011. Don’t Let the Wedding Steal the Marriage: The EveryGirl Josie Santi’s Strategy for a Joyful Engagement

011. Don’t Let the Wedding Steal the Marriage: The EveryGirl Josie Santi’s Strategy for a Joyful Engagement

In this episode of Kissing Frogs, Dr. Molly welcomes Josie Santi—wellness creator and host of The EveryGirl podcast—for a candid and inspiring conversation centered on engagement, partnership, and building a meaningful future. With openness and humor, Josie shares what makes her engagement special: a conscious choice to slow down and savor this unique season, refusing to let wedding stress overshadow the joy of commitment. She describes her nine-year relationship with fiancé Joey, from their early days of deep conversations and long-distance connection, to planning a dramatic, creative wedding in Chicago’s Opera House. Together, they explore how to intentionally nurture friendship, embrace imperfection, and keep choosing each other as life changes. Topics Covered:  - Why Josie celebrates a long engagement rather than rushing to the altar   - Letting go of wedding stress and focusing on building the relationship   - Staying best friends and keeping connection alive   - Seeing engagement as more than a waiting room—making it a meaningful chapter   - Letting go of perfectionism and learning to return to each other, again and again Josie Santi inspires thousands to live intentionally and love bravely. Her journey proves that engagement is more than a milestone—it's a time for joyful growth, reflection, and building the foundation for a lasting marriage. Connect with Josie Santi Instagram: @josiesanti   Podcast: The EveryGirl Podcast   TikTok: @josiesanti Connect with Dr. Molly: Instagram: @DrMollyBurrets @KissingFrogsPod   Website: www.drmollyburrets.com [https://www.drmollyburrets.com/]

010. From Heartbreak to Sobriety: Kendra Allen Recovers from Toxic Love and Addiction

In this powerful episode of Kissing Frogs, Kendra Allen joins Dr. Molly to share an unfiltered account of surviving a toxic first love, overcoming addiction, and ultimately transforming heartbreak into purpose. Now a renowned breakup coach, podcast host, and author of The Breakup Workbook, Kendra Allen opens up about how losing herself in a controlling, emotionally abusive relationship set her on a path to profound healing and lifelong sobriety. Topics Covered: - Navigating a first love marked by a significant age gap and power imbalance - Recognizing red flags: isolation, gaslighting, and weaponized vulnerability - The parallels between breakup grief and addiction recovery - How speaking her truth and seeking support cracked open the door to healing - Practical ways to reclaim self-esteem and rebuild life after heartbreak - Why “no contact” and true self-work are non-negotiables for moving on - When healing can create space for new (or renewed) partnerships Kendra Allen is the creator of Breakup Bestie and The Heal Your Heartbreak Podcast. Her new book, The Breakup Workbook, guides readers through actionable exercises to process pain and rediscover self-worth. With over 100k Instagram followers, she’s helped thousands worldwide to rebuild after loss—always blending clinical insight with real-life lessons. Connect with Kendra   Instagram: @yourbreakupbestie   Website: www.breakupbestie.com   Podcast: Heal Your Heartbreak Connect with Dr. Molly   Instagram: @drmollyburrets @KissingFrogsPod   Website: www.drmollyburrets.com   Substack: @drmollyburrets

009. Relearning Love: What 100 Dates Taught Talia Koren

In this candid and empowering episode of Kissing Frogs, Dr. Molly sits down with Talia Koren—writer and host of the Dating Intentionally podcast—for an honest conversation about breaking old patterns and learning how to date with purpose. With warmth and vulnerability, Talia Koren shares her story of leaving a six-year relationship, navigating the aftermath with a year of intentional singlehood, and embarking on a quest of 100 dates that would ultimately lead her to genuine self-knowledge—and lasting love. Together, Dr. Molly and Talia Koren unravel toxic beliefs about “working harder” in the wrong relationship, the anxious-avoidant trap, and the power of clarifying your needs. Topics Covered: - The cost of staying in relationships that don’t fit - How therapy and defining “core needs” reshaped her dating life - The anxious-avoidant dynamic and the myth of “fixing” love - Discovering joy and confidence on the other side of heartbreak - Why moving in together doesn’t guarantee security - Turning dating into self-discovery and growth   - The importance of dating intentionally—and not settling for less Talia Koren is a creator and host of the Dating Intentionally podcast. She went on over 100 dates in 1 year, until she met her husband, and had a blast. Now, she helps her 250k+ listeners and community navigate dating with confidence and ease. Connect with Talia Koren:   Instagram: @dating.intentionally   Website: DatingIntentionallyPod.com [http://datinngintentionallypod.com] Connect with Dr. Molly:   Instagram: @DrMollyBurrets @KissingFrogsPod   Website: www.drmollyburrets.com [http://www.drmollyburrets.com]

