Elizabeth and I explore how early experiences shape our relationships, with a particular focus on a common paradox: deeply wanting connection while simultaneously fearing intimacy.

This episode talks about limerence, romantic vulnerability , how we can rebuild trust in others, managing career transitions, and how to maintain boundaries without being consumed by anger.

Dr. Rick and I explore "situationships" – those poorly defined, boundary-free relationships that exist in a gray area between friendship and committed dating.

We explore why traditional goal-setting falls short and offer a new approach to creating lasting change.

Featuring conversations with Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. Rick Hanson, Julie Mennano, and Elizabeth Ferreira, this carefully curated episode gives you a map to becoming more socially confident, emotionally intelligent, and authentically connected. 

Somatic therapist Elizabeth Ferreira joins the show to discuss complex trauma, dissociation, and working with challenging emotions.

Dr. Rick and I explore why we're drawn to people who activate our insecurities, how anxiety manifests differently in "pursuers" versus "distancers," and what we can all do to work with our natural tendencies more skillfully.

Dr. Ross Ellenhorn joins the show to explore our resistance to change, and the many good reasons we might have to stay just as we are. We discuss the “fear of hope,” the allure of sameness, and what actually helps people develop the confidence to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Dr. Rick and I explore a practical framework for navigating life's most challenging transitions - managing the initial emotional impact, steadying yourself, gathering information, working with loss, and taking meaningful action.

Rick and I explore how to develop a reliable system for making choices that align with your values and goals. The episode includes two live demonstrations of working through a big decision.

Cal Newport joins the podcast to explore slow productivity, deep work, and how we can achieve more by doing less.

Dr. Rick and I answer listener questions focused on navigating relationship challenges - how to rediscover yourself after breakup, distinguish between healthy and unhealthy desires, maintain friendships after romantic feelings emerge, overcome self-consciousness, and communicating effectively during stress responses.

Dr. Hanson and I explore what the inner child really is, how it manifests in our lives, and practical ways to work with this important part of ourselves.

Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher joins me for an in-depth exploration of anxiety. We talk about the anxiety cycle, moving away from thinking in terms of a “cure,” the key target of the “willful tolerance of uncertainty”, and developing greater self-awareness. 

Dr. Chris Germer, co-creator of the Mindful Self-Compassion program, joins me to explore how we can work with the deeply ingrained shame that gets in the way.

 In this episode, Dr. Rick and I explore the all-too-common challenge of social anxiety. We break down what it really means to be socially anxious, where those feelings come from, why they stick around, and how to feel more confident and connected.

Dr. Rick and I unpack the "Dark Triad" of personality traits - narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sociopathy - and explore how these traits can manifest in everyday relationships.

I sit down with marriage and family therapist Julie Menanno to explore one of the most crucial aspects of healthy relationships: secure attachment.

Dr. Rick and I dive into the mailbag, and answer questions from listeners focused on working with anxiety in ourselves and in our relationships.

I dive into cognitive bypassing - a common strategy many of us use to avoid feeling difficult emotions - with trauma therapist Simone Saunders.