So long as we’re stuck on an internal idea of perfection, we can never fully experience the magic of what’s right before our eyes. That's why searching for one's "type," or the "perfect match" can be such a dead end.

Our guests today, Jo and Nick–understand this better than most, and share with us their insights about how to be in the relationship you actually have.

Jo Piazza is an author with six very popular titles under her belt, and she’s also a rather well loved travel journalist. Most recently she wrote a book called How To Be Married, which is a collection of advice from women all over the world about how to survive the first year of marriage. It’s a delightful read, and very much worth your time. Nick is a journalist as well, and he runs a website called triplepundit.com.

Here's a link to the article I wrote on this topic of the ideal mate (which I mention in the episode): http://together.guide/good-news-your-ideal-mate-does-not-exist/

If you like what you've heard on our show, please support us by becoming a subscriber. Members get access to unedited interviews, bonus clips, early access to some of our episodes, and a community of other listeners. You can become a sponsor/subscriber on our website, or at patreon.com/together.

Please don't be shy about letting us know what you think of our program. We love hearing from you. You can email Erik at host@together.guide. Or contact us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or on Instagram @together_show.

Successful couples seem to have an instinct about where to find those moments of giggly surrender that are so effective at helping us all drop the drama and reconnect. This skill is absolutely learnable. It’s not a matter of luck, it’s a matter of practice. 

Ryan and Jordana, are guests this week, are are exceptionally talented in the area of simple fun. They’re both musicians in addition to their other passions (it’s their music played throughout this episode), and their playfulness comes pouring in the music and countless other ways.

There’s a lot to listen for in this episode, but I suggest you keep one ear open for how these two cultivate their balance between work and play.

If you like what you've heard on our show, please support us by becoming a subscriber. Members get access to unedited interviews, bonus clips, early access to some of our episodes, and a community of other listeners. You can become a sponsor/subscriber on our website, or at patreon.com/together.

Please don't be shy about letting us know what you think of our program. We love hearing from you. You can email Erik at host@together.guide. Or contact us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or on Instagram @together_show.

We need philosophers and the rigor they bring to the discussions that inform our daily lives. It's critical–particularly in our current political climate–for all of us to consider what we mean by the words we use and the concepts we refer to.

So what about love? What does that mean, really?

To ask that question properly (but never entirely answer it), we turn to Dr. Carrie Jenkins, Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and a Professor at the Northern Institute of Philosophy, University of Aberdeen. Dr. Jenkins just released a book called: What Love Is And What It Could Be. It’s a delightful read, and I highly suggest you pick it up.

You can find Dr. Jenkin’s personal website at Carriejenkins.com.

If you like what you’ve heard on our show, please support us by becoming a subscriber. Members get access to unedited interviews, bonus clips, early access to some of our episodes, and a community of other listeners. You can become a sponsor/subscriber on our website, or at patreon.com/together.

Please don’t be shy about letting us know what you think of our program. We love hearing from you. You can email Erik at host@together.guide. Or contact us on our Facebook page, on Twitter or on Instagram @together_show.

The music on our show today is from Blue Dot Sessions, and you can them at sessions.blue

Money and sex–last week I claimed that these are the two most direct access points to our unconscious selves, and so we focused on a story about sexual trauma. This week, it’s a story–at least partly–about money.

The identity shift is a common reason for breakups that we often hear about. We’re all human, and so inevitably we change. Our relationships need to change as well, or they become stale and hold us back. But it's never easy, and couples are in the constant process of managing all this change; it’s one of the most important skills we all need to cultivate.

Which brings us to our guests today: Paul and Sarah. These two are in the midst of a series of major life changes, and they haven't quite found their way through yet. Their relationship remains solid, but it's facing the stress of these changes, and we get an inside peak into how they're managing it.

If you like what you've heard on our show, please support us by becoming a subscriber. Members get access to unedited interviews, bonus clips, early access to some of our episodes, and a community of other listeners. You can become a sponsor/subscriber on our website, or at patreon.com/together.

Please don't be shy about letting us know what you think of our program. We love hearing from you. You can email Erik at host@together.guide. Or contact us on our Facebook page, on Twitter or on Instagram @together_show.