Miss Matched Podcast

In this powerful episode of Miss Matched, I speak with Marlee Liss — award-winning speaker, author, and somatic educator — about healing after sexual assault and her decision to pursue restorative justice instead of a traditional criminal trial. This conversation explores trauma, accountability, the justice system, and what it means to reclaim your voice after something that changes your life.⚠️ C...

Spring is here, the weather is warming up, and it’s officially time to come out of hibernation… In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Jaydi Samuels Kuba, Hollywood matchmaker, relationship coach, and author of Your Last First Date, to talk about modern dating, first date struggles, emotional pacing, chemistry, dating patterns, and why so many successful singles keep ending up back...

Some love stories don’t end — they pause. In this episode of Miss Matched, I sit down with award-winning documentary filmmaker and author Shelley Saywell, whose real-life love story feels almost too cinematic to be true. She fell in love as a teenager overseas… lost him to timing and life… and then, nearly 30 years later, received an email that changed everything. What followed wasn’t a fairy tale...

In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Canadian lifestyle expert and content creator Daniel Reyes-Cocka . Daniel opens up about love, loss, divorce, identity, and what it really takes to rebuild your life in your 40s — while still showing up online and on TV. They talk about: changing his name after a breakup, navigating public relationship grief, healing through therapy and fitnes...

Nicole sits down with her longtime friend (and boss) Ernesto Gaita — co-founder of the Money Buys Happiness podcast and Neighbourhood Creative — for a real, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about ambition, confidence, relationships, and what it actually means to “do the work.”They rewind to their “da clerb” days (nightlife + building a network), unpack how Ernesto rebranded from promoter...

In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with intimacy expert and relationship coach Allana Pratt to talk about the real reason so many of us struggle in love: we’ve never been taught how to stay connected to ourselves when emotions hit. They unpack self-abandonment, people-pleasing, nervous system regulation, healing heartbreak, and how to actually “sit in the fire” of fear, shame, and i...

Nicole goes solo on Miss Matched to address the elephant in the room: her recent breakup. In this raw, honest episode, she shares how a “foolproof” setup turned into a two-year relationship built on big promises… and little follow-through. From long-distance compromises (Toronto vs. Hamilton), to engagement talk without action, to the painful realization that emotional capacity can’t be taught—Nic...

Money talk doesn’t have to be a mood killer—but avoiding it might be. Nicole sits down with award-winning money expert, author, and media personality Melissa Leong to unpack financial “icks,” red flags, and why choosing a partner might be one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. From splitting the bill drama and crypto obsessions to power dynamics, spending habits, and the money be...

In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Paula Vesio , Registered Therapist and founder of House of Wellness Therapies, for an honest conversation about postpartum mental health. Paula shares her lived experience as a new mom, unpacking postpartum anxiety, sleep deprivation, intrusive thoughts, and the pressure to “bounce back.” Together, they break down the difference between baby b...

In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Katie Zeppieri, founder and chief brand strategist of Mic Drop Agency, to talk about career reinvention, personal branding, and navigating a constantly changing professional landscape. From chasing a broadcasting dream to building an award-winning PR and marketing agency with offices in Toronto and Austin, Katie shares the real lessons she lea...

What happens when your phone is basically attached to your hip… and your wellness is quietly paying the price? In this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Lisa Chang (tech + lifestyle expert, public speaker, and mom of 10-year-old) for a real-talk conversation about technology, mental health, relationships, and modern habits — and whether tech is helping us thrive… or slowly burning us...

Miss Matched Holiday Wrap Part 2 — and we’re replaying the most OMG, spicy, messy, and “SAME” moments from the season. From Hollywood-level love stories to the Toronto dating trenches, we break down dating timelines, intuition, love bombing, dating app burnout, and why “soulmates” sometimes show up in the wrong gift wrap. Featuring highlights from Nick Viall, Andrea Lo, psychic matchmaker Deborah...

The holidays have a way of turning the volume up on everything — the love we’re holding, the love we’ve lost, and the feelings we didn’t have time to process all year. In this Miss Matched holiday special, I’m sharing a more personal reflection on family, traditions, grief, and self-care… and then we’re revisiting some of the most powerful moments from past episodes that hit extra hard in December...

Pop culture besties, this one’s for you. We’re breaking down 2025’s most talked-about celebrity relationships — the makeups, breakups, “are they or aren’t they,” and the couples we can’t stop projecting our own love lives onto. I’m joined by Vicky Sparks (host of The Boost on SiriusXM Canada) to unpack everything from Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce to Selena & Benny, Kylie & Timothée, Kat...

What happens when you build a “marriage-minded” love story while living with narcolepsy and a 120lb Great Dane service dog? In this episode of Miss Matched, I sit down with international speaker, productivity expert, and author Michelle Weger to talk about narcolepsy, life with her service dog Quinn, and how she went from first date… to moving in 5 days later… to married in 7 months (and still goi...

In this episode of Miss Matched , Nicole sits down with Toronto creator, entrepreneur, and podcast host Ricky Liorti (aka YourPalRick) for a real, unfiltered conversation on dating, mental health, personal growth, and what it truly means to build a life you love. From running marathons and buying a new condo, to navigating burnout, therapy, and finding purpose, Ricky opens up about the habits and...

What happens when “passion” turns into control? In this solo episode of Miss Matched , Nicole shares the dating story she’s never told — a relationship that started with chemistry and love bombing but spiraled into jealousy, manipulation, and one night that changed everything. She opens up about confusing intensity with intimacy, ignoring early red flags, and realizing that someone else’s insecuri...

This week on Miss Matched, I sit down with Calissa Ngozi — award-winning mental health educator, speaker, professor, single mom, and the powerhouse behind The Oxygen Mask Mindset. We get REAL about dating in 2025 (aka a dumpster fire), rebuilding after divorce, setting boundaries that actually stick, and learning to love yourself before you love anyone else. Calissa opens up about healing childhoo...

On this episode, Nicole sits down with friend and creator Steven Branco —serial entrepreneur, award-winning creative, and men’s lifestyle expert—to talk queer love, fluid relationships, and living authentically . Steven opens up about coming out after a young marriage, growing up in conservative faith spaces, navigating shame, and the freedom that comes with self-discovery. We dig into why labels...

Can comedy help you heal? On this episode of Miss Matched, Nicole sits down with Dena Jackson — stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, and author of Self Help Me: The Book — to talk grief, burnout, divorce, and the wellness tools that actually work. From Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, CBC, and Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club to yoga teacher training in India, Dena blends laughs with mindf...

Ever wondered, “Are we actually meant to be?” or “Why does love feel so hard sometimes?” 💭 This week on Miss Matched, I’m sitting down with Dr. Mary Marano — psychotherapist, founder & CEO of Life and Family Counselling Services, and the woman who says, “Change isn’t a skill, it’s a choice.” We go there. We talk about why we’re drawn to certain people, how our childhood shows up in our adult...

What happens when a billion-dollar builder gets real about relationships? In this episode, entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Hyatt (two exits, Hyatt Family Office/CIO, CBC commentator) goes deep on the crossover between company building and couple building—how the same habits that scale a startup can strengthen a marriage and family. We cover: why winners are tortoises, not hares; the danger...

Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure — and this episode proves it. This week on Miss Matched , Nicole sits down with Marsha Druker, community builder, podcaster, and the force behind Fuckup Nights Toronto . For the past eight years, Marsha has built a space where entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals share their biggest mistakes instead of their polished success stories. Together, they dive...

Toronto’s dating scene is getting a major upgrade. Andrea Lo turned a layoff and breakup into Toronto Dating Hub — now hosting 10+ creative events a month, from jet ski speed dating to niche mixers for single parents, teachers, and more. We chat about what really makes singles events successful (hint: it’s not just rings), the biggest style and conversation gaps between men and women, coffee date...

The freelance life looks shiny on Instagram—but what does it really take to build a multi-hyphenate career you can sustain? In this episode, I sit down with powerhouse host/producer/creator Brigitte Truong to unpack the business, the burnout, and the boundaries behind modern freelancing. Brigitte Truong knows the power of wearing all the hats. We unpack scarcity vs. abundance in Canada’s small med...