Family estrangement and infidelity: Esther Perel answers your questions

Family estrangement and infidelity: Esther Perel answers your questions

Author: ABC Australia March 14, 2026 Duration: 30:06
How do you grieve a dying parent you're estranged from? Do cheaters ever change? People say love should feel 'easy', is that true? Psychotherapist Esther Perel is back on All in the Mind, answering your questions about heartbreak, loss, and love in this extra special mailbag episode. We've got questions on how to reconnect with estranged siblings, what to do when global conflicts impact personal relationships, and whether a first love can still feel special, even if it happens later in life. And if you missed part one of our chat with Esther Perel, you can listen to our episode titled "Couples therapy with an AI partner? Esther Perel's just done it" here. Esther also featured on our first episode of Mind Hacks! Guest: Esther Perel Psychotherapist and couples therapist Author, The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity Host, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: If you want to hear more from Esther Perel, she chatted to Lisa Leong on This Working Life. The episode is called Esther Perel on conflict and power struggles at work. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ever wondered what's really happening inside your head? Each week, All In The Mind from ABC Australia ventures into the complex landscape of human thought and feeling. This isn't just a dry science lecture; it's a thoughtful exploration of the experiences that shape us, hosted by curious minds who know how to tell a compelling story. You'll hear conversations that bridge the gap between scientific research and the messy reality of daily life, delving into topics as diverse as the mechanisms of memory, the challenges of breaking an addiction, or the ethical puzzles posed by artificial intelligence. The discussions are grounded and accessible, making the inner workings of the brain relevant to anyone interested in health, behaviour, or simply understanding themselves a little better. By tuning into this podcast, you join a community considering how our mental universe influences everything from our personal fitness to our social connections. It’s a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect on the fascinating forces-both biological and psychological-that drive what we do and who we are. The production brings together expert insights with genuine human stories, creating a space where complex ideas about the mind and behaviour are unpacked with clarity and depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All In The Mind
Podcast Episodes
'My brain snapped': Harry's sudden psychosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Harry had been lucky. He'd never struggled with his mental health. Then, when he was 18, seemingly out of nowhere — he had his first psychotic episode. It was an abrupt change, with ripple effects across his family. Toda…
Age of rage: the psychology behind our moral outrage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Politics, war, abortion, gun control — why do some topics make us so outraged? One theory is that our preoccupation with preventing harm is to blame. So today, we examine how humans developed morality, why we differ in w…
The promise and perils of manifesting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
If you could manifest anything into your life, what would it be? A perfect partner, your dream house, winning the lottery? Manifesting promises a limitless potential of dreams to achieve — through methods like vision boa…
"Scarier than killer robots": why your brain isn't ready for AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
The AI revolution is coming. Your mind isn't ready for it. Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson walks us through the many ways artificial intelligence is messing — and will mess — with our psychology. From falling in lo…
What influences your inner voice? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
That voice inside your head - where does it come from? We bring back a topic that was one of our most popular for a long awaited part two. Today, what shapes your internal chatter. This episode was first released in Marc…
Inside a sociopath's mind: "I'm capable of almost anything" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Patric Gagne is a sociopath, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype. From a violent kid, to a PhD and author - we track the unusual story of a sociopath who learned to be 'good'. Plus, there's been some controversy and quest…
The skills supercommunicators use (and how you can learn them) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
What do working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're all situations that supercommunicators excel at. Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too…
The design tricks brands use to get you to buy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
What influences your shopping behaviour? Well, it's likely a mix of what you need, what's presented to you in store and probably some neuromarketing (which we've covered on our program before). But what about the role of…
When life is too loud: what are sound sensitivities? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
How do you feel as you move through a busy space — like an airport, a city street or a crowded shopping centre? For some of us, these spaces are energising — being among the rush of people and the noise of the crowds. Bu…
Should you do a 'dopamine detox'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
Dopamine feels great, but is it always good for us? The answer is complicated, so today, we get into what dopamine actually does in the brain. How does it affect our motivation, movement and behaviour? And how does our e…