Whether you're booking a relationship expert for TV, radio, or speaking engagements, or need expert commentary on modern dating trends, you’ll find everything you need right here.
As Seen In
CBS Mornings
Dating Takes a Village
How to cultivate a village to enrich, and even enjoy, your pursuit of a meaningful romantic partnership.
ABC News
'Dating Sunday' and Finding Love in the New Year
Romantic advice for those navigating the dating world in hopes of finding their perfect match in the year ahead.
Fox & Friends
Utilizing Community to Build Quality Relationships
How singles can leverage community ties to find a connection that lasts.
OTHER APPEARANCES
Matchmakers | The Economics of Everyday Things
Freakonomics Radio Network
Watch
Listen
Matchmaker's Guide to
'The One'
u Up? Podcast
Watch
Listen
Hard Dating Truths from a Matchmaker who has seen it all
dating intentionally podcast
Watch
Listen
Oprah daily
How to Overcome Dating App Fatigue
Award-winning matchmaker Maria Avgitidis shares four strategies for finding love online without losing your mind.
The Wall Street Journal
Don’t Touch, Don’t Go Dutch and Other Tips for Dating Success
Forget falling in love at first sight. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, a professional matchmaker offers advice for successful dating.
People Magazine
Real-Life NYC Matchmaker Critiques Dakota Johnson's Materialists: 'I've Fired Employees for Less'
Life of a matchmaker: Hollywood vs. Reality.
matchmaker maria
media assets
Official bio
Maria Avgitidis, widely known as "Matchmaker Maria," is a fourth-generation matchmaker and a prominent figure in the modern dating landscape. She is the CEO of Agape Match, an award-winning matchmaking service based in New York City, and the host of the popular dating and relationship podcast "Ask a Matchmaker."
Maria draws on a unique blend of traditional family matchmaking expertise passed down through generations and modern relationship psychology, behavioral science, and search techniques. Her approach focuses on helping individuals understand their dating options, identify what they truly want in a partner, and attract the right person.
She has developed several notable theories and methods, including her "Five Pillars of Compatibility" (physical, spiritual, intellectual, financial, and emotional), her "12-Date Rule," and concepts like her "green theory" and "Stanley Tucci theory."
Maria Avgitidis is also the author of the debut dating guide, "Ask a Matchmaker: Matchmaker Maria's No-Nonsense Guide to Finding Love," which offers practical advice for navigating contemporary dating challenges. Her insights and advice have been featured across various media outlets, including CBS Mornings, The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Washington Post, Esquire, and Elle.
She holds an M.S. in Global Affairs from New York University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the American College of Greece - Deree College. Maria is also a co-founder of the Matchmakers Alliance, a network of international dating professionals.
Speaking Topics
Topic One
Dating Was Never Meant to Be Done Alone: Reclaiming Connection in a Disconnected World
A bold reframe of modern dating and loneliness. Maria explores how the decline of community, friendship, and intergenerational living has reshaped intimacy — and why the path to love begins with rebuilding connection, not just finding a match.
Topic Three
Beyond the Match: How Authentic Relating Builds Lasting Love
A powerful conversation about what happens after the match — the practice of marriage, emotional literacy, and daily acts of care that sustain relationships.
Topic Two
The Five Pillars of Compatibility: How to Choose a Partner Who Can Go the Distance
Maria breaks down her proven framework — Physical, Spiritual, Intellectual, Financial, and Emotional Compatibility — to teach how to identify lasting partnership potential.
