Welcome to the Better Connections podcast. I’m your host, and today we’re diving into seven books and one key paper on improving our closest relationships. Here’s what I learned in 60 seconds.

Relationships rank high for happiness and health. “Social isolation is about as bad for you as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day.” Good relationships often stem from agreeableness, low neuroticism, and high conscientiousness.

Think positivity: John Gottman’s research finds marriages thrive with “a ratio of positivity to negativity of at least 5:1.” Conflict isn’t the enemy—how you manage it matters more than the fight itself. And remember, “It annoys me when you’re late” may sound harmless, but nonviolent communication urges us to say, “I was feeling agitated because I had expected you to come earlier.”

Other highlights include deep listening, reclaiming authentic conversation from tech distractions, and evidence that married people enjoy a robust happiness boost—equivalent to earning an extra $180,000 a year.

That’s your one-minute guide to building better relationships. Thanks for listening.
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