Dating to Win

You catch a romance scammer lying to you. Instead of blocking them, you think, “Let me waste YOUR time for a change.” But could playing along give them another chance to take advantage of you? In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo explores scambaiting—the temptation to outsmart a scammer—and why recognizing one lie doesn’t mean you’ll spot their next move. We discuss: • Why turning the tabl...

She sounds human. She answers my questions. And now she needs money. But Victoria isn’t real. In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo tests a fictional AI romance-scam scenario through a live voice conversation. Victoria supposedly lives in San Diego and is traveling to Philadelphia to meet him—until a missing wallet and an urgent request for $1,850 interrupt her trip. Listen to their exchang...

After losing her husband of 36 years, Delaware County resident Kate Kleinert was targeted on Facebook by a romance scammer posing as a United Nations doctor working overseas. What began with a simple friend request became months of emotional grooming. The supposed doctor contacted Kate daily, discussed marriage and introduced her to two alleged children who began calling her “Mom.” Then the reques...

Are dating apps helping you find love, or keeping you single, swiping, and paying? Matt Russo sits down with Franz Thiessen, founder of Seen, a new dating app designed to encourage meaningful connections instead of endless swiping. Discover why Seen limits users to three active matches, how Franz plans to address fake profiles and romance scams, and why he believes the online dating industry needs...

Can Democrats and Republicans date successfully, or have political differences become a dealbreaker? In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo explores what happens when dating, political beliefs, and personal values collide. Can two people disagree about politics and still feel understood and respected? When should you look past a party label, and when does a disagreement reveal a deeper compa...

What women actually want in a man may have less to do with saying the perfect thing and more to do with how he shows up when a relationship gets difficult. On this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks with author and relationship coach GS Youngblood about healthy masculinity, attraction, and what helps a woman feel emotionally safe. GS explains the three parts of his Masculine Blueprint: res...

Can intelligence and education protect someone from a romance scam? Dr. Jonathan Farley is a Harvard-educated mathematician who earned his doctorate from Oxford. Yet despite approaching love analytically, asking approximately 250 questions, traveling to Siberia, meeting his future wife’s family, and maintaining a three-year international relationship, Jonathan says everything changed shortly after...

In this powerful Dating to Win interview, Lang shares how a six-month romance scam turned into a devastating cryptocurrency scam that cost her approximately $1.6 million. Lang is educated, successful, articulate, and works as a nurse practitioner. She had sold two homes and was planning a fresh start in Boise, Idaho, where she hoped to buy her dream home. Then a man entered her life claiming to be...

Most people think romance scams are just fake dating profiles and stolen photos. Erin West explains why many modern romance scams are much bigger than that. In this Dating to Win interview, Matt Russo sits down with Erin West, one of the leading voices exposing romance scams, pig butchering, crypto fraud, scam compounds, and the global criminal networks behind fake relationships and fake investmen...

Dating over 50 can get complicated fast — especially when you have to ask: Is this love, or is someone after my assets? In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo tries something different. Since starting the romance scam series, Dating to Win has received more emails from viewers over 50 who are dealing with real dating issues later in life — including money concerns, adult children, loneliness...

Personality is everything in dating because looks may get attention, but personality creates chemistry, connection, comfort, and real attraction. In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks about why personality matters so much when a woman is deciding whether she feels chemistry with you. Appearance matters. Dressing well, taking care of yourself, and making a good first impression all pla...

In this episode of Dating to Win, Jennifer shares the powerful and disturbing story of how a romance scam destroyed her life. What began as what she believed was a real online relationship slowly turned into emotional manipulation, financial devastation, and the loss of her home. But Jennifer’s story did not stop there. According to Jennifer, the scammers later tried to use her to move money, brin...

You have friends but still feel alone? Here’s why so many people feel lonely even when they are surrounded by people, texts, followers, dating apps, family, and social media. We live in one of the most connected times in history, but emotionally, many people feel more disconnected than ever. You can have friends, family, coworkers, followers, dating app matches, and people texting you — and still...

Before you give up on your marriage, ask yourself one honest question: is it really dead, or is it just stuck? In this episode of Dating to Win, Matt Russo talks about how some marriages may not be completely over — they may simply be buried under pride, resentment, stress, routine, emotional distance, and years of conversations that should have happened a long time ago. This is not a therapist-st...

Dating scammers are not just asking for money — they are building emotional access first. In this powerful Dating to Win interview, romance scam survivor and advocate Beth Hyland shares her story and explains how online dating scammers target victims, build fake trust, use emotional manipulation, and pressure people into sending money before they realize the relationship was never real. Beth expla...

Tired of your situationship and not getting clarity? In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down the 5 signs you're stuck in a situationship, why they won’t commit, and what you need to do to finally break free. If you’ve ever asked yourself: “What are we?” “Where is this going?” This episode will give you the answer you’ve been avoiding. 👉 Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/...

Dating in 2026 is broken — and these real questions reveal exactly why modern relationships feel confusing, inconsistent, and frustrating. If you’ve been dealing with ghosting, situationships, emotional unavailability, or mixed signals, you’re not alone. In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down real questions from young adults across the country and give honest, direct answers about what’s...

I lost half a million dollars to an online dating scam… and it started with a simple connection on Tinder. In this episode of Dating to Win, I sit down with Sue, who shares her real story of being targeted, manipulated, and financially devastated by a romance scam that began on a dating app. This is not just a story about money — it’s about emotional manipulation, trust, and how scammers build rel...

Romance scams and online dating scams are rising at an alarming rate, especially for people over 50, and millions of dollars are being lost every year. In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down how romance scams actually work, the emotional triggers scammers use, and why so many smart, successful people fall victim to these highly manipulative schemes. These scams are not about intelligence...

Most relationships don’t end with a breakup… they end quietly. In this episode, we break down the real signs your relationship is already over — even if everything seems fine on the surface. If you’ve been feeling emotionally disconnected, questioning your relationship, or wondering how to know when to break up, this episode will give you clarity. We cover the subtle but powerful signs that a rela...

Emotionally unavailable? Here’s what’s actually happening in your dating life — and why so many people today struggle to build real, meaningful relationships. In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down emotional availability, why people become emotionally unavailable, and how it impacts your ability to connect, attract, and build lasting relationships. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, stuck...

Do zodiac signs really predict relationships, compatibility, and dating success? Or are we giving astrology too much power in modern dating? In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down the truth about zodiac signs in relationships and why there’s no scientific evidence linking astrology to compatibility.   Do zodiac signs really predict relationships, compatibility, and dating success? Or are...

Emotional cheating is more common than people think, and most people miss the signs. In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down 4 signs they’re emotionally cheating without actually cheating—and what it really means for your relationship. If something feels off but you can’t prove anything, this episode explains why. Emotional cheating doesn’t always look like physical cheating, but it can da...

Why do so many people feel empty… even when everything in their life looks fine? We’ve been taught to chase happiness. To follow what feels good. To walk away from anything that doesn’t. But what if that mindset is exactly what’s leaving people feeling lost, unfulfilled, and disconnected? In this episode of Dating to Win, we break down why chasing happiness doesn’t work—and what actually leads to...

Premature ejaculation is one of the most common issues men experience, yet very few people talk about it openly. In this episode of the Dating to Win podcast, we explore the real reasons why premature ejaculation happens and why anxiety and pressure often make the problem worse. Many men assume finishing too quickly is purely physical, but performance anxiety, stress, and mental pressure are often...