Life Academy

Alicia Banit & Dena Kaplan
  • 5.0 (76)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

On screen frenemies to real life besties, so of course we started a podcast! Stay tuned for your weekly questionable life lessons from Dena Amy Kaplan and Alicia Banit. Class is in session! PARTNERSHIPS: klaudia@pivotalconversations.ai

  1. 11h ago

    Could We Be Co-Stars AGAIN After Dance Academy? | Life Lately

    Nothing says Life Lately like a full-blown Bali transformation, a birthday spent sick in bed and Alicia entering mama-bear mode at kindy 💀 We’re talking body image, motherhood, female friendship, career setbacks and whether Alicia crossed the line by stepping in when Isla was being left out. Come for Dena’s Bali awakening, stay to shop our Favourite Four products from September below. Love you, dAlings 🫶 00:00 Welcome to Life Academy 01:53 The Bali retreat that changed everything 10:08 Sick on your birthday and still having to mum 13:45 Could we be cast in the same show again? 15:28 Going full mama bear for your child 22:18 Favourite Four for September Shop Our Favourite Four Products From September: 1. Kiehl’s 1CC CollaShot Plump Serum – A bouncy serum featuring pink vitamin B12 and recombinant collagen polypeptide, designed to visibly plump the skin and target signs of ageing. Purchase the new 1CC CollaShot Plump Serum and receive 25% off sitewide (excluding sets) using code COLLAGEN25. Valid 30 September to 11 October. 2. Best & Less Nappy Bag – Dena’s affordable everyday bag that looks far more expensive than it is, with plenty of room for all the mum essentials. 3. Sarah J. Maas Books– Alicia’s latest fantasy obsession, including the *Throne of Glass* and *A Court of Thorns and Roses* series. Expect immersive worlds, romance and varying levels of spice. 4. Tulita Vikasa Fragrance – Dena’s long-lasting, 100% natural fragrance housed in a refillable bottle with an activated rose-quartz crystal cap. Follow us at: 📸 Dena's Instagram 📸 Alicia's Instagram 📸 Life Academy Instagram 🎵 Life Academy TikTok 🔵 Join our Facebook group ▶️ Watch us on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Sep 23

    Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E9 | We Need To Talk About THAT Kiss

    This episode takes us straight into one of Dance Academy’s most iconic side quests: Kat becoming a music video girlie 💃🎬 This week, we live-react to 'Heartbeat' episode and unpack the Miles Kelly storyline, what filming those dance scenes was really like, the wardrobe choices we still have questions about, and the scenes Alicia was much more nervous to film than anyone realised. And then there’s the kiss. Let’s just say the director had notes 😭 Come rewatch Dance Academy with the girls who lived it, remembered half of it, and are discovering the rest right alongside you, dAlings 🩵 1:14 — Reacting to the opening music performance 3:35 — The boys get VERY competitive behind the scenes 7:14 — Dena wanted Kat’s music video storyline BADLY 10:03 — The music video shoot begins 14:45 — Dena’s intense 5AM Dance Academy workout routine 16:56 — Alicia reveals how nervous she was filming the dance scenes 19:49 — The moment Alicia knew the kiss was coming 20:24 — THAT kiss… and the director’s brutal note 😭 22:34 — Filming the Miles Kelly music video 26:40 — The role was originally meant for Ruby Rose?! 27:18 — Watching the finished music video for the first time 29:09 — Final reactions to Episode 9 Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 20

    H2O Cast Wants A Reboot—Is Dance Academy Next? | Pop Culture

    Apparently all roads lead back to an Australian teen drama 😭🇦🇺 This week, we unpack Kendall Jenner allegedly funding the romance, the H2O reboot that should absolutely exist, what Kat and Abigail would be doing now, and the Sydney Sweeney ad that has the internet very divided. There’s also reality TV tea, an Emmys red carpet debrief, a little Nicole Kidman appreciation, Practical Magic 2 hype, and some very unexpected Sandra Bullock lore. As always: under-researched, over-opinionated, and somehow still committed to the assignment. Pop culture homework complete, dAlings 🎭💅 1:04 — Kendall Jenner’s alleged sugar mummy era with Jacob Elordi 4:07 — The H2O reboot that apparently nobody wanted?! 6:13 — Could Dance Academy: Next Generation actually work? 8:28 — Sydney Sweeney’s controversial sports campaign 15:22 — Alix Earle’s reality show and the Alex Cooper fallout 17:59 — The Emmys red carpet debrief: hits, misses and fashion crimes 19:23 — Nicole Kidman, beauty tweaks and red carpet reactions 21:19 — Shailene Woodley’s look gets absolutely roasted 22:02 — Practical Magic 2 and the Sandra Bullock love fest 22:54 — Why 28 Days has been watched way too many times 23:40 — Final thoughts Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Sep 15

