Ask a Matchmaker

When it comes to modern relationships, our thumbs do the talking. We swipe right into a stranger's life, flirt inside text bubbles, spill our hearts onto the screen, and use emojis to convey desire, frustration, and rage. Where once we pored over love letters, now we obsess over response times, or wonder why the three-dot ellipsis came. . . and went. Nobody knows this better than our guest this week, Dr. Mimi Winsberg. A Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist who cofounded a behavioral health startup while serving as resident psychiatrist at Facebook HQ, her work frequently finds her at the intersection of Big Data and Big Dating. Like all of us, Winsberg has been handed many a smartphone accompanied by the urgent plea: "What does this mean?" Unlike all of us, she knows the answer. She is a text whisperer. Pick up her new book, Speaking in Thumbs, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J7M5X2P/ Learn more about Dr. WInsberg at https://www.drwinsberg.com/ To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

You've got questions? Maria has the answers! Every week, we open up the Ask a Matchmaker Hotline where YOU call in with any questions you have for Maria… dating, love, life, style…she's here to help with it all. To be on an upcoming episode to ask a question, make sure to follow Maria on insta to know when the hotline will be open next! http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria

This week, Maria is talking to author Cate Doty! Cate Doty is the author of "Mergers and Acquisitions: Or, Everything I Know About Love I Learned on the Wedding Pages." She is a writer and former editor at The New York Times, where she covered the news of food, weddings, business, New York, and more. Her work has appeared in the Times, Southern Living, Our State, and other publications. Buy Cate's new book at https://amzn.to/3MbPq5j Follow Cate on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/catedoty To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

Hey-- Maria here. I have but a few platforms, and I'm going to utilize them when it comes to getting unheard stories out, even if it's not "dating and relationship" oriented. I run a dating company and the people in this episode help me spread love. Now I want to spread awareness to the humanitarian crisis unfolding. In this episode, you'll hear an unedited version of events that our tech team experienced and continues to experience in the current conflict in Ukraine, including Arthur's first hand account of crossing the border and Tim's communication with the rest of the team in Central Ukraine. Since recording, the team in Central Ukraine has found themselves in more danger and are now hiding underground. Some resources I have found helpful: Why is this happening? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000551987275 How you can help: https://www.lphr.org/en/ukraine-hilfe/ Donate here for emergency humanitarian aid: https://www.lphr.org/en/humanitaere-soforthilfe-fuer-die-ukraine/ Follow Maria on Instagram to get updates from the team: http://instagram.com/matchmkermaria

This week, we're opening up the hotline again BUT we've brought in extra support to help! Joining Maria this week to help you with your online dating problems is Agape Match's Online Dating Manager, Erika Ettin. Erika Ettin is an online dating expert and dating coach who helps people navigate the world of online dating. Her expertise includes profile creation, photo selection and photography, message writing, and date planning. She is also the author of the book Love at First Site: Tips & Tales for Online Dating Success from a Modern-Day Matchmaker and the co-host of the popular dating podcast "So, We Met Online…" Our next Online Dating Tech Support is on March 10th at 9PM ET. To register and receive a link to join visit: https://agapematch.wufoo.com/forms/z1s18kn10qpwm8f/ Find Erika on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ALittleNudge/ To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

This week, Maria sits down with an old friend, Paul Carrick Brunson. The two talk about everything from raising a family in the UK, how socializing norms really vary across parts of the world, Paul's tips to help you create goals that stick and Maria shares her favorite question to ask on a first date. Spoiler: After Maria answered it, her now husband George said that's when he knew he wanted to marry her. Paul is a serial entrepreneur, television host and columnist whose specialty lies in teaching others. He's an internationally recognized expert in interpersonal relationships, personal development and entrepreneurship. He's a featured business columist for USA Today. He's the co-host of Celebs Go Dating and Married at First Sight on Channel 4 in the UK. He's also the host of the Better with Paul Live podcast. The heart of his work is centered on impacting lives through mentorship and developing a new generation of servant leaders with the desire to change the world. Paul is the founder and chair of Give Love Build Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming schools in rural areas of the Caribbean. Follow Paul on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/paulcbrunson/ Follow Paul on Twitter at https://twitter.com/paulcbrunson To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

