Hoda Kotb has revealed she has a third date with the same person next week – after confirming just days ago that she had dipped her toe into the world of dating for the first time in two years.
The Today host, 59, confirmed exclusively to DailyMail.com that she is dating the mystery man next Wednesday – and suggested it was her friends who set her up – two years after her split from former fiancé, financier Joel Schiffman .
Speaking at the Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Luncheon 2024 in Manhattan on Friday, Hoda admitted that she doesn’t feel nervous on dates and chooses not to use dating apps like Tinder to avoid “crazies.”
The giddy mother of two shared some dating advice, saying: ‘Listen, you need to find someone who can set you up because that’s the beginning, but someone who trusts you enough even if you’ve only known them for a few years. months, and then?
Hoda Kotb has revealed that she is on a third date with the same man she told earlier this week
The 59-year-old was previously engaged to financier Joel Schiffman, but the couple split in January 2022
Hoda first revealed she was back in the dating game during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show
“I think a lineup is great because at least there’s no crazy stuff involved in a lineup. And if someone has recommended someone, more investment is made.’
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 few dates (with someone) and there’s some traction…’
Hoda, who was honored alongside entrepreneur Maria Dueñas Jacobs at the New York City event, also admitted that she didn’t feel nervous during her two dates.
“You know what’s funny, I haven’t been on these dates and I think that’s because that’s exactly who I am. I thought, “What am I doing? Who cares? I’ll eat a steak when I’m hungry!” Be yourself and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t work, at least it’s you!’
Hoda also opened up about her two adopted daughters, Haley, seven-year-old Hope, and four-year-old Hope, and how they are doing in the ICU a year after Hope’s terrifying “health scare.”
“I feel stronger and I feel like Haley is a better big sister,” Hoda said. “I feel like I thought Hope was the strongest kid I’d ever met, and now that’s been multiplied because I’ve witnessed it.
“I feel like my capacity to love her is greater than I ever imagined, and I’ve also learned not to push my worries onto her. Like that’s something that I think we do as parents, and that’s not the intention. We think we’re empathetic and loving, but we’re really not, so I’m teaching her to let her be a child.”
During her speech at the event, Hoda talked about how her “blessings” came later in life when she urged people to “be ready.”
Hoda posed with a copy of her new book at the 2024 Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Luncheon
The mother of two was joined by her Today colleague Dylan Dreyer at the event in New York City
TV presenter Hoda pictured with her two young daughters; Haley, seven, and four-year-old Hope
“I never in my life could have imagined that all my blessings would come after I turned 50,” she told the audience. “If someone had told me that when I was in my teens or twenties, I probably would have died a thousand deaths!”
The TV presenter then recalled a story from nine years ago in which she encouraged people to speak their dreams ‘out loud’.
‘When I was 50, I was walking with a good friend of mine called Jen and we were talking and she said, “You know we never wanted children,” she said, just in passing.
“And I just stopped on the street and I looked at her and she said, ‘What?’ and I said, “Well, actually I always wanted children,” and she said, “Well, you never mentioned it,” and I said, “Well, because I lost my window and I didn’t want to say, who do you want there?” 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 out loud!
‘Something happens when you say it out loud. This is what happens: the universe starts working with you,” Hoda added.