EmPowered Couples Podcast | Relationships | Goal Setting | Mindset | Entrepreneurship

What if the key to a deeper, more connected marriage wasn't just about communicating more, but communicating in the right way? In this episode I sit down with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg, whose newest book Supercommunicators breaks open the science of how real connection happens. We explore how couples often end up having two totally different types of conversations — practical, emotional, or social — without even realizing it, and how that mismatch can quietly erode understanding and intimacy. Charles also shares how vulnerability and mirroring build emotional closeness, but how quickly that connection can be disrupted by subtle patterns of judgment or control. These hidden dynamics don't always show up as shouting or criticism. Sometimes they sneak in through trying to fix, correct, or redefine how your partner sees themselves. Whether you're navigating everyday stress or deeper conflict, this episode reveals how to shift from disconnect to understanding, and how to communicate in ways that sync both your brains and your hearts.   Relationship Resources ⬇️ Start the 30-Day Prioritizing Us Couples Challenge to grow your connection, improve communication, and feel like a team again, especially for those that are parents. It starts on June 1st, 2025. You can add your partner for free. www.mycoupleschallenge.com

With all the conflicting relationship advice floating around, like “you shouldn't need your partner” versus “you should be able to lean on them emotionally”, it's no wonder couples feel confused about what a healthy marriage really looks like. In this episode we unpack the real difference between codependence, hyper independence, and interdependence and why understanding where you and your partner fall on this spectrum could change everything. We also share our own journey through these patterns and explore how they show up in daily life, especially in conflict, under stress, and when you're trying to get your needs met. If you've ever felt too needy, too shut down, or just unsure how to stay connected without losing yourself, this episode is for you. We'll walk you through the signs, the shifts, and the steps to build a partnership that feels secure and sustainable without giving everything away here.   Relationship Resources Grab our 3 Guides Bundle for deeper connection and conflict repair Includes: • The Family Meeting Guide • The De-Escalating Conflicts Guide • The Making Up and Moving Forward Guide These tools will help you communicate clearly, reconnect after conflict, and stay united through life's toughest moments.

What if being a happier couple had less to do with big changes—and everything to do with small, intentional daily habits? In this episode, we're breaking down five simple but powerful actions that bring more connection, lightness, and emotional closeness into your marriage. These aren't just “nice to do” ideas—these are the habits that shift the atmosphere in your relationship and help you feel like true teammates again. We'll explore the daily patterns that shape how connected or distant you feel, and why certain overlooked moments carry more weight than you realize. Whether you're in a good place or trying to find your way back to each other, these five habits are practical, doable, and surprisingly impactful. Listen in and see which one your relationship might need most right now.   Relationship Resources:

Women's needs in marriage evolve—and if you're not paying attention to those changes, disconnection can creep in even when there's love. This is especially true in the seasons of motherhood, when emotional, physical, and mental demands are at their highest. In this week's podcast episode, we break down the 5 key categories of needs most women have in marriage right now—especially mothers in the thick of parenting. Whether you're navigating newborn life, toddler chaos, or school-age schedules, this conversation helps both partners understand what matters most for staying connected. Relationship Resources ⏬ 1) If you're ready to reconnect in small but meaningful ways, join the Prioritizing Us 30-Day Couples Challenge. It's full of daily connection builders that fit into real life—especially in busy seasons like parenting. 2) To make sure that your partner has the best Mothers Day possible, we also have a FREE Mother's Day Prep Guide that you can access (and then use) for this weekend!  3) Also come see us in person at The Couples Workshop in Arizona on Oct.5th, 2025. This will be a half-day of learning and practicing communication and conflict resolution tools that will create real momentum in your marriage NOW! 

It's easy to assume that love alone should keep you feeling connected, but day-to-day life has a way of pulling couples apart without them even realizing it. In this episode, we break down why feeling loved and being committed are two different experiences — and what really determines whether you feel close or distant from your partner. You'll learn the surprising factor that affects how you interpret everyday moments, why good intentions sometimes miss the mark, and what shifts help couples rebuild emotional closeness over time. If you want to feel more connected, seen, and understood, this conversation will give you the roadmap for the steps to take in your own marriage today.   Relationship Resources: Join the  "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge starting May 1st, 2025 - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in their marriage and raise their love accounts with daily actions! You get the Family Meeting Guide as a bonus, or get it on it's own here.   

Suppose that  something is bothering you about your partner. The two options are to express it or to suppress it. Likely you have had moments where you have chosen both options. At times when you have expressed it your partner received it well, other times it caused tension or even conflict.  Over time maybe you have started to hold things in instead for the sake of keeping the peace. But then down the line you end up reacting to another situation and you bring up your unhappiness and frustration with all you have been holding in. So when is the right time to bring things up?  This is the question you will get answers to in this episode. It does take a balance and some awareness about how and when to bring up an issue. During this episode you will hear 3 situations where you should express and another 3 situations where it would be best to ‘temporarily' suppress. With this awareness you should be able to navigate emotional situations for the best outcome for both of you. After all, expressing needs and being understood is a key part of your marital satisfaction.   Relationship Resources

Marriage isn't static; it evolves, and to thrive in it, you have to evolve too. Often, it's the resistance to this truth, not just the circumstances you face, that makes marriage feel more difficult. Satisfaction goes down, frustration goes up. That's why personal growth and self-awareness are non-negotiables in a long-term marriage. In this episode, we unpack what “personal growth and development” actually looks like in a relationship. You'll hear six key areas to reflect on and bring more awareness to within yourself, before turning to what you want your partner to change. Growth starts with awareness, but we'll also share specific ideas and actions you can take in each area. This is the path both partners must walk individually so the marriage can continue to evolve in a connected, fulfilling way.   Relationship Resources ⏬ If you've felt stuck in patterns lately, don't miss this. We've temporarily re-opened the replay of our Marriage WebClass that 8,000 couples joined last month. Go to OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com to watch it, and right after registering, you'll get access to a rare bundle deal of our most powerful marriage guides.

“Throughout the course of your life, you will be married 2–3 times. For some, this will be to the same person.”This sentiment is becoming more widely recognized, and it means you need to be ready for your marriage to evolve. Those who aren't ready (or who don't accept this) often go through harder seasons and are more likely to split from their partners. We will all face difficult chapters in the lifespan of a marriage, but those who accept the evolution are the ones who can re-make their marriage with the same partner. Today's episode is about the importance of being able to rebuild a marriage when a couple arrives at this crossroad. You'll hear the 7 steps couples go through to repair and rebuild their marriage for the next season ahead. This is one of the hardest things to do, so it's not expected that you'll take all these steps now, or even on your own. But knowing this is the path to rebuilding can give you clarity and hope that you can turn your marriage into what you want it to be. This episode is meant to help you understand the process and then use one of these resources to guide you through practical steps in this difficult (but ultimately rewarding) phase of marriage.

You can love your spouse and still feel overwhelmed by the unspoken responsibilities constantly running through your mind. The mental load is the invisible to-do list in your head—and when roles and responsibilities feel imbalanced, it can quietly erode connection, create resentment, and impact intimacy. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Morgan Cutlip— author of the upcoming book A Better Share: How Couples Can Tackle the Mental Load—for one of the most important conversations couples need to have. Together we explore: • How to bring up the mental load in a way that unites you, not divides you • A simple but powerful question your spouse can ask instead of getting defensive • What unspoken resentment actually sounds like in day-to-day marriage • The surprising link between mental overload and decreased intimacy • And how to reset your roles and reconnect as a team Whether you're the one carrying the weight or you're not even sure what the “mental load” really is—this episode will open your eyes and strengthen your marriage.

This is the logical followup from last week's episode about emotional intimacy differences, which is about maintaining physical intimacy with your partner the longer you are together. It might seem obvious to say that men and women are different in this area yet in this episode you will hear a breakdown of some of the modern challenges that lead to a decline in physical intimacy for men and women. Many of these things are the predictable, daily life tasks and stressors that all couples will have.  The main takeaways from listening to this episode will be 6 different things you can take action on now to increase and maintain your satisfaction in your physical intimacy. These are not going to be the mechanics of intimacy however, but the things every couple needs to do and communicate about to be on the same page and better understand what intimacy means to each partner for the season you are currently in as a couple.   Relationship Resources: 1) The LIMITED EDITION Best of Us 30-Day Couples Challenge, is starting again April 1st, 2025. Over 4000 couples completed this challenge to start this year, many of which felt a real shift even after the first 5 days. We got so many requests for the challenge again, that we are bringing it back for April. But won't be available for another 5-6 months. So do not miss this opportunity to bring back that SPARK

Emotional intimacy is a key part of your having high satisfaction in your marriage. The challenge becomes maintaining this the longer you are together with your partner. There are a number of reasons for this that you will hear in this episode, one of the obvious ones being that each partner feels connection in different ways.  In this episode you will hear a breakdown of the differences in emotional intimacy for men and women. You will hear 3 different ways that both men and women feel emotionally close so that you can begin to bring more emotional intimacy into your relationship that meet your current needs and preferences. Over time even your partner begins to seem like “just another part of your day” which reduces the potential for connection. You also might think you know what makes your partner feel emotionally close… but you will be surprised to find that idea outdated for what they need in this current season.   Relationship Resources:  1) The LIMITED EDITION Best of Us 30-Day Couples Challenge, is starting again April 1st, 2025. Over 4000 couples completed this challenge to start this year, many of which felt a real shift even after the first 5 days. We got so many requests for the challenge again, that we are bgining it back for April. But won't be avaialbe for another 5-6 months. So do not miss this opportunbity to bring back that SPARK

Things are going to happen in your life and marriage. When they do, are you on the same team or find that you turn against each other? This is one of the most important ideas when it comes to having a successful marriage. As hard as we try we just can't avoid conflict or even external situations happening in our lives that we do not like. But the differnece for successful marriages is that they stay on the same team and do not let these stressors amplify an already difficult situation.  In this episode today you will hear 5 principles for staying on the same team when both small and big things happen in your life together. Remember that whatever situation you find yourselves in is temporary but how you handle it can have a lasting effect on your marriage. When you handle them together you build trust, confidence and your bond; when turn against each other, you make it worse, lose trust, and build resentment.   Relationship Resources ⏬ As mentioned in the episode, get the Family Meeting Guide to help you navigate challenging moments and seasons with the weekly, quarterly, and yearly check-ins to stay on the same team no matter the challenge

Everyone should have the appropriate expectation that things in life won't always be easy or go your way. This is the same in marriage. Having harder seasons of marriage is a part of the journey a couple needs to accept. Now these harder seasons can come from two places: external circumstances and from poor interactions of your own making!  In this episode you will hear about the 3 changes that need to be made to better handle these hard seasons. The situation will be different based on whether it is an external circumstance out of your control or whether it is from a series of poor patterns that have formed between you. In both cases, making these 3 changes will allow you to handle the season with more togetherness and come out of it stronger.   Relationship Resources: ➡️ Level 1: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun “Love Deposit” ideas. LINKED HERE ➡️ Level 2: “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE

Set aside all the things you DO in your marriage and answer this question. Is your heart more open or closed to your partner? It is easy to get stuck in all of the tasks and responsibilities within a marriage and even think that getting these done is the main goal. But what is your experience like most of the time? You can get all your tasks done, but have a heart that is closed off to your partner and you experience disconnection, distance, unappreciation, or even resentment.  The true goal in a marriage is to have an open heart because this is when you experience love, connection, joy, understanding, happiness, and fulfillment. In this episode you will explore this idea of living more with an open heart and get 5 steps to take to keep from closing your heart off to your partner. In the end, we are here to “adult” and get done what we need to, but it will really only add to your marriage satisfaction if you complete these tasks while staying open to each other.    Relationship Resources: Join the 30 Day Couples Challenge that is the best fit for keeping your heart open: ➡️ Level 1: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun “Love Deposit” ideas. LINKED HERE ➡️ Level 2: “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE

Last week was our LIVE Marriage Webclass on effective communication, de-escalating conflicts, and repairing after an argument. If you missed registering for that FREE event, you can still access the replay link here. There was so much that we covered that we did not have time to answer any of the questions pertaining to the Before, During, and After skills that we taught.  So on today's episode we will cover the 3 most common questions we received at the end of the class, so that everyone that was on can get those answers. If you did not watch, you can use the link to still watch, even if you did not, these are very common questions that will be very meaningful for you to hear. These answers will be very practical so that you can use them in your own life immediately. These are the questions you will hear answers to:  ✅ What can I do? How do I handle when my partner is defensive/not receptive despite the timing of the conversation.  ✅ How do you communicate when expressed needs go unmet? What to do if/when agreements are broken? ✅ What do we do when our partner usually doesn't allow us to take a timeout from a conflict?   Relationship Resources:  ➡️ As you listen, make sure you watch the REPLAY of our Live + Free Marriage WebClass. We only host this ONCE a year, and this link will only be available for one more week.  ➡️ Find the links to all the guides and 30-day challenges with our resources page here. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

When you are not having the same type of conversation it is very easy to misunderstand each other. When there is misunderstanding it is easier to get frustrated and have the conversation escalate into a conflict. It is important to know which type of conversation you are having, a logical or emotional one, so that this doesn't happen.  As much as any one of us thinks we are logically minded people, there is still an underlying emotional need such as respect, understanding, love, partnership ect. This is definitely the case whenever there is some tension or upset. In those moments you have to realize that to be effective in your communication with each other, emotions come before logic. This statement can bring up a few questions so dive into this episode to undercover how to better identify when an emotional conversation is needed versus when you can stick to the logical details of a conversation.    Relationship Resources: ➡️ As you listen, make sure you register for our Live + Free Marriage WebClass coming up February 19th, 2025. We only host this ONCE a year, so don't miss it! ➡️ Find the links to all the guides and 30-day challenges with our resources page here. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Raising one's emotional intelligence (EQ) is a critical factor in the long term satisfaction and maturity within a marriage. Without this, the depth of a couple's connection will be limited and small emotional disruptions will turn into bigger conflicts (and likely never address the root cause). This is a term you have likely heard of before in terms of marriage and other important relationships in your life. But it can often be too abstract and conceptual to be put into practice.  In today's episode you will hear 5 skills that build EQ. You will get a clear definition of each of these skills as well as the practical action to take to strengthen that muscle. These 5 skills do build on themselves and can be seen as sequential. So as you work on each of these, be sure you are completing each step before moving to the next. By listening to this episode you will have a clear understanding of how to raise your EQ and the benefit it will be for your relationship.   Relationship Resources: ➡️ As you listen, make sure you register for our Live + Free Marriage WebClass coming up February 19th, 2025. We only host this ONCE a year, so don't miss it! ➡️ Find the links to all the guides and 30-day challenges with our resources page here. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

As fellow parents, we share in that deep responsibility you feel to equip your kids with healthy relationship skills—and conflict is a huge part of that! How you and your partner handle disagreements doesn't just impact your marriage; it actively shapes how your kids will navigate conflict in their own future relationships. In this episode, we'll break down four key aspects of conflict that your kids need to witness—and how small shifts can make a lasting impact. ➡️ As you listen, make sure you register for our Live + Free Marriage WebClass coming up in February. We only host this ONCE a year, so don't miss it

You are likely aware that conflicts are going to happen, they shouldn't be avoided, but accepted that they will happen. But how you handle the conflict determines whether it can be connecting and clarifying or it escalates and causes hurt. What really causes it to escalate is when you each are triggered and you let that trigger cause you to just react.  In this episode today you will hear how you can better recognize emotional triggers, which has to be the first step, and then how you can de-escalate before a bigger conflict arises. A key takeaway is that you need to recognize your own triggered events and reaction patterns, but as a partner, how to recognize these in your partner as well. You will then hear the 2 responsibilities you each have, followed by practical steps to de-escalate as you practice these things. This is the true work to be done in marriage, your marital satisfaction depends on your ability to recognize triggers and keep yourself from reacting in more hurtful ways.   Relationship Resources: DO NOT MISS the once per year LIVE Marriage Webclass with The Freemans. The date is set for Feb 19th, 2025. This will be a virtual, 1 hour weblcass to communicate more effectively, de-escalate conflicts, and repair from conflicts fully. The class is FREE, but will be limited to 1000 attendees live. There will be a recoding as well, but you will need to register to have it sent to you. We will see you there! Register here: https://onlinecouplesworkshops.com/   After the date passes, you will be able to find the recording and all the other guides and challenges with this link: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links   Follow us on Instagram @meet_thefreemans  

When you have a marriage conflict there are a few options you have as a partner. You can react or you can suppress it. Neither of these are good options. Your two good options are to repair or have a more simple debrief conversation.  In this episode you will hear the simple steps to take to have a debrief conversation. You will hear the difference between when a repair conversation is needed and when you just need this type of debrief conversation. By implementing these steps you can avoid lengthy conversations and get back on the same page faster with the productive steps to be on the same team to move forward.   Relationship Resources From Epsiode: DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS GUIDE: A realistic guide to managing your emotions and keeping simple conversations from escalating into overblown fights. It's the De-escalating Conflicts & Regulating Emotions Guide and it's only $19.   REPAIR CONFLICTS GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it's resolved for good and get back to being truly connected as a couple. It's the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it's only $19.

Most everyone gets into a marriage for the positive feelings of love, compatibility, passion, and creating a future together. It's these great feelings and potential outcomes that can happen that make marriage a desirable thing. What most people miss is what it requires to be married and maintain the feelings of togetherness and high satisfaction through all the unforeseen challenges and obstacles. It is funny how we all think our relationship will be different from all those who went before us… but the fact is you need to be ready to evolve in ways you can't see right now. In this solo episode you will hear from Aaron as he walks through 3 areas of evolution that you need to accept and be ready for if you want to be successful in marriage. Continuing a thread from the previous episode about the acronym COMMITTED, you will dive further into the area of Evolution and Adaptation and these three areas you need to be willing to adapt in, first as an individual, and then as a couple, to have your marriage stand the test of time!    Relationship Resources: 1) This is the last week to participate in the Best of Us 30-Day Couples Challenge. Over 3000 couples have started the challenge to start this new year, many of which felt a real shift even after the first 5 days. This challenge is for JANUARY ONLY, but you can register now and start on Day #1 immediately while getting the 30 consecutive challenge activities right to your inbox.  2) After this challenge window closes, take a look at the next available challenges of Prioritize Us or Rebuilding Us.

Marriage is about bringing out the best in each other. Are you in a season of marriage where you can say that you are bringing out the best in each other? This doesn't always happen as it does take more intention the longer you are together. Sometimes your conflict patterns of reactions can make it seem as if you are bringing out the worst in each other. Other times you feel constrained and limited in your self expression and individual pursuits because your partner doesn't accept those parts of you.  In this episode you will hear 6 different actions you can take to actually bring out the best in each other for this year ahead. These actions will be steps to take each day that demonstrate your acceptance, understanding, and support of each other and the person you are each becoming in the marriage. Marriage is itself an evolution and taking these 6 steps will allow for the required individual evolution to happen to become the best versions of yourselves. Relationship Resources: To go along with this epiosde, you can be securly on the path to brining out the best in each other by sign-up for the SPECIAL EDITION 30-day couples challenge “The Best of Us” which is now open (but for January ONLY!) This challenge is designed to reignite the spark in your marriage with Intimacy Activities, Connection Prompts, and Appreciation Gestures.   

The end of a year is a time to reflect. For our purposes here, it's a time to reflect on your marriage challenges and identify what you need to alter for the next year, or where you can celebrate the wins that you took from those challenges. Why this is so critical comes down to one of the fundamental aspects of successful marriage… the ability to adapt and evolve!  In this episode we will share our own challenges and wins from 2024 and then intentions and commitments we have going into 2025 in terms of our marriage getting better and better. We hope you can take away the principles and lessons learned from our own challenges and keep yourselves from experiencing the same challenges as we did! THEN, Sign-up for the SPECIAL EDITION 30-day couples challenge “The Best of Us” which starts January 1st (and will be closed the rest of the year!) This challenge is designed to reignite the spark in your marriage with Intimacy Activities, Connection Prompts, and Appreciation Gestures.

No one gets married to feel like roommates, so let's talk about being romantic partners. In this episode, we're diving into how to reignite the spark, stay emotionally connected, and make intimacy a priority—even in the midst of busy schedules, kids, and daily responsibilities. By listening you'll hear practical ways to overcome complacency, keep the romance alive, and create moments of connection that strengthen your bond. Whether it's through small gestures or intentional conversations, you'll leave with actionable tips to feel closer and more in love with your partner this year. Don't miss this conversation—it's one every couple needs to hear!   Relationship Resources: Sign-up for the SPECIAL EDITION 30-day couples challenge “The Best of Us” which starts January 1st (and will be closed the rest of the year!) This challenge is designed to reignite the spark in your marriage with Intimacy Activities, Connection Prompts, and Appreciation Gestures.

Marriage is both challenging and rewarding. One of the reasons for this is that it takes evolving into a better and better partner as the years pass. If both people accept this evolution then it leads to a great marriage, even through the inevitable challenges that a couple will face.  With all the marriage content out there it can seem overwhelming, complex, or even uncertain about how one can become a better version of themselves in terms of the relationship. In this episode you will be given the acronym COMMITTED to outline the 9 things that an individual needs to do over the course of a marriage to become their best version and play their role in experiencing a truly great marriage together. From the episode mention, join the brand new January ONLY "Best of Us" Couples Challenge starting January 1st, 2025 - this new 30 day challenge is for couples to get out of the function and routine of a busy life and spark more closeness, excitement, & intimacy for the new year.

If you are not experiencing this already, having a structured, reliable, and well functioning marriage is definitely a goal. This brings a great sense of relief, peace, and being a team. However, at different times for each of you, there will be a feeling that something is missing, that there is something more that is needed. A marriage is meant to go beyond the function and to strong connection and closeness.  What can make this slightly complicated is the timing for each of you, but also the activities that have you each feel connected are going to be different. This is where communication and meaningful conversations are needed that go beyond the daily tasks. You will also need to gain awareness of the more subtle “ways of being” with each other if you truly want to enter the state of connection, joy, closeness, and love. In this episode you will hear about the state of function and how to move into the state of connection and closeness in ways that are meaningful to each of you.   Relationship Resources Join the brand NEW January ONLY "Best of Us" Couples Challenge starting January 1st, 2025 - this new 30 day challenge is for couples to get out of the function and routine of a busy life and spark more closeness, excitement, & intimacy for the new year. 36,000 couple have taken our previous challenges and so many of you asked for more daily prompts. Your requests have now been answered with this Best of Us Challenge! 

Every couple experiences this particular moment of decision making when a small topic can turn into a bigger conflict. Here you are, minding your own business, your partner says or does something that frustrates you… this is the moment that can keep it as a “blip” or turn the tides towards escalating into a conflict.  Surely you can look back at moments like these and think it would be so simple to keep the conversation constructive. So why do these moments get the best of us and go the way of conflict?  In this episode we dive into the topics of the subconscious, memory, and emotion that gets stored in our bodies and drives our reactions over simple reasoning that would keep us on the same team with our partners. You will hear 3 steps to take to better handle these blip moments and stay more on the same team together (especially when holidays are around the corner)!    Relationship Resources from the episode: 1) Get The Family Meeting Guide - either on its own here, or as a bonus for starting the Prioritize Us Challenge that starts Dec 1st.  2) If you want to get access to the discounted 3 Guide Bundle we mentioned, go to our Instagram (@meet_thefreemans) and send us a DM using the word "special". We will then send the link to this extended limited offer.

Yes we have a secure relationship and marriage now. But we certainly had to overcome our initial anxious and avoidant tendencies early on. Even now, those tendencies can still show up; we have just done the work to handle situations, emotions, and conflicts in healthy and secure ways to stay on the same team.  In this episode you will hear us tell our relationship story as the background for how you can overcome any of your own insecure attachment patterns. You will hear the quick reminder of: the 4 attachment styles,  the 5 core pillars within each style, and then the things we did in our own life to be in the secure place we are now, and no matter what life events happen to us.  In telling our story you will take away many great steps you can take to further cement yourselves a secure foundation to add to your connection, closeness, and trust in your marriage.   Relationship Resources mentioned in the episode: Get The Family Meeting Guide - either on its own here, or as a bonus for starting the Prioritize Us Challenge that starts Dec 1st.  If you listened all the way to the end, take the action we mentioned while using the word "special". Be sure you listen all the way through for the special offer of the 3 guides together!   

Imagine a scenario where you and your partner are having a conversation. In the middle you begin to feel as if what you are saying is clear, but your partner doesn't seem to be getting it. You start to get frustrated, your tone or volume changes, so then they get annoyed or irritated and the conversation begins to escalate.  This episode is all about how the meaning of conversations can easily get misunderstood and misinterpreted. The longer you are in a relationship the higher chance there is of this happening. Now you do have two choices, you can keep trying to get your partner to understand in that moment, which leads to tension. Or you both can take these 3 actions from this episode to better understand where these misunderstandings come from. It's a common and natural thing to happen, but it takes awareness and execution to keep it from persisting in your relationship.   Relationship Resources The 30-day challenge and all of the guides that were mentioned can be found with our resources link here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links Be sure to take advantage of the Family Meeting Guide as you begin to refelct on your year and start to set your goals and intentions togther for the next year.  You can get this guide as a FREE bonus for starting the Prioritize Us 30-Day Couples Challenge

Whenever you meet an obstacle it is common to ask “why” it happened or even “why” you started down this particular path. You might even ask yourself why you got married or why you should continue when it feels particularly challenging with your partner. There are different ideas (and even studies) that give reasons for why people get married. The top ones are for love and companionship while the next on the list are to have kids, followed by financial and legal reasons.  In this episode you will hear us propose our reason for getting married, which is different from any you will find on these lists. If being married was only for love and companionship for example, how would you then handle the harder moments and when you aren't ‘feeling' those positive emotions? Throughout this episode you will hear 3 alternatives for being married in hopes that it radically alters your current perceptions of difficulty in your marriage and gives you renewed strength to go forward as a team.   Relationship Resources: The 30-Day Couples Challenge starts 3 days from the time this is posted, so you'll want to pick between Level 1 and Level 2. Go to MeetTheFreemans.com/Challenges. See why over 36,000 couples have loved the prompts, no matter how busy you are.

Is feeling emotion within yourself something you welcome or try to avoid? What about when emotion is expressed by your partner, do you experience that as a sign of something bad starting up or as an invitation to listen? Emotion is at the root of relationships, it is what makes it satisfying and fulfilling as well as the starting point of conflicts.  So what is the role of emotion and does it have a real place in a relationship? In this episode you will hear the answer to this question as well as the common barriers and challenges to “holding space for” your partner's emotions? This is not a simple task so you will know what this “holding space for emotions” term really means and get practical tips for being better at this type of listening with each other. This can lead to more connection and emotional closeness, which is a fundamental aspect of a satisfying relationship over the long term.    Relationship Resources If you haven't done our Level 2 “Rebuilding Us” Couples Challenge, we highly recommend doing that before the end of the year. We dive deeper into 10 foundation builders in a marriage, like emotional intelligence, the art of apologies, the needle-movers for each of you in the marriage, and more! You can look at both our Level 1 and Level 2 Couple's Challenges at MeetTheFreemans.com/links

