Beyond The Interview

Everyone knows James Sexton as one of the world’s most famous divorce lawyers. Most people invite him on to talk about prenups, infidelity, and the wildest divorce stories he’s ever seen.

I wanted to ask a different question.

After spending decades watching relationships fall apart, James wrote a book about how to preserve love. Despite what you might expect, he’s a hopeless romantic who believes healthy relationships can absolutely thrive with intention.

In this conversation, we explore what’s really happening to modern dating and relationships. We talk about how social media algorithms profit from keeping men and women divided, why our phones are quietly stealing intimacy, how to cultivate craving instead of complacency, and what prevents people from forming genuine, lasting connections.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by dating, overwhelmed by the negativity online, or simply want to build a deeper, healthier relationship, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

-Why the internet profits from relationship outrage

-How phones and constant distraction weaken intimacy

-The psychology of desire and how to cultivate craving

-Why people struggle to genuinely bond today

-The habits that quietly erode relationships

-How to create a marriage that lasts

-Why James still believes in love after a career in divorce

Whether you’re single, dating, or married, this episode is a reminder that love isn’t doomed, and that healthy relationships are still worth believing in and going after at any age or stage in life.

Skims. LVMH. Supreme. Jay Luchs has represented some of the biggest retail and fashion brands in the game, helped entertainment companies find their corporate headquarters, and has the biggest roster of tenants and landlords in Los Angeles.

Jay is a Vice Chairman at Newmark and has sold over $1 billion in commercial property across Beverly Hills, Malibu, and beyond. He’s the guy behind those “For Lease” signs you see everywhere, and the guy who brought brands like Dior, KITH, and Alo Yoga to many of their LA locations.

In this episode, Jay and I talk about how he broke into the industry after a short stint at WME, what made him so successful, which entrepreneurs and brands stand out to him after decades of deal-making, how politics is affecting Los Angeles, and much more.

In this episode Nicole sits down with Sheleana Aiyana, founder of Rising Woman and author of the international bestseller Becoming the One, to explore what it truly means to heal emotional wounds, interrupt old relationship patterns, and come home to the self.

Raised in a turbulent environment, Sheleana shares her personal journey through trauma, abandonment, and healing — and how those experiences inspired her to help millions of people reconnect with themselves and build conscious, healthy relationships. This conversation peels back the layers of emotional inheritance, attachment patterns, and how we can rewire our stories from the inside out.

• Why people unconsciously repeat painful patterns in love and life

• The difference between fear and intuition when it comes to decision-making

• What “self-responsibility” really looks like in the healing process

• How to identify safe, emotionally mature connections

• The myths about healing that keep people stuck

This is not a conversation about quick fixes. It’s a deep, raw, and honest exploration of what it means to take ownership of your life without shame, blame, or perfectionism.

Becoming the One — Her bestselling guide to healing and self-reclamation
The Becoming Journal — A companion journal to support the daily practice of emotional transformation

Topics discussed include:Explore Her Work:

In this eye-opening conversation, Nicole sits down with X Eyee, a renowned AI expert who brings a unique perspective to the artificial intelligence conversation. A high school dropout and self-taught coder, X has spent 17 years working at the forefront of AI development at companies like Microsoft, Google, and the Department of Defense. Now serving as CEO of AI consulting firm Malo Santo and Senior Policy Advisor at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, X offers insights that bridge the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and real-world policy implications.

The conversation explores the dual nature of artificial intelligence - diving deep into both its transformative potential and its existential risks. X shares her experience navigating the complex world of responsible AI development while revealing the critical decisions that could determine our technological future.

From her military service in Afghanistan conducting data operations to becoming Microsoft's first blockchain ambassador, X brings a rare combination of technical expertise, policy knowledge, and real-world experience to this essential discussion. She even shares her candid advice on how she would guide Mark Zuckerberg and the Meta team on their AI strategy - insights that reveal the high-stakes conversations happening behind closed doors in Silicon Valley.

Whether AI will be humanity's greatest tool or its final mistake may depend on the choices we make today - and X Eyee is helping shape those decisions at the highest levels of tech and government, and teaching us how we can help shape our future as this new technology disrupts.

In a refreshingly honest and revealing conversation, Nicole Behnam sits down with top plastic surgeons Dr. Ritu Chopra, known for his Deep Plane Facelift, and Dr. Nathaniel Villanueva, known for his body contouring. These two experts don’t just reshape faces and bodies, but also challenge the culture around beauty itself.

