Podcasts about Emotional intimacy

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3118: Courtney Ferguson shares what she and her extrovert husband learned about each other after losing their first pregnancy, and how differently the two of them processed the same loss. She offers five ways to love an introvert through grief, from giving them room to think to gently testing when they are ready for people again. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://introvertdear.com/news/how-to-love-an-introvert-who-is-grieving/ Quotes to ponder: "Introverts process things internally, and we need time to wrap our head around something before we talk about it." "We move slower and with deep intention, especially when navigating grief." "Remember to ask what they need and how you can help." Optimal Relationships Daily is a daily relationship advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on healthy relationships, dating, marriage, and family, read to you by a professional narrator so you can strengthen your closest connections a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever stayed quiet because bringing something up felt harder than just letting it go? Between busy schedules, phones, family responsibilities, and years of falling into familiar patterns, it can be surprisingly easy to become disconnected from the people closest to you without realizing it. I sat down with licensed marriage and family therapist Colette Jane Fehr to talk about why avoiding conflict can quietly create distance, and how approaching difficult conversations with honesty and vulnerability can actually bring you closer. We unpack the difference between sharing what you're truly feeling and turning your interpretations into facts about the other person. You'll walk away with practical ways to start hard conversations, recognize when you're abandoning your own needs to keep the peace, and begin rebuilding connection even if your relationship has been on autopilot for years.You'll Learn:How to start a difficult conversation without blame or defensivenessHow to separate your feelings from the story you're telling yourself about your partnerWhat to do when your partner says, “Nothing's wrong” or “You're overreacting”How to recognize the “siren song of avoidance”Ways to protect your relationship while still getting support from friendsWhy midlife can be an opportunity to reconnectHow to stop keeping the peace at your own expenseLinks:Connect with Colette:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colettejanefehr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@colettejanefehrSubstack: Secrets from a Therapist https://colettejanefehr.substack.com/Watch Colette's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tSUOB2yEd0 Order a copy of The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations That Create Secure, Lasting Love: https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book Get a copy of Amy's Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond hereMake sure to share with friends and family and would love if you could leave a review. There are so many shows out there floating around and if you are finding value in the The Right Sized Life Podcast share it with the world – a review means so much.And sign up for the Radiant Woman Reset hereAnd don't forget to follow along on all the socials:http://instagram.com/theamy.schmidthttps://www.facebook.com/fearlesslyfacingfifty/https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-schmidt-a5684412/

As a husband, how often do you feel you are saying the right things and yet conflict still happens? How often do you wonder what have you done wrong this time as your wife is upset with you?This is because even when you are doing your best and saying the right things, you don't know how to leverage the unspoken communication. In this episode I share 3 things you can do from now to ensure your words reach your wife in the best way. When you master these 3 unspoken communication habits you will eradicate resistance and create emotional safety for your wife. The result? You will see conflict reducing without the need to change your partner's behaviour. Here's the masculine challenge for you

From a marriage she knew was ending long before she admitted it to a 48-hour move from Silicon Valley to New York, Amber Rae and I talk about why some of us stay too long while others leap too fast. If you've ever wondered whether you're honoring your instincts or just avoiding discomfort, this conversation is for you. You'll discover: The question that reveals whether you're staying from love, fear, growth, or guilt The surprising way a “safe” relationship can fuel creativity, risk-taking, and reinvention How voicing sexual fear, shame, and insecurity can become the beginning of real intimacy Amber also gets candid about control, body image, Adderall, eating disorders, and the shift from chasing outward approval to choosing what actually feels good. We unpack people pleasing, direct communication, friendship dynamics, and learning to tolerate the discomfort of disappointing others when you stop abandoning yourself. If you feel stuck between knowing and doing, keep outgrowing old patterns but hesitate to make the leap, or find yourself looking for help figuring out what you already know deep down, listen up. Amber left me with a simple but powerful challenge: face the hard truths you've been avoiding, and freedom is often on the other side. SHOW NOTES & RESOURCES: Follow Amber on Instagram @heyamberrae Learn more about Amber Rae here | Feelings Journal Sign up for Amber's Newsletter Katie's Substack | Instagram: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout | Zine shop Katie's Creative Clinic If you liked this episode, try this one from the archive: Episode 477: Erin Claire Jones on Decision Making in Career & Relationships & How Human Design Can Help

You may call yourself private, independent, logical, or simply “not emotional.” But sometimes what appears to be personality is actually protection.Emotional intimacy is not oversharing, instant closeness, emotional intensity, or becoming responsible for another person's feelings. It is the gradual practice of honesty, discernment, self-trust, reciprocal connection, and allowing trustworthy people to see the person underneath the performance.In this episode, Denise explores why emotional intimacy can feel unsafe for people raised around criticism, emotional distance, instability, or betrayal. Emotional intimacy is not something you either have or don't have. It is something you can learn—slowly, honestly, and without abandoning yourself.Read the original article:https://deniseglee.com/emotional-intimacy-is-a-learnable-skill/⸻If This Episode Hit Something Deeper…If you're tired of insight without real change, this is where we take it further.

How to Solve Marriage Problems Without ArguingTrying to solve a marriage problem can lead to defensiveness, avoidance, or another argument when one spouse feels pressured to agree or change. Coach Jack explains how to stop relying on convincing and use a conflict-free approach that protects emotional closeness while moving problems toward practical solutions.What You'll LearnHow to decide whether to address a problem together or work on it independentlyHow to invite a spouse's ideas without creating resistanceHow to compare possible solutions and choose one both spouses are willing to tryHow to use Plan A and Plan B so one unsuccessful attempt does not lead to hopelessnessWant to Work With Coach Jack?The Restore a Loving Relationship with a Difficult Spouse Coaching Package can help you replace unproductive conflict patterns with secure, relationship-building behaviors. Coach Jack helps clients develop a practical approach for improving connection, setting appropriate boundaries, and making progress even when a spouse is not ready to work on the marriage together.Key TakeawaysConvincing a spouse often creates resistance rather than cooperation.Shared problem-solving works best when both spouses agree on the problem.Listening and validation should come before presenting solutions.A spouse's proposed solution may be worth trying first.Every initial plan should have a backup plan.Additional ResourcesConnecting Through “Yes!” by Jack Ito PhDRestore a Loving Relationship with a Difficult Spouse coaching package.Work one-on-one with Coach Jack to repair your relationship using small, easy steps that rebuild connection quickly. Visit CoachJackIto.com to learn more about relationship coaching.

What Every Man Secretly Wants Rene flips the script this week and puts Bruce in the hot seat. Five questions about men—what they lie to themselves about, what they'll never say out loud, and what they're actually starving for underneath it all. What unfolds is an honest conversation about isolation, false strength, and the pressure so many men carry in silence. Bruce opens up about the moment he had to look at Rene and say, "I can't do this alone"—and why that wasn't weakness, but one of the strongest decisions he ever made. Whether you're a man who has quietly carried the weight of responsibility or a woman who wants to understand the man she loves, this conversation will challenge what you think you know. In this episode:

Sally and Zach Maxwell introduced eight pillars. Jenni and Daniel spent the next number of days talking about all of them. This bonus episode is what happens when two therapists who are also married to each other sit down to unpack a framework that resonated deeply- finding the places where the Maxwell pillars align with their own clinical work, the places where they want to push further, and the places where an entirely new conversation opens up. The first thread is about why frameworks matter at all. Daniel makes the case that most couples stumble into relationship rather than building it intentionally, and that having named categories for what you're working on is not cold or clinical. It is the scaffolding that allows the emotional, spontaneous, genuinely alive parts of a relationship to exist without collapsing under their own weight. Jenni responds with a vision of the Maxwell pillars printed on the refrigerator, a cheat sheet for the OCD brain, the ADD brain, and every brain that has ever been in a relationship and lost the thread of where the conversation was supposed to be going. The second thread is about authenticity, and it starts with Jenni noticing something about Zach Maxwell. He is not fluffy or effusive. He doesn't do the rom-com version of showing up. And yet he is clearly exactly the right person for Sally. Daniel's answer is one of the most quietly important things he says in any episode this season: what matters is not that you show up the way your partner imagines you should. It's that you show up wholeheartedly in your own way, because a partner performing someone else's version of love is not actually giving you love at all. Your partner can feel the difference. Every time. The third thread is the one that deserves its own full episode, and Jenni says so directly. Sex as a transaction. Not the dismissive, joyless version of that phrase. The genuinely useful reframe: I am going to offer you pleasure, and in exchange you are going to offer me pleasure. And if you can surrender to that- if you can allow yourself to be present in the transaction rather than resentful of it, something shifts. This leads to Daniel's homework assignment built around a car dealership analogy that somehow perfectly captures everything. The narrative you bring to a transaction determines the experience you have of it. Where in your relationship are you walking in convinced you're going to get the short end of the stick? And what would shift if you walked in grateful instead? And it leads to the line that became the title of this episode. How many women have sat across from Jenni in her office and said some version of: I feel like I'm just a receptacle. Like he's using me. And Jenni's clinical response, delivered with complete warmth and zero apology is the truest and funniest reframe she has: he can masturbate with his hand. He is choosing you because he wants connection with you. He likes you. And your vagina. And those two things are allowed to coexist. This is Jenni and Daniel at their most themselves. Thinking out loud, finishing each other's sentences, disagreeing slightly, and landing somewhere true.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if some of the desires we interpret as sexual are also expressions of a deeper longing for affection, belonging, emotional safety and genuine connection?In this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, Tobi speaks with college media instructor, award-winning author and conflict-resolution graduate Karl Beckstrand. Karl is the author of dozens of books, including Abundant Paths: Beyond Either/Or Thinking to Fulfilling Same-Sex Relationships That Last.Karl shares his personal journey of wrestling with sexual desire, loneliness, identity, faith and the search for lasting emotional fulfilment. He explains what he calls “the paradox of sex” and how removing a sexual agenda from some relationships helped him experience greater trust, bonding and emotional intimacy.This is not a conversation against sex. It is an invitation to look beneath sexual attraction and ask what emotional need may be seeking attention.Chapters00:00 – Exploring sex, love and fulfilling relationships00:20 – Karl's background and the inspiration for Abundant Paths01:09 – Early exposure to sexual ideas and personal struggles02:08 – How removing a sexual agenda changed Karl's relationships03:16 – Principles for lasting and fulfilling relationships04:16 – Recognising the desire to regain control05:29 – Faith, identity and honest self-expression06:34 – Vulnerability, honesty and the development of trust08:15 – The relationship between sex and emotional needs09:23 – What libido may reveal about emotional well-being10:31 – Meeting emotional needs through genuine connection11:36 – Creating lasting bonds without sex12:59 – Communicating honestly about attraction13:24 – Why one partner cannot meet every need14:37 – Developing meaningful relationships beyond romance15:11 – Trust and emotional boundaries16:40 – Friendships and concerns about emotional infidelity18:14 – Applying these insights to different relationships19:41 – Karl's perspective on fluidity in attraction and identity21:39 – Distinguishing attraction from sexual desire23:33 – Finding an authentic identity beyond labels25:07 – Reflecting on Karl's past and present relationships26:35 – Meeting emotional needs beyond sexual connection29:19 – Faith, diverse attractions and the love of God31:02 – How to connect and work with Karl31:46 – Embracing your uniqueness and experiencing joyAbout Karl BeckstrandKarl Beckstrand is a college media instructor, speaker, publisher and award-winning author. Raised in San Jose, California, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism, a master's degree in conflict resolution and a certificate in broadcasting and film.Connect with Karl BeckstrandWebsite: Premio BooksBook: Abundant Paths on AmazonSpiritual companion book: God Adores YouContact: Through the contact form on Karl's websiteWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HHkiMS10QeA Continue the conversationWhat emotional needs do you believe people sometimes mistake for sexual desire?Share this episode with someone who is learning to build healthier and more honest relationships.Subscribe to Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave a rating or review to help more people discover these meaningful conversations.Visit MirrorTalkPodcast.com for more soulful conversations on relationships, healing, identity, purpose, spirituality and personal growth.Content note: This episode contains a personal discussion of sexuality, sexual behaviour, faith and relationship challenges. The views expressed are the guest's personal perspectives and are not medical or mental-health advice.Try Aletheia today: https://aletheia.mirrortalkpodcast.com Ask what is on your heart. Mirror Talk will reflect back what may help you see more clearly. Try it here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/ask-mirror-talk/Could you support us by becoming a Patreon? Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk 

A few weeks ago, we did a podcast titled: 11 Things Every Husband Should Know (But Somehow Missed The Memo). Now it's time for the flip side. In this fun and honest episode of the Ultimate Intimacy Podcast, Nick and Amy reveal 11 things every wife should know—but somehow missed the memo. From what husbands secretly long for to the little things that make a huge difference in marriage, they share practical insights that can transform your relationship. Whether you've been married for one year or thirty, this episode is full of "I never knew that!" moments you won't want to miss.

Emotional intimacy isn't something you're born with—it's something you practice.Many high-functioning people mistake emotional intimacy for oversharing, people-pleasing, or simply having the "right personality." But genuine connection isn't built through performance. It's built through trust, discernment, and learning how to let people know the real you without abandoning yourself.In this episode, I explain why emotional intimacy is a learnable skill, how childhood survival patterns interfere with healthy relationships, and seven practical ways to build deeper connections without losing yourself.If you've ever thought, "I just don't trust people," this conversation may completely change how you understand trust.Read the companion article:https://deniseglee.com/emotional-intimacy-is-a-learnable-skill/⸻If This Episode Hit Something Deeper…If you're tired of insight without real change, this is where we take it further.

Most breakups have one thing in common, and it's never who you think it is. You can point to the fight, the distance, the way things quietly went cold. But the real story starts years earlier, in the exact moment you stopped noticing the shift. Gary John Bishop, author of Love Unf*cked: Getting Your Relationship Sh!t Together, has spent decades studying why people stay stuck in relationships long after they know something is wrong. He built a career teaching people how to spot the moment they started tolerating what should have ended. This conversation gets personal fast. Bishop opens up about the 28 years he went without telling his mother he loved her, the phone call that broke him open, and the identity he had to dismantle before he could fully love his own wife. You will hear why competitiveness can quietly wreck intimacy, why blame is the anchor that keeps you stuck in the past, and why the story you tell about what happened to you matters more than what actually happened. By the end, you'll see why the real work is getting "complete" with your first twenty years. And why the best lovers are the ones who stopped looking for someone else to fix them. Gary's website Gary on Instagram (Pre-order) Now What?: You, Your Life, and the Truth You've Been Avoiding Amazon Audiobook Yellow Kite GROW UP Becoming the Parent Your Kids Deserve Amazon Audiobook Love Unf*cked Amazon Audiobook Wise as Fu*k: Simple Truths to Guide You Through the Sh*tstorms of Life Amazon Audiobook Do the Work: The Official Unrepentant, Ass-Kicking, No-Kidding, Change-Your-Life Sidekick to Unfu*k Yourself Amazon Audiobook Stop Doing That Sh*t Amazon Audiobook Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life Amazon Audiobook In this episode you will: Learn why blame keeps you anchored to your past and how to release it Discover the exact moment relationships quietly start to break down Overcome the identity patterns you built in childhood that sabotage intimacy Recognize the difference between overcoming a problem and truly transforming it Build the kind of authentic wealth and love that comes from bringing value instead of seeking it For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1952 More SOG episodes we think you'll love: Lewis Howes Solo [How To Find Real Love] Esther Perel Matthew Hussey Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Coach Blu and Wendell go deeper than “being honest” as a concept, they unpack what honesty looks like inside real relationships when emotions are high, trust has been strained, and you don't always know the “right” thing to say. They connect recovery to connection: when someone is rebuilding stability, the way they communicate becomes part of their healing, not an extra task on top of everything else.Join Coach Blu and Team Addict II Athlete and begin your recovery with a tram behind you! Our online addiction and mental health program provides live group sessions with Coach Blu, our weekly Home Base, recovery meeting, therapeutic assignments, and educational information at a fraction of what a therapeutic treatment program would require. Take You Mark, Get Set, Let's Go and click the link below. https://www.skool.com/addict-ii-athlete-5988/about?ref=9090e81114674311874340c02b1095d0Wendell@AddictToAthlete.orgBlu@AddictToAthlete.orghttps://www.husbandmaterial.com

We are getting close to 500 episodes of the Ultimate Intimacy Podcast, and after all this time, we've talked about almost every marriage topic imaginable — communication, connection, intimacy, conflict, trust, romance, and everything in between.But every once in a while, something crosses our path that makes us stop and say, “We need to talk about this.”That happened when we came across a post titled “The 11 Golden Rules of Marriage.” It wasn't just another list of marriage tips — it was a simple but powerful reminder of the things that truly matter when it comes to building a strong, passionate, and lasting relationship.The truth is, marriage can sometimes feel overwhelming. We hear about all the things a wife needs, all the things a husband needs, all the things we should be doing better… and before long, it can feel like we're failing because we aren't doing enough.But what if it doesn't have to be that complicated?What if focusing on a few foundational principles could completely change the way we love, serve, communicate, and connect with our spouse?In this episode, we break down these 11 Golden Rules of Marriage and share our own thoughts, experiences, and lessons we've learned throughout our journey together. These are simple things every couple can start applying today to create a marriage that doesn't just survive... but truly thrives.Whether you've been married for 6 months or 60 years, we believe these reminders can strengthen your relationship and help you reconnect with the person you chose forever.We'd love to hear your thoughts after listening as to which rule stood out to you the most?❤️ Listen now and share this episode with someone who wants a stronger marriage.

Can porn addiction destroy emotional intimacy in marriage? Discover how pornography rewires the brain, damages attachment, destroys trust, and slowly disconnects couples emotionally—even before they realize it's happening. The answer may be far more devastating than most couples realize. In this episode of Beauty Beyond Betrayal, Lisa explores how pornography affects not only sexual behavior, but also the brain, emotional attachment, trust, and the covenant bond of marriage itself. Using biblical truth, neuroscience, and current research on pornography addiction and relational trauma, you'll discover: • How pornography rewires the brain's reward and attachment systems • Why porn often creates emotional disconnection long before couples recognize it • The hidden impact pornography has on the betrayed spouse • How pornography damages trust, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy in marriage • Three immediate steps to begin walking away from pornography and rebuilding connection Whether you're struggling with pornography yourself, healing from betrayal, or fighting for your marriage after sexual addiction, this episode offers practical hope and biblical truth for the journey ahead. Scriptures: Genesis 2:25, Matthew 5:28, James 5:16, Romans 12:2 Free Resource for Couples: Download Lisa's new ebook: AFTER THE DISCOVERY A 5-Step Emergency Healing Guide for Couples Facing Betrayal Your first steps after an affair, pornography discovery, or sexual betrayal. :: NEXT STEPS 7 PILLARS OF HEALING FROM BETRAYAL TRAUMA Join our Beauty Beyond Betrayal Sisterhood:   Healing from an affair: Heartbreak Recovery for Christian Women Email:   info@lisalimehouse.com WEBSITE:  www.lisalimehouse.com Got a question you want answered?  ASK HERE

Send us Fan MailThis vulnerability series isn't ultimately about communication.It's about the Gospel applied.In this episode, Chelsey Holm unpacks God's design for intimacy through vulnerability—not just so couples can feel closer, but so they can become one, reflect Christ, and live on mission together. From Genesis to John 17 to the fragrance of Christ in everyday life, this conversation will challenge you to see your marriage as more than a relationship to manage.It's a place where the Gospel gets worked out in real time.Because healthy oneness doesn't stop with you.It multiplies into your children, your church, your witness, and the greater Body of Christ. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailYou want to be vulnerable… but what do you actually say?In this episode, Chelsey gives you the practical framework to express hurt, loneliness, rejection, overwhelm, and disconnection in a way that creates intimacy instead of conflict.If you've ever found yourself blaming, shutting down, over-explaining, or hoping your spouse can just “figure it out,” this episode will help you move from self-protection to clarity, ownership, and connection.Because vulnerability isn't about saying more.It's about revealing what's true—and offering a path forward together. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailWomen often think they're being vulnerable because they're talking.Explaining.Processing.Venting.Sharing every detail.But sometimes all those words are keeping the real heart hidden.In this episode, Chelsey unpacks the feminine side of vulnerability and why so many wives communicate around the wound instead of revealing it. You'll learn how self-protection can show up through over-explaining, how to identify what's actually happening underneath the words, and why emotional intimacy grows when we stop hiding behind information and start telling the truth.Because your husband doesn't need more details.He needs access to your heart. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailLearn how male vulnerability often shows up in unexpected ways—and how understanding the heart underneath your husband's behavior can help rebuild intimacy, connection, and oneness.What if your husband is more vulnerable than you think… you just don't recognize it?In this episode, Chelsey breaks down the masculine side of vulnerability and why many men reveal their hearts differently than women expect. From silence and sarcasm to frustration, joking, or withdrawal, you'll learn how self-protection often masks deeper fears, longings, and needs for connection.Because vulnerability in men doesn't always look soft.Sometimes it comes out sideways.And if you can learn to hear the heart underneath the behavior, it can change the way you respond—and the intimacy you build. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailDiscover why vulnerability feels so difficult, what you're actually protecting, and how trusting God allows you to move toward deeper intimacy, healing, and connection.If vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy, why is it so difficult?Why do we want connection but pull away? Why do we long to be known yet struggle to reveal what's really happening inside of us?In this episode, Chelsey explores the real reason vulnerability feels so hard: self-protection. Drawing from Genesis, Colossians, and everyday marriage dynamics, she unpacks how old hurts, fear, and past experiences often teach us to hide, control, defend, and protect ourselves from further pain.You'll learn why self-protection and intimacy cannot coexist, how old receipts influence present reactions, and why true vulnerability isn't ultimately about trusting your spouse perfectly—it's about trusting God completely.Because healing begins when we stop asking, “What's wrong with me?” and start asking, “What am I protecting?” Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailDiscover why vulnerability isn't sharing more information- it's revealing what's true, and why that is the foundation of intimacy, connection, and oneness.You can talk for hours and still feel disconnected.You can share your schedule, your plans, your frustrations, and everything that happened during your day… while never revealing your heart.In this episode, Chelsey  unpacks one of the most misunderstood concepts in marriage: vulnerability. Learn why intimacy requires more than communication, how hiding began in the Garden, and why vulnerability is less about sharing everything and more about revealing what is true.Because information doesn't create intimacy.Revelation does. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailSome wounds didn't start in your marriage.They started years earlier.Childhood rejection, abandonment, criticism, betrayal, disappointment, neglect—and then marriage has a way of exposing what was already there.In this episode, Chelsey shares why deep wounds often create deep patterns of self-protection, how God uses marriage to reveal what He intends to heal, and why healing is less about trying harder and more about surrendering the deepest places of your heart to Christ.Because your wound may explain your reaction.But it doesn't determine your future.God is still in the business of making all things new. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailLearn the five shifts that help couples tear down walls, rebuild trust, and move from self-protection to true oneness in marriage.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever found yourself reacting more strongly than a situation seems to warrant?Maybe it's fear, frustration, anxiety, defensiveness, or discouragement. You know what God says, yet you still find yourself stuck in the same patterns.In this episode, Chelsey explores how past hurts, disappointments, and survival patterns can quietly shape the way we respond to our present circumstances. You'll learn why God often uses life's tests to reveal what still needs healing, how old experiences influence our reactions, and what it means to put off the old self, be renewed in Christ, and walk in freedom.Because God isn't interested in managing your symptoms.He wants to transform you from the inside out. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

In this episode of the Ultimate Intimacy Podcast, Nick and Austin have an honest and vulnerable conversation about the real reasons many men turn to porn and the devastating impact it can have on emotional connection, trust, and intimacy in marriage. They discuss the deeper struggles often happening beneath the surface, including loneliness, stress, rejection, shame, unmet emotional needs, unhealthy coping habits, and the lack of true connection many couples silently experience.This episode is not about blame or condemnation. Instead, it's about understanding the “why” behind the behavior, opening up healthy communication, and creating a path toward healing together. Nick and Austin share practical insights for both husbands and wives on how to navigate the hurt, rebuild trust, strengthen emotional safety, and reconnect intimately in a healthier way.This episode will help you better understand the challenges many couples face and offer hope that healing, trust, and deeper intimacy are possible.

Send us Fan MailLearn how old receipts from your past may be shaping your present reactions—and how God uses surrender, renewal, and new experiences to rewrite the story and create lasting transformation.What if you're not reacting to what's happening right now?What if you're reacting to a receipt from years ago?The husband who feels unwanted. The couple stuck in the same argument. The woman God is calling into a new season but whose body still responds with fear.Different stories. Same root.Old receipts.In this episode, Chelsey explores how past experiences shape present reactions, why God uses life's tests to reveal what still needs healing, and how surrender creates space for God to write a new story.Because the goal isn't to erase your past.The goal is to stop letting it interpret your present. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

This week's Q&A episode is here, and it's a powerful one. After diving deep into the difference between emotional intimacy and physical intimacy in our main episode, today we're answering your real, vulnerable, and thoughtful questions, the ones that came directly from the episode and the ones that came straight from your heart.This conversation is warm, honest, and trauma‑informed. We explore why certain patterns keep showing up, why emotional intimacy feels harder for some people, and how physical closeness can create emotional confusion. We also talk about what emotional safety actually looks like, how to build emotional intimacy when you've never seen it modeled, and how to recognize when a connection is grounded in something real versus something temporary.Whether you're dating, healing, or simply trying to understand yourself better, this episode gives you clarity, language, and compassion for your own experiences.✨ What We Cover in This EpisodeQuestions From the Main EpisodeHow to tell the difference between emotional intimacy and physical chemistryWhy physical intimacy can feel bonding even in unhealthy relationshipsWhat to do if you want to slow down physical intimacy but fear losing the connectionRelated Listener QuestionsWhy emotional shutdown happens when someone gets closeHow to build emotional intimacy when you've never seen it modeledWhy you may attract people who want physical intimacy but avoid emotional depthBroader Relationship QuestionsHow to recognize emotional safetyWhat early emotional intimacy looks like in datingWhether a relationship can survive without emotional intimacy

Send us Fan MailLearn how to identify the subconscious self-protection keeping you stuck, surrender it to God, and move toward deeper intimacy, healing, and oneness in marriage.“I forgave… so why do I still react this way?”Many couples find themselves stuck in a frustrating cycle: they want connection, intimacy, trust, and oneness, yet something inside keeps pulling the brake.In this episode, Chelsey unpacks the “gas and brake” phenomenon that often shows up after hurt, betrayal, disappointment, or broken trust. You'll learn why self-protective reactions are often subconscious stress responses—not intentional rejection—and how God uses marriage to reveal the places He still wants to heal.Together, we'll explore the difference between forgiveness and healing, the biblical call to put off the old self and be renewed in Christ, and how true intimacy is restored when mind, body, and spirit come into agreement under the authority of Jesus and the truth of God's Word.Because the goal isn't to shame the brake.It's to surrender what it's protecting and allow God to heal what still needs healing. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

This week on The Worth Loving Podcast, we're diving into a topic that so many people struggle with but rarely talk about honestly: the difference between emotional intimacy and physical intimacy, and which one actually creates deeper, healthier, more secure bonds.In this warm, trauma‑informed episode, Keana breaks down how emotional intimacy develops, why physical intimacy can feel bonding even when the relationship isn't emotionally safe, and how your past experiences shape the way you connect. We explore what real intimacy looks like, why pacing matters, and how to build relationships that feel steady instead of chaotic.This episode is grounded in research from leading psychologists like Dr. Sue Johnson, Dr. John Gottman, and attachment theory scholars all woven into a relatable, compassionate conversation that helps you understand your patterns without shame.✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode1. What Emotional Intimacy Really IsHow emotional intimacy develops slowly through trust, safety, and vulnerabilityWhy emotional responsiveness is the strongest predictor of long‑term relationship successHow trauma histories impact your ability to open up2. What Physical Intimacy Actually DoesWhy physical closeness can feel bonding even when the relationship isn't healthyHow oxytocin and nervous system responses create emotional confusionWhy physical intimacy can become a shortcut to closeness3. Which One Builds Stronger BondsWhy emotional intimacy is the foundation of secure relationshipsHow physical intimacy enhances connection only when emotional intimacy is presentWhat research reveals about long‑term relationship stability4. Why We Often Prioritize Physical Intimacy FirstCultural conditioningFear of vulnerabilityTrauma responses and attachment patternsWhy physical intimacy can feel easier than emotional intimacy5. How to Build Emotional Intimacy FirstPractical, trauma‑informed steps for creating emotional safetyHow to pace connection in a way that honors your nervous systemWhat mutual emotional intimacy looks like in real time6. Red Flags & Green FlagsSigns that emotional intimacy is missingSigns that emotional safety is presentHow to recognize when a relationship is grounded vs. unstable

Send us Fan MailMost couples think conflict is what destroys intimacy.It's not.Self-protection is.A husband jokes instead of admitting he feels rejected.A wife withdraws instead of admitting she feels hurt.One pursues. One avoids.Different behaviors. Same root.Self-protection.In this episode, Chelsey unpacks the hidden ways self-protection shows up in marriage, why God often uses marriage to expose the wounds and fears He wants to heal, and how our identity in Christ gives us the security to stop hiding and start moving toward one another.Because intimacy was never built on performance, control, or self-preservation.It was built on vulnerability, truth, and trust.And self-protection and intimacy cannot coexist. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailMany couples think they have a communication problem when they actually have an ownership problem.When hurt, frustration, loneliness, and disappointment go unnamed, it's easy to fall into blame, defensiveness, criticism, and distance. But emotional intimacy grows when two people learn to take ownership of what they're feeling, anchor themselves in truth, and move toward one another with a shared path forward.In this episode, I'm sharing a simple framework to help couples reignite emotional connection through honesty, responsibility, repentance, and oneness.Because emotional intimacy isn't built through winning arguments.It's built through being known, speaking truth, and choosing to move toward one another again. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

When asked about the impact on a relationship when an intoxicated partner begs for or demands sex, and the coercion works because the drinker’s partner is trying to keep the peace, Amanda Dames tells Sheri and Matt that the dynamic damages trust. And the partner who agrees to unwanted sex is using her body to find or maintain safety. Amanda Dames is a sexologist, a somatic certified sex and relationship coach, and the host of the Kink Consultant podcast. This is a wide-ranging conversation about everything from sexual exploration to relationship recovery after trauma. Click here to link to the free guide Amanda mentions, and for all the resources on her website. Enjoy these insights from people comfortable crying in public. Please go to UntoxicatedSurvey.org to better understand the impact of alcohol and/or emotional abuse on you and your family. Whether you are the drinker or the partner, whether you feel a lack of emotional safety or don't really know what that means, we can help you feel supported. Take the survey and learn more about our Echoes of Recovery and SHOUT Sobriety programs. You've got this, and we've got you.

Send us Fan MailWhen was the last time you had that desire for your husband as an overflow from that desire for God, your Father, your Creator, your Maker? The maker of everything? Where you heart is, there also is your treasure.  Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan Mail"I believe, Lord, Help my unbelief!" Learn how to move from "I know" but don't really believe deep down TO "I believe with every cell in my body and so I live like it's already done!" And that belief changes everything. Starting with YOU. But it has to start with the SOURCE. The ONLY Source. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us Fan MailBuild on purpose with discipline and consistency! Break free from the "hard" of marriage and actually like each other again.  Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Send us a text & leave your email address if you want a reply!Leah Piper and Dr. Willow Brown open up the mailbox in this candid listener Q&A episode, tackling the real questions you've been too nervous to ask out loud. From healing sexual trauma in a relationship and rebuilding emotional intimacy after a rough patch, to navigating the polyamory conversation and letting go of body image shame in the bedroom. This episode goes deep, fast, and leaves nothing on the table. If you've ever felt alone with a question about your sex life or relationship, this one is for you.KEY TAKEAWAYS→ Healing sexual trauma in relationships is possible — somatic practices like Tantra and IFS can be more effective than cognitive-only therapy, and your partner can be one of your most powerful healers→ Rebuilding emotional intimacy after a rough patch starts small: consistent micro-rituals, gratitude, 20-second hugs, and intentional touch rebuild oxytocin and trust faster than big gestures→ If you're curious about ethical non-monogamy or polyamory, lead with curiosity before desire — ask your partner what they think and feel before making it a request, and get any agreements in writing→ Sexual boundaries are self-care, not selfishness — knowing whether yours are a request or a requirement helps you communicate them clearly and without guilt→ Feeling sexy is an inside job: drop the mirror, close your eyes, breathe into your body, and let sensation lead — pleasure has nothing to do with size, shape, or age→ The four pillars of deep intimacy — vulnerability, presence, trust, and attunement — apply whether you're healing, reconnecting, or just trying to feel more alive in your relationshipGot a question for Leah and Willow? Submit it for a future listener Q&A episode at: support@sexreimagined.com LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE: https://www.sexreimagined.com/blog/how-to-heal-sexual-trauma-in-relationships LAST 10x LONGER. If you suffer from premature ejaculation, you are not alone, master 5 techniques to cure this stressful & embarrassing issue once and for all. Save 20% Coupon: PODCAST20.  THE MALE GSPOT & PROSTATE MASTERCLASS. This is for you if… You've heard of epic anal orgasms, & you wonder if it's possible for you too. Save 20% Coupon PODCAST20.  AWAKEN AROUSAL OIL LUBRICANT | Reach new levels of intimacy with our arousal oil, formulated for the female body. Once applied, this topical oil works with your body to enhance sensation and "o's," helping you reach states of euphoric pleasure.Support the showFREEBIE- Introduction to Tantric Kissing Video and WorkbookSxR WebsiteDr. Willow's WebsiteLeah's Website 

Hi friend! When was the last time you asked your spouse a question that made them pause and feel truly seen? In this episode, we're diving into 5 endearing, heartfelt questions you can ask your spouse to spark deeper connection, emotional intimacy, and meaningful conversation in your marriage. Whether you've been married for 5 months or 5 years, these questions will help you go beyond surface talk and truly show your spouse that you see them, hear them, and care deeply about who they are and what they're going through. Grab a pen (or hit save!)—because these questions might just open the door to some of the most powerful conversations you've had in a while. ............................................................................................................................

Send us Fan MailGrab the new free guide: https://chelsey.coach/hlwreset Recognize when your body is speaking and what it's saying... this is the PATTERN.And then what to do with the info as INFO, not authority. Anchor into Truth, biblical Truth. This is how we regulate and respond; disrupt patterns and walk in freedom and healing! Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

Israeli children are still running to shelters. The hostages are home, but the wars keep coming. And somewhere underneath it all — the October 7th trauma, the Iran strikes, the hostages, the endless sirens — something is being passed down to the next generation, whether we mean to or not. This week, Yonit sits down with Dr. Galit Atlas, psychoanalyst and author of Emotional Inheritance, to ask the questions most of us are afraid to answer: what does prolonged, unprocessed national trauma do to a people? How do Jewish rituals of memory — Passover, Holocaust Remembrance Day — help or harm? And is there actually hope on the other side of all this? Dr. Atlas's new book, Come Closer: Childhood Wounds, Adult Love and the Secrets of Emotional Intimacy, is out in September.

You have friends… so why do you still feel lonely? Friendships are more important than ever in adulthood, but they become increasingly hard to make and maintain. But we're in a real loneliness epidemic where most adults feel unseen, alone, and disconnected *even though* they have lots of connections in their lives. The real reason no one's talking about? The “depth gap” that keeps us from being truly vulnerable and connected. Because the problem isn't always that we need more friends… it's that we don't feel known by the people in our lives. In this episode, we're diving into the psychology of modern friendship with psychologist Dr. Elisabeth Crain. From attachment styles and friendship patterns to reciprocity, resentment, and friendship breakups, this interview is a roadmap for healthier, more fulfilling friendships. Tune in to hear: • Why adult friendships are harder to build and maintain  • The "Depth Gap" and why loneliness is often a quality issue, not a quantity issue • How fear of vulnerability and rejection impact intimacy • Attachment styles in friendships • Understanding your friendship blueprint and relationship patterns • Fast-burn versus slow-burn friendships… why pacing matters • Managing reciprocity, imbalance and resentment • The importance of healthy criticism • Tuning into your body's reaction to people  • The art of discernment in picking the right friendships • Why friendships fracture in adulthood Follow Dr. Elisabeth Crain: https://www.drelisabethcrain.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dr.elisabeth.crain  Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Send us Fan MailWhat if intimacy isn't gone…just buried under years of pain, fear, resentment, disappointment, betrayal, or self-protection?In this episode, Chelsey shares 10 practical ways to restore intimacy God's way—not through pressure, pretending, or rushing healing, but through surrender, safety, grief, openness, and intentionally moving toward one another again.Because God's design for intimacy was never simply physical.It was always:to be fully known…and fully loved. Support the showChelsey Holm | the Wife Coach "I help Christian wives surrender fully, live Spirit-led, and be set apart according to God's design in marriage, motherhood, and life."First step? Grab the 30 Day Guide: War Room RESET: daily action to regulate, realign, and reconnect. 

The couples who drift apart are rarely the ones fighting the most, they are the ones who simply stopped being curious. In this episode, Christa unpacks the love maps research and then hands you the exact questions each Enneagram type secretly longs to be asked, the kind of conversation starters made for a porch swing, a long summer drive, or those quiet few minutes at the end of the day. She also walks through the part that matters most, what to do after you ask, and the difference between hearing an answer and truly staying for it. Plus there is a free grab-and-go resource so you can take these questions straight to your next date night. Emotional intimacy is the foundation that every other kind of intimacy is built on, and this episode is where the whole summer begins. Listen with your love here! Listen on YouTube! Show notes: Get your E + M Love Map Questions Freebie here! Stay tuned for our Summer Intensives, Awakening Intimacy (track 1) and Awakening Adventure (track 2) beginning the week of July 13! Scroll down on our podcast page to find episodes on intimacy ⁠here!⁠ https://www.enneagramandmarriage.com/pod Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You love each other. You communicate. You trust each other. You're best friends. So why does the spark feel different? Why can a relationship feel safe, connected, and stable… yet still feel flat, predictable, or disconnected sexually?   In this episode of Reignite: Love, Sex & Truth for Conscious Couples, Kim & Roberto explore one of the biggest misconceptions about long-term relationships: Emotional intimacy is essential… but it's not enough on its own to sustain passion. They unpack the missing ingredient many couples overlook, why roommate energy slowly replaces attraction, and how to create both emotional safety and erotic aliveness in a conscious partnership.   What You'll Hear in This Episode: Why emotional intimacy matters deeply… and why it still won't create lasting passion on its own How predictability, routine, and "best friend energy" can slowly erode attraction What polarity really means (and why it has nothing to do with toxic relationship dynamics) How over-functioning, resentment, and parenting your partner destroy desire Why safety without polarity creates friendship… and polarity without safety creates unhealthy chemistry The importance of maintaining your own individuality, confidence, playfulness, and aliveness inside a relationship The formula for sustainable passion: emotional safety + polarity + presence + play   You do not have to choose between love and desire. Between emotional safety and erotic connection. Between trust and attraction. The healthiest relationships create both. Because emotional intimacy creates safety. Polarity creates a spark. And together…they create the kind of passion that continues growing long after the honeymoon phase is over.

What if the biggest problem in your marriage isn't the argument… but the way you argue? In this episode of Married AF, we celebrate a huge milestone, 500,000 downloads, and then dive straight into one of the most important relationship communication conversations we've ever had: why so many couples are trying to win arguments instead of understanding each other.We break down the hidden communication habits quietly damaging marriages, emotional intimacy, dating relationships, friendships, and even faith conversations. From shutting down emotionally to mentally preparing your comeback while your spouse is still talking, we unpack why modern conflict resolution feels more exhausting than productive and what healthy communication actually looks like.We also walk through five practical tools for better marriage communication and healthier relationships:How to stop treating conversations like competitionsWhy undistracted presence changes everythingThe power of asking better questionsHow to find common ground even during disagreementWhy grace and truth matter in every hard conversationIf you're struggling with marital issues, emotional disconnect, intimacy challenges, recurring fights, or feeling unheard in your relationship, this episode offers practical marriage advice and support you can actually use. Whether you're newly married, dating, navigating relationship challenges, or simply trying to communicate better with the people you love, this conversation will challenge the way you think about conflict, happiness, love, and connection.This episode is packed with:Marriage adviceRelationship communicationConflict resolution toolsChristian marriage coachingEmotional intimacy insightsCommunication strategiesDating and newlywed adviceBiblical perspectives on relationships and ChristianityPractical support for healthier marriagesBecause sometimes the strongest marriages aren't the ones that never fight… they're the ones that learn how to fight without destroying each other.

Join the Sober Girls Mastermind, our private community.2sobergirls.com/sober-girls-mastermindModern sobriety — where you don't just stop drinking, you upgrade your life.Inside you'll find weekly live calls with Michaela + Erinn, a private community with daily group chat support, trainings, tools and replays, and real conversations on sobriety, mindset, and becoming your next-level self.$88/monthCancel anytime.Start with our free course:The Sober Girl Blueprinthttps://www.2sobergirls.comConnect with us. DM us anytime with questions, coaching inquiries, or episode ideas.@2sobergirlspodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The goal is not to be 100% authentic all the time.That's unattainable. If you think that's the goal, you'll spend your life feeling like you're failing every time you people-please, shut down, react, perform, avoid conflict, seek approval, or slip back into old patterns.That's not failure. That's being human.I share about how authenticity isn't a final destination where you suddenly become fully healed, fully self-expressed, fully “you” all the time. It's noticing. It's awareness. It's catching yourself in the moments where you're not being true to yourself and getting curious instead of judgmental.Why did I just abandon myself there?Why did I shrink?Why did I say yes when I meant no?What was I trying to protect?That's the work.Becoming honest, aware, and willing to come back to yourself over and over again.This episode is a reminder that you are not failing because you still have moments where your ego, fear, conditioning, or old patterns take over.The magic is in noticing and choosing to return.IN PERSON EXPERIENCES, MelbourneOne-day retreat in Balnarring - June 12th, 2026Sunday Meds - June 21st, 20261:1 COACHINGOne-time 75 minute coaching call - secure your spot hereRead my book, Authentic - coming home to your true self - AUS, EUR, USAWrite into us - let us know what you want to hearWelleCo - use code KAT15 for 15% off welleco.com.auwww.katjohn.com.auSupport the show

May 22, 2026 Emotional Intimacy by Dr. Farid Holakouee

In this episode, Steve and I talk about something I think a lot of couples quietly go through: when the load of life becomes so heavy that it starts impacting the relationship.Not because love is gone or because anyone's doing something terribly wrong.But because one person is overloaded, stretched thin, carrying too much and the relationship starts feeling the weight of it too.I share honestly about missing Steve recently, even while living in the same house. Missing the connection, the fun, the softness, the smooshiness of us. And how easy it can be, when one person is overwhelmed, for the other person to take it personally and create even more tension in the dynamic.Because when your needs aren't being met, it hurts. But sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is recognise that your partner is drowning under the weight of life, and stop making their overwhelm about your rejection.We also speak about how unsustainable it is to carry too much for too long. Because if the overloaded person doesn't deload, eventually something gives. Their health. Their nervous system. Their joy. The relationship.This is a conversation about perspective, compassion, communication, and recognising when life is simply asking too much of someone for too long.Support the show

If you're craving real closeness, this episode on friendships is for you. Because feeling lonely isn't really about not having people in your life,  it's about not feeling known. And that's where emotional intimacy and real connection begin. Many people wonder, “Why do I feel so lonely even though I have friends?” or struggle with the quiet ache of feeling lonely even with friends. In this conversation, we're exploring why adult friendship can feel surprisingly complicated, and why making friends as an adult often requires skills we were never taught. My guest, Barnet Bain, is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and teacher whose new book, How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World), grew out of a Columbia University course he created for psychologists. Together, we're talking about the real reason adult friendships can feel hard, why so many people struggle with how to make friends as an adult, and the powerful friendship skills that help create emotional intimacy and lasting connection. You'll hear why feeling lonely even with friends is more common than you might think, how our modern world can unintentionally make adult friendship harder to sustain, and why building meaningful relationships is less about finding the right people and more about developing the inner skills that make connection possible. As you listen, I'd love for you to reflect on this: if you've been wondering why do I feel lonely even though I have friends, what might change if you shifted the focus from finding better friends… to becoming the kind of friend who creates deeper connections? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why You Feel Lonely Even With Friends 04:44 The Friendship Skills No One Teaches Us 08:38 What Healthy Adult Friendship Really Requires 19:02 Why the World Feels More Disconnected 28:11 Friendship as a Practice (And Why It Matters) 34:48 Why Trying to Fix People Blocks Emotional Intimacy 44:16 How to Make Friends as an Adult 50:09 How to Build and Maintain Real Friendships 53:39 The Power of Being Fully Present If this conversation resonates and you're realizing how much you want deeper, more meaningful relationships in your life, you don't have to figure it out alone. You can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team at Growing Self. It's a private, supportive space where you can talk about what's been going on in your relationships and what you'd like to feel different. From there, we'll help you get matched with the right counselor or coach so you can build stronger connections and feel more supported in your life. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.comStrawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.