Podcast Summary: "Who Is She" – S2 EP2: Life Updates & My Approach to Dating in 2025

Host: Danielle Walter
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Podcast Description: Who Is She serves as a guiding voice for navigating your 20s and thriving in your 30s, covering topics like dating, personal growth, and pivotal perspectives that shape your identity and future.

1. Celebrating Podcast Success

Danielle opens the episode by expressing immense gratitude to her listeners for the podcast’s remarkable success post-relaunch. She shares impressive rankings across multiple countries, highlighting:

• U.S.: #8 in Top Society and Culture Podcasts
• Australia: #21 in Top Society and Culture Podcasts
• Canada: #39 in Top Podcasts Overall
• Germany: #44 in Society and Culture
• UK: #46 in Society and Culture
• New Zealand: #68 in Top Podcasts
• Austria: #168 in Top Podcasts
• Poland: #185 in Top Podcasts

Notable Quote:
"The fact that you are coming here to hang out with me and listen to what I have to say is just the best gift you could ever give me." [00:05]

She emphasizes that this success is a dream realized, attributing it to her listeners' faith, commitment, and loyalty.

2. Life Updates

Danielle provides a comprehensive update on her personal life, addressing questions from her audience.

a. Real Estate and San Francisco Move

• Current Residence: Owns a customized one-bedroom condo in San Jose, meticulously renovated with personal touches such as new flooring, lighting, bathroom, backsplash, and custom cabinetry.

• Future Plans: Although she feels a strong pull to San Francisco—believing she might meet her significant other there—she plans to retain her San Jose condo. Instead of relocating entirely, Danielle intends to rent a place in San Francisco to explore her connection to the city without making a permanent move.

Notable Quote:
"I have a feeling that I'm going to meet my person there, but it's just so vibrant." [00:15]

b. Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter Issue

Danielle discusses a recent challenge with her ESA letter for her dog, Charlie. Her initial ESA letter, which expired, was necessary for her recent apartment application. The application was denied, but she is actively seeking to renew the letter and remains optimistic.

Notable Quote:
"So, I'm in the process through multiple means of trying to get that renewed because I submitted an application that was denied officially today. But we're not taking no as an answer." [00:30]

c. Lifestyle Changes

• Quitting Starbucks: Danielle shares her journey to eliminate Starbucks from her diet after three weeks. Previously, daily Starbucks visits were integral to her morning routine, but she recognized the negative impact of consuming ultra-processed foods and unhealthy coffee choices on her health.

Notable Quote:
"33% of my diet has been Starbucks, which is terrible." [00:45]

• Dance Fitness Enthusiasm: To diversify her workout routine beyond weightlifting, Danielle has immersed herself in various dance fitness classes like Ujam (hip-hop Zumba) and Bali X (Bollywood Zumba). Her increased activity led to her period being delayed, prompting her to take a stool test to understand her gut health better.

Notable Quote:
"I think my period was late because my body was, like, freaking out. It's like, slow down." [01:00]

3. My Approach to Dating in 2025

Danielle transitions to the core topic of the episode: her refined strategy for dating in the current year, built upon her experiences from 2024.

a. Reflections on 2024 Dating

• Celibacy Decision: In early 2024, Danielle chose to be celibate, a decision stemming from personal reflections and a desire to redefine her relationship with dating. She maintains a separate episode titled "Dating God's Way" that delves deeper into this choice.

Notable Quote:
"I just made my decision on celibacy. Celibate dating." [01:15]

• Challenges Faced: Without a clear dating strategy, she often found herself on lengthy dinner dates that consumed significant time and energy, leading to potential over-investment emotionally. This approach sometimes hindered her ability to objectively assess compatibility.

Notable Quote:
"It feels like it was a lot more... a lot of time to spend on someone that you don't know or preparing for that." [01:45]

b. New Dating Strategies for 2025

Danielle outlines her revamped approach to dating, focusing on efficiency, authenticity, and emotional well-being.

