It’s not easy to raise your hand and say you might need help and want to talk to someone. Especially when you’re in a relationship and you know you and your partner need help. This week, Maria is here to help break the stigma around couples therapy. A couples therapist is a great facilitator for the relationship you want and a great mechanism to have those hard conversations with someone. How do you communicate with your partner that you think you two should talk to someone? How do you find some...
Feb 02, 2022•42 min•Ep. 85
It’s another edition of the Matchmaker Maria Hotline! If you want to ask Maria a question on an upcoming episode, make sure you’re following her on Instagram to know when the hotline will open up next… http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria On this episode… How do I find out if he wants to go on a second date… how do I get him to step up and ask? I feel like I’ve hit a wall when talking to people on the apps, what should I do? We’ve slept with each other and he hasn’t text me in a while. Help! Fol...
Jan 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 84
This week, Maria is talking about caregiving, grief and dating with Brooke James and Katie Brandt. Brooke James is a highly respected podcaster in the field of grief and loss based in New York City. She is a sought-out grief educator who consults with companies and organizations seeking to create empathetic and supportive work environments, particularly during this time of unprecedented loss. She currently works at Aidaly, a startup focused on paying family caregivers, and previously worked in m...
Jan 19, 2022•44 min•Ep. 83
It’s another edition of the Matchmaker Maria Hotline! If you want to ask Maria a question on an upcoming episode, make sure you’re following her on Instagram to know when the hotline will open up next… http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker...
Jan 12, 2022•34 min•Ep. 82
Happy New Year! You’ve probably taken some time to ask yourself what you want to accomplish or change in 2022. Great! This episode, we’re giving you some tips and tricks to help you achieve your goals and stay on track this year, all in a fun way! Joining Maria is Charly Lester! Charly Lester is one of the world’s leading dating industry experts. She is a serial entrepreneur, who currently runs a successful marketing consultancy business for dating apps and tech start-ups. Charly co-founded ‘Lum...
Jan 05, 2022•42 min•Ep. 81
It’s another edition of the Matchmaker Maria Hotline! If you want to ask Maria a question on an upcoming episode, make sure you’re following her on Instagram to know when the hotline will open up next… http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria On this week’s episode… I’m 23 and having a hard time with online dating. What should I do? I’ve been dating a guy for two months and wants to move across the country with me. What should I do? How do I get over the self doubt that comes up when dating? How do ...
Dec 29, 2021•33 min•Ep. 80
This week, Maria speaks with Atoosa Rubenstein. Atoosa Rubenstein is the author of Atoosa Unedited, an at-times confronting, at-times healing weekly letter on Substack where she models authenticity, self-love and acceptance for her readers. The former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of CosmoGIRL! In 1998, Rubenstein created a prototype for CosmoGIRL! within 48 hours and was offered the job on the spot making her, at 26, the youngest Editor in Chief in the over 1...
Dec 22, 2021•54 min•Ep. 79
This week, we open up the Ask a Matchmaker Hotline and talk to YOU about YOUR dating questions. Care to ask Maria a question for the next one? Be sure to follow her on Instagram to find out when the hotline will be open again. This week… I’m feeling fatigued and defeated. What should I do? I’ve been dating “by the book” and I’m not sure about a guy. I have a really tough schedule, how do I find time to meet people? How do I choose whether to connect with someone on a dating app? Should I do a vi...
Dec 15, 2021•34 min•Ep. 78
This week, Maria’s husband, George, is once again on the podcast. This week, the two talk about the fun that was had during Maria’s birthday weekend, the new upcoming Agape Intensive on the road and a continuation of the conversation that’s been going on since last week’s episode: dating outside your religion and culture. Share your name and email and you will be notified first when details for the Agape Intensive Retreat - April 29- May 1, 2022 - are released! https://agapematch.wufoo.com/forms...
Dec 08, 2021•26 min•Ep. 77
It’s another edition of the Matchmaker Hotline! You’ve got questions, and Maria has answers! If you want to talk to Maria on an upcoming episode, be sure to follow her on Instagram to find out when the hotline will open again! http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria In today’s hotline... He says he wants to find a way to date, but he’s seeing someone else. Our first update from a previous caller! How do you manage different connections when they are not starting off at the same time? I’m dating a m...
