Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

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Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman episodes

September 02Master Class: Escape the Tech Trap
In this special minisode, Damona breaks down the "tech trap" and why the tools that were supposed to connect us (dating apps, social media, and now AI) are quietly training us to stop trusting our own judgment.
After a summer away from the weekly show, she's back with a wake-up call: the babysitter has left the building, and it's on us to manage our own relationship with technology. This minisode includes an overview of what social scientists are calling “algorithmic entrapment” and 3 simple questions that can help you escape the cycle.
What You'll Hear In This Episode:
Why the "texting trap" Damona coined a decade ago has grown into something much bigger
What a recent multibillion dollar settlement against Meta reveals about how these platforms are built
The one word Damona wants us to bring into our relationship with tech instead of fear
Why having access to dating apps and social media means nothing without personal accountability
The danger of asking AI to tell you what your partner "really meant" or what you should do next
Damona's three questions to ask yourself before you swipe, scroll, or respond
What's next for the show and how you can help shape it

Resources & Links:
Take the two-minute survey at damonahoffman.com/survey and let us know how Damona can continue to support you!
Now taking calls and questions for the Dear Damona social media series: 424-246-6255. Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit questions via DM or voice memo anytime.
Interested in booking Damona to speak to your group or company? Find out more at DamonaHoffman.com/speaking
17 min
May 12Minisode: How to Manifest a Breakthrough
In this minisode, Damona breaks down what manifestation actually is and why most of us have been doing it wrong. After leading her Love Lab residency at Civana Wellness Resort, she came away with one very clear truth: most of us are already on the edge of a major shift. What's missing isn't the dream. It's the plan to get there.
What You'll Hear In This Episode:
Why manifestation isn’t really magic, and what it actually requires from you
The samskara pattern that keeps you circling the same frustrations in love, work, and life
The moment Damona walked away from her dream job without a plan, and what happened next
The 51% rule of manifestation
The one simple question from Damona’s life coach that changed everything
What a Breakthrough Boost is and who it’s designed for

Resources & Links:
Learn more about working with Damona one-on-one at damonahoffman.com/breakthrough
Get F the Fairytale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books
Join Damona in Arizona for her Love Lab workshops at Civana at DamonaHoffman.com/lovelab
Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
16 min
March 03Master Class: Fairy Tale Therapy
In this special masterclass finale, Damona leads you through Fairy Tale Therapy, a guided experience to help you identify the unconscious dating myths quietly running your dating life, define the relationship pillars that will hold up your real love story, and step into your future through a powerful guided visualization.
What You'll Hear In This Episode:
How to identify the dating myth that's been quietly running your love life

The three questions that reveal exactly what you believe about love and where that belief came from

How to tell when a belief is protecting you versus holding you back

The difference between preferences and pillars and why your real non-negotiables go deeper

A guided visualization to invite in new love

Resources & Links:
Download your free episode companion worksheet and take the next steps at damonahoffman.com/next
Get F the Fairytale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books
Call or text your question to: 424-246-6255.
Join Damona in Arizona in her Love Lab workshops at Civana at DamonaHoffman.com/lovelab
Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit questions or inquire about Damona’s keynotes or workshops

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
36 min
February 24Last Minute Cancel & Screening Steps
In this Dear Damona episode, we tackle what to do when someone keeps canceling last minute before you've even had a first date, and how to tell the difference between giving someone a fair chance and letting them waste your time.
This week, a listener named Jenna shares:
"I matched with a guy on a dating app and followed your advice. After a week of messaging, I asked him for a brief phone call. He was so fun to talk to, and we seemed aligned. We agreed to meet for drinks after work. The day of the date came, and at lunchtime he texted and apologized that a work emergency came up and he had to cancel. He asked to reschedule and we found a day the following week, and he canceled again with a similar work situation."
What You'll Hear In This Episode:
Why that gut feeling of resistance before rescheduling is actually your bodily wisdom talking

The real difference between the benefit of the doubt and gullibility

The must-do screening steps that reduce ghosting and flakiness

What two last-minute cancels actually reveal about someone's priorities

The hidden cost of rescheduling for someone who keeps flaking

Resources & 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
30 min
February 17Long Distance Dating & Seeming Serious
In this Dear Damona episode, we discuss how to navigate multiple long-distance connections, when to book that first in-person meeting, and how to handle the money talk before you pack your bag. If you've matched with someone across the country (or the ocean) and you're not sure what to do next, this is your guide!
This week, a listener named Maryanne shares:
"I'm 71 and looking for a long-term partner. I went on two niche sites and matched with a few good options, but they all live elsewhere. One lives in Hawaii and he invited me over for a week. The other guy lives in LA and both seem serious about me. There is even a guy in Mexico who has come on the scene just after the other two. What's the best way to meet out of town dates? How do I know who pays for what? When do I tell them I am also meeting other men?"
What You'll Hear In This Episode:
Why expanding your dating pool across time zones can actually work in your favor

The one-day-to-one-week rule every long distance dater needs to know

How to build real connection before you ever book a flight

The eight-week milestone that changes everything

Why staying at his place for a first meeting is a hard no (and what to do instead)

How to handle the money conversation without making it awkward

When you actually need to tell someone you're seeing other people

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26 min
February 10Valentine’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

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
38 min
February 03Revenge 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

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
30 min
January 27Late 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

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
31 min
January 20Dating 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

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
43 min
January 13Astrology 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

Mentioned in this episode:
Book Your Breakthrough Boost today
DamonaHoffman.com/breakthrough
36 min

About Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

From the publisher's feed

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.