Hello, my gorgeous friends, and welcome to the very first episode of The Dating Lounge Podcast. I’m so happy you’re here.

Let me introduce myself properly. My name’s Ayesha Hilton, and I wear quite a few hats. I’m a creator, a coach, and a mentor. I’m also a Human Design coach. I love community, and I’m passionate about creating resources and practical solutions to help people in real, everyday ways. I live in a large country town in Victoria, Australia, and I’m the mum of two beautiful kids — a 19-year-old and a 13-year-old with two different dads.

I’ve been married once and divorced once, and I have an amicable relationship with my ex-husband as we co-parent our younger child. I’m also a lifelong learner. I always seem to be diving into a new course or training, and then I love sharing what I learn with my community, if it feels relevant and useful.

Now, here’s something you should know about me. I didn’t grow up fantasising about a wedding. My mum had four kids under four, to three different dads. She ended up marrying the father of her third and fourth children just to make my grandmother happy, because she was religious. So I wasn’t fed that white-wedding fairytale.

Even when I got married myself, of course I intended for it to last — but I never had that “forever and ever” fantasy. I know many women did, and I know a lot of you listening grew up with that dream, but things are changing. If you look at younger people now, they’re not nearly as attached to the wedding fantasy as previous generations were.

Back in 2008, I met my first husband through RSVP — remember that one? Pre-dating apps, in the early online dating days. Later, I met my most recent partner on Plenty of Fish, and we had a wonderful eight-year relationship. And now, here I am — single again and back out there dating, looking for my next person.

Through all of these experiences — the fun, the funny, the painful, and the deeply human — I realised how little support there is for women in our 40s, 50s, and beyond who are dating. That’s why I created The Dating Lounge.

The Dating Lounge isn’t just a podcast. It’s a community. It’s a place for women in mid-life like us to come together, to share our stories, to laugh, to support one another, and to remind ourselves that dating at this stage of life can actually be fun, sensual, and empowering. Inside the community, I host a private podcast, a safe space to connect, and meaningful conversations that remind you that you are not alone.

Because here’s what I believe with my whole heart: women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond are bloody amazing. While some men our age seem like they’ve hit pause or they’re done, I honestly believe we’re just getting started. We’re taking care of ourselves, we’re learning, creating, thriving, and stepping into our purpose. This is our era.

And yes, dating is part of that, but it’s about so much more. It’s about living fully, embracing our sensuality, and knowing that love is still possible. And honestly, mindset plays such a huge role in this. If you go into dating thinking it’s hopeless, you’ll only see the evidence for that. But if you go in believing, as I do, that there are good men out there — kind, loving, available men — then you’ll see the evidence for that instead. My confirmation bias is that I meet good men. And that’s what I want for you too.

So whether you’re just dipping your toes back into dating, whether you’re still healing after heartbreak, or whether you’re already out there swiping and going on dates right now — you are in the right place.

This podcast is going to feel like a conversation with a trusted friend. Together, we’ll share stories, explore the challenges of dating in midlife, and most importantly, we’ll keep it light, hopeful, and joyful.

And if you’d love to go deeper, I’d love for you to join our community. You can find The Dating Lounge