They break down the most popular procedures of 2025 — what’s trending, what’s timeless, and what they refuse to do.

In a candid conversation, they openly discuss the things most surgeons would never say out loud. From the psychological impact of beauty standards on both women and men, to breast implant illness, to the ethics of turning down patients, this episode is a deep dive into the values that guide their work.

Dr. Chopra and Dr. Villanueva share why they reject the “one-size-fits-all” aesthetic and instead champion natural, subtle enhancement that aligns with each individual’s unique features — and more importantly, their well-being.

This episode is about more than surgery — it’s about honesty, integrity, and redefining beauty on your own terms.

In this episode, relationship expert Jillian delves into the concept of self-love and its impact on relationships, offering insights on how self-worth and emotional growth influence romantic connections.

https://www.amazon.com/Begins-You-Truths-About-Change/dp/0063374366/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=NB2BQJMYTIE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QrgKtiLuB5h6sizINMYEbD6BhqiSH5zRQ-9KLVdf_YeUolDKeWp4RcDVNYuU0FXmUOvKyuTa2cEM6t_g8RICoBjIRnoz0EHeITRbgrEzWRl57Wyng1-Jf-qXH7FKSWLfxmmiUb0nu25OwCwAIkPtapDU1vU_AV_KK-mMmaRoeLWLBbPuaxfItdUq3_KFXRRrxWD5QrO3fs3rD7myjXYG0g.nSzvJeBcq7oeY0TJwhxjUYcGuq3osTXBnArTdYMg90o&dib_tag=se&keywords=it+begins+with+you+jillian+turecki&qid=1737354099&sprefix=it+beg%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

Yung Pueblo joins Beyond The Interview to talk about his experiences as a poet, writer, and spiritual thinker. From building an audience of over 4 million through social media to navigating tough personal moments, he shares wisdom on navigating relationships, maintaining mental health, and being intentional about how we spend our time and energy. 

In response to the dire need for intentional online dating, Yung Pueblo and Nicole discuss the launch of his new app, Ready, which is a transformative online space for relationships. While most dating apps are made to be deleted once a match is successfully made, Ready is designed to stay, guiding users to view relationships as a skill — a personal asset that can be honed and improved. Much of his work revolves around this belief system, that we can always improve ourselves, our communication, and our relationships.

This episode is also packed with insights on persistence, creativity, communication, and the power of meditation.

Join the waitlist for Ready - the relationship platform that fosters growth as you date, and as you keep your relationship strong. 

https://www.readyplatform.co/

Purchase The Way Forward

 https://www.amazon.com/Way-Forward-Yung-Pueblo/dp/1524874833/

Yung Pueblo, born Diego Perez, is a poet, writer, and speaker widely known for his insightful reflections on personal growth, mindfulness, and emotional healing. His work, often shared on social media, resonates with those seeking clarity, balance, and a deeper understanding of themselves.

David Ghiyam is one of the leading Kabbalah teachers in the world, and  co-founder of MaryRuth Organics. He teaches the spiritual wisdom of Kabbalah in person and online to help people achieve success, find love and find deeper meaning in their lives.

https://www.kabbalah.com

https://www.instagram.com/davidghiyam/?hl=en
https://www.maryruthorganics.com/

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Lukas Pakter, founder of SquidHaus, to talk about his experiences navigating business, friendships, dating, and life in general as a young entrepreneur. Nicole and Lukas both draw lessons from their personal lives and compare notes on their general observations about people and relationship dynamics.

With tremendous reach in his early 20s, Lukas hosts the SquidTalk Podcast where he speaks with all different types of successful entrepreneurs about a variety of topics.

Lukas also launched a free Discord for young, ambitious people looking to network and meet others. He shares daily wisdom on his Instagram and TikTok feeds, and doesn't hesitate to divulge stories about his dating life, work life, or observations about the world around him.

Viral storyteller and cultural icon Christian Walker joins Nicole Behnam on Beyond The Interview to discuss his new path as a champion of women. Leaving behind and being repulsed by a short stint as a political commentator, Walker realized his time was better spent demystifying the myths that still plague modern society, and teaching women how to enhance their lives and stay empowered in environments that may not always enable them to thrive.

In this episode Nicole and Christian discuss friendship, modern love, parenting, attraction, and the messaging our youth are being programmed with. Christian also touches on his personal life, and shares the fuel that lights his fire as he moves forward in his quest to tell women's stories in various formats across multiple platforms.