In this episode of Ask a Matchmaker , Maria shares highlights from her recent women’s retreat in Greece, reflecting on the creation of Agape Escapes and the meaningful experiences the group had together. She opens up about the surreal feeling of being off the grid during global events and reveals how one special location inspired the cover of her upcoming book. Maria also teases upcoming retreats, including a new coed escape to a picturesque island. Later, she dives into the trending “banksying”...
Jul 22, 2025•26 min
On this episode of Ask a Matchmaker , Maria is joined by writer Allison Raskin and her husband, former CIA agent turned screenwriter John Blakeslee. They talk about their new podcast Starter Marriage , diving into the realities of modern relationships, communication, and therapy. From Allison’s book I Do to John’s past in the CIA, the couple shares how their backgrounds shape their approach to marriage, and what it’s like to share it all publicly. Expect honest insights, behind-the-scenes dynami...
Jul 15, 2025•35 min
In this special live episode recorded at the legendary 92nd Street Y in New York City, Matchmaker Maria is joined by her dear friend and style expert Chrissy Rutherford for a fun, honest, and wide-ranging conversation about modern love. The two dive into Maria’s new book, Ask A Matchmaker , and how it blends human behavior, communication theory, and decades of matchmaking experience to cut through the noise of online dating advice. Maria shares personal stories and surprising lessons from writin...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This week, Maria shares the highs, surprises, and deep conversations from her Ask a Matchmaker book tour. From readers finding clarity in their relationships to full-blown divorces sparked by missing pillars (yes, really), the impact has been powerful—and personal. Even her husband had thoughts after reading it! Plus, Maria gives her full (spoiler-filled!) recap of The Materialists movie. Buckle up for book revelations, real talk, and cinematic hot takes! ✨ Don’t forget to order Maria’s book , f...
Jul 01, 2025•31 min
On this week’s episode of Ask a Matchmaker , Matchmaker Maria is joined by co-host Joyelle Nicole Johnson are on a hotline ep, answering your toughest dating dilemmas. First, a 42-year-old single woman from Jersey City is looking for love, but struggles to find men who match her lifestyle and ambition. Maria offers advice on expanding her dating pool beyond NYC, embracing men with kids, and not letting success limit her options. Next, a listener shares a CRINGE-worthy story about dating a man wi...
Jun 24, 2025•49 min
How do you open the conversation about polyamory with your partner, without blowing things up? On this week’s episode of Ask a Matchmaker , Matchmaker Maria is joined by co-host Joyelle Nicole Johnson and NYC-based relationship therapist and professor Melissa Fulgieri to explore the nuances of ethical non-monogamy. From setting ground rules to navigating emotional triggers, Melissa shares expert insights on how to communicate openly, define boundaries, and check in regularly in polyamorous relat...
Jun 18, 2025•54 min
On this week’s Ask a Matchmaker, Matchmaker Maria sits down with the fearless and unfiltered Weezy WTF co-host of the Decisions Decisions podcast and co-author of the brand-new book No Holes Barred: A Dual Manifesto of Sexual Exploration and Power . From sugar baby adventures to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of dating in NYC, Weezy shares jaw-dropping stories that are equal parts hilarious and eye-opening. The two dive deep into the realities of sex, money, power, and the lessons behind...
Jun 10, 2025•38 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by her hilarious and heartfelt co-host for the month, comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson ! They dive deep into what it really means to love someone, and how therapy, timelines, and choosing your own adventure can all be ways to say “I love you.” Joyelle shares the origin story of her relationship, from getting set up by none other than Ilana Glazer (yes, that Ilana!) to navigating early pandemic dating, moving in together, and discussing major life decisions li...
Jun 03, 2025•30 min
This week, Maria is joined by her sister, Matchmaker Chrisoula! before we get into it, Maria's new book, Matchmaker Maria’s No-Nonsense Guide to Finding Love , is out! Go buy it! Now tune in for a special Hotline Episode of the podcast! The two take calls from listeners looking for real-time dating advice, from situationships to second date confusion. Also we dive into a callers life sharing about how she is a caretaker and struggling with her parner and trust. Maria and Chrisoula don’t hold bac...
May 27, 2025•23 min
In Matchmaker Maria’s No-Nonsense Guide to Finding Love , celebrity matchmaker Maria Avgitidis blends heartfelt storytelling with decades of experience to offer a refreshingly honest guide to modern dating. Written as a “prescriptive memoir,” this isn’t just a dating manual it’s a candid, deeply personal conversation over coffee with a trusted friend. From her upbringing straddling Greek and American cultures to her revelations on how pop culture shaped our romantic expectations, Maria explores ...
