Podcast
Extraordinary Relationships
Hosted by Conversations for a Connected Life · EN
Extraordinary Relationships: Conversations for a Connected Life explores real-life examples of relationships that thrive on depth, connection, and conscious practice. Through intimate, in-person interviews, we reveal the principles, practices, and lived experiences that make relationships extraordinary—and inspire listeners to cultivate them in their own lives.
extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com
extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Love, Truth, and This Too Will Pass
1w ago01:36:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Extraordinary Relationships, we sit down with Lorenzo and Nicole, who met in an Indian ashram thirty-three years ago and have moved through nearly every shape a relationship can take since. They fell into each other’s orbit through wildness on one side and steadiness on the other, married, built a life together in Lausanne, and eventually divorced. What has stayed constant through all of it is a friendship they have chosen, again and again.Lorenzo and Nicole speak with rare candor about the years of negotiation that ran beneath their marriage: what it meant to stay exclusive or not, how much of themselves each had to compromise, and the slow accumulation of imbalance that eventually brought the relationship to an end. Their honesty extends to the hardest parts, including the affairs that coincided with their separation and the grief, shared openly and often through tears, that accompanied letting go of the marriage while holding onto each other.Their wedding rings carried an inscription that became something like a philosophy: this too will pass. That phrase threads through the conversation as both comfort and provocation, a reminder that impermanence applies to the good moments as much as the difficult ones, and that a relationship can survive the ending of its original form. Sixteen years after their divorce, Lorenzo and Nicole still see each other weekly, supported by their current partners, and describe a closeness that feels lighter and freer than it ever did inside the marriage itself.This is a conversation about what becomes possible when two people stop expecting each other to fulfill every need, and choose instead to keep telling each other the truth.Guest Links & Resources:* Nicole Monnerat is a Consultant in Corporate Health Risk Management and can be contacted via n.monnerat@bluewin.ch* Lorenzo Clemente is a Family Support Specialist who guides and assists families through social, behavioral, or developmental challenges. His email is lclemente55@gmail.comReflections Episode soon to come:In our Reflections episode, we reflect on the key moments, insights, and practices that stood out in our conversation with Lorenzo and Nicole. We share:* Observations and highlights from the original conversation & experience.* Personal insights from Andrew and Danielle on applying these principles in daily life.* Practical ideas and exercises you can try to deepen the connection in your own relationships.* A worksheet with instructions you can download.The Reflections episode is a shorter, intimate companion to the main interview—designed to help you process, integrate, and embody what was discussed. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Reflections on Brotherhood, Nature, and the Practice of Showing Up: 25 Years of Men’s Team
Jul 1400:29:31Tap to summarizeIn this Reflections episode, Danielle & Andrew revisit Andrew’s in-person conversation with his men’s team, unpacking the wisdom, practices, and principles that make the team’s relationships thrive.We explore:* Key insights that arose during the interview* Practical ways to bring these lessons into your own life* Moments of vulnerability, growth, and connection that inspired usJoin us as we slow down, reflect, and share what we learned—so you can bring more presence and connection into your own relationships.Take a moment to explore, experiment, and let the principles of extraordinary relationships come to life in your everyday moments. Share what you notice, and invite a friend to join you — connection grows best when it’s shared!* Revisit the original interview here: Brotherhood, Nature, and the Practice of Showing Up: 25 Years of Men’s Team* Download our 1-page worksheet to support you in experimenting with the men’s team practices here.* Subscribe to catch all upcoming episodes. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Reflections on Extraordinary and Ordinary Love with Shared Purpose
Jun 2900:41:41Tap to summarizeIn this Reflections episode, Danielle & Andrew revisit their in-person conversation with Caroline & Jason Bernhardt-Lanier, unpacking the wisdom, practices, and principles that make their relationship thrive.We explore:* Key insights that arose during the interview* Practical ways to bring these lessons into your own life* Moments of vulnerability, growth, and connection that inspired usJoin us as we slow down, reflect, and share what we learned—so you can bring more presence and connection into your own relationships.Take a moment to explore, experiment, and let the principles of extraordinary relationships come to life in your everyday moments. Share what you notice, and invite a friend to join you — connection grows best when it’s shared!* Revisit the original interview here: Extraordinary and Ordinary Love with Shared Purpose* Download our 1-page worksheet to support you in experimenting with Jason & Caroline’s practices here.* Subscribe to catch all upcoming episodes. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Brotherhood, Nature, and the Practice of Showing Up: 25 Years of Men’s Team