Dec 01, 2021•46 min•Ep. 76
This week, Maria is talking to singer and songwriter Evangelia! She grew up commuting between her grandmother’s small farm on the Greek island of Crete and her parents’ home in New Jersey. Two completely different music worlds, both of which influenced her style. Her music blends modern pop music with sounds from her Greek roots, contemporary club beats and catchy melodies by fusing American pop culture with traditional Greek elements. Follow Evangelia on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@evange...
Nov 24, 2021•25 min•Ep. 75
You have questions and Maria has answers! It’s another edition of the Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, where you can directly ask Matchmaker Maria your questions. (If you want to call on a future episode, be sure to follow her on Instagram to know when the hotline will be open next) This week, we talk about... It’s the holidays! How to handle dating in your hometown when you go home. I think I’m a bad texter. How do I fix that? I’m discouraged with dating. What should I do? How do I date when I have a ...
Nov 17, 2021•50 min•Ep. 74
Every year, Match’s Singles in America study shows how the latest trends are shaping what it means to fly solo. In this bonus episode, the Agape Match team gives their analysis on this year’s study. In the study, Match revealed that singles are redefining the new sexy. Spoiler alert: Physical attraction is no longer enough. From social movements to self-improvement, the study dives deep to see how emotional maturity has become the new “it” factor. Read the study at https://www.singlesinamerica.c...
Nov 12, 2021•47 min
What if you could make friends with your anxiety? What if you could learn to leverage your anxiety to be a gift? We look at anxiety as such a bad thing, but so often our anxiety is trying to tell us something. Learning how to harness that can be a game changer. This week’s conversation could help you change your life. Dr. Wendy A. Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University. Her TED talk has over 31 million views and was the 2nd ...
Nov 10, 2021•32 min•Ep. 73
It’s another edition of the Ask a Matchmaker hotline! This week, it’s all about getting back out into the dating world. Maria will explain how to build your own “spider web network” to meet new people. Also, she’ll explain what “the hoephase” is and how you can have one, even if you’re a virgin. Want to join an upcoming Agape Intensive? 2022 dates just announced! http://agapeintensive.com Follow Maria on Instagram to find out when the Matchmaker Hotline will be open to talk! http://instagram.com...
Nov 03, 2021•15 min•Ep. 72
This week’s episode combines two of Maria’s favorite things: love and true crime with author and her friend Jennifer Wright! Jennifer Wright is the author of numerous pop history books, including “Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues” and the “Heroes That Fought Them.” Her new book, “She Kills Me: True Tales of History's Deadliest Women,” is now available. She's written for The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Observer, The New Yorker.com and even some publications that are not ...
Oct 27, 2021•27 min•Ep. 71
We’re answering YOUR questions again this week! If you have a question you’d like to personally ask Maria, be sure to follow her on Insta to know when the hotline will open up next! @MatchmakerMaria This week, we’re talking about… How do I know if someone is stringing me along? How do I trust my gut? Am I being ghosted by someone? How do I not move too quickly when I’m dating someone new? Follow Maria on Instagram at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria If you’d like to learn more about Agape Ma...
Oct 20, 2021•14 min•Ep. 70
This week, Maria welcomes international best-selling author, speaker and intuitive life coach Melissa Lyons to the podcast! Melissa helps people learn to calm the busy and often overwhelmed thoughts that race through their minds. Melissa has an uncanny ability to help people find clarity amidst chaos and she shows them how to get what they want. Quite simply, she inspires one to wake up each morning with a sense of happiness and excitement about the day. She leads people to connect with qualitie...
Oct 13, 2021•37 min•Ep. 69
We’re answering YOUR questions again this week! If you have a question you’d like to personally ask Maria, be sure to follow her on Insta to know when the hotline will open up next! @MatchmakerMaria This week, we talk about… How do I find confidence in my body and myself when going out on a date? Should I move to a new city to find men that meet my criteria? Maria goes on a rant about women’s preference in height in men. (She is 5’11’’. Do what you will with that information.) Follow Maria on In...
Oct 06, 2021•35 min•Ep. 68
#67 - How to Filter Potential Matches with OkCupid’s Melissa Hobley This week, we’re talking about how to filter out potential matches on dating websites. How do you make sure the people you meet are on the same page as you and live in the same reality as you? This week, we’re talking with Melissa Hobley. She’s the Global Chief Marketing Officer of OkCupid, one of the largest dating apps in the world. Under her direction, OkCupid has become famous for its message of inclusion and affirmation, wi...
