Psychologist James Coan of the University of Virginia sits down for this installment of Yale's Experts in Emotion series, hosted by June Gruber, to discuss his research on how relationships and social context shape emotional experience. Coan traces what drew him to studying emotion, then spends the bulk of the conversation on his central findings, including work on how the presence of a trusted partner changes the brain's response to threat and stress. He closes by speculating on where the field is heading next and offers practical advice for students considering a career in emotion research. The format is a structured interview rather than a classroom lecture, divided into clear chapters covering his background, core discoveries, future directions, and advice, giving a concise but substantive look at one researcher's program of work on how social bonds regulate feeling.