Relate

Imagine that you live somewhere where you can’t be yourself. Some place where you’re not allowed to do what you love because of who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like. Maybe you’ve experienced that. On the Relate podcast this time around: people trapped by culture and stereotypes and war, and the relationships that helped them break through these barriers and be their best selves.

Parenthood. It’s the mother (or father) of all relationships. On this episode of the Relate podcast, we’re exploring parenthood from a few different angles. You’ll hear about a tough-as-nails biker club in New York City that helps support moms and their newborn babies. There’s also a rather extreme example of parenting... from behind bars. Mona Graves spent 24 years in prison, and not only managed to parent her two sons, but used her experience to help other incarcerated mothers. And we get some hilarious perspectives on fatherhood and minivans from James Breakwell. He’s the author of “Only Dead On The Inside - A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse.”

There’s something about traveling - about being out of your element - that makes you more open to connection with people. On this episode of the Relate podcast, we’re looking at relationships forged in those exciting, life-affirming, and sometimes terrifying travel experiences. There’s the story of two young women who bonded over a bus trip gone spectacularly wrong in Ethiopia. And you’ll get some tips on understanding cultural differences from Graham David Hughes, a man who has traveled to every single country in the world without ever setting foot in an airplane!

Failure is a part of being human. But the surprising thing is that failure is also necessary for success. It seems counter-intuitive, but as you’ll hear on this episode of the Relate podcast, you can’t have one without the other. You’ll hear the story of a man who had basically failed at everything. He was homeless. He was an alcoholic. He had no future. But somehow, he was able to turn a single dime into a business empire. There’s also a piece about a serious case of writer’s block. It’s about how an author’s failure to finish a book led to his most successful work. And you’ll get some useful tips from performance psychologist Mark Aoyagi on how to take those crash-and-burn experiences and turn them into stepping stones to success.

We've all had to start over. Whether that's moving to a new city, leaving a job, or recovering from an illness, it’s tough to start from scratch. But embracing the unknown can lead to new perspectives. On this episode of Relate, you’ll hear from a man who was attacked by a white supremacist shortly after 9/11 and found meaning in both their lives. There’s the story of an adopted woman who goes searching for her birth family and got more than she bargained for, and you’ll hear about a thrill-seeking skydiver who was forced to start her life over in the most dramatic way.

Some people can't stand conflict. Others seem to court it. Either way, it's an unavoidable part of life. So, how do you manage it? How do you resolve it? And what can you learn from it. On this episode of Relate, you'll get some super useful tips on dealing with conflict from a former NCAA referee. There's an incredible story of a relationship forged in the harrowing battlefields of the Iraq war. And you'll hear one man's attempt to reconcile his experiences as a gang leader.

They say that to understand someone else’s point of view, you should walk a mile in their shoes (because, then, you’re a mile away, and you’ve got their shoes!). On this episode of Relate, we do more than walk a mile, we dive deep into the practice of empathy and explore the ways that it can improve your relationships with strangers, friends, family, and customers.

We've all been there. Maybe you were stuck somewhere without a ride. Maybe your computer was on the fritz. Maybe you lost your wallet on vacation. That's when some stranger came along and saved the day. We've got several stories for you about the kindness of strangers, including volunteers who help the homeless connect with long-lost relatives, strangers who become friends through life and death struggles, and a tricky situation where two strangers can't quite trust one another. Welcome to the debut episode of Relate, Zendesk’s new podcast about relationships. Hosted by Tamara Stanners.

So much of who you are comes from your relationships—with friends, co-workers, and your community. Relate by Zendesk is about how we connect, how we work together, and how we understand one another. In each episode you’ll hear stories about relationships forged through high adventure and everyday kindness. There are unlikely friendships and surprising connections. And like all good stories, there are lessons in how to manage challenging situations and better understand your own relationships.