Life Academy

Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, oii oii oii! Ollie aka Keiynan Lonsdale joins us in the SYDNEY studio and damn are we excited. Reunion moment!! We had very limited time with Keiy so we smashed him with as many questions as we could fit in (and not miss our flights back home) Keiynan is one of the most inspiring artists we know and we’ve always been in awe of his talents and skills but also his very humble ap...

Its time for another life lately sesh where we chat about Alicias Birthday, her hilarious breastfeeding story, Denas new obsession with Sabrina Carpenter (bit late, we know), and so much more... it's another juicy catch-up with lots of candid convos and hilarious stories (well, we think so anyway). Thanks for tuning in. We love you guys. Stay connected with us: ⁠⁠Dena: @denaamy⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Alicia: @alicia...

Its time for us to deep dive back into our mental health journeys. Dena tells us a bit more about her wild Rehab experience and how it kinda felt like prison and Alicia gets very emotional and vulnerable (proud of our girl for being so open about this for the first time) Life Lesson: Friendships come and go, season, reason or lifetime. Learning to let go is so healing. Also- Addiction does not dis...

This week it’s just us, catching up on all things bestie chat 💕. We talk about our health, house renos, Dena’s back and twerking goals, Father’s Day gifts, our future weddings and plans for babies, a rare night out we had (yes, it actually happened!), and the excitement of Dena’s sold-out retreats. Life Lesson: Sometimes we all need a weekly debrief with our besties, talking sh*t, it keeps us gro...

So we have another fallen soldier… Dena is officially continuing in her poo era with gastro around the whole house. The Kaplan sisters pull through again though- this time with the amazing Ariel Kaplan. The smallest but sassiest Kaplan sister. ( low-key she's a better podcast host than Dena. Maybe it’s time for a re-cast? 👀) Alicia chats with Ariel about: Starting her career so young on The Saddl...

Hormones & Mental Health with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni. This week, we had the absolute privilege of interviewing Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, a world-renowned psychiatrist and Australia’s leading expert on PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), as well as menopause, and women’s mental health. We asked so many big questions, the professor has a 2 year wait list so we really wanted to share her...

Lets do this again, last time was so much fun! We answer your burning Q's! some of these are saucy! Follow us at: ⁠Dena: @denaamy⁠ ⁠Alicia: @aliciabanit⁠ ⁠TikTok: @lifeacademythepodcast⁠ ⁠YouTube: @LifeAcademyThePodcast⁠ ⁠Facebook: Life Academy The Podcast Private Community⁠ Wearing: Dena – King Csilla Alicia –Kmart baby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is next‑level magic, we sobbed our way through it and it might be our favourite episode so far ✨ We’re joined by the sensational Jessica Lynne, one of Australia’s most in-demand psychic mediums, live from Melbourne. Brace yourself baddies: Jessica did a live reading for us, and even now, we’re still reeling from how accurate it was. So specific. So deeply moving. It's like spirit was...

Today’s episode is very special for two reasons: We’re joined by the amazing Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, Dena’s big sister and best friend (Alicia is home sick – love you babe, and miss your magic). We got to sit down with our parenting hero and idol, the one and only Lael Stone. And honestly? It was everything. What a privilege. Whether you’re a parent, thinking about becoming one, or just trying to fig...

Puberty, perfectionism, and taping up your titties, shit gets real as Alicia and Dena rewatch "Growing Pains" and take you behind the scenes of Dance Academy S1, Ep 8.. just for you guys as requested! 🎬 In This Episode: Reflecting on Abigail’s emotional battle with body image. Why this episode felt so personal for us in various ways. Real talk on puberty, control, and performing while your body’s...

Its another LIFE LATELY sesh with Alicia and Dena, from toddler sickness, fake tan disasters and our 40 under 40 lists. Plus goss about the upcoming Bali trip, Mayas birthday party and some makeup tips.. We have a good old bestie catchup and cant stop talking about our daughters as usual. we are also still in our POO era, someone make us t-shirts. Follow us at www.instagram.com/denaamy www.instagr...

Behind Barres Baby! You know the drill, we are taking you behind the scenes and chatting all things Kat and Abi in episode 3 season 1, there is a lot to unpack and we dont hold back. Hopefully this inspires you to rewatch the series as we unravel all the BTS for you. Follow us at www.instagram.com/denaamy www.instagram.com/aliciabanit www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group:...

