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In this episode, I sat down with Pete Souza, the official White House photographer for President Obama's entire eight-year presidency. Pete shares what it actually took to earn that level of access, what it felt like to be in the room during some of the most defining moments in modern history from the Bin Laden raid to Sandy Hook, and what documenting a president every single day taught him about preparation, presence, and showing up even when nothing is happening.Follow Pete on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petesouzaFollow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Music by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/

In this episode, Cedric sits down with psychotherapist and author Terri Cole to talk about the emotional patterns we inherited from our parents and how they shape the way we love, parent, and show up in our relationships. They get into what emotional safety looks like in a marriage, how childhood wounds still show up in adulthood, and why asking better questions might be the most powerful thing you can do as a parent. Terri's new book Father Wound is available now wherever books are sold.Follow Terri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricole/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Check out the Household: https://the-household.circle.so/join-the-householdMusic by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/

In this episode, Cedric sits down with relationship coach Cole Ziegler to get into the conversations most people avoid, how to know if you're actually in love or just afraid to start over, why you keep ending up in the same relationship, and what it really takes to build a life with someone.Follow Cole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcolezesiger/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Check out the Household: https://the-household.circle.so/join-the-householdMusic by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/

In this episode, I talk with dating and relationship coach Erika Ettin, founder of A Little Nudge, who has spent over a decade helping people navigate modern dating with clarity and intention. Together we talk about why online dating feels so overwhelming, how to stop confusing oversharing with vulnerability, what red flags actually are versus what we just don't like, and why the relationship you're in while dating is the same one you'll be in when you're married. Whether you're single, dating, or years into a marriage, this conversation will challenge the way you think about love, habits, and the patterns you may not even know you're carrying.Follow Erika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlenudge/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Check out the Household: https://the-household.circle.so/join-the-householdMusic by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/

One year in and I wanted to bring back one of my favorites to celebrate. When I first sat down with Dr. Arthur Brooks, Harvard professor and bestselling author, I had no idea how much this conversation would shape the direction of this podcast. A year later, it's still one of my favorites and I knew I had to bring it back. We get into what happiness actually is versus what we've been told it is, why the people who chase success the hardest are often the least equipped to receive love, and the idea that we're all dealt a hand of cards at birth and what we choose to do with them is everything. We also talk about the science of falling in love, why your brain is literally working against your happiness, and what it actually takes to build a life you're proud of.

Jensen McRae is a singer-songwriter whose music has a way of putting words to feelings you didn't even know you had — and this conversation is no different. We got into everything from why so many of us mistake chaos for love, to what it actually means to feel your feelings versus just think about them, to how being alone can be the most powerful thing you do before falling in love again. Jensen is one of those people who is so deeply in tune with herself that you walk away from this conversation feeling like you understand yourself a little better too. Follow Jensen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensenmcrae/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/

Get Harmony Coffee Beans here: https://roasterympls.com/collections/frontpage/products/harmony-blendWhat do race, culture, and identity have to do with your relationships? More than you think. Blair Imani Ali is an educator, author, and creator of Smarter in Seconds, known for making complex topics around identity, history, and culture accessible to millions of people worldwide. In this episode, we get into the conversation most people never have about knowing yourself before stepping into a relationship. We talk about how your history, your family patterns, and your cultural identity show up in who you choose, what you tolerate, and how you love, whether you're aware of it or not.

Get Harmony Coffee Beans Most of us want to show up well in our relationships, but being “strong” or “kind” can start to feel heavy when it turns into overgiving. In this episode, Cedric sits down with therapist, Zak Hazlett to break down what emotional strength actually looks like, the boundary shifts that prevent resentment, and the skills that make any relationship feel safer and stronger.Whether you’re single or partnered, this conversation will give you practical tools to set healthier limits, handle conflict with clarity, and show up without losing yourself.Follow Zak on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_outdoor_therapist/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Listen on all audio platforms: https://m.mtrbio.com/more-than-what-made-meMusic by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/

Why do couples keep having the same argument, even when they both care? In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explains the hidden cycles that keep relationships stuck, how your nervous system shapes your reactions, and what real repair actually looks like after conflict.If you’ve ever wondered why small moments escalate or why it feels so hard to stay calm, this episode will give you language and practical tools you can use immediately. For more from Dr. Tracy, check out her book I Didn’t Sign Up for This, where she goes deeper into navigating relationships with clarity and accountability.

In this episode, Cedric sits down with biblical scholar Dan McClellan to unpack some of the biggest questions people carry about faith, the Bible, and power. Together, they talk about what the Bible actually is, why there isn’t just one single “biblical” view on many issues, and how scripture often gets used to shape authority in relationships, churches, and politics. They also explore what it looks like to question what you were taught, how to think clearly when faith and power collide, and why compassion, mercy, and real-life relationships should guide our decisions more than ideology or public displays of piety. 27:30 - Bible and Relationships 37:20 - Christianity in the mainstream media, politics and megachurches Check out Dan's Book: https://a.co/d/09JRyACl

What if the way you react isn’t your personality… but something you learned in survival mode? In this episode, Cedric sits down with hypnotherapist Jim Curtis to talk about identity, subconscious patterns, anger, and the emotional habits we pick up just trying to get through life. They explore why so many people grow up feeling on edge, why survival strategies start to feel like who we are, and how small shifts in awareness can begin to change everything.Jim also shares insights from his upcoming book The Book of Possibility, along with the practices he uses to help people reframe their identity and create real change.Check out Jim's Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Book-of-Possibility/Jim-Curtis/9781668246498

In this episode, Cedric sits down with relationship expert, Sabrina Zohar to talk about the patterns that quietly shape our relationships...attachment styles. They explore why emotional intensity often gets mistaken for connection, how past experiences influence who we’re drawn to, and what it looks like to slow down and choose healthier relationships with intention. This conversation is for anyone who’s tired of repeating the same cycles and wants something more grounded and secure.

Most conversations don’t fall apart because of what’s said, they fall apart because someone doesn’t feel understood. In this episode, Cedric talks with Jefferson Fisher about what’s really happening beneath defensiveness and emotional reactions, and how to respond calmly without giving up your boundaries. They break down how validation works, why slowing down matters, and what confident communication looks like in real relationships especially in marriage, parenting, and leadership.

Change is unavoidable, but the way we respond to it often makes it harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Cedric sits down with cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why change feels so destabilizing, how uncertainty affects our nervous system, and what actually helps when your mind starts to spiral. They talk about identity beyond titles, why fresh starts are usually internal, and how small shifts in perspective can make change more manageable without forcing optimism. Maya also shares some really practical insights from her new book, The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, which was released last week! Make sure to go check it out.Check out Dr. Maya's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729180/the-other-side-of-change-by-maya-shankar/

Survival mode can carry you far—but it can’t carry you forever.In this episode, Cedric and Jessica Long talk about what happens when pushing through stops working. They explore the difference between endurance and healing, how strength and anger can help you survive without becoming your identity, and what it really means to feel “enough” after years of proving yourself.Check out Jessica's Book: https://www.jessicalong.com/booksFollow Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicatatianalongFollow Ced on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ced/Listen on all audio platforms: https://m.mtrbio.com/more-than-what-made-meMusic by: https://www.instagram.com/christianahmed_/