Chats From the Peak: A Marriage Pinnