Language of Love with Dr. Laura Berman

On today’s episode of “The Language of Love,” I am taking YOUR calls and giving love, sex and relationship advice live on the air.First up, I talk to a caller who wants to know if it is normal for a man to fantasize about other women when he is being intimate with his partner. Is it okay to think about other people during sex or is that a form of betrayal and infidelity? And, if you need to think about someone else during sex in order to achieve orgasm, is that a red flag that you aren’t with the right person or your relationship is stale? Listen to the episode to find out my advice on what to do if your mind wanders during sex.Next, I talk to a woman who says her husband doesn’t know what he is doing in the bedroom. Although he is a wonderful partner in many ways, he doesn’t have much experience. So, she’s been faking orgasm for years. How do you STOP faking orgasm once you have been doing it for so long, and how can you explain your subterfuge to your partner without hurting their feelings? And, more importantly, how can you teach a man how to pleasure you so that you both get to enjoy sex and have your needs met?Then, I speak with a man who is worried about the size of his penis and wants to know if there is a safe way to make your penis bigger. After comparing his penis to the penises of men he’s seen in porn, he is wracked with insecurity that he is too small and that he will be rejected if he gets close to a woman. Listen to this episode to find out:• Does size really matter?• How can a man with a smaller than average penis be confident in the bedroom?• And why porn can ruin your perception of actual intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am so excited about today’s episode! I finally got to sit down and interview Cheryl Strayed, one of my favorite authors and a true inspiration for so many. Cheryl, of course, is the NYT best-selling author of “Wild,” which was later made into a beautiful Oscar-nominated movie.Cheryl and I have known each other for years, and I have always been a massive fan of her work. Cheryl has a hilarious anecdote about the first time we met, which you will have to listen to the episode to hear, but let me just say, it ends with Cheryl asking me: “Laura, do I make you sick?”HA! Not at all, girl.This led us to talking about your “ITS”! This is Cheryl’s name for your “inner terrible someone,” that voice in your head that always offers up the cruelest self-criticism and narrates the worst possible version of scenarios. Sadly, we all have that “inner terrible someone” who is quick to heap on the shame, doubt, fear and self-loathing that keeps us from accessing our true worthiness and our true mission here.On this episode you will learn:• How Cheryl silences her inner critic when she’s writing and creating, and how other creative folks can use her wisdom to welcome their inner critics without fear• How to access the wise, true, loving voice inside of yourself (yes, I promise, it is there! And it is longing to be heard and listened to by you)• How we can heal from our negative thoughts while realizing that our “inner terrible someone” can also be a catalyst for growth and curiosity about ourselves• How you can learn to love fear instead of repelling it, and how our “ITS” are a valuable way to connect with other peopleTake a listen to this very special episode and let me know what you think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman talks about one of her favorite topics: How our emotional wounds impact the way we love and receive love in our relationships.Dr. Berman explains that most of us are carrying “thorns” within our souls from our earliest experiences onward. These include not only our own thorns, but the thorns of unworthiness that our family also passed down to us. Many families carry a legacy of unworthiness that they unintentionally pass down generation to generation.On this episode you will learn:• How to identify your thorns and trace their origins• How to identify common thorns in your family line and connect them back to your present struggles• How to learn your partner’s thorns and find how your thorns may complement or exacerbate each other’s pain• How to undo these stories of unworthiness, and how to reclaim our birthright of love and forgiveness.• How our thorns often give us the greatest possible opportunity for growth and meaning here on this earthMost importantly, says Dr. Berman, we don’t have to be ashamed of our thorns or wish them away. In fact, our thorns are often the places where we can find the most light and purpose, provided we are willing to excavate those wounds and do the soul-work needed to heal these hurts.“Healing from these thorny stories will not be simple,” says Dr. Laura Berman. “It is often the work of a lifetime. But, here’s the amazing thing: Our thorns can often end up being our secret superpower.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman sits down for an intimate talk with Justin Baldoni, best known for his role as Rafael Solano on “Jane the Virgin.” Baldoni is also a director (“Five Feet Apart” and “Clouds”) and a podcaster (listen to “The Man Enough” podcast here).Solano is also the author of “Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity,” an engaging and daring exploration into what it means to be a ‘man’ in today’s society, and how we are failing boys and men in many ways.On this episode, you will learn:• Why the term ‘toxic masculinity’ can be harmful• How the definition of manhood has shifted in the last few decades, leaving many men struggling to find role models or clear examples of the kind of man they want to be• How dangerous gender roles can be when it comes to young boys who are encouraged to never cry or ask for help• How we can create gender equality without demonizing men or masculinity• How you can find your own definition for masculinity• Why women seem to be attracted to a certain type of masculinity, and how we can reconfigure our desires so that we don’t always go for the ‘bad boys’Check out Justin Baldoni’s Man Enough book here, and keep an eye out for his new guide for middle-schoolers which will be published soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman talks about how Covid has changed the way we date and the way we connect the people around us. Now that Covid sanctions are lifting in many places and we are almost entering a ‘post-pandemic’ lifestyle, Dr. Berman has great advice for anyone looking to heal and to find love after a long, lonely 2 years of isolation.On this episode you will learn:• How the pandemic has changed us on a deep level, even if we are not fully aware of it• How the hidden blessing of the pandemic was that it led people to find what wasn’t working in their life (whether it was their job, their marriage, etc.) and led them to branch out in new and exciting ways• How many people are dealing with emotional and physical changes related to the pandemic, and how we can lean into that discomfort and learn from our experiences• How the pandemic also led many of us to fear human touch and companionship, leaving many people “touch-starved” and longing for cuddling and affection• How you date again in a post-Covid world without forgetting all the important lessons you learned during the pandemicListen now for Dr. Berman’s timely advice about love in the time of Covid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Tara Brach. Brach is an incredible thought-leader in the field of radical self-acceptance, emotional healing, and Buddhist mediation.During their special talk, Brach explains to listeners how you can deepen your practice of self-love and self-acceptance so that you aren’t just working around the edges of unconditional love and surrender, but that you are living and nurturing that state of mind on a moment-by-moment basis.After you have listened to this episode, you will know how to:• Embark on a journey of self-love that goes so much deeper than our culture’s current understanding of self-care and self-esteem• Begin a meditation practice that will be accessible, enjoyable, and a natural part of your daily life• Identify unhealthy thought patterns that undermine your ability to wholly love yourself and accept your whole being• Heal and release toxic family programming that is keeping you from accessing your real powerIf you liked this episode, you can check out Tara Brach’s books Radical Self-Acceptance, Radical Compassion, and Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness to help you as you continue your journey of loving and healing yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman talks about triggers. You’ve probably heard the words “triggered” or “trigger warning” a lot in recent years. And, for good reason: As a nation we are becoming more aware of mental health battles and the importance of being compassionate and supportive when it comes to people’s ‘triggers,’ i.e. those hidden trauma wounds that can be opened up by certain conversations or experiences.But in this episode, Dr. Berman challenges everything you *think* you know about triggers. She will teach listeners:• The difference between being triggered and simply being irritated or upset.• The value of paying attention to our triggers. While we have a knee-jerk reaction to run away from pain or discomfort, Dr. Berman says that our triggers often hold our deepest opportunities for growth and healing.• Realizing that we sometimes use “triggers” as an excuse to avoid difficult conversations or moving out of our comfort zones.• How we can learn our partner’s triggers and navigate those tricky waters as we support them without forcing them to accept help or healing before they are ready.Make sure to tune into this timely episode so you can learn the truth about triggers and how you can better control as well as learn from your ‘trigger’ points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman sits down with Katie and Gay Hendricks. This husband-and-wife duo have transformed the lives of thousands of people with their iconic self-help books, including their New York Times bestseller “Conscious Loving: The Journey to Co-Commitment.”In this episode you will learn:• How to identify and break negative thought patterns that are keeping you from finding love• How to find healing and purpose even when the world feels chaotic and dangerous• How to communicate with your partner in a way that resolves fights rather than amplifies them• How you can influence your partner’s behavior with nothing more than your own energyListen now to hear this inspiring interview with self-help gurus Katie and Gay Hendricks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought about how your body image might be impacting your sex life? Most people don’t realize that the thoughts we have about our bodies can actually inhibit or even prevent us from being able to enjoy sex or reach orgasm.On this episode of “The Language of Love,” Dr. Laura Berman connects the dots between body image and sex, explaining why the pressures of our current society have complicated sexual pleasure for the average person.After listening to this episode, you will know:• How porn has warped our ideas of how naked bodies should look• How negative beliefs about our bodies and genitalia can poison our pleasure in the bedroom• That even men can greatly suffer from poor body image, especially when it comes to the size of their penis or how long they can last in the bedroom• How to begin to release your negative self-talk and create an environment of a compassion and self-love in the bedroom• How studies have shown that our feelings about our genitals and sexual pleasure can prevent women from reaching orgasmSexual pleasure often starts in the mind, so if you want to amplify your intimacy, we often need to begin by addressing our expectations and beliefs about ourselves.To talk to Dr. Laura Berman about your sex, love, or body image issues, contact her on social media or send her an email at languageoflovepod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of “The Language of Love,” media mogul and television star Maria Menounos joins Dr. Laura Berman for an intimate talk about healing, transformation, and whole-body health.Menounos is a cancer survivor who battled brain cancer alongside her mother. She shares how her mother’s brain cancer deeply impacted her life, and how the diagnosis completely shifted her focus and changed her career.On this episode of “The Language of Love,” you will learn:• How caregiving can be depleting and demanding, and how you can lose yourself entirely as you devote yourself to caring for your sick loved one• How women, in particular, can lose their passion, their wellness, and their power as they selflessly care for both their aging parents and their young children• How caregivers often forgo their own medical appointments and their own health because caregiving take everything out of you• How the Covid-19 crisis left so many people struggling to care for their sick loved ones without any support or assistance for themselves• How you can recapture your lost identity and find space for joy, peace, and even sex even during times when you are holding the weight of the world on your shoulder• How grief can come in waves and leave you feeling guilty, or lost, or even empty after your caregiving role has been taken away and your loved one is gone• How you can look to the universe for support and resources even when you’re at your lowest• How you can lose your faith and struggle to feel your loved one after they are goneThis episode will teach you how to find light even in your darkest moments and begin to build joy and magic and passion in your life. Listen now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices