Esther Perel on attention infidelity, human-AI relationships and how tech is reshaping real intimacy

Renowned Belgian psychotherapist and bestselling author Esther Perel joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a conversation about the urgent need for love, connection, and meaningful relationships in an increasingly disconnected world. Esther reflects on how the 1998 scandal sparked her exploration of why American culture often tolerates divorce more readily than infidelity—helping shape her work on love, desire, and betrayal. Together, they explore how the expectations we bring to marriage, social media, and our increasingly screen-mediated lives are reshaping intimacy—from “attention infidelity” and ambiguous loss to emerging human-AI relationships. They unpack the complexities of power, trust, boundaries, and repair, asking what it takes to confront shame, restore dignity, and rebuild connection after betrayal. As she embarks on her immersive world tour, Strangers, Friends and Lovers, Esther makes the case for treating relationships as a public health issue. YT CHAPTERS: 00:00 Divorce vs Infidelity 00:38 TED Reunion and Origins 02:32 Love Desire and Culture 09:04 AI and Relationship Crisis 13:59 Trust Betrayal and Repair 33:07 Core Relationship Questions 34:06 Shame After Betrayal 37:48 Dignity In Intimacy 46:51 Relational Intelligence Explained 01:02:10 Reclaiming Connection Through Art Watch more episodes of Reclaiming:    • Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky   Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on social:   / reclaimingwithmonica     / reclaimingwithmonica   Connect with Monica:   / monica_lewinsky   https://x.com/monicalewinsky   / monicalewinsky   About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-.... #monicalewinsky #podcast