Know the cycles, Know thy hormones, Know thy vagina! We have a fascinating conversation about honouring our cycles with Olivia Orchowski. Olivia Orchowski: creator, CEO, and visionary behind KYRI. Olivia is a passionate advocate for body literacy, cyclical living, and hormone intelligence and in this episode, she brings the wisdom. SHE IS SO BADASS we are obsessed. 💬 In this Episode We delve deep...

This week on Life Academy, we hit pause on the big themes and take a moment to check in with each other (and with you). It’s a much-needed life update and brain dump, where nothing is too small, too big, too chaotic, or too TMI. We debrief on everything from Dena’s recent car accident (she’s okay, but wow…) to Alicia’s ongoing house reno saga, to mum life highs and lows, and a bunch of little thin...

We asked, you delivered, and then some! This week on Life Academy, we’re diving into Part 1 of answering your burning questions, from juicy Dance Academy throwbacks to deep life chats, parenting, personal growth, and everything in between, nothing was off-limits. We got thousands of questions (literally), so we’ve hand-picked some of our favourites to kick off this Q&A series (dont worry if we did...

In this very important episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Kasey Edwards. Researcher, bestselling author, and the powerhouse behind "Raising Girls Who Like Themselves". Kasey’s work has sparked a movement of empowered parenting, and today, she’s sharing her wisdom with us, including the pillars to raising girls to like themselves. 💬 In This Episode: Kasey unpacks what it really takes to raise...

This one’s brave and unforgettable. In todays episode, Alicia and Dena sit down with the incredible Tim Pocock, actor, composer and now author who shares his powerful journey of breaking free and finding truth. 💬 In This Episode: Tim opens up about growing up in and ultimately escaping a fundamentalist cult What it was like to endure and survive conversion therapy The long, complicated road to co...

This one’s raw, real, and just the beginning. In this episode Alicia and Dena sit down for Part 1 of a powerful series exploring their personal mental health journeys. 💬 In This Episode: Alicia opens up about her lifelong struggles with self-worth and the moments that cracked the facade Dena shares her road from addiction to recovery and the messy, beautiful truth of healing We unpack the emotion...

In this deliciously thought-provoking episode, we’re joined by Tammy and Eitam from Boosa, food therapy experts who are flipping the script on how we think about eating. Forget diets and calorie counting. This conversation is all about rediscovering the joy, memory, and meaning behind what nourishes us. 💬 In This Episode: How food therapy can heal our relationship with eating and our mental healt...

We are cool moms now- Giving Birth Is Badass! This one’s for the mamas, past, present, and future. In this episode Alicia and Dena dive deep into the raw, wild, and awe-inspiring experience of becoming mothers. From the moments of conception to the miracle (and mayhem) of birth, they share their honest and powerful stories, the joyful highs, the scary unknowns, and the strength they didn’t know th...

You asked, we delivered! In this special bonus episode, Alicia and Dena hit rewind and take you back to where it all began, the very first episode of Dance Academy. 🎬 In This Episode: Behind-the-scenes stories you’ve never heard Hilarious memories from their first day on set What it was like watching themselves as baby ballerinas Reflections on how far they (and their characters) have come 💫 Why...

This one’s a deep dive. In Episode 4, Alicia and Dena open up about their personal journeys with body image from the pressures of the entertainment industry to the profound transformations brought on by motherhood. 💬 In This Episode: How growing up in front of cameras and dance studios shaped the way they saw their bodies The silent struggles that came with constant industry expectations How beco...

In this very special episode, we’re joined by the one and only Thom Green — aka Sammy from Dance Academy. That’s right… we’ve brought our bestie back from the dead (not literally… or is it?) for a hilarious, heartfelt, and slightly chaotic reunion. 💬 In This Episode: Thom spills on life after Dance Academy We lovingly interrogate him about old times, new adventures, and everything in between Alic...

Buckle up for a wild ride through Tinseltown in this spicy second episode! Alicia and Dena take you behind the scenes of their outrageous LA adventures — from on-set secrets to unexpected celebrity encounters. 🎬 In This Episode: We spill the tea on our time in Los Angeles and how very different our lives are now Alicia dishes on working with Aussie icon Chris Lilley, and yes — we’re counting Home...

Welcome to the very first episode of Life Academy with Dena Amy Kaplan and Alicia Banit —on screen frenemies turned real-life besties and your unqualified but enthusiastic guides through the mess and magic of modern life. You might know them from the beloved TV series Dance Academy, but now they’re teaming up in real life to dive into all the big things: motherhood, identity, relationships, and fi...