"Modern Relationships"

Erik Torenberg, Turpentine
  • 0.0 (0)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

We rarely get to hear how people actually make relationships work, especially in the high-pressure, fast-paced world of tech. While there's endless dating advice out there, what's missing are the real, unfiltered stories of how ambitious people navigate modern relationships and build a life together. Unlike every other aspect of modern life that can be solved with an app or outsourced to a service, building meaningful relationships remains stubbornly resistant to quick fixes. Through conversations with leading relationship thinkers and candid interviews with real couples, we dig into the raw truth of what it takes to make partnerships work - from the challenges and fights to the breakthroughs and lessons learned along the way.  I believe we learn best from seeing how others have navigated similar paths. These conversations offer honest perspectives on what it really takes to make modern relationships work in our corner of the world. Hosted by Erik Torenberg, investor and entrepreneur. Modern Relationships is part of the Turpentine podcast network.

  1. Strong Magnet Theory: Attracting Your Ideal Partner with Joyce Zhang, High Performers Dating Coach

    11 JUL

    Strong Magnet Theory: Attracting Your Ideal Partner with Joyce Zhang, High Performers Dating Coach

    This week, Erik talks to dating coach and former Stripe engineer Joyce Zhang and reveals her strategic dating frameworks and explains why people's standards are too low (not high). She introduces her controversial "hardball" filtering technique, and argues that dating apps work excellently with proper strategy—but self-love remains the biggest bottleneck. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS: Joyce Zhang Substack: https://thejoycezhang.substack.com/ -- FOLLOW ON X: Joyce - @thejoycezhang Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    1h 8m
  2. Triggered to Transformed with Art of Accomplishment's Joe Hudson and Tara Howley

    9 MAY

    Triggered to Transformed with Art of Accomplishment's Joe Hudson and Tara Howley

    This week, Erik sits down with Joe Hudson and Tara Howley, the extraordinary couple behind Art of Accomplishment, whose coaching has helped CEOs like Sam Altman. They share their journey from a toxic relationship to a deeply connected partnership, offering personal stories, practical strategies, and insights on how self-growth, therapy, and commitment to transformation can foster resilient, loving relationships. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINK/S: Art of Accomplishment: https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/ Joe and Esme — The Teenage Years: https://youtu.be/Eg70lbiElrI?si=bK-8FB-bzYh6HqL1 How to Be a Parent (Without Messing Everything Up) | Joe Hudson and Nathan Baschez: https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/podcast/how-to-be-a-parent-without-messing-everything-up-joe-hudson-and-nathan-baschez -- FOLLOW ON X: Joe - @FU_joehudson Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    56 min
  3. Lindsay Taub & Harley Finkelstein: How to Build a Ride or Die Partnership

    25 APR

    Lindsay Taub & Harley Finkelstein: How to Build a Ride or Die Partnership

    In this episode, Erik sits down with Harley Finkelstein and Lindsay Taub, partners of 15 years. Harley, Shopify's president, and Lindsay, a psychotherapist and entrepreneur, discuss their speed dating origin story, balancing radical acceptance with growth, and redefining work-life balance while raising two daughters together when your job is all-consuming. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/ph -- FOLLOW ON X: Harley - @harleyf Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    59 min
  4. The Two Questions That Matter Most in Finding a Life Partner with Jared Fliesler

    18 APR

    The Two Questions That Matter Most in Finding a Life Partner with Jared Fliesler

    Today on Modern Relationships Erik Torenberg is joined by Jared Fliesler, a former executive at Google, Square, and Scribd turned founder coach, discusses how to identify core values in partners, distinguish between compromise and "horse trading," and determine when someone is "good enough." He shares insights on building meaningful connections, his co-living experiments, and navigating long-distance relationships. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS | BOOKS RECOMMENDED: The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Champan, etc: https://conscious.is/15-commitments Book: https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine: https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Intelligence-Individuals-Achieve-Potential/dp/1608322785 -- FOLLOW ON X: Jared -@JaredSF Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    1h 30m
  5. How to Navigate Conflict and Respond Better to Emotions | Ann Pierce

    11 APR

    How to Navigate Conflict and Respond Better to Emotions | Ann Pierce

    Today on Modern Relationships Erik Torenberg talks to Ann Pierce, a former startup founder who became obsessed with the mission of solving interpersonal conflict. Ann unpacks why conflict isn't inherently negative but actually builds trust when handled correctly. She covers why invalidation is the most common threat most of us encounter, how we misunderstand each other through projection, and how to break the cycles of conflict. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS: Ann Pierce Website: https://www.annpierce.com/ Ann Pierce - Understanding Interpersonal Conflict: https://substack.com/home/post/p-153042013?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Love Symposium: https://symposium.love/ -- FOLLOW ON X: Ann - @itsannpierce Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

  6. ⁠⁠A Female Dating Coach Explains Men's Dating Behavior | Matchmaker Blaine Anderson

    4 APR

    ⁠⁠A Female Dating Coach Explains Men's Dating Behavior | Matchmaker Blaine Anderson

    Dating coach and matchmaking expert Blaine Anderson discusses the psychology behind successful dating for men in today's complex landscape. The conversation explores why instant "sparks" are often misleading indicators of relationship potential, with Anderson revealing how chemistry can develop over time rather than appearing at first sight. She explains why many men find themselves trapped in the friendzone and offers counterintuitive strategies for escaping it—including the critical step of genuinely moving on. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS: Dating by Blaine: https://clients.datingbyblaine.com/hi -- FOLLOW ON X: Blaine - @datingbyblaine Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    54 min
  7. How to Be Attractive & What Data Says About Dating | Rob Henderson

    1 APR

    How to Be Attractive & What Data Says About Dating | Rob Henderson

    Best-selling author, Air Force veteran, and psychologist Rob K. Henderson joins Erik Torenberg to explore the complex dynamics and evolutionary psychology in modern dating. The conversation examines how evolutionary psychology explains attraction patterns, particularly women's occasional interest in men with dark triad personality traits. Henderson unpacks the phenomenon through the lens of the Luigi Mangione case, discussing how violence and aggression can paradoxically enhance male appeal due to evolutionary adaptations. They explore dark triad attraction, pickup artist culture, partner selection research, and practical advice for men navigating relationships in the age of dating apps and challenging social dynamics. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS: Rob’s Newsletter: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Rob-Henderson/177690581 Rob’s Best-selling book Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Troubled/Rob-Henderson/9781982168544 -- FOLLOW ON X: Rob - @robkhenderson Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia

    1h 2m
  8. Love Lessons from a Dating Coach & a16z Tech Talent Expert | Whitnie & Carl Narcisse

    21 MAR

    Love Lessons from a Dating Coach & a16z Tech Talent Expert | Whitnie & Carl Narcisse

    Carl Narcisse, a partner on the talent team at Andreessen Horowitz, and Whitnie Narcisse, formerly an operating partner at First Round Capital who just launched a matchmaking company, talk to Erik Torenberg about their relationship. The couple discuss their decade-long marriage that began at a baseball game, balancing tech careers with raising three children, and applying "people ops" principles to their partnership—like maintaining a #relationshipgoals spreadsheet to track their goals. They share insights on navigating cultural differences, dating 360s, and why relationships require both spiritual alignment and a growth mindset. Modern Relationships is a podcast from Turpentine. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- SPONSOR: Relationship Hero It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that people are using relationship coaches. Sign up for 1-on-1 relationship coaching (from anywhere) at RelationshipHero.com/modern. Get $50 off your first session. -- LINKS: Whitnie’s website: Whitnie.com a16z.com: https://a16z.com/ -- FOLLOW ON X: Carl - @cnarcisse Whitnie - @WhitnieLow Erik - @eriktorenberg Turpentine - @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:34) How Whitnie and Carl Met (03:49) Their Dating Journeys Before Meeting (07:22) Recognizing the Right Partner (09:57) Early Relationship Challenges (14:00) Cultural Differences (15:50) Sponsor: Relationship Hero (17:25) Handling Temperament Differences (19:00) Balancing Energy Levels (21:28) Wanting a Partner Who Leads (23:40) Whitnie’s Evolution from Avoidant to Secure (27:09) Applying People Ops to Marriage (31:47) Building a Support System (33:52) Relationship Goals and Communication (38:26) Whitnie’s Dating Concierge Business (44:23) The Value of 360 Reviews in Dating (47:04) Finding the Right Partner vs. The "Perfect" Match (53:34) Dating Process Advice (56:04) Marriage and Commitment (1:00:18) Navigating Challenges in Marriage (1:02:09) Parallels Between Recruiting and Matchmaking (1:04:30) Wrap

See All (26)

About

We rarely get to hear how people actually make relationships work, especially in the high-pressure, fast-paced world of tech. While there's endless dating advice out there, what's missing are the real, unfiltered stories of how ambitious people navigate modern relationships and build a life together. Unlike every other aspect of modern life that can be solved with an app or outsourced to a service, building meaningful relationships remains stubbornly resistant to quick fixes. Through conversations with leading relationship thinkers and candid interviews with real couples, we dig into the raw truth of what it takes to make partnerships work - from the challenges and fights to the breakthroughs and lessons learned along the way.  I believe we learn best from seeing how others have navigated similar paths. These conversations offer honest perspectives on what it really takes to make modern relationships work in our corner of the world. Hosted by Erik Torenberg, investor and entrepreneur. Modern Relationships is part of the Turpentine podcast network.

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Torenberg, Turpentine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    "Modern Relationships"

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