Reimagining Love with Dr. Alexandra Solomon

A listener question about dating after divorce spurs a fascinating discussion between Dr. Alexandra and guest expert Liz Earnshaw, a marriage and family therapist and author of the new book I Want This To Work. Liz and Dr. Alexandra offer encouragement and possibilities to this listener as he considers looking for love in this new chapter.Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Referenced in this episode:Liz Earnshaw's book: I Want This to Work: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating the Most Difficult Relationship Issues We Face in the Modern Agehttps://bookshop.org/books/i-want-this-to-work-an-inclusive-guide-to-navigating-the-most-difficult-relationship-issues-we-face-in-the-modern-age/9781683647959Gottman’s “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-four-horsemen-recognizing-criticism-contempt-defensiveness-and-stonewalling/

The holidays are upon us. How do we want to do things differently this year? Dr. Alexandra discusses how to make the most of gatherings with loved ones, from having compassionate conversations, to taking breaks, to connecting over shared memories.Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Games to spark connection and conversation:Table Topics:https://www.tabletopics.com/Heads Up:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wb.headsup&hl=en_US&gl=USWhere Should We Begin? A Game of Stories (Esther Perel)https://www.estherperel.com/where-should-we-begin-the-gameCatch Phrase:https://www.target.com/p/ultimate-catch-phrase-game/-/A-79749959Love Lingual:https://www.amazon.com/Love-Language-Conversation-Icebreakers-Relationship/dp/B0857JK41W/ref=sr_1_54?keywords=conversation+games&qid=1637347490&sr=8-54Referenced in this episode:Priya Parker in conversation with Krista Tippett:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/priya-parker-remaking-gathering-entering-the-mess/id150892556?i=1000537146183

In this first “Love Stories” episode, Dr. Alexandra sits down in the studio with Moe Ari and his mother, Sandra Brown. Originally assigned female at birth, Moe has used his own gender transition story to help many others discover their authentic voice and navigate the difficult journey of alignment, as a therapist and mindset coach. Moe and Sandra discuss their respective experiences of Moe’s transition, sharing the moments of realization, layers of grief, and unconditional love that allowed them to deepen their relationship through this major transformation.Subscribe to the newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Moe’s website:https://theemoeari.com/moeariMoe’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/loveoutproud/?hl=en Additional resources:Moe Ari on the Mark Groves PodcastThe Gift of Gender Authenticity | Jean Malpas TEDx TalkAckerman Institute's Gender & Family Project

Therapist Shadeen Francis joins Dr. Alexandra to respond to a listener who is interested in opening up her marriage, but is facing resistance from her partner. They use this question as a springboard to explore the topic of disclosed non-monogamy, unmet needs, mental health and communication in a long-term partnership.Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Shadeen’s Website:https://shadeenfrancis.com/Shadeen’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shadeenfrancis/Terry Real's book, "I Don't Want to Talk About It":https://terryreal.com/product/i-dont-want-to-talk-about-it/ Learn more about the topics covered in this episode:The Flexibility of Female Sexuality with Wednesday Martin (The Psychology Podcast)Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma, and Consensual Nonmonogamy (Jessica Fern)Relationship Bill of Rights (Eve Rickert and Franklin Veaux)

Nick Viall starred on the 21st season of ABC’s The Bachelor and hosts the popular podcast The Viall Files, where he discusses all things Bachelor Nation. On this episode, Dr. Alexandra chats with Nick about the national conversations that The Bachelor franchise spurs about relationships, gender, and dating, and how these conversations can be both productive and divisive. Nick shares experiences and tools from his own relationship and helps Dr. Alexandra answer a listener question about defensiveness. (CW: brief mention of sexual harassment & abuse)Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Dr. Alexandra Solomon: A Clinical Look at the Break-Up of Katie & Greg (The Viall Files):https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-alexandra-solomon-a-clinical-look-at-the-break/id1448210981?i=1000531152178Breaking Down Marriage 101 with Dr. Alexandra Solomon (The Viall Files):https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-down-marriage-101-with-dr-alexandra-solomon/id1448210981?i=1000505891430Nick's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nickviall/

Dr. Alexandra is joined by guest expert Dr. Adia Gooden for an in-depth discussion about loving across a cultural difference. Together they answer a listener question and then broaden out to discuss racial, ethnic, religious, and political differences in intimate partnerships. Dr. Alexandra and Dr. Gooden validate the challenges these couples will likely face while also highlighting the beautiful possibilities for growth, richness, and respect between two individuals with different origin stories. This episode also explores the ways that cross-cultural relationships have the potential to send positive reverberations through families, communities, and beyond.Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Dr. Adia Gooden’s website:https://dradiagooden.com/Pew: Intermarriage in the U.S. 50 Years After Loving v. Virginia:https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/05/18/intermarriage-in-the-u-s-50-years-after-loving-v-virginia/Pew: Interfaith marriage is common in U.S., particularly among the recently wed:https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/02/interfaith-marriage/Pew: Shared religious beliefs in marriage important to some, but not all, married Americans:https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/27/shared-religious-beliefs-in-marriage-important-to-some-but-not-all-married-americans/

When one partner is ready and committed to doing the deep emotional work of improving a relationship, and the other partner is not quite there yet, it can feel like a difference that is impossible to bridge. In this solo episode, Dr. Alexandra explores “Relational Self-Awareness Discrepancies,” sharing tools and ideas that couples can use to generate empathy and move to a place of understanding and growth when faced with this common issue.Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Mentioned in this episode:Dr. Gabor Mate: https://drgabormate.com/Dr. Sue Johnson: https://drsuejohnson.com/

How do we reconnect with our loved ones, and ourselves, during times of global crisis? On this episode, Dr. Alexandra is joined by renowned psychotherapist and author Esther Perel to puzzle through this pressing question. You may recognize Esther’s voice from her celebrated TED talks, which have garnered more than 30 million views. Her bestselling books delve into topics of desire, infidelity, and sustaining mystery and excitement in long-term relationships. Together, Esther and Alexandra address a nuanced listener question about whether to move forward with a relationship that has fallen flat during the COVID-19 lockdown. They also share information about Esther’s upcoming conference, Sessions Live, which is dedicated to therapists, coaches, and other professionals who help people navigate the complexities of modern relationships. Reimagining Love listeners can get a discount on their Sessions Live ticket by using the code “reimagininglove” at checkout: https://sessions.estherperel.com/sessions-live-2021Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Mentioned in this episode:Terry Real:https://terryreal.com/UCSF burnout study:https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/04/420231/frontline-health-workers-across-us-faced-unique-stressors-during-covid-19The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller:https://bookshop.org/books/the-wild-edge-of-sorrow-rituals-of-renewal-and-the-sacred-work-of-grief/9781583949764Adam Grant on Languishinghttps://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grant_how_to_stop_languishing_and_start_finding_flowLisa Fortuna:https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/lisa-fortuna/Rachel Botsman:https://rachelbotsman.com/

Reimagining Love with Dr. Alexandra Solomon is your destination for profound, enlightening discussions about love, family, intimacy, and everything in between — a podcast that gives us the opportunity to reimagine ourselves, our relationships, and our world. Hosted by renowned clinical psychologist, professor, and award-winning author Dr. Alexandra Solomon, featuring conversations with notable guests from the worlds of therapy, academia, and pop-culture.To join our conversation about the relationships that matter most, subscribe or follow the podcast today.(Guest voices include: Esther Perel, Nick Viall, Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, Dr. Adia Gooden, Shadeen Francis)Subscribe to Dr. Alexandra’s Newsletter:https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/