Esther Perel on Polarization, and Making Friends with Other Parents @estherperel

Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

The polarization we experience in so many relationships has found its way into parenting culture as well.

Esther Perel on Polarization, and Making Friends with Other Parents

$Burdens of the Family | Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel This is a classic session of Where Should We Begin? They share a legacy of war, a refugee upbringing and family trauma. Their marriage was seen as taboo and now theyre trying to build a happier relationship for their child. Chapters 00:00 What Happens When Love Turns Into War? 00:36 Why This Story Comes With A Warning 01:18 Was The Affair The Real Beginning? 01:39 What Happens When Love Is Forbidden? 03:03 Can This Marriage Be Saved? 03:30 How Does A Refugee Story Shape A Marriage? 05:00 What Happens When A Parent Leaves? 07:06 What Changes When You Share The Pain? 09:24 How Does Childhood Violence Follow You? 11:34 How Does Trauma Travel Across Generations? 13:33 Where Does The Affair Fit In? 15:32 What If You Brought The Charm Home? 17:43 Are You Fighting Each Other Or Fighting To Survive? 20:47 Why Do They Keep Triggering Each Other? 22:09 What Does Survival Mode Do To Love? 22:50 Are The Dishes Really About The Dishes? 25:03 Can Adults Give Themselves Permission To Play? 27:03 Why Is It So Hard For Her To Stop? 28:09 When Does A Partner Become A Parent? 29:40 Can They Rewrite The Dishes Conversation? 34:17 How Do You Break The Choreography Of Conflict? 35:34 What Is Your Daughter Learning From You? 37:56 Whats Missing From Their Marriage? About Where Should We Begin?: 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. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by subscribe to her Substack Entre Nous for bonus content.$ $Is Therapy-Speak & Over-Analysis Ruining Our Relationship? Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel On this weeks episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: A couple sits down with Esther Perel to untangle trust, control, and intimacy after becoming parents. He feels weighed down by anxiety and responsibility; she struggles with ADHD, resistance to structure, and fears of falling short in her art career. Their love is strong, but everyday tensions spiral into power struggles. Esther challenges them to move beyond their labels and find a new connection. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Dilemma of Communication 01:50 Meet the Couple: Struggles with Parenthood and Mental Health 03:35 The Impact of Neurodivergence on Relationships 04:19 Therapy Speak and Its Consequences 05:09 Current Emotional States and Parenting Challenges 12:18 The Importance of Trust and Communication 14:34 Power Struggles and Control Issues 27:08 Financial Pressures and Career Aspirations 31:44 Understanding the Challenge of Different Approaches 33:02 A Real-Life Example: Pool and Dinner Dilemma 37:14 The Underlying Issues: Personal Histories and Emotional Needs 40:26 Strategies for Better Communication and Support 46:05 The Importance of Playfulness and Rituals 51:37 Final Thoughts About Where Should We Begin?: 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. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.$ $When Will I Get Over My First Breakup: Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel On this weeks episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Nothing changes us quite like our first love—or our first heartbreak. After falling in love for the first time in his late twenties, he now finds himself navigating the pain of his first breakup. He comes to Esther in search of clarity, healing, and a way forward. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: First Love and Heartbreak 00:45 Understanding the Context of the Relationship 02:28 Reflecting on Family Dynamics 04:30 Navigating Early Relationship Challenges 05:40 Intimacy and Personal Growth 08:42 Struggles with Performance Anxiety 11:26 The Emotional Rollercoaster 14:34 The Beginning of the End 22:38 Navigating Relationship Dynamics 24:04 Trust Issues and Intimacy Concerns 27:53 The End of the Relationship 29:16 Emotional and Sexual Contrasts 37:02 Moving Forward and Self-Acceptance 44:01 Final Reflections and Insights About Where Should We Begin?: 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. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.$

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$Im Tired of Parenting My Mom: Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel Mothering My Mother Into Mothering Me | Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel On this weeks episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Since the age of 8, she’s been the one holding her mother together and shouldering adult responsibilities long before her time. Now, as an adult herself, she’s ready to step out of the caretaker role and invite her mother to finally be the parent. Esther helps her explore how to loosen these deeply entrenched dynamics and create space for a more balanced, reciprocal relationship. Chapters 00:00 What Happens When a Child Becomes the Caregiver? 00:35 Why Does This Mother-Daughter Bond Feel So Complicated? 01:39 How Does Carrying Adult Responsibilities Shape a Child? 03:40 What Happens When Love Turns Into Resentment and Guilt? 05:10 What Do Family Dynamics Reveal Beneath the Surface? 07:17 How Do You Care for Others Without Losing Yourself? 08:59 Why Does Setting Boundaries Feel So Hard? 22:25 How Does Grief and Isolation Shape a Family Story? 25:03 What Does Anger Can Teach Us About Control? 26:02 Why is Expressing Anger So Different Across Cultures? 26:47 How Do Cultural Expectations Shape Family Roles? 30:37 How Do Small Acts Become Statements of Identity? 32:38 What Happens When Generations Collide? 35:04 How Does Better Communication Shift the Relationship? 42:59 What Do Patterns Reveal About the Path Forward? About Where Should We Begin?: 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. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com(https://bit.ly/45I3yPd), join my Substack community Entre Nous for bonus content (https://bit.ly/4kdcWQZ), or follow @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.$

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$Conversations From Sessions Live: Julia Samuel on Grief | Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel On this weeks episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Esther presents another talk you have to hear from her recent clinical conference, Sessions Live. Listen in as Julia Samuel speaks on Eros and Thanatos: Love, Grief, and the Forces that Shape Us. Julia Samuel MBE is a leading UK psychotherapist who worked for decades in the NHS. She is Founder Patron of Child Bereavement UK an organization she played a significant part for 25 years. Julia was given an Honorary Doctorate by Middlesex University in 2017. Appointed Commissioner of the UK Commission on Bereavement 2021. Julia has written three books, all Sunday Times bestsellers: Grief Works, This Too Shall Pass, and Every Family Has a Story; and has a podcast Therapy Works. Her presentation of grief is a must-listen. These talks were recorded at Esther Perel’s Annual Sessions Live event, entitled Mating in the Metacrisis: Connection, Polarization, and Eroticism in a World on Edge. For more information on the event and how you can watch it now, please go to www.estherperel.com About Where Should We Begin?: 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. About Esther Perel: Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.$

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