Reimagining Love

Parents of adolescents can sometimes feel like they’re in a tough spot: they get so much pushback and can lose their confidence when it comes to talking about the topics that really matter such as romance and love. Additionally, many parents don’t feel up to the task of talking with their teens about this subject—often because they’re still making sense of their own relationship journeys. In her new book, First Love: Guiding Teens through Relationships and Heartbreak, journalist, author, and professor Lisa A. Phillips reminds us that all adults are really still recovering from being teenagers, and that they bring their own experiences and ideas of first love into conversations with their kids. In this episode, Dr. Alexandra chats with Lisa about how our society has a tendency to demean and devalue fist love, the fact that most adolescents wish their parents spoke with them about relationships, and why a crush really is a milestone, too. They also explore how parents bring their own experiences and biases to these conversations, and often let their own fears and hang-ups stop them from having this important dialog in the first place."Your Anxiety Toolkit" on MasterClass: www.masterclass.com/youranxietytoolkitFirst Love: Guiding Teens Through Relationships and Heartbreak by Lisa A. PhillipsFrom WAMU’s 1A: How to talk our teens through their first heartbreaks, featuring Lisa A. Phillips, Alexandra Solomon, and Lauren Hamilton, hosted by Jenn White.Lisa’s websiteOrder Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question

Breakups are heart-wrenching at any age, but when a partner leaves suddenly after three decades of marriage, it takes a lot of time to pick up the pieces. When Suzy Hopkins had this experience, she decided to team up with her illustrator daughter Hallie Bateman to channel her pain into a creative project, and their book, What To Do When You Get Dumped: A Guide to Unbreaking Your Heart, came to life. Suzy had a rich career in journalism including founding her own magazine, and Hallie is a writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in places like the New Yorker and the New York Times Magazine. This is the second book Hallie and Suzy have made together, and on today’s episode, they’re giving us an inside look at what creating this illustrated guide entailed and how healing the creative process was for both of them. Dr. Alexandra chats with them about some of the most painful aspects of breakups, and they explore the incredible renewal that can occur in the wake of loss, when we are able to accept support from those we love and summon the courage to reimagine our lives. "Your Anxiety Toolkit" on MasterClass: www.masterclass.com/youranxietytoolkitWhat to Do When You Get Dumped by Suzy Hopkins & Hallie BatemanHallie’s websiteOrder Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question

Today, we are excited to share Dr. Alexandra’s recent interview on the Signal Award-winning podcast No Small Endeavor. Produced by PRX and Great Feeling Studios, the podcast explores what it means to live a good life with the help of courageous and impassioned guests like renowned happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, Hidden Brain podcast host Shankar Vedantam, and New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell.In this specific episode, host and theologian Lee C. Camp and Dr. Solomon discuss insights from her book, "Loving Bravely,” as well as the secrets to thriving intimacy, mastering the art of apology, and staying truly present with your partner. Not to mention she shares practical tools for navigating the inevitable challenges of long-term love.  Listen to more episodes of No Small Endeavor here: https://lnk.to/D28Fv3

In this lively discussion, Dr. Sue Varma, a distinguished psychiatrist and author of Practical Optimism, takes us on a journey through the art of cultivating a positive mindset. She dispels the myth that optimism is purely innate, emphasizing that practical optimism can be developed. Dr. Varma highlights the importance of self-compassion and finding your soul's purpose as keys to long-term optimism. She also shares how intentional relationships and even intentional aloneness can enhance our emotional well-being. Get ready to rethink your approach to life's challenges!

Cathy Heller, a coach and spiritual guide, shares her wisdom on cultivating inner abundance and the importance of the Law of Reception. She emphasizes that true joy and connection come from within, not from external achievements. The conversation dives into meditation practices that foster personal growth and healing in relationships. Cathy explains how tuning into feelings of love can transform perceptions of life, encouraging listeners to embrace mindfulness and appreciate the present, leading to a richer, more abundant existence.

Few topics are more relevant to our day-to-day lives than work. For many of us, our jobs are more than just occupations—they’re where we achieve goals, make meaning, experience successes and failures, and cultivate our self-esteem. So, when work and love collide, we find ourselves at a rich intersection of emotions, expectations, and needs. In this episode, Dr. Alexandra uncovers why fighting with your partner about work is never just that, and shares tools you can use to cultivate intimacy and ambition simultaneously. You’ll learn about what Dr. Alexandra calls “the Work-Love Matrix,” understand the connections between your experience in the workplace and your experience growing up in your Family-of-Origin, and hear a five-step practice you can use today to have more supportive conversations about work with your partner.Further Listening: Is Work Stress Taking a Toll on Your Relationship? (Reimagining Love)Order Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question

Unravel the compelling concept of 'effort mismatch' in relationships, where one partner seeks growth while the other embraces the status quo. Discover how these contrasting styles can lead to misunderstandings yet also serve as a powerful asset. Explore the emotional dynamics of acceptance and change, and learn strategies to navigate these differences effectively. With insightful anecdotes and practical guidance, this discussion reveals how embracing paradox can foster deeper connections and emotional growth.

Today, we're sharing an episode of LinkedIn's Everyday Better podcast! Dr. Alexandra recently joined host Leah Smart for a conversation about relationships and work. Learn more below and enjoy this bonus episode!The research is clear: how satisfied you feel at work impacts the quality of your relationships at home, and the quality of your relationships at home impacts the way you show up at work. That’s why Dr. Alexandra Solomon wants you to think more deeply about the work-related arguments you have with your partner. Whether you and your partner disagree about how much money you each should make, how many hours you should work, or whether a career is for finding meaning or having financial security, this is fraught terrain, rife with opportunities for conflict.In this conversation, Alexandra explains why, as a couple’s therapist, she has turned her focus towards the intersection between work and relationships. We explore how to be more relationally self-aware at work and what to do when work stress comes home with you.Later, Leah and Alexandra are joined by a special guest: Leah’s husband, Tim. Together, they examine what happens when people with different orientations towards ambition become partners.Links:Everyday Better on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyFollow Leah Smart on LinkedInLinkedIn’s award-winning podcast Everyday Better with Leah Smart isn’t just another self-help podcast; it’s a life compass for listeners. Whether you’re contemplating a career change or searching for your purpose in life, Everyday Better host Leah Smart is here for you.As an educator in self-improvement and positive psychology, Leah brings transformational conversations and actionable insights for improving your well-being.Each Tuesday, Leah sits down with expert guests who use science and story to share strategies for how we can flourish individually, in relationship to others and to the world around us. Episodes cover everything from tips for improving your sleep routine and reducing stress to insights into how to reexamine your relationship with work.You can find new episodes of Everyday Better wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.

You likely know today’s guest, Diego Perez, by his pen name: Yung Pueblo. He has an online audience of over 4 million people and is a New York Times bestselling author, whose books have been translated into over 25 languages. Diego’s work focuses on the power of self-healing, creating healthy relationships, and cultivating self-awareness, and his meditation practice is central to all that he shares with the world. He and Dr. Alexandra discuss all of that in this conversation, as they dig into the lessons and reflections he’s woven together in his new book, How to Love Better: The Path to Deeper Connection Through Growth, Kindness, and Compassion. They dive into what it means to argue and disagree peacefully with a partner, the power of meditation, and why it’s important to work with the universe, not against it. Diego also opens up about his own love story with his wife, Sarah. They wrap things up by exploring a question together from a listener in Chicago who is feeling doubts in her relationship and isn’t sure about the way forward. How to Love Better: The Path to Deeper Connection Through Growth, Kindness, and Compassion by Yung PuebloDiego’s Instagram @yung_puebloDiego’s websiteOrder Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question

Are you stressed? According to physician and stress expert Dr. Aditi Nerurkar’s research, the answer is most likely “YES.” Whether it’s due to pressure at work, the unrelenting deluge of news, care responsibilities, or relationship challenges (or all of the above!), it’s understandable that most of us feel overwhelmed. But when old coping strategies aren’t working anymore and life feels unmanageable, it takes a toll on our brains, bodies and longevity. Dr. Aditi joins Dr. Alexandra on today’s episode for a transformative conversation, centered on her bestselling book “The Five Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body For Less Stress and More Resilience.” Dr. Aditi is a Harvard stress expert, medical doctor, and researcher who is committed to offering actionable, practical, and science-backed approaches to reimagining your relationship with everyday stress and burnout. They discuss the solutions she shares in her book, which will empower you to develop the right kind of resilience, the kind that will allow you to move through challenges with patience and stability. And Dr. Aditi also shares her three second brain reset, “Stop, Breathe, Be” for listeners to try out.Relevant Links:The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience by Dr. Aditi NerurkarDr. Aditi’s websiteOrder Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every DaySubscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s NewsletterSubmit a Listener Question