and graduated with a Bachelor's degree. She began to write, perform at poetry events, volunteer at an arts center, and make friends who saw her, loved her, and accepted her. Since she couldn't drive, she walked everywhere, and began photographing the flowers and scenery she spotted along the way. While building a rich life of friendship, passion, and self-discovery, she attracted a secret admirer who adored her exactly as she is... and he loves to drive! This is a story about a patient, steady love that developed slowly and was built on friendship. A love story that was seemingly written in the stars, with premonitions, missed connections, and shared interests lighting the way. A complementary love where each brings their own unique strengths and helps the other shine. Michelle's story is a reminder the things that make us different also make us special, and that we should never hide who we are... because who you are is perfect to the right person.   Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    40 min
  2. From Wedding Convention to “Just Married” — How Two Wedding Pros Fell in Love

    FEB 5

    From Wedding Convention to “Just Married” — How Two Wedding Pros Fell in Love

    Elizabeth and Matthew both worked in the wedding industry, but neither had found their own match. She was a photographer from the west coast; he was a DJ from the east coast. Both were laser focused on their careers when they decided to attend a wedding convention in Las Vegas. When they met on the monorail the first day, it was purely a professional connection. But, a DM, a broken wine glass, and a casual quip shifted the vibe. What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas! Their whirlwind romance led to a cross-country move just weeks after they met, adventures on a schoolie, and supporting each other through some of life's biggest hurdles. Today, they’re partners in love and business, but it all started by following their own path... which just happened to lead them to each other. To see their work and book them for your own wedding, visit their website: https://thedaveyduo.com/ Thank you, Elizabeth and Matthew, for sharing your story!    Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    1h 12m
  3. She Crushed on the Drummer in Her Favorite Band — Then Married Him

    JAN 22

    She Crushed on the Drummer in Her Favorite Band — Then Married Him

    Elise first saw the band, Jump Little Children, while still in high school with Kismet host Emily Callaway. She instantly felt a connection with the music... and an attraction to the quiet, bespectacled guy behind the drum set.  Over the next few years, Elise would see the band many times in different cities across the country. Until one fated night... the quiet, bespectacled drummer noticed HER.  That was only the beginning. Their love story unfolded over the course of nearly a decade as they wove in and out of each other's lives, each moving into new careers, relationships, and phases of growth on their own. After years without contact, an unexpected message put them on a path to reunite — this time for good. Elise’s story is a reminder that sometimes love isn’t about chasing. It's about becoming who you are meant to be, and trusting the universe to meet you where you are. Special thanks to my dear friend, Elise Giannasi Bivins, for sharing her story!  Elise's Substack  Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    42 min
  4. Her Future Husband Was in Her Friend Group

    JAN 8

    Her Future Husband Was in Her Friend Group

    Their circles orbited for years. Diana Krach attended the same church as her future husband, and they went to rival high schools in the same town. They shared mutual friends. Went to the same concerts. He was the guy she'd heard about for years; she even knew an acquaintance who'd dated him. Yet inexplicably, they'd never met; she had no idea what he even looked like. Her friend tried several times to introduce them over nearly a decade, convinced they’d be great friends, but it never quite panned out... until it did. This is Diana’s story of meeting her person within her own extended circle. A skeptic of love with examples of healthy relationships, she shares how she became her own model of what a strong partnership can look like. Diana reflects on how life with the right person can be a safe place to explore, experiment, and discover who you truly are. And that sometimes, your friends really do know best. Key themes: Relationships, Love, Personal Growth, Dating, Serendipity, Communication, Parenting Call to action: Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Kismet Stories Podcast for more conversations about love, life, and the serendipitous moments that shape our stories. Thanks to Diana for sharing her story! You can connect with Diana here: Your Highness Substack Getting Personal with Plant Medicine Diana's writing portfolio We Blame Roseanne Patreon Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    47 min
  5. Rock Bottom to Romance: Pamela's Story of Love After 50

