Relating with Jen Funk: Getting Honest About the Relationships that Matter Most

What happens when the routine that used to structure your life suddenly disappears? Maybe your kids leave home and you become an empty nester. Maybe you retire. Maybe you move to a new city, graduate from college, or simply find yourself with more free time than you’re used to having. These life transitions can bring freedom, but they can also bring boredom, loneliness, restlessness, and the uncom...

Has sex or physical intimacy slowly disappeared from your marriage? Maybe it’s been weeks, months (or longer) and neither of you quite knows how you got here or how to start again. I’m talking about why couples stop having sex, how stress, kids, low sex drive, hormones, aging and body changes can affect desire, and why waiting for your sex life to magically fix itself can make getting it back so m...

Divorce rates have been falling overall, but among adults over 50, the story looks very different. Gray divorce has more than doubled since 1990, and today nearly 40% of people getting divorced are 50 or older. But why are couples ending marriages after 20, 30, even 40 years together? In this episode, I’m talking about what’s really behind gray divorce - and it’s not always an affair or some huge...

After 25 years of marriage, there are a lot of things I believed about relationships that I absolutely don’t believe anymore. Like - if you’re with the right person, it shouldn’t be this hard. If you need counseling, something must be really wrong. Solid couples don’t question their relationship. And after you’ve been together long enough, people don’t really change. Yeah… no. I don't agree. I...

What if nothing is really wrong in your relationship… but something still feels missing? You’re not constantly fighting. There hasn’t been some huge betrayal. You may genuinely love each other and have a life that looks completely fine from the outside. But somewhere along the way, the connection has started to fade. In this episode, I’m sharing five signs of emotional neglect that can be incredib...

We all like to believe the people closest to us can tell us anything. But what happens when they actually tell us something we don’t want to hear? In this episode, I’m talking about how our reactions can unintentionally teach our spouse, kids, friends, and other people we love what feels safe to bring to us - and what they’re better off keeping to themselves. We’ll talk about why people stop bring...

What do you do when it feels like you’re the only one trying to hold your relationship together? You’re the one initiating the conversations, suggesting date nights, bringing up counseling, trying to communicate differently - and your partner seems uninterested, checked out, or perfectly fine with the way things are. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between doing your part and t...

You can love your partner deeply, do a million things for them, and still have them say they don’t really feel loved. So what gives? In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between how we think we’re showing love and what actually makes our partner feel cared for. Sometimes it’s not about doing more - it’s about understanding what matters most to the person you’re with. I’ll walk you thr...

Do you ever feel like you’re doing a hundred little things for your family and no one really notices? In this episode, we’re talking about what it actually means when you start feeling unappreciated in your relationship - and why sometimes what you’re really craving isn’t more help, but simply to feel seen. We’ll talk about why appreciation can fade over time, how silent scorekeeping can quietly t...

Conflict is part of every relationship - but the way you handle it can either move you toward resolution or create damage that lasts far beyond the original disagreement. In this episode, Jen shares eight practical rules for handling conflict more effectively with your partner, parents, in-laws, kids, or anyone else you care about. You’ll learn why you shouldn’t start - or stay in - a conversation...

In this episode, relationship coach Jen Funk shares a simple exercise to help you become more present with your spouse, your children, your family, and even yourself. You'll learn why stronger relationships aren't built through bigger vacations or elaborate plans - they're built in ordinary moments like family dinners, evening walks, coffee on the porch, and even a random Tuesday night...

Is your marriage really the problem - or is it something else? In this episode, relationship coach Jen Funk shares one surprising lesson from a recent movie (The Invite) that completely changed the way she thinks about marriage, disappointment, and personal growth. You'll learn why we often blame our spouse for feelings that started somewhere else, why your spouse can't carry the weight of your un...