Jun 1301:07:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Andrew sits down with members of his men’s team that began with a three-day conversation on a mountain 25 years ago, and has never really stopped. What unfolds in this conversation is something rare: men speaking with uncommon honesty about what they’ve built, what it’s cost them, and why they keep showing up.They had gathered in Cornwall, England, for a weeklong hiking trip. Sadly, one member, Kent Haden, was absent. They tell us about the moments that nearly broke them, the members they have lost, and the question of whether men’s groups even work over Zoom.But mostly, they’ll tell you what happens when men commit to knowing and being known over decades. What grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible that wasn’t before.And for those who feel something stirring while listening, they don’t leave you there. They share what they have learned about how to actually start something like this, and what it takes to make it last.If you’ve ever wondered whether deep male friendship is real, or whether you’re capable of it, this episode is for you.Guest Links and Resources:Mankind project ARKA Brotherhood Paul Zysman’s Foundation: Community EvolutionPaul Zysman’s email: paul.zysman@ilsc.com Richard Kay’s Sentinel Retreat Center Richard Kay’s email: richard@dunowen.comRichard’s book: Presence - A State of BeingJohn Ince’s website & email: johnince8@gmail.comGarry Gallagher email: grg@paralynx.comReflections Episode soon to come:In our Reflections episode, we reflect on the key moments, insights, and practices that stood out in the conversation Andrew had with his men’s team. We share:* Observations and highlights from the original conversation & experience.* Personal insights from Andrew and Danielle on applying these principles in daily life.* Practical ideas and exercises you can try to deepen the connection in your own relationships.* A worksheet with instructions you can download.The Reflections episode is a shorter, intimate companion to the main interview—designed to help you process, integrate, and embody what was discussed. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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A Gift from Father David: The Examen, Taken Deeper
Jun 900:01:24Tap to summarizeWhen we released our reflections episode about our conversation with Father David, something quietly wonderful happened.He listened. And then he sent us a voice message on WhatsApp.Father David offered what he called a “master’s level” of the Examen, a way of practicing it that moves beyond the checklist and into something genuinely receptive. When we heard it, we were both touched and immediately inspired to practice it exactly as he describes.This felt too good to keep to ourselves.We hope it inspires you too!If you haven’t yet listened to our original interview with Father David or our reflections episode, we’d suggest starting there first. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Reflections on Listening in Prayer, Discernment, and Non-Dual Glimpses of God
Jun 500:39:11Tap to summarizeIn this Reflections episode, Danielle & Andrew revisit their in-person conversation with Father David McCallum, unpacking the wisdom, practices, and principles that support his relationships to God/the Divine.We explore:* Key insights that arose during the interview* Practical ways to bring these lessons into your own life* Moments of vulnerability, growth, and connection that inspired usJoin us as we slow down, reflect, and share what we learned—so you can bring more presence and connection into your own relationships.Take a moment to explore, experiment, and let the principles of extraordinary relationships come to life in your everyday moments. Share what you notice, and invite a friend to join you — connection grows best when it’s shared!* Revisit the original interview here: Listening in Prayer, Discernment, and Non-Dual Glimpses of God* Download our 1-page worksheet to support you in experimenting with Father David’s practices here.* Subscribe to catch all upcoming episodes. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Extraordinary and Ordinary Love with Shared Purpose
May 1901:30:00Tap to summarizeIn this conversation with Andrew and Danielle in Barcelona, Jason and Caroline reflect on 35+ years together since meeting at university, describing their relationship as both extraordinary and ordinary: a long unfolding of commitment, shared purpose, and growth through bliss and struggle, now including four adult children exploring relationships themselves. They recount co-leading a service trip to Honduras, falling in love, marrying young, and later living in Bolivia doing service work with street youth, establishing a pattern of “shared projects” that continues to this day through family life and co-leading couples workshops. They share how they have evolved from people-pleasing, disembodiment, emotional illiteracy, and control into greater self-awareness and relational skills, including how to repair when things get challenging. They offer many ideas and suggestions for keeping the aliveness thriving in a long-term relationship. These include structured Imago Dialogue (mirroring, validation, empathy), appreciation practices, and a renewed focus on pleasure, playfulness, and embodiment.Guest Links & Resources:Jason & Caroline’s workshops & websiteGetting the Love You Want couples workshopsImago therapy & dialogueEnneagram 2Internal Family Systems (IFS) Ma (間): A Japanese aesthetic concept translated as “pause,” “interval,” or “space-between”. In painting, it refers to the empty space that gives form to the overall artwork, often considered as substantive as the painted areas.Reflections Episode soon to come:In our Reflections episode, we reflect on the key moments, insights, and practices that stood out in our conversation with Jason and Caroline. We share:* Observations and highlights from the original conversation & experience.* Personal insights from Andrew and Danielle on applying these principles in daily life.* Practical ideas and exercises you can try to deepen the connection in your own relationships.* A worksheet with instructions you can download.The Reflections episode is a shorter, intimate companion to the main interview—designed to help you process, integrate, and embody what was discussed. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Listening in Prayer, Discernment, and Non-Dual Glimpses of God
Apr 801:33:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we drop in with Father David, who is currently serving the Catholic Church as the Founding Executive Director of the Discerning Leadership Program. This program is a collaborative initiative that provides leadership formation for senior Vatican officials and major superiors of religious orders.He lives and works in Rome at the Jesuit General Curia steps away from the splendour of St Peter’s Square.We’ll explore David’s journey from early childhood to being moved by the 1989 assassination of Jesuits in El Salvador, applying to the Jesuits, and receiving confirming signs amid doubts.He reflects on conditional self-worth rooted in childhood financial insecurity, God’s healing toward unconditional love, and cautions about attachment to mystical experiences.He explains the Examen as a daily practice and outlines his work fostering discernment, shared dignity, and participatory church leadership encouraged by Pope Francis and Pope Leo.If the word ‘God’ makes you bristle, we get it. We invite you to swap in whatever word works for you: the sacred, love, mystery, the force that connects us, or simply the deepest truth you know. This conversation is really about what it means to be fully human with each other, and that belongs to everyone.Guest Links & Resources:Father David McCallum Discerning LeadershipThe ExamenBeing integrally informedSpiritual BypassingPantheism and PanentheismSt. Ignatius of LoyolaTeresa of AvilaI - ThouSubject-Object TheoryKenosisReflections Episode & Worksheet soon to come:In the coming weeks, we will release our Reflections episode where we reflect on the key moments, insights, and practices that stood out in our conversation with Father David. In our reflections episode, we share:* Observations and highlights from the original conversation & experience.* Personal insights from Andrew and Danielle on applying these principles in daily life.* Practical ideas and exercises you can try to deepen the connection in your own relationships.The Reflections episode & Worksheet are an intimate companion to the main interview—designed to help you process, integrate, and embody what was discussed. These are only available on Substack via paid subscriptions. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Reflections on Evolving Through Love and Radical Acceptance
Mar 200:25:28Tap to summarizeIn this Reflections episode, Danielle & Andrew revisit their in-person conversation with Joel & Ellen, unpacking the wisdom, practices, and principles that make their relationships thrive.We explore:* Key insights that arose during the interview* Practical ways to bring these lessons into your own life* Moments of vulnerability, growth, and connection that inspired usJoin us as we slow down, reflect, and share what we learned—so you can bring more presence and connection into your own relationships.Take a moment to explore, experiment, and let the principles of extraordinary relationships come to life in your everyday moments. Share what you notice, and invite a friend to join you — connection grows best when it’s shared!* Revisit the original interview here: Evolving Through Love and Radical Acceptance* Download our 1-page worksheet to support you in experimenting with Joel & Ellen’s practices here.* Subscribe to catch all upcoming episodes. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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Reflections on The Path of Sacred Love
Feb 2000:24:39Tap to summarizeIn this Reflections episode, Danielle & Andrew revisit their in-person conversation with Justin & Londin, unpacking the wisdom, practices, and principles that make their relationships thrive.We explore:* Key insights that arose during the interview* Practical ways to bring these lessons into your own life* Moments of vulnerability, growth, and connection that inspired usJoin us as we slow down, reflect, and share what we learned—so you can bring more presence and connection into your own relationships.Take a moment to explore, experiment, and let the principles of extraordinary relationships come to life in your everyday moments. Share what you notice, and invite a friend to join you — connection grows best when it’s shared!* Revisit the original interview here: The Path of Love* Download our 1-page worksheet to support you in experimenting with Justin & Londin’s practices here.* See their book Playing with Fire - pages 403-406 for specific instructions on “I See, I Feel practice” and Chapter 10, A Path to Guide You, for their exquisite model.* Subscribe to catch all upcoming reflections episodes. Get full access to Extraordinary Relationships Podcast at extraordinaryrelationships.substack.com/subscribe
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