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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. Dates & Mates is the 2022 Winner of The Best Podcast of the Year at The Black Podcasting Awards, #1 ranked love and relationship podcast by Cosmopolitan Magazine and a Top 10 P ...
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Whether you’re navigating cuffing season, gearing up to meet someone's family for the holidays, or figuring out how to take your dating game to the next level— Damona dedicates this week’s episode to YOU! She’s answering your toughest Dear Damona questions, like: I struggle to find matches in my area and while I am willing to travel, many men aren’…
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Esther Lee, Deputy Editor of The Knot, breaks down the stats released in the website’s Relationship & Intimacy Study, and spills the tea on where singles are finding love, what they’re actually looking for, how they’re spending their time on dates, and those dating dealbreakers we just can’t shake. And, this week’s Dear Damona question is: Is a bra…
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Benjamin Camras, The Flirt Coach & host of the Flirtations Flirtcast, joins Damona for our annual Halloween Dating Horror Stories Special. You’ll laugh, you’ll scream, and you’ll get useful advice to survive your next bad date. Stories include: Blindsided by a Blind Date The Vegetarian Variation The Creepy Car Concert The Deskside Date The Freudian…
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Erika Wasserman, Your Financial Therapist, is shifting the narrative around money and using those sometimes-tough conversations to build deeper trust and better communication with your partner and tackling the tricky financial situations singles often find themselves in while dating. Our Dear Damona question this week is: I have social anxiety. Do …
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Take a sneak peak into a private coaching session with our listener, Michelle, as Damona identifies the dating loops and myths that are keeping this Dates & Mates Method graduate from finding the relationship she desires. Listen in as Michelle comes to a realization about the men she’s been dating and why it hasn’t worked out. And help yourself alo…
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Meghan Keane, the founder of NPR’s Life Kit, shares her new book, “Party of One: Be Your Own Best Partner”. Listen in as she peels back the layers of our complicated feelings about being single and dissects the ways that singlism could be dealt with in your own life. It’s time to embrace your single life or the singles in your life so that we can a…
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Damona dedicates this week’s episode to YOU! Whether you’re in a relationship or looking for love, she is answering your toughest Dear Damona questions, like: I feel like my partner isn’t matching my efforts. How can I get him to be more of a caretaker? I want to stay friends with my exes but I find it incredibly painful. Am I self sabotaging? I th…
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Kiaundra Jackson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, unpacks how therapy language is influencing our dating lives and shares why it’s essential to move beyond labels to truly thrive in our relationships. She also shares the telltale signs of toxic relationships. Our dear Damona question this week is: I've used them all, but none seem to be a g…
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Take a sneak peak into a private coaching session with our listener, Staci, as Damona identifies the dating loops and myths that are keeping this single mom from experiencing the relationship she desires. Along the way, Damona shares quick tips and takeaways that you can apply right away to your own dating dilemmas. Ready to break free of your dati…
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Mayday! It’s a dating burnout crisis! Damona gives a master class about the causes, the current stats, and THE FIX for the apathy and frustration that many daters are feeling today. In this episode, you will learn: The #1 secret weapon for building connection How to reclaim your power and replenish after burnout Top tips for avoiding burnout on dat…
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Damona dedicates this week’s episode to YOU! Whether you’ve listened to 12 seasons or 12 episodes, she is answering your toughest Dear Damona questions, like: I’m stuck in a first date rut. How do I turn things around to find lasting love? How do I delicately tell my match that family is important, but relationships need to be a priority too? There…
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Brenden Durell, intimacy expert on Netflix's Too Hot To Handle, guides us towards a deeper connection within with exercises that he practiced on the show and inspired by his intimacy retreat. Our Dear Damona question this week is: I find myself falling for men who either go all in or don’t give me the time of day. How can I change my pattern? Follo…
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Jeff Guenther, AKA TherapyJeff on Instagram, joins Damona in the premiere of Season 12 of Dates & Mates for a state of the date address! They cover all phases of the dating journey from clarifying what you’re seeking to first dates, defining the relationship and even planning for the dreaded breakup. The Dear Damona question this week is: What’s th…
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We all hope to feel something special on that first date, but true love takes time, and so does trust. Damona debunks The Chemistry Myth and The Soulmate Myth while offering real solutions to today’s dating troubles. Based on themes from her new book, F The Fairy Tale, this episode highlights The Goals Pillar and The Values Pillar in a conversation…
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It’s tempting to date by a list of preferred qualities and a set of prescribed rules, but these myths prevent singles from discovering more fulfilling relationships. Damona debunks The List Myth and The Rules Myth and offers real solutions to today’s common dating problems. Based on themes from her new book, F The Fairy Tale, this episode highlight…
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The idea of one perfect match is attractive, but the pursuit of soulmates actually prevents singles from moving into committed relationships AND from staying when things get tough. Damona tackles The Soulmate Myth revealing how it leads to an either or mentality and outlines how to approach dating with an abundance mindset instead. Get Damona’s bes…
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Feeling butterflies with a match may seem like a good sign for your romantic future, but many times it's a window to the past. Damona busts The Chemistry Myth so that you can stop missing the true markers of relationship success and stop second guessing your dating choices. Plus, she answers this spicy Dear Damona question: How fast is too fast to …
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Swipe apps have gamified dating but that doesn’t mean you have to play it their way! Damona dives deep into The Rules Myth with love and relationship experts Ariel Ford and Francesca Hoagie in one of her favorite panels from the F the The Fairy Tale Forum last year. Together they address how singles are hungry for shortcuts to finding love and reve…
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Do you date by a list? How’s that going for you? Damona tackles The List Myth in the second episode of the “F The Fairy Tale'' Summer Series. Plus, Damona shares some dating math to illustrate how The List Myth hurts you more than helps you…and what you should focus on instead. Get Damona’s bestselling book “F the Fairy Tale” in ebook, audiobook, a…
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We are kicking off the “F The Fairy Tale” Summer Series this week with one of our most-asked questions: Online dating doesn’t work for me. How do I meet my match IRL? Plus, Damona shares dating tips for the summer and her own story of an epic summer romance with a man who went by the name of Mr. Pandemonium. Get Damona’s bestselling book “F the Fai…
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Jillian Turecki, certified relationship coach and host of the Jillian On Love podcast, joins us for our Dates & Mates Season 11 finale! She and Damona explore why the fantasy of "The One" captivates us, and how this desire often masks a need for personal healing and growth. We are bringing back the Romance Rollback this week with: Surprising Facts …
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Inessa Freya, international feng shui master and spiritual psychologist, reveals how simple changes in your home can attract new romantic possibilities, improve your current relationships, and bring a sense of harmony and balance that radiates from the inside out. Plus, Damona shares why she credits Inessa for being a part of bringing Mr. Hoffman i…
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Lily Womble, host of the Date Brazen podcast, shares insights from her new book, “Thank You, More Please” so that you can navigate the dating world with eyes wide open and a little main character energy. Plus, she will share how to know when it's time for a dating detox. The Dating Dish story this week is based on new findings from Tinder: The Gree…
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Mat Boggs, YouTube dating coach, sets you up for your best first date yet as he covers everything from red flags and conversation topics to knowing how much time to invest in a match. The Dating Dish story this week comes from Mashable: Dating Culture Has Become Selfish. How Do We Fix It? Then our Dear Damona question this week is: An old flame inv…
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Dr. Alexandra Solomon, couples therapist and author, lays a foundational framework to deepen connection and self-understanding in her new book “Love Every Day: 365 Relational Self-Awareness Practices to Help Your Relationship Heal, Grow and Thrive.” In this episode, she will share specific exercises and prompts to get you thinking about love differ…
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Kara Loewentheil, Master Certified Life Coach, applies an analytical, feminist lens towards understanding our current dating culture and how our old stories may be affecting our decisions in love. The Dating Dish story this week is based on a national study conducted by Whirlpool: Spring Clean Your Dating Profile: A Surprising Social Experiment Unc…
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Sara Jane Ho, etiquette expert and host of Netflix’s Mind Your Manners, joins to share the definitive etiquette rules for dating, talking, and texting inspired by her new book. The Dating Dish story this week comes from CNN: Bumble no longer requires women to make the first move! Then our Dear Damona question this week is: My match and I are travel…
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Dr. Scott Lyons, host of The Gently Used Human podcast, talks about his new book, “Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis & Chaos In Yourself & Others”. This week’s Dating Dish is: HuffPost shares the reasons why we try to “fix” our matches…and what you should probably do instead. Then our Dear Damona question this week is: How can I attra…
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In this all-Dear Damona episode, Damona takes on dating burnout and swipe fatigue by answering your questions, like: Is it a bad sign if my Bumble match is taking more than 3 days to reply? How do I manage expectations with new partners? How do I attract partners that are more financially and emotionally stable? And, is it more difficult to find lo…
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Psychic Matchmaker Deborah Graham teaches singles to dial into their own psychic intuition. Plus, she shares her experiences as a psychic matchmaker, and her own story of being intuitively matched as well. Then, she gives a jaw-dropping live, on-air love reading. The Dating Dish this week is: Beware of Digital Body Language while you’re online dati…
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Fan favorite guest Mark Groves is back! This time he’s joined by his wife Kylie McBeath, to discuss their amazing new book Liberated Love: Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire. In this interview they get to the root of codependency and offer ways to heal trauma and date intentionally. The dating dish story is: The Downside of…
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Keishorne Scott, author and relationship & heartbreak coach, shares his strategies for healing after a breakup and setting boundaries. Plus, he’ll tell you which matches to avoid and which ones are safe to date. The Dating Dish this week is: Speed dating is making a comeback as Gen Z ditches dating apps. USA Today says, we shouldn't be surprised. T…
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In Damona’s anniversary episode, her daughter Addie shares what she’s learned about dating and relationships from her parents 17 years of marriage. Then, Addie takes over the Dear Damona segment with dating questions from the next generation of daters that are surprisingly relatable to people of all ages, like: Is it okay to tell a friend that you …
