When love feels hard, it’s easy to forget why we chose it in the first place. But remembering why we love—and what drives our need for connection—is often what helps us stay grounded. In this episode, Julie and Yue sit down with evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin to explore what biology, psychology, and evolution can teach us about the most deeply human experience we have. Drawing from two decades of research, Dr. Machin reveals how our earliest attachments, neurochemical patterns, and evolutionary instincts shape how we love, who we choose, and why connection is so essential to our wellbeing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Evolution and Early Attachment Form Your Blueprint for Love

How Brain Chemistry Drives Attraction, Bonding, and Long-Term Connection

How Different Forms of Love—Romantic, Familial, Queer, Platonic, Polyamorous—Function in the Brain

Why Love Can Feel Addictive—and the Psychology Behind Coercive or Unhealthy Dynamics

How to Make More Conscious, Intentional Choices in How You Love

Why Love Is the Single Most Important Factor in Human Health and Meaning

To learn more about Dr Anna Machin: follow @dr_amachin and visit: https://annamachin.com/

We don’t just show up to relationships as adults — we show up with every belief we learned long before. Those early schemas — the quiet stories like “I’m not enough,” “People always leave,” or “Love has to be earned” — shape our patterns far more than we realize. In this episode, Julie and Yue sit down with psychologist and schema expert Dr. Avigail Lev to break down how these core beliefs form, why they’re so sticky, and how understanding them can transform the way we love. Dr. Lev explains how identifying your schemas helps you interrupt old cycles, build more secure connections, and finally rewrite the patterns that keep you stuck.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What schemas are and why these beliefs are hard to shake

How your early experiences shape the way you show up in relationships

Which thoughts keep you stuck in the same love traps

Why you’re drawn to certain types of partners and patterns

How to recognize the subconscious beliefs guiding your behavior

Practical ways to change your behavior and create the love life you want

To learn more about Dr. Avigail Lev: visit: https://bayareacbtcenter.com/therapist/avigail-lev-psyd/

To take the relationship schemas quiz: visit https://bayareacbtcenter.com/relationship-schema-quiz/

The reality is: no relationship is perfect. Conflict happens. Sometimes we hurt each other — even in the healthiest partnerships. But what truly matters is how we respond. In this episode, Julie and Yue sit down with licensed therapist Vienna Pharaon and men’s work leader Connor Beaton to explore why repair — not perfection — is the real foundation of a healthy relationship. Drawing from their own lived experience (including navigating new parenthood) and the work they do with couples every day, Vienna and Connor break down how accountability, compassion, and intentional repair can turn moments of rupture into opportunities for deeper connection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to Practice Real Accountability in Your Relationship

How to Repair After Conflict in a Way That Builds Trust

How to Understand the Patterns You Bring from Your Family of Origin

How to Communicate During Tense Moments Without Escalating

How to Reconnect Emotionally After You’ve Hurt Each Other

How to Stay a Team Through Stress, Change, and New Life Transitions

To learn more about Vienna: follow @mindfulmft and visit: https://viennapharaon.com/

To learn more about Connor: follow @mantalks and visit https://connorbeaton.com/