219: Presence Over Performance as We Age

Our guest this week is Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD. Dr. Nasserzadeh is an award-winning author, TED speaker, and world-renowned relational expert. She holds a PhD in social psychology and specializes in sexual health and relationships at both macro and micro levels. Dr. Nasserzadeh has served as a senior cultural advisor for governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, and Fortune 500 companies. She has authored multiple articles, books, and book chapters. Her newest book, Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love, was the recipient of the Vincent Clark Award from the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists for significant advancement of the field. Using proven research, Dr. Nasserzadeh explains how six essential ingredients – attraction, respect, trust, a shared vision, compassion, and loving behaviors – are needed for any thriving relationship, from the bedroom to the boardroom. These ingredients can be explored with any audience to establish a unified language, shared values, and common aspirations. Dr. Nasserzadeh's work has been featured on NPR, the BBC, ABC, CNN, The New York Times, The Times, CNBC, and USA Today, among others. Dr. Nasserzadeh has been a board member of several professional organizations, including the California Psychological Association, the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). She is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the field of relational science and has been honored by peers and esteemed institutions alike, including the British Council for her contributions to social impact; Pfizer Inc. with its Innovation of the Year Award during her tenure as global chair of the Customer Insights Council; the BBC World Service for Innovation of the Year for her groundbreaking sexuality education program; and AASECT with its Award for Professional Excellence. Clinically, she is an approved training provider, senior accredited member, and registered supervisor with AASECT, as well as a registered supervisor with the College of Sex and Relationship Therapists in the UK (COSRT). Since moving to California, she is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and a member of the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). To learn more about Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, visit her website, join her online community, and follow her on Instagram. If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening!