Ask a Matchmaker

Why is Gen Z having less sex?  Kinsey Institute Executive Director   Dr. Justin Garcia returns to discuss the new Playboy study, including why 50% of Gen Z respondents haven't had sex recently or ever, and why 34% of young men say porn completely satisfies their sexual desires. Matchmaker Maria  and Dr. Garcia also explore how money, living with your parents, and economic uncertainty affect sex li...

What does the latest Singles in America Study reveal about how people are dating? Dr. Justin Garcia joins Matchmaker Maria to break down why 72% of singles are open to love but only 16% are actively looking, whether believing in love at first sight is changing the way people date, and why singles are choosing emotional safety and peace over passion. They also discuss when to talk about money and d...

Stand-up comedian Daniela Mora joins Matchmaker Maria for a hotline episode!! The two first talk about Daniela's recently new relationship, starting out long-distance, and how she and her boyfriend first connected on Snapchat and sexted before dating. They get into what actually makes a green flag, why Daniela loves her boyfriend's work ethic, and where strip clubs fit into the "red flag or not?"...

Why are people having fewer children, and what does dating have to do with it? Matchmaker Maria sits down with journalist and author Anna Louie Sussman , author of Inconceivable , to unpack dating apps, AI-generated dating criteria, social media outrage, the pressure to find a "perfect" partner, and why women and men may be looking for very different things in relationships. They also get into Kor...

Matchmaker Maria kicks off Season 7 with a wild update: after being featured in the New York Times and making headlines in Greece, her matchmaking company, Agape Match, was impersonated by a scam center targeting single men on Telegram. She shares how the scammers stole photos of her real employees, created fake dating profiles, charged victims everything from $50 activation fees to $25,000, and e...

Matchmaker Maria sits down with licensed therapist Nadine Ahmed to unpack the "angry dad theory," how growing up with emotionally unavailable or angry parents can affect our relationships, and why learning to apologize to your kids can break the cycle.!Then, Maria and Nadine answer Hotline Questions from YOU! From listeners waiting three years for a proposal, whether you should stay friends with a...

Matchmaker Maria and Louie Felix tackle dating after divorce, including how a single mom with two young kids can find a serious relationship and why the six-date rule can help. They also get into the ultimate couple fight: dirty dishes, different cleaning habits, and what those little conflicts can reveal before marriage. Plus, they break down what to do when someone's actions don't match their wo...

Nina Kharoufeh , matchmaker, comedian, and former Match Me Abroad host, joins Matchmaker Maria to talk about what really happened when Americans went to Morocco looking for love. It didn't end in finding a "trophy wife" like one man thought! They then discuss why daters are rejecting second dates over tiny things, and why height, weight, and other physical preferences can keep you from meeting som...

Suzy Welch joins Matchmaker Maria to break down VALUES and what your core values can reveal about dating, compatibility, marriage, and the life you actually want. They get into why values (not personality) can make or break a relationship, the "divorce values" to watch for, why place and "belovedness" can be major dealbreakers, and whether couples really need to share the same top values. Also, Su...

Comedian, Lauren Davis joins Matchmaker Maria for a fun conversation about red flags, marathon first dates, dating app lies, and why a 2 hr date might be better than spending 10hrs together! They discuss the best first date activities, from walking and museums to bowling, and answer a listener question about dating in Spain at 62. It's a fun episode you don't want to miss!  Check out Lauren's trav...

Could your smartphone be affecting your dating life and even the birth rate? Matchmaker Maria talks to writer and cultural critic  Christine Emba about research linking smartphones to declining fertility and how scrolling may be replacing the time people once spent meeting, flirting, and connecting. They also get into porn, AI, dating apps, and algorithms that are changing how men and women see re...

Comedian Gus Constantellis joins Matchmaker Maria to talk about turning his late mother's recipes into a cookbook that became a heartfelt memoir about grief, family, and finding joy again. They dive into how losing a parent changed the way Gus looked at love, why his mom's advice to "come up for air" ended a five year relationship, and what it was like watching his dad start dating again just week...

Matchmaker Maria breaks down what compatibility really means and why finding the right partner has nothing to do with shared hobbies or a Myers-Briggs label. She explains the four dating personalities, why your lifestyle is really about how you value your time and money, and the questions every good dater should be asking. Plus, hear the surprising story of the woman who thought she wanted an adve...