    The Night We Became Kat And Abigail Again | Life Lately

    Okay… we might have accidentally unlocked a new Life Academy era 👀🎭 After months of talking about the live show, we finally got on stage; and meeting our dAlings in real life hit way harder than either of us expected. There were tears, Dance Academy throwbacks, a surprise guest, a very big “wait… should we actually take this on tour?” moment. There’s also some VERY exciting acting news, the reality of returning to set after years away, and an airport story so unnecessarily chaotic that honestly… of course it happened to us 😭 To everyone who came, watched, listened, sent us love, or has been here quietly supporting us from the start - thank you. We’re beyond grateful for every single one of you 🥹🩵 2:18 — The forgotten airport bag and pre-show travel chaos 7:02 — Getting ready for the Life Academy live show 11:21 — Meeting our dAlings and why it hit so hard 17:12 — Behind-the-scenes chaos before going on stage 22:03 — The live show begins and the first big laugh 23:50 — Tim Pocock joins us on stage 27:20 — Could Life Academy go on tour? 30:24 — Back on set after five years and two new acting jobs 40:05 — Bondi dreams and the trip home from hell 49:10 — Period chaos, trying for another baby, and wrapping the weekend 51:14 — Recs and final thank-yous Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Recs/Homework: Abrand jeans — Stretchy, comfortable jeans with a flattering fit. Best&Less — Affordable summer clothes and matching sets for holiday packing. Famesick by Lena Dunham — A book rec with behind-the-scenes stories, career reflections, and plenty of tea. Boody period underwear — Soft, comfortable period undies that can handle a heavier flow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Sep 8

    Why I Finally Reported My Former Therapist | Life Lately

    “EXCUSE ME?? Your therapist did WHAT?” dAlings, this episode takes a turn 😭 We start with the usual chaos: live show excitement, mum guilt, Bali dreams, acting feelings and a little accidental OnlyFans brainstorming!! Before Dena drops one of the wildest stories we’ve had on Life Academy. She shares what happened with a former therapist she once trusted completely, how blurred the boundaries became, why she didn’t see the red flags at the time and what finally made her realise just how unhealthy the whole dynamic had been. Big love to anyone who’s had to untangle a relationship they once thought was helping them 🩵 3:53 Isla’s behaviour improves + the sweetest parent trend 9:13 Why Alicia couldn’t watch the Logies 12:31 Podcast research somehow turns into an OnlyFans spiral 18:40 Bali retreat, mum guilt & needing to actually receive 28:11 Dena’s car skincare “life hack” 36:12 Dena reveals the therapist relationship that crossed major boundaries 42:40 Why Dena finally reported her 46:16 The “past life” story that now sounds completely wild 49:17 Alex saw through the therapist immediately 50:32 Recs/Homework Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Recs/Homework: kit: hand soap — Dena’s pick for a luxe-feeling hand wash without going full Aesop pricing. Denada mango protein ice cream bar — A sugar-free, high-protein dessert Dena says she’s currently obsessed with. @briestrongerthancancer — visit Kendra Bird’s Instagram stories and click the affiliate links, which she says help generate money for families going through childhood cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Aug 30

    Taylor Swift Has A Thousand Wedding Guests & NOT ONE Photo Has Leaked?! | Pop Culture

    Pop culture is giving us absolutely no peace this week, dAlings 🍿 We’re back with another wildly unqualified catch-up featuring unexpected celeb pairings, relationship updates, Taylor Swift theories, a little Off Campus chaos and an Anne Hathaway performance that has Dena rethinking EVERYTHING. There’s also some heavier news in the mix, plus a few very random detours because obviously we cannot stay on topic. Drop the pop culture story we absolutely HAVE to talk about next week 🩵 Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast 1:07 Belmont Cameli + Martha Stewart in the most random ad pairing 2:37 New Harry Potter casting & the J.K. Rowling controversy 5:39 Kim Kardashian & Lewis Hamilton go public 7:50 The sad celebrity news dominating the week 12:36 Postpartum mental health & the Lindsay Clancy case 16:16 Travis Scott’s surprise role in The Odyssey 17:29 Our latest Taylor Swift wedding photo theory 18:43 Alicia on why she still can’t watch the Logies 19:38 Moulin Rouge! is coming back to Australia 21:02 Nicole Kidman’s undercover Ibiza raving era 22:55 Anne Hathaway’s HUGE year & Mother Mary 26:15 Final pop culture thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Aug 25

