Episode Details

What did you grow up believing about love? For many of us it was that fate would bring the right person into our lives, we would fall in love, and live happily ever after. But what happens after the happily ever after? We change, our relationships evolve, our desires shift, and somewhere along the way we may realize we are not the same people we were when we first fell in love.

In this episode, Gabriella sits down with Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, social psychologist, sexologist, relationship architect, and author of Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love. Drawing on more than 20 years of work with couples in over 40 countries, Dr. Sara challenges the idea that love is something we simply fall into and shares why we have far more agency in creating the relationships we want than we have been led to believe.

Gabriella also shares what she and her husband discovered when they tried an exercise from the book, and why the results pleasantly surprised them both.

Walk away with a new way of thinking about love, a framework for checking in on your relationship, and simple ideas for finding your way back to each other.

Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift.

Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, Ph.D., is an award-winning social psychologist, TED Speaker, and global relationship expert bridging personal intimacy, professional excellence, and intercultural fluency. A former advisor to governments, UN agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, her work spans over 40 countries and major media outlets like NPR, BBC, CNN, and the New York Times. Her newest book, Love by Design: 6 ingredients to build a lifetime of love, won the CAMFT Clark Vincent Award. It outlines six research-backed ingredients for thriving relationships: attraction, respect, trust, shared vision, compassion, and loving behaviors. Recognized globally, her honors include awards from the British Council, Pfizer, BBC World Service, AASECT, and Psychotherapy Networker's 2026 Vanguard Award. She holds multiple clinical credentials (AASECT, COSRT, UKCP, AMFT, CAMFT), lives between London and Los Angeles, and travels widely. 

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Why the “you know it when you know it” story about love leaves so many of us feeling thirsty
• The difference between submergent love (one plus one equals one) and emergent love (one plus one equals three)
• What to do when you feel like you have lost yourself in your relationship
• How to find your love blueprint and why it shapes the way you give and receive love
• The six ingredients of lasting love: attraction, respect, trust, shared vision, compassion, and loving behaviors
•  A simple four-step process for repairing broken trust
• How couples who feel like roommates can begin to find each other again 

If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.

CONNECT WITH DR. SARA NASSERZADEH:

Learn more at www.Sara-Nasserzadeh.com, join her online community here, and follow her on Instagram here.

Author of the Award-Winning Book: Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build