The Psychology of Relationships

Episodios

• The Psychology Behind Infidelity: Why People Cheat w/ Dr. Nicolle Zapien 18.06.2026 48m

  Infidelity is one of the most painful experiences in relationships—but the psychology behind why people cheat is often far more complex than betrayal alone. Dr. Nicolle Zapien, licensed psychotherapist and sex therapist, joins Julie & Yue to unpack the emotional, relational, and psychological factors that can lead to infidelity. Together, they explore what cheating reveals about attachment, unmet needs, emotional disconnection, and personal responsibility, along with the difficult question many couples face afterward: can trust truly be rebuilt? In this episode, you’ll learn: - The most common psychological drivers behind infidelity - Why some people may be more prone to cheating patterns - How unmet needs and emotional disconnection play a role - What rebuilding trust after betrayal actually requires - How to determine whether reconciliation is possible To learn more about Dr. Nicolle Zapien visit https://www.drzapien.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Love Is Not Enough: Why You Stay in the Wrong Relationships (Even When You Know Better) w/ Mark Manson 11.06.2026 47m

  Love can make us believe that if the feelings are strong enough, everything else will work itself out. But lasting relationships require more than chemistry or attraction. Mark Manson, bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* and Love Is Not Enough, joins Julie & Yue to unpack why people stay stuck in situationships, chase unavailable partners, or settle for relationships that no longer serve them. He explains why compatibility matters just as much as passion, how emotional patterns keep us repeating the same cycles, and why healthy relationships require both emotional connection and practical alignment. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why love alone doesn’t guarantee a healthy relationship - How compatibility differs from chemistry and attraction - Why people stay stuck in unhealthy relationship dynamics - The role emotional patterns play in repeating cycles - How to approach relationships with both heart and clarity  To learn more about Mark Manson, follow him @markmanson and visit markmanson.net Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Why Heartbreak Can Become Your Biggest Breakthrough w/ John Kim 04.06.2026 45m

  Breakups have a way of forcing us to confront the patterns we often avoid seeing in relationships. Whether it’s a slow fade, an almost-relationship, or a breakup you never fully processed, endings can reveal a lot about attachment, emotional availability, and the dynamics we keep repeating. John Kim—licensed therapist, author of Breakup. On Purpose., and host of The Angry Therapist podcast—joins Julie & Yue to unpack the psychology behind modern breakups and why endings can become powerful catalysts for growth instead of proof of failure. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why some relationships slowly lose momentum over time - The psychology behind almost-relationships and ambiguity - How attachment patterns shape breakups and healing - Why endings can create opportunities for self-awareness - How to move forward with more clarity and emotional insight To learn more about John Kim, follow him @theangrytherapist and visit theangrytherapist.com Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Breaking Free from Anxious Attachment: Calming Your Nervous System in Love w/ Kirstie Taylor 28.05.2026 52m

  Do you find yourself overthinking, seeking constant reassurance, or fearing abandonment when dating or in relationships? These patterns often signal an anxious attachment style—but anxiety doesn’t have to control your love life. In this episode, Kirstie Taylor, dating coach, writer, and author of What I Wish I Knew About Love, breaks down why anxiety heightens sensitivity to shifts in connection, how it impacts communication and conflict, and how to distinguish intuition from fear-driven reactions. In this episode, we share practical tools to strengthen self-trust, regulate anxious thoughts, and reshape core beliefs about love and worthiness. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How anxious attachment shapes your experiences in relationships • Why reassurance-seeking and overthinking happen • How to tell fear-driven reactions from intuition • Tools to strengthen self-trust and emotional regulation • How to build secure, fulfilling connection from the inside out To learn more about Kirstie Taylor, follow her @kirstietaylorr and visit https://kirstietaylor.com Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Life After Divorce: How Your Ending Can Actually Become An Exciting New Beginning w/ Alicia Roberson 21.05.2026 54m

  Divorce. For some, it’s a lived experience. For others, it’s a quiet fear in the back of every serious relationship. In this episode, divorce expert and coach Alicia Robertson reframes the “D word” as a turning point rather than a failure. She explains how fear of endings can keep people stuck in misaligned relationships or avoiding love altogether, and how understanding these fears can lead to growth, clarity, and deeper self-trust. Alicia also shares practical strategies for moving forward, healing past narratives, and approaching relationships from a place of alignment and confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why fear of divorce can hold you back in relationship • How identity, shame, and cultural narratives shape relationship fears • Strategies for moving on without bitterness • How to approach new relationships with clarity and self-trust • Why endings can create space for more aligned love To learn more about Alicia Robertson, follow her @lemonadelifecoach and visit https://lemonadelife.ca/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Partners (And How To Reset Your Romantic GPS) w/ Marc Sholes 14.05.2026 40m

  Ever feel like you keep ending up with the same “type” of partner even when it hasn’t worked out before? You might be unconsciously choosing the wrong people and repeating patterns that keep you stuck. Julie & Yue are joined by Marc Sholes, Psychotherapist and author of Reset Your Romantic GPS, to explore why we’re drawn to familiar but unfulfilling partner types. He explains the ways attachment styles influence our choices, why awareness can help you break the cycle, and how to distinguish a rough patch from true incompatibility—so you can make healthier, more fulfilling relationship choices. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why you keep choosing the same “type” of partner • How attachment styles shape your patterns • Signs a relationship is worth working through versus letting go • Practical strategies to identify triggers and subconscious tendencies • How to make choices that lead to healthier, more aligned relationships To learn more about Marc Sholes, follow him @marcsholes and visit https://marcsholeslcsw.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Rewriting the Story You Learned About Love: How to Heal the Childhood Wounds Affecting Your Adult Relationships w/ Vienna Pharaon 07.05.2026 56m

  Early experiences quietly shape how we attach, communicate, and handle conflict in adult relationships—without us even realizing it. In this episode, Vienna Pharaon, marriage and family therapist and author of The Origins of You, explores the five core childhood wounds many carry into adulthood. She explains how these wounds can appear as avoidance, people-pleasing, fear of abandonment, or staying stuck in unhealthy patterns—and why they were protective strategies, not flaws. Vienna also shares practical tools to heal these patterns so your past informs you without defining your future. In this episode, you’ll learn: The five core childhood wounds and how they show up in relationships Why early protective strategies can later limit intimacy How attachment styles, emotional triggers, and beliefs about love are formed Tools for identifying the narratives driving your relationship choices How to heal old patterns to build healthier, more connected relationships  To learn more about Vienna Pharaon, follow @mindfulmft and visit https://viennapharaon.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Science of Strong Partnerships: Why Relational Intelligence Matters From Early Dating To Years In w/ Dr. Adam Bandelli 30.04.2026 43m

  Strong, lasting relationships aren’t just about chemistry or shared interests—they’re about how we relate to each other every day. Julie & Yue sit down with Dr. Adam Bandelli, psychologist and relational intelligence expert, to dive into why relational intelligence is essential for deep, meaningful connections. He shows how tuning into your partner’s emotions, responding with empathy, and communicating with intention can deepen trust, create emotional safety, and help your relationship grow stronger over time. Dr. Bandelli also breaks down the five core skills of relational intelligence, showing why empathy, attunement, and rapport impact the relationship from its early stages to months and decades in. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What Relational Intelligence is and why it matters • The five essential skills for building trust and connection • Why empathy and attunement matter more than chemistry • How relational intelligence strengthens intimacy • Ways to make your relationship more resilient To learn more about Dr. Adam Bandelli, follow him @adambandelli and visit https://bandelliandassociates.com Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The New 7 Love Styles: What Modern Research Reveals About Love Languages w/ Molly Owens of Truity Psychometrics 23.04.2026 45m

  For decades, the 5 Love Languages have shaped how we understand connection—but relationships, culture, and expectations have evolved, and our framework for love might need an update. In this episode, Molly Owens, CEO and founder of Truity, introduces the 7 Love Styles, a modern evolution of how we give and receive love. She explains why love languages still resonate, where they fall short today, and how these updated styles reflect changes in identity, communication, and partnership dynamics. Molly explains what your love style reveals about your relational strengths and areas for growth—and how that awareness can transform the way you show up in relationships, both new and long-term. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why love languages still matter – and what they miss today • How the 7 Love Styles reflect modern relationship dynamics • The connection between love styles and attachment, personality, and emotional patterns • How misreading love styles creates friction and disconnection • How awareness of your style (and your partners) can deepen communication and intimacy To learn more about Truity, follow @truitylabs and take the assessment at https://www.truity.com/test/love-styles-test Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Choosing Marriage (Or Not): Deciding If Marriage Is Right for You w/ Allison Raskin 16.04.2026 49m

  With marriage rates on the decline, do people still want to get married—and why does it still carry so much emotional and cultural weight? In this episode, Julie & Yue sit down with Allison Raskin, mental health advocate, relationship coach, and author of I Do. I Think?: Conversations About Modern Marriage, to unpack what marriage looks like today, how societal pressures shape our choices, and why committing can feel both deeply personal and overwhelming. She shares her own journey from a broken engagement to marrying her now-husband along with practical guidance on navigating differing timelines, managing fear, and clarifying what you truly want versus what you’ve been told to want. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why marriage continues to hold emotional and cultural significance today • How societal expectations influence your decisions about commitment • Strategies for navigating differing timelines or desires around marriage • How to separate what you truly want from external pressures • Ways to approach commitment with clarity, confidence, and intention To learn more about Allison Raskin, follow her @allisonraskin and visit https://www.allisonraskin.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Why So Many Men Are Struggling in Modern Love (And What We Can Do About It) w/ Dr Greg Matos 09.04.2026 45m

  Why are so many men struggling to connect today? And what does that mean if you’re trying to date and have relationships with men? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Greg Matos, psychologist and author of the viral article “What’s Behind The Rise of Lonely, Single Men,” to explore the shifting relationship standards, changing gender roles, and the widespread lack of skills—like emotional literacy and communication—that are essential for building and sustaining meaningful connections. We dive into the underlying patterns driving loneliness, practical insights on taking responsibility, and strategies to improve connection, communication, and relational competence—no matter your relationship status, gender or sexuality. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why loneliness is on the rise and how it intersects with gender and social norms • How outdated relationship expectations create unfulfilled connections • The skills deficit in communication, emotional literacy, and relational competance • How to take responsibility and foster personal growth in relationships • Strategist for building healthier, more connected partnerships To learn more about Dr. Greg Matos, follow him at @drgregmatos or visit https://www.matospsychologicalconsulting.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Psychology of Love Bombing: Why Fast Love Isn’t Always Safe Love w/ Dr Diane Strachowski 02.04.2026 59m

  Love can feel intoxicating at the beginning—constant attention, big gestures, nonstop affection. And when it feels that good, the last thing anyone wants to question is whether it’s actually healthy. So how do you tell the difference between genuine romantic enthusiasm and manipulation disguised as devotion? In this episode, Julie & Yue are joined by Dr. Diane Strachowski, licensed psychologist and relationship expert, to unpack the psychology behind love bombing and why it can be so difficult to recognize in the moment. This episode explains how early intensity can sometimes mask control, why certain attachment styles are especially vulnerable to these patterns, and how to stay open to love without ignoring red flags. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What love bombing actually is—and why it’s often misunderstood • The subtle early signs that attention and affection may be crossing into manipulation • How attachment styles can make love bombing feel especially magnetic • Why real intimacy is built on consistency rather than intensity • How to pace connection while still allowing chemistry to develop To learn more about Dr. Diane Strachowski, follow her @backtolovedoc and visit https://doctor-diane.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Compatibility Explained: What Actually Predicts Lasting Love & Relationships w/ Eli Finkel 26.03.2026 53m

  How do you actually know if someone is a good match for you—not just on paper or in the early spark, but in a way that lasts over time? So much of modern dating emphasizes chemistry, shared interests, and surface-level alignment, yet research shows those factors aren’t the strongest predictors of long-term relationship satisfaction. In this episode, Julie & Yue are joined by Eli Finkel, social psychologist and Director of the Relationships & Motivation Lab at Northwestern University, to challenge what we think compatibility means. Drawing from decades of research, Eli explains why compatibility isn’t something you discover—it’s something you actively build through growth, responsiveness, and shared meaning. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why chemistry and similarity are often overrated in partner selection • How compatibility evolves once you’re in a relationship • What the Michelangelo Effect reveals about healthy long-term love • Why emotional support and responsiveness matter more than shared hobbies • How to evaluate potential partners with a growth-oriented mindset To learn more about Eli Finkel, visit https://www.elifinkel.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Hidden Cost of Avoidant Attachment: Why Pushing People Away Doesn’t Protect You w/ Kylie McBeath 19.03.2026 54m

  Ever notice how wanting closeness can suddenly make you feel trapped or how independence can quietly turn into emotional distance? To continue the conversation from last week, Julie & Yue chat with Mark's now-wife Kylie McBeath, relationship educator, co-author of Liberated Love, and someone who didn’t just study avoidant patterns, but lived them. Kylie opens up about why she ended a relationship she deeply cared about and chose a “no man diet” to confront what was really driving her push–pull dynamic. This episode explores the psychology of avoidance, how self-protection can disguise itself as strength, and why stepping back from dating can sometimes be the most powerful move toward secure love. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How avoidant patterns form and why they’re often misunderstood • Why independence can mask emotional self-protection • What intentional pauses reveal about attachment and safety • How internal security is built without relying on a partner • Why slowing down can lead to more grounded, lasting connection To learn more about Kylie McBeath, follow her @beingisbeautiful and visit https://www.kyliemcbeath.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Real Work of Love: Healing Attachment Wounds & Choosing Growth in Relationships w/ Mark Groves 12.03.2026 1h

  When one person pulls away and the other leans in harder, the result is often frustration, confusion, and emotional exhaustion. In this episode, Julie & Yue talk with Mark Groves—human connection specialist, author, and founder of Create the Love—about what it takes to step out of the anxious–avoidant cycle and into a more secure form of partnership. Drawing from both research and lived experience, Mark shares how taking responsibility for his own triggers and emotional responses transformed his relationship. This conversation reframes healing not as fixing your partner, but as changing the patterns you bring into connection. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why runner–chaser dynamics feel so hard to escape • How anxious and avoidant patterns reinforce each other • What self-responsibility actually looks like in relationships • Why awareness and repair matter more than blame • How secure relationships are built through choice, not chemistry To learn more about Mark Groves, follow him @itsmarkgroves and visit https://www.createthelove.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• Quieting the Clock: Letting Go of Timeline Anxiety in Love & Life w/ Beth Gulotta 05.03.2026 50m

  There’s a quiet pressure many people carry: the feeling that they’re running out of time. Time to find love. Time to settle down. Time to make it all happen before the clock says otherwise. In this episode, Julie & Yue are joined by therapist and advocate Beth Gulotta to explore how societal timelines—especially around love, fertility, and partnership—shape our anxiety and decision-making. Through the lens of psychology, Beth breaks down how social comparison and time pressure can distort our choices, and why meeting love later in life often comes with more clarity, emotional maturity, and intention. This conversation invites a redefinition of what it means to be “on time,” while still honoring real biological and emotional realities. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why societal timelines create stress and rushed relationship decisions • How social comparison fuels anxiety around love and fertility • What psychology says about partnering later in life • How to balance biological realties with value-aligned choices • Ways to reclaim agency over your relationship and life timeline To learn more about Beth Gulotta, follow her @bethgulotta and visit https://www.bethgulotta.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Saboteurs That Are Killing Your Relationships w/ Shirzad Chamine 26.02.2026 1h 4m

  You’ve probably heard of IQ and EQ—but what if the missing piece in your relationships is PQ? In this episode, Julie and Yue are joined by Shirzad Chamine, bestselling author and creator of Positive Intelligence, to unpack how our inner saboteurs quietly undermine relationships. Drawing from neuroscience and cognitive psychology, Shirzad explains why we’re wired to judge ourselves and our partners, how the nine saboteurs show up in dating and long-term relationships, and what happens when we let them run the show. Together, they explore how building positive intelligence helps interrupt reactivity, reduce self-sabotage, and create more fulfilling, emotionally resilient relationships. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What Positive Intelligence (PQ) Is—and Why It Matters in Relationships • The 9 Saboteurs That Appear in Every Relationship • Why Judgment Is Hardwired Into the Brain (and How to Interrupt It) • How Saboteurs Create Conflict, Distance, and Self-Sabotage in Love • Practical Ways to Strengthen Your PQ Muscles • How to Respond to Triggers With Curiosity Instead of Reactivity • How Higher PQ Leads to Healthier, More Fulfilling Relationships To learn more about Shirzad Chamine: follow @shirzadchamine and visit https://www.positiveintelligence.com Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• When Your Marriage Nearly Falls Apart: Lessons in Repair & Reconnection w/ Casey & Meygan Caston 19.02.2026 45m

  Relationships don’t fall apart overnight—they erode through unresolved conflict, unmet needs, and missed opportunities for repair. In this episode, Julie & Yue are joined by Casey and Meygan Caston from Marriage365, marriage coaches and authors of The Marriage Habit and 365 Connecting Questions for Couples, to explore how their own marriage nearly collapsed and what it took to rebuild it. Drawing from both their personal journey and their work with hundreds of thousands of couples, they break down the patterns, expectations, and myths about marriage that often go unnoticed, and show how lasting love is possible when couples have the tools, awareness, and intentional practices to repair, reconnect, and thrive together. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why conflict isn’t the problem, but avoidance and defensiveness often are • Key green and red flags to notice early in a relationship • Cultural and modern myths about marriage that can sabotage relationships • How to rebuild emotional safety, trust, and intimacy after disconnection • Tools for maintaining a thriving, resilient relationship over the long term To learn more about Casey and Meygan, follow them @marriage365 and visit https://marriage365.com/ Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Science of Lasting Happiness (Inside & Outside Of Relationships) w/ Dr. Laurie Santos 12.02.2026 46m

  We often assume that love, marriage, or having children is the key to happiness—but research tells a more complicated story. In this episode, Julie & Yue are talking with Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor, psychologist, and host of The Happiness Lab, to explore the science of well-being and how that relates to our relationships with others. Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Santos explains how to feel fulfilled in love without relying on someone else to make you happy, ways to shift your focus from external achievements to internal well-being, and why relationships, while important, are only part of what creates lasting joy. In this episode, you’ll learn:• What The Arrival Fallacy Is And Why Achieving Goals Often Fails To Boost Happiness• How The U-Shaped Happiness Curve Explains Satisfaction Across Life Stages• Why Social Connection Alone Isn't Enough For Fulfillment• Research-backed Habits To Increase Personal Happiness And Emotional Resilience• How Prioritizing Your Own Well-Being Improves Dating, Relationships, and ConnectionTo learn more about Dr. Laurie Santos, follow her @lauriesantos and visit https://www.thehappinesslab.comWant to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOWOur Sponsors:* Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com* The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
• The Truth About Relationships: What’s Confusing, Frustrating, and Totally Normal w/ Todd Baratz 05.02.2026 44m

  Love is supposed to feel good—so why does it so often feel confusing, activating, and emotionally exhausting? Even in the healthiest relationships, we can feel anxious, irritated, or like we’re “losing our mind,” which often leads to the quiet panic of wondering whether something is wrong with us or the relationship itself. Julie and Yue sit down with Todd Baratz, therapist and author of ‘How To Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind’ for a raw, unfiltered look at why love brings out our deepest insecurities, needs, and patterns. Todd breaks down why losing your mind in relationships is normal, how cognitive biases distort the way we evaluate partners, and why frustration doesn’t automatically mean you’re with the wrong person. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why Even Healthy Relationships Activate Anxiety, Doubt, and Emotional Intensity • How Cognitive Biases Shape The Way You Judge Your Partner And Your Relationships • What Frustration in Love Is Really Signaling (And What It's Not) • Why 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' Keeps People Stuck • The Question That Actually Leads to Clarity, Self-Trust, and Relational Growth To learn more about Todd, visit toddbaratz.com and follow him on Instagram @yourdiagnonsense Want to feel more connected to your partner? Download Brick and get 10% off at https://www.getbrick.app/PORSHOW Our Sponsors: * Get Behind Closed Doors wherever books are sold or at Kensington Publishing https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Ruggable: Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code POR at ruggable.com * TaskRabbit: Get $15 off your first task with code POR through the Taskrabbit app or on https://taskrabbit.com * The Throne of Broken Gods: Go get the book wherever books are sold or through https://www.kensingtonbooks.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy