We Need To Talk with Dr. Darcy Sterling

When couples tell me they’ve “lost the spark,” it’s rarely because of one major event. It’s the slow fade—the missed opportunities for connection, the routine that replaces curiosity, the conversations that revolve more around logistics than intimacy. But here’s the good news: Rekindling connection doesn’t require a massive overhaul. Sometimes, the smallest shift can open the biggest door. In this...

You know that moment when you tell yourself you’ll scroll for just five more minutes… and somehow, an hour disappears? In this solo episode, I’m digging into the psychology behind why we feel addicted to social media—and what we can do about it. Because this goes way beyond distraction. For many of us, the endless scrolling becomes compulsive. Especially after a breakup or during times of heighten...

You know those relationship fights that keep coming up again and again? The ones that go in circles—never really getting resolved, just getting recycled? My guest this week is Julie Mennano—licensed therapist, author of Secure Love , and host of The Secure Relationship Podcast . Julie has a rare gift for helping couples identify the deeper emotional patterns driving their relationship conflict. Sh...

If you've ever found yourself walking on eggshells in relationships, struggling to set boundaries, or feeling like your emotional needs are too much , this episode is for you. I sat down with clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lindsay Gibson—whose groundbreaking work has helped millions of adult children of emotionally immature parents understand the long-term effects of childhoo...

Holiday weeks always make me feel nostalgic, and that feeling tends to make me reflect on people who used to be in my life but no longer are… That’s why, this week, we’re re-releasing our most popular episode of all time—on family estrangement. Clearly, this topic resonates. So many of us live in the tension between missing someone we’ve cut off, and fearing that reconciliation would just reopen t...

I’ve worked with so many smart, successful people who keep finding themselves in relationships that just don’t work. They’re self-aware, they’ve done the therapy, and on paper, they’re a catch. So why do they keep picking partners who can’t meet them where they are? In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and “ Love & Life” podcast host Dr. Karin Anderson Abrell to talk about why high-func...

Cannabis is having a wellness moment. But is it a legitimate mental health tool—or just a new way to avoid our feelings? Today’s users aren’t who they used to be. They’re CEOs. Athletes using it for sleep and recovery. People with anxiety trying to get off benzos. Moms who’d rather have an edible than drink three glasses of wine. I’m joined today by Peter Barsoom, founder of 1906—a company making...

In 2018, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina made headlines around the world by doing something radical in a courtroom: She listened. During the sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar—a doctor who sexually abused over 150 women and girls under the guise of medical treatment—she operated her courtroom with a level of sensitivity and sophistication that we rarely see outside of a therapist’s office, giving each s...

We talk a lot about rebuilding emotional trust after infidelity. But what happens when it’s time to rebuild sexual trust—the kind that requires you to feel safe enough to be vulnerable again in your body? In this episode of We Need To Talk with Dr. Darcy Sterling , Dr. Darcy sits down with renowned sex therapist Dr. Emily Jamea to explore what couples often don’t anticipate: how hard it can be to...

Everything You’ve Been Taught About Intimacy Is Wrong Today’s episode is one I couldn’t wait to bring back. It’s a listener favorite that’s just as powerful now as when it first aired. If you missed it the first time, you’re in for something special — and if you didn’t, you’ll get even more out of it this time: Everything you thought you knew about intimacy? Michaela Boehm is here to challenge it....

I’m a Catch. So Why Am I Still Single? These days, “being a catch” has become its own kind of identity.  Career? On point. Emotional intelligence? Check. Working with a therapist? Obviously. But if you’re still single—and tired of pretending not to care—this episode is for you. Ashtyn and I unpack the disconnect between being successful in life and why that doesn’t always translate to success in l...

We all have a “type”—but what if your type is actually the problem? In this solo episode, I break down how the people we’re most drawn to often reflect the dynamics we grew up with—even when those dynamics were painful or unhealthy. From the brooding artist to the charming extrovert who leaves you craving more, our attraction isn’t always about compatibility—it’s about familiarity. You’ll learn: W...