Ever get into a fight with your partner, it ends poorly, and you think, "I'm not reaching out first - HE owes ME the apology"? You're not alone. But the longer you wait for your partner to reach out, the more emotional distance grows between you - until one fight turns into days of tension or the silent treatment. In this episode, relationship coach Jen Funk explains why it's...

How do couples make difficult decisions without hurting their relationship? In this episode, relationship coach Jen Funk shares 5 practical strategies to help couples navigate difficult decisions, strengthen communication, and make confident decisions together without regret. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Hardest Relationship Decisions 01:50 When Two Good Choices Compete 05:10 Why Couples Get Stuck 06:52 A B...

Who decides what's acceptable in a relationship? Should you be friends with an ex? Share passwords? Have close friends of the opposite sex? Follow attractive people on social media? Everyone seems to have an opinion - but healthy relationships aren't built on universal rules. They're built on agreements that work for the two people in the relationship. In this episode, relationship coa...

Have you ever stopped to think about how the people you love experience you? Years from now, they probably won't remember every gift you gave them or every favor you did. But they will remember how you made them feel. In this episode, I share why making people feel valued may be one of the most powerful things we can do in our relationships - and three simple habits that can strengthen your ma...

Have you ever felt jealous and immediately judged yourself for it? Maybe your partner is getting close to a coworker. Maybe a friend is spending more time with someone else. Maybe someone you know has achieved something you've always wanted for yourself. Most of us have been taught that jealousy is a bad emotion -something that means we're insecure, controlling, needy, or lacking confidenc...

Have you ever had an argument, agreed to "move on," and then found yourself still thinking about it weeks later? In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , relationship coach Jen Funk explains the critical difference between resetting after conflict and actually repairing after conflict - and why so many couples get stuck repeating the same arguments over and over again. Many couples believe that...

Have you ever noticed that relationship fights are almost never really about the thing itself? It’s not actually about where to go to dinner. Or the need for another Amazon package. Or the temperature of the house. Or whose family you’re seeing for the holidays. It’s about something deeper: Who gets their way? Who gives in? Whose needs matter more? And how do healthy couples decide without buildin...

Feeling lost in midlife? Struggling with people pleasing, resentment in marriage, emotional burnout, empty nest emotions, or wondering who you are outside of motherhood and caregiving? In this honest and empowering episode of Relating with Jen Funk, relationship coach Jen Funk sits down with Kristin Quackenbush, founder of Me First Club, for a real conversation about midlife, marriage, self-worth,...

Have you ever looked at your partner and thought… “Why does literally everything they do annoy me lately?” The chewing. The snoring. The stories. The socks on the floor. Suddenly every little thing feels irritating - and after awhile, it can start making you wonder: “Is this normal?” “Have we fallen out of love?” “Why do we feel so disconnected?” In this episode, I’m talking about what’s REALLY ha...

Should your marriage come before your kids? Or should the kids come first? In this honest and nuanced episode of Relating with Jen Funk, relationship coach Jen Funk dives into one of the most emotionally charged conversations in marriage and parenting. We’re talking about: • why so many experts say the marriage should come first • how couples slowly become disconnected after kids • why this conver...

We had to say goodbye to our dog this week… and if you’ve ever been through that, you already know how much it hurts. Everything just feels off. The house is quieter. Your energy is lower. Your patience is thinner. And at the same time… life doesn’t stop. Your people still need you. Your relationships are still there. So the question becomes: How do you show up for the people you love… when you do...

If you’ve ever felt like… no matter what you do in your relationship, it’s just not right - this episode is for you. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I’m breaking down a dynamic that shows up in so many relationships… and quietly does a lot more damage than people realize: criticism . Because here’s the thing - most people don’t think they’re being critical. They think they’re helping....

If you’ve ever wondered… “Is this just a rough season… or is it time to leave?” “Am I staying too long… or giving up too soon?” You’re not alone - and this is one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face. In this episode, we’re talking about how to actually think through that question in a grounded, real way - without rushing to leave, but also without ignoring what matters. Because most people d...