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Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, the hosts of the Dateable podcast, discuss the true meaning of dating intentionally and how some daters may need to reframe their approach. Our Dating Dish this week is: From swiping to sexting, here is what's really driving Americans in dating today. The Dear Damona question is: What are the signs that it’s time to take…
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Dan Savage, author and host of The Savage Lovecast, joins Damona in a very special 500th episode to talk about dating trends and predictions for 2024. Then he and Damona take on a spicy Dear Damona & Dan segment with questions like: - My girlfriend wants to switch things up in the bedroom, but I’m feeling shy. Where do we start? - And, I don’t want…
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Madeleine Reeves, Deputy Editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine, shares key data from their AI & Dating survey, plus tips to navigate the intersection of technology and love. This week’s Dating Dish is: Debunking the Love Languages: A New Look at Romance and Science. And, our Dear Damona question this week is: I’d like to be set up by a friend, but mine s…
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Jennifer Cook, the autism and dating expert on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, tells us what to expect if you’re dating someone on the spectrum or if you have a hunch that you might be on the spectrum yourself. Plus, she gives practical exercises for building the skills of dating, even if you’re neurotypical. The Dating Dish this week is: Wanted, T…
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Scott Evans, host of Access Hollywood & Peacock’s Couple to Throuple, shares what he’s learned after hosting this unique show and gives the hot goss on his own experiences with polyamory. The Dating Dish is: Is a dog a dealbreaker in dating. Then our Dear Damona question this week is: Should I pay for upgrades on my dating profile? Follow Scott on …
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Lane Moore, bestselling author and host of the comedy event, “Tinder Live”, talks about her new book “You’re Not the Only One F*cking Up: Breaking the Endless Cycle of Dating Mistakes.” The Dating Dish is: Can talking about finances unlock successful relationships? The Dear Damona this week is: Does Healthy=Boring in a relationship? Show dates for …
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Dr. Helen Fisher, author and Chief Science Advisor to Match Group, shares the latest insights from the annual Singles In America study just in time for Valentine’s Day. This week’s Dear Damona question is: How do I get my match to stop talking about his exes? Be sure to check out Helen’s work on her website at HelenFisher.com and take a look at the…
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MJ Harris, international speaker and author of “Get The F*ck Out Your Own Way”, shares his secrets to empowering your relationships - personal, platonic or romantic. Plus he explains why there’s nothing wrong with ghosting and as a world traveler, he breaks down The Tinder Rule. This week’s Dating Dish is: Avoid this trend if you're swiping to find…
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F the Fairy Tale is an Amazon #1 Bestseller! Get your copy at FtheFairyTaleBook.com or from your favorite bookseller today in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook format. In this special all Dear Damona episode, Damona is answering your questions just in time for Valentine’s Day. Questions include: How do I date younger men? What is proper dating etiquet…
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F the Fairy Tale is an Amazon #1 Bestseller! Get your copy at FtheFairyTaleBook.com or from your favorite bookseller today in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook format. Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, marriage and family therapist, joins Damona for National Breakup Month to normalize the stages of a breakup and help you overcome heartbreak. In an exciting twist,…
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F the Fairy Tale is an Amazon #1 Bestseller! Get your copy at FtheFairyTaleBook.com or from your favorite bookseller today in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook format. In this episode, Rainie Howard, speaker and bestselling author, outlines the steps to creating change and points out the signs that you may be in need of a shift yourself. The Dating Di…
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F the Fairy Tale is out now! Get your copy at FtheFairyTaleBook.com or from your favorite bookseller today in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook format. Carol Allen, Vedic astrologer and relationship coach, shares her annual astrological forecast in life and love! The Dating Dish headline this week is: Does Your Dating Life Need Decluttering? And the D…
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F the Fairy Tale is out today! Get your copy at FtheFairyTaleBook.com or from your favorite bookseller today in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook format. In this episode, Damona is kicking off the new year with a Master Class in celebration of the release of her new book “F The Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story”. She’s …
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Robin, a long-time listener, shares her journey in love and her 180 transformation from when she began listening to the show, and gives inspiration for writing your incredible love story for 2024. Last Call for the Pre-order Giveaway!! F the Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story, Damona’s new book, will be released on 1/…
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Pre-order F the Fairy Tale from your favorite bookseller and enter to win 2 tickets to see The Drew Barrymore Show live and in person in NYC along with a $500 wardrobe makeover from Democracy clothing, a $500 travel voucher courtesy of New Leaf Literary, or an OkCupid Premium membership at DamonaHoffman.com/giveaway Paul Keable, the chief strategy …
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Damona’s new book F the Fairy Tale is available for pre-order NOW! In this special all Dear Damona episode, Damona is answering your questions to get dating with confidence for the new year ahead Questions include: How do I know when to say I love you to my partner? How do I deal with matches that do not carry their side of the conversation? How do…
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Join Damona and top dating experts on Thursday for the F the Fairy Tale Forum - Register free at DamonaHoffman.com/Forum Dr. Tara, award-winning sex researcher and host of the Luvbites by Dr. Tara podcast,, shares her secrets to improved conflict resolution and empathetic listening. Plus she reveals whether jealousy is truly bad in a relationship. …
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