Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
On this week's episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Esther sits down with two friends. They’ve been close for so long they feel like brothers, with all of the baggage that comes with family but none of the certainty. There are things that go unspoken between them, issues they have skimmed over in their two decades of friendship. Esther creates the space for the conversation they didn't know quite where to begin.
Topic: Relationships with Family & Friends
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote
00:32 Revisiting a Past Session
02:20 Exploring Friendship Dynamics
05:35 Childhood and Family Backgrounds
10:14 Cultural and Religious Differences
12:36 Parental Expectations and Personal Struggles
18:49 Balancing Personal Growth and Relationships
26:01 Reflecting on Friendship and Personal Development
28:44 Reflecting on Friendship Dynamics
29:56 Addressing Unspoken Tensions
31:16 Navigating Personal Growth and Relationships
34:57 The Impact of Upbringing on Relationships
38:50 Balancing Personal and Relational Goals
41:31 Reconnecting and Building Rituals
53:46 Concluding Thoughts and Future Commitments
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.
On this week's episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Esther sits down with two friends. They’ve been close for so long they feel like brothers, with all of the baggage that comes with family but none of the certainty. There are things that go unspoken between them, issues they have skimmed over in their two decades of friendship. Esther creates the space for the conversation they didn't know quite where to begin.
Topic: Relationships with Family & Friends
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote
00:32 Revisiting a Past Session
02:20 Exploring Friendship Dynamics
05:35 Childhood and Family Backgrounds
10:14 Cultural and Religious Differences
12:36 Parental Expectations and Personal Struggles
18:49 Balancing Personal Growth and Relationships
26:01 Reflecting on Friendship and Personal Development
28:44 Reflecting on Friendship Dynamics
29:56 Addressing Unspoken Tensions
31:16 Navigating Personal Growth and Relationships
34:57 The Impact of Upbringing on Relationships
38:50 Balancing Personal and Relational Goals
41:31 Reconnecting and Building Rituals
53:46 Concluding Thoughts and Future Commitments
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.
