Dr. Alfiee, psychologist, host of the Couched in Color podcast and founder of the AAKOMA Project, dives into attachment styles, how depression can impact a partnership, and the ways our traumas and triggers can become unearthed in new relationships. Then this week’s Dear Damona question is: I married too young and stayed too long. Can you please help me get back into the dating game? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program, The Dating Accelerator by...

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’t. So what now? My matches keep removing their profiles once we exchange numbers. What’s going on here? When should daters consider sleeping...

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 an appropriate gift for a young couple? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program, The Dating...

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 Movie Man Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program, The Dating Accelerator at 10% off (for...

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 I need to focus on making more friends before pursuing a romantic relationship? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature...

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 along the way as Damona shares quick tips and takeaways that you can apply right away to your own dating dilemmas. Ready to break free of your...

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 all thrive together regardless of our relationship status. Our Dear Damona question this week is: I recently reconnected with a casual long term...

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 thought we had fun but they said they didn’t feel chemistry…what went wrong? An ex once said my lack of questions was a red flag, but I think...

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 good fit. Is it me or the apps? Ready to break free of your dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program, The Dating Accelerator for a...

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 dating loops? Get Damona’s signature online program, The Dating Accelerator today for 10% off using the code PODCAST10 at...

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 dating apps Insider secrets or offline dating Protecting your peace with friends and loved ones And, how to reframe your dating burnout and...

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’s a big drinking culture where I live. How do I meet singles who share my more laid back vibe? And, I’ve done the work, but I can’t seem to...

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? Follow Brenden on Instagram @BrendenDurell and be sure to check out his work at BrendenDurell.com Look out for his “Inspired Intimacy Challenge” on...

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 the best way to reach out to someone new on LinkedIn? Be sure to follow Jeff on Instagram @TherapyJeff and grab a copy of his new book, Big...

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 between Damona and love and relationship experts, Carol Allen & Katherine Woodward, in one of the top panels from the F the Fairy Tale Forum...

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 highlights The Goals Pillar and The Values Pillar in a conversation between Damona and love and relationship experts, Orna and Matthew Walters and Evan Marc...

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 bestselling book “F the Fairy Tale” in ebook, audiobook, and hardcover everywhere books are sold (FtheFairyTaleBook.com) Then join our Book Squad!...

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 have sex with a new person? Get Damona’s bestselling book “F the Fairy Tale” in ebook, audiobook, and hardcover everywhere books are sold...

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 reveal why this approach may be preventing them from making fulfilling connections. Get Damona’s bestselling book “F the Fairy Tale” in ebook,...

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, and hardcover everywhere books are sold (FtheFairyTaleBook.com) Then join our Book Squad! If you review “F The Fairy Tale” and submit it at...

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 Fairy Tale” in ebook, audiobook, and hardcover everywhere books are sold (FtheFairyTaleBook.com) Then join our Book Squad! If you review “F The...

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 About the Evolution of Dating  Then our Dear Damona question this week is: My dates keep ditching me… for my brother! What can I...

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 into her life! But first we have a surprising dating dish to serve up for you: Move over healthcare! Could dating apps be the new benefit? Then...

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 Green Flags Study on Assumptions & Dating Then our Dear Damona question this week is: How fast is too fast when dating a new match? Follow...