In marriage, unresolved hurts can pile up over time, creating distance and eroding trust. That's why forgiveness is one of the most crucial (yet challenging) elements to maintaining a healthy, connected relationship. But what does true forgiveness actually look like? And what blocks it from happening? In this episode, we dive into the depths of forgiveness: what it is and what it isn't, why it's essential for moving forward, and how it affects your closeness as a couple. We'll also explore real-life examples of where forgiveness may be needed in marriage, what keeps couples stuck in hurt, and practical steps to move towards genuine healing. Whether you're navigating small offenses or deep ruptures, understanding forgiveness could be the key to breaking free from repetitive conflict cycles. As you listen, we recommend these two relationship resources: The Level 2 “Rebuilding Us” Couples Challenge      2. The Steps to Rebuild a Marriage Guide

Does it ever feel like you and your partner have different goals or even that your needs are conflicting with one another? This can be obvious when one partner is saying they need more quality time and the other is saying they need more time for themselves. But there is another conflicting goal that men and women have that is hard to detect.  In this episode you will hear what this conflicting goal is, that you would likely never guess. From all the sessions we do, as well as having hosted our Couples Workshop, this is an underlying subconscious goal that is more pervasive than you realize. Listen in to make sure it is not affecting your relationship and hear what a better more collaborative goal is to have.   Relationship Resources You can find all of our best resources from guides, 30 day challenges, and webclasses, with this link: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

One of the most common questions we get is “how do we create more emotional connection” with each other. The most popular question is about repair, but this is in second place! This is a great question because there isn't a single answer because it often depends on the season a couple is in and what the most meaningful needs are for each partner in that given season. Nevertheless, the constant creation of emotional connection is one of the single most important elements for having high satisfaction in a marriage.    In this episode, we will reveal what we see as the 5 key components of emotional connection. Though you will have to use each of these aspects and determine how it fits into your current season, you will be much more clear and confident that you can create more closeness with your partner at any time. Being able to do this, you will also feel more secure about facing challenges that arise as a true team!   Relationship Resources: Join one of the 30 Day Couples Challenges starting Oct 1st, 2024: Level 1: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun “Love Deposit” ideas. LINKED HERE Level 2: “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE

It's important for all of us to admit that we have defensive mechanisms and that we do get defensive with our partners at times. Let's allow ourselves some grace here. Many of you would probably relate to getting even more defensive about getting defensive! It is common to go on the offensive through deflection or blame, which can leave another feeling that their experience is being invalidated. However that does not mean that someone is being gaslighted. Gaslighting is a much more serious pattern when it is happening, and is a strong accusation to make that can quickly escalate a conversation or conflict. In this episode you will hear the clear distinction between defensiveness and gaslighting so that you can use the terms properly and reduce escalation. By the end of the episode you will hear 6 different actions to take to reduce both defensiveness and gaslighting in your relations. Both of these lead to erosion of connection, love, and emotional closeness.    Relationship Resources: Join one of the 30 Day Couples Challenges starting Oct 1st, 2024 - select either one with this link: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/challenges. Or see the individual details below:  Level 1 details: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun “Love Deposit” ideas. LINKED HERE Level 2 details : “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE

Today we explore the turning points where marriages either survive or fall apart, when they hit that "make it for break it" decision point. We've seen five couples end their relationships recently, one even filing papers yesterday, yet none of them reached out for support from us. Given marriage is what we do, it came as a shock to us when we heard the news.  We know many people have this expereince when they hear about friends ending their relationships. So we want to give you the reasons why couples get to this point and WAYS to work at it.  In this episode we provide you with clarity as to the build up that gets couples to this point, but also how they can get THROUGH it together. Not just to survive, but to become more understanding, connected, and stronger as a team to face future challenges!    Relationship Resources: The “Rebuilding Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge, The Steps to Rebuild a Marriage Guide, and more all LINKED HERE.

How would you rate the amount of stress in your life right now? We all know that some stress is good stress and that it's a part of life. Its commonly known that stress plays a major role in physical, mental, and emotional well-being of all of us individually. It's less known (or at least discussed) how much stress decreases marriage satisfaction and quality!  In today's episode you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the effects of stress on your marriage. After listening to this episode you will know: The 3 sources of stress How stress directly affects 2 key components in your marriage Ways to use key coping methods to deal with stress individually and together 10 + positive coping strategies that you can use to better handle the current stressors that you are facing in your life and marriage. So that you can feel relief and be on the same side no matter what stress you face.   Relationship Resources: 1) You can find all of our resources from guides, webclasses, events, to coaching sessions with this link: Best Resources 2)Join us at the in-person Couples Workshop in Arizona on Oct 6th, 2024. Use this as a weekend getaway for you and your partner and attend this 1/2 day event with us to communicate even better and handle challeges as a team. 

When there is tension or an upset in your marriage, it's easy to point the finger at your partner as the source of the discomfort. But this often leads to further conflict. It also does not address this critical aspect of being in a marriage for a long time… that growth is a part of it! The common question for those that see these events as places to grow is “well, is this a me thing, a you thing, or a we thing”!  Today's episode is more motivational (and aspirational) about growth in your relationship. You will hear how you can quickly distinguish between the necessary individual work that needs to be done as well as the relationship work that needs to be focused on. After listening to this episode you both will feel more grace for each other with the reminder that you are in this to grow and you are in it together!   Relationship Resources: 1) Discover all our online resources here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links 2) Join us at the in-person Couples Workshop on Oct 6th, 2024. As of this episode, the event is 60% sold out so don't wait to grab your seats for this relationship changing event! 

Last week's episode focused on husbands was a huge hit, so this week we're focusing on what inner-challenge wives are struggling with and how it's affecting marriages.  In this episode, we dive into the pressure many wives feel to constantly do more, grow more, and be more—often at the expense of their own well-being. This relentless pursuit can lead to burnout, resentment, and a disconnect in marriages. We'll explore why it's crucial to recognize these patterns, how they impact your relationship, and what you can do to create a healthier, more balanced approach. Tune in to discover how you can start making small shifts that will lead to a stronger, more fulfilling marriage.   As you listen, make sure you sign-up for the upcoming 30-Day “Prioritizing Us” Couples Challenge so you can: Fill each other's Love Accounts Strengthen your connection & communication And consistently feel like your marriage (and your satisfaction) is a top priority  

Men are facing an inner-challenge that is also affecting the marriage. For men to feel a sense of meaning, empowerment, responsibility, value, and achievement they have to show up in the eternal world a certain way. Whether this be in business, profession, managing finances or contracts for the family, relationships with family/friends; men are supposed to show up as warriors, lions, unstoppable, and unshakeable in their pursuits…   But at home that same mentality causes issues and conflicts. Men are then supposed to be understanding, supportive, slow to anger, quick to listen, and in a loving attitude to meet their spouses needs. But without knowing how to transition back to being a partner; men can be defensive, quick to react, withdrawn, and with poor coping and communication with their partners. In this episode you will hear about how men can navigate this internal conflict so they can both be the warrior and protect the family in the outside world, and be a loving partner and father.   Relationship Resources: Level 1: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun “Love Deposit” ideas. LINKED HERE Level 2: “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE

Are you able to have a disagreement with your partner without fighting against each other? To be honest many couples view having a disagreement as a fight, because anytime they disagree and there is a little bit of emotion, it always turns into a fight. We are here to tell you that you can disagree while staying on the same team and moving down the decision making path together to find the best route for both of you and your future.  In this episode you will hear 6 different tools/skills to implement in a moment of disagreement that will keep you on the same side and avoid it turning into a conflict or fight. This is a significant and powerful episode as you cannot avoid disagreement in a marriage, but you can use that to gain understanding and make even better decisions as a couple, rather than have it turn into a fight.   Relationship Resources: 1) Visit our top resources for the season you are in, find anything from guides, to challenges, courses, and even attending an in person workshop: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links 2) The Next Couples Workshop is Oct 6th, 2024, in Arizona: http://thecouplesworkshop.com/  

This is the second half of that age old question “what do men want” in a marriage? If having a successful marriage is directly related to meeting each other's needs then it's quite important to know what those needs are. This episode is the followup from last week about women's needs right now.  With the amount of coaching sessions we do, we have a great insight into the common needs that are going unmet for couples. There are themes that seem to show up in general, so even the specific needs we hear from men in one season, will not be the same in another (though admittedly more consistent than women's it seems)!  In this episode you will hear the top 3 needs we are hearing from men right now. A little different from the start of the women's needs episode, you will also hear 3 key traits that also need to be present in the marriage for there to be willingness and receptivity to these needs. Get ready for a great episode for insight into men's needs (and the critical element of integrity)!   Relationship Resources: 1) As mentioned, get the Family Meeting Guide as a free bonus when you start the Priotitize Us 30 Day Couples Challenge for $1/day.  2) You can also get the Family Meeting Guide by itself for $19.   

It's the age old question “what do women want” in a marriage? If having a successful marriage is directly related to meeting each other's needs then it's quite important to know what those needs are. This episode will be a two part series that will follow up with exploring the needs that men have as well (so don't feel left out guys)! With the amount of coaching sessions we do, we have a great insight into the common needs that are going unmet for couples. There are themes that seem to show up in general, so even the specific needs we hear from women in one season, will not be the same in another.  In this episode you will hear the top 3 needs we are hearing from women right now, which are especially related to the longer a couple is together. As you will hear from the beginning, these needs are more like categories than specific actions. If you look at them this way then it won't seem like a moving target from one season to another. Focus on these 3 categories and you will find more flexibility and effectiveness in meeting the needs in the years to come.   Relationship Resources: Want fun, simple, and sweet ideas for feeling more Prioritized by each other?  Make sure you take advantage of the 30-Day “Prioritizing Us' couples challenge that is starting less than 2 days from when this is posted. Go to MyCouplesChallenge.com  No matter how busy you are, these prompts are realistic but shake things up a bit and get you out of the routine in your interactions. Just read the testimonials and you'll see why over 32,000 couples have loved our challenges.  

