Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Esther is very knowledgeable and understanding with each client. She’s truly amazing and accomplishes a lot in a short amount of time. You can tell how naturally it comes to her due to experience and expertise. I always learn something from each episode I listen to and get a little emotional, connecting to either what the client or Esther says. I’m so interested in human behavior and how our brains work, and always looking to grow as a better person. Thank you for all you do, Esther! Truly enjoy this podcast and hoping I get the privilege to be on an episode one day.

I was screaming here when you told him be adamant about taking a break with her WITHOUT the KEY HE HAS TO GET HIS LAZY CHECKED OUT IRESPONSINLE AS UP AND TAKE ON TASKS NOT ASK HER BEVA MAN AND THEN SHE WILL LISTEN AND STOP WITH HIM

I love this show and I’m compelled to leave a review after hearing the feedback on the episode “I gave him an ultimatum..” I felt that Esther was dead on in her advice to the woman in the relationship. I got the feeling that this guy is manipulative and she is very susceptible. Esther made insights that made him uncomfortable because he is used to everyone believing him and she saw easily through his lies and the way he kept trying to change the conversation to center himself as the victim. At the end of the session, it seemed like the woman wasn’t happy but was beginning to break through. It’s likely that he later “ended” the other relationships (or told her he did), as a big show only days after the session . It’s no surprise that he’d been “working on it” for years but only took this step when he felt himself losing control over her. I would guess he also worked to influence his partner’s perception of the session, and this was the reason for the tone of her feedback. All of this as well as the woman’s description of the relationship, which felt more like love bombing than a healthy dynamic, leads me to believe that this guy is toxic and she is falling for it. I think Esther picked up on his shady tactics and he didn’t like it. I appreciate Esther’s commitment to self evaluating, but I also think that just because someone doesn’t like what is said in therapy, doesn’t mean it was wrong or shouldn’t have been said. It may be that she thinks back to this session while he continues to mistreat and lie to her for the next five years, before she finally realizes the insight here.

Somehow I see myself in most episodes and learn a little bit more about how to approach X or Y or what may lie beneath it. A podcast sharing very insightful, realistic and human experiences. Thank you, Esther!

Esther, please stop doing sessions about AI “relationships” as though they are common and worth discussion. It’s akin to those shows where someone says they are in love with their blender or something equally ridiculous. Let’s treat this like the fringe nonsense it is, rather than something the broad majority relates to in any way. I used to really enjoy this podcast for its highly intellectual and thoughtful discussion of relationship dynamics. However, now, most episodes are about AI, poly relationships, or other clickbaity content meant to shock, rather than authentic discussion of common relationship dynamics. The AI episodes are certainly the most offputting of the bunch. AI slop is embraced by the stupidest among us and not worth serious discussion in this forum, on a therapeutic/relationship podcast. Anyone approaching you with an “AI girlfriend” is already starting in the wrong, and should be met with one answer—it’s not a real partner, turn it off. End of story. And whoever is with a partner who is engaging in an AI relationship should take that as their signal to run.