How Relationships Heal Inflammation, Trauma, and Your Nervous System

Relationships have the power to change lives in ways both visible
and hidden. Deep, supportive bonds can quiet inflammation in the
body, protect against disease, and anchor people through decades of
triumphs and trials. Communities that come together—whether in
small groups at a church or around a shared health goal—often
achieve far more than individuals working alone, sometimes
transforming their health on a massive scale. Lifelong friends
celebrate each other’s victories without jealousy, weather hardship
side by side, and dare to speak difficult truths even at the risk
of the relationship. Yet, many remain in unfulfilling connections
out of fear of loneliness, forgetting that genuine, vulnerable
connection is not just emotionally nourishing—it is essential to
human health and resilience. In this episode, I talk with Simon
Sinek, Esther Perel, and Angelika Alana about how relationships are
vital not just for emotional health, but for physical wellbeing and
can be a great source of growth and healing. Simon is a spark that
ignites passion and ideas. He envisions a world where people wake
up inspired, feel safe, and end their day fulfilled. As an
unshakeable optimist and trained ethnographer, Simon is fascinated
by people and organizations that make a lasting impact. He has
discovered remarkable patterns in how they think, act, and
communicate, revealing how people perform at their best. Simon is
widely known for his TED Talk on "WHY" and his viral video on
millennials in the workplace. Through bestselling books like Start
with WHY and his podcast A Bit of Optimism, he continues to
inspire. Founder of The Optimism Company and Optimism Press, Simon
shares innovative views on leadership, attracting international
attention. He also works with the U.S. government, the RAND
Corporation, and in 2021, founded The Curve to reform modern
policing, advancing justice with dignity, equity, and fairness.
Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel
is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices
on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a
therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational
consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her
celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 30 million views and
her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of
Affairs, are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages.
Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular
podcasts Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? Her latest project
is Where Should We Begin - A Game of Stories with Esther Perel.
Angelika Alana is the founder and CEO of the Somatic Healing
Institute. She has been featured in Vanity Fair, Well+Good, and
Modern Luxury. She certifies coaches and facilitators in her
transformational body-based healing method. She has traveled and
studied extensively in Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, and the UK,
and is a massive foodie with her husband Patrick Drake, co-founder
of Hello Fresh. This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers.
Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN to save 15%.
Full-length episodes can be found here: Simon Sinek on the Power of
Relationships for Longevity How To Have Successful Relationships
How To Move From Toxic Relationships And Sex To Healing
Relationships And Sex