In our modern world, we have seen a remarkable increase in anxiety and depression in people, particularly among young people, not to mention the loneliness epidemic, burnout, and stress, all of which greatly impact our sense of well-being and our ability to connect with each other. Dr. Alexandra is joined by the award-winning journalist and bestselling author, Jennifer B. Wallace, whose latest book Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose makes the case for why feeling like we matter is essential to our well-being and how prioritizing this need is a remedy to our modern mental health dilemmas.

In this conversation, you will hear about:

• some of the stories Jennie came across while researching her new book that demonstrate why mattering, well, matters.
• simple practices that folks have integrated into their daily lives to develop a sense of mattering in themselves, and to convey to others that they matter to them.
• the aspects of our culture that impact our sense of mattering and how we can respond, counterculturally, with actions that protect our “mattering core”, as Jennie calls it.
• Jennie’s thoughts on flake culture (our normalization of bailing on plans) and how it harms our own sense of mattering, as well as harms those around us.

Resources worth mentioning from the episode:

• Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennifer Breheny Wallace: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mattering-the-secret-to-a-life-of-deep-connection-and-purpose-jennifer-breheny-wallace/157a47e2699950cb?ean=9780593850596&next=t
• Jennifer B. Wallace’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbrehenywallace/?hl=en
• Jennifer B. Wallace’s Newsletter: https://www.jenniferbwallace.com/newsletter
• Derek Thompson’s Substack article: https://www.derekthompson.org/p/whose-cup-are-you-filling

Continue the conversation with Dr. Alexandra Solomon:

• Ask a question! Submit your relationship challenge: https://form.jotform.com/212295995939274
• Order Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every Day: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
• Cultivate connection by subscribing to Dr. Alexandra’s Loving Bravely newsletter: https://newsletter.dralexandrasolomon.com/
• Learn more on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.alexandra.solomon/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You may be surprised to hear that billionaires get divorced at roughly the same rate as the general population, which demonstrates that no amount of money protects couples from the tension that can arise when finances are at play. Dr. Alexandra often says that money is a tricky topic because at one level, it is very concrete – dollars and cents, spending and saving. But at another level, the topic of money evokes deep and meaningful questions about our core beliefs, our sense of identity, our desires, and our insecurities. To help us explore all of this, Dr. Alexandra is joined by financial-planning power couple Douglas and Heather Boneparth.

You will hear them talk about:

• why money continues to be a source of tension for couples, even after couples become objectively successful.
• “financial infidelity”, the role shame plays with it, and the Boneparths’ case for financial transparency in your relationship.
• how to get past the tangible, more surface-level topics around money to curiously dig deeper and explore why you and your partner feel the way you do about money (and spoiler alert: that story started being written long long ago!).
• how to approach prenups.

Resources worth mentioning from the episode:

• Money Together: How to find fairness in your relationship and become an unstoppable financial team by Heather and Douglas Boneparth https://bookshop.org/p/books/money-together-how-to-find-fairness-in-your-relationship-and-become-an-unstoppable-financial-team-douglas-boneparth/273465fcc086fc3d
• Subscribe to The Joint Account newsletter: https://www.readthejointaccount.com/
• Learn more about The Boneparths: https://domoneytogether.com/

Continue the conversation with Dr. Alexandra Solomon:

• Ask a question! Submit your relationship challenge: https://form.jotform.com/212295995939274
• Order Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every Day: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
• Cultivate connection by subscribing to Dr. Alexandra’s Loving Bravely newsletter: https://newsletter.dralexandrasolomon.com/
• Learn more on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.alexandra.solomon/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Alexandra is joined by sobriety influencer, podcast host, and author, Suzanne Warye, and her husband, Russell Warye, to talk about the role alcohol played for them at various stages of their lives and their respective journeys towards sobriety. You’ll hear them talk about the trouble with approaching alcohol with moderation, how shame becomes entwined with alcohol use, and how sobriety clears the landing for self-compassion and worthiness. Throughout, they discuss how their sobriety journeys impacted their relationship, both when Suzanne pursued sobriety first and then years later, when Russell followed suit.

Resources worth mentioning from the episode:

• The Sober Shift by Suzanne Warye: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sober-shift-a-modern-day-guide-to-living-an-abundant-sober-life-suzanne-warye/016d6eef4f5d0831?ean=9780063437616&next=t
• Suzanne Warye’s Podcast The Sober Mom Life, When Your Partner Stops Drinking (With My Husband!) https://thesobermomlife.com/2024/07/22/when-your-partner-stops-drinking/
• Suzanne Warye’s Podcast The Sober Mom Life, How Sobriety Affects Your Relationship: https://thesobermomlife.com/2022/08/22/how-sobriety-affects-your-relationship/
• Learn more about Suzanne Warye: https://mykindofsweet.com/about-suzanne/
• Reimagining Love episode, “I Think I’ve Outgrown My Relationship!”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-think-ive-outgrown-my-relationship/id1588419386?i=1000739258061
• Thriving Through the Holiday Chaos on MasterClass: http://masterclass.com/holidays

Continue the conversation with Dr. Alexandra Solomon:

• Ask a question! Submit your relationship challenge: https://form.jotform.com/212295995939274
• Order Dr. Alexandra’s book, Love Every Day: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530
• Cultivate connection by subscribing to Dr. Alexandra’s newsletter: https://www.dralexandrasolomon.com/
• Learn more on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.alexandra.solomon/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.