Comedian and author Alison Leiby joins Matchmaker Maria to talk about her new essay collection  I'm a Lot and why every version of ourselves deserves a seat at the table. They discuss different identities, only-child life, surviving a near death experience, chronic back pain, stand up comedy, and how those experiences shape dating and relationships. Plus, the two answer a listener who feels like s...

Comedian Jourdain Fisher joins Matchmaker Maria for a hilarious hotline episode about dating, love, and learning when not to "fix" your partner's problems. Go check out his comedy special,  Bits and Pieces , today!!  They break down whether weed is a real deal breaker, if one bad joke should end a relationship, and what it really means when someone says they're "going through something." Plus, Jor...

Psychiatrist and couples therapist Dr. Sue Varma joins Matchmaker Maria to explain why optimism isn't something you're born with, it's a skill you can build. They break down the difference between healthy realism and catastrophizing, why overthinking keeps people single, and how "maximizers" sabotage dating by chasing endless options. Plus, they answer a listener question about a boyfriend who's a...

Jared Freid is back on Ask a Matchmaker to talk about his new book, Walking Red Flag , and why most dating advice completely misses the average guy's perspective. Jared and Maria dive into the "types of singles," why family setups may be better than dating apps, the difference between "main street" and "alleyway" dating, and whether social media is making dating harder than it needs to be. They al...

Amy Chan , author of On Single , joins Matchmaker Maria to break down why so many people feel burned out by dating and what they're getting wrong! They discuss Amy's "dating funnel," why a lack of chemistry on a first date shouldn't always be a dealbreaker, and how doomscrolling, TikTok, and dopamine overload may be sabotaging your love life. Plus, a listener from Miami asks how to stay hopeful af...

Matchmaker Maria sits down with writer and mental health advocate Chrissy Rutherford to discuss the Summer House drama behind her essay, Ciara's Story is a Story I Know Too Well . From dating a friend's ex to the complicated realities of interracial dating, Chrissy explains why Ciara's experience struck such a nerve with so many black women. They dive into fetishization, friendship loyalty, codepe...

What can a steamy hockey romance teach us about attachment styles, situationships, and emotional vulnerability? This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by her sister and fellow matchmaker, Chrisoula Mavrianos , to break down the hit series Heated Rivalry through the lens of dating psychology. They unpack why Shane and Ilya's 7 year push-pull dynamic feels so familiar, explore fearful avoidant vs. di...

Comedian and author Jordan Carlos joins Matchmaker Maria to talk about the surprisingly sexy secret to saving a relationship: doing the chores without being asked! From "invisible labor" and executive function to a grabbing some milk, they get into why a clean kitchen can actually improve your sex life! This episode gets hilariously real about marriage, gender roles, and modern dating. Jordan open...

Can ambition ruin a relationship? Matchmaker Maria sits down with author and journalist Stefanie O'Connell  to unpack why ambitious women are still being labeled "too much" in dating, work, and marriage. They discuss the research behind men pulling away when women out-earn them, why women still do more household labor even when they make more money, and how "provider mentality" can sometimes reall...

Maria Avgitidis sits down with Justin Garcia, PhD of the Kinsey Institute to break down the science behind modern dating, ghosting, dating apps, attraction, AI in dating, hookup culture and relationships. Maria and Justin get into why over 70% of singles have fallen for someone they usually wouldn't think they'd be attracted to and why Gen Z says they value authenticity yet nearly 50% of them are...

Matchmaker Maria is back with a hotline episode tackling the dating questions everyone is actually thinking about. She breaks down why shows like  Heated Rivalry , Bridgerton , and Grey's Anatomy have women hooked, and why vulnerability in men is the real turn-on. Then, a 37-year-old man asks how to follow the 12 Date Rule without killing the chemistry, and Maria explains how to show attraction wi...

Gen Z is having less sex! And THIS episode breaks down exactly why! Matchmaker Maria sits down with sex therapist Dr. Carli Blau to talk about the "sex recession," including stats like 1 in 3 men under 30 not having sex and people waiting longer for their first experience. They get into how dating apps, fear of rejection, and growing up online are making real-life connection harder, plus why hyper...