    Why I Finally Admitted I'm Struggling with Body Image | Life Lately

    We’re grateful for our bodies… but some days, loving them is really bloody hard 😭 This week gets a little more honest than usual, dAlings. Dena opens up about cancelling a Sydney photoshoot because her body confidence had hit such a low point, and we talk about that awful space where you can know all the “right” things about body positivity, gratitude and self-love… and still look in the mirror and feel completely disconnected from yourself. We also get into Alicia’s own insecurities around ageing and her face, why raising daughters makes all of this feel even more important, and how we’re trying to model self-compassion without pretending we’ve magically figured it all out. Plus, there’s a very sweet friendship moment, toddler updates, beauty recs and some classic Life Academy chaos to balance out the heavier stuff. Tell us what helps you feel more like yourself again on the hard body-image days, dAlings 🩵🩵 3:04 Therapy, nervous-system overload & finally letting it all out 6:21 Toddler survival mode is slowly easing 8:24 A surprise gift & a very sweet bestie moment 13:21 The honest body-confidence conversation 19:49 When someone telling you “you’re beautiful” isn’t enough 26:35 Grieving the body and identity you used to have 31:12 Why inclusive sizing still has such a long way to go 37:43 Trying not to pass body issues down to our daughters 45:50 Why self-compassion has to be modelled, not just taught 51:19 Raising kind girls who can also stand up for themselves 57:18 Recs/Homework Recs/Homework Dermal lip balm — Alicia’s new replacement for her much-missed discontinued Blistex... Morphe setting spray — Dena’s current favourite for keeping makeup in place without killing the finish. Full blood work — Dena’s homework after discovering a significant B12 deficiency that may have been contributing to fatigue and brain fog. Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Recs/Homework: Dermal lip balm — Alicia’s new replacement for her much-missed discontinued Blistex... Morphe setting spray — Dena’s current favourite for keeping makeup in place without killing the finish. Full blood work — Dena’s homework after discovering a significant B12 deficiency that may have been contributing to fatigue and brain fog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Aug 18

    From Ballerina to Lawyer to Matcha Maiden | Sarah Davidson

    If you’re in your 20s wondering why everyone else seems to have a plan… this one is VERY much for you, dAlings. This one is a very special episode because THE Sarah Davidson — yes, our girl from Seize the Yay — is joining us today!! At this point, we genuinely think Sarah has had about nine different careers (god bless a too-talented girl 😭), and somehow every single one makes sense when you hear the full story. From ballet to law, Matcha Maiden to content creation, she talks about why none of those chapters were wasted — even the ones that felt completely random at the time. We also have such an honest chat about being adopted, becoming a mum, learning to live with anxiety and panic attacks, and why sometimes the career you’re meant to have literally doesn’t exist yet. There are SO many little nuggets in this episode for anyone feeling lost, behind, scared to change direction or just deeply unsure what the hell they’re doing 🩵 3:02 Meet Sarah Davidson: ballerina, lawyer, founder & creator 7:58 Growing up adopted & how it shaped her identity 14:46 Motherhood changed how Sarah thought about her birth mother 19:36 The ballerina era & realising dance might not be forever 27:35 Leaving ballet, losing direction & nearly getting expelled 34:16 How Matcha Maiden actually started 36:24 The health crisis that changed everything 40:16 Selling the business & realising bigger isn’t always better 41:56 Why your dream job might not even exist yet 46:03 How to stop overthinking & train yourself to take risks 50:24 Sarah opens up about depression, panic attacks & anxiety 59:10 How Sarah taught herself content creation & editing 1:01:56 Working mum guilt, creativity & never having enough time 1:03:10 Recs/Homework 1:07:15 “If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive” Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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5
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

On screen frenemies to real life besties, so of course we started a podcast! Stay tuned for your weekly questionable life lessons from Dena Amy Kaplan and Alicia Banit. Class is in session! PARTNERSHIPS: klaudia@pivotalconversations.ai

Information

  • Creator
    Alicia Banit & Dena Kaplan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Life Academy