Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel I Have a Crush on a Coworker
24 snips
Feb 9, 2026 
Anonymous Caller, a recently divorced woman navigating past abusive relationships, calls in about a surprising mutual crush at work. The conversation probes whether this pull is grief or real desire. They weigh workplace risks, how to savor a reawakening, and options for letting a new connection ripen slowly and safely.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Marriage Chosen For Safety
- The caller describes marrying for stability after abusive relationships and later feeling emotionally unsupported.
- Her marriage offered comfort and material stability but left a persistent emotional gap that led to divorce.
Grief Versus Regeneration
- Esther reframes the caller's crush question as: is this a grief reaction or genuine desire.
- That distinction matters because one signals regeneration and the other signals mourning-driven rebound.
Savor The Reawakening
- Esther Perel urges the caller to savor the crush as evidence of renewed erotic energy after loss.
- She frames crushes as generative, unruly forces that signal being alive rather than problems to immediately solve.