EmPowered Couples with The Freemans

In this episode we sit down with therapist Kelly McDaniel, author of Mother Hunger, to explore how the way we were cared for as children shows up in how we love, react, and connect as adults. You will realize that you don't just marry a partner, you marry their childhood. Aaron shares the birth story that shaped how he relates to touch and the real reason he once tried to break up with Jocelyn, and Jocelyn opens up about where her drive to be seen actually came from. Kelly also speaks directly to the partner on the other side of this, the one who wants to help but isn't sure how, and shares what it looks like to face it together, on the same team.

📕 Pre-order our book SAME TEAM and you'll instantly get two guides, the 10-Minute Nightly Check-In and 12 Same Team Phrases to De-Escalate Tension, plus an entry to win an all-expenses-paid couples getaway to Scottsdale, Arizona for every pre-order before January 26: meetthefreemans.com/sameteam

👉 Find Kelly's book Mother Hunger and her resources at kellymcdanieltherapy.com and on Instagram @KellyMcDanielTherapy.

You love each other, you both work hard, and still there are moments when it feels like you're playing on opposite sides, over the dishes, the bedtime routine, or the tone of one sentence at the end of a long day. Most couples never decide to become opponents. It happens so quietly that by the time you notice, you're bracing against each other instead of facing what's actually in front of you together. This is a reminder that everything is easier when you face it together, on the same team.

In this first episode of the relaunched Same Team podcast, we're back after a summer away with a new name, a new mission, and a first look at the core mindset at the heart of our upcoming book. We share the hardest season of our marriage, a newborn at home and an investment that turned into 800 hours of work in the Arizona heat, and the line Aaron had to draw on every drive to that property before he ever walked back through our front door. We also get honest about what your kids are quietly learning just by watching the two of you, and we give you two phrases straight from the book that will immediately bring you back together when stress or friction try to pull you apart.

📕Pre-order SAME TEAM and you'll instantly get two guides, the 10-Minute Nightly Check-In and 12 Same Team Phrases to De-Escalate Tension, plus an entry to win an all-expenses-paid couples getaway to Scottsdale, Arizona for every pre-order before January 26: meetthefreemans.com/sameteam

👉Our big dream is to get this book into 100,000 homes by launch. If this episode speaks to you, we would love your help sharing it with the people you love.

There is one single thing that all couples who grow closer over time have in common. Though in the beginning of a relationship, you might not think that anything could get between you, what you realize as time passes is that you will need to fight…

When couples start to face challenges, tests, or unforeseen circumstances – they can tend to start to turn on each other. They see each other as opponents rather than teammates. That is when they fight against each other. But this episode is going to introduce a powerful mindset shift. It's the one that has you realize that the fight is not against each other, but against the problem you are facing.

Tune into this episode too as we have a big announcement. We had gotten a book deal from Penguin Random House for a brand new book, and it is now available for Pre-order. As a podcast listener you are the first to hear about it.

Right now pre-order your copy of "Same Team: How to break cycles, grow closer, and model a loving marriage for your kids" and get:

1) the 10-Minute Nightly Check-in Guide AND

2) Be added to a drawing for an ALL EXPENSE PAID LUXURY TRIP to Arizona.

PS - Additional resources like guides, challenges, books, and coaching can be found at: meetthefreemans.com/links

You're doing a lot. You're handling all your own responsibilities, and sometimes still picking up the slack. You're doing what needs to get done for your family. And yet… something still feels like it's not enough for your partner. Maybe your partner seems distant, less appreciative, or not as connected as you'd expect given how much you're putting in. This is one of the most common frustrations we hear from couples—the disconnect between effort and how that effort is actually received.

In this episode, we unpack why doing more doesn't always translate into feeling closer, and what might be missing beneath the surface. If you've ever thought, "I'm doing everything I can… why doesn't it feel like enough?" This conversation will give you a new lens to understand what's really happening in your relationship, and 3 simple actions to take to start shifting it in a way your partner can actually feel.

✨ If you want simple, daily ways to strengthen your connection and bring more emotional and physical closeness into your marriage, join the 30-Day "Best of Us" Couples Challenge. It's designed to help you show up for each other in ways that truly land. Join now at mycoupleschallenge.com/best.

Many women enter marriage with expectations and habits shaped long before the relationship ever began. Some were modeled growing up, others reinforced by culture, and many rooted in a genuine desire to love well and create a strong home. But what once felt natural doesn't always translate into what creates true connection and partnership in a marriage. This is where frustration can build and where many start to feel like they're putting in effort but not getting the closeness they hoped for.

In this episode, we unpack the gap between what women are taught about love and relationships and what marriage truly needs to feel connected and fulfilling. This is the follow-up to last week's episode where we covered what men are taught versus what marriage needs them to learn, and together these conversations will help you see the patterns that play out between you. If you've ever felt like you're carrying a lot or not getting the response you hoped for, this will give you a new level of clarity and direction for how to move forward together.

✨ If you want simple, daily ways to strengthen your connection and bring more emotional and physical closeness into your marriage, join the 30-Day "Best of Us" Couples Challenge. It's designed to help you show up for each other in ways that truly land. Join now at mycoupleschallenge.com/best.

Many men enter marriage doing exactly what they've been conditioned to do their entire lives. They show up with a certain mindset about what it means to contribute, support, and lead in a family. And while those instincts come from a good place, they don't always translate into what actually creates closeness, emotional safety, and a strong partnership. This is where a lot of couples get stuck. One partner feels like they're giving a lot, while the other still feels something is missing.

In this episode, we unpack the gap between what men are taught to bring into a relationship and what marriage truly needs from them to feel connected and fulfilling. When this gap goes unrecognized, it can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and feeling like you're not on the same team. But once you see it clearly, it opens the door for a completely different level of understanding, connection, and respect.

❤️ If you want simple, daily ways to strengthen your connection and bring more emotional and physical closeness into your marriage, join the 30-Day "Best of Us" Couples Challenge. It's designed to help you show up for each other in ways that truly land. Join now at mycoupleschallenge.com/best.

This time of year, life starts to fill up fast. Between holidays, travel plans, kids' activities, family events, and everything in between… even couples who usually feel on top of things can start to feel stretched. And it's not always the amount of responsibilities that creates tension, it's what happens when those responsibilities aren't clearly talked about. Assumptions start to form. Expectations go unspoken. And before you know it, things are slipping through the cracks or quietly falling on one person more than the other.

In this episode, we're breaking down why this season tends to create more friction in relationships and what's really happening beneath the surface when things start to feel uneven or unappreciated. We'll help you recognize the patterns that lead to this dynamic and introduce a simple shift that can bring more clarity, teamwork, and follow-through into your relationship. If you want a practical way to stay on the same page, grab our Family Meeting Guide to start having these conversations weekly, or get it as a bonus when you join the 30-Day Prioritizing Us Challenge to build stronger communication and connection through this busy season. Find both of those resources here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

There is a critical conversation many couples are missing, especially after going through a challenge or hard season together. And as we close out the first quarter of the year, this is one of the most important times to have it.

When couples are in a difficult season, the focus is to put your head down and get through it. And once you do, it can feel like a relief… but then it's right back into the logistics of daily life. This creates two problems.

First, you miss the opportunity to reconnect and truly understand each other, which is what strengthens your bond. Second, you miss the lesson from that season, which sets you up to repeat similar challenges in the future.

In this episode, we walk you through how to have the kind of conversation that not only brings you closer, but helps you take the lessons forward, so your future together is stronger because of what you've been through.

Relationship Resources:

If this episode resonated and you don't want to just move on from your last season but actually grow from it, we invite you to start our Level 2 Rebuilding Us Challenge. The prompts are designed to help you reconnect, reflect, and rebuild with intention. Start here: https://mycoupleschallenge.com/rebuilding

Some seasons in life feel heavier than others. More pressure. Less capacity. Things outside your control. And if you're not careful, your marriage can start to feel like another place of tension instead of support.

In this episode, Jocelyn opens up about the challenging few weeks we've been in and what it's revealed about how couples either turn toward each other… or slowly start drifting apart. This is a powerful reminder of what actually keeps a relationship strong when life feels overwhelming—and why most couples don't catch it until more disconnection happens or damage is done.

Relationship Resources:

You can find all of our best resources from guides, webclasses, to coaching sessions with this link: Top Resources

Last week we talked about the mistakes we're seeing men make in marriage. This week, we're turning the lens toward women. And just like before, this isn't about criticism. It's about clarity and growth. Because in most marriages, the tension isn't coming from one person being "the problem." It's coming from the way both partners' habits and reactions feed into each other. When you see the pattern, you can finally change the pattern.

In this episode, we unpack three common dynamics we're seeing women fall into — patterns that unintentionally create defensiveness, discouragement, or emotional distance. Many of these behaviors come from good intentions or unmet needs, but they often land very differently than intended. If you've ever felt like you're trying so hard and still not getting the connection you want, this episode will help you understand what might be happening underneath the surface. Then give you steps to shift it.

Relationship Resources:

No matter where you are in your marriage; whether in a challenging season, wanting to deepen your connection, or desiring to just strengthen your relationship – we have a resource to help you do it. Find webclasses, guides, 30-day challenges, and coaching all with our Top Resources Here.

This week we're starting a two-part series on three mistakes we're seeing in marriages right now. And we're beginning with men. Before you brace yourself, this isn't about blame. It's about awareness. In almost every struggling relationship, there's a pattern both partners are participating in. And often, the very things a husband thinks are helping or protecting the relationship are the same things quietly creating distance.

In this episode, we unpack three subtle but powerful dynamics we're seeing men fall into — patterns that impact emotional safety, initiative, and shared ownership in the marriage. These aren't character flaws. They're habits. And when you understand how they're affecting your partner everything can shift. If you want to stop repeating the same cycles and start feeling more connected, respected, and aligned as a team, this conversation is a must-listen.

Next week, we're turning the lens the other direction. Because this is not about men being the issue or women being the issue. It is about the pattern between you. If you want to fully understand the dance happening in your marriage and how to actually change it, make sure you listen to part two.

Relationship Resources:

No matter where you are in your marriage; whether in a challenging season, wanting to deepen your connection, or desiring to just strengthen your relationship – we have a resource to help you do it. Find webclasses, guides, 30-day challenges, and coaching all with our Top Resources Here.

At our recent couples workshop, during a private conversation, a wife began crying as we described how broken follow-through slowly erodes trust in a marriage. Not because of one missed promise but because of the pattern. This pattern was to have a hopeful conversation, a commitment to change, and verbal reassurance that "this time will be different." And then… nothing changes. What many couples don't realize is that inconsistent follow-through doesn't just create frustration but it quietly chips away at trust. And when trust weakens, emotional safety and connection begin to fade with it.

In this episode, we break down five specific reasons partners struggle to follow through, even when they genuinely care and want things to improve. You'll begin to see what's really happening beneath the surface, and more importantly, how to shift it. If you've felt stuck in the same unresolved issue for weeks, months, or even years, this conversation can help you break that cycle and start rebuilding trust in a tangible, lasting way.

Relationship Resources:

Find the Priotitize Us 30-Day Couples Challenge, our top guides, events, and private coaching details all with the resource link here: meetthefreemans.com/links

Which island is your marriage on right now? In this episode, we share a simple but eye-opening framework we call The 3 Islands of Marriage: Dysfunction, Function, and Connection.

Marriage naturally moves through different states depending on the season you're in. Stress, transitions, parenting, unresolved conflict, or even just routine can shift where you and your partner are emotionally.

We break down: • What each island looks and feels like • The subtle signs you may be drifting • And the practical steps to move toward Connection Island

Every couple will land on different islands at different times. The goal isn't to panic — it's to recognize where you are and take intentional steps forward.

Because time alone doesn't move a marriage back to a healthy place. Awareness and action do.

If you've been feeling disconnected, stuck in conflict, or just functioning but not truly close, this episode will help you figure out your next move.

Relationship Resources Mentioned

1) Moving from Dysfunction to Function island - watch the 5 Root Causes webclass or do the Rebuilding Us Challenge

2) Moving from Function to Connection island - start the Prioritize Us couples Challenge.

Each of these resources and more can be found at: https://meetthefreemans.com/links

Most couples believe trust is built by being honest—by not lying, not hiding anything major, and generally doing what you say you'll do. And while integrity absolutely matters, many couples are surprised to find that honesty alone still leaves gaps in connection, security, and emotional safety. You can be faithful, responsible, and well-intentioned… and yet your partner can still feel out of the loop, uncertain, or like something is being held back. That's because honesty and transparency are not the same thing and that difference matters more in marriage than most couples realize.

Transparency goes beyond answering questions or avoiding outright deception. It's about being proactive, thoughtful, and emotionally present with your inner world—sharing needs while they're still small, closing gaps before they turn into doubt or resentment, and trusting your partner enough to let them in before there's a problem. In this episode, we unpack what transparency actually looks like in real marriages, the common ways couples unintentionally avoid it, and why playing it "safe" often creates more distance over time. If you want to feel more secure, emotionally connected, and truly on the same team, this conversation will bring clarity to tangible ways to be more transparent and create emotional safety.

➡️ If you're ready to take the next step in building your connection. We have two main resources to support you. One of two 30-Day Couples Challenges:

The level 1 - Prioritizing Us for daily connection

The level 2 - Rebuilding Us for daily trust repairing and rebuilding

Stress is unavoidable. Between the state of the world, work demands, parenting, and the pressure to keep everything running, most couples are carrying more than they realize. The problem isn't stress itself, it's how easily it spills into your marriage. When stress goes unmanaged, it shows up as tension, miscommunication, defensiveness, and feeling like you're constantly behind or letting each other down. And suddenly, the relationship that should feel like support starts to feel like another source of pressure.

In this episode, we talk about how stress moves through your life and into your relationship—and what to do before it quietly erodes connection. You'll learn how to create more margin, emotional awareness, and intentional connection so stress doesn't run your interactions or your home. Because when your marriage is supported, everything else in life—parenting, work, and decision-making—becomes lighter and more sustainable.

If you want to protect your relationship from getting pushed to the bottom of the list, join our 30-Day "Prioritizing Us" Couples Challenge⭐️. It's designed to help couples stay connected and proactive during busy, stressful seasons through small daily actions that strengthen your foundation. Start the next round for Valentines Day at mycoupleschallenge.com 👈

Relationship Resources:

See our top resources from guides, challenges, in-person events, and coaching here - meetthefreemans.com/links

So many couples are trying to fix intimacy by focusing on communication tools, date nights, or changing their partner's behavior—yet still feel disconnected. In this episode, we sit down with relationship educator and behavioral scientist Stefanos Sifandos to talk about why intimacy can't truly deepen without inner healing first.

Stefanos shares his own journey and breaks down a powerful framework from his new book, Tuned In and Turned On, explaining how unresolved shame, avoidance, and nervous-system patterns quietly block emotional and physical closeness. We explore why romantic relationships are often the place where our deepest wounds surface—and why they're also one of the greatest opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation.

Together, we walk through the three phases Stefanos teaches—inner healing, relational healing, and sacred union—and what each one looks like in real life. This conversation is especially meaningful for couples who love each other, want more intimacy, and sense that something deeper is being asked of them—personally and relationally.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why intimacy can't be repaired without personal responsibility and inner work

How shame, avoidance, and self-protection show up in long-term relationships

What relational healing actually looks like beyond "better communication"

How inner healing opens the door to deeper connection, intimacy, and spiritual alignment

If you've ever felt stuck between wanting closeness and feeling shut down—or wondered why intimacy feels harder than it used to—this episode will help you understand what's really going on and where to begin.

Listen in and let this conversation challenge the way you think about intimacy, healing, and growth in your relationship.

Then order Tuned In and Turned On now and get $380 worth of bonuses – how to have better sex & intimacy masterclass, breathwork and meditation course, practical wisdom ebook, and reverse interview with Stefanos🎉

Resentment is one of those words people hesitate to claim because it sounds heavy, harsh, even a little scary. But the truth is, resentment doesn't usually start with big blowups or dramatic moments. It builds quietly. You can still function well, take care of the kids, show up to work, even go on vacation… and yet something underneath gets triggered.

It comes out in sharper arguments than expected, old issues resurfacing, an undertone of irritation, or a growing emotional distance you can't quite put your finger on. In this episode, we talk about why resentment is far more common than most couples realize. And how even well-meaning partners accidentally allow it to grow.

Resentment is also preventable, and even resolvable if it's already there—but not by ignoring it, minimizing it, or hoping time will smooth things over. It requires honest conversations, real repair, and meaningful change.

This is a deep topic, and listening alone won't fix it, but it can give you clarity, language, and awareness so you can start addressing what's been building beneath the surface. As you listen, we highly recommend taking the next step with support:

👉 Whether that's joining us for our upcoming in-person Arizona Couples Workshop, Feb 22nd, 2026 or exploring our most trusted resources. You can find all of those, including workshop details, at MeetTheFreemans.com/links. ✅

So many couples tell us the same thing lately: "We don't even feel like we're choosing to react—it just happens." It can be a tone, a look, or a comment that lands wrong. And suddenly you're responding to each other's stress instead of actually talking about what's going on. When this becomes the norm, marriage starts to feel exhausting. Not because of big issues, but because you're unintentionally dysregulating each other in everyday moments. What should be simple conversations turn tense, and it leaves both people feeling misunderstood, defensive, or shut down.

In this episode, we talk honestly about why emotional reactivity has become such a common struggle for couples, and what it really takes to interrupt it in real time. We unpack why reacting to tone, body language, and assumptions keeps couples stuck. Also why learning to regulate yourself first is essential if you want to de-escalate conflict instead of fueling it. This conversation is practical and grounded in what we see every day with couples who want to do better but feel caught in patterns they don't know how to stop. If you're ready to understand what's actually happening in those heated moments—and why regulation changes everything—this episode is for you.

To watch the free marriage webclass on the 5 Root Causes of Conflict, or to access the help guides and challenges, use this link to our Top Relationship Resources ✅

Sometimes it's not the big issues that unravel a marriage, it's the small, everyday moments that quietly stack up. A comment said with the wrong tone. A boundary expressed when stress is already high. A familiar frustration bubbling up again. In this episode, we walk you through a real moment from our own marriage that easily could have turned into a fight, especially in a season where we're trying to leave old patterns behind and start the year differently. If you've ever thought, "Why does this keep happening?" or felt discouraged that the same tension keeps resurfacing, this conversation will feel very familiar.

Rather than glossing over it, we debrief the moment in real time, what was happening underneath the words, what didn't work in the past, and the subtle shifts that kept this from escalating. We talk about why trying to "fix" things too fast often backfires, how small pauses can change the entire trajectory of a conversation, and why understanding the need underneath the frustration matters more than proving your point. This episode isn't about perfection, it's about learning how to interrupt old cycles before they pull you back in. If you want this year to feel different in your marriage, this is a powerful place to start.

Relationship Resources mentioned in the episode:

👉 Our free 5 Root Causes of Conflict Webclass - understand the 5 root causes of conflicts, so that you keep from repeating the same patterns, just in different scenarios.

👉 Our upcoming In-Person Couples Workshop - join us in person in Arizona, Feb 22nd. This will be a day to transform your communication, conflict resolution, and connection in your marriage, to truly make this a new year!

It's easy to look at movies or social media and wonder why love once felt effortless, and now feels quieter, more routine, or even distant. No one prepares you for the reality that long-term love doesn't stay fueled by novelty and adrenaline forever. As relationships mature, biology shifts, responsibilities increase, and especially after kids, connection can slowly give way to comfort… or worse, roommate energy. If you've ever thought, "Something's missing, but I don't know what," this episode is for you.

In this conversation, we unpack what's actually happening beneath the surface of long-term relationships and why closeness fades even when love is still there. You'll hear how subtle habits, attention leaks, and well-intentioned routines quietly work against connection; and what it takes to bring back energy, affection, and excitement in a sustainable way. This isn't about recreating the early days of your relationship, but learning how to actively maintain closeness, playfulness, and desire in the season you're in now.

✨ If you want simple, daily ways to reconnect emotionally and physically, join our special edition 30-Day "Best of Us" Couples Challenge, designed to help you reignite closeness and bring more joy, flirtation, and intentional connection back into your marriage. It starts January 1st and is only open three times per year. Join now at mycoupleschallenge.com/best 👈

If the Challenge has past, be sure to check out our Top Relationship Resources here was well, even look to join us in-person for the upcoming Couples Workshop. All resources here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Most couples want to feel more loved, appreciated, and connected. But the way we go about it often backfires. We wait until we're running on empty to tell our partner what we need, and in that vulnerable moment, it's easy for things to slip into defensiveness or comparison. This episode flips that dynamic entirely. Instead of focusing on what your partner isn't doing, we explore the powerful shift of going first—initiating repair, creating small moments of connection, and becoming the kind of loving presence that naturally evokes more love in return.

We'll walk you through three meaningful areas of your life and relationship where small shifts can dramatically change the energy between you. When you focus your effort in these places, you'll notice your partner softening, responding, and giving back in ways that feel natural, not forced. These steps create a positive feedback loop where your daily choices shape your attitude, your emotional tone, and ultimately how loved both of you feel.

➡️ Want structured, daily ways to bring more affection, spark, and emotional intimacy into your relationship? Join the 30-Day "Best of Us" Couples Challenge—designed to help you reconnect, play more, and show love in ways that actually land. It only opens 3 times per year, so join now at mycoupleschallenge.com/best.

Most couples glide into the new year on autopilot, sometimes with excitement and optimism, hoping things will feel different, more connected, less chaotic… yet they end up repeating the same patterns that make it feel the same as last year . In this episode, we're giving you one of the most powerful "end-of-year check-in" conversations we use with our private coaching clients. It's a guided reset that helps you break out of routine, reconnect with each other's dreams and needs, and get aligned before January even begins. Think of this episode as your personal coaching session; one that can spark more clarity, purpose, and connection between you than you've felt in months.

We'll walk you through four core areas of your life and relationship that absolutely shape how fulfilled, peaceful, and united you feel as a couple. You'll leave with prompts, structure, and a simple framework to help you set the tone for 2026 with intention, not stress or default habits. If you want the upcoming year to feel meaningful, fun, and deeply connected, this is the conversation to have before December 31st!

✨ If you want to feel closer and more connected now—not just in January—join our special edition 30-Day Couples Challenge, The Best of Us. It's designed to reignite emotional and physical intimacy through small, daily actions that bring out more joy, affection, and playfulness in your marriage. It only opens three times per year, so don't miss this round: mycoupleschallenge.com/best.

For our other top resources, from guides, books, events, and even coaching visit think weblink

👉 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

So many couples love each other deeply… yet still feel disconnected. They talk every day, but the conversations revolve around schedules, responsibilities, and what needs to get done next. In this episode, we're unpacking why emotional intimacy often fades in long-term relationships, not because the love is gone, but because genuine connection isn't being fed. You'll learn what emotional intimacy actually is (in practical, real-life terms), why so many partners misunderstand it, and the surprising psychology behind why couples get stuck in surface-level communication.

Then we'll walk you through 5 simple, powerful actions that help you move from "talking" to truly connecting again. Whether your marriage feels good but could use a deeper spark, or you've been feeling like roommates who care about each other but don't feel emotionally close, this episode will give you clarity, hope, and next steps you can implement right away.

If you're ready to reignite the spark and create more emotional and physical intimacy in your marriage, sign-up for our special edition 30-Day Couples Challenge, The Best of Us. It's only open 3 times per year and couples absolutely love it.

Relationship Resources:

If you are looking for our other top resources, you can find everything from guides, courses, events, and coaching here 👉 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

The holidays can bring out both the best and the worst in a marriage. Between packed schedules, family dynamics, and endless to-do lists, it's easy for connection to get lost in the chaos. But this season doesn't have to feel like survival mode or that you are just getting through the functions. There are a few key areas in your relationship that—if you focus on them each day—can make you feel appreciated and united as a couple, no matter what the holidays throw your way.

In this episode, we're sharing three powerful shifts with the "3C's" to help you stay emotionally close and work as a team through the holiday season. You'll walk away knowing exactly where to put your attention so the two of you can feel loved, supported, and in sync instead of drained or distant at the end of this holiday season.

Desiring to bring back more affection, intimacy, and spark during this season 🔥 Join the 30-Day Best of Us Couples Challenge—open now—to reignite emotional and physical intimacy through small, daily actions. We only host this challenge 3x per year, so head to MyCouplesChallenge.com/Best to register for the January 1st start date!

Relationship Resources:

If you are looking for our top resources—everything from guides, to challenges, coaching, and live events, just visit 👉 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

The holidays are supposed to feel relaxing and joyful. But for many couples, they're anything but. Between travel plans, family visits, and unspoken expectations, this season can quickly become chaotic, exhausting, and full of tension. One partner often ends up feeling like they're carrying most of the mental and emotional load, while the other doesn't realize how unbalanced it feels.

In this episode, we're unpacking the real root of holiday stress in relationships: mismatched and unmet expectations. You'll hear the kinds of conversations you need to have to prevent disconnection and resentment. Everything from dividing travel and family responsibilities to setting boundaries with in-laws and staying emotionally connected as a couple. Because when you plan as a team, the holidays can actually bring you closer instead of pulling you apart.

✨ If you want the holidays to feel connected rather than chaotic - Join the Prioritizing Us 30-Day Couples Challenge starting December 1st. This will keep your love accounts full before the season begins so you can stay united through whatever the season brings. Register at: MyCouplesChallenge.com.

Have you ever shared an idea or dream with your spouse, something that genuinely excited you, only to have the energy immediately flattened by practicality or fear? In this episode, we're unpacking a dynamic that quietly drains energy and connection in many marriages: when one partner is in enthusiastic, imaginative energy and the other instantly shifts into logic and control mode. We'll explore why this happens, what it reveals emotionally for each partner, and how to respond in a way that keeps the energy between you alive instead of shutting it down.

In this episode you'll hear:

The hidden psychology behind why partners "squash" enthusiasm (even with good intentions)

How to frame a conversation for your partner from the start, so you're on the same wavelength

Practical shifts that help you stay connected and engaged, even when you see things differently

Why joining in the energy doesn't mean agreeing to every idea

How this dynamic slowly erodes emotional intimacy if you don't adjust

If you've ever felt misunderstood for your excitement, or struggled to stay open when your spouse starts dreaming big, this conversation will help you both feel seen and stay on the same wavelength.

If this episode resonates, grab our 3-Guide Bundle—a powerful trio of tools that help you communicate and stay connected during the moments that matter most: 📘 De-Escalating Conflicts 📘 Making Up & Moving Forward 📘 The Family Meeting Guide

Get the bundle at meetthefreemans.com/links and start using the same tools we teach our couples every day.

As the holiday season approaches, many couples find themselves hitting a quiet but undeniable breaking point. Something about this stretch of time—from mid-October through the new year—brings things to the surface. Maybe it's the reflection that comes with the end of a year. Maybe it's the pressure of finances, family expectations, or feeling like life is flying by. But without the closeness you hoped to feel by now. For many, it's a season where the question "Can we really keep going like this?" starts to creep in.

In this episode, we unpack a question so many couples wrestle with: Can one spouse change the marriage if the other isn't ready or willing? What happens when one person is trying, growing, learning... and the other seems stuck? Is it unfair to hope for more? Is it foolish to keep waiting? We're diving into the emotional weight of this question, why so many couples delay getting support, and what it really takes to shift the direction of your relationship. Especially in the seasons that feel the hardest.

In this episode we cover:

The surprising reason many marriages reach a breaking point during this season

The #1 personality trait that determines whether couples make it through hard seasons

Why some partners resist working on themselves or the relationship until separation is on the table

What delays couples from getting help—and how much damage that can do

The emotional cost of carrying the growth for two people

To then interrupt destructive cycles and finally start moving forward together:

🎥 Watch the free 1-hour Marriage WebClass: [The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in Marriage & How to Overcome Them]

This is the fastest way to learn what's really underneath recurring arguments, disconnection, and shutdowns—and how to turn it around together. Couples say it gave them more clarity than 6 months of counseling.

👉 Watch this Marriage WebClass now [with this link here]

👉 See all of our practical resources here - from couples challenges, guides, and in-person events.

Have you ever thought about how your own stress affects your kids — or how your parents' stress might still be affecting you? In this powerful conversation with Dr. Taz Bhatia, integrative medicine physician, author, and founder of Hol+, we explore how the health of the parents — especially the mother — sets the tone for the entire family system. Because wellness isn't just about self-care… it's about the legacy you're creating for the next generation.

Together, we unpack how patterns of anger, overwhelm, and chronic stress get passed down in families — and how to finally break the cycle. In this episode you'll hear:

Why stress isn't always bad, but becomes harmful when your body never feels safe (aka the cortisol hum).

How unresolved emotions and disconnection show up in the body — from hormone imbalances to fatigue and resentment.

The way childhood modeling shapes how we handle conflict and stress in marriage.

