Today's Hot Topic delves into the fascinating world of professional matchmaking! We're joined by 4th generation matchmaker Maria Avgitidis—aka the famed "Matchmaker Maria". Maria is the founder and CEO of award-winning Agape Match, the exclusive NYC-based matchmaking service with a whopping 93% success rate. Ever wonder what a matchmaker would give you as "homework", what demographic is the hardest client to match, what it costs to hire a matchmaker, or what tops men's and women's lists of desires? Maria pulls back the curtain on this generations-old industry and we promise you'll leave, as Shandy puts it, "enlightened"! More Maria: - Agape Match: https://agapematch.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matchmakermaria - Ask A Matchmaker Podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1521530338?to=page Time Stamps: 0:00 - Welcome To Maria Avgitidis Pyrgiotakis! 1:52 - Why Matchmaking? 4:42 - Are We Searching For Functionality & How To Branch Out 7:10 - Is There A Higher Likelihood Of Any Particular Religions/Cultures That Seek Matchmaking? 9:55 - Can People From Very Different Religions Or Cultures Be A Good Match? 14:28 - Does She Work With More Men Vs Women & How Do Clients Come Her Way? 16:48 - In General, Which Demographic Is The Hardest To Work With? 23:03 - Matchmaking Costs Money—How Is This Reflected In Her Clientele? 25:22 - Is She Ever Tempted To Take On Clients For Free? 35:18 - Top 3 Things Men Are Looking For 40:55 - Top 3 Things Women Are Looking For 46:28 - How Swipe Culture Has Affected Dating And Has It Affected Her Business 50:02 - Standy Debrief Sharleen is wearing: - sweater: https://poshmark.com/listing/Fringe-Crop-Sweater-63c0dc4c4578a17c7f6ba6cc If you have a relationship question, write us at: dearshandy@gmail.com Support Dear Shandy: https://redcircle.com/dear-shandy/donations Subscribe - https://bit.ly/SubscribeDearShandy Listen on iTunes - https://bit.ly/DearShandyiTunes More Dear Shandy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dearshandy Facebook - https://fb.me/dearshandy More Sharleen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharleenjoynt Blog - http://www.alltheprettypandas.com More Andy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/machinelevine Produced by Gabrielle Galon - https://www.instagram.com/gabsamillion