15 Awesome TED Talks on Relationships and Marriage

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Being in a relationship, especially one that is committed like marriage, means being willing to put forth effort that improves the relationship for both you and your partner. For some people that will mean looking for ways to spice up your marriage, plan fun date ideas, or how to keep your marriage strong after kids, but no matter where you’re at in your relationship journey, you’re likely to benefit from listening to and learning from those who have been there/done & studied that, right?

We all make relationship mistakes from time to time, but whether you’re looking to define your relationship goals, strengthen your marriage, or just increase you and your partner’s happiness in your relationship, you’re going to find some great guidance in our collection of the 15 Best TED Talks on relationships and marriage!

In this TED talk, psychiatrist George Blair-West shares the three things he believes are key in building happy marriages and avoiding divorce.

Writer Mandy Len Catron does a phenomenal job explaining why a shift in how we talk about and frame our love lives could lead to a more collaborative—and perhaps less maddening! —partnership for everyone involved.

Helen Fisher is an anthropologist with interesting theories about the biochemical origins of love, how they intersect with cultural shifts, and how this plays out in modern relationships.

World-renowned psychotherapist and relationship expert Esther Perel discusses the conflict that the security of a committed relationship can often have with some of the hallmarks of erotic desire, like novelty, mystery, the anticipation of discovery, and how to use this information to cultivate desire in committed, long-term relationships.

The incredible researcher, speaker, and author Brené Brown lays out all the reasons why vulnerability is crucial to real, honest connection in relationships, and how to become more comfortable with our own vulnerability. Without a doubt, this is one of the top TED talks on marriage and relationships to pay attention to.

Former World Debate Champion Julie Dhar explains the difference between how most people quarrel and how competitive debate is done, and how to draw on some of the tenets of debate to find a healthier way to disagree within relationships and day-to-day life.

Relationship educator Katie Hood shares the red flag behaviors that make up what she terms “unhealthy love,” and how to identify when these behaviors are present in your own relationship. She also outlines what healthy love should look and feel like, giving us a better understanding of how to be our best selves in our relationships.

Emily Nagoski is a sex educator who has taken the research on sexual connection and satisfaction in long-term relationships and distilled it down into two easy-to-remember precepts; you’ll have to watch her talk to learn them for yourself!

Writer Mandy Len Catron tells the story of her wild ride replicating the psychological study that attempted to cultivate romantic love between strangers by asking just a few specific questions, and the important truths about love that this led her to.

Writer and humorist Jenna McCarthy shares research about what the strongest, longest, happiest, and healthiest marriages have in common, and how you can adopt those traits for your own relationship, all with a generous serving of humor!

Relationship therapist Esther Perel dives deep into the dynamics of relationships that have gone through infidelity and discusses the reality that affairs are as old as time and not going anywhere, but can teach people a lot about themselves and their relationships, and can even be an opportunity for individual and collective growth.

Researcher and author Hannah Fry uses her smarts to find the mathematical patterns in relationships and love and even manages to distill the math down into three tips for finding and creating your best relationship!

Family Law professor Jeannie Suk Gersen uses her experience helping couples navigate divorce to guide married folks in the ways that they can help build a stronger, happier, healthier marriage for themselves by avoiding the most common issues that lead to divorce.

We all want to be heard, right? Well, sound expert Julian Treasure tells us how to be better listeners for each other by outlining how to become a conscious listener; listening is an integral part of any relationship, so effort invested in increasing this skill pays huge dividends!

Sex educator Emily Nagoski delves into the science behind sexuality and explains how releasing insecurities and embracing our own bodies and desires can help fuel a happier, healthier, sex life.

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Life is all about growth, and partners have to grow together so they don’t grow apart, right? Investing time and effort to do things like learning how to have a fairer fight or how to speak your significant other’s love language pays off in a very big way, so keep learning and keep growing so you can have a relationship that will both survive and thrive.

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Amy Hartle is the co-founder and owner of Two Drifters, where she blogs about romantic and couples travel, relationships, honeymoons, and more. With a Master’s in English and a BA in Musical Theatre, Amy loves to write quality content as well as to entertain, and she hopes to do a bit of both here on the blog! Amy is happily married to her husband Nathan, and when not working on their sites, Amy & Nathan can be found cuddling, reading, and enjoying delicious lattes.