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!!

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• 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!

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

Matchmaker Maria and Louie Felix tackle dating after divorce, including how a single mom with two young kids can find a serious relationship and why the six-date rule can help. They also get into the ultimate couple fight: dirty dishes, different cleaning habits, and what those little conflicts can reveal before marriage. Plus, they break down what to do when someone's actions don't match their words and how much lifestyle compatibility really matters.

Nina Kharoufeh, matchmaker, comedian, and former Match Me Abroad host, joins Matchmaker Maria to talk about what really happened when Americans went to Morocco looking for love. It didn't end in finding a "trophy wife" like one man thought! They then discuss why daters are rejecting second dates over tiny things, and why height, weight, and other physical preferences can keep you from meeting someone great. They get into hotline questions, answering a listener whose friend is hiding a former sugar baby arrangement from her fiancé, and give advice to a woman dating while working in a male dominated industry.

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Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at http://Lolablankets.com by using code MATCHMAKER at checkout. Experience the world's #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. #ad

Suzy Welch joins Matchmaker Maria to break down VALUES and what your core values can reveal about dating, compatibility, marriage, and the life you actually want. They get into why values (not personality) can make or break a relationship, the "divorce values" to watch for, why place and "belovedness" can be major dealbreakers, and whether couples really need to share the same top values. Also, Suzie shares what happened when her daughter and her fiance took the Values Bridge and discovered their top six values were exactly the same! Check out the The Values Bridge code MATCHMAKER today and comment your top 5 in the comments!

Comedian, Lauren Davis joins Matchmaker Maria for a fun conversation about red flags, marathon first dates, dating app lies, and why a 2 hr date might be better than spending 10hrs together! They discuss the best first date activities, from walking and museums to bowling, and answer a listener question about dating in Spain at 62. It's a fun episode you don't want to miss!

Check out Lauren's travel themed digital show 👉 That's a Trip

Ready to date with intention?

💌 Visit Maria's website or submit your own dating question:
👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion

Make new friends. Travel the world.
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Producer: Venetia Geras
https://www.venetiageras.com/

Studio: WTF Media Studios
https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home

Could your smartphone be affecting your dating life and even the birth rate? Matchmaker Maria talks to writer and cultural critic Christine Emba about research linking smartphones to declining fertility and how scrolling may be replacing the time people once spent meeting, flirting, and connecting. They also get into porn, AI, dating apps, and algorithms that are changing how men and women see relationships. Follow Christine's work in The New York Times and subscribe to her Substack for more of her writing and ideas.

Ready to date with intention?

💌 Join Maria's Roundtable community or submit your own dating question:
👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/askaquestion
Use promo code ROUNDTABLE50 for $50 off

Make new friends. Travel the world.
☀️ Check out upcoming trips: https://agapeescapes.com/
Use code ESCAPES150 for $150 off early bird pricing.

✨ Order Maria's book 👉 https://www.matchmakermaria.com/book
🎧 Subscribe to the podcast
⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you're feeling lovable and likable

Everything: https://www.askamatchmaker.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria
Agape Match IG: https://www.instagram.com/agapematch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgapeMatch

Agape Match: https://agapematch.com/

Producer: Venetia Geras
https://www.venetiageras.com/

Studio: WTF Media Studios
https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/home