Sep 29, 2021•47 min•Ep. 67
It’s another Hotline Edition of the podcast! If YOU would like to ask Maria a question on an upcoming episode, make sure to follow her on Instagram to know when the hotline will be open next! Follow her at @matchmakermaria This week… How do you find someone that can fly me in a private jet? How to ask a potential partner their relationship history? What do you do when you enjoy spending time with someone, but you’re not sure you want to keep dating? Follow Maria on Instagram at http://instagram....
Sep 22, 2021•18 min•Ep. 66
In today’s episode, I am speaking with Rachel DeAlto. Rachel DeAlto is a relationship expert, coach, media personality, and speaker. Rachel has appeared as a relationship expert on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight and TLC’s Kate+Date. Rachel has also been featured on a multitude of media outlets including The TODAY Show, Access Hollywood Live, and Fox News. Rachel is having a fantastic week. Her newest book “relatable: How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere (Even if It Scares You)” was just releas...
Sep 15, 2021•29 min•Ep. 65
Welcome to September! A period of renewal… and productive energy. If there were ever a time to kick off dating.. It’s now. It’s also time for Season 2 of the Ask a Matchmaker podcast! This week we’re kicking off our new feature, the Ask a Matchmaker Hotline! Matchmaker Maria is here to answer your dating and relationship questions. If you have a question and want to be on a future episode, be sure to follow Maria on Instagram @MatchmakerMaria to know when she’ll open up the hotline next to get i...
Sep 08, 2021•25 min•Ep. 64
While Maria takes a few weeks off, we’re revisiting some of her favorite episodes! The new season of the podcast starts in September! Long distance relationships are brought up every week on Ask a Matchmaker on Instagram. This week, we dig deep into the topic with The King and Queen of Long Distance, Maria and her husband, George! They met in Boston while George was living up there and Maria was still in New York City. For the next SIX YEARS (!!), they dated, got married and had a kid while livi...
Sep 01, 2021•57 min•Ep. 63
While Maria takes a few weeks off, we’re revisiting some of her favorite episodes! The new season of the podcast starts in September! This week, Maria is joined by Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine, the co-hosts of Girls Gotta Eat podcast! Girls Gotta Eat is a comedy podcast about dating, sex and relationships. Listen to Girls Gotta Eat on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/choosing-to-be-childfree/id1348777092?i=1000501573936 Listen to Girls Gotta Eat on Spotify https://open.spotif...
Aug 25, 2021•56 min•Ep. 62
Maria is taking a few weeks off. Before we start our new season in September, we’re looking back at some of her favorite episodes! He’s been answering dating and relationship questions for years on the JTrain podcast! Now he’s our special guest this week to answer YOUR questions… it’s Jared Freid! Jared Freid is a comedian based out of New York City. His comedy is current and reflects the ordinary daily thoughts of everyone you know, especially if everyone you know is a millennial, obsessed with...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 61
While Maria is taking a few weeks off, we’re revisiting some of her favorite episodes! Season 2 starts in September! It feels like narcissism has taken a bigger role in society in the last few years. What might start off as charming and great can quickly turn negative and unhealthy. How do we make sure we don’t get caught up with someone who is a narcissist? What should we look out for? How can you know if your partner IS one? Dr. Ramani Durvasula (better known as Dr. Ramani) is a licensed clini...
Aug 11, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 60
While Maria is on a few weeks break, we’re revisiting some of her favorite episodes from season 1! Season 2 starts in September! One of our goals on Ask a Matchmaker is to have real, authentic conversations about all things related to love and relationships. Cut through the BS and talk about things that really matter. This week is no exception. We’re talking about sex. We’re talking about the sexual trauma and shame that we come across over the year. What it is, how to deal with it and how to ta...
Aug 04, 2021•44 min•Ep. 59
A few weeks ago, Maria received a closure letter that moved her to tears. It was for a relationship in 2018, but the letter’s author wrote it so she could be able to heal and allow love into her life today. Maria decided to invite the woman who wrote the letter onto this week’s podcast to talk about healing and moving on in life. Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/ Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? V...
Jul 28, 2021•29 min•Ep. 58
It’s been an amazing year on the podcast! Thank you so much for listening and thank you for your support! This fall, we’ll be starting season 2. And with season 2, we’re starting something new… The Ask a Matchmaker Hotline! You will be able to call in and ask Maria about anything! On the spot advice just for you! Those calls will be on upcoming episodes. This week, we’re giving you a sneak peek into the hotline with two listeners calling into the Ask a Matchmaker hotline. Take a listen! Enroll i...
Jul 21, 2021•21 min•Ep. 57