The success of your life and marriage isn't as much about the things that happen to you, but how well you can course-correct. This goes for bigger life decisions about where to live, send your kids to school, and where to spend money. As well as the amount of time to pass before initiating repair after a conflict, the attitude you wake up with, and even the thoughts you let your mind focus on.  So then what does “course-correcting” actually look like in regard to these decisions? That is exactly what you will hear in the episode. You are going to hear 4 questions to ask yourselves that will help you to determine whether you are on path or off path, which greatly impacts your satisfaction in your life and marriage together. (So yes it's pretty important!)   Relationship Resources Mentioned   The Level 1 “Prioritizing Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge (you get the popular Family Meeting guide as a bonus gift with this) The Level 2 “Rebuilding Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge (repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage)   Additional Guides - https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Whether you've been in a funk as a couple, or things have just felt pretty routine with your “adulting” responsibilities, this episode will help you SPARK more fun together! The truth is, life is short. And we don't believe we're meant to just let the weeks pass by and survive our busy schedule. Of course there are challenging days (and you hear us talk about that), but let's enter into a season of more fulfillment, connection, and play together. You will hear 5 very tangible and actionable ways to spark more fun together, so dive on in! We often hear couples say, “we get inspired and motivated to create these changes for a few days, and then we forget or get off track.” And that's exactly why we created the 30-Day Couples Challenge!   Relationship Resources (pick between):  Level 1: “Prioritizing Us” is focused on strengthening your connection, communication, and fun Love Deposit ideas. LINKED HERE - https://mycoupleschallenge.com/ Level 2: “Rebuilding Us” is focused on repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage. LINKED HERE -  https://mycoupleschallenge.com/rebuilding

Talk about things before they become a bigger issue. On our vacation with family, I brought up the topic of intimacy (physical specifically) and it sparked a great conversation between us. Now for many this could be a conversation that isn't brought up and turns into a bigger issue later. This is when it can turn into a “weed” that impacts your marriage. Or it could be a conversation that causes defensiveness and conflict. Neither of these are positive options.  You see, we want to talk about how we're feeling and what we want BEFORE it starts to affect  you and the connection, trust, or openness you have with your partner.  In this episode you will hear us discuss: What's a “seed” in the relationship vs a “weed” What happens when we don't discuss things soon enough How to think about bringing these things up and making it a productive conversation   Relationship Resources: The Level 1 “Prioritizing Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge (you get the popular Family Meeting guide as a bonus gift with this) The Level 2 “Rebuilding Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge (repairing and rebuilding after a harder season of marriage)

You've likely heard of the now popular Attachment Theory about having a secure, safe, trusting, and connected relationship. If you have, likely what you've seen is quite conceptual and you are not sure how to use the information. If you have not heard of this theory it simply describes how you connect and bond with a partner and how that was influenced by your parents (or primary caregiver) as well as other romantic relationships you have been in (primary attachment figures). For us Attachment Theory has become so popular online, rightfully so, but without the right experts describing how to use this theory to make a difference in your own relationship, or how to actually change your style. In this episode you will hear from Attachment Theory expert, counselor, PhD, author, and founder of Personal Development School, Thais Gibson! You will hear her cover: The 4 Attachment Styles (quickly) The 5 Pillars and traits of each style How to reprogram your conscious mind (where attachment needs and behaviors come from) with tools like autosuggestion to change your style   Relationship Resources Take the FREE Quiz to determine your Attachment Style: https://attachment.personaldevelopmentschool.com/quiz Learn more from the Personal Development School:  https://university.personaldevelopmentschool.com/  Join our 30-Day Couples Challenges (level 1 or 2) starting July 1st, 2024 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/challenges

Many communications between couples can cause misunderstandings. This leads to more expectations and further frustrations and upsets. Then these upsets can turn into conflicts. Though it seems simple to just “listen better”, listening is not the same as hearing.  Listening is the requirement for understanding, but even then, it does not guarantee complete and accurate understanding of what was actually meant by your partner.  Though much of this has to do with the listener's role, there is also much to say about the speaker and how they deliver the message so as to not create mistranslations.    In this episode you will hear: Mistakes the speaker makes Mistakes the listener makes 5 tips for more productive conversations  Plus the psychology principles that can prevent communications from being misunderstood or turning into conflicts.   Relationship Resources: 1) Join the upcoming 30-Day Couples Challenge “Prioritizing Us”, proven to improve your interactions, help you understand each other more, strengthen your connection, and fill your Love Accounts. https://mycoupleschallenge.com/ 2) For links to our top resources and guides: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

“I'm sorry” - 2 little words that can not only be challenging for some partners to say, but also can mean MANY different things.  So in today's episode we cover: Several specific reasons apologizing can be harder for some (self-awareness) Why couples can battle over whether the ‘I'm sorry' is deemed “necessary” The different meanings of “I'm sorry” and how to expand your language for more things to say in these moments How to get better at apologizing, big or small We encourage BOTH of you to listen to this episode and talk about how you can both be better. Because these little moments truly can strengthen your bond or erode your ability to respect each other. We know, strong statement, but respect is tied to this.  As you listen, make sure you get our popular Making Up & Moving Forward guide. These repair steps prevent re-triggering a conflict, having to re-hash the details, and ensures you both feel resolved.

“How do I get my partner to _____?” This is one of the most common questions we get. Obviously this is referring to wanting a partner to change a behavior in a certain area of the relationship. Underneath that question is the real question of “what is going to motivate my partner?”  If you have ever had this experience of wanting your partner to change something, but they didn't, you likely felt discouraged or even burnt out. This was likely because you have been asking for things to change for some time now, but nothing did.  In this episode you will hear about the process of motivation and being able to achieve a result you have been wanting to have in your relationship. You will get the 6 steps of the decision making process and how to overcome the motivation threshold so that you do not feel that same burnout or discouragement from not seeing a change happen. In the end you will realize there was something even better for you than the goal you initially set out to achieve!    Relationship Resources: 1) For use in your "Evaluation Step" from the episode, here is the link to the Family Meeting Guide - https://thecouplesexperience.com/family 2) Start the level 1 Prioritizing Us 30-Day Couples Challenge and get the Family Meeting guide as a free bonus. - https://mycoupleschallenge.com/ 3) Start the level 2 Rebuiulding Us Couples Challenge - https://mycoupleschallenge.com/rebuilding