Can Our Love Survive Our Differences?

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

Esther Perel Global Media

Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Self-improvement

4.7 • 16.4K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2026

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

They met dancing, and it was love at first sight. But only after they began dating did they realize the vast differences between them: differences in their core values, religious beliefs, political affiliations, sexual identities, and immigration statuses. And yet, they love each other deeply and hope to start a family together. He comes to Esther wondering how to raise children with someone who holds such different values from him and his family. Her question is deeper: by loving him, is she betraying herself? 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	None of the voices in this series are ongoing patients of Esther Perel.
0:05.0	Each episode of Where Should We Begin is a one-time counseling session.
0:10.0	For the purposes of maintaining confidentiality, names and some identifiable characteristics have been removed,
0:17.0	but their voices and their stories are real.
0:28.7	Olivia Culpo here to tell you all about the launch of the new Abercrombie Spring Denham Collection, made the way denim should feel. Their denim has always been a staple in my
0:33.7	wardrobe and has a wide range of fits, styles, and washes. Every jean is available in both
0:38.9	their classic fit and viral curve love. Shop in the app, online, and in stores.
0:49.3	Three hundred years of expertise in every twining sleep blend.
0:59.0	100 hours of craft in every cup.
1:03.0	Eight natural ingredients in every sip.
1:07.0	One night of winding down in every drop.
1:11.7	Your moment of serenity.
1:14.4	Brought to you by twining sleep.
1:17.4	Twinings.
1:18.7	Alive in every drop.
1:24.4	When we talk about differences in relationships, we sometimes talk about different childhoods,
1:31.3	different backgrounds, different value systems as it pertains to family or money or work.
1:39.3	This couple brings a very different list of differences.
1:43.3	I'm conservative, she's liberal. I'm a Christian. I believe in God. She's more of an agnostic.
1:49.9	She believes in the sacredness of man. She's by. I'm not by. I don't even know what that even is.
1:55.3	And when I was growing up, that wasn't like I'm saying. She's into saving the world and environmental
1:59.5	stuff and being a vegetarian. She's very
	...

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