1. Casual First Dates:

   • Preference for Coffee or Drinks: Initial meetings will be kept to an hour or less, focusing on low-pressure environments like coffee shops or bars.

   Notable Quote:
   "First dates will always be coffee or getting a drink. And I'm gonna try to keep it to an hour or less." [02:10]

2. Olympic Dating Methodology:

   • Multiple Dating Tiers: Inspired by dating coach Anwar White, Danielle plans to date multiple people simultaneously until exclusivity is established. This method helps mitigate anxious attachment tendencies and provides a broader perspective on potential partners.

   Notable Quote:
   "You have a gold medalist, a silver medalist, and a bronze medalist. And until you become exclusive with someone, you are consistently dating multiple people at the same time for a reason." [02:30]

3. Increased Dating Frequency:

   • More Dates, More Opportunities: By embracing a more active dating life, Danielle aims to increase her chances of finding a compatible partner without the pressure of immediate exclusivity.

4. "Dating in the Wild" Series:

   • Real-Life Encounters: Danielle is considering a series where she dates only individuals she meets organically, outside of dating apps, to foster genuine connections.

   Notable Quote:
   "I might do a series on dating in the wild where I only go out with men that I meet at first in real life." [02:50]

5. Balancing Expectations:

   • Avoiding Over-Investment: By reducing the time and energy invested in initial dates, Danielle aims to maintain objectivity and prevent emotional overextension.

   Notable Quote:
   "I don't want to trick my brain into thinking there's more chemistry than there is or more compatibility than there actually is." [03:05]

c. Social Dynamics and Modern Dating Challenges

Danielle discusses the impact of social media and changing social norms on dating behaviors.

• Shift from Traditional Meetings: Unlike the 1950s, where structured events like dances facilitated partnerships, modern dating relies heavily on digital platforms, which can impede authentic human interactions.

Notable Quote:
"We're so, so socially inept that I think it's also affected the art of dating and makes dating seem like a taboo subject when it really isn't." [03:25]

• Empathy and Support: She emphasizes the importance of supporting single friends without unsolicited advice, advocating for empathy over judgment.

Notable Quote:
"Instead of telling your single friends what they should do and what they're doing wrong and silently judging them, have a little empathy and just say that they're doing a great job." [03:45]

4. Personal Reflections and Encouragement

Danielle shares heartfelt messages to her audience, addressing common misconceptions about her single life and offering encouragement to those navigating the dating landscape.

• Balancing Happiness and Singlehood: She clarifies that being single does not equate to being unhappy, highlighting her fulfilling life filled with friends, family, hobbies, and personal achievements.

Notable Quote:
"Just because I'm single doesn't mean that I'm not just crazy happy." [04:00]

• Vulnerability and Connection: Danielle underscores the beauty of sharing vulnerable experiences, fostering a sense of collective human connection and support among her listeners.

Notable Quote:
"There is something really beautiful about sharing vulnerable parts of yourself and the shared human collective experience that we have." [04:15]

• Encouragement to Explore Personal Dating Paths: She urges listeners to find their unique approaches to dating, emphasizing that what works for one may not work for another, and that's perfectly acceptable.

Notable Quote:
"If you are putting yourself out there... sometimes you need to go through the experiences in order to figure out what is the right way for you." [04:30]

5. Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

Danielle concludes the episode with excitement about the podcast's future and encourages continued listener support through following and reviews across platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Notable Quote:
"I can't express to you how excited I am. I think this podcast is gonna be massive." [04:45]

She reiterates her gratitude and enthusiasm for upcoming content, hinting at more personal and relatable discussions to come.

Conclusion

In this episode of Who Is She, Danielle Walter offers a candid glimpse into her personal life, addressing significant milestones and challenges. More importantly, she meticulously outlines her evolved dating strategy for 2025, shaped by introspection and past experiences. Through her honest reflections and actionable insights, Danielle provides valuable guidance for listeners navigating the complexities of modern dating while maintaining personal well-being and authenticity.