How to maintain emotional intimacy in long-term relationships

Life Kit

NPR

Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Kids & Family, Education, Business

4.3 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When it comes to relationships, being comfortable is not necessarily the same as sharing emotional intimacy. But if you're in a long-term relationship, how do you maintain closeness over time? In this episode of Life Kit, psychologist James Cordova shares tips on how to build emotional intimacy into your daily life.

Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit
Sign up for our newsletter here.
Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at [email protected]
Support the show and listen to it sponsor-free by signing up for Life Kit+ at plus.npr.org/lifekit

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This message comes from TED Talks Daily, a podcast from TED, bringing you new ideas every day through TED Talks and conversations.
0:08.2	Learn about the ideas shaping humanity, from connecting with your inner monologue to unlocking healthy love.
0:14.7	Listen to TED Talks Daily.
0:17.1	Hey, it's Mariel.
0:18.6	Before we start the show today, I want to talk about public media.
0:22.4	Public media is made for you.
0:25.0	It serves you, with programs meant to enrich your understanding and your life.
0:30.4	From its founding in the U.S., public media was also meant to illuminate stories from underrepresented communities
0:35.9	and to provide cultural insight that expands your perspective.
0:40.3	We still believe in these core commitments of public media at NPR.
0:43.9	But as of this fall, federal funding for public media, including NPR and local NPR stations, has been eliminated.
0:51.6	As we move forward, we're counting on your support so we can keep bringing you episodes of shows like Life Kit.
0:58.1	Let's do this together.
0:59.8	If you're an NPR Plus supporter, thank you.
1:02.8	We are so grateful.
1:04.2	And if not, you can join the Plus community, get a bunch of perks like bonus episodes and more from across NPR's podcast,
1:12.1	and support public media by signing up for NPR Plus today at plus.npr.org.
1:22.5	You're listening to LifeKit from NPR.
1:30.5	Okay, if you have a romantic partner, I want you to imagine an illustrated version of you and them,
1:36.9	one that you might see on the front of a greeting card.
1:39.7	Okay, now also imagine your animals.
1:42.9	What are you?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 18 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.