You Grew Up With Me, But We Never Met
From Alive with Steve Burns by Lemonada Media
April 8, 2026 · 1h 2m · Season 1
About this episode
Steve discusses parasocial relationships with media psychology expert Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster.
Steve sits down with media psychology expert Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster to break down parasocial relationships, the one-sided connections we form with TV hosts, creators, and public figures. From childhood TV to social media, they explore why these connections feel real and how easily we trust them. They also look at how these connections can comfort, teach, and even help us feel less alone – and where they can drift into unrealistic expectations. Along the way, Steve turns the lens on himself, asking what it really means to build a relationship through a screen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ** if you like this episode, then check out these ** Why Everyone is Choosing to Stay Single - with Eric Klinenberg https://youtu.be/V3_3xYpS108 Depression - with Jessi Gold https://youtu.be/U4KGIjd9LY0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive Offers For Our Listeners: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/alive with code alive. You can try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at ziprecruiter.com/alive Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/alive…
People in this episode
Host: Steve Burns
Guest: Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster
Topics covered
- parasocial relationships
- media psychology
- trust in media
- childhood TV
- social media
- unrealistic expectations
Keywords
- parasocial relationships
- media psychology
- trust
- TV hosts
- social media
- expectations
- connections
Sponsors
BollAndBranch, ZipRecruiter, Shopify
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Lemonada Media
More episodes of Alive with Steve Burns
- Are You Getting Grief All Wrong? with Megan Devine · April 22, 2026 · 1h 0m
- Can Money Buy Happiness? with Blake Mycoskie · April 15, 2026 · 53 min
- Listen Again: Why Money Stresses Us Out with Megan McCoy · April 1, 2026 · 44 min
- Listen Again: Adam Savage on Critical Thinking and Truth in a Post-Truth World · March 25, 2026 · 49 min
- The Big Mistake We Make About Depression · March 18, 2026 · 55 min
- Why More People Are Living Alone Than Ever Before · March 11, 2026 · 54 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Alive with Steve Burns podcast page.