Life Academy

Alicia Banit & Dena Kaplan
  • 5.0 (74)
  • 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!

  1. 3d ago

    Are Our Acting Days Over? Mum Life Got Real | Life Lately

    This episode is basically a support group for tired mums and ex-theatre kids 🎭 We catch up on toddler concerts, bedtime chaos, big feelings, back pain, phone addiction, Peppa Pig drama, and the never-ending battle of trying to parent while also staying emotionally regulated. We also talk about the state of Australian theatre, audition doubts, creative burnout, the privilege of having time to make art, and the weird way everyone helps pregnant women… then disappears once the baby arrives (this is crazy!!!!!) This is one of those Life Lately chats that starts with mum chaos and somehow lands in a very real conversation about creativity, identity, support, and trying to keep a dream alive when life is already full. Come for the toddler chaos, stay for the arts industry crisis. Love you dAlings 🩵 1:09 — Back spasms, chiro chaos, and tiny doctor energy 6:13 — Toddler dance concert, stage confidence, and proud mum tears 11:21 — Health anxiety, bedtime tricks, and the bucket saga 21:34 — Three-year-olds, big feelings, and parenting boundaries 26:30 — Peppa Pig slander, screen time, and toddler catchphrases 36:33 — Australian theatre is struggling and why it matters 41:18 — Acting doubts, auditions, and whether the dream changes 47:31 — Nepo babies, creative privilege, and having time to work 51:21 — New mums, invisible support, and the help that disappears 57:20 — Recs: one-day retreats, dry mouth spray, jewellery, and phone boundaries 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: The Self Retreat — A one-day retreat option for anyone who wants the full reset experience but cannot commit to three days. Biotène dry mouth spray — A practical rec for dry mouth, especially if medication makes talking feel like a puffer sponge situation. Melanie Amber jewellery — Waterproof, everyday jewellery that can survive showers, sleep, and real life. The Brick — A phone-boundary tool for anyone trying to stop carrying their phone around like a second limb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Jul 10

    Dance Academy Cast Rewatch S1E6 | Spilling The Missing Lore!!

    Season 1 Episode 6 said ballet episode… but secretly gave us lore, longing, and a full prequel request 🩰🩵 We are back in the real dancer world: pointe shoes, rehearsal chaos, empty theatre nostalgia, questionable styling, and all the tiny ballet details that made Dance Academy feel way too accurate. But underneath all the pirouettes, this episode is quietly doing the MOST!!! Kat and Abigail have history, Sammy is starting to look at Abigail differently, Alycia Debnam-Carey enters the chat, and suddenly everyone needs to know what happened four years ago 🫢🫢🫢 This one is nostalgic, funny, a little dramatic, and very “wait… why is there so much tea in this ballet school????" 🩵 1:17 — Pointe shoe chaos and why the ballet details feel so real 6:11 — ADR, outdoor scenes, and the lines that had to be re-recorded 7:55 — Alycia Debnam-Carey enters and the full-circle Apple Cider Vinegar moment 13:33 — Kat, Natasha, childhood wounds, and Sammy having Cat’s back 15:46 — Jenna’s ballet, no doubles, and the Kat-Abigail friendship lore 20:16 — Sammy and Abigail, the ballet date, and Tom’s beautiful acting 23:48 — Ballet insecurity, casting feelings, and why this episode still hits 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. Jul 7

    Britney Spears’ Sons Are On The Runway Now?! | Pop Culture

    Pop culture class is back and today’s lesson is: never underestimate a celebrity family feud, an ex at a concert, or a fandom with receipts 😱🩵 This week, we are catching up on Call Her Daddy drama, Off Campus relationship tea, Adam Hyde becoming the new face of Bonds, Ariana Grande’s Ricky Alvarez moment, and the Beckham family saga that is giving rich-people group chat meltdown 👀 There’s also Britney Spears’ sons entering their runway era, a very necessary “stop talking about women’s bodies” moment, and a creator-to-brand public service announcement: if you hire funny people, please let them be funny. This one is gossip, giggles, theories, tangents, and two unqualified besties doing their civic duty by being late to the news. Tell us what we missed, because statistically… it was a lot. Love you dAlings!!! 🩵 This episode is brought to you by Protect-A-Bed: https://protectabed.com.au/ 1:06 — Call Her Daddy drama and the Unwell Network allegations 7:13 — Adam Hyde as the new face of Bonds 13:11 — Ariana Grande, Ricky Alvarez, and the Thank U, Next lyric moment 15:30 — Why everyone needs to stop commenting on women’s bodies 16:33 — The Beckham family saga and Brooklyn’s DoorDash ad 18:39 — Britney Spears’ sons make their modelling debut 21:19 — Why brands need to let creators create 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. Jul 1

