Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

Damona Hoffman - Dates and Mates Media
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From navigating dating apps to overcoming the friendzone to seeking a soulmate, this ain’t your momma’s love advice! Hosted by the Official Love Expert of The Drew Barrymore Show and LA Times advice columnist, Damona Hoffman, Dates & Mates is jam-packed with interviews from your favorites celebs, authors, and experts. Dates & Mates is the 2022 Winner of The Best Podcast of the Year at The Black Podcasting Awards, #1 ranked love and relationship podcast by Cosmopolitan Magazine and a Top 10 Pick by HuffPost in the love category.

  1. 4D AGO

    Valentine’s Wisdom & The Fairy Tale Fallacy

    In this special Valentine's Day episode, Damona hears insights from John Kim (The Angry Therapist), Vedic astrologer Carol Allen, Authors of Getting it Right This Time Orna & Matthew Walters, feminist dating coach Lily Womble, and Seth Hoffman (her husband) about what they got wrong about love and what they got right. She asks each of them two questions: What's the biggest relationship myth you once believed that turned out to be untrue? And what's the one pillar that actually keeps your relationship standing today? What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why doing "the work" on yourself isn't a one-time fix that makes love easy Why “the spark” fizzles out How a fixed mindset keeps you stuck The one way out of the friend zone How much is too much to share on a date The secret quality that couples need to thrive The feeling of true connection vs. chemistry The #1 Pillar in Damona’s relationship Guest Links: John Kim (The Angry Therapist): theangrytherapist.com Carol Allen: loveisinthestars.com Orna & Matthew Walters: loveonpurpose.com / Book: Getting It Right This Time Lily Womble: datebrazen.com / Book: Thank You More Please Resources and Links: Pick up F The Fairytale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Love Story on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookseller. Find links at fthefairytalebook.com Join Damona LIVE at Civana Wellness Resort in Carefree, Arizona on Feb. 14-15 or April 15-17th (DamonaHoffman.com/lovelab) to reserve your room and your space in Damona’s workshops Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  2. FEB 3

    Revenge Reporting & Trusting Your Gut

    In this Dear Damona episode, we cover revenge reporting, why dating app systems meant to protect us sometimes get weaponized, and how to handle rejection with grace while protecting yourself when things go sideways. This week, a listener named Lisa shares: "I just didn't think this was gonna be good. So I wrote him a respectful message. He responded respectfully. And within an hour I get an email from match.com that my account had been canceled due to some misbehavior. I know in my gut that guy was vindictive and turned me in. Is this a thing?" What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why trusting your intuition early saves you time and emotional energy later The right way to exit a match without overexplaining or giving someone ammunition What revenge reporting is and who it disproportionately hurts How dating app moderation works and why they block first, ask questions later What to do if you get banned from a dating app and how to appeal Resources and Links: Unlock the secret to successful dating with our Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker. Join Damona for in person workshops at Civana Wellness resort on February 14th and 15th and April 15-17th!  Click HERE  Enter code: VWGDAMONA Call or text your question to: 424-246-6255. Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  3. JAN 27

    Late Bloomer & Beginner’s Mind

    In this Dear Damona epsiode, we address what happens when you are late to the dating game, why dating is a skill you build through practice, and how to protect yourself without closing off to opportunity. If you're new to dating or want to approach it with a beginner's mind, this episode is a must-listen This week, a listener named Butterfly shares: "I am now in my late twenties and struggling to find a mate. I had strict parents and wasn't allowed to date in high school or my early twenties. I never tried with relationships, and now that I'm getting older, I'm in a place where I'd like a relationship, but I can never find the first person. I feel like the men I've tried to date have taken advantage of my naivety and wasted my time with no real intentions. I don't know how to build a genuine bond with someone and don't know what to look for and what to avoid. Can you help?" What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why dating is a skill you build through practice, not something you're supposed to magically know The real reason people seem to "waste your time" Green flags to look for that signal someone is worthy of your trust and attentionThe "name and narrate" strategy How to approach dating with a beginner's mind at any stage of life Resources and Links:  Unlock the secret to successful dating with our Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker. Call or text your question to: 424-246-6255.  Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Join us IN PERSON at Civana Resort - book your space for February 14-15 now: https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=7841&Chain=25041&promo=VWGDAMONA and enter code: VWGDAMONA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  4. JAN 20

    Dating Anxiety & Breakup Breakthrough

    Sabrina Zohar, dating expert and host of the Sabrina Zohar Show, discusses navigating breakups without self-blame, understanding dating anxiety, and finally breaking the patterns that keep you stuck. If you’re starting 2026 single or considering breaking off a relationship, this episode is a must-listen What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why January is officially "breakup month" and how the holidays reveal what we've been avoiding all year The 5-minute compassion practice that helped Sabrina move through major loss and heartbreak How texting has turned dating into a dopamine slot machine and how to break the vicious cycle The difference between hurting someone's feelings, harming them, and helping them How a tickingbiological clock can lead to different dating choices How to transform  a breakup into a learning opportunity Sabrina's plea to stop weaponizing attachment styles and treating your partner like a project Resources and Links Follow Sabrina Zohar on Instagram @SabrinaZohar and listen to The Sabrina Zohar Show wherever you get your podcasts. Unlock the Secret to Successful Dating with our Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker Call or text your question to: 424-246-6255 Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    41 min