You've got questions? Maria has the answers! Every week, we open up the Ask a Matchmaker Hotline where YOU call in with any questions you have for Maria… dating, love, life, style…she's here to help with it all. To be on an upcoming episode to ask a question, make sure to follow Maria on insta to know when the hotline will be open next! http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria This week… I live in a small town and my dating options are limited. How do I meet new people? How do I get early conversations in dating to go from interview-like questions to something fun and flirty? I just had breast reduction surgery. Should I tell potential partners about it? Our first man calls in! (brave soul) He has a rant about dating and Maria gives him some dating profile tips. (You can actually see her review of this guy's dating profile on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@realmatchmakermaria/video/7047348056362339630) To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

It's not easy to raise your hand and say you might need help and want to talk to someone. Especially when you're in a relationship and you know you and your partner need help. This week, Maria is here to help break the stigma around couples therapy. A couples therapist is a great facilitator for the relationship you want and a great mechanism to have those hard conversations with someone. How do you communicate with your partner that you think you two should talk to someone? How do you find someone to talk to? Talia Litman is a New York-based psychotherapist and writer specializing in couples and sex therapy. From an early age, Talia has encouraged open conversations about relationships and sex. Her goal is to help others feel more comfortable discussing these topics and, in turn, to deepen the pleasure and fulfillment in their relationships. Prior to this, Talia had a successful career as a global strategy & marketing consultant, which she left to pursue her dream job as a couples therapist. Learn more about Talia at http://www.taliamft.com Follow Talia on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/talia.mft Follow Talia on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/talialitman To learn when Maria will open up the next Ask a Matchmaker Hotline, follow her at http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

It's another edition of the Matchmaker Maria Hotline! If you want to ask Maria a question on an upcoming episode, make sure you're following her on Instagram to know when the hotline will open up next… http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria On this episode… How do I find out if he wants to go on a second date… how do I get him to step up and ask? I feel like I've hit a wall when talking to people on the apps, what should I do? We've slept with each other and he hasn't text me in a while. Help! Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker

This week, Maria is talking about caregiving, grief and dating with Brooke James and Katie Brandt. Brooke James is a highly respected podcaster in the field of grief and loss based in New York City. She is a sought-out grief educator who consults with companies and organizations seeking to create empathetic and supportive work environments, particularly during this time of unprecedented loss. She currently works at Aidaly, a startup focused on paying family caregivers, and previously worked in management consulting. Brooke holds a B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University. Brooke is passionate about arts and public programming in New York. She serves on the Steering Committee of the Lincoln Center Young Patrons as co-chair of the Development Committee. As one of the many people that have been affected by cancer, Brooke is highly involved in fundraising for the advancement of cancer research and treatment. Brooke participates in Memorial Sloan Kettering's fundraiser for rare cancer research and has raised over $25,000 since 2018. Follow Brook on Instagram: http://instagram.com/brookeljames http://instagram.com/the_griefcoach Learn more about Brook at http://thegriefcoach.co Katie Brandt is the Director of Caregiver Support Services and Public Relations in the Frontotemporal Disorders (FTD) Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. Katie provides leadership for research, education and community events aimed at supporting the caregiver experience for families impacted by Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Disorders, atypical and young-onset dementias. Katie was Co-Chair of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services (2019 – 2021) where she had the opportunity to connect with experts in the field of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias and contribute to federal policy initiatives and research priorities promoting health equity and person-centered care at every stage of dementia. Katie is a passionate advocate in the rare disease and dementia community, inspired by her experience as a former FTD caregiver for her late husband, Mike. Today, Katie is an Alzheimer's caregiver for her father, Tom. Her experiences of love and loss embolden her to keep moving forward, determined that the cure of tomorrow is not so far from the care of today. Learn more about Katie at http://KatieBrandt.org Follow Maria on Instagram to find out when the Matchmaker Hotline will be open to talk! http://instagram.com/matchmakermaria Follow Agape Match on Instagram at http://instagram.com/agapematch Follow the podcast on Instagram at http://instagram.com/askamatchmaker