Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Esther Perel Global Media

Every Monday morning step into the office of iconic psychotherapist Esther Perel and listen in as real people in search of insight bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their stories. From breakups and open relationships to workplace conflicts and fractures in the family, it’s a place to hear our own stories reflected in the lives of others. So…where should we begin? Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. read less

Our Editor's Take

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel is a podcast about human relationships. Each episode invites listeners into a real therapy session. Esther Perel is a famous psychotherapist. Her work specializes in relationships. She is the bestselling author of Mating In Captivity and The State of Affairs. She is also a TED speaker.

On the podcast, real couples discuss their most guarded secrets, sometimes for the first time. They talk about their relationships with family, friends, and each other. Esther guides each person through the problem and allows them to speak openly. They discuss painful feelings as they try to reach a solution. People reveal secrets for the first time, and they often express resentful feelings. Audiences experience anger, tears, and moments of joy. Listeners may feel as though they are getting an insight into the human condition. Often, people find their issues are more similar than they think.

An episode is similar to one counseling session. The podcast hides real names and identifying information, but each story is real. Many couples who come to see Esther are close to splitting up. Throughout the episode, they discuss their miscommunication and sadness. Often, an episode reveals untold trauma. Yet, there are also moments of laughter. Many couples realize what brought them together in the first place. There are moments of hope in the difficult discussions.

Each couple engages in honest conversation. Most hope for a romantic revival of their relationship. They discuss the burdens of the family and their mental health. The podcast invites couples who have on-again/off-again relationships or decades-long marriages. Each person shares their own story and learns from their partner’s story.

Esther’s work on relationships has helped many couples overcome their difficulties. She understands that relationships can change over time but that love can still survive. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel is an intimate insight into the complexities of human life. Each episode is between 40 and 60 minutes long. Some couples come back in follow-up episodes called “Where Are They Now.” New episodes are released every Monday.

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Episodes

The Arc of Love - The Poly Dinner Party
Jul 29 2024
The Arc of Love - The Poly Dinner Party
Join Esther for a dinner table conversation on the topic of polyamory. The dinner was held to mark the anniversary of a panel discussion Esther was part of on the same topic ten years earlier. Together the original panel and a few new friends explore what has changed in the last decade as consensual non-monogamy has become more mainstream, why some advocate for their choices, and what consequences and challenges they still face as well. This is not a session but a fly on the wall conversation. Some of the guests chose to be anonymous, while others allowed us to use their names. To watch the talk from ten years ago "Special Arrangements: The Changing Face of the 21st Century Relationship"discussion panel on non-monogamy and polyamory with Sunny Bates (moderator), Reid Mihalko, Diana Adams, Esq., and Esther Perel, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iDluKrMvYw Diana Adams is the Executive Director of nonprofit advocacy group www.ChosenFamilyLawCenter.org and a mediator serving families nationwide to negotiate polyamorous agreements with www.DianaAdamsLaw.net. Reid Mihalko is a sex and relationship educator. More about his work at http://ReidAboutSex.com. What you are about to hear is a series Esther calls The Arc of Love. Each session centers around a couple’s story. Whether it’s issues of trust and betrayal, care and aggression, closeness and distance, repair and rupture, polyamory or monogamy. The episodes can be listened to in any order you want but were curated with a beginning, middle, and end. For the first time on the U.S. stage, Esther invites you to an evening unlike any other. Join her as she shines a light on the cultural shifts transforming relationships and helps us rethink how we connect, how we desire – and even how we love. To find a city near you, go to https://www.estherperel.com/tour2024 Want to learn more? Receive monthly insights, musings, and recommendations to improve your relational intelligence via email from Esther: https://www.estherperel.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices