Ask a Matchmaker

Last week, it was the 3rd annual Ask a Matchmaker Thanksgiving Week! Non stop dating questions answered on Instagram. And thanks to you, we were able to raise over $1,500 for World Central Kitchen!

This week on the podcast, Matchmaker Chrisoula Mavrianos from the Agape Match team joins Maria to go over the questions you sent in.

This week, we discuss…

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

One of our goals on Ask a Matchmaker is to have real, authentic conversations about all things related to love and relationships. Cut through the BS and talk about things that really matter.

This week is no exception.

We're talking about sex.

We're talking about the sexual trauma and shame that we come across over the year. What it is, how to deal with it and how to talk about it.

Joining us this week is Dr. Celeste Holbrook.

Dr. Holbrook is a sexologist, speaker and author who has dedicated her life to helping women achieve soul-centered sex through perfectly planned mental and behavioral changes. She inspires women to move through mental blocks surrounding their intimate lives to truly experience the sex that was spiritually designed for her. Hundreds of women have dramatically changed their relationships by following the sexual and spiritual strategies that Dr. Holbrook has created and tailored specifically for them. Her favorite moment is the spark that appears in a woman's eyes the instant her sensual confidence is re-awakened.

Visit Dr. Holbrook's website

Find Dr. Holbrook on Instagram

Find Dr. Holbrook on Facebook

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

How do you embrace your sexuality when you're not having sex?

This week's guest has such a unique story and lives such a unique life… and is the perfect person to talk about this!

Meet Kat Karris!

Kat Harris is a Brooklyn-based online educator, digital content creator, female empowerment advocate. Her vision is for women to know their beauty, identity and value. She is co-founder of the The Refined Woman and the host of The Redefined Collective Podcast. Her new book "Sexless in the City: A Sometimes Sassy, Sometimes Painful, Always Honest Look at Dating, Desire, and Sex" comes out in April.

Visit The Refined Woman

Find Kat on Instagram

Check out Kat's podcast, The Redefined Collective

Pre-order Kat's new book, "Sexless in the City: A Sometimes Sassy, Sometimes Painful, Always Honest Look at Dating, Desire, and Sex"

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

That Episode Where A Token Straight White Guy Mike Seydell Answers Your Questions

Maria asked you for questions you would love an answer to directly from a straight white man… get the info straight from the source!

And she delivers with Mike Seydell - token straight white guy of the month! (Not his real title.)

Mike works in Marketing and Events for various companies/industries the last 10 years. He is fascinated by people and how they interact with each other in various scenarios. He believes that in an effort to understand one-another we gain more insight into who we are and that understanding leads to a stronger and more empathetic society.

Things discussed include…

• What do men really think about women that sleep with them on the first date?
• How do you get out of the friend zone?
• Why do men disappear after three dates?
• How do you know if he really does like you?
• How soon after a date should you text him?

Find Mike on TikTok

Find Mike on Instagram

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

It's the day after the election. There is a lot at stake. There's a lot of emotions going around.

So this week, Maria is here to help put a smile on your face with her sister and member of the Agape Mach team, Chrisoula Mavrianos!

We asked you to send us your closure letters. Those words you wish you could say to someone but you know it's better you don't. But you still need to get the words and feelings out!

We happily read them and put them out in the universe for you!

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

She's the post-millennial version of Sex and the City…. except she's here to help guide you through YOUR dating and relationship questions!

This week's guest is Tik Tok influencer and dating coach Tiff Baira. She hosts Take Me Out, a podcast that follows Tiff as she defines what it means to date in New York on her own terms.

Together, they answer this week's dating questions.

Follow Tiff on TikTok

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Visit Tiff's website to learn how to work one-on-one with her.

Check out Tiff's podcast, "Take Me Out"

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Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events

To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

This week, we have reality TV royalty joining us to answer YOUR dating questions! Their unique story of how they became a couple adds some unique insight into the dating arena.

