Things got a little bit awkward on Today with Hoda & Jenna when a dating expert suggested to Hoda Kotb that she needed to ‘get out’ of her ‘comfort zone.’
Hoda, 59, and cohost Jenna Bush Hager invited matchmaker Devyn Simone into the studio on Tuesday morning to help them answer some dating dilemmas from viewers tuning in at home.
But Hoda ended up questioning one of Devyn’s ‘intimidating’ tips on how to meet people in the real world.
When one fan of the show asked for advice on how to ‘meet men organically,’ Devyn admitted that she got asked that question ‘a lot’ as Hoda commented: ‘By the way, a lot of younger people too, because they’re used to doing life on apps and stuff, it’s hard to do anything in person with a stranger.’
Devyn then advised: ‘So, the first thing we’re gonna do is remember to just go far. So, find common ground, ask a question and be real. Find common ground… when you’re seeing this person, are you at a coffee shop? Are you both frequent? Did they order something similar to what you like?’
She continued: ‘And then be real. Your hair doesn’t have to be perfect, your smile doesn’t have to be perfect. Being authentic goes a long way and if you feel self-conscious, practice in the mirror.’
However, Hoda wasn’t convinced it would be so easy and told Devyn: ‘I think it does take courage though to go up to a complete stranger in line at the coffee shop and say, “Hi do you come here? Is this your normal place?” It can be intimidating, especially as she seems like she feels a little withdrawn.
‘Maybe there’s something where it’s just natural to meet people?’ the mother-of-two then suggested as Devyn fired back: ‘But you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone, Hoda!’
‘Really? But I’m saying like…,’ Hoda responded as Jenna finished the sentence for her and said: ‘Yeah I know what you mean, like singles night at the bar,’ before asking Devyn: ‘Do they still have those?’
Looking unimpressed, Devyn replied: ‘They do, but I don’t… go… but do other things also,’ before laughing awkwardly as Jenna suggested: ‘Or like joining a sports team?’
Devyn was more on board with that and responded: ‘Yes! Or a running club or something like that is really great.’
Jenna then said: ‘But I also feel like, what’s the worse that could happen? They’re not your person. What’s the best that could happen? They are. Tell yourself, “Who cares?” You’ll never see him again!’
Hoda’s comments about dating come less than a month after she revealed the ‘main relationship complaints’ she has received from men in the past.
Hoda and Jenna were discussing Glen Powell’s recent comments about how he’s not ‘chasing love’ but would ‘welcome it with open arms’ if it comes along, when the TV host, who recently hinted that she’s still single, decided to share some details about her own personal life.
‘I think that sometimes love does come when you’re not looking,’ she told Jenna. ‘It’s like, when you’re in hot pursuit, when you’re making it your thing, sometimes you’re missing it because you’re so busy seeking it out.
‘But I do think what he’s saying is, “I’m really busy, I have a big life, and it’s going to take a special kind of person to be in this life”.’
The TV host, who split from her fiancé Joel Schiffman in 2022, continued: ‘And I think it’s hard when you’re with a busy person because we’re both busy people and one of the main relationship complaints that I get is, “I don’t get enough time. I need more time”, and I understand it, because your life is divided into a pie.’
The duo then spoke about a recent article which claimed good places to meet a romantic partner, besides from an app or a bar, are dog parks, an alumni event, or playing on a sports team.
Hoda laughed at the claim and said: ‘I think sometimes women try to put themselves in places where guys would be, like a sports bar… “let’s go for a hang with your friends”, even though you’re not so interested, but you’ll go and you think, “I’ll meet somebody cute there and that will be fun”.
‘I think it’s good, but I also think that you have to meet them doing something that you actually enjoy doing, because pretty soon it’s going to be like, “do you want to go back and watch the Steelers?” and you’re gonna be like, “no!”‘