    The Truth About Trauma, Dissociation & Why Your Body Remembers | Georgia Verry

    Sometimes healing is not just talking. Sometimes it’s learning to feel safe in your body again. In this episode, Alicia sits down with Georgia Verry about Conscious Combat Club, a Melbourne-based charity using trauma-informed martial arts to support women and gender-diverse people impacted by violence. They chat through gender-based violence, fight-flight-freeze responses, dissociation, breathwork, grounding, and why reconnecting with the body can be such a huge part of recovery 🌿 What makes this conversation so special is how practical it is. Georgia breaks down what actually happens before someone joins a class, how triggers and boundaries are handled, why choice matters so much, and how the team is building a space where people can move, pause, cry, rest, try again, and be supported through it all. This episode is honest, hopeful, and such a different way to think about healing. If this conversation speaks to you, please check out Conscious Combat Club, share their work, or donate if you’re able. Love you dAlings 🩵 1:18 — What Conscious Combat Club does and why it exists 4:59 — Why martial arts can help trauma recovery 5:28 — Traditional self-defence vs trauma-informed martial arts 12:27 — Dissociation, eating disorders, and reconnecting with the body 15:48 — Why breathwork does not work for everyone 19:51 — Building Conscious Combat Club and turning it into a charity 25:23 — Inside the trauma-informed gym and grounding room 29:50 — How to join Conscious Combat Club 32:23 — Why long-term access matters more than short-term programs 36:41 — The ten-year vision for Conscious Combat Club 45:48 — Pound and ground: the nervous system homework 48:26 — How to support Conscious Combat Club 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

  5. Jun 26

    Cariba Heine, Mermaids & Our H2O Nostalgia Spiral

    Welcome to the DA group chat where everyone is late to the pop culture moments but somehow still screaming with excitement!! 🩵✨ We’re catching up on the MOST important, VERY unserious business from the week: Sabrina Carpenter and Madonna, Hailey Bieber’s new Rhode beauty products, Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding, Shrek 5, Kyle Sandilands’ huge radio settlement, and a new mermaid movie with major Dance Academy universe energy. And of course, because we apparently cannot help ourselves, there’s more Off Campus spiralling, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders chat, Shrinking, Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song, and a little audition chaos thrown in for good measure 🎭 Grab something cosy, come catch up with us, and tell us which pop culture rabbit hole you’re currently living in. Love you SO much dAlings!!! 🩵 1:39 — Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and car-dancing music 3:30 — Rhode beauty updates and the new products everyone is watching 4:49 — Zendaya in Shrek 5 and the character design drama 5:40 — Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding update 10:31 — Kyle Sandilands, ARN, and the huge radio settlement 13:39 — Manifesting a sunny Gold Coast filming job 15:01 — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is back and things have changed 17:05 — Shrinking, Off Campus round two, and why the rewatch hits different 18:21 — Garrett’s mouth acting and the scene the girls cannot move past 19:41 — Audition updates and working with people you swore you never would 20:34 — Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song and late-in-life Swiftie energy 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: Listen to the Madonna remix — The car-dancing recommendation of the week Watch Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — The new season is out and worth the watch Watch Shrinking — A comfort show with great writing and big feelings Rewatch Off Campus — Round two hits even better Listen to Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song — Sweet, catchy, and emotional Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Jun 23

    The Off-Campus Cast Knows Who We Are?! We’ve MADE It!! | Life Lately

    dAlings, we have updates, we have chaos, and we have a VERY exciting Off Campus moment to scream about 🥳🩵 The girls are back with retreat prep, toddler bedtime progress, mum-life brain tabs, listener questions, American Sweethearts chat, and a major Dance Academy full-circle moment that has everyone absolutely spiralling in the best way 👀 Like… the fangirling is real. Then the episode turns into a gorgeous little reminder that your 20s do not have to be your whole story. The girls talk growing up, figuring yourself out, wrong relationships, career pivots, self-worth, and the kind of wisdom you only get after living through the messy bits. This one feels like a cosy bestie debrief with a side of nostalgia and a tiny life lesson. So remember, you are perfect just the way you are, dAlings, and we will always (ALWAYS) love you 🩵 Who knew wool was actually the most low maintenance fibre in your wardrobe?! The Dirt Company gave us some tips and tricks to make sure you never ruin your favourite wool pieces ever again. Shop The Dirt Company's refillable, Australian-made laundry products and get their delicate confidence guide FOR FREE with every purchase of their Wool and Delicate Detergent until the end of winter https://thedirtcompany.com.au/ 3:34 — Big-girl-bed win and the parenting hack that actually worked 9:05 — Trying for another baby, timing, career dreams, and the mental load 13:28 — The invisible mum load: appointments, groceries, hormones, and resentment 19:05 — Off Campus found the girls and everyone fully spiralled 23:04 — The group chat meltdown and why “yes, and” friends are elite 25:18 — Dance Academy, Off Campus, and manifesting a cameo 30:45 — American Sweethearts, listener questions, and future episode ideas 32:54 — Your 20s: feeling lost, career pressure, and relationships that were not it 41:43 — Why your 30s can feel softer, clearer, and more like you 48:50 — Regrets, body image, self-worth, and learning to back yourself 57:24 — Recs and homework: massages, reset time, and cosy winter essentials 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: Book a massage — Even a quick massage counts. A little bit of body care and nervous system love. Try a sensory deprivation float — A quiet reset for anyone feeling like they have 5000 tabs open. Cleanseē Studio — A self-care rec for anyone wanting a proper glow-up and body reset. Lil Hottie heat pack — An electric heat pack that warms up fast and stays cosy for hours. Write to your younger self — A tiny homework moment: write one thing you wish your 20-year-old self knew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Jun 19