May 20, 2025•36 min
Matchmaker Maria is just one week away from the release of her new book Ask a Matchmaker , and she's calling on all her listeners to support it! Whether you're a page-turner or an audiobook addict, now's the time to preorder and get ready to transform your dating life. Then it’s time to open the hotline! Maria is joined by her sister and fellow matchmaker, Ursula, as they dive into listener questions, starting with Brianna, who’s navigating the tricky post-hookup headspace after a sudden change ...
May 13, 2025•32 min
This week on Ask a Matchmaker , Matchmaker Maria is joined by a fellow matchmaker, her sister and May's cohost, Chrisoula! The two are diving into the matchmaking world! What it takes, how it works, and why it’s not all candlelit dinners and perfect matches. From surprising client obstacles to touching success stories, Maria and Chrisoula pull back the curtain on their day-to-day process, including how they vet matches, spot red flags, and determine compatibility. They reflect on the importance ...
May 06, 2025•45 min
This week on Ask a Matchmaker , Maria is joined by the wildly entertaining Jesse, who brings her playful energy and real talk to your biggest dating dilemmas! 💌 First up, Brianna is overthinking a recent date with a man she felt went too well. Maria breaks it down with practical advice about pacing new relationships and managing expectations. 💥 Then, we hear from a listener whose recent first dates were filled with crossed boundaries and red flags. Maria delivers empowering advice on boundary-...
Apr 29, 2025•32 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by the insightful and hilarious Jessie to break down what's happening in the wild world of dating right now. From the rise of kittenfishing—yes, that sneaky cousin of catfishing where people add just a little too much sparkle to their online personas to the U.S. government literally banning romantic relationships with Chinese nationals (wait...doesn't banning it make it even hotter?!), no topic is off-limits. Tune in for the hot takes, dating tips, and a lit...
Apr 22, 2025•24 min
This is part 2 of a powerful two-part episode of Ask a Matchmaker. This week, Matchmaker Maria sits down with journalist Vera Papisova , who went undercover on conservative dating apps during the 2024 election cycle. Her goal? To investigate the rise of red pill culture, Christian nationalism, and the growing appeal of traditional gender roles among men in far-right dating spaces. From secret neo-Nazi meetings in New York to profiles proudly declaring “pureblood” status and requests for “biblica...
Apr 15, 2025•42 min
What happens when modern dating meets far-right ideology? This week, Matchmaker Maria sits down with journalist and award-winning editor Vera Papisova , who went undercover on conservative dating apps during the 2024 election cycle. Her mission? To understand the rise of red pill culture, Christian nationalism, and the growing appeal of traditional gender roles in far-right dating spaces. From profiles proudly declaring “pureblood” status to men seeking “biblical wives,” Vera shares what she unc...
Apr 08, 2025•36 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by comedian Jessie Lee, known for her hilarious character comedy and spot-on impressions of emotionally unavailable men. Jessie shares why she’s taking a break from dating—after one too many weird encounters, including a post-hookup serenade from a naked guy with a guitar (yes, really). Maria and Jessie also dive into Jessie’s viral Instagram and TikTok sketches, where she hilariously roasts men who refuse to commit or introduce you to their friends. Then, t...
Apr 01, 2025•35 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria is back with her March cohost, comedian Kaneez, for a special live hotline episode! 📞💘 They're taking real-time calls from listeners looking for love advice, covering everything from dating while on weight-loss medication to when to disclose a vasectomy and how to navigate romance when you’re constantly on the move. Maria also shares a personal weight loss journey and the importance of tracking milestones with photoshoots 📸✨. Plus, is Mercury in retrograde, or is e...
Mar 25, 2025•35 min
Attachment coach and author Chris Rackliffe returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Needy No More: The Journey from Anxious to Secure Attachment. In this insightful conversation, Chris breaks down the six origins of anxious attachment, the connection between attachment and addiction, and how trauma influences our relationships. Plus, cohost Kaneez shares her personal experiences with attachment styles and dating patterns. If you've ever struggled with feeling "too needy" in relationships...
Mar 18, 2025•40 min
In this week’s episode of Ask a Matchmaker, Maria and her March co-host Kaneez dive into some wild and thought-provoking headlines that are shaking up conversations about love and relationships. Maria kicks things off with a jaw-dropping New York Times article about a Chinese company pressuring employees to marry and start families by September 30th — or face termination. The discussion unpacks the company’s drastic approach to boosting birth rates, cultural expectations around marriage, and how...