008. Know Your Worth: Kamie Crawford Shares Advice For Leveling Up in Your Relationship

In this vibrant and unfiltered episode of Kissing Frogs, Dr. Molly is joined by Kamie Crawford—a powerhouse host, America’s bestie, and the Webby award-winning voice behind the Relationsh!t podcast—for a candid conversation about love’s many lessons, and the art of manifesting a partnership that truly feels like home. Honest, hilarious, and deeply moving, Kamie pulls back the curtain on her journey from being bullied as a child to an engaged woman who knows her worth, sharing wisdom for anyone navigating the messy middle of dating and relationships. From the trials of wedding planning to overcoming childhood wounds of abandonment, the duo dives into what it really means to grow, claim your power, and show up fully for yourself and your person. Topics Covered: - The highs and chaos of wedding planning—letting go of control and honoring your boundaries - Embracing singlehood after years of serial monogamy and the mindshift of dating with intention - Transforming childhood abandonment and bullying into radical self-worth and intuition - How to set and hold standards in dating (“You’re single until someone claims you!”) - Navigating triggers, conflict, and healing in real time with a loving partner - The myth of “healing before dating” and why real growth happens in relationship - Why specificity and intention are vital when manifesting your ideal partner - Permission to leave relationships that keep you small, and the practical advice for women afraid to walk away About Kamie Crawford:   An acclaimed TV host, Miss Teen USA alum, longtime co-host of MTV’s Catfish, and creator of the hit Relationsh!t podcast, Kamie is renowned for her warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty—amassing millions of listeners and embodying the spirit of the best friend we all wish we had. With a vibrant career, and a love story built on intention and mutual growth, Kamie reveals how, after kissing many frogs, she finally called in—and claimed—the partnership she always deserved. Connect with Kamie:   Instagram: @kamiecrawford   Podcast: Relationsh!t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMt8wfVn4bpCzGriVENYp] Website: kamiecrawford.com [https://www.kamiecrawford.com/] Connect with Dr. Molly:  Website: www.drmollyburrets.com   [https://www.drmollyburrets.com/] Instagram: @KissingFrogsPod

007. Do It With Shaky Hands: Hannah Brown on Healing, Faith, and Finding Love

In this vulnerable and deeply honest episode of Kissing Frogs, Hannah Brown—former Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars champion, and bestselling author—joins Dr. Molly for a candid conversation about love after heartbreak, building resilience, and rewriting your own narrative. Hannah Brown opens up about how working through betrayal, therapy, and marriage challenged her to grow in ways she never expected, and why real relationships are never as neat as they look on Instagram. Topics Covered: - The real journey from “quarter-life memoir” to lasting love - How unresolved trauma and heartbreak can shape (and sabotage) new relationships - Why genuine partnership is about healing together, not being fully “fixed” first - Learning to trust yourself again after betrayal—and why it’s still a work in progress - Navigating avoidant, anxious, and secure attachment styles in love and friendship - The power (and discomfort) of choosing the unfamiliar path, in love and life - How faith and therapy ground her marriage with Adam, and why generational emotional “wealth” matters - Behind the scenes of engagement anxiety, wedding ambivalence, and why “what if” questions are normal—even for America’s sweetheart - What it really means to be seen—and to see your partner—on the other side of pain Hannah Brown is a television personality, lifestyle expert and two-time New York Times bestselling author. Brown’s authenticity and charismatic personality have captivated her millions of followers, and she continues to inspire and empower others. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Brown currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with Hannah   Instagram: @hannahbrown TikTok: @hannahkbrown Buy Hannah’s Book: Amazon - HERE [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538781786?tag=hacboogrosit-20] Target - HERE [https://www.target.com/p/reasons-to-be-loved-by-you-by-hannah-brown-hardcover/-/A-1007291655#lnk=sametab] B&N - HERE [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reasons-to-be-loved-by-you-hannah-brown/1148464126?ean=9781538781784&st=AFF&2sid=Hachette%20Book%20Group_8040641_NA&sourceId=AFFHachette%20Book%20Group] BAM - HERE [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781538781784?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&AID=11552245&PID=8040641&cjevent=96a6d3f4f88211f080dc00a60a82b82a] Connect with Dr. Molly   Instagram: @DrMollyBurrets @KissingFrogsPod   Website: www.drmollyburrets.com