Sex With Emily - It Begins With You: Hard Truths About Love & Dating w/ Jillian Turecki

Episode Date: January 24, 2025

Tired of repeating the same relationship mistakes? Relationship coach Jillian Turecki joins me to break down the nine hard truths about love that will change your life. From healing heartbreak to unde...rstanding why you keep attracting the wrong people, Jillian shares how true love starts with you. We’re talking about breakups, dating struggles, and why lust isn’t love (even though it feels amazing). Whether you’re single or in a relationship, this episode will help you build healthier connections and finally get the love you deserve. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to break free from toxic dating patterns. The red flags you’re probably ignoring. Why self-acceptance is the key to love. Show Notes: More Jillian Turecki: Instagram | Website | Podcast Order Jillian's Book, It Begins With You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life, Now! Join the SmartSX Membership: Access exclusive sex coaching, live expert sessions, community building, and tools to enhance your pleasure and relationships with Dr. Emily Morse. Yes! No! Maybe? List & Other Sex With Emily Guides: Explore pleasure, deepen connections, and enhance intimacy using these Sex With Emily downloadable guides.  SHOP WITH EMILY! (free shipping on orders over $99) The only sex book you’ll ever need: Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure Want more? Visit the Sex With Emily Website  Let’s get social: Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok | Threads | YouTube Let’s text: Sign up here Want me to slide into your email inbox? Sign Up Here for sex tips on the regular. See the full show notes at sexwithemily.com

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Starting point is 00:00:00 If they talk about their ex on a first date, red flag. The better flag would be, this is what I learned from my past relationship. The red flag is my ex is a complete crazy person. Like, guess what? Everyone's ex is crazy, but you all dated the same person. Like, maybe we'll say that. Yeah. So, and also it's like, but yeah, but you love them.
Starting point is 00:00:23 So what does that say about you? You're listening to Sex with Emily I'm Dr. Emily and I'm here to help you prioritize your pleasure and liberate the conversation around sex. Question, have you ever found yourself stuck in the same relationship patterns wondering why love feels so hard? Today I'm joined by the incredible Jillian Turecki. She's a relationship coach, educator, and host of Jillian on Love. I first discovered Jillian during the pandemic and I was instantly hooked. Her content is real, raw, and most importantly actionable. She breaks down why so many of us struggle in relationships and help us shift the focus inward. Because let's be real, love starts with you. In this episode we dive deep into the hard truths
Starting point is 00:01:09 about love from our new book, It Begins With You, where Jillian shares nine powerful insights that can truly change your love life. From breakups and attachment styles to why we keep attracting the same type of partners, hello patterns, and how to spot the most common red flags. Jillian keeps it real with practical tools to help you build the love life you deserve. Plus we talk about the power of self-acceptance, why lust isn't love even though it feels amazing, and the biggest mistakes people make when looking for connection. Whether you're single dating or in long-term relationships, this episode is packed with insights you don't
Starting point is 00:01:45 want to miss. Please rate and review Sex with Emily wherever you listen to the podcast. It just helps get the show out to more people like yourself. You can find me on all social media, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter or X, YouTube, Facebook, all of it. It's all at Sex with Emily. And please check out my new article, How Anxiety Affects Your Sex Life and What to Do About It. That's up at SexWithEmily.com. Alright everyone, enjoy this episode. So recently I was asked by Oprah Daily for my top recommendations for women's vaginal
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Starting point is 00:04:45 checkout this year enhance your every day with via so much for coming on the show. Jillian. Oh my god. Thanks so much for having me. So excited to have you. I want everyone to know that I first discovered you Jillian Trekkie over the pandemic on my Instagram and I was completely sucked in because I love doing the work on myself, learning about trauma, all the things. My ex used to joke, he was like,
Starting point is 00:05:13 trauma's like your love language. I'm like, tell me your trauma is, I love it. But Jillian, girl, you're calling out why so many people are suffering in relationships, and you make it so accessible. You know, you like all of your information is like easily digestible. But what's really unique about your content
Starting point is 00:05:32 is that when it comes to relationships and dating, you really encourage people to look inwards and not outwards for the answers. And you say that a relationship is like a mirror. It will reflect to us the relationship we have with ourselves. And I just love that. Yep, it is the truth.
Starting point is 00:05:51 For those of you unfamiliar, Jillian Turecki is a relationship coach and educator and podcast host of Jillian on Love, which was, I was on last year. I loved our conversation. I loved it too. So you gotta check that out. But now she also just came out with her new book,
Starting point is 00:06:05 It Begins With You, to share the nine hard truths about love that will change your life. Who doesn't need that? I mean, really. So Jillian, I was thinking about you. I've read your book and done all my deep dives. And we have a very similar path.
Starting point is 00:06:22 So I got into sex with Emily 20 years ago because I was having sex that was very disappointing. It wasn't great sex. I was like, if another guy pounds away at me like a jackhammer, like, I'm just gonna like give up sex altogether. I mean, it would be worth giving up sex. I was like, what is this?
Starting point is 00:06:41 Why is this happening? And so I went out to seek answers and I thought, you know, and I realized a lot of people were having a lot of those same issues and I wanted to heal myself, heal them, research is me search. And you on the other hand, 10 years ago, in 2014 on my birthday, June 2nd, I'm sorry about that. You found out that your mother had terminal cancer.
Starting point is 00:07:05 Well, I actually found out way before that, but on that day was like around that day, I found out that she had like maybe a couple more months to live, but the diagnosis I had been living with and my husband at the time knew that. And that's also when he decided to just like up and leave. Yeah. Let's talk about that.
Starting point is 00:07:24 Your husband up and left, You had a miscarriage. It was like a horrible day, but it's pretty hard. The worst day of your life. Right. And so, and so from there you decided to, you had to turn your life around and started on a new path. So could you just tell us about your journey to becoming? Yeah. So prior to that, I'd been teaching yoga for many years. It wasn't 18 years yet, but a total, I'd been teaching yoga for many years. It wasn't 18 years yet,
Starting point is 00:07:45 but a total I had taught yoga for almost a total of 20 years. And yeah, I loved it. You know, I'm a very dedicated yoga practitioner. You know, we have some of the similar friends and that space. And I always felt like, you know, there was something more.
Starting point is 00:08:04 I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I felt like there was something more. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I felt like there was something more that I could do. And I didn't know if it was like open up a studio, which I didn't want to do at all or do something else. And anyway, ended up meeting the man who would I, who I would later marry and then later divorce. And I always say that we had like 90% of our relationship pre marriage was great.
Starting point is 00:08:25 Okay. Very compatible. Very, yeah, just very compatible. A lot of like love there ish and well, there was a lot of love there as I understood love to be at that time, not so much as I understand love now. But, um, but 10% was really problematic. And what I mean by that is that I, um, ignored some very, very significant red flags.
Starting point is 00:08:56 And also because I didn't know how to, I didn't know how to, I don't have the tools to cope with what was presented to me when we got married, that 10% became the 90% of our relationship and the 10% became the 90% of our relationship and the 90% became the 10% because people think when you get married, your problems are going to go away when actually it magnifies everything. And it was a very challenging marriage and only lasted two years. And the way that it ended was really tragic. It was like, you know, over text and this is something that he later regretted and whatnot process. But, um, and my mom was dying of cancer and I had a miscarriage and I thought, you know,
Starting point is 00:09:33 I have to, I have to figure out a way to call myself out. So there was one question that, that haunted me and also motivated me at the same time, which was what does it take to make a relationship work? Cause I was, when I say devastated, that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. I was absolutely traumatized, devastated. And I was so devastated by the fact that like, Oh, here I am 40, like not haven't. I'm getting divorced and like, I don't have a kid and you know, what is
Starting point is 00:10:04 society going to think like all these, you know, the weight of society on your shoulders. And, um, and I, but even more so was just like, I can't believe this didn't work. And I felt so like a tremendous failure and very, very, very scared. I was terrified. And so I went on a quest and the quest was sort of two part. One I got to how am I going to feel better? How am I going to get over this? And two, what the hell does make a relationship work? And I've been obsessed with that ever since for almost the last, you know, the last 10 years of my life. And here we are today. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:10:42 So so it's kind of like from that pain point of like, what does it take? And you didn't want to have that hurt again. So you want to make it right by learning all the tips, the tricks and the tools. Yes. Like what it looks like. So in these last 10 years, you've found a lot. You have such incredible information that you are able to help people really on the path because I think that we're so not taught how to love. No one's teaching us that. such incredible information that you are able to help people really on the path.
Starting point is 00:11:05 Because I think that we are, you know, we're so not taught how to love. No one's teaching us that. No. And so I guess in the same way as like no one teaches how to have sex, no one teaches us how to be in a relationship and what love even looks like. Yes. So and you also talk a lot about like dating and relationships too. It's all part of finding love. Right.
Starting point is 00:11:23 And so and so you've probably been on your own path through that too, but I was thinking a lot about dating and I was thinking like, what are people struggling with the most now? And I was thinking about this because well, dating's always been hard. Like let's say 20 years ago, we didn't have the dating apps to complain about
Starting point is 00:11:39 and to be like, oh God, there's too many people, the bigger, better deal. You can swipe. But people still complain 20 years ago. They're still complaining. Yeah, exactly. So it's always been, dating has always been. It's always been difficult. Yeah, I think.
Starting point is 00:11:50 So what would you say people are struggling with most now? And is it, so it's really not that different, but what do they need now in dating? Why is it that it sucks wherever they live, whatever, but what do you think? Well, here's the thing. I think that we're hearing more about how much it sucks because 20 years ago we didn't have social media.
Starting point is 00:12:08 So we have to really take into account the role of technology in this. People are able to voice their opinions and the spread of information is so fast, but like it's never been easy to find love. You know, it's not, and it's not like it's impossible, but you just don't meet that person every day. Like it is a thing. And, and this, forget about 20 years ago, the last hundred years, this is not something. But what I will say that in
Starting point is 00:12:33 other cultures, it's a lot easier because there's arranged marriages and there's, there's also a, what's the word I'm looking for? It's the mentality of going into love is, you know, find someone with similar values who can raise a family with. And by the way, we have the whole village of the family helping. So part of what's made it difficult aside from dating apps and technology is our understanding of love and our expectation of love, I should say, is a better word has changed. So never in history, have we ever really wanted
Starting point is 00:13:06 like a soulmate, right? Someone who's gonna fulfill all our needs. We have in more modern-ish society and well beyond, you know, in the last couple hundred years, this idea of, which I know is not modern society, but this idea of romanticism also is something that's been plugged for a couple of centuries, I would say now.
Starting point is 00:13:29 But then like the modern take on that is the rom-com, right? So we have all these examples of what it is to have tremendous chemistry with someone. We have these examples in literature and in film of what the whole chase of getting together, right? And then it's like the actual getting together. And then it's like, we all, it's like, that's like, that's the proverbial climax for all of us. It's like they got together. It's like, now we can relax, right? We went to the wedding. We saw it. We threw the rice. They're off and they're good. They're good. And there's no examples of like, what actually happens after,
Starting point is 00:14:04 which is actually when the real relationship in many ways starts, when we're not on the pedestal and we're past the honeymoon phase. And that's where I have been really interested is like, okay, what really has to happen after that? And speaking back to my ex and I, like the couples therapy that we had was terrible. We had great therapy, like I had great individual therapy, but the couples work that we did, and we tried to different, a couple
Starting point is 00:14:30 of different people, and it was absolutely terrible. And I thought there has to be another way. So when I first entered the space of just working on people in their relationships versus just their relationship with themselves, which I did with yoga, I really wanted to work with couples and I worked with hundreds of couples. Like that was like, I was like, that's what I'm going to do. But then got a little exhausting and I really wanted to also work with singles looking for love because who you choose to partner with, who you choose to spend your life with, I think is the most important decision you will ever make. And then also because I had, you know, triumphed and I put that in giant quotation marks, if you will,
Starting point is 00:15:08 after divorce, I really also wanted to help people with heartbreak and overcoming that. So I kind of it's, it's, I try to help people in sort of all stages. Yeah. I mean the fact that you're working with hundreds of me cause couples is like you're dealing with two people. It's very intense issues. It's so intense. Yeah. And then individuals, you know, you can really get in there. But I could see that that would be exhausting because also, and what I think is, is like, it's so mean, the hard way is so much about doing our own work. But then once you do your own work, how do you do it in relation to
Starting point is 00:15:43 somebody else? Right? So, and that's a lot of your work is, you know, it begins with you. So, which is just, it's true. I mean, you can't. And so what I want to ask you this is like, I feel like you cannot swing a cat in this town and you are on social media without hearing about this person's a narcissist, a toxic relationship, gaslighting, how to discover if someone is toxic. But what I find so interesting about your content is you are way less focused on diagnosing your
Starting point is 00:16:12 partner and more focused on what you yourself can adjust and bring to the table, what we can do in the relationship, because at the end of the day, we can only control ourselves. So tell me a little bit about this. First, do you think that there is any use to diagnosing our partner and finding out what they did, what they, what's wrong with them? Cause I feel like maybe it's good to nice to know, but I don't know. What do you think about that? Yeah. So I think that when you're dealing with even a dating scenario, cause like
Starting point is 00:16:40 going back to why dating is hard. Okay. So the expectations of the one and soulmate who's going to fulfill everything. Then there's a dating apps, which is very real where there's a lot of creating of disposability and people feel disposable and people aren't meeting in real person. And so those things add, do add complexity to all of this. Um, I think that if you were in a relationship where you've,
Starting point is 00:17:04 where you're very manipulated, even if it was a dating relationship or if, and, and, or something, um, more serious, much more serious, I think that if you've ever been in something that was very confusing, like someone was totally into me and obsessed with me. And then I literally never heard from them again. And when I literally never heard from them again. And when I reached out to them, they did not reach me back. Or if like you are in a relationship and there's a lot of manipulation,
Starting point is 00:17:33 it helps to give you some context because then you're like, then there's the validation of, okay, well, maybe I'm not crazy. Maybe this person really is kind of the crazy one in their own right. But, and, and I should say this throwing around, yeah, there's some pretty selfish people out there that doesn't mean that they're necessarily a narcissist. Like we all have narcissistic tendencies and some people, and it exists on this spectrum. I do believe, I do believe it's a
Starting point is 00:18:01 spectrum. And if you really do have narcissistic personality disorder, you are a dangerous person emotionally. But there's a lot of people who behave very immaturely. They're emotionally immature. And there's a lot of people who, when they break up with someone, they do not take time to self-reflect and they just get back into the dating pool and they poison the pool. Right. Right. That's exactly. So the narcissist is back in the dating pool, but what I, it's interesting is just a selfish person or the amateur person. Yeah. Right. The toxic person gets back into the dating pool. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:18:38 I wish that like, I wish there was some way to ethically interview someone's exes in like a very beautiful way and be like, cause they would probably all say the same thing happened. I know people have tried to do this and it doesn't go well. Like there was some like Facebook group early on,
Starting point is 00:18:55 like don't date my ex. Yeah, yeah, yes. But it's all there. It's like, you could know that people repeat their patterns. But I guess what I'm also asking here is that, okay, so I guess you could spend so much time being like, they were wrong, they were wrong. And then that kind of makes you feel better because you're living in anger. But what I love a lot of what you talk about is like, what's your pattern?
Starting point is 00:19:14 Why are you attracted to that person? What is it about you? And I think it's really hard because sometimes it makes you feel good. Well, they were a narcissist or they were a cheater. So I'm absolved. Yes, but you're not necessarily absolved. So how do we turn that lens back towards us? I will tell you exactly. Yes. Okay, so many, many years ago, I was in a relationship with a person who abused me. So toxic to the max, toxic to the max,
Starting point is 00:19:36 not just someone who was kind of like an asshole, whatever, was uncomfortable, or like they had certain tendencies, very, very toxic. And what I naturally arrived to getting out of that was what, like, what was that in me that led me to this? I have to make sure this never ever, ever happens again. And I think that when people are really honest with themselves, they are able to have that sort of inner dialogue where they say, Hmm, like, why did I attract this
Starting point is 00:20:13 person or why was I attracted to this person or what's wrong with me? And it's again, I would, I would hate for people to say, well, what's wrong with me and it's about bringing curiosity to it. I recently had a conversation with someone. She's like, I love therapy. I love, she said, I'll never forget going to couples therapy with my ex-boyfriend many years ago. And it was very validating, but I was looking forward to the therapist
Starting point is 00:20:39 telling me like what maybe I was doing wrong, because I just, I wanted to know. I wanted to know, I wanted to understand I'm a learner. So I think that people really have to have, put on their curiosity hat and just say, you know, what? Okay, so this is really true. It doesn't take away, and maybe they were mostly the unhealthy one, or maybe they were mostly, you know,
Starting point is 00:21:00 I think the word unhealthy is used too much. Maybe they were mostly problematic, but what was it in me that was part of this dynamic? How did I contribute to what, even if it wasn't dysfunctional, but it just didn't last. What did I do or not do? How did I participate in a dynamic that didn't, that didn't actually work? You know, unless it's one of those things where it's like, you just kind of grow apart and it's like, you know, but, and I, and it's very important to be able
Starting point is 00:21:28 to ha to do that. That's how you build self-awareness. That's how you grow. And most importantly, that's how you prevent it from happening again. It is pain protection. I'm asking people to look within so that they can protect themselves from future suffering. So exactly. So can you walk me through maybe a case, someone that you've worked with that you could say like, cause people might be like, well, I don't understand if you're dating, like what would that discovery look like? Like I came to you and I'm like, I always date. So and so. Yeah. I always, I have dated a lot of alcoholics personally. Okay. I don't drink. I don't, I mean sometimes, but not a lot.
Starting point is 00:22:05 With someone, okay, so with someone in your family. No one in my family. No one in your family. So what are you drawn to in them? Cause I have to, but all sober, but some of them sober. Same thing though, right? In a way, if they're sober. Yeah, not exactly the same thing.
Starting point is 00:22:23 Let's, you know, not exactly the same thing, but yeah. Cause if you're in a relationship with an active addict, that is true chaos. And then you become the codependent, trying to change them. It's probably codependency. But anyway, we don't have to make it about me, but we could.
Starting point is 00:22:40 No, but this is- I think it's interesting to think like, okay, I think I am, I'm sure I probably have a little bit codependency. I think, and then they always stop drinking eventually, what happens? What are the, I've been really doing this. Oh, so you've been with them
Starting point is 00:22:54 while they're actively drinking. Yeah, and then they're like, I can't, cause I've said. That's not good. It's really hard for me to build a relationship with somebody, it's really hard for me to be in a committed relationship with someone who has that kind of relationship to alcohol. Yes.
Starting point is 00:23:08 And then a lot of them have like stopped drinking and it's also a while. And it's also a pattern. So you shouldn't be dating anyone who's who's in the program or anything like that. Like, especially if it's, if it's a pattern, because you know, what I would, what I would want to understand from that person is do they have a family member who was either an addict? Are they used to being the fixer? Um, are they, do they have, do, do they struggle somewhere in their self
Starting point is 00:23:34 esteem and self worth in relationships? Cause maybe in work they're spot on that they get into relationships where they feel like they need to be needed. And if they're needed and dependent on in some way, like if they are the more grounded one, the quote unquote healthier one in contrast to let's say the example, the addict, then that person will never leave you. And then you can feel sort of validated and kind of have some control over the relationship. That's one thing. Another thing could be, um, you could be attracted to the fact that they are reformed. Um, they have this
Starting point is 00:24:16 dark side that they've had to wrestle with and reform and that that is something, um, sexy and dangerous and exciting and enticing. And then you think, or, and, or there could be, well, this person is sober. They've been sober for awhile. They do a lot of work. A lot of them, a lot of people who become sober tend to have some sort of spiritual practice, so you're kind of drawn to that. It could also be proximity. Maybe you're in a world.
Starting point is 00:24:43 I'm not saying you specifically, but maybe you're in a world, like as a yoga teacher, I was in a world where a lot of sober people came to. So all of these things, is anything ringing true for you? Yeah. Um, I think the part about maybe it just feeling safe. I think that I often, even though they're good, cause to me, it's not about me saving. In fact, I think I'm looking for people sometimes to help me in some ways, but outwardly. Yes. But yet you keep getting into relationships with people who it's been, yeah, who are, who are drinking or who just aren't in. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:25:13 If someone is drinking and not in control of themselves, especially then he, he can not cause you date men. Yes. He can never be safe to you ever, ever. It's impossible. So ultimately I find out that they're not safe, but I think they're safe in some ways because I know they're so like into it and they're very affectionate. They're very, uh, um, effusive about their love. It just feels. Yes. Just an example. It's one of my, I'm just trying to think.
Starting point is 00:25:35 No, no, this is very important. I think we should, I think we should roll with it. I think it'll be beneficial, which is that, you know, right? The effusive, they're into me. I have the security because they seem so into me, but really true security in a relationship comes from being able to build a foundation of trust and safety. And you can't do that when someone, when they're in the throes of their addiction, it's impossible. And you know, finding someone who's so into you means nothing. If someone doesn't have the character or the same values or the tools to actually be in
Starting point is 00:26:07 a relationship with you, but bringing it back to begins with you, what can you like, that's your pattern. Most people like what you could do is completely focus on them constantly diagnose them, figure out their character defects. And maybe you need to focus a little bit on that, but then you have to say, what is it in me? Like, what am I doing? Why am I choosing partners who can never meet my needs? What is my blueprint of a relationship?
Starting point is 00:26:33 Oh, they're really into me. They're very effusive. They give me a lot of affection. Yes, I'm gonna be in a relationship with them. Not enough. I don't vet enough probably sometimes. Yeah, you're not discerning enough. And most people are not.
Starting point is 00:26:43 And a lot of women are not because they think this feels so good. And we do that. But if we're looking for a long term partnership, we have to be much more discerning. You know what really resonated to it? I've thought a lot about this is that, and this is an older pattern, but I think that it's that I sort of know from my own attachment and like, I sort of know that they're not safe and that this won't probably ever be a thing because I can't really trust someone
Starting point is 00:27:07 who's like that and somebody who is in an addiction or has a behavior like that. There's other things too where then I actually don't trust them. Like I feel like this isn't safe and safety's so important to me. Like it's funny because I feel very safe in my friendships and now my family after a lot of work,
Starting point is 00:27:25 but with the people I've dated in patterns, it was more like, oh, I don't have to truly open up and love this person. I know it won't go anywhere, it's not safe, which is sort of a classic thing to think I... Oh, interesting. Well then the way I've wanted to love has been different. It's, I was never one who was prioritizing
Starting point is 00:27:44 a typical relationship either. Yeah, okay. You know, so I was, I was not looking for, my life wasn't really based upon finding love and marriage and family. It was always much more about creating purpose and being very involved in the world and having lots of life and lovers and all that.
Starting point is 00:28:01 But that's, oh, and having lots of life and different lovers. Okay, got it, yeah, yeah. That's how it's been. It's been through lots of different paths. Yeah, uh-huh. But I just find it interesting. I just love that your work points towards
Starting point is 00:28:09 what is our lesson in it, because there's just so many people who are like, they cheated, they're evil, they're evil, and then just, and I like that your book goes deep on that. Like that you ask questions, that these are the questions that you should ask yourself before you go out and date again. Yes. Because you will keep recreating the same patterns over and over again, right?
Starting point is 00:28:29 Absolutely. Until you just deal with it. And there are a lot of case studies of, of married couple. There's also like, what are you doing? Like when you're in the relationship? So it's definitely for people of all stages of relationship. It is for all stages. So I want to get into that because in your book, it begins with you, you share nine heart tooths about love. And I'm telling you, everyone has to read this book.
Starting point is 00:28:49 It reads like a beautiful story, but you share like your deep vulnerabilities and your case studies and how you work with people. And it really is just kind of holding people's hands through different relationships, challenges they might find themselves in. And I love that it allows the readers to reflect on their own experiences so candidly through you and the way you storytell.
Starting point is 00:29:12 Thank you. Thank you. So one truth in your book, you can't convince someone to love you. And I love this because you talk about the core feeling of being unlovable. So can you explain the core feeling of being unlovable. So can you explain why that is such a core, you know, why being a lovable is so core for so many people? I think that everyone has a fear that they're not enough and but obviously not everyone has it to the same degree. But I think in a romantic relationship, all we want is love, and we just want to be enough. And so much of our so much of our crappy behavior in a relationship, you know, when we just when we look back, we're like, Oh, God, I wish I didn't do that. You know, a lot of the time is fear, right?
Starting point is 00:29:57 And so and what's that fear? It's a fear like, I'm not going to be enough. And if I'm not enough for this person, then I'm going to lose them. And it's the loss of love that we are, um, really trying to prevent at all costs, you know, and some people their self esteem and their self worth, like they truly don't believe they don't believe in their deserve ability when it comes to love and that they actually are love
Starting point is 00:30:25 lovable. I mean, look, it's very difficult when you love someone. And then you're having some trouble in your relationship or marriage, and then they stop loving you, or they don't want to be with you anymore. The first thing that that we go to is, Oh my god, I'm not good enough. I'm not lovable. go to is, Oh my God, I'm not good enough. I'm not lovable. And that becomes a story. It becomes a narrative. It becomes a mantra. It becomes our own internal hypnosis.
Starting point is 00:30:51 And that's something that we carry on our shoulder. They carry it on our backs and it's really heavy. And we try to lug it up like these, like big hills, right? So much of, of processing the end of a relationship where someone is like pulling their love away. And then I'll get to what happens when you date someone. Because I think it's important to see from both perspectives. So much of that is processing the truth of the actual story, not your creation of it based on your understandable pain.
Starting point is 00:31:32 So is, so a lot of times it's, is it true that you're not lovable or is it true that or rather is it true perhaps that you've been trying to make something work with someone who you've known very much viscerally inside your bones is not right for you, but because you're so afraid to lose the love, understandably, you've been clinging to this relationship. And then when they pull away, instead of embracing your freedom, which is what you've been gifted, especially if it's a difficult relationship, you go into I'm just not lovable.
Starting point is 00:32:09 And it really is a hypnosis that we all go under. Yeah, it is. And it's true. It's like a hypnosis and it's such a fear. I always think like, and that's one of your truths too, like look at your relationship with your parents that it could come from, like isn't that just one of our core,
Starting point is 00:32:22 like our greatest fear of all is that we're just unlovable, we're gonna be rejected, we're gonna be alone. And so in relationships, we easily get triggered by it or things that we do just, I know I get nervous about it with, sometimes even with work stuff, I'm like, oh, I'm reinventing the podcast or doing different things.
Starting point is 00:32:41 I'm like, what if people don't love me anymore? What if it's different? What if, you know what I mean? So it comes back to like, but is that real?, what if people don't love me anymore? What if it's different? What do I mean? So it comes back to like, but is that real? Or what if my friend, you know, so I think it's just something that's always, you know, it's kind of like in all of us, no matter what we do, we're afraid we're not going to be loved.
Starting point is 00:32:55 You know? Oh, it's everyone fears that they're not enough in some way, obviously again, a spectrum. There's people with very low self-esteem. They struggle with a lot more. And there are people with it, with healthy self-esteem. And even with healthy self-esteem, there's, there's always that underlying fear that we're not going to be enough. Okay. Yes. I want to talk about something you said. I might get this wrong, but it was,
Starting point is 00:33:15 it was that self-esteem equals self-acceptance. In my, I believe that. Yeah. Yeah. In my view, when I, when I think about self-worth, self-seem, self-worth, self-love, I think of it generally as a self-acceptance, which just means that even though you are aware of the parts of yourself that might be difficult, that might be challenging, that might be a little narcissistic without being truly narcissistic, that you recognize that even though you have this ambivalence or you have this sort of ick with certain parts of yourself, that you still understand that you are worthy and you have this sort of like, it was certain parts of yourself, that you still understand
Starting point is 00:34:05 that you are worthy and you have value and not you deserve love. And that's truly self acceptance. And I don't know if we ever get to full self acceptance. I mean, maybe in elder years. But I think that it's a lifelong journey. But it really is about accepting all the parts of yourself. It's like, yeah, okay, this is what I struggle with. And maybe this is the thing that I've been hiding from potential lovers because if they
Starting point is 00:34:31 see this, they're not going to love me. But we have to be able to make peace with that. Those parts of ourselves, right? We're only like as sick as our secrets or the parts of ourselves that we think aren't lovable are actually the ones that we need to share. But that's just been a big, really big, and it's just like, like you said, it's a journey. And this is like, always hearing how important it is
Starting point is 00:34:50 to like love yourself or accept yourself. It's just been a big, even for me personally, I've had so many times where it's like, I decided like this year, I was like, you know what? I am really working towards more self-acceptance rather than self-improvement. Because, and that's kind of what you're saying is like, I couldn't, I see all the things, all the challenges,
Starting point is 00:35:09 all the things I want to fix. And I might be working on that. And you should be like on some level. And yet it's so easy to go to the like, but all these things are wrong because you'll always be things to fix. Yes. So I just think that was such a great,
Starting point is 00:35:20 I love that you, that you talked about that. That feels very, very important and insightful. We'll be right back after a quick message from our sponsors, so don't go away. So when was the last time you needed to go to a doctor, but you pushed it off? You know, made the excuse that you're too busy or it'll heal on its own or that you don't really need help.
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Starting point is 00:36:40 So stop putting off those doctor appointments and go to zocdoc.com slash Emily to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's z-o-c-d-o-c dot com slash Emily. Zocdoc.com slash Emily. I am super curious about this. And it never came up when you were on my show, which is so, so what you wanted at one point in your life was like follow purpose and then have a bunch of adventures and affairs like in lovers. Has that changed?
Starting point is 00:37:18 That's a great question. Yeah, I, I went on a, okay, so I think that I didn't feel that that was okay, that's what I wanted, but I felt that I didn't have a lot of role models for that and I still had this nagging, but that's not okay, you probably should want something else, you should be in a relationship, you should, you know? And so I think just recently I am stepping into the fact that like, this is the life I've always been living and sort
Starting point is 00:37:50 of, I think I was out of alignment. It's what I wanted, but I wasn't talking about it because it felt like it, my life is, I, it's so full and it actually, I actually have lived that life. And once I let go of it's not okay or it's, or it's not accepted, I'm feeling so much more myself. And you feel more connected to it. So if there's adventures and affairs, then would it be like, would you be living together? I wouldn't say that it's not, it's affairs per se. It's more like, listen, I'm always open to anything.
Starting point is 00:38:22 If I met somebody and it was like, oh my God, I'd be like, how amazing, we could live together in spite of that, that would be great. But I also know the data and the research. The research shows that women initiate more endings of relationships in marriages. Women do, women actually are happier when they're not in relationships.
Starting point is 00:38:42 They, they- I know, cause the Harvard study was about men, not women. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Right. It was about men not thriving out of relationships. Yeah. That basically you live longer when you're in a relationship. I mean, obviously it has to be like a good relationship. Yeah, they do. But they didn't, but they didn't, there's no data. It was a very, very, it's the longest study that has ever been done. It was a Harvard study,
Starting point is 00:39:02 but it wasn't that was only done with men. So we don't know with women. No, there have been recent studies that have shown that women are actually happier. They're more satisfied that our sexuality actually thrives with the separation. There's all this notions that women are the ones that women are the ones who like we say become frigid and men want sex all the time. None of that is true. None of that is true. We just never understood women's sexuality. And for me personally, I have found that I for me to feel really connected and sexual with someone, I actually need my space. I don't think that sharing a bedroom with someone and sometimes even sharing a home with someone is where I personally thrive. Because I there's a lot I don't want the pressure or the compulsory need to have sex.
Starting point is 00:39:41 I love having my own space. And then I love having someone come over. And that's why we love dating. But then we move in together and everything becomes one. And then we're all desperately trying to figure out how to keep that love alive. When what if you just, that wasn't normalized? Like what if you had the choice to not live with someone?
Starting point is 00:39:58 And I get that as a luxury and a privilege. If you're a parent. Well, I think it's important if you're a parent. I think it's important. I do think it's important if you have kids. Yeah, but if you don't have kids, which so many people. Look, my mom and my stepfather never lived together. I don't think I ever want to live with someone again.
Starting point is 00:40:11 Exactly, yeah, exactly. But I'm also kind of like monogamous, like long-term kind of thing, you know? But it would have to be something really extraordinary, yeah. Well, so yeah, it would have to be extraordinary. And I'm just really been into, right. So right now it's more like, and people are like, are you Well, so yeah, it'd have to be extraordinary, and I'm just really been into, so right now it's more like, and people are like, are you dating, are you not?
Starting point is 00:40:27 Because I did just end a relationship. But it's like, I feel like I'm dating as a state of being. I think I'm always open to meeting somebody, but I'm not like, I'm shut off now and not dating. It's just sort of, you know, my life has sort of worked that way, so I think I'm just leading into what has always been true.
Starting point is 00:40:44 Do you break, are breakups typically something that you recover well from or do you get very, very depressed and sort of sad and a little bit of both? I think I have gone into many different phases. I think I used to be like somebody who I broke in so many patterns, I used to literally I used to joke, I break up with someone this day and then it would be like I turn around and there's somebody else.
Starting point is 00:41:04 And then I used to picture myself like a monkey swinging through the branches. I it would be like I'd turn around and there's somebody else and then I used to picture myself like a monkey swinging through the branches. I'm like, there's the next one. There's the next one I don't do that anymore. Yeah, and now I yeah, I mourn it I really try to learn like what was how is this still my pattern and so yeah Yeah, I've done it all but I was gonna ask you like people always say to me Section Emily like is it really hard to date you like cause people always assume that I'm gonna be on 24 seven or what it's, or maybe they just want to date me. Do you get this too?
Starting point is 00:41:29 Yeah. Oh my God, I was, that was one of the questions I was gonna ask you. Like, are they think you're gonna be like just like some fucking like freaky hoe in the bedroom or like whatever, just like have that kind of intimidation. And like with me, it's like, oh, you're gonna know everything about,
Starting point is 00:41:40 take a very strong man to be with me. And he's like very strong in it that he's like knows who he is. Yeah. Well, that's the thing. They put you on this like all this projective. So much, but you probably get that too. I've been getting it my whole life with since teaching yoga. Yeah, it's exhausting.
Starting point is 00:41:56 It is exhausting. Yeah. I was just wondering about that. Okay. Let's talk about breakups for a minute because you say the hardest that going through breakup is one of the hardest things that a human will go through. I think we can all have take a moment and think about our breakups.
Starting point is 00:42:10 And I thought it is hard to be broken up with, but truthfully, like my hardest breakups are the ones where I've broken up with my partners. And I wonder, am I making the right call? Is something wrong with me for breaking up with them? So like, am I the bad one? So like, what's your advice for breaking up with them. So like, am I the bad one? So like, what's your advice for breaking up with someone? I mean, look, breaking up is complicated for everyone.
Starting point is 00:42:31 Not every breakup is created equal. Some breakups are actually like kind of easy. And some are emotionally catastrophic. And some are really traumatizing. I think for the person who fears abandonment to be broken up with reinforces the belief that they're not lovable. That's traumatizing for that person.
Starting point is 00:42:50 For the person who feels like they never make the right decisions and they don't, they don't feel confident in their decision making and they, and they tend to go back and forth and then breaking up with someone, they can go through their own hell and they're back and forth. But breaking up, whether you're the initiator or the recipient, like it all sucks. It's all sucks. Yeah. It's all really, really hard.
Starting point is 00:43:08 It's hard. But so then what would be your best piece of advice for getting over a breakup? Huh? Everyone talks about going no contact. Like what's your thing? Okay, so no contact. What's your jam?
Starting point is 00:43:16 So no contact is only possible for certain people. I mean, if you have children, you can't go no contact. Great point. You know, so let's, I think to go no contact is a privilege. If you are actually in a position to go no contact with someone, you are very lucky. Um, I think that, you know, I know it's not just one. Yeah. I think that the going no contact is a needle mover.
Starting point is 00:43:43 If you can do it, it really helps. But to go directly into no contact when you've been married to someone, even if you don't have kids, it can be very, very, very difficult. And so I don't want people to be so hard on themselves. Certainly for the shorter relationships, uh, you know, the, the really intense two to three, four or five month relationships where you don't really have, you know, a lot of, you know, your lives are not so intertwined like go, go, please go no contact right away. It will help you so much,
Starting point is 00:44:11 but that means you have got to block, unfollow, stop looking at their social media. It really, when you have that privilege, as I would say, it really does, it does help, it helps. It's like quitting anything. Like it's hard at first, but then help, it helps. It's like quitting anything, like it's hard at first, but then you get through it. So, okay, so yeah, what would your advice be
Starting point is 00:44:30 about breaking up with someone? And I feel like I always hear stories from people who are like, oh my God, I was blindsided, I didn't know it was gonna happen or I was shocked. I mean, first off is that, I always feel like there's gotta have been clues. It's very, very rare that, you know, when someone says, more often than not, when someone says I was blindsided
Starting point is 00:44:49 and these things can happen, but it's like really, like is there, or was there a denial there? Was there a lot of conversations? You know, were you actually really happy? You know, maybe you weren't expecting the breakup, but actually were you not, you know, were you having a lot of talks about the relationship, endless circular talks. But I think that unless you're in some sort of dangerous situation, emotionally or physically,
Starting point is 00:45:12 the way that you break up with someone is being by being very honest, like kind and direct with someone and, and trying to give them as just as much clarity and just honesty as possible. Yeah. And in person, if possible, if it's possible, it's the right thing to do. No text. Yeah. No, no text. No post. No post it. Okay. Can you show me? So pretend we've been a relationship. Like, would you, would you actually break up with me right now? Oh man. So we're going to pretend that I'm breaking up with someone who's not a complete betraying
Starting point is 00:45:48 asshole toxic person, you know, this which is just like, I want you to know that I do love you and I care about you a lot. And I know, you know, things have been really difficult between the two of us. And this is not easy for me. I care about you. I care about your well-being. But you know that I haven't been happy for a long time and that we really haven't been happy for a long time and that we really haven't been happy for a long time. And, um, I think it would be best for the both of us, maybe not right away. It won't feel good right away, but I think ultimately what's going to be best
Starting point is 00:46:36 for us is for us to separate. And this is really hard for me and I'm really sad and there's a big part of me that doesn't want wanna do it, but I know that it's the right thing to do. And I know this really hurts and I'm sorry. And that's just like the initial thing, but it's probably gonna be a really long conversation. I'll be like, you bitch, I didn't see it coming.
Starting point is 00:46:58 Yeah, I know. But something along those lines. That was beautiful. Yeah, no, really. Get thoughtful about it. Be clear, clarity is kindness. Be kind about it. Be clear, clear, you know, clarity. Be kind about it. Be just really clear about it.
Starting point is 00:47:08 Yeah. What do you think about being friends with your exes? No. No, never? No, not never. Okay, cause I- No, no, no, not never. I have a theory.
Starting point is 00:47:19 Initially, initially. So, so let me, there's nuance, right? There's nuance. Let's say you've been in a relationship and the two of you have been together for a really long time. And the last year of your relationship, you weren't having sex. You really turned into best friends. That can, that's a smooth transition into friendship, or you turned into like brother and sister. That's a very, um, smooth transition. A lot of people's like, can I be friends with this person?
Starting point is 00:47:49 Is code for I don't, we can't let go of each other. Yeah. I mean, or one person's helping you get back together. And then it gets really messy, but years down the road, lives change. Yes, of course I would, I don't really speak in absolutes. I think that's ridiculous. Life is way more nuanced. I'm with you. I just get pushed back on this because I am friends with a lot of my exes, but how I've done that is, I haven't tended to date, I've been in really like toxic relationships, but it's not right away. We don't hang, it's not like we are dating
Starting point is 00:48:16 and the next day we're out to lunch. But it takes a few months for the adjustments and I'm six months or a year, but if it's truly a great connection, but it's just better as friends. I've been able to have some really beautiful relationships with exes. As long as there's boundaries and you're not still in a relationship with them that mimics your romantic relationship, except the only thing that you took away was the
Starting point is 00:48:36 physical intimacy. Yeah, I'm with you. Okay. So what about you talk about in the nine in the nine heart to you talk about, I was very interested in number three. Lust is not the same thing as love. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about it because a lot of people confused to two and get themselves into a lot of trouble. And trust me, I've been there too. You've been there. It's like the attraction. It's amazing. It feels so good. It's intoxicating. And then we're on each other's pedestals. And what's really happening is that when we're on the pedestals, we are projecting what are like 16 year old ideal version of a partner is like, like what our crush is, or even what our older like, this is the perfect partner
Starting point is 00:49:24 because they're like this. And so it's all a projection. And during the lust phase, it's amazing, but you're not actually seeing the person you had, like it, it's a pretty amazing when you can reach a level of self awareness where you're like, I'm not actually totally seeing the person I'm seeing. I, what I, what I'm doing is I am intoxicated with the hormones that are released in my system with this loss. And it's wonderful and you can enjoy it, but you also have to ground yourself
Starting point is 00:49:52 by processing your enthusiasm, just saying this is great, this is wonderful, but I'm not gonna plan my future with this person yet, because I actually don't know, like if we're actually a match, and I don't know this person's character, and I don't know what it's character and I don't know what it's going to be like when we repair. So I'm going to be cautiously optimistic.
Starting point is 00:50:09 But don't just jump right in. I think you say that people, some people really want more connection, but not a relationship. Yeah, well, a lot of connection. Exactly. So people, there's lots and lots of people there who are craving a connection with someone and to them it's like that feeling of the lust and it's wonderful what it takes to build like one of the most profound lessons that I learned is like what it takes to build a relationship and one in which that's good and I'm not even talking about great I'm talking about at least just good is you have to build foundation and that foundation is trust and safety and
Starting point is 00:50:48 that takes time together that takes oh how do we how do we make up after an argument how do we argue with each other um what we have to have a lot of experiences together we have to meet each other's families or at least each other's important people. We have to know who this person is outside of the bubble of our existence with them. And so, you know, that takes some time. There's building. I say the first year of a relationship is very fragile. You're in the building stage. You got to be paying attention. Yeah, you have to be taking notes. Like I'm noticing this. And communicate, do we communicate? Do we have the same communication style? Can we meet in the middle of the communication style?
Starting point is 00:51:30 What am I doing to create safety and trust? Forget about just what this person, because people think, and I understand this, I really do, I have nothing but compassion, empathy, I've been there. We think a relationship is a place that we go to get. Get love, get attention, get validation, you know, all the things that mommy and daddy didn't give us as person is going to give
Starting point is 00:51:49 us. This is not necessarily conscious, but we do this. And rarely do we think, what am I going to give? Right? This person's going to fill me up in all these ways. They're going to be my best friend. They're going to be my confidant. They're going to be love over. Right?'re going to be my confidant. They're going to be a love over.
Starting point is 00:52:05 Right. What am I, what do I want to give? What do I want to bring to the table? And even more important question, who do I want to be in this relationship? It's so hard to know that until you're with somebody, unless you do a lot of the work ahead of time, thinking about who do I want to,
Starting point is 00:52:23 I guess with each person, you're going to be something different. Yeah. And you do some of the work ahead of time thinking about who do I want to, I guess with each person, you're going to be something different. Yeah. And you do some of the work ahead of time, but really the meat of the work is when you are in the ring with the person figuring it out. And everyone really, would you agree that everyone would benefit from some sort of therapy? Um, coaching, some sort of therapy or coaching? Yeah, I don't, I don't think, I think,
Starting point is 00:52:46 I think everyone needs to like see a therapist at some point, but I don't believe that everyone has to be like in therapy all the time. I don't believe in that at all. But what about this thing? How do you get couples? Well, I guess it's just that you cause that process of learning is, which is what all of your work is about. And as we started this conversation, you have the wedding and you see all that, but no one's talking about like, how do you actually,
Starting point is 00:53:08 I've been saying communication is a lubrication, communicate forever. The actual like, you guys like, how do you actually do that? Like, how do you, like, it's amazing if you'll call like, well, my partners won't talk about it. They just won't go to therapy. It's like, to me, that's a sign. Like, how much of it is like,
Starting point is 00:53:23 for the couples you see as someone's pushing the other person along, like, do you think that's a good, do you think it it is like for the couples you see is someone's pushing the other person along? Like do you think that's a good, do you think it's good to bring your partner into it? Yeah, it's a very good question. How do you know when to stop? It's a very good question. Well, what I would say in heterosexual relationships, classically, it's more the woman who wants to talk about it, not the man, because women, we are very keenly aware of what's not working in a relationship. And we have a, because we're so wired towards safety, one of the, um,
Starting point is 00:53:48 ways in which we have to be, um, more mindful as women in relationships is not to only hyper-focus on what's missing and also focus on what's there. Cause women have a tendency to do that. And then to get into lean towards more negativity and bring up more negativity in the relationship, leaving their partner man or woman exhausted. So that's one spectrum. But in general, like where men really, I think, need to work on themselves in a relationship is they are really good at compartmentalizing and suppressing and repressing what's wrong and not wanting to look at it. And women more than men are the ones who initiate divorce. And it's for that very reason, because he won't look at it. And all she is is looking at it. Right. So, um,
Starting point is 00:54:37 I think that, you know, there's definitely cases where I've worked with people where I've said, you're talking about the relationship too much. You're actually communicating too much about what's wrong. And you're not doing some of the nonverbal communication of, of learning how to have a good time to each other with each other. That does happen. But what happens more often is that people are not having the uncomfortable
Starting point is 00:55:00 conversations. And it's very important. And I think that people, I think you should expect that of yourself and of your partner. And just say, and you can even say, I know this is very difficult for you. This is very difficult for me too. I know this is very uncomfortable. By the way, you know, I love you
Starting point is 00:55:18 and I want this to go as easy as it can. But like, we do need to talk about it and I need to be in a relationship where we can talk about it. So let me know when you're free and let's sit down and let's do this and be awkward together and let's work this out. And is there any way to test this out early on?
Starting point is 00:55:33 I always think that we're in the honeymoon phase. We don't wanna have any conversations because it's going so wonderfully because we're riding on the feel good hormones. But like, I just sometimes wish we could save ourselves some time and suffering. Is there anything to be like, here's the test. Here's what we can know. Yeah, before you get serious with someone, talk about children, talk about money, talk about sex, talk about
Starting point is 00:55:55 religion and spiritual beliefs, talk about it all. Talk about how you want to live your life. Talk about it. I think that there's still that notion that I can't, I don't want to upset them. I don't want to ask them, like, what do you, this is for yourself, right? It's for yourself. It's for that. It's, it's to be smart. It's like, Oh, I don't want, and some people are, I don't want to, I don't want to learn that because I don't want to risk losing them, but there's some,
Starting point is 00:56:19 I'm not a religious person and I'm Jewish, but something that I think is really wonderful and there's, there's in the Jewish faith, they do this and Catholicism, Christianity, they do this and maybe more. This is just whatever my, my naivete about this. But one thing is a lot of people in more religious communities, they speak with a counselor, like maybe it's their rabbi or their priest and they speak to someone before they get married to really go over these things That's very because it's very rooted in values and let me tell you something. I think that's a very good thing Yeah, yeah
Starting point is 00:56:56 Okay, so let's play a little bit of game. Let's play a little game. Okay. Okay, ready? Yeah, okay, so you put a lot of Content out about being able to identify red flags. So I want to play a game with you, red flag or not. And I tend to look like, I like read red flags. I'm like, well, it could be this or that, because when some of these things, something happens in relationships,
Starting point is 00:57:16 sometimes I think, we're just gathering information. Okay, they're late gathering information. They didn't forgot their wallet, gathering information. But that said, for the sake of the game, right? I'm like, again, like they're late, you know, they don't offer their wallet gathering information. But that said for the sake of the game, right? I'm like, again, like they're late, you know, they don't have to pay, whatever. So I feel like sometimes like I'm just gathering information but maybe it's a red flag.
Starting point is 00:57:33 But for the sake of this game, as a relationship coach, counselor, author, all the things. Ready? Yes, let's do it. Okay, if they constantly check their phone, red flag. Are we talking about a date? Yes. Like a first date, like, you know, in the beginning.
Starting point is 00:57:49 It could be a date or in a relationship. Maybe it's, I know this is why it's hard. In a relationship, there's a lot of nuance. I think that would be easier to like, to maybe put this in the- Okay, first date. Yeah, red flag. I'm with you first date.
Starting point is 00:58:01 Unless they are a parent and they said, listen, I'm a parent, I have a babysitter. I have to check my phone ever because it's a new babysitter. That's like literally the only excuse. Or they're a doctor on call. Or they're a doctor on call. Or they should be on a date. Or they have a family member in the hospital.
Starting point is 00:58:13 Yeah. Yeah. Then they should, exactly. Then they shouldn't be on a date. Exactly. So I say yes. Red flag. They're late to a first date.
Starting point is 00:58:21 Red flag. Yellow flag. I need more information. If they don't respond to your texts, but they're really busy at their job. Well, it's not if someone, if you're dating someone, they have a big job and they're not and they're only able to text you back at the latter half of the day, that's perfectly fine. You're, you're, they're busy.
Starting point is 00:58:37 And you should be busy too. But if they just don't respond to you that day because they're quote unquote too busy, red flag. Okay. If they talk about their ex on a first date, red flag. It depends on what context, what I would, the better flag would be, this is what I learned from my past relationship. The red flag is my ex is a complete crazy person.
Starting point is 00:58:58 So I love that nuance. Yes. So true. When they're like, my ex is crazy. I'm like, guess what? Everyone's ex is crazy. We all dated the same person. Like, maybe we'll say that. So, and also it's like, but yeah, yeah, I'm like, guess what? Everyone's ex is crazy where you all date the same person. Like, I hate people say that. So, and also it's like, but yeah, but you love them.
Starting point is 00:59:07 So what does that say about you? Right. But to say this is what I love when they lead with like, my ex and I'm learning from that. That's beautiful. Or the ex is the mother or father of your child. And so you're just kind of sharing that this is, you're kind of laying the groundwork.
Starting point is 00:59:22 Like this is the kind of relationship that I have with my ex spouse or whatever. If they've ghosted multiple people, red flag, even once, red flag. Yeah. Okay. If they prefer not to talk things out and just wait for it to blow over. Yeah. Red flag. If they don't have a good relationship with their parents, yellow flag. Um, I'd want to know more information. Okay. I have our five quickie questions we ask all of our guests. Okay. So don't overthink, quick, don't think too hard. First thing that pops in your head. Okay. Biggest turn on. Ooh, presence. Someone who's like really- Not for gifts, but presence.
Starting point is 01:00:00 No, someone who's like really present with me and like really like engaged with me. Biggest turnoff. Two, they're constantly distracted and two, they're stingy. What would you tell your younger self about sex and relationships? My younger self, what I would say about sex is your pleasure really matters and your body is your temple. Don't let anyone just get inside there. Yes. What's one thing you wish everyone knew about
Starting point is 01:00:33 sex? Hmm. It complicates things. Even if you're a very sex positive and very open person, it's always going to complicate feelings with another person. And you need to be mindful of that. What makes good sex? Huh, I think that's different for people. I think it depends on who you're asking. I can't really say that for everyone. One more thing I've realized, I wanted to ask you,
Starting point is 01:00:59 what are, if you had to say, what are the biggest things that come up around sex with your clients? Like, what are the challenges right now? Because I'm so into talking about you about all the stuff you do, like, hey, we're a sex family. So a lot of the common things is, you know, we don't have enough sex. They don't do the things that they did
Starting point is 01:01:22 in the beginning of the relationship to get me hot. do the things that they did in the beginning of the relationship to get me hot. They, if it's dating, it's, they weren't present, jackhammer kind of thing, you know, or just like whatever. But yeah, not enough sex or I'm not sure if I'm still attracted to my partner or not. Yeah, that's a big one. And then go back and read your chemistry chapter. Yeah. attracted to my partner or not. Yeah, that's a big one. And then you can go back and read your chemistry chapter. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:01:46 Well, thank you so much for being here, Jillian. I so appreciate you. And one final thing, I like to pick out something, send you home with a little more pleasure than you came with. Oh my God. I want people to always leave with more pleasure. So I wanna gift you this, you can open it up.
Starting point is 01:02:03 Oh my God, I am so excited. Because I felt like this toy would resonate with you. I wanna gift you this, you can open it up. Oh my God, I am so excited. This toy would resonate with you. Oh my God, am I getting a new toy? You're getting a new toy, and this is the Lalo GG3. And I love it because it's soft and powerful, just like you. Oh, thank you so much.
Starting point is 01:02:19 I feel a little softness and a strength, and this is a really great toy that hits all the great spots. I can't wait to try it. There goes your evening. There goes my evening. Stay with me. Some flavored, I got you some, there's also some flavored chocolatey lube in there that are really good. I've never tried, like, they taste so good. There's a chocolate one and a green apple. You, you like, this is like, these would be in my choices. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I felt that.
Starting point is 01:02:45 Okay, well, gosh, Jim, thank you. This is very exciting. And it also is app controlled, which is kind of like, you know, which is of the future, just like you. What's that? It's app controlled. Oh, app controlled, oh. So someone else could control it.
Starting point is 01:02:58 I believe that's how it works. Someone else could control it from another country, another room. Oh my God. That's fucking amazing. I know, right? So I was like, it's very futuristic. It is, I love it.
Starting point is 01:03:10 Thank you so much. You're so welcome. Okay, so thank you for being here. Thank you for all you do. Where can people find you? What's going on? Well, the book, JillianTerecky.com slash book. And then of course my Instagram, JillianTerecky,
Starting point is 01:03:24 my podcast, Jillian on Love, and just all social media channels. Amazing. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. That's it for today's episode. Thanks for listening to Sex with Emily and be sure to like, subscribe and give us a review wherever you listen to the podcast and share this with a friend or partner.
Starting point is 01:03:44 You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, or X and Facebook. It's all at Sex with Emily. Oh and I've been told I give really good email so sign up on SexWithEmily.com and while you're there check out my free guides and articles for more ways to prioritize your pleasure. And if you'd like to ask me about your sex life, dating, or relationships, call my hotline 559-TALK-SEX. That's 559-825-5739 or just go to SexWithEmily.com slash Ask Emily. Was it good for you? Email me, feedback at SexWithEmily.com.

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