She has a crush on her coworker, which feels thrilling and unsettling all at once. Fresh off a divorce and shaped by earlier relationships marked by instability and self doubt, she worries she may be confusing desire with grief or slipping back into old patterns. As she sorts through the pull she feels toward her coworker, Esther helps her explore what this ... Show More
Feb 2
Our Sex Life is a Disaster
We hear from a couple who have long been happy in their marriage, except for one thing: their sex life. In moments of intimacy, one freezes, the other hesitates, and they end up locked in a cycle of uncertainty and distress. On the precipice of becoming parents, they come to Esth ... Show More
54m 22s
Jan 26
I Told My Friend I Was in Love with Her, Then She Told Everyone
Esther speaks with a young man whose confession of love for a close friend sets off a chain reaction he never expected. After exposing his love, his secret is out, his five-year relationship ends, and his friend group begins to fracture. He is now navigating heartbreak, betrayal, ... Show More
49m 13s
Jan 19
It's Very Hard to Live with a Saint
This is a classic session of Where Should We Begin? Barely a year into marriage, they're trapped in a cycle of explosive conflict. She can do no right, and he can do no wrong. Producer’s Note: When our anonymous guests do a session with Esther for the podcast, it is an act of gen ... Show More
42m 52s
Nov 2023
Bridging the Gap: Age Differences and Marital Challenges with Gary Lipovetsky
A harmonious marriage is like a perfectly tuned melody, where two people find joy and comfort in each other's company. It's the beauty of shared laughter, mutual understanding, and a sense of belonging. In this special episode, Gary joins Valeria for an honest and open conversati ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 2024
What “I’m Not Ready For a Relationship” Really Means
<p>So many of us who grew up with trauma live as “divided selves” – longing for real love, but playing along to keep people around who DON’T want that – not with us, anyway – but who are happy to soak all our attention and time Iand of course, sex). Your ability to believe you ca ... Show More
24m 53s
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A lot of times in our relationships, it’s easy to look at our partner and notice all the things they could be doing better. “It’s you, not me.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s not-so-easy is taking the time to understand how ... Show More
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, I talk with Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, about 5 relationship rules that changed her life. She’s been married for 20 years and has so much wisdom to share.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s a sneak p ... Show More
<p data-start="75" data-end="419">Welcome to the very first episode of our brand-new series, <em data-start="134" data-end="150">The In Between</em>! In this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions—how do you make friends as an adult? And not just any ... Show More
