Hi everyone, it's Sophia and welcome back to Work in Progress.

Here's a question for you.

Is it possible to be an emotional badass?

If you're not sure, I have an answer for you in the form of today's guest.

Esther Perel is a best-selling author and psychotherapist who is widely renowned for her insights on modern relationships.

She's a multiple-time TED Talk host and author who speaks to the emotional needs of modern people

and the intricacies and expectations of romantic relationships.

Aside from her work in the field of psychology, which landed her on Oprah's super soul list of 100

visionaries, Esther is just a super fascinating person. She's a book writer, she's fluent in nine

different languages, she runs her own therapy practice, she produces and hosts two podcasts,

and most recently she's added game designer as the newest of many, many feathers in her cap.

And I can say from personal experience, she is one of the most fascinating people I have ever

sat down to dinner with. I'm so looking forward to learning about her perspective on relationships

and talking self-actualization and bringing you all into the fold to get to know Esther better.

There's a lot of ground to cover, so let's get started.

Well, I'm excited to jump in with you today and and bring our listeners into your world.

And to talk about your practice, your books, the podcast, the game, I mean you have so much going on,

but before we get into what's happening now, and I think so many of the things that you have to

illuminate for us, I'd like to kind of go back because I wonder when these things began to illuminate

for you, I wonder who was Esther, this woman who we all know as a leader on mental health and

relationships and who gives phenomenal TED Talks, who was this woman when she was a young girl?

It's interesting you ask me this question now because I actually just went on vacation and one

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