Join us as we explore the ups and downs of love and partnership in a fun, relatable way. Each week, we dive deep into real-life stories, expert advice, and actionable tips to help couples strengthen their bonds and navigate the complexities of relationships. Whether you're in a long-term commitment or just starting out, Dashnaw Couples Therapy is here to support your journey toward a healthier, happier relationship. Tune in and transform your love life—one episode at a time!
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Recent Episodes:
Explore our latest episodes, where we dive into real relationship challenges and research-backed solutions. From expert insights to practical advice, each episode offers new ways to understand and grow in your relationship.
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Show Notes
For each episode of the Better Relationships Through Research podcast, the show notes below will help you jump to the part of the conversation that interests you most or find links to resources mentioned by our guests.
Episode Title: Addressing BIPOC Infidelity with Dr. Vagdevi V. Meunier, PsyD
Guest Expert: Dr. Vagdevi V. Meunier
Overview: In this episode, we delve deep into the complexities of infidelity within BIPOC relationships and how cultural dynamics shape therapeutic practices. Join host Daniel Dashnaw and special guest Dr. Vagdevi Meunier as they explore the Ecological Couples System Diagram (ECSD), a groundbreaking framework that integrates cultural sensitivity with the Gottman Method to better understand and treat infidelity in BIPOC couples.
Episode Title: Exploring Infidelity in American Culture
Overview: In this insightful episode of the Better Relationships Through Research podcast, host Daniel Dashnaw delves into the complex and often controversial topic of infidelity in American culture. Drawing from various examples in popular media, Daniel explores how cultural tropes around infidelity have evolved and their impact on societal attitudes and personal relationships.
Episode Title: Mona Kay of Neurodiverse Love
Guest Expert: Mona Kay
Overview: Join Daniel Dashnaw and Mona Kay on a journey through the intricate landscapes of monotropism, a cognitive process of neurodiverse humans which sometimes challenges a neurotypical partner.
In this episode, we delve into the challenges and nuances faced by those whose minds tend to focus intensely on a single interest or task for long periods, often making transitions daunting.
Episode Title: Parenting, Resilience, and Emotional Connection: A Conversation with Erica Komisar
Overview: In this episode, host Daniel Dashnaw speaks with psychoanalyst, parent coach, and author Erica Komisar about the critical role of emotional presence in the early years of child development and the rising challenges of adolescent anxiety in today’s world. Erica shares practical, research-backed strategies for parents to foster healthy attachment, recognize anxiety, and build resilience in their children.
Episode Title: Rick Miller on Love & Communication
Guest Expert: Psychotherapist Rick Miller
Overview:In this episode of Better Relationships Through Research, Daniel sits down with internationally recognized psychotherapist Rick Miller, LICSW. Known for his pioneering work with gay men and experiential therapy, Rick brings his decades of clinical experience to an honest and deeply insightful conversation about emotional connection, sexuality, intimacy, and the evolving dynamics of open relationships.
Episode Title: Is Marriage Bad for Your Brain? Debunking the Research on Cognitive Decline
Overview:In this solo monologue, therapist Daniel Dashnaw unpacks a widely circulated study from Florida State University that claims being single may protect your brain. Daniel takes a critical look at the methodology behind the research—highlighting its failure to distinguish marital status from marital quality—and explains why the nuance really matters.
Episode Title: The Mental Load: How to Ask for Shared Responsibility Without Starting a War
Overview: In this Monologue episode, marriage and family therapist Daniel Dashnaw explores one of the most emotionally charged topics in modern relationships: the invisible mental load. From meal planning and remembering birthdays to managing household logistics and emotional weather, many partners—often women—carry an unspoken weight that goes unacknowledged until it explodes. Daniel walks listeners through why this conversation so often triggers defensiveness and how to have it differently: with vulnerability, clarity, and a shared desire to rebalance the partnership.
Episode Title: Why “Tough Love” Fails and What Actually Works
Guest Expert: Dr. Linda Metcalf
Overview: In this episode of Better Relationships Through Research, Daniel sits down with renowned educator, author, and therapist Dr. Linda Metcalf, PhD. With decades of experience in both clinical settings and public education, Linda brings a refreshing, compassionate lens to therapy and school systems alike.
Episode Title: 7 Phrases That Signal Real Relationship Health
Overview: In this monologue episode, Daniel Dashnaw shares seven phrases that reveal the heart of a healthy relationship, not just in words, but in how they shape the nervous system, build trust, and support lasting connection. From “I don’t feel like I have to walk on eggshells with you” to “Let’s figure out how this fits into both of our lives,” Daniel explores what these statements really mean, and why they matter.
Episode Title: 7 Hidden Signs of a Healthy Love Nobody Talks About
Overview:Healthy relationships don’t always sound dramatic. Often, they sound like quiet understanding in the kitchen, like a pause in the middle of conflict, or like a gentle “That makes sense.” In this follow-up to his previous episode on relationship language, Daniel Dashnaw shares seven more phrases emotionally secure people say, and what they reveal about trust, connection, and repair. From “I don’t need you to fix it” to “How can I love you better right now?” each phrase is rooted in attachment science, co-regulation, and the ethics of care. Daniel explores how these everyday words aren’t just nice, they’re neuroscience-backed signals of real emotional safety and partnership.
Episode Title: Growing Into Love, The Science of Positive Illusions & The Michelangelo Effect
Overview: Romantic comedies sell us the myth of instant compatibility, find your soulmate, cue the fireworks, and live happily ever after. But real couples know love doesn’t just arrive fully formed; it’s something you grow into. In this solo episode of Better Relationships Through Research, marriage and family therapist Daniel Dashnaw unpacks what decades of psychology research reveals about how partners truly shape each other over time. From positive illusions that soften our view of each other’s quirks, to the Michelangelo Effect that shows how couples sculpt one another’s best selves, Daniel explores why long-term love is less about perfection and more about growth.
Suggest a Topic or Guest!
Have ideas for future episodes? We’d love to hear from you!
We welcome all suggestions for topics you'd like to see covered on the Better Relationships Through Research Podcast. Whether it's an author of a book you're reading on relationships, a therapist you admire, or even your own experiences—we're here to listen!
We’re interested in connecting with real-world relationship experts and those navigating the challenges and rewards of neurodiverse relationships. Alongside published authors and specialists, we also love to feature everyday individuals and couples who are open to sharing their journeys so we can all learn and grow together.