The Oprah Podcast

The 3 Things EVERY Human Wants with Esther Perel | The Oprah Podcast

Feb 11, 2025

In this conversation, renowned relationship therapist Esther Perel shares her expertise on modern relationships and intimacy. She discusses the complexities of love, the pressure of social media, and the universal quest for validation. Esther emphasizes the importance of communication and emotional transparency, particularly in parenting and caregiving contexts. She dives into the intricacies of trust, betrayal, and the essential human needs for safety and connection, offering insights on rekindling intimacy and nurturing relationships.

52:54

Episode guests

Esther Perel

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Esther Perel emphasizes that modern individuals often overburden romantic partners by expecting them to fulfill various communal emotional needs.

Perel encourages reframing the pursuit of connection to include friendships and community, fostering a richer sense of belonging beyond romance.

Deep dives

The Importance of Relationships

Relationships significantly influence our well-being, affecting our most intimate connections. Esther Perel emphasizes how our ties with family, friends, and even neighbors play a crucial role in shaping our romantic partnerships. Modern romance has shifted, with people often seeking their emotional needs solely from intimate relationships rather than recognizing the supportive roles that friendships and family can provide. This shift indicates an overwhelming expectation for romantic partners to fulfill multiple roles, which may lead to dissatisfaction and disillusionment.

Intro

4min

Unraveling Love and Connection

9min

Unpacking Relationship Dynamics: The Fight Behind the Closet

2min

Navigating Intimacy Amidst Family Life

20min

Rediscovering Personal Wishes Amidst Caregiving Responsibilities

5min

Complexities of Trust in Relationships

4min

The Essential Human Needs for a Thriving Life

6min

In this episode of The Oprah Podcast, presented by Ulta Beauty, world renowned relationship therapist Esther Perel offers her profound insight on modern romance, and what we can do to feel more alive in all our relationships – not just the romantic ones.

With wisdom gained as a therapist and from her hit podcast, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel, Esther offers frank sexual advice along with her thoughts on dealing with betrayal, life transitions and relational burn out. Couples and individuals will join via Zoom to hear Esther do what she does best: reveal the hidden truth beyond the stories we tell. She’ll also discuss her ingenious conversation-starter card game, “Where Should We Begin? A Game of Stories by Esther Perel.”

Thank you to our partners at Ulta Beauty. They want to help you celebrate all the relationships in your life - not just the romantic ones! Share a post, tag your bestie and @ULTABEAUTY and share why they’re so special to you! Ulta Beauty will help pay the joy forward with a chance to receive a ‘surprise and delight’ beauty experience. www.ulta.com

“Where Should We Begin? A Game of Stories by Esther Perel” is available on her website,

And Esther's books are available here: https://www.estherperel.com/books

Conflict to Connection: https://www.estherperel.com/courses/turning-conflict-into-connection

Desire Bundle: https://www.estherperel.com/course-bundles/the-desire-bundle

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Listen to the full podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381

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