Ask a Matchmaker

Latest Episodes:

#59 - BEST OF: That Episode About Sexual Trauma and Shame with Dr. Celeste Holbrook Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

While Maria is on a few weeks break, we're revisiting some of her favorite episodes from season 1! Season 2 starts in September!

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 websitehttps://www.drcelesteholbrook.com/

Find Dr. Holbrook on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drcelesteholbrook/

Find Dr. Holbrook on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/DrCelesteHolbrook/

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#58 - That Episode About Healing with Anonymous Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

A few weeks ago, Maria received a closure letter that moved her to tears. It was for a relationship in 2018, but the letter's author wrote it so she could be able to heal and allow love into her life today.

Maria decided to invite the woman who wrote the letter onto this week's podcast to talk about healing and moving on in life.

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#57 - That Episode Where We Introduce The Ask a Matchmaker Hotline Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

It's been an amazing year on the podcast! Thank you so much for listening and thank you for your support!

This fall, we'll be starting season 2. And with season 2, we're starting something new… The Ask a Matchmaker Hotline! You will be able to call in and ask Maria about anything! On the spot advice just for you! Those calls will be on upcoming episodes.

This week, we're giving you a sneak peek into the hotline with two listeners calling into the Ask a Matchmaker hotline.

Take a listen!

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#56 - That Episode about Snack (the app) with Kim Kaplan Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

This week, Maria is talking about one of the most unique dating apps on the internet right now, Snack, with its founder Kim Kaplan!

Kim Kaplan was one of the earliest employees at Plenty of Fish. She led product marketing and revenue on the executive team that eventually sold PoF to Match Group for $575 million in 2015. After a two year hiatus after Plenty of Fish, where she spent her time advising and angel investing, she scrolled on TikTok and saw that many users were creating essentially dating video profiles. But TikTok did not have the interface to support this. That's when the dating app Snack was born!

Download the Snack dating app for iPhone

Follow Snack on Instagram

Follow Snack on TikTok

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#55 - That Episode about the Enneagram and Personality Tests with Erin Baute Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Personality tests have been around for many years. Sometimes they're used for fun, sometimes your employer might want you to take them to help with your career. This week, we talk about personality tests with Erin Baute and how they can help you in love and dating!

AND Maria takes one on the podcast!

Erin has been studying and working in the field of behavior change for over 20 years and uses the Enneagram, consciousness practices and behavior change theory to help individuals, couples, leaders, and teams in both life and at work. She has a bachelor's degree in Human Development, Master of Public Health and is finishing her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, with a focus on coaching and development. She has been studying and using the Enneagram for 11 years as a tool to get clear about behavioral patterns that align with individual, relationship, and team success. She is a Certified Enneagram Teacher and Trainer, as well as an Accredited Enneagram Professional from the International Enneagram Association.

If you would like to learn your own Enneagram, you can visit Erin's website to book a session.

Book a session with Erin at http://livingtheenneagram.com/

Follow Erin on Instagram at http://instagram.com/livingtheenneagram/

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#54 - That Episode about the Dating App Inferno with Nancy Jo Sales Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

This week, Maria welcomes author Nancy Jo Sales.

Nancy Jo Sales is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist who has written for Vanity Fair and Harpar's Bazaar among others. Sales famously exposed Hollywood's "Bling Ring," a group of teens who broke into the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom, stealing millions of dollars' worth of luxury goods. Known for her stories on youth culture, celebrity culture, and the effects of tech on kids as well as dating and courtship, Nancy Jo is also a filmmaker.

Her feature documentary, "Swiped: Hooking Up in the Digital Age," which premiered on HBO in 2018, is an investigation into how technology has changed the landscape of sex and dating, promoting sexism, sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Nancy Jo's new memoir, "Nothing Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno," is now available.

Get Nancy's new book at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HLYW53K/

Go to Nancy's website at http://nancyjosales.com

Follow Nancy on Instagram at http://instagram.com/nancyjosales

Follow Nancy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nancyjosales

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com

#53 - That Episode about Fighting Fair with Monica Berg Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

Arguments happen in relationships. That's just a fact. But we're not really taught how to handle it when we start dating. There is no rule book on how to handle the situation!

This week, Maria chats with Monica Berg on how to handle arguments and disagreements with your partner in a healthy way!

