The Terri Cole Show

Last week, we talked about what emotional insecurity looks like, the patterns that tell you safety is missing in a relationship. This week is about what comes next: what actually creates emotional safety. Emotionally safe relationships do not just happen by accident. They are built through small, consistent behaviors over time. Trust, respect, honesty, and repair are skills, not lucky outcomes. Here are six things you can practice to build more emotional safety in the relationships that matter most to you. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/841

I am obsessed with emotional intelligence. It is something I have always done naturally without knowing what it was called. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, measures your capacity to understand, perceive, and manage emotions, your own and other people's. While IQ measures cognitive and logical ability, EQ measures your capacity for interpersonal success. Higher emotional intelligence is linked to better stress management, more satisfying relationships, and greater leadership potential at work. The eight traits in this episode are how higher EQ shows up in real life, and they are all skills you can practice to raise yours at any age. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/839

A lot of what gets called "setting a boundary" out on the internet and in real life isn't a boundary at all. Boundaries are not punishment. They are not a lever for controlling other people. They are not what you do when someone makes you mad. I wrote a whole book about this called Boundary Boss, and the definition is simple. Your boundaries are your preferences, your desires, your limits, and your deal breakers, plus your ability to communicate them. That is the whole thing. Misnaming a boundary does not just sound wrong; it makes the work harder. When you call a threat a boundary, communication has become confusing, and you may keep fighting about the same things on a loop. Here are the five most common boundary impostors. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/837

Ever felt ignored, dismissed, or completely rushed by your doctor? In this episode, OB-GYN physician assistant and medical advocate Nikki Sapiro Vincier exposes the systemic flaws inside reproductive healthcare—and shares exactly how you can take control of your medical care today. I sat down with Nikki to unpack the disturbing reality of medical gaslighting, why it takes an average of 7 to 10 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis, and why "breaking up with your doctor" might actually save your life. Whether you are navigating the gaps in postpartum care, trying to survive perimenopause, or just trying to get a straight answer from your clinician, Nikki provides the ultimate step-by-step guide to triaging your own symptoms, gathering your "receipts," and demanding the care you deserve. It's time to stop passively existing in a system that wasn't built to serve you. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/834

Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by a major life decision, desperately wishing you just had the right answer? In this episode of the show, I sit down with author and journalist Simone Stolzoff to dive into a topic we all struggle with: our deep aversion to the unknown. Simone shares the inspiration behind his latest book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers, and breaks down how our hyper-connected world has ruined our ability to sit with ambiguity. If you're tired of overthinking, catastrophizing, or trying to control the future, this episode is exactly what you need to expand your window of tolerance and reclaim your peace. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/832

This conversation with the incredible Dr. Paul Conti changed how I look at mental health. We've all been taught that we're driven by aggression or pleasure—but Paul reveals there is a third "Generative Drive" that is the actual key to our wellness. In this episode, we dive deep into his new book, What's Going Right. We talk about why we are so "lost" in negativity, how to move past the stigma of mental health, and the practical "self-inquiry" tools you can use to pull your unconscious patterns out of the "basement" and into the light. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/830

I've always said that our relationships are the mirrors of our internal world, but what happens when you realize a friendship has reached its expiration date? In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Alex Elle (New York Times bestselling author of The Company We Keep) to dive deep into the "taboo" side of friendship. We're talking about why it's okay to outgrow people, how to handle that "visceral" feeling of misalignment, and why some of our most sacred bonds are actually voluntary. If you've ever felt like you're walking on eggshells with a friend or struggling with the guilt of moving on, this conversation is for you. We're curing the "disease to please" and learning how to cultivate a VIP section that actually feels safe. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/828