Between political tension, social media, and constant bad news, it can feel like everyone is either fighting, shutting down, or both. But according to couples therapist and author Carolyn Sharp, there’s something deeper happening in the brain.

In this episode, Carolyn returns to talk about her new book Fire It Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationships and her TEDx talk Connection = Survival. She breaks down the two powerful forces driving human behavior — survival and connection — and why so many of us are stuck in survival mode right now, reacting to disagreement as if our safety is being threatened.

Kelly and Carolyn unpack the loneliness epidemic, how social media creates the illusion of connection while leaving us more isolated, and why curiosity is one of the most radical tools we have in a divided world. If everything feels heavier lately — from relationships to online discourse to the state of the world — this conversation explains why… and what we can actually do about it.

Book: Fire It Up 

Find Carolyn on Instagram: @secureconnectionscoaching

Check out her website: CarolynSharp.com

 

Watch The Velvet's Edge on YouTube!

Email us: theedge@velvetsedge.com

TikTok: @velvetsedge

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @VelvetsEdgePodcast

HOST: Kelly Henderson // @velvetsedge // velvetsedge.com

Between political tension, social media, and constant bad news, it can feel like everyone is either fighting, shutting down, or both. But according to couples therapist and author Carolyn Sharp, there&rsquo;s something deeper happening in the brain.
In this episode, Carolyn returns to talk about her new book Fire It Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationships and her TEDx talk Connection = Survival. She breaks down the two powerful forces driving human behavior &mdash; survival and connection &mdash; and why so many of us are stuck in survival mode right now, reacting to disagreement as if our safety is being threatened.
Kelly and Carolyn unpack the loneliness epidemic, how social media creates the illusion of connection while leaving us more isolated, and why curiosity is one of the most radical tools we have in a divided world. If everything feels heavier lately &mdash; from relationships to online discourse to the state of the world &mdash; this conversation explains why&hellip; and what we can actually do about it.
Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Up-Reigniting-Intimacy-Relationship/dp/1959411799">Fire It Up</a>&nbsp;
Find Carolyn on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/secureconnectionscoaching" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/secureconnectionscoaching&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737571293259000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0NdfWvENPMmqW4IsSmDVne">@secureconnectionscoaching</a>
Check out her website: <a href="https://www.carolynsharp.com">CarolynSharp.com</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://m.youtube.com/velvetsedge">Watch The Velvet's Edge on YouTube!</a>
Email us:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:theedge@velvetsedge.com">theedge@velvetsedge.com</a>
TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@velvetsedge">@velvetsedge</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/velvetsedgepodcast/">@VelvetsEdgePodcast</a>
HOST: Kelly Henderson // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/velvetsedge/">@velvetsedge</a> // velvetsedge.com

The Velvet's Edge Podcast is an invitation to explore the beautiful, messy truth that real growth is an inside job. Hosted by Kelly Henderson—a celebrity stylist and men's groomer who has learned firsthand that "looking good" on the outside only gets you so far—this podcast is a space for the conversations you don't always hear out loud.

Life has a way of knocking us flat, and Kelly believes there is purpose in that pain. She uses her own journey of plot twists to show that true beauty is found by going inward. On some days, you'll hear deep dives with therapists, healers, and other people who have turned their pain into something beautiful. On other days, Kelly and Chip Dorsch laugh their way through the weird, messy "WTF is this life?" moments, because growth is easier when you and your bestie can laugh through it together.

This podcast is for you if you've ever felt empty despite doing everything you were "supposed to" do. It's for you if you're stuck in a toxic relationship cycle and don't know how to get out. It's for you if you're in the middle of a total life plot twist and have no idea where to start. You aren't broken beyond repair. You are simply a human on a soul's journey, and even though we each have our own path, it's a lot easier when we have a little help from our friends.

The Velvet's Edge Podcast&nbsp;is an invitation to explore the beautiful, messy truth that real growth is an inside job. Hosted by&nbsp;Kelly Henderson&mdash;a celebrity stylist and men's groomer who has learned firsthand that "looking good" on the outside only gets you so far&mdash;this podcast is a space for the conversations you don't always hear out loud.
Life has a way of knocking us flat, and Kelly believes there is purpose in that pain. She uses her own journey of plot twists to show that true beauty is found by going inward. On some days, you'll hear deep dives with therapists, healers, and other people who have turned their pain into something beautiful. On other days, Kelly and Chip Dorsch&nbsp;laugh their way through the weird, messy "WTF is this life?" moments, because growth is easier when you and your bestie can laugh through it together.
This podcast is for you if you've ever felt empty despite doing everything you were "supposed to" do. It's for you if you're stuck in a toxic relationship cycle and don't know how to get out. It's for you if you're in the middle of a total life plot twist and have no idea where to start. You aren't broken beyond repair. You are simply a human on a soul's journey, and even though we each have our own path, it's a lot easier when we have a little help from our friends.

Velvet's Edge with Kelly Henderson

Connection Is Survival: Why We’re So Divided, Lonely, and On Edge (The Velvet)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ab101c63-6402-4256-a959-b3d200d02e70/transcript