Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

About Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Every Monday morning step into the office of iconic psychotherapist Esther Perel on "Where Should We Begin" and listen in as real people in search of insight bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their stories. From breakups and open relationships to workplace conflicts and fractures in the family, it’s a place to hear our own stories reflected in the lives of others. So…where should we begin? For an ad-free version of our podcast, plus bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and more, visit our Office Hours section.

Publisher

frte

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 May 2017

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 159 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Can I Still Be a Good Man if I Leave?

   Esther Perel guides an anonymous man questioning his marriage's future and his own identity in this interview episode.

2. 

   12 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   I Want You To Want Me

   Esther Perel interviews an anonymous couple navigating a significant sexual desire mismatch, exploring paths beyond divorce for their relationship.

3. 

   28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   My Ex, His AI Girlfriend, And Our Kids

   After the end of a fifteen-year marriage, she is trying to make sense of something she never imagined would become part of her family's story: her ex-husband's love affair with an AI companion. As her children struggle to make sense of what is real and what isn't, she turns to Esther for guidance on how to keep them grounded without invalidating their experience. How do you help your children trust reality without asking them to choose between their parents? Esther Callings are a one time, 45-60 minute interventional phone call with Esther. They are edited for time, clarity, and anonymity. If you have a question you would like to talk through with Esther, send a voice memo to producer@estherperel.com. Producer’s Note: When our anonymous guests do a session with Esther for the podcast, it is an act of generosity for everyone who listens. These sessions are meant not only to support the people in the room with Esther, but all of us who learn from their stories. Our stories have many chapters, and what you hear is just one moment in someone’s journey. So even though the sessions are anonymous, please remember that real people are behind them and they may be reading your comments. Also, please join me on Entre Nous, my new home on Substack for anyone who wants to live, love, and work with more connection and imagination. I invite you to sign up and become a free or paid member at estherperel.substack.com

Inside a recent episode

Can I Still Be a Good Man if I Leave?

Published 19 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I'm sort of speculating about why in light of the sort of like consistent failure to meet me where my needs are and me still feeling obligated to stay. In therapy, I've been talking about like, why do I feel this strong pull towards preservation of the family unit as it's currently constructed? And this has been my best guess as to why I feel this way. When you say failure to meet me, do you think your wife would say the same thing? She's in her therapy to discuss your failure to meet her? No, I don't think so. And when you talk about not being safe, what are you talking about? I've expressed openly to her in therapeutic contexts and non-therapeutic contexts about how lonely I feel and how much I miss not just the intimate touch, but the presence and her availability and her time and her attention. […]

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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