Esther Perel

That really was the bulk of my work the first 20 years.

Yes, yes. Before I touched mating in captivity, before I began to talk about culture and sexuality.

Yes, yes. Before I touched mating in captivity, before I began to talk about culture and sexuality.

And... And I wanted to understand the differences between forced migration and voluntary migration. I wanted to understand mixed couples are in cultural transition, but they do it in their own living room. And they don't have to move across a border, but it's happening.

And... And I wanted to understand the differences between forced migration and voluntary migration. I wanted to understand mixed couples are in cultural transition, but they do it in their own living room. And they don't have to move across a border, but it's happening.

And so I arrived here and I did a project, a research project on that and on multiculturalism in many different parts of the world. And then I had done a lot of work on minority-majority relations. I came from groups, then to families, then to couples. So majority-minority relations. And I thought, but black-Jewish relations, it's minority-minority relations. Now, I am 25.

And so I arrived here and I did a project, a research project on that and on multiculturalism in many different parts of the world. And then I had done a lot of work on minority-majority relations. I came from groups, then to families, then to couples. So majority-minority relations. And I thought, but black-Jewish relations, it's minority-minority relations. Now, I am 25.

I have been here three months. I don't think this would ever happen today, that somebody would let this person out of nowhere, not from here. But there was something about my naivete that I think kind of...

I have been here three months. I don't think this would ever happen today, that somebody would let this person out of nowhere, not from here. But there was something about my naivete that I think kind of...

worked in my favor in a way where I just was curious because I didn't identify necessarily with American Jews and I certainly am not black and so I did this two year project on minority minority relations and what is the psychodynamic of two groups who have experienced in their own way massive amounts of

worked in my favor in a way where I just was curious because I didn't identify necessarily with American Jews and I certainly am not black and so I did this two year project on minority minority relations and what is the psychodynamic of two groups who have experienced in their own way massive amounts of

Discrimination and elation, you know, and what are the dynamics, you know, and then I did a documentary about that, a little film, and that would never have happened in Belgium. I mean, that doesn't happen. Why?

Discrimination and elation, you know, and what are the dynamics, you know, and then I did a documentary about that, a little film, and that would never have happened in Belgium. I mean, that doesn't happen. Why?

That somebody out of nowhere comes and says, I have an idea. And that somebody says, here, I found you. Go ahead and show me what you can do. And the same thing is happening with me today, that people find me. And just talk to me directly. And this week I get an email. I'm a college student. I'm about to study couples therapy.

That somebody out of nowhere comes and says, I have an idea. And that somebody says, here, I found you. Go ahead and show me what you can do. And the same thing is happening with me today, that people find me. And just talk to me directly. And this week I get an email. I'm a college student. I'm about to study couples therapy.

I would love for you to tell me what I should study, what I should focus on, who I should meet. And I'm like, how did you find my email? Of course, I totally know how you found my email. But it's like... The idea that you could do this, you know, rather than calling the thing, can I talk to the professor? It's much less hierarchical in the way that we are internalized systems.

I would love for you to tell me what I should study, what I should focus on, who I should meet. And I'm like, how did you find my email? Of course, I totally know how you found my email. But it's like... The idea that you could do this, you know, rather than calling the thing, can I talk to the professor? It's much less hierarchical in the way that we are internalized systems.

But it's all relative. It's not like it doesn't exist. I just want to make sure that this is not taken in an absolute way. But that was my experience of why I really liked it here. And then I felt everybody in New York came to do something. I mean, you come to New York to do things, be it in art. You don't come to New York to live.

But it's all relative. It's not like it doesn't exist. I just want to make sure that this is not taken in an absolute way. But that was my experience of why I really liked it here. And then I felt everybody in New York came to do something. I mean, you come to New York to do things, be it in art. You don't come to New York to live.

I mean, yes, you can live the New York life, but you come because you have energy to do something. There's refugees of every sort in this place. So you start to meet the most amazing people. I have a lot of other things to tell you. I'm not always so positive. You know, the people who know me well are going to be very amazed to hear me make many positive statements.