In this episode, I talk to renowned psychotherapist and author Esther Perel about love and relationships. We tackle the true essence of the word “eros” and “freedom” in the context of romantic relationships. Esther offers her perspective on marriage and affairs, getting to the root cause of why people cheat. With the redefinition of fidelity and sexuality, our current society is still learning how to navigate new patterns of relationships. We also touch on the topics of soulmates, masculinity, how to keep passion alive during a global pandemic, and Esther’s practice as a cross-cultural therapist. BioEsther Perel is a psychotherapist and a New York Times bestselling author, recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she hones a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 30 million views and her best-selling books Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin? And How’s Work? Her latest project is Where Should we Begin − A Game of Stories with Esther Perel. Website: www.estherperel.com/ Instagram: @estherperelofficial Topics 00:02:14 Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic 00:05:04 Social connection during the pandemic 00:10:41 “The erotic is an antidote to death” 00:16:02 True freedom in relationships 00:21:05 Soulmates don’t exist 00:25:38 Why people in happy marriages cheat 00:33:54 Where Should We Begin? 00:38:00 Redefining marriage, fidelity, and sexuality 00:45:30 Esther’s cross-cultural approach to therapy 00:48:35 Esther’s interest in cultural transitions, identity, and relationships 00:54:01 The masculine obsession with power 00:59:13 The Great Adaptation