Ask a Matchmaker

Maria Avgitidis

Ask a Matchmaker is your weekly go-to podcast for all things love and relationships. Hosted by fourth generation matchmaker and founder of Agape Match, Maria Avgitidis, Ask a Matchmaker gives you no-nonsense insight into dating, relationships, compatibility, and love. Maria and her weekly special guest answer questions to help you venture through the jungle that is modern love. Whether you're looking for someone or you're happily taken, Maria will keep you inspired to keep going down the path of love every week, and hopefully gain a great tip or two to ignite the spark or keep the sparks flying!

  1. 15 HR AGO

    Can Better Friendships Improve Your Dating Life? ft Shari Leid

    What if friendship is the real key to finding love? This week, Maria sits down with author and connection coach Shari Leid, who shares the unbelievable story of being found as a baby in a cardboard box and how that shaped her mission to fight loneliness and seek connection. After a recent divorce and cross-country move, Shari reveals how traveling to all 50 states to share meals with strangers led to her "Flip the Box" philosophy: turning isolation into connection. They break down her 3 connection power tools , plus real-life icebreakers that actually work at events!  Then, they tackle a listener question from a 33-year-old in Chicago feeling left behind by married friends and give practical advice on building a new social circle from scratch! Check out her book Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America by Shari Leid today! support the show, support the sponsors! 👉 Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code MATCHMAKER at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    32 min
  2. 7 APR

    Can This Age Gap Survive Long Term? She's 39, He's 24!

    It's a Hotline episode 👏 This week, Matchmaker Maria is joined by CEO of Agape Escapes, Amalia Kalogridakis, for a rapid-fire dating advice episode! They cover: money, friendship, and age gap relationships! They discuss whether $100,000 in credit card debt is a dating dealbreaker, how to rebuild your social life when your boyfriend is your only friend, and if a 39-year-old woman dating a 24-year-old man is headed for heartbreak or just harmless fun. Plus, they also invite listeners to their Greece retreat and cruise this August, make some new friends with Amalia, Maria, and Chrisoula!   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    16 min
  3. 31 MAR

    I Miscarried Quadruplets and the Hospital Bill Was Insane! ft Elena Nicolaou

    Matchmaker Maria is joined by TODAY.com senior editor Elena Nicolaou for a powerful conversation on miscarriage, partner support, and the reality of navigating women's healthcare. Elena shares the emotional story of finding out she was pregnant with quadruplets, miscarring, and then having to face a $41,000 medical bill after surgery! They also get into what grief looks like inside a marriage, how to know if your partner can handle real life stress, and why dating should be about more than just chemistry. Plus, they respond to a listener struggling after miscarriage when her husband seems ready to move on too fast.    ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    34 min
  4. 24 MAR

    Are You in Love or Just Addicted to the Chase? ft Amanda McCracken

    Limerence, obsessive dating thoughts, and why you can't stop checking your phone? Matchmaker Maria sits down with journalist and author Amanda McCracken, whose writing on relationships has been published in the New York Times, Guardian, and Vogue, to break down the psychology of intense romantic infatuation. Amanda shares how she dated over 100 men, struggled with "anchormen" from her past, and realized she was addicted to longing, not love. They unpack dopamine hits from texting, why intermittent responses keep you hooked, and how purity culture and hookup culture can wire you for obsession. Plus, what to do when your mood depends on a text back, why "butterflies" can be anxiety, and the exact mindset shift that helps you stop chasing unavailable people. If you've ever reread texts, stalked Instagram, or felt addicted to someone after 4 dates, this episode is your wake-up call. Be sure to pick up a copy of When Longing Becomes Your Lover today!   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    32 min
  5. 17 MAR