  5. JAN 13

    Astrology of 2026 & Love Forecasting

    Damona is joined by her good friend Danny Santos, shaman, healer, astrologer, and tarot reader, to look at the astrology of 2026 and how it’s setting the stage for love this year. What You'll Hear In This Episode Key transits and cosmic shifts to watch out for in the year ahead Which houses in your birth chart actually matter for compatibility, and why your moon sign may reveal more than your sun sign  Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's astrological compatibility breakdown, plus celebrity couples Danny is watching in 2026 The Year of the Horse energy: how to use the adventurous energy of the year to propel you into love Resources and Links Book a session with Danny Santos at santoscrystalvisions.com  and use code DATES for 10% off your first session Follow Danny on Instagram @SantosCrystalVisions Unlock the Secret to Successful Dating with our Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker  Call or text your question to: 424-246-6255 Follow @DamonaHoffman on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  6. JAN 6

    Master Class: 9 Dating Predictions for 2026

    How many times have you swiped through endless options and come up empty? You've got matches, you've got conversations, but you don't have clarity. And clarity is what dating in 2026 is all about. In this episode, we share what the data is telling us about the future of dating and relationships. Damona isn’t making vague predictions; she shares 9 clear themes that are likely to emerge this year,grounded in research from major dating apps, relationship trends, and over 15 years of coaching singles through their love lives. We break down what "all or nothing" really means for your dating life, why effort is becoming the bare minimum, and how authenticity is actually your superpower. This is the year singles stop negotiating with maybe. Why 2026 is the year of all or nothing: clarity is replacing ambiguity How "clear-coding" your intentions upfront is replacing ghosting and emotional labor Why effort and consistency are becoming the bare minimum, not optional The surprising shift around dinner dates and what it actually signals about romance The declaration you’re likely to be making on your social media accounts Why low-volume dating with high engagement is the new strategy that actually works The biggest relationship buzzword of 2026 Track your patterns and move forward with clarity. Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker Got a relationship question for 2026? Follow @DamonaHoffman on ⁠TikTok⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠Facebook⁠, and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    The Trust Test & Trauma-dump

    What is the magical first date zone between oversharing and playing it too cool? A listener named Brian shares: "I realize I have two dating modes. Either I dump all my emotional baggage on the first date, or I stay super chill and keep everything surface level, even when I want to go deeper. I've been hurt enough times that I just don't trust people to really be there for me anymore. How do I communicate in a healthy way without either overwhelming someone or hiding completely?" In this episode, we break down what's actually happening underneath both extremes. They're not opposites; they come from the same place.  We look at the difference between throwing your pain at someone and letting them discover who you really are. Plus, we share the framework that helps you build trust gradually, without becoming either the person who overshares or the person who keeps everyone at arm's length. What You'll Hear: Both protection modes come from the same wound, but one looks like radical honesty and the other looks like walls Why your nervous system isn't your enemy, it's just doing what it learned to do after being hurt The goldilocks zone: how to start small and turn up the volume as trust builds What healthy vulnerability actually looks like in practice (it's not what you think it is) How connection points, not trauma dumps, create real intimacy on dates The power of follow-up questions and ping-pong conversation over one-way vulnerability dumps Rewriting your dating story: from "I keep getting it wrong" to "I'm learning to connect" Ready to get clarity on what's working in your dating life? Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker to track your patterns and see where real connection starts to happen. Got a question about vulnerability, trust, or showing up authentically on dates? Follow @DamonaHoffman on ⁠TikTok⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠Facebook⁠, and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime. Or leave a voicemail or text at 424-246-6255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    DMs from Younger Men & Fairy Tale Reset

    You've been married for 29 years. You're newly separated at 52. Your inbox is suddenly full of men in their twenties and thirties. And you're sitting there wondering: what the heck is going on? A listener we call Confused in Coatesville shares: "I'm separated a year in the process of divorce after 29 years of marriage. I'm 52 and I'm told that I look a lot younger. On dating apps, I'm getting hit up by a lot of 30-somethings and even late twenties. I have very little interest in somebody under the age of 40, considering that I have a 30-year-old myself. How do I get matches in my age range that would have an interest in me?" In this episode, we unpack the real reasons younger men are reaching out, and what it actually means to date again after decades of marriage. What You'll Hear: Why younger men showing up in your inbox isn't random The difference between what you needed at 23 and what actually serves you now How "I look younger than my age" might be working against your dating goals Why an age gap hits different at 50 than it does at 25 The power of being strategic about which apps you use (and tracking your results) Setting boundaries with matches who aren't aligned with you…without guilt Ready to figure out what's actually working in your dating life? Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker to start tracking where your best matches come from and what patterns are showing up for you. Got a question about dating after divorce, age gaps, or navigating the apps? DM @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, or leave a voicemail or text at 424-246-6255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
See All (102)

4.7
out of 5
302 Ratings

About

From navigating dating apps to overcoming the friendzone to seeking a soulmate, this ain’t your momma’s love advice! Hosted by the Official Love Expert of The Drew Barrymore Show and LA Times advice columnist, Damona Hoffman, Dates & Mates is jam-packed with interviews from your favorites celebs, authors, and experts. Dates & Mates is the 2022 Winner of The Best Podcast of the Year at The Black Podcasting Awards, #1 ranked love and relationship podcast by Cosmopolitan Magazine and a Top 10 Pick by HuffPost in the love category.

Information

  • Creator
    Damona Hoffman - Dates and Mates Media
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dear Mrs D, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

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