In this special year-end episode of Ask A Matchmaker, Matchmaker Maria looks back on the biggest dating lessons of 2025 and what they mean for intentional dating in 2026. Featuring standout guests like Vera Papisova, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Weezy W.T.F, Jared Freid, Kaneez Surka, Erika Ettin, Tara Cannistraci, and more, Matchmaker Maria breaks down conversations on politics, polyamory, attachment styles, money, AI, and modern love. You'll hear honest insights on dating boundaries, emotional compatibility, first dates, and how to build real connection. Plus, Maria answers listener questions on financial dealbreakers and why some great dates don't lead to second dates. If you're single, dating, or rethinking your relationship approach, this episode gives you clarity, confidence, and practical dating advice you can actually use!

What happens to connection when we put our phones away? Matchmaker Maria sits down with Randy Ginsberg, founder of Kanso, to unpack phubbing (phone snubbing), modern dating burnout, and why being truly present has become one of the most underrated relationship skills. Together, they explore how intentional, phone-free spaces create deeper conversations, stronger chemistry, and real opportunities for both romantic and platonic connection.

This is not a singles event and it's not networking. It's an evening designed to help you unplug, talk like a human again, and experience what dating and socializing feel like without doomscrolling, distractions, or performative small talk. Expect thoughtful prompts, honest dialogue, and a room full of curious, emotionally available people who are actually worth putting your phone down for.

Come for the connection. Leave with clarity, community, and a reminder that presence is still the most attractive quality in the room.

☀️get yourself a last minute holiday gift and go to https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

Comedian and writer Caitlin Peluffo returns to Ask a Matchmaker for an honest catch-up with matchmaker Maria after a major relationship shake-up. Caitlin opens up about calling off a long engagement, what it taught her about passion, independence, and settling, and why starting over in her 30s has been unexpectedly empowering! Together, they dive into dating while living alone, long-distance relationships, marriage timelines, and redefining partnership. The episode also tackles listener questions, including navigating city life versus farm life and whether staying friends with an ex-with-benefits ever really works. A candid, funny, and deeply relatable conversation about choosing yourself and dating with intention!

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

This week, Maria talks with author and speaker Emily Goodson about her new book Dating Disability: 15 Stories of Dealing with the BS and Building Confidence. Emily shares her experiences dating with a disability and how working with an intimacy coach helped her break patterns of shame and self-protection. They discuss visible and invisible disabilities, the social barriers disabled people face, and why representation in dating and media matters. This conversation is full of insight for anyone looking to date with confidence, empathy, and self-awareness. Pick up Dating Disability wherever books are sold and follow Emily for more stories about love and identity!

Dating Disability, Emily Goodson's debut book, invites readers into fifteen intimate stories from her life, exploring love, confidence, and what it means to embrace difference in a world that often asks us to hide it. It's available online and in bookstores today! 👉 https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/biographies-and-memoirs/general/dating-disability/

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

This week, Maria talks with creator and political strategist Tega Orhorhoro bout growing up in a Nigerian household, dealing with constant pressure to "reach the next milestone," and learning to date on her own terms. Tega shares how reading Ask a Matchmaker changed how she approaches apps and why small updates to her profile completely shifted who she matches with.

They also talk about Tega's rise online, her mix of accents, and how she built a relatable voice by telling the truth about culture, college, and identity. The episode explores family expectations, dating clarity, and finding confidence in your own timeline!

Be sure to follow Tega on all her platforms! 👉 @tegareacts

Maria sits down with journalist and podcast host Nayeema Raza for a sharp, funny, deeply insightful conversation about the rise of AI dating companions, why posting your partner now feels embarrassing, and how Zohran Mamdani's love story gives real hope for dating in NYC! Maria and Nayeema talk about the rise of AI dating companions and how many young adults are turning to emotional relationships with AI instead of real people. They share why this worries them and what they think a real modern date night should look like if people want to reconnect offline. They also react to the Vogue UK article about women posting their partners less and why social media now makes people feel embarrassed to show their relationships. They explain how this trend affects dating, independence, and the pressure to look chill online. Finally, they talk about Zohran Mamdani's love story and why his simple coffee date proves there is still real hope for dating in NYC.

Nayeema Raza is a journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host whose work has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and at Tribeca Film Festival. Nayeema is also the creator and host of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, a show where she interviews big thinkers using simple, curious questions!

Follow Nayeema: Instagram: @nayeemaraza Podcast: Smart Girl Dumb Questions (available on all platforms)

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

Maria sits down with NYU professor and AI pioneer Vasant Dhar for a grounded, eye-opening conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping our lives! They break down the rise of AI companions, the risks of sharing personal information with chatbots, and why these systems can feel human while still lacking empathy. Maria and Professor Dhar explore how modern AI "knows a little about everything" and what that means for dating, decision-making, and emotional attachment in 2025. They also dive into how kids and adults alike should be learning to "think with machines," not rely on them as a crutch. It's a fascinating, practical guide to navigating love, relationships, and identity in the age of AI.

Be sure to pick up Professor Vasant's book today! Thinking With Machines: The Brave New World of AI

Vasant Dhar, Ph.D. — NYU Stern Professor, AI Researcher, TEDx Speaker, and Host of the "Brave New World" podcast. His forthcoming book, "Thinking With Machines: The Brave New World of AI" releases on Nov. 18th!

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

Matchmaker Maria sits down with therapist Rebecca Marcus to explore how millennial women can break toxic dating patterns and build meaningful, healthy relationships. They discuss attachment styles, nervous system regulation, and how urgency and anxiety can shape who we choose and why. Rebecca shares how slowing down, building self-trust, and practicing emotional awareness can transform your dating life long before you meet someone. If you are ready to date with clarity, confidence, and intention, this episode will show you what secure love actually feels like!

Matchmaker Maria dives deep into why modern dating feels harder than ever, and why it's not your fault! Maria explores how convenience culture has stripped away connection and offers practical, no-nonsense ways to rebuild your "dating muscles." From reclaiming third places to embracing real-world friction, Maria shares how to create opportunities for love instead of waiting for them. If you're ready to date with intention and confidence, this episode is your blueprint for finding genuine connection in a disconnected world!

Here's a script you can literally copy and paste into a text📲

"Hi friends! I'm hosting a potluck on [date]. Bring a dish you love and also bring one friend I don't know yet. Just let me know what you're bringing so we don't end up with ten pasta salads. Can't wait to see you!"

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!

Comedian and writer Jenny Zigrino returns to Ask a Matchmaker to talk with Maria about grief, growth, and her decision to have a baby without a partner. Jenny opens up about freezing her eggs, navigating identity changes after weight loss, and finding humor in the hardest parts of life. They discuss her one-woman show Afterbirth and how loss inspired her to rebuild on her own terms. It's an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about rebirth, resilience, and redefining family.

☀️ https://agapeescapes.com/ use ESCAPES150 for an early bird discount! ☀️

Be sure to use the promo code: roundtable50 to join Maria's community or submit your own dating question! 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/

✨ Don't forget to order Maria's book, follow us on social, and leave a review if you're feeling lovable and likable. 💕

🤩 Check out My Websites and Socials! 🙌

💖Podcast Website: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/ 💖Agape Match Website: https://agapematch.com/ 💖Matchmaker Maria TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria 💖Matchmaker Maria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria 💖Agape Match Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/ 💖Agame Match Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch 💖Agape Match Twitter: https://www.x.com/AgapeMatch

🙋‍♀️Our Producer Venetia AKA V Website - https://www.venetiageras.com/ Twitter - https://X.com/venetiaageras Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/venetiaageras/

🎥 by WTF Media Studios Website - https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗 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!