Monica Berg is a spiritual thought leader and author of "Fear is Not an Option" and "Rethink Love." She's also the host of the Spiritually Hungry podcast. She has a fresh voice that channels her many years of Kabbalistic study along with personal life experiences to show individuals how to create a life that not only feels like it's working, but most importantly, a life in which they are living and loving as the powerful, fulfilled person they've always wanted to be.

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaberg74/

Pick up Monica's Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Monica+Berg

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

#52 - That Episode with That Girl, Marlo Thomas Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

This week, Maria is so excited to welcome Marlo Thomas!

Marlo Thomas is an actress, a producer, an author, a philanthropist and a social activist. In fact, she's in the OG group of feminist icons. Having starred in the sitcom "That Girl" in the 60s, she is the prototype to the "single girl in the city" sitcoms that have been in production ever since. She's won four Emmy awards, a Golden Globe and Peabody for her work in television and a Grammy for her children's album, "Free to be You and Me." In 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She serves as National Outreach Director for St Jude Children's Research Hospital and is this month's cover girl for Town and Country magazine highlighting her work with St Jude.

Last year, her book written with her husband, Phil Donahue, "What Makes a Marriage Last," became a New York Times Best seller. Their book pairs well with their podcast Double Date, where you get to listen in as they pull down the curtains to learn from 40 Couples their secrets to a happy life.

Pick up Marlo's book: https://www.amazon.com/What-Makes-Marriage-Last-Celebrated/dp/0062982583

Check out Marlo and Phil's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/double-date-with-marlo-thomas-phil-donahue/id1547645093

Follow Marlo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlothomas/

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

#51 - That Episode about Soulmates with Psychic Medium Michelle Clare Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

This week, we're talking about love on a different level. Maria talks so much about her belief in manifestation. Is it possible to call in your soulmate? Do we really HAVE soulmates in our lives?

We're going deep into the soul with physic medium, Michelle Clare.

In a span of 11 years, Michelle had had 3 near death experiences. The second one was a monumental life changing event in which Michelle suffered a traumatic brain injury. Shortly after this life altering event, she started receiving information for other people from their loved ones who had transitioned. All 3 NDEs were a reminder of an unconditional love and connection that surpasses our earthly life.

During readings, Michelle is divinely guided by the client's Spirit Team to lovingly empower, direct, provide comfort and hope for each individual. She is known for giving factual information: personality traits, characteristics, and validations of signs that loved ones are sending. She helps each person she reads to raise their vibration, clear their energy and understand that they are not living life alone.

Follow Michelle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/medium_michelle_clare/

To connect with Michelle, go to https://www.michelleclare.net/

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com

#50 - That Episode with the Fake Irish Accent with Erica Spera and Molly DeMellier Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

This week on the podcast, Maria talks to the co-hosts of the Shooters Gotta Shoot podcast, Erica Spera and Molly DeMellier.

NCAA athletes Erica Spera and Molly DeMellier have always taken shots on and off the court. They know how to get what they want, except when it comes to men. Recently, dating has become harder to navigate with Erica getting diagnosed with herpes and Molly's sister/best friend excommunicating herself from the family. But instead of giving up on love, they've made a pact to challenge each other to test modern and old school dating methods. They'll stay in the game and laugh at the rejections they take along the way.

Erica Spera is a New York City comedian originally from Binghamton, NY. Spera was named one of Conan's 2017 TBS Comics to Watch and since then has opened for Patton Oswalt, Bert Kreischer, Judah Friedlander, and more!

Molly DeMellier is a New York City podcaster, writer and communications expert with experience spanning a variety of industries including entertainment, comedy, travel, sports, tech, and enterprise software.

Follow Molly on Instagram at http://instagram.com/theguaca_molly

Follow Molly on Twitter at http://twitter.com/theguaca_molly

Follow Erica on Instagram at http://instagram.com/spericaa

Follow Erica on Twitter at http://twitter.com/spericaa

Learn more about the Shooters Gotta Shoot podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/shootersgottashootpod

Enroll in the next Agape Intensive: https://agapematch.com/agape-group-coaching-intensive/

Follow Maria on Instagram Follow Maria on TikTok Have a question for Maria? Visit http://askamatchmaker.com To learn more about how Maria and how her team can help you find love, visit agapematch.com