Most of us think we’d know how to help if someone we loved was struggling with their mental health. But here’s the truth: Mental health crises rarely look the way we expect. They don’t come with warning sirens or dramatic breakdowns. They come with canceled plans. Short texts. “I’m just tired.” A fake smile and a quick change of subject. In this episode of We Need to Talk, I sat down with Dr. Jose...

Most people are going to want to skip this episode. I get it—grief is uncomfortable. It’s messy. It brings up stuff we’d rather avoid. But if you want to develop strong relationship skills—if you want to be the kind of person who shows up when it matters—this is mandatory listening. We don’t talk about grief until we have to. And even then, most of us don’t know what to do. Do we check in? Give sp...

Trying to find the right therapist can feel like a job—especially when every Psychology Today bio starts sounding the same. And in a world where therapists market themselves on Instagram, it’s harder than ever to tell who’s actually good… and who just has a good aesthetic. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Coe-Odess—a licensed clinical psychologist and therapist-matching expert—to break d...

In today’s world, sharing an opinion can feel like stepping onto a battlefield. We fear being judged, misunderstood, or canceled—so we stay silent. Or worse, we speak at each other instead of with each other. But real connection isn’t about having the perfect words. It’s about showing up with curiosity, intention, and presence—even when it’s uncomfortable. In this powerful conversation, I’m joined...

Do you keep ending up with the same type of partner—different face, same red flags? Are your relationships lopsided—with one of you craving emotional intimacy, and the other can’t (or won’t) go there? Do you find yourself thinking, “Why does this keep happening to me?” If so, this episode is for you. At some point, we all have to stop pointing fingers and ask the harder question: What’s my role in...

Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults each year. And yet, despite how familiar it is, we still get so much wrong about it. We’re taught to treat anxiety like something to conquer, suppress, or “fix.” But what if that mindset is actually making things worse? If you've ever spiraled over a future that hasn’t happened—or replayed a conversati...

What if you could train your brain to work with you—not against you? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jeff Karp, one of the world’s leading biotech researchers and a professor at both Harvard Medical School and MIT. His lab runs more like a think tank, focused on unlocking human potential through creativity, innovation, and intentional living. As someone with severe (but well-managed) ADHD, I’ve...

Ever find yourself replaying a conversation in your head—over and over—only to avoid it altogether? Maybe you want to tell a friend they hurt your feelings. Or ask for a raise. Or bring up that thing your partner said that’s still bothering you. We all do it. But why? Why do we avoid conversations that could actually improve our relationships—and our lives? Most of us dodge these talks because we...

If you’re feeling more anxious than ever about politics, you’re not alone. Nearly 70% of Americans believe the country is more divided now than at any point in recent history. And with 24/7 news cycles, social media outrage, and family group chats that feel like landmines, staying sane in this political climate can feel impossible. But how much of our political stress is actually within our contro...

Imagine missing out on dream vacations because you fear flying, or passing on career opportunities due to public speaking anxiety. Phobias don’t just protect us—they can hold our lives hostage. Traditional treatments like exposure therapy can take months or years, with no guarantee of success. But what if you could overcome your fear in just one session? Today’s guest, Merel Kindt, neuroscientist,...

If you’ve ever had someone in your life step into recovery, you know how profound—and fragile—that journey can be. It’s a moment of hope, courage, and transformation, but also one where friends, family, and coworkers can feel unsure of how to show up. How do you avoid unintentionally triggering them? And how can you be there without making things…awkward? Today we’re digging into the hidden challe...

Everything you thought you knew about intimacy? Michaela Boehm is here to challenge it. Michaela Boehm is a renowned intimacy expert and celebrity relationship coach whose unconventional approach flips traditional relationship advice on its head. In this episode, we reveal: Why date nights can backfire on your romantic connection. How casual touch may be dulling your sexual chemistry over time. Wh...

Valentine’s Day is typically all about romantic relationships, but today, we’re celebrating a love that’s just as powerful—lifelong friendship. My niece Ashtyn, who you know from We Need To Talk , has been inseparable from her two best friends, Claire and Danielle, since middle school. Now in their late 20s, their bond has not only survived but thrived, weathering life’s ups and downs.  True, last...