Doug Hehner and Jamie Otis are the "OG" couple of the popular reality series Married at First Sight. After meeting at the alter 6 years ago, they are still happily married and have 2 beautiful rainbow babies, Henley Grace & Hendrix Douglas. Their journey to getting pregnant wasn't easy, as they had many losses, however like Jamie says, after the storm comes the rainbow! Doug won Jamie over with his wit, charm and patience, just as Jamie won Doug over with her caring nature, and determined spirit. Now, they host the top podcast, Hot Marriage, Cool Parents together, and have a YouTube channel with over 50k subscribers. Jamie also host Married at First Sight: Unfiltered & they are currently filming Married at First Sight: Couples Cam on Lifetime.

In this episode, the three discuss some behind the scenes dirt on Married at First Sight, who should pay on dates, the mental health struggles that come with having a baby and how important looks play in first meeting a match.

Listen to Doug and Jamie's podcast, "Hot Marriage, Cool Parents"

Follow Jame on Instagram

Follow Doug on Instagram

Find Doug and Jamie on YouTube

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Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

Enroll in Agape Match's Group Coaching Intensive: https://agapematch.com/events

To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

This week, you're getting not one, but TWO matchmakers!

Joining Maria on this week's episode is her work husband, the Chief Operating Officer and Matchmaker at Agape Match, Louie Felix!

Louie Felix is matchmaking industry leader. His corporate startup and acquisition background brought him to the forefront of the relationship industry when he was contracted for the acquisition for a high end Beverly Hills-based matchmaking company. From there, he went on to serve as the CEO of two of the country's largest matchmaking companies, as well as simultaneously acquiring and running the largest dating company in California. With these ventures, Louie has been responsible for the successful matchmaking efforts of more than 50,000 clients worldwide.

He joined Agape Match's team in 2018 and is the "gatekeeper" matchmaker. He decides if new potential clients are a good fit for Agape Match or if they may be better suited at another service because, like Maria, he believes that your first match must be with your matchmaker.

Topics discussed this week include:

- How soon is it okay to meet a potential match's children?- Is it okay to be picky about a potential match's education?- Is it okay to try to date your neighbor?- When is it a good idea to move in with a partner?

Schedule a call with Louie!

Find Louie on Instagram

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Have a question for Maria? Visit askamatchmaker.com

Join our Facebook group to be part of the ongoing dating conversation.

To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

Have you ever read the wedding announcements in a newspaper or magazine and just rolled your eyes? Sometimes it feels more like a bad chapter from a novel than real life. Heck, it feels more like some really odd flex than actually announcing your love for someone!

Well, our guest today loves taking those announcements and having some fun with them.

Meet the voice of the @NYTVows parody account, comedian Selena Coppock!

Selena Coppock is a standup comedian, writer, author, and storyteller based in NYC. She is the creator and voice of @NYTVows, the parody Twitter and Instagram account that lampoons the New York Times Wedding section, the wedding industrial complex, WASPs, and courtship rituals of the rich and insufferable. She is also the creator and host of TWO WICK MINIMUM, America's favorite and only podcast about candles.

Follow NYTVows on Twitter and Instagram

Find Selena on Twitter

Check out Selena's podcast, Two Wick Minimum, on Apple Podcasts

Follow Maria on Instagram

http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria

Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

Join our Facebook group to be part of the ongoing dating conversation.

To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

We're living in a revolutionary moment in society. Conversations about race are at the forefront. But how does it affect dating?

This week is double the fun! You get not one, but TWO love and dating professionals to answer your questions! Maria is joined by dating coach and media personality Damonda Hoffman!

Damona Hoffman is a dating coach & media personality who starred in two A+E Networks' TV series: #BlackLove and A Question of Love. She's a regular contributor to The LA Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN Headline News (HLN), BET.com, and more. She also hosts and produces the weekly podcast, Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman.

Find Damona's podcast, Dates & Mates

Follow Damona on Instagram

Follow Maria on Instagram

Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

Join our Facebook group to be part of the ongoing dating conversation.

To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com