    I Got My Period Back After A Year | Life Lately

    Heyyy dAlings, just so you know this episode starts with clean hair and immediately becomes absolute CHAOS 🤣🤣 We’re back with the realest parts of life: being busy mums, toddler chaos, sleep struggles and everything else that's keeping us awake until 2AM 💀 The things keeping us grounded? 🥹 Gratitude, self-love, journaling, resilience, family support, and a tiny homework task that might make you feel a little softer toward yourself this week. We hope every mum listening feels a little less alone after this one! 🩵 3:00 — Dena’s chaotic morning: new rug panic, running late, and acupuncture magic 7:02 — Big-girl-bed update: four-hour bedtimes and parenting patience 9:50 — Alicia’s park story 13:05 — Sweet young boys, supermarket manners, and hope for future generations 20:54 — Weaning off breastfeeding and the emotional side of letting go 23:56 — Privacy? Never heard of her: toilet boundaries and toddler logic 26:16 — Teaching updates and exciting things we can’t talk about yet 29:12 — Chiropractic disaster story and the most mortifying adjustment ever 31:04 — Dreamwork homework: gratitude, self-love, resilience, and journaling 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: Gratitude check-in — Write down two things you’re grateful for each morning! Self-love practice — Name two things you love about yourself every day for two weeks. End-of-day pride list — Before bed, write two things you’re proud of yourself for that day, even if one is just “I got through it.” Life Bloom Journal — A guided journal with prompts for gratitude, self-love, pride, and daily reflection. Fluffi freckle pen — A cute little beauty rec for quick, natural-looking freckles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Jun 16

    We Blind React To The Latest Pop Culture Moments (KATSEYE, Euphoria, Taylor Swift, Robert Irwin, and More)

    Pop culture class is in session dAlings… and please remember, your two favourite girls are not qualified 😅🩵 Dena is DEEP into podcast-listening research mode 🎧, Alicia is the MOST active member of busy gal club 💅 and somehow together they cover everything from Euphoria and Toy Story 5 to Robert Irwin at the Logies, Legally Blonde, KATSEYE, the Kardashian boyfriend universe, and more 👀 It’s giving group chat energy but with microphones 🎙️ The girls are guessing, reacting, spiralling, manifesting invites, defending their favourite shows, and absolutely promising nothing is properly fact checked. Which, honestly… is kind of the whole point 😂 Take a seat, relax, get cosy, and come spill some hot tea with us ☕ You guys are the best dAlings!!! 🩵 0:44 — Welcome to pop culture — we don’t fact check 2:00 — Euphoria finale spoilers: Rue, Nate Jacobs, and chaos 5:09 — Taylor Swift & Toy Story 5 6:56 — Robert Irwin is hosting The Logies and the girls want an invite 10:10 — Anne Hathaway, facelift rumours, and the slicked-back hair trick 11:38 — Off Campus rewatch and Heated Rivalry winning big 13:03 — Dena’s KATSEYE obsession and why Alicia needs to watch Pop Star Academy 16:01 — Legally Blonde prequel: Elle Woods is back 18:02 — The Wentworth spin-off 20:17 — Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton, and the Kardashian boyfriend group chat 👀 24:19 — Wrap-up: gossip, no fact checking, and loving the silly era 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: Pop Star Academy — Dena’s main homework for Alicia. Global girl group training, K-pop energy, Dance Academy vibes on crack. KATSEYE behind-the-scenes Coachella video — For anyone already in their KATSEYE era or ready to become obsessed. Heated Rivalry — The girls haven’t watched yet, but the hype is officially noted. Legally Blonde: Elle — Add the prequel series to the watch list because Reese Witherspoon being involved makes it feel promising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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5
out of 5
74 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!

Information

  • Creator
    Alicia Banit & Dena Kaplan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit