We’ve all had that one date…the one that felt like lightning. Everything clicks, and before you know it, you're imagining forever. But when you act on that high too quickly, reality can come crashing down hard.

This week, a listener shares: “Late at night, I had to get these thoughts off my mind. I told her I felt like I think I'd found my wife. She expressed that she was disappointed that I would say this after what she told me about moving too fast and that it was best we not see each other.”

In this episode, Damona breaks down what really happens when you come on too strong — and why even the most intense connection can’t be rushed. You’ll hear how fantasy thinking can override our better judgment, why texting late at night can sabotage a budding connection, and how to make amends when you've crossed a line. Most importantly, Damona offers real steps for recovery, both emotional and relational.

Download the Frustration-Free Dating Guide: DamonaHoffman.com

Leave a voicemail or text your question: 424-246-6255

Follow @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook DM or voice memo your question to be featured in a future Dear Damona segment

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Grief changes us, and sometimes, it’s also what brings us together.

This week, a listener shares: “My partner and I both lost our spouses, and we bonded over that. Now, three months in, I’m the only one opening up and being vulnerable. Am I asking too much? Or moving too fast?”

In this episode, Damona explores what it really means to show up emotionally after loss, and why vulnerability often doesn’t look the same from both sides. You’ll hear how to honor your own emotional pace, set gentle boundaries, and recognize the difference between emotional availability and avoidance—even when love is in the room.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

Resources & Links: Download Damona’s Frustration Free Dating Guide at DatesandMates.com

Got a question? Text or leave a voicemail for Damona at 424-246-6255

Follow @damonahoffman on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Submit your question via voice memo or DM to have it answered on a future episode.

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Friendships can be some of our most important relationships, but they don’t always stay the same. 

Careers, relationships, moves, and life stages can all shift the way we connect, sometimes leaving us wondering if the closeness we once had is gone for good.

This week, a listener shares:

“My best friend and I used to share everything. Lately, it’s just work updates and weekend plans. When I try to talk about deeper stuff, the subject changes. Are we growing apart, or is there a way back?”

In this episode Damona shares why even the strongest bonds can feel distant and offers practical, low-pressure ways to reignite connection. 

You’ll learn how to adapt to friendship changes, bring back emotional depth, and keep your support network thriving without it feeling awkward or forced. Plus you’ll also get vital communication tips that you can apply to dating or to feel more connected to people in your world.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

Download Damona’s Frustration Free Dating Guide at DatesandMates.com

Got a question? Text or leave a voicemail for Damona at 424-246-6255

Follow @damonahoffman on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook and submit your question via voice memo or DM to have it answered on a future episode

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A long-time listener sent in a heartfelt question:

“My Mom constantly has opinions about who I should date, what kind of guy is right for me, even how I should look or act to attract the right person… one comment from her has me spiraling.”

In this episode, Damona explores how well-meaning love advice can actually sabotage your future relationships and offers step-by-step strategies for gently setting boundaries and building up your own self-confidence.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

Resources & Links:

Get clarity on your dating patterns with Damona’s FREE Date Tracker

Have a question about dating or any relationship that matters to you? Text or leave a voicemail for Damona at 424-246-6255 

DM @damonahoffman on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook 

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A longtime listener sent in a question that speaks to something many women have wondered:

“How does one become a woman who builds up a man and always makes them more confident and stronger? How do I get into my feminine state and energy around a guy on a date?”

In this episode, Damona shares what it really means to be “in your feminine,” explores the gender polarity debate, and offers a new way to think about strength, softness, and self-worth in modern relationships.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

Resources & Links:

Download Damona’s FREE Frustration-Free Dating Guide

Got a question? Text or leave a voicemail for Damona at 424-246-6255

Follow @damonahoffman on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

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After watching The Materialists, a long-time listener sent in a question that struck a chord:

“What’s it going to take for us to kill the curve and stop dating by height, BMI, salary, or things that don’t speak to true character?” 

In this episode, Damona unpacks the real-life impact of checklist dating, explores the illusions behind modern matchmaking, and responds with practical advice for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked or friend-zoned.

Plus, she shares her “Nice Guy 9” framework—9 simple shifts that help you connect more deeply and date more intentionally.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

How dating checklists quietly sabotage real connection

What The Materialists gets right—and dangerously wrong—about dating culture

The matchmaking myth and what it really costs (literally and emotionally)

Why bad boys always win—and why that isn’t actually what’s happening

The Nice Guy Nine: Damona’s go-to dating strategy for deeper connection

How to shift your love story by changing the stories you tell yourself

Resources & Links:

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This week, Damona takes on a question from longtime listener Vernee, who’s back in the dating scene after a hiatus… and hitting a wall when it comes to finding someone who shares her political and social justice values.

Vernee asks: "I'm politically progressive, very values-driven, and living in a purple state. I've tried everything — hints in my profile, direct chats — but nothing’s working. Where are the men who believe what I believe?"

If you’ve ever wondered how to communicate what matters without scaring people off — or how to find someone who’s actually aligned — this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Why dating apps might feel harder now than they did just a few years ago

• How political identity and core values have become deeply intertwined

• What to say in your profile (and what to leave out)

• Why texting about politics rarely works — and what to try instead

• Where to meet values-aligned people beyond the apps

• The line between staying open-minded and lowering your standards

Submit your question: call or text 424-246-6255

Follow Damona on IG: @damonahoffman

Get your free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com

Order F the Fairytale on Amazon, B&N, or from your local bookseller

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Dating today isn’t always smooth sailing. There’s ghosting, bad first dates, texting traps... and if you’re feeling stuck in the same old dating loops, you’re not alone.

In this Dates & Mates Master Class, Damona Hoffman breaks down the eight most common dating mistakes she sees after 15+ years of coaching singles, and shares actionable fixes to help you date smarter, not harder.

Whether you’re tired of swiping, struggling to make real connections, or caught in negative self-talk, this episode gives you the clarity and tools to reset your dating approach.

What you’ll learn:

How to stop ghosting, and stop getting ghosted

The danger of “obliga-swiping” and how to date with intention

Why texting too much before a date kills chemistry

The power of refreshing your dating profile regularly

How to overcome negative self-talk and fear of starting over

Why having a dating plan beats waiting for a fairy tale

If you have questions about your love life, Damona wants to hear from you. DM her on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook @damonahoffman or leave a voicemail at 424-246-6255 for a chance to have your question answered in an upcoming Dear Damona segment.

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Damona Hoffman breaks down one of the most important moments in dating—the first date—and how to make it count. Whether you’re getting back out there or swiping with new optimism, this episode shares how to set yourself up for success so that first date leads to a second.

Damona covers everything from whether to Google your date to how long a first date should really last, what to wear, where to go, and how to follow up. She even shares seven fun, low-pressure first date ideas that help build real connection.

What you’ll learn:

How long a first date should actually last

Why dinner dates don’t set you up for success

The value of a pre-date phone call (and when to do video)

What to wear to make the best first impression

How to choose a first date location that creates connection

Seven easy, fun, and affordable first date ideas

If you have a relationship or communicationquestion you’d like answered on a future episode, send Damona a DM on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok @damonahoffman or leave a voicemail at 424-246-6255.

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REWIND: Dear Damona – Besties’ Bro & Never Been Kissed

In this standout Dates & Mates Rewind episode, Damona tackles your real dating dilemmas with her signature no-nonsense advice.

From navigating awkward crushes to handling tricky conversations about intimacy, this episode is packed with guidance to help you date with clarity and confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do when your boyfriend avoids sex, how to approach dating when you’ve never been kissed, or whether it’s okay to filter for men with degrees, this episode has you covered.

You’ll also hear Damona’s take on modern challenges like dating someone with an OnlyFans account, dealing with phones on dates, and whether fudging your age on apps is ever worth it.

What you’ll learn:

If you have your own dating question, Damona wants to hear from you. Send a voice memo on Instagram @damonahoffman or leave a voicemail at 424-246-6255 for a chance to have your question answered in an upcoming Dear Damona segment.

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