Codependence vs Interdependence: What’s a Healthy Balance of Connection & Boundaries? Episode 396
With all the conflicting relationship advice floating around, like “you shouldn’t need your partner” versus “you should be able to lean on them emotionally”, it’s no wonder couples feel confused about what a healthy marriage really looks like. In this episode we unpack the real difference between codependence, hyper independence, and interdependence and why understanding where you and your partner fall on this spectrum could change everything. We also share our own journey through these patterns and explore how they show up in daily life, especially in conflict, under stress, and when you’re trying to get your needs met. If you've ever felt too needy, too shut down, or just unsure how to stay connected without losing yourself, this episode is for you. We’ll walk you through the signs, the shifts, and the steps to build a partnership that feels secure and sustainable without giving everything away here. Relationship Resources Grab our 3 Guides Bundle for deeper connection and conflict repair Includes: • The Family Meeting Guide • The De-Escalating Conflicts Guide • The Making Up and Moving Forward Guide These tools will help you communicate clearly, reconnect after conflict, and stay united through life’s toughest moments.
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40:24
5 Daily Habits That Make You a Happier Couple: Episode 395
What if being a happier couple had less to do with big changes—and everything to do with small, intentional daily habits? In this episode, we’re breaking down five simple but powerful actions that bring more connection, lightness, and emotional closeness into your marriage. These aren’t just “nice to do” ideas—these are the habits that shift the atmosphere in your relationship and help you feel like true teammates again. We’ll explore the daily patterns that shape how connected or distant you feel, and why certain overlooked moments carry more weight than you realize. Whether you're in a good place or trying to find your way back to each other, these five habits are practical, doable, and surprisingly impactful. Listen in and see which one your relationship might need most right now. Relationship Resources: 💛 Want us to send you the daily actions that create these kinds of habits? Join the “Prioritizing Us” 30-Day Couples Challenge, it’s designed to help you reconnect in small but meaningful ways and fill your love accounts each day, especially during busy seasons.
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29:43
What Women Want in Marriage, Especially Mothers: Episode 394
Women’s needs in marriage evolve—and if you're not paying attention to those changes, disconnection can creep in even when there’s love. This is especially true in the seasons of motherhood, when emotional, physical, and mental demands are at their highest. In this week’s podcast episode, we break down the 5 key categories of needs most women have in marriage right now—especially mothers in the thick of parenting. Whether you’re navigating newborn life, toddler chaos, or school-age schedules, this conversation helps both partners understand what matters most for staying connected. Relationship Resources ⏬ 1) If you're ready to reconnect in small but meaningful ways, join the Prioritizing Us 30-Day Couples Challenge. It’s full of daily connection builders that fit into real life—especially in busy seasons like parenting. 2) To make sure that your partner has the best Mothers Day possible, we also have a FREE Mother's Day Prep Guide that you can access (and then use) for this weekend! 3) Also come see us in person at The Couples Workshop in Arizona on Oct.5th, 2025. This will be a half-day of learning and practicing communication and conflict resolution tools that will create real momentum in your marriage NOW!
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29:20
The “Love Account” Principle and Why You Feel Connected & Attracted to Each Other vs Not: Episode 393
It’s easy to assume that love alone should keep you feeling connected, but day-to-day life has a way of pulling couples apart without them even realizing it. In this episode, we break down why feeling loved and being committed are two different experiences — and what really determines whether you feel close or distant from your partner. You'll learn the surprising factor that affects how you interpret everyday moments, why good intentions sometimes miss the mark, and what shifts help couples rebuild emotional closeness over time. If you want to feel more connected, seen, and understood, this conversation will give you the roadmap for the steps to take in your own marriage today. Relationship Resources: Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge starting May 1st, 2025 - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in their marriage and raise their love accounts with daily actions! You get the Family Meeting Guide as a bonus, or get it on it's own here.
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When’s the Right Time to Bring This Up to My Partner? Knowing the Line Between Expression and Temporary Suppression: Episode 392
Suppose that something is bothering you about your partner. The two options are to express it or to suppress it. Likely you have had moments where you have chosen both options. At times when you have expressed it your partner received it well, other times it caused tension or even conflict. Over time maybe you have started to hold things in instead for the sake of keeping the peace. But then down the line you end up reacting to another situation and you bring up your unhappiness and frustration with all you have been holding in. So when is the right time to bring things up? This is the question you will get answers to in this episode. It does take a balance and some awareness about how and when to bring up an issue. During this episode you will hear 3 situations where you should express and another 3 situations where it would be best to ‘temporarily’ suppress. With this awareness you should be able to navigate emotional situations for the best outcome for both of you. After all, expressing needs and being understood is a key part of your marital satisfaction. Relationship Resources 👇 If you want a consistent way to bring things up before they build up… The Family Meeting Guide is for you. It helps you check in weekly—so small frustrations can be shared as seeds, not weeds. Use it on its own, or get it FREE as a bonus when you join the Prioritizing Us Challenge starting May 1st, 2025. 👉 Grab the Family Meeting Guide here 👉 Start the Prioritizing Us Challenge (and get the guide)
This podcast is all about Couples and the 3C’s: Communication, Conflict, Connection. These are not skills you automatically have when you get into a relationship, but that need to be developed to overcome the inevitable challenges that will come up. A couple needs to be able to navigate both the happy and hard seasons. Couples who listen to the podcast say, “are they watching us?!” Because of how extremely relatable and practical these topics are for the day-to-day life of couples! Hosts Jocelyn and Aaron Freeman are authors of The Argument Hangover, have their Master's in Psychology. Their viral social content, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people. They are parents to their baby daughter and live in Arizona.