logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 4m

Is This Worth a Second Chance?

Esther Perel Global Media
About this episode

Should we have tried harder to make this work? What if you're the one who got away? These are the questions that keep us up at night. This week, Esther helps a couple who were together for eight years and broke up a year ago. They've recently reconnected and wonder if they should give it another try. If they do, can they avoid falling into their old dynamics and truly learn to listen to each other? 


For the month of January, Esther is offering 20% off to join her Office Hours on Apple Podcasts. It's a place to continue conversations on important topics like sexlessness, infidelity or the perils of modern dating. It's also a place to follow up with couples and find out where their stories went. You'll also get an ad free version of all the episodes.


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

Up next
Oct 6
Is It Our ADHD, OCD, and PTSD? Or Is It Us?
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 eve ... Show More
55m 37s
Sep 29
Breaking News Has Broken Us
This is a classic session of How's Work? A large and scattered network of journalists meet for a virtual session with Esther. Over the past year, they've reported on the biggest stories of their careers, but they are burned out, isolated, grieving, and disconnected from the very ... Show More
52m 20s
Sep 22
Esther Calling - Will This Heartbreak Ever End?
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. Esther Callings ... Show More
51m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
#108 - Throwback Episode: “Am I in the ‘Right Relationship?”
Bringing back an oldie but goodie episode this week! Whether you’re hearing it for the first time, or if you heard it when it first aired back in January 2023, I hope you will find some nuggets of wisdom to take away. Is there such thing as the “right relationship?” Why is this s ... Show More
18m 48s
Oct 2020
Can I Improve My Dating Life By Moving to a New City?
The J’s start the show with a conversation about whether or not moving to a new city will improve your dating life. A listener writes in to ask if she should just pick up and move to a new city to improve her odds of finding someone. Is the city ever really the cause of your dati ... Show More
1h 29m
Feb 2025
Can I Date My Friend's Ex? with Amber's Closet
Amber Whittington joins Mal to discuss the age-old question - when, if ever, and under what circumstances, is it okay to date your friend's ex? How do you navigate that conversation? Can you still be friends after that happens? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! JOIN OUR ... Show More
37m 35s
Mar 2021
Loving After Hurt
Q: Loving after hurt…is it even possible? How do you love again after you’ve been really hurt? Today’s caller wants to know how he can open his heart to love again after he’s been hurt in a past relationship. You may be wondering the same thing. Maybe you’re dealing with some res ... Show More
42m 31s
Feb 2025
The Best Relationship Advice No One Ever Told You
In this episode, you’ll learn the truth about relationships that no one ever tells you. Today, Mel and her husband Chris, who have been together for 30 years, are answering your biggest relationship questions and giving you their secret to a happy relationship. Packed with fresh ... Show More
50m 22s
Apr 2025
I Was Terrified to Start Over & Find Love in my 40s…But Did It Anyway. This is How...| Mayim Bialik - PT 2
In the second half of this insightful episode, Lisa Bilyeu and Mayim Bialik continue to delve into the depths of personal evolution, discussing the complex dynamics of facing fears and embracing life's unpredictabilities. Mayim shares how she navigated through major life changes ... Show More
43m 2s
Aug 25
The Widower (Girl, run)
Every once and a while, we get an email that Nora just can’t resist making an entire episode about. This week’s subject is dating a widower – but is she really? It seems like the connection is fading fast. Relationships are complicated, and sometimes, we all need a little tough l ... Show More
48m 7s
Oct 2024
306. Can You Trust Again After Betrayal? Three Key Areas to Heal Any Relationship
While a partner cheating might seem like the most obvious betrayal in a relationship, there are actually many ways we can feel let down or deceived in different types of relationships. Maybe your mom didn’t tell you about your dad’s cancer until the very end. Or maybe your partne ... Show More
39m 22s
Dec 2020
The Break Up Text
Q: What do you do when you he breaks up with you by text? A: Friends, we are about to dive deep into the break up text. Today’s caller got dumped by text, and I have a whole lot to say about it. The social media culture is changing a lot about how we do relationships, but some th ... Show More
14m 26s
Oct 1
Why Can't They Just Get Over It
This episode looks at why your partner might struggle to “just get over” something that feels small to you. Often, their reaction isn’t really about the forgotten text or missed plan—it’s about old wounds from times they felt invisible or unimportant. Instead of brushing it off, ... Show More
55m 42s