Mar 11, 2025•35 min
This March, Matchmaker Maria is joined by comedian Kaneez Surka as her cohost! Kaneez, originally from South Africa and having lived in India, opens up about her journey through marriage, divorce, and self-discovery. She shares how realizing she and her ex-husband were too young and had different values led to their split — and how reading Calling in The One helped her break free from patterns of dating the wrong people. Now in her "decentering men era," Kaneez and Maria dive into the idea that ...
Mar 04, 2025•37 min
It’s hotline time! In this episode of Ask A Matchmaker, Maria and Erika take live calls and dive into your dating dilemmas. One caller wonders if she should disclose her ADHD to new dates — is honesty the best policy, or should she wait? Another caller grapples with dating in today’s political climate: she prefers liberals, but should she open her heart to people with different views? We also hear from a thoughtful male listener who adores Maria and Erika, but his habit of letting women choose t...
Feb 25, 2025•40 min
This week on Ask a Matchmaker , comedian Jared Freid joins dating expert Erika Ettin for a deep dive into modern dating strategies! From the art of sliding into DMs to structuring an online dating profile that actually gets responses, they’re breaking it all down. Plus, Erika shares tips on how to confidently approach men in DMs without the cringe. If you're ready to level up your dating game, this episode is a must-listen! 💙✨ Maria has a book coming out! click here to preorder!! 👉 https://sta...
Feb 18, 2025•52 min
Is Valentine's Day worth the hype? This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by dating coach and relationship expert Erika Ettin to dive into the origins and modern-day debates surrounding this love-it-or-leave-it holiday. 💘 Highlights: The ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and its connection to modern Valentine’s Day How a martyred Saint Valentine became the symbol of love The influence of Hallmark and commercialization on Valentine's traditions Maria and Erika share hot takes on the holiday, d...
Feb 11, 2025•25 min
This week on Ask a Matchmaker, Matchmaker Maria is joined by Erika Ettin , a renowned dating coach who specializes in navigating the world of online dating. Together, they break down essential advice for making meaningful connections in 2025. Erika shares creative tips on rethinking your dating profile title—why calling yourself an "RN" or "hospitality professional" might spark more interest than the traditional job title approach. They also dive into the emerging trend of value-driven dating. B...
Feb 04, 2025•46 min
It’s a bittersweet episode as Matchmaker Maria is joined one last time by her favorite guest co-host, comedian @tarajokes ! Together, they dive into one of Maria’s signature hotline episodes, packed with laughs, wisdom, and a little tough love❤️ This week, Maria and Tara tackle a Matchmaker Mail 💌 from someone struggling to voice her wants in a relationship. How do you express your needs without fear of coming across as too demanding—or worse, scaring someone off? Maria and Tara break it down s...
Jan 28, 2025•32 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria and comedian Tara Cannistraci , @tarajokes , are joined by special guest Monica, a founder of Conceivable Reproductive , a concierge service helping women navigate fertility options abroad In this heartfelt episode, Tara shares her personal story of freezing her eggs at 33—a decision she made during a time of uncertainty about wanting kids and focusing on dating. Monica sheds light on why more women are turning to international fertility treatments and how Conceivable...
Jan 21, 2025•43 min
This week, Matchmaker Maria and comedian Tara Cannistraci , AKA Tara Jokes are joined by Ricky Liorti , the man behind the viral "boyfriend application" that took the internet by storm! Despite receiving thousands of DMs from potential matches, Ricky never went on a single date—but now he’s here to talk all things dating in 2025. In this episode, Ricky shares his love for marathon first dates, insisting they should be extravagant, unforgettable, and last 7–8 hours. Matchmaker Maria fiercely disa...
Jan 14, 2025•41 min
Kick off 2025 with Matchmaker Maria as she sits down with comedian Tara Cannistraci , host of the Coffee Talk podcast, for an inspiring conversation about love, dating, and embracing new opportunities. Tara shares her journey of singlehood, celebrating her Bronx roots, and finding love in her late 30s during her transformative "Year of Yes." Maria and Tara explore the ups and downs of dating, the importance of shared cultural values, and how changing your mindset can lead to meaningful relations...
Jan 07, 2025•35 min
Happy New Year! On this special episode of Ask a Matchmaker , Matchmaker Maria is joined by the dynamic duo behind the Dateable podcast , Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu ! They're here to talk about their brand-new book, How to Be Dateable , and officially hitting shelves on January 28th 🎉 In this fun and insightful conversation, Maria dives into the origins of Julie and Yue’s decade-long podcasting journey, their mission to uncover the mysteries of modern dating, and what makes someone truly dateab...
Dec 31, 2024•47 min
