Ask a Matchmaker

Tradwives, the manosphere, and the rise of traditional gender roles: who's really benefiting from all this content? Matchmaker Maria is joined by award-winning writer and author Stefanie O'Connell to unpack how tradwife influencers are making money by selling women's submission as empowerment, while manosphere creators are fueling insecurity among men. They also get into why ambitious women face backlash in relationships, how social media algorithms profit from misogyny, and whether the 2026 election signals a shift in what men and women want from each other.

Check out Stefanie O'Connell's article for more on 👉 Tradwives Failed to Recruit Women, But They Helped Radicalize Men

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Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/matchmaker #rulapod #sponsored

Matchmaker Maria is joined for a solo hotline episode with YOU! She's calling out the dating habits that are keeping singles from finding love, from expecting a first date to look like their future spouse to letting AI create an unrealistic dating fantasy. Then, she answers your hotline questions about when to tell someone you're divorced, whether to give a man who's still married a second chance after discovering his views on traditional gender roles, and whether three out of five compatibility pillars are enough for a lasting relationship. Plus, Maria gives listeners a challenge: say yes to five things that you may have hesitated in saying yes to in the next 4 weeks!

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When is it time to break up, and why is walking away from a relationship so hard? Matchmaker Maria sits down with Lindsay Crouse, author of The Case for Quitting, to talk about the sunk cost fallacy in dating, why we stay in relationships that aren't working, and how to know when it's time to leave. Plus, they discuss the 12 Date Rule, dating burnout, and why quitting a relationship might be the best decision you ever make!!

Matchmaker Maria is joined by sex therapist and LGBTQ+ matchmaker Dr. Frankie Bashan to talk about modern dating, ethical non-monogamy, and why she's now helping couples find a third partner! They also answer a listener's question about dating a transgender woman for the first time, including how to talk about sex, intimacy, and compatibility. Plus, Maria and Dr. Frankie debate dating apps, double texting, and why instant chemistry on a first date might actually be anxiety.

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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 lives, plus the importance of consent and sex education.

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors!

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists & mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/matchmaker #rulapod #ad

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors!

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?" conversation. Plus, they answer a listener's question about whether you should tell the person you're dating that you're also going on dates with other people. We said, NO but curious your takes!

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 Korea's 4B movement, why online dating can create choice paralysis, and Anna's advice for singles: stop treating dating like a marketplace and get genuinely interested in other humans!!

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 even used AI generated women to make the scam look real. It's a scary story that you need to listen to so you can be sure you're not next!!

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsor!

• Connect with quality therapists & mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/matchmaker #rulapod #ad

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 an ex who is dating someone you once worried about, and if you should be engaged before moving in together. They also get into destination weddings, financial compatibility, renting out your NYC apartment, and why dirty socks and dishes might actually be about respect and compatibility!

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors!

• Get 25% off Cowboy Colostrum with code MATCHMAKER at http://cowboycolostrum.com/matchmaker