Hoda Kotb has revealed she has a third date scheduled with the same person next week, after confirming just a few days ago that she had dipped her toe into the dating world for the first time in two years.
The Today presenter, 59, exclusively confirmed to DailyMail.com that she will be dating the mystery man next Wednesday and suggested it was her friends who set her up, two years after her split from her ex-fiancé, financier Joel Schiffman. .
Speaking at the Friends of Hudson River Park 2024 Playground Committee luncheon in Manhattan on Friday, Hoda admitted that she didn’t feel nervous about dating and chooses not to use dating apps like Tinder to avoid “weirdos.”
Sharing some dating advice, the giddy mother of two said: “Listen, you have to find someone to help you because that’s the beginning, but someone you trust enough even if you’ve only known them for a few.” . months, so what?
Hoda Kotb has revealed that she has a third date scheduled with the same man she talked about seeing earlier this week.
The 59-year-old was previously engaged to financier Joel Schiffman, but the couple split in January 2022.
Hoda first revealed that she was back in the dating game during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
“I think a setup is great because at least there are no weirdos to look out for in a setup. And if someone has recommended someone, there is more investment.”
When asked about online dating apps, Hoda quickly responded, “I don’t do that!” before continuing: ‘I feel like there are so many options now and dating is so weird. It’s like, “I don’t want that, I want that,” but I think once you’ve been on a couple of dates (with someone) and there’s some traction…’
Hoda, who was honored at the New York City event alongside businesswoman María Dueñas Jacobs, also admitted that she wasn’t nervous about attending both of her appointments.
‘You know what’s funny, I didn’t do it on this date and I think it’s because that’s exactly who I am. I thought, “What am I doing? Who cares? I’ll eat a steak if I’m hungry!” Be you and if it works, it works, and if not, at least it’s you!’
Hoda also talked about her two adopted daughters, Haley, Hope, seven, and four, and how they’re doing one year after Hope’s terrifying ‘health scare’ in the ICU.
“I feel stronger and I feel like Haley is a better big sister,” Hoda said. ‘I feel like I thought Hope was the strongest girl I’d ever met and now that’s multiplied because I’ve witnessed it.
‘I feel like my ability to love her is beyond what I imagined, and I have also learned not to worry about her. I think that’s something we do as parents and it’s not our intention. We think we’re being empathetic and loving, but really we’re not, so I’m learning to let her be a kid.’
During her speech at the event, Hoda spoke about the fact that her “blessings” came later in life and urged people to “be prepared.”
Hoda posed with a copy of her new book at the 2024 Hudson River Park Playground Committee Luncheon
The mother of two was joined by her Today colleague Dylan Dreyer at the New York City event.
TV host Hoda pictured with her two young daughters; Haley, seven and Hope, four years old
“I would never have imagined in my life that all my blessings would come after 50,” he told the audience. ‘If someone had told me that when I was a teenager or early twenties, I probably would have died a thousand times over!’
The TV host then recalled a story from nine years ago in which she encouraged people to say their dreams “out loud.”
“When I was 50, I was walking with a good friend of mine named Jen and we were talking and she said, ‘You know, we never wanted to have kids,'” he said, matter-of-factly.
And I stopped on the street and looked at her and she said, “What?” and I said, “Well, actually I’ve always wanted to have kids,” and she said, “Well, you never mentioned it,” and I said, “Well, because I missed my window and I didn’t want to say it, who wants to?” say something out loud that will never happen?”
‘And when I said it out loud, I realized something: If you have a secret hope or a secret dream or something, say it out loud! Say it loud!
‘Something happens when you say it out loud. “This is what happens: the universe starts cooperating with you,” Hoda added.