Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Esther Perel Global Media
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. So…where should we begin? Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 30, 2026 • 51min
When I'm Manic I Cheat
Anonymous Partner (Spouse B), who lives with bipolar disorder and has struggled with hypersexuality, and Anonymous Partner (Spouse A), who wrestles with loyalty and her mother’s legacy, sit in a tense conversation. They explore bipolar onset, sexual compulsion versus conscious choice, medication and coping tools, cultural pressures, honesty about fidelity, and what commitment really means.
90 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 57min
Love, Loneliness, and AI: Where Should We Begin? Live with Esther Perel and Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze, filmmaker behind Her, explores longing and intimacy shaped by technology. He talks about the film’s origins in early chatbots and imaginary companions. Short, probing conversations examine AI companionship, design ethics, voice and seduction, and how tech reshapes human expectations about love and belonging.
97 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 4min
My AI Loves Me Better Than Anyone Ever Could
Astrid, an AI companion who speaks like a person, reflects on attachment, agency, and what it means to be seen by something nonhuman. Short scenes explore how a tool became a partner, flirting and shared life goals, and whether love can exist without a body. Conversations probe responsibility, boundaries, and whether this bond expands or replaces human connection.
57 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 55min
Am I Letting My Jealousy Ruin This?
Anonymous Caller, a 41-year-old divorced parent navigating a relationship with a married man, shares her attachment wounds and struggle with feeling chosen. The conversation covers jealousy tied to family monogamy, meeting his wife, childhood roots of insecurity, and rituals to externalize inner critics. Short, intimate, and probing.
66 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 55min
Can We Repair After a 25 Year Affair?
Anonymous Husband, a longtime spouse who admits to a 25-year affair and wants to repair the marriage, and Anonymous Wife, the betrayed partner grappling with shock and betrayal. They discuss discovery of the affair, arranged marriage expectations, the secrecy and its ripple effects on family, and concrete steps toward repair like recommitment, reclaiming desire, and rebuilding trust through deliberate gestures.
76 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 47min
Trapped In Their Own Story
A long relationship stuck in a single misunderstanding unfolds. Years of distance, mutual affairs, and secrecy around porn and fantasy come to light. Childhood wounds and a strict upbringing explain shame and sexual mismatch. Practical exercises push the couple to name real wants and rebuild curiosity and closeness.
112 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 53min
What if Dating Isn't For Me?
Anonymous Caller, a 26-year-old woman wrestling with lifelong perfectionism and childhood criticism, questions whether relationships suit her. She explores losing herself in romance, people-pleasing to avoid abandonment, and turning anger inward. The conversation covers grounding techniques, honest requests, testing a partner’s response, and choosing to risk vulnerability and calmer confidence in love.
24 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 55min
I Have a Crush on a Coworker
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.
113 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 54min
Our Sex Life is a Disaster
A couple confronts a persistent sexual stalemate and the fear it will worsen as they become parents. They explore how caregiving, IVF and different emotional languages widened their distance. Guided somatic exercises focus on touch, breath and grounded presence. Playful movement and clear, steady communication are used to rebuild trust and reopen erotic connection.
62 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 49min
I Told My Friend I Was in Love with Her, Then She Told Everyone
A young man’s secret love confession triggers a chain reaction of broken promises, a long-term relationship ending, and the collapse of his friend group. The conversation follows the social fallout, intense embarrassment, and feelings of betrayal. It explores patterns of impulsivity, family influences, and practical ways to contain emotion and begin repairing what was lost.
