Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman cover art

Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

Dates & Mates with Damona Hoffman

By: Damona Hoffman - Dates and Mates Media
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About this listen

 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 Pick by HuffPost in the love category.Dear Mrs D, Inc. Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Relationship Anarchy & Clarifying Codependence

    Relationship Anarchy & Clarifying Codependence
    Nov 11 2025
    Your best friend used to be your first call. Now you have to schedule weeks in advance just to see her, and her new boyfriend keeps calling your friendship "codependent." A listener named Sarah shares: "My best friend and I have been inseparable for six years. We talk every day, we're each other's emergency contacts, and honestly she feels more like family than my actual family. But lately her new boyfriend has been making comments about how 'codependent' we are and how she needs to 'prioritize him now.' She's starting to pull back and it's breaking my heart. Am I wrong to feel like she's my person? How do I communicate to her that what we have matters just as much without sounding jealous or clingy?" In this episode, we unpack the invisible hierarchy of love that puts romance at the top and pushes friendships aside. You'll hear why speaking up for the relationships that matter isn't selfish, it's necessary, and how to advocate for your connections without being dismissed as jealous or needy. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why romantic love doesn't automatically rank higher than friendship love How the "codependent" label gets weaponized against close friendships What it means when a partner asks someone to "prioritize him now" The real reason you're afraid of sounding jealous or clingy How to start the conversation without triggering defensiveness When to recognize someone is making you smaller in their life Want to track what's working (and what's not) in your dating life? Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker Got a relationship question? DM @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, or leave a voicemail or text at 424-246-6255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
  • Touchy Subject & Three Dates In

    Touchy Subject & Three Dates In
    Nov 4 2025
     Uncommon Goods makes holiday shopping stress-free and joyful with thousands of one-of-a-kind gifts you can't find anywhere else.  So shop early, have fun, and cross some names off your list today. To get 15% off your next gift, visit uncommongoods.com/datesmates (Cast Sensitive) _______________________________________ Ever meet someone you really like, but there's this invisible wall around certain topics they won't talk about? A listener named Kristen shares: "I met this guy on Hinge and we've gone out on three dates. We've talked about some personal things about family and stuff, and we have a lot of things in common. One of the things is we were both raised by single parents and one of the parents he's not as close to, and he said it's like a touchy subject for him. So I want to respect that. But I also wanna know a little bit more just to understand how they grew up and how they are as a person and all that jazz, you know?" In this episode, we explore the delicate balance between curiosity and respect, and how to navigate those closed doors in early dating. You'll hear why someone saying "it's a touchy subject" is actually valuable information and how to build trust without pushing too hard. What You'll Hear In This Episode: What "touchy subject" really means The paradox of wanting to protect yourself while giving someone space Is 3 dates, once a week the right pace for slow love? How trust gets built in tiny moments The difference between healthy boundaries and emotional unavailability How to model vulnerability in a new relationship Want to track what's working (and what's not) in your dating life? Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker Got a relationship or dating question? DM @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, or leave a voicemail or text at 424-246-6255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 mins
  • Financial Foibles & Man With a Plan

    Financial Foibles & Man With a Plan
    Oct 28 2025
    Ever meet someone who feels right on every emotional level, but the finance math ain’t mathin’? A listener named Ray shares: "I met a wonderful man online. We went on two amazing dates. He's attentive, attractive, and dare I say we had a magical connection. Here's the thing: it seems he's going through a major life transition. He quit his tech job nine months ago and has been figuring it out. His phone only works on Wi-Fi and he might need to figure out a different living situation to cut costs. I've worked really hard to get to where I'm at today. I'd like someone who could meet me halfway. Is this a deal breaker?" In this episode, we get real about what financial compatibility actually means and why wanting stability doesn't make you materialistic. You'll hear why a magical connection alone isn't enough and how to tell the difference between someone in transition versus someone who's stuck. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Red flags that deserve your digital detective skills What "meeting halfway" really means What is a fair contribution to ask from a partner How to contribute if you or your partner earns less How resentment builds in a new relationship. The questions you should be asking when someone's story doesn't quite add up Want to track what's working (and what's not) in your dating life?Download the free Date Tracker at damonahoffman.com/datetracker Got a relationship or dating question? DM @DamonaHoffman on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, or leave a voicemail or text at 424-246-6255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
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