    How Do I Work With an Ex Who Cheated on Me? ft Chloe Radcliffe

    Comedian Chloe Radcliffe  joins Matchmaker Maria for a dating advice hotline episode about modern dating, relationships, dating apps, and finding a serious partner. They help a listener figure out how to work with an ex-boyfriend who betrayed her but still wants the breakup kept secret at their workplace. Another caller asks how to balance casual dating and having fun at 29 while still wanting to find a husband before her aging parents pass away. Maria and Chloe also talk about how to improve a Hinge profile to attract men who want marriage and family, and why you may need to swipe on the "6s and 7s" instead of only the "10s." Chloe also shares the unique "processing time" parenting method her mom used growing up to help her face emotions directly, and how having a visible birthmark shaped her experience with confidence and dating! Check out Chloe on the road 👉https://www.chloeradcliffe.com/   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    33 min
  6. 10 MAR

    What JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette's Proposal Taught Us And MORE Dating News

    JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's relationship, the viral "Alpine Divorce" dating trend, religious values in modern matchmaking, and the viral Hinge baker experiment are all part of today's dating conversation. In this solo episode, Matchmaker Maria reacts to the TikTok trend where partners abandon each other on hikes and explains why selfish behavior in relationships is often a pattern. She also breaks down American Love Story and the relationship lesson behind Carolyn Bessette not immediately saying yes to John F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposal. Plus, Maria shares surprising trends she's seeing in her matchmaking office, including singles converting to Roman Catholicism and the rise of AI matchmaking. And finally, she weighs in on the viral woman giving men sourdough bread from Hinge as a low-pressure way to meet and vibe check potential dates!   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    34 min
  7. 3 MAR

    How Jeffrey Epstein Impacted Modern Dating ft Ileana Justine

    Did millennial women grow up inside a system designed by powerful men? In this episode, Maria is joined by journalist Ileana Justine to unpack how mall culture, Victoria's Secret, JUICY sweatpants, low-rise jeans, and dress code "fingertip rules" shaped millennial body image, and how the Jeffrey Epstein era exposed who held the power behind those brands. They break down the male gaze vs. the female gaze, trad wife influencers, the "provider" debate in modern dating, GLP-1 skinny culture, and how shows like Grey's Anatomy changed women's dating standards. Plus, a listener asks how to date confidently after major surgery, weight changes, and visible scars. This is a deep dive into cultural conditioning, patriarchy, body image, and how it all affects who we choose to love.   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off. ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    47 min
  8. 24 FEB

    How to Have Hard Conversations Early in Dating ft. Colette Fehr

    Hard conversations in relationships, attachment styles, anxious vs avoidant dynamics, and emotional disconnection are at the center of this week's Ask A Matchmaker. Matchmaker Maria sits down with therapist and author Colette Fehr to explain why couples fight about small things like Duolingo, texting back, or Valentine's Day flowers when the real issue is feeling unheard or unimportant. They break down how to stop people pleasing, how to say "that hurt me" clearly, and why serious conversations should never happen over text. Colette shares tools from her book The Cost of Quiet, including her emotional Mad Libs method for speaking up without pushing your partner away. They also tackle anxious and avoidant attachment patterns and whether separate bedrooms, like Keke Palmer suggested, can actually work in a healthy relationship.   ♥️JOIN MARIA'S COMMUNITY + SUBMIT A QUESTION ❓ Ready to date with intention? 💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question: 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off. ✈️ TRAVEL WITH AGAPE ESCAPES Make new friends. Travel the world. ☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/ Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing. 📚 ORDER MARIA'S BOOK + FOLLOW ALONG ✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable 🌐 CONNECT WITH MARIA Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/ 🎙️ CREDITS Producer: Venetia Geras https://www.venetiageras.com/ Studio: WTF Media Studios https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

    33 min

About

Ask a Matchmaker is your weekly go-to podcast for all things love and relationships. Hosted by fourth generation matchmaker and founder of Agape Match, Maria Avgitidis, Ask a Matchmaker gives you no-nonsense insight into dating, relationships, compatibility, and love. Maria and her weekly special guest answer questions to help you venture through the jungle that is modern love. Whether you're looking for someone or you're happily taken, Maria will keep you inspired to keep going down the path of love every week, and hopefully gain a great tip or two to ignite the spark or keep the sparks flying!

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