    12/11/2025

    Rock Bottom to Romance: Pamela's Story of Love After 50

    Note to listeners: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence and suicidal ideation. Please use caution when listening. Pamela's Kismet Story: Finding Love After 50 Pamela had hit rock bottom. In her 50s, she'd survived childhood neglect, spousal abuse, and a life that never seemed to go her way. With her children grown and a career path that no longer fit, she was left alone in the depths of a depression that seemed to have no bottom.  In a last effort to forge a new path, she took a leap of faith. She moved across the country with a one-way bus ticket and no real plan. She wasn't looking for romance; in fact, she was adamant she never wanted to have a relationship again. But, in her journey to healing herself, she discovered the one thing that had always evaded her: true, deep, forever love. In classic Kismet fashion, her story is full of serendipity, fate, missed connections, and perfect timing. Pamela's story shows that your past doesn't define you, and it's never too late to find your person. Connect with Pamela:  IG: @innerjourney.pamelatopjian YT: @pamelatopjian Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    58 min

  6. 11/27/2025

    Top 5 Lessons I Learned From People Who Met Their Soulmate

    In this episode, I share my Top 5 Lessons I've learned this year from my Kismet guests who’ve met The One. I also reveal how I’m applying these lessons to my own dating journey. This episode is packed with practical and powerful dating tips from real life couples to help you on your journey to finding true love! 00:00 - Intro / Why I've Realized I'm Single 04:00 - Lesson #5 05:24 - Lesson #4 08:04 - Lesson #3 10:31 - Lesson #2 13:25 - Lesson #1 15:20 - How I'm applying the lessons to my dating life 29:00 - Being Single During the Holidays Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    32 min
  7. When the Universe Hijacks the Algorithm: The Matrix Glitch that led Jenny to her Husband

    11/13/2025

    When the Universe Hijacks the Algorithm: The Matrix Glitch that led Jenny to her Husband

    A chance meeting on a sailboat in the Whitsunday Islands brought Jenny and Darryl into each other's lives. They were from different continents, and both were committed to other people. During their time in Australia, they got to know each other's friends and families, and their bond grew stronger. Jenny even invited Darryl and his wife to her wedding. For years, they kept in touch via Facebook updates and occasional texts.  And then, they were both single. They remained friends, though they still didn't live in the same country...until the Matrix glitched, and everything changed.  Sometimes, two people are just meant to be together. This episode explores how fate, timing, and the universe can align in ways that are beyond explanation. Kismet. Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    36 min

  8. 08/07/2025

    From Missed Connection to Marriage: The Universe is Always On Time

    Their story was a decade in the making, and filled with all of the synchronicities one could want for a love story. An OkCupid match in 2010 that never resulted in a date. Years later, a random dinner party for mutual friends they didn't know they had -- weeks before she was to marry someone else. They went to the same bookstore every week. Attended the same concerts. For 10 years, they orbited each other... before the Universe dropped him in her life for good. This is Gabi's story of missed connections and the Universe's perfect timing. 00:00 - Introduction & Background 02:24 - Getting Divorced... just in time for Covid! 04:58 - A new Instagram Follower 13:02 - Jumping In and Building the Foundation 19:30 - The synchronicities and strange coincidences start to add up 28:22 - Big life changes 32:28 - Fostering healthy communication while healing 40:55 - An emotional moment 47:00 - Advice for Singles Follow the show on Instagram: @kismetstoriespodcast Share your own Kismet moment: kismetstoriespodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app 🌟 If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review. It really helps!

    1h 1m
See All (17)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Kismet is a podcast spotlighting real love stories of destiny, timing, and serendipity. In each episode, guests recount the magical and unexpected twists of fate that led them to their person, how they nurtured their connection, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From missed connections to  chance encounters, Kismet celebrates the beautiful unpredictability of how we find our true match. 

Information