Practical ways to track your body's signals (like HRV) and create a calmer emotional climate at home.

Dr. Taz also shares how she's disrupting the medical industry through her Hol+ network (add link) — an integrative system combining Eastern and Western medicine to care for families as a whole, offering both in-person clinics and virtual access nationwide. Her mission is simple yet profound: to help every family heal from the inside out.

This episode is a reminder that when one person in the family heals, everyone benefits. The health of your marriage, your body, and your home are all connected — and you have the power to create a new emotional legacy for your family.

You can find our most popular resources including our FREE Marriage Webclass: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection at - meetthefreemans.com/links

It seems like the "I need more space" and "I need to talk this out now" partners always find each other! This is the basis of the Pursuer/Withdrawer as well as the Anxious/Avoidant partner dynamics in marriage. When this dynamic happens, it always causes more tension, defensiveness, anxiety, and distance than the initial topic of conversation. If this sounds at all like dynamics you and your partner get into, you certainly are not alone!

In today's episode you will hear more detail about what's really happening for each partner, whether it is the need for space or resolution. There are many factors that contribute to this, like personality type and emotional processing capacity. But tune in to hear about details you would have never thought of, hear more about how this dynamic has played out in our own marriage over the years, and then specific steps you can take to keep this dynamic from escalating simple conversations. This will make you both feel even more secure, understood, and loved in your relationship.

👉 Don't forget to join us on our FREE Live Marriage Webclass on: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in Marriage. This live event only happens 2x per year. If you can't attend live, still register, as we will send you the replay. So don't miss out!

Division isn't just a problem in the world—it's creeping into homes, marriages, and families everywhere. When couples start turning against each other instead of standing together, the bond that once felt safe and secure begins to weaken. In this episode, we're breaking down The 4 D's That Create Division in a Marriage: Dismissiveness, Defensiveness, Deflecting, and Divorce Threats. These subtle but destructive patterns slowly undermine connection and emotional safety, often without you even realizing it.

We'll clearly define what each of these behaviors looks and sounds like—and why they're so damaging to your closeness and trust. More importantly, we'll share how to stop them before they erode your foundation.

👉 And don't miss our live + free Marriage WebClass: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in a Marriage. It's a topic we've never taught publicly before, packed with the exact insights and tools we use with coaching clients. Register now at OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com

Many times in marriage, you can start what you think is a simple conversation and have it turn into a miscommunication or even a conflict. It is frustrating when you are trying to simply communicate something and it isn't received by your partner.

In this episode we talk about the difference between productive and unproductive communication and what makes partners good communicators vs poor communicators. You will be surprised by the simple shift you can make and the massive difference it will make in how you each speak and listen to one another.

To dive further into the source of conflicts, attend our FREE LIVE Marriage Webclass on Oct 23rd: Navigating the 5 Root Causes of Conflicts. After this date you will be able to watch the replay as well.

For all of our resources visit: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

It's not that difficult to show up as a great partner when everything is going smoothly in your life. Being an exceptional partner has much to do with how you show up in the face of challenges and things not going how you planned.

In this episode you will hear 5 ways to be an exceptional partner that will be demonstrated through aligning your words and actions, being responsible for the attitude you bring to the environment, how you show up in support, focusing on the satisfaction of your partner, and your mental and emotional resiliency.

Relationship Resources:

Check out the in-person couples workshop in Arizona Jan 28th. http://thecouplesworkshop.com/

Explore all the resources from simple guides to private coaching. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Disconnection and dissatisfaction can often stem from a power struggle for leadership, especially if it's been absent. This episode highlights the unique marriage challenges in contemporary relationships, where misconceptions about domination and disengagement can create more conflicts.

Leadership within a marriage is not about control but influence and the initiative to guide. This episode explores essential leadership values including a just cause, trust within the team, accountability, collaborative rivalry, substantial flexibility, and the courage to navigate life's challenges together. Ultimately, you'll be inspired to approach your marriage with a renewed perspective for sharing leadership for long-term satisfaction.

Marriage Resources:

Find all the resoruces you need from simple step-by-step guides, to webclasses, in person workshops, and even private coaching at https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

In this thought-provoking episode, you'll explore the intriguing concept of "crucible moments" and where you have already experienced them in your own relationship. These pivotal junctures, situations, or decision points test the strength of your bond and commitment, with choices leading to breakthroughs or declines in your relationship.

You'll hear real-life examples, from navigating the newborn stage to handling heated arguments or even a big financial loss. This episode encourages you to make decisions aligned with your values, practice ruthless self-honesty, and consider the long-term consequences, leaving you with essential guidance for when you are confronted with critical crucible moments in your marriage!

Relationship Resources:

Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge starting Nov 1st, 2023 - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in their marriage and prioritize loving actions and respectful communication.

In this podcast episode, the fifth step in rebuilding a marriage takes center stage – expressing and agreeing to non-negotiables. Overall this is a crucial step for building trust and granting forgiveness. You will hear 4 non-negotiables that we feel are paramount to a strong and lasting marriage. Those steps are individual responsibility, emotional intelligence, open communication, and developing the traits of flexibility and resilience. You will discover how these keys lead to a stronger, more connected partnership, where both partners actively participate in nurturing a resilient and fulfilling relationship that will last.

Resources:

1) Join the FREE Marriage Webclass on communication, conflict repair, and deescalation on Oct 19th, 2023. Register at: https://onlinecouplesworkshops.com/

2) After that date, find the resource guides here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Are you facing a difficult season in your marriage, feeling weighed down, worn out, or dissatisfied by challenges and conflicts? This type of season is not uncommon for marriages. Though it seems complex and ominous to tackle, there are specific patterns that have brought you both to this place.

In this episode you'll explore the process of revitalizing a marriage mired in challenges, resentment, and conflicts and provides you with crucial steps to navigate this journey. You'll learn the importance of committing authentically to your relationship, focusing on effective communication, shedding old patterns, and identifying non-negotiables. By listening, you'll gain insight and guidance to embark on the challenging yet hopeful path of rebuilding your marriage and becoming the partners you aspire to be for a stronger future together.

Resources:

You can find our top resources, incuding step-by-step guides and online courses, with this one link here: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

In this episode, you'll explore the critical role of agreements during times of conflicts in your own marriage. Just like any game, your marriage really only works on the adherence to certain rules or guidelines, then everyone can have fun playing the game! While your marriage involves various agreements for different aspects of life, the most vital ones are those designed for navigating conflicts. These agreements, treated as laws, encompass actions for you to take or avoid when emotions run high, including refraining from yelling, name-calling, bringing up past grievances, or storming out without communicating the need for a break.

Beyond mere verbal promises, these agreements demand your genuine commitment and personal responsibility. Emotions are viewed as data, not directives, and you're encouraged to recognize your emotions, calm your nervous system, and pause when necessary. Even when your partner fails to uphold their agreements, this episode stresses the importance of your personal integrity and establishing minimum acceptable standards for yourself, ultimately providing you with a roadmap for resolving conflicts constructively and maintaining a healthy marriage.

Resources:

NEW 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.

What truly determines the health and success of a romantic relationship? While popular resources online suggest differences in personality traits, attachment styles, past traumas, or external stressors as contributing factors, the episode sheds light on a more precise concept – "relationship stability."

Psychologists have coined this term to better measure long-term success in relationships, ultimately linked to the duration of the partnership along with a sense of fulfillment, not driven by obligation or fear. The VSA model of Marriage, encompassing Vulnerabilities, Stress, and Adaptation, takes center stage, highlighting the significance of effective communication, problem-solving, compromise, support, and the ability to adapt and evolve behavior to nurture a healthy and satisfying marriage.

This episode invites you to reflect on their own relationships, emphasizing that it's not about what happens to you, but how you respond when vulnerabilities surface amidst external stressors. Also, make sure you join the upcoming 30-Day Couples Challenge here. Receive daily prompts to fill your "Love Accounts," improve your communication, and become more connected.

In this heartfelt podcast episode, you'll explore the crucial difference between falling in love and staying in love. The hosts share insightful points on making your partner feel seen, appreciated, adored, respected, and accepted over time. They also emphasize the importance of navigating the natural ebbs and flows of intimacy, remaining receptive to each other's needs, course-correcting when necessary, and investing the effort required for enduring love. This episode provides you with a roadmap to cultivate a deep, lasting connection with your partner, reminding you that love is a journey, and staying in love is an ongoing commitment, regardless of the stage of your relationship.

Resources:

Use this link to find our top communication and conflict resolution resources and guides. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

FREE BOOK for reviews through Sept 21st, 2023:

Want us to personally sign and mail you a copy of our book, The Argument Hangover? For EVERY SINGLE one of you that writes a review for our podcast, or emails us about how our guides or challenges have benefited you, we will send this book. Due to shipping restrictions, this applies to those in the United States. For those of you outside the U.S., we will send you the E-Book plus a bonus thank you gift. Just email us the review: connect@newpowercouples.com. This goes through Sept 21st, 2023.

We know this can be a hard conversation, but it's critical in order to protect our children from the very real threats and predators. You might think that trafficking is something that is distant or would not affect your area or town. But as you'll learn from today's guest, Rosalia Rivera, the abuse and trafficking of children occurs mostly in plain sight, in areas near and around you.

But this episode is not to put you in fear; in fact, it's to empower you to have specific ACTIONS to take, whether your kids are 2 or already up to teens.

You will hear:

The difference between human trafficking and sexual abuse of children

What it means to teach "consent" to children, and conversations to have from parent to child

What age you can start having these conversations about body autonomy and consent

3 specific ways to protect children from online predators or exploitation

3 specific ways to protect children from local threats, even that can occur in their clubs, sports activities, and sleepovers with neighbors

Conversations to start with your local community, their schools, and daycares,

And so much more. All of it is sobering and somewhat shocking that we have to think about this, but we DO

Dive into her helpful resources here on her website and instagram!

After you dive into the episode, be sure to sign-up for the 30-Day Couples Challenge starting Sept 1st! This is the best step to consistently add to your love account levels and be more connected on a daily basis.

Of course not all relationships are the same because of the personality dynamics that are unique to the two of you and also the specific events or challenges that you face in your marriage. This is where the episode really makes a claim; that you will face challenges in your life and marriage together.

As you listen to this episode you are going to hear 3 inescapable truths that you must accept and navigate as to lead to having more happy than hard days. This will be even more critical when you are facing challenges, whether internal or external, so that you can still have happiness, understanding, and collaboration no matter what challenges arise!

Becoming a mother is a transformative and in some ways challenging journey. Everyone focuses on the actions of being a parent and not enough on the identity shifts and emotional journey that it really is.

Today's guest expert, Dr Morgan Cutlip, wrote the book, Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself. In today's interview with her, you'll hear:

Why "balance" is bologna and what to seek instead

The core inner conflicts a mom faces, and likely doesn't expect

The impossible standards we set for ourselves and how that affects us

How to banish or tame the guilt we encounter with the decisions we make as a mother

After you tune in to the interview, please support this hard-working mom by ordering her book and claim the bonuses she provides HERE.

Picture this: you and your partner on vacation at your favorite spot, yet you haven't exchanged a word in three days. The silent tension, the "stand-off," can feel like it's tearing your relationship apart, whether it's a recurring pattern or a prolonged icy silence. But fear not, because in this episode, we dive into the fascinating realm of how our minds can play tricks on us, especially in the heat of a relationship blow-up. Discover the cognitive twists and turns that can lead to misunderstandings and emotional chaos.

We explore the psychology behind intelligence and how our cognitive development shapes the way we interpret conflicts. From confirmation bias that paints your partner as the villain to cognitive distortions that blur the lines between feelings and facts, we unravel the mysteries behind these mental mechanisms.

Join us as we guide you through navigating the complex landscape of emotions, reminding you that while feelings are valid, they might not always align with reality. Tune in to learn how to dismantle the stand-off, focusing on self-reflection, responsibility, and solution-oriented repair. Don't let your relationship be a casualty of the stand-off – let's bridge the gap together.

Additional Resources From the Show

Join us in-person at The Couples Workshop on September 10th, 2023 in Arizona.

Get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide to repair faster and more effectively.

Proactive communication allows you to have more harmony, ease, and unity in your relationship. But what does that really mean, is it just speaking your mind more often?

We all know that "our partner can't read our mind," but how many of us try to just survive the chaos of life without communicating enough with our partner? Or worse, communicate "reactively" once there's already tension, frustration, and miscommunications.

Today's episode gives you 3 helpful steps to focus on more proactive communication as a couple. These steps will help you be more on the same page, avoid little upsets, and build more trust in each other.

Resources For Your Relationship:

To help with these conversations ongoingly, you can get our Family Meeting Guide here for constructive weekly, quarterly, and yearly check-ins.

Join us in this episode as we dive deep into the intricate ways your upbringing shapes your approach to 4 crucial dynamics of your marriage. You will hear the subtle yet profound influences of your past on how you navigate these dynamics with your partner. We all recognize the power of our formative experiences, from childhood to early romance, and their lasting effects on us, but what can you really do about it, right?

We'll explore how your emotional regulation, sense of responsibility, reception of feedback, and ability to repair are intricately tied to your upbringing. Discover how your family's approach to emotions, promises, feedback, and conflict resolution unconsciously shape your behavior in these key areas. Tune in to gain insights that will empower you and your partner to create a harmonious and fulfilling relationship, building a bridge between your past and your future together.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Attend the LIVE Couples Workshop in Arizona on Sept. 10th, 2023:

http://thecouplesworkshop.com/

Find our recomended guides, webclasses, and courses on our main website:

https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Having good friendships is critical to your fulfillment in life and plays a big role in your marriage as well. However, not all of your friends will tell you the hard truth and some of the things that you really need to hear if you are to get out of a hard season in your relationship.

It's also unlikely that your friends are relationship coaches so there is a key piece of advice that you will not hear from any of them, that you really need to hear. This episode is all about how you need to stop acting from how you feel and start acting from your commitment. Listen to this episode so that you can take a stand to turn a hard season around and keep it from any further decline or disconnection.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Attend the LIVE Couples Workshop in Arizona on Sept. 10th, 2023:

http://thecouplesworkshop.com/

Find our recomended guides, webclasses, and courses on our main website:

https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

We went on an impromptu staycation this weekend… just us! And we used some of our time (besides playing, flirting, and relaxing) to have some meaningful conversations. We like to call them "check-ins." This one in particular happened to be getting on the same page about our life and marriage priorities for the rest of the year.

Do you and your partner feel on the same page about what your priorities are? If you don't take some time a few times per year, you can just be going about the motions expending energy in two different directions… or nowhere at all, really.

So dive into today's episode to get some inspiration for a great conversation you can have together!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in their marriage and prioritize loving actions and respectful communication. This one starts Aug 1st, 2023 and you get the Family Meeting Guide included.

If you just want the Family Meeting Guide on it's own, you can get it separately here too.

This highly anticipated episode is finally here! Today we dive into underlying frustrations and areas of dissatisfaction for men that we want to be mindful of in our relationship.

Remember, these aren't to blame one person. We both can participate in meeting each other's needs, preventing frustrations, and talking through the patterns that are interconnected.

After you dive into the episode, be sure to sign-up for the 30-Day Couples Challenge starting August 1st!

Getting married and choosing to do life with someone means that you're also saying, "I am going to care about your needs, I am going to care about whether you're satisfied or not, and I am going to do my best to meet the standards we've set for a partnership."

When this stops happening for various reasons, then the fulfillment and satisfaction for that partner can start to go down. So today's episode is really about boosting satisfaction in the partnership by understanding the top sources of dissatisfaction for women specifically and how to prevent them.

To go with today's episode, also get access to our Family Meeting Guide and Templates here:

https://thecouplesexperience.com/family

All great teams "huddle" often, whether a sports team or a professional team. But how often do you guys check-in? Today's episode covers how to have a weekly, quarterly, and yearly check-in. This is a major update to our process we shared in 2021, which was a SUPER popular episode. You'll hear the 5 questions to ask each other every week, what to discuss about your relationship every quarter of the year, and big picture topics to stay on track on a yearly basis.

We promise, these can be accomplished in just a few minutes and will help you prevent miscommunications, tackle issues proactively, and experience more harmony in the relationship!

To go with the episode, get our BRAND NEW Family Meeting Guide & Templates here:

https://thecouplesexperience.com/family

Also from the episode, you can get the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide if you need more guidance on how to repair things that were unresolved.

Life will always have challenges and we believe it's about how you respond to them as well as how well you learn and grow. This is a huge aspect of maintaining a healthy relationship, how you handle challenges as a team.

Hopefully you know that we are not here to sugar coat anything or give you any advice that is not practical or useful in your daily marriage. So in this episode we share updates from the last 18 months as it was the hardest season we have had as a couple. It is our intent to share these challenges and updates while sharing the lessons and wisdom we have gained (and are still gaining), so that maybe you can learn the lessons without going through it yourself!

A major part of us getting through this hard season, truly united as a team, is how often we checked-in with each other. We always knew where we were each at mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We also knew what actions and patterns we needed to change. We did all this by using our Family Meeting Guide & templates that we now have available for you for ust $19. We hope this can get you back on the same page and kepe you there though any challenge you are facing as a couple!

For the Guide just to go https://thecouplesexperience.com/family

In this episode we unravel the crucial distinction between repair, finding a solution, and resolution in relationships. Repairing conflicts, rather than simply reducing the frequency of them, is a powerful indicator of a healthy and lasting partnership. You will hear the misconception that finding a solution automatically leads to resolution, and why the emotional aspect of repair is equally vital. By understanding the formula of Repair + Solution = Resolution, we provide you with the tools to navigate conflicts more effectively and create lasting harmony.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Last chance to sign up for the 30-Day Couples Challenge starting July 1st. Join here. Get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide here.

We all know that relationships can be challenging, especially when it comes to expressing our needs. Ever found yourself in a situation where you're feeling frustrated but can't quite put your finger on why? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into the importance of identifying and expressing your needs within a romantic partnership. We'll explore why simply venting your frustrations isn't enough and how it can lead to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns.

By learning to articulate your needs, you'll unlock a whole new level of understanding and connection. We'll discuss fundamental human needs, drawing inspiration from Maslow's Hierarchy and the 6 Human Needs model, and provide practical examples of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Join us as we share relatable insights and actionable tips that will empower you to create a stronger and more fulfilling relationship.

Join The 30-Day Couples Challenge called "Prioritizing Us" as it starts July 1st HERE

In this episode we tackle a common challenge in relationships: expressing strong emotions to our partners without considering the present mood. We've all been there, feeling the urge to let it all out, only to realize it may not be the best time or could escalate tensions further. That's why we're here to guide you through the art of discerning the mood before speaking up.

By understanding the momentum and direction of the interaction, you can make informed choices that either diffuse the energy or lead to a positive outcome. We'll also explore the importance of nurturing your partner's "Love Account," which acts like a bank account for love and connection. But that's not all! We'll share practical tips on how to approach these situations with empathy and curiosity, asking your partner what they truly need rather than jumping to conclusions.

Sign up for The 30-Day Couples Challenge, which simplifies how to make positive shifts in your relationship with daily prompts/actions directly from us to your phone for 30 days.

https://mycoupleschallenge.com/

As parents, we know that feeling of guilt from knowing that our kiddos saw or heard the argument. But instead of guilty, we want you to become motivated to focus on the 3 keys in this episode. Make sure they see you:

DE-ESCALATE the rising emotion and conflict

Implement a constructive pause, and not a rupture

Fully REPAIR after an argument

For more detail on these principles, get our 2 popular guides:

De-Escalating Conflicts & Regulating Emotions guide here:

Making Up & Moving Forward guide here:

The 30-Day Couples Challenge starts THIS week, so sign up here: https://mycoupleschallenge.com/

In this episode, we dive into the subtle ways that effort can dwindle once we've achieved our goals. Think about athletes reaching their peak or accomplishing a major milestone in your personal life—there's a loss of that initial hunger and drive. The same can happen in your marriage, but it's trickier because there isn't a clear finish line or "scoreboard" to tell us how well we're doing.

By listening you will get the signs of declining effort, like depleted love accounts, quick and thoughtless communication, fading passion, and that feeling of coasting or routine. But don't worry, we've got you covered with five powerful ways to rekindle that effort. From small love deposits and appreciating conscious choices to thoughtful greetings and setting the right mood, we share practical strategies to feel more prioritized, loved, and connected.

You know that conflicts will happen in a marriage, this truth should not be resisted or avoided. However what if that same conflict comes up again and what if that turns into a pattern that shows up over and over again? This is what creates a hard season in marriage. But if this goes on for multiple weeks, months, or even years then you feel as if nothing is going to change and you lose hope in the marriage.

Some people see ending the marriage as the only option, because honestly who would want to continue to expose themselves to the same pain over and over. You need relief… and we agree. But this episode gives you 7 steps to take to get yourself out of this pattern and subsequently out of this hard season in your marriage. It's not easy, but then again neither is this current situation and neither is a divorce. So really this is the best option for you.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in their marriage and prioritize loving actions and respectful communication.

The obvious statement is that men and women differ in how they emotionally connect. But the actions one can take to close the gap between how men and women connect is not as practical. Couples get stuck in the trap of "I just don't connect the same way as my partner".

In this episode you are going to hear 3 different ways that men feel emotionally connected and 3 different ways for women. No matter how different you think you and your partner are in this area of connection, you can use one of these ways to better connect and be in harmony with your partner.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge - the 30 day challenge for busy couples to re-prioritize each other and be more connected.

Do you ever wish that you were back in that infamous "honeymoon" stage of your marriage? Believe us we understdand why we hear this from couples. You want to be in that feeling of newness, optimism, passion, and infinite possibilites with a true partner at your side. There is something to honor about this stage but the reality is that this is not just a short window of time that you cannot get back.

It's just that you were doing a bunch of things unconsciously that were leading to this feeling of marrital bliss. In this episode you will be enlightened hearing these 4 things that you just forget to do after being together for years. In some situations it's not that you even forgot but they you never realized you were doing them in the forst place. But now you can relaize what these actions are and consciously bring them into your life to add to increaes your connection, optimism, and feeling of possibility!

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

NEW 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 also only $19.

Do you ever feel that your partner just doesn't understand and that they just don't empathize with what you are feeling? This is a big topic for many couples. A key element of a great relationship is that you can be going through a difficult time (even if caused by your partner) and you have a partner that can be comforting and compassionate to be on your side as you go through it.

In this episode you will hear the difference between empathy and sympathy so that you can better understand which you are actually needing from them. Then you will hear some of the blocks to showing empathy and sympathy and a few steps to better demonstrate that in your relationship.

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

NEW 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 also only $19.

You can feel so taken off guard and frustrated when a seemingly simple conversation with your partner escalates into a conflict. When this happens both of you tend to say or do things that do more damage to the other. This is even more irritating because it could have been easily avoided in your mind.

This is exactly the point of this episode, the mistakes that escalate conversations into conflicts. In this episode you will hear 3 mistakes so that you can better recognize them and take a more constructive action so that you can de-escalate the emotion, accept it, and still stay on the same team with each other.

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW 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.

If you haven't yet got the repair guide to go with it, it's the 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 also only $19!

At first you might not think that you feel any jealousy in your marriage. But jealousy is simply the feeling of unhappiness or anger because someone has something you want. Yet there are others that might feel this emotion more prevalently.

In this episode you will understand more about jealousy and where it can come from. Then you will have 5 steps to take to overcome this feeling in collaboration with your partner.

Resources For Your Relationship:

1) NEW REPAIR 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.

2) Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

3) To find even more resources like webclasses, books, guides and coaching; visit our resources page here https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

Understanding the concepts of inner child and shadow patterns is crucial for a healthy marriage. We are not going to sugarcoat this either, it's one of the most difficult yet necessary things to do. In this podcast, you will explore how these two aspects can impact your behavior and dynamic in your relationship. Then you will learn practical strategies for working with these deep rooted patterns, you'll gain valuable tools for integrating these parts of yourself, promoting greater self awareness and ability to break old patterns in your marriage.

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

By now you know that repairing after your conflicts with your partner is one of the most critical aspects for a marriage. It might even be the most critical. If you do not repair, you just create more problems later on and you drive an emotional wedge between you. Repair is not an easy thing to do for two reasons that you will hear in this episode.

One of these reasons is the whole purpose of this episode… you do not identify the real root cause of the conflict. Most people just try and move on, but this will only have the problem repeat. In this episode are 5 root causes of conflicts that you need to reflect on in your repair process so that you can actually address and change the actions that are needed in your relationship.

If you want to listen to the replay of the full webclass on this topic, just use this link here: Why Are We Arguing Again Webclass. Then if you are wanting to better use these root causes in your repair process, be sure you get the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide so you can stay on track all the way to resolve your conflicts.

Is it just random and based on your inherent personality traits whether you are a great spouse and partner? What if it wasn't so much about your personality traits anyway, as it was other character traits that you could develop along the way? That would feel encouraging and empowering to us, and it should to you as well!

To us it doesn't matter as much about the personality traits that you come into a relationship with. The fact is everyone is different and that makes every relationship unique in the dynamics that will happen based on your trait differences. However, as you will hear in this episode, there are 4 crucial traits that you can proactively develop that will make you a great partner consistently! No matter what your personality these traits can and should be developed to have a great marriage.

Resources For Your Relationship:

We don't do this often so make sure you attend our FREE LIVE WebClass on March 30th, 2023: Why Are We Arguing Again? a weblcass to identify the real root causes of conflict so you can ultimately resolve them

NEW REPAIR 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.

We don't do this often so make sure you attend our FREE LIVE WebClass on March 30th, 2023: Why Are We Arguing Again? a weblcass to identify the real root causes of conflict so you can ultimately resolve them

When a challenge comes up in your life or you have a conflict with your partner, do you shrink down to your default responses or rise to the occasion? When you face situations that call for you to change a pattern of behavior or adjust your willingness to have the hard but necessary conversations do you resist or embrace it?

Today's episode is all about becoming a "Resilient" versus "Resistant" couple. A resistant couple is going to find themselves in the same patterns of conflict, results in life, and attitudes toward each other. To break out of these patterns you need to adopt the mindset of being resilient. You will hear examples of ways to adopt this new mentality so that you can make the real change you desire in your marriage and face life's challenges as a team!

Ongoing Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

Red flags in regards to relationships are warning signs. But often these warning signs are spoken about as a reflection into the past as a reason to have gotten out of the relationship earlier.

Though this is a fine practice if you are dating or even engaged, when it comes to a committed marriage, these red flags signify something different. These red flags are not reasons for you to leave the marriage at all, these are signs you want to be on the lookout for throughout your years together to help signal you both about the patterns that need to shift in your relationship together.

In this episode you will hear which red flags you should be on the lookout for and then come together to figure out what needs to shift between the two of you. You will get examples of types of changes to make for each red flag so that you are constantly on the same page, growing closer together, and better managing the challenges that arise in life.

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

At this point you know that arguments are going to happen. It's not the right goal to try and not have them. It's all about the repair. Now a big problem that you have likely experienced yourself is that when you try and come back to the conversation, it just escalates and you relive the whole argument. Now you are probably even more angry and frustrated with each other.

So in this episode we take you through an argument we just had 3 days ago while we were at the airport coming back from a trip. This one we did not keep from escalating and disconnecting us for over 24 hours. But then we did debrief our argument to find the root cause and resolve it together. You will authentically hear from us the mistakes even we made, but how you can debrief after an argument so that you too can shorten your argument hangovers and be able to learn the value lessons from an argument and change the patterns for the future!

MAKE SURE YOU GET THE NEW REPAIR 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.

In a marriage is it right to have expectations or does that just set you up for failure? If the answer is no, is it even the right goal to not have any expectations at all? When it comes down to your practical day to day life with your partner, the fact is you will have expectations, this cannot be avoided. Expectations are also the root cause of all your upsets. So what to do?

In this episode you will hear about the expectations that are unfair and unrealistic to have because they will cause the biggest problems for you. If you can be open enough to communicate these with your partner you will be able to have a much smoother journey in marriage.

There still will be times that conflict comes up from your "local" expectations momentarily. To repair these conflicts quickly, get the step-by-step guide 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.

Love can feel simple and effortless in the beginning stages of a relationship, but it's not always easy to maintain that feeling over time. In this episode, we explore the 5 essential parts of love in a marriage that can help couples maintain and even grow their love for each other. We discuss how each part of love plays a crucial role in building a strong and mature relationship, and why neglecting any one of these parts can lead to challenges and struggles.

We dive into the importance of passion and desire, friendship and companionship, safety and trust, shared experiences, and commitment in a marriage. We explore the common mistakes couples make in relationships and provide practical advice on how to nurture each part of love in a way that can strengthen a couple's bond. Whether you're in the early stages of a relationship or have been married for years, this episode will provide insights and tips to help you create a lasting and fulfilling marriage.

Get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide here - get instant access for only $19 and gain trust and safety with your partner to resolve arguments for good!

As you now know from listening to this podcast, repairing conflicts is a critical skill to have a great relationship. BUT there is actually a key aspect of "conflict repair" that allows you to repair faster and more effectively. The opposite is actually just as true if not even more so. If you do not get this initial step correct, then it will lead to drawn out argument hangovers, leaving the conflict unresolved, and even resentment building up.

In this episode you will hear about this one critical (initial) step that you must get better at to have a long term healthy, successful, trusting, and loving relationship! Also do not forget to grab your copy of the NEW REPAIR 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.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here. If you want an immeidate resource to help you repair from a conflict RIGHT NOW, make sure you get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide for just $19! Save yourself hurt and disconnect by repairing fully and quickly.

Giveaway Details:

We also mentioned that we would giveaway our course for free in a drawning. To participcate just email us your 1-2 sentance 'testimony' of how you used the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide. We will do the drawning by the end of Feb 2023. Email the testimony to: connect@newpowercouples.com

Communication should seek to connect rather than disconnect. When you get to a place of one being right and one wrong then you are just creating the environment of disconnection. This isn't the feeling you really want in a relationship, and you certainly do not come up with the best ideas for action that best serve the relationship itself.

In this episode, you will learn how to keep yourselves from getting caught in this common dynamic of feeling like one person is right and the other is wrong, which can lead to disconnection and a lack of creativity in solving relationship issues. You will gain insight into the importance of understanding and accepting the impact on the other person before explaining your intent.

The episode will also address why it's difficult in the moment to understand and accept the other person's experience and will provide solutions to help you transform these dynamics in your own relationship. You will discover tips on how to navigate disagreements without causing further damage to your relationship.

A further help from getting caught in this dynamic is the "Making up and Moving Forward Guide" for just $19, which has helped hundreds of couples transform their dynamics and improve how they repair and resolve after an argument.

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

Also visit this page for all our other resources from free webclasses, to our books, and even the communication mastery course!

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW REPAIR 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.

About the Episode:

You will face obstacles and hardships in your life as a couple. These hardships will show up as external factors in your life whether with your adult children, behavior of young kids, how your in-laws treat you, getting let go from a job, or even difficult medical news. Many things that happen to you are out of your control!

However in this episode you will discover how to cope with hardships as a couple so that you can feel supported and connected with each other. In being able to face these obstacles together you strengthen your own bond and find better solutions.

What does it mean to be a truly great communicator in your relationship? There is the idea that this means you will dramatically reduce the amount of tensions or challenges that you face. Relatively speaking that might be true but that is not the ONE thing that couples have in common who are great at communicating!

In this episode you will hear what this one thing is. The fact is that you will have tension and face challenges in your marriage, that is not going away all together. After this episode you will have a better idea of what your goal is for communication and conflict resolution so that you can grow into truly masterful communicators and better stay on the same side with your partner when challenges arise!

Resources For Your Relationship:

NEW CONFLICT GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it's resolved for good and get back to the good times. It's called Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it's only $19. It is not available to the public yet, you can be the first to get it right now!

This episode provides bold reminders for the women to make positive changes in the relationship. It's easy to find ourselves unconsciously acting in ways that aren't our best, which can deplete and diminish the love in the relationship. This episode provides you the "tough love" that your friends and family won't provide for you. We're all human and so we're not expecting you to be perfect, but instead to see how you can be even 10-20% better for your relationship.

Tune in for 3 pieces of feedback for the wives and women. Also, make sure you listen to the episode for the husbands and men.

Sign up for the 5 Day Couples Challenges Challenge starting January 22rd, 2023 HERE

Relationship Resources:

1) After that date you can watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

2) Get The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $50 off with the code: 50bundle

This episode is a strong invitation for the men to step up and be a leader of the relationship. Being a leader is about acknowledging where you can be a better person and a better partner. It's about looking at the patterns that you have that are not serving you or the relationship. Then go to work on transforming those patterns first before asking your partner to change their own patterns.

In this episode you will hear 3 pieces of feedback that we have for the men that come from the coaching sessions we have been having most recently. There are common threads that men can be responsible for right now to have an even better relationship.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join the 5 Day Couples Challenge that starts on Jan 23rd, 2023.

After that date you can watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

Get The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $50 off with the code: 50bundle

Forgiveness is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. It is usually spoken about as this thing that should be easy to do however. Mainly because it's accompanied by the statement "just let it go and move past it already!"

But forgiveness isn't an easy thing to do and just moving on creates an environment for it to just pop up later. Or at the very least it creates an emotional wedge of disconnection with your partner. In this episode you will hear 4 steps you can take to be able to truly forgive and be able to move forward into a new future without bringing anything from the past!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join the 5 Day Couples Challenge that starts on Jan 23rd, 2023.

After that date you can watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

Get The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $50 off with the code: 50bundle

When you get down to it, your life is not made up of big exciting events, it's actually all the tiny moments that make up the large majority of your life. That being said, are these moments fun, playful, connected, or intentional? Or do you fall trap to them being mundane, frustrating, disconnected, or checked out?

In this episode you will hear 3 daily, weekly, and monthly habits to put in place so that your relationship can be successful by having all these small moments be meaningful. The small moments can only be mastered by small habits, so we invite you to commit to these as you start your new year! As a bonus, hear our word for the year and talk with your partner about the intention word you both want to set for your new year ahead!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Find all of the best next steps to contionue the growth within your relationship here.

For those of you that are parents, did that make your marriage more difficult or bring you both together? This could be asked about any challenge that you face as a couple, but parenting is definitely unique, at least it has been for us! We polled parents and found that it often changed their marriage in some common ways: they felt they became roommates, it was hard to make time for each other, more conflicts around different parenting styles, feeling of losing their identity, and the division of labor seemed unequal.

This episode is about us completing our first year as parents since Skye was born on Dec 21st, 2021. This has been the hardest year of our marriage, even though there were other outside forces at work beyond being parents. So in the end of the year fashion where lots of reflection happens; we are sharing about how this first year our parents have changed us, felt difficult, and keeps us united.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Get The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $50 off with the code: 50off

Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

The end of the year is always a time for reflection. Typically this is about personal and professional events and how we would have liked them to go differently. This is also a prefect time to reflect on your relationship with your partner. We will all face challenges in life and it is the same in a marriage. Though every challenge is an opportunity, you will never see it if you do not take time to reflect and uncover what that is.

In this episode you will hear our own reflections of this past year and the wisdom we took away from the challenges we faced in our own life and marriage. You will get 6 pieces of wisdom that you can utilize to change your perspective on the challenges that you faced, and how to use it to set a new course into the new year.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Get The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $50 off with the code: 50bundle

You can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

It's likely that you have said one of these two things to your partner. "Why don't you just accept me for who I am" or "I really need you to change this _____". At some point in your relationship you will find yourselves getting more upset about things that your partner does, says, or ways they show up for you. Of course relationships are about supporting the needs of the other person but a big question arises at this junction… Where is the line of accepting my partner the way they are versus being able to ask for a change to be made.

This is a thin line between resigning yourself to things continuing to not serve you or the relationship and constantly asking your partner to be different. This is especially when it comes to who they are as a person and their base personality traits.

In this episode you will understand where this line is between change and acceptance so that at the end of the day you both are able to feel accepted as the person you are and be on a healthy path to growing into even better people and partners for each other.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Visit our website here for the best communication and conflict resolution resources! Everything from free webclasses, our book, and the communication mastery course bundle for online video training.

Have you never had that feeling of being perplexed and thrown off guard when you tried to bring something up to your partner? You might have had a recent upset, an event that you were frustrated by, or another emotion that you needed to express to your partner. Within a few seconds your partner dumps all their own upsets and frustrations at you; even going as far as to compare how their pain is worse than yours!

This is an "emotional hijack" that makes the conversation all about them and leaves you feeling stunned, caught off guard, that it's unfair, and even selfish of them. What makes matters worse is that you had a positive intention to communicate openly and often vulnerably with them. After this, why would you even want to bring up anything in the future?

In this episode you will hear about the reasons this dynamic happens and what is really going on for them to take over your conversation. Then you will hear 2 things that can be done differently so that you do not lose faith and trust in each other to be able to express yourselves without you feeling hijacked!

Resources For Your Relationship:

As a listener get $50 off The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you to be better at both the speaker and listener role, as to not hijack important conversations with your partner! At checkout use the code: 50bundle

Food that is "bland" isn't bad or inedible, it just lacks any zest or real flavor. Marriage can take on a similar feeling too, it's not that anything is a major problem, but you are not feeling any real zest, excitement, or even newness.

As you will hear in this episode, all relationships will find themselves in this type of season for some specific reasons. You will also hear some examples, that might even be happening for you now, that signify that you need to take these steps to bring in some freshness, newness, and intentionally to your zest for life and each other!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument so you reconnect in minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Watch our free webclass on: End the Battle for Fairness to align relationship roles, reduce overwhelm, and be a united team again. Order our book, The Argument Hangover, and get over $200 of free bonus gifts (like the mini course and a 90 minute training).

This is a bit of a celebration episode for us personally… Just in the past week this podcast broke into the Top 20 relationship podcasts on Apple, we went over 100,000 followers on Instagram, and we had over 500 couples join the Fight Smarter Weblcass! (by the way if you missed the weblcass you can watch it again with this link)

As you can imagine for us, we are very proud and excited, plus we have been receiving SO many questions from all the new couples in this relationship ecosystem. So this episode is focused on the 5 top questions we have been receiving over DMs and through emails from all this new activity.

We are doing this in part so that the one thing WE KNOW, you can come to know too… That most couples are really dealing with the same kinds of challenges. Though the circumstances and emotional responses might be different, many of the relationship themes are the same. This is so that you know you are not alone in what you go through!

Resources For Your Relationship:

If you missed the Fight Smarter Weblcass you can watch it again with this link. The best parenting and discipline course we have found is from a good friend Amy McCready called Positive Parenting Solutions. The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! Order our book, The Argument Hangover, and get over $200 of free bonus gifts (like the mini course and a 90 minute training)

Have you ever tried to validate your position during an argument by saying "Oh but that wasn't my intention"? Have you noticed how that doesn't help at all? At least in that moment, because it is not the right time. It shows the need to understand the big difference between intent and impact.

In this episode you will hear about how intention doesn't matter in these moments and the more you fight for explaining it, the further down you will go into conflict. You will hear how to switch into acknowledging impact, which is the most important, and only thing, to do when your partner has emotion present.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join our LIVE FREE WebClass on Nov. 3rd, 2022 - Fight Smarter: Prevent Unnecessary Arguments, Deescalate Emotional Triggers, and Repiar Faster as a Couple.

If that date has already passed then watch the replay WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

Though you, and every other couple, face different challenges in your life and marriage; why do some struggle and some thrive? Struggling doesn't mean that you are just facing a challenge, because everyone will. Struggle then is the experience you have while facing a challenge.

Of all the couples we talk to and coach, we have seen patterns between those that experience disconnection, anxiety, and tension and those that maintain connection, togetherness and being a team during challenging times.

In this episode you will hear 4 differences that we have seen between couples that "struggle versus those that thrive". By knowing these differences, you will be able to implement a few simple things to move out of a state of struggling to one of progress and growth.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Join our LIVE FREE WebClass on Nov. 3rd, 2022 - Fight Smarter: Prevent Unnecessary Arguments, Deescalate Emotional Triggers, and Repiar Faster as a Couple.

If that date has already passed then watch the replay WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

A part of a thriving relationship depends on the work done by each partner to grow individually. You have heard common phrases like your "wealth grows at the extent you grow" and this could be said about your relationship as well. As much as it takes using the right skills and tools as a couple, it all starts with your own willingness to progress on your own individual path of growth.

In this episode you will hear 3 things that women need to work on in marriage right now. This is coming from the most common things we are hearing from couples in our own private coaching every day. Men and women do 'deal with' different challenges and even general patterns within a marriage; so get ready to help advance the growth for all women in their respective relationships! Let's go…

Resources For Your Relationship:

Start your relationship growth now with The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter!

You can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here if that is the next right step for you!

A part of a thriving relationship depends on the work done by each partner to grow individually. You have heard common phrases like your "wealth grows at the extent you grow" and this could be said about your relationship as well. As much as it takes using the right skills and tools as a couple, it all starts with your own willingness to progress on your own individual path of growth.

In this episode you will hear 3 things that men need to work on in marriage right now. This is coming from the most common things we are hearing from couples in our own private coaching every day. Men and women do 'deal with' different challenges and even general patterns within a marriage; so get ready to help advance the growth for all men in their respective relationships! Let's go…

Resources For Your Relationship:

Start your relationship growth now with The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter!

You can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here if that is the next right step for you!

We are just off hosting the Couples Workshop in Arizona yesterday, and this was one of the biggest takeaways from the ½ day in person event. Communication seems easy when you only think of it as "verbalizing what you are thinking". But this often leads to the biggest communication mistake that turns simple conversations into an argument.

In this episode we will give you the inside look at the most effective communication tool that we teach at the Couples Workshop and in our coaching. By changing your very first sentence to your partner you can stay on the same team together and support each other in fulfilling your relationship needs and wants!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Order our book, The Argument Hangover, and get over $200 of free bonus gifts (like the mini course and a 90 minute training)

You can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

Do you feel like life is piling things onto you and your partner right now? There are defintely seasons where a lot of hard things can hit you all at once which really makes it difficult to stay positive and stay connected as a team.

In this solo episode you will hear from Jocelyn to get two things to do in seasons like these. Everything, even challenges, are temporary. But use these two things so you can stay connected until the ride is over!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here.

Order our book, The Argument Hangover, and get over $200 of free bonus gifts (like the mini course and a 90 minute training)

You can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

Here you are having a slightly tension filled conversation with your partner, then out of nowhere they bring up something from the past! "You did the same thing last week" or "this is exactly what you do, you don't respect me".

One of the most common things we hear that escalates things quickly is the past being brought up. This is not just random however, this is an indication of a few things. In this episode we're going to share FOUR of the most common things this indicates and all 4 could really strike a chord, so be sure to listen all the way to the end!

Resources For Your Relationship:

There are 3 SPOTS for Couples to take the #1 Relationship Assessment in the world and do a Results Analysis Call privately with us. Couples say, "that was the most clarifying 1 hour we've spent in a long time." To snag one of these 3 spots for only $147 (a MAJOR discount), either text or email us before they're gone.

Text: 602-321-5652 or email connect@newpowercouples.com

If that date is already past then you can sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

Men, there is something you don't understand about your female partners… Being completely honest here, this is something that women might forget in the moment as well.

When women don't understand this about themselves then they don't communicate in the best way or request what it is they need so that it can be received by their male partners.

Men, without understanding this need that women have, you will easily invalidate them and easily escalate the conversation into a triggering conflict.

In this episode you will (both) understand this need that women have and be able to communicate about it in a healthy way that brings you into more harmony individually and as a couple.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here For those that live in and around Arizona, this is your last opportunity for the in person Couples Workshop event on Sunday Oct 9th. Seats for this live event are limited so check the details and register here!

Women, there is something you don't understand about your male partners… Being completely honest here, this is something most men don't even understand about themselves!

When men don't understand this about themselves then they cannot even communicate or request what it is they need and default to shutting down, being silent, or even leaving the physical space without so much as a word about what is happening.

Women, without understanding this need that men have, you will take it personally and do the opposite actions that are needed to help; pushing your male partner further away or shutting down even more.

In this episode you will (both) understand this need that men have and be able to communicate about it in a healthy way that brings you into more harmony individually and as a couple.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

For those that live in and around Arizona, this is your last opportunity for the in person Couples Workshop event on Sunday Oct 9th. Seats for this live event are limited so check the details and register here!

If you have ever felt that you needed to make a difficult decision or that you have been in the same place in your marriage longer than you've wanted, you likely need to identify your values and adjust your priorities!

Now this can be a very seasonal thing, even core values can adjust based on the season you are coming out of or wanting to enter into! Sometimes it even involves rearranging your core values to one's that are more important to you right now. But this can be a hard conversation because it takes getting clarity as well as being willing to ask hard conversions, be honest with yourself, and change some habits.

In this episode you will hear the exercise we use to redefine our values in each season and align our priorities with those values. We are going through that season in our marriage right now and we will share our current values, our new priorities and this exercise that we put up on our frig!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Get the Values and Priorities Exercise as a BONUS in The Communication Mastery Bundle course for you and your partner to grow closer together, communicate more effectively, and fight smarter! As a listener get $100 off with the code: bundle100

After going through the most challenging month of my life, which of course had a major impact on Jocelyn as we went through it together, this is one of the major lessons I learned. Though you experience different challenges and varying degrees of emotional stress around them, the fact remains that challenges themselves are temporary. This realization was a major turning point during this time.

In this solo episode you will hear about two distinct aspects of circumstantial challenges, you will feel some relief and optimism for any challenge you are currently facing, but also you will understand the decision point that you can make to turn it all around in your favor.

Resources For Your Relationship:

Battle For Fairness Marriage WebClass September 15th —> OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com Let's end "The Battle for Fairness" in relationship roles, overcoming resentment, and reducing overwhelm in your partnership. If that date is passed then you can sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

Do you remember your wedding vows, could you tell us what they are and more importantly if you have been keeping them? Sorry if that feels like a bold and challenging question, but the point is that many of us have forgotten what we promised our spouse at the start of the marriage!

There are a few reasons this happens, tune into the episode to hear what those are. But the more important thing is to ongoingly remake your promises to each other to be a match to the next season of life together and for the individual people you are becoming.

It was our anniversary this past weekend, and the practice of recreating our promises with each other is something we do each year. In this episode we will share with you the exercise we do and share with you the promises we just made with each other. Then you can do the same with your partner and create the future you truly desire for your marriage!

Resources For Your Relationship:

Battle For Fairness Marriage WebClass September 15th —> OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com Let's end "The Battle for Fairness" in relationship roles, overcoming resentment, and reducing overwhelm in your partnership.

If that date is past then you can also sign-up for a 2-on-2 Relationship Breakthrough Session here

You are familiar with those times where you go to ask for help or share a need you have with your partner. All of a sudden you find yourself keeping score of all the things you do, comparing how much you do, and making sure then see that it's more than they do. Now you are in a battle for what is fair and where you feel things are out of balance.

In this episdoe you will hear about where this dynamic comes from and the main tips to get our of the cycle. This is a complex dynamic as well so be sure to join the FREE webclass to overcome this battle for good:

Battle For Fairness Marriage WebClass September 15th —> OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com

Let's end "The Battle for Fairness" in relationship roles, overcoming resentment, and reducing overwhelm in your partnership.

The fall season has historically been a time of growing stronger or more strained as a couple. As a followup from last week, we want to cover 3 of the challenges that men are expressing in marriage right now. Does it address "everything" that every single couple is saying to us right now? Of course not. But these are 3 big ones that many are experiencing, so we thought it'd be helpful for you to know.

As mentioned in the episdoe, this all leads to a battle for fairness and balnace in a marriage and leads to additonal tension or conflict. So to better resolve this challenge in your marriage, join the FREE Webclass "End the Battle for Fairness" that is live on Sept 15th.

If the date has already passed, you can book a Relationship Breakthrough Session with us. This is a private 2-on-2 session to overcome any challenge you're facing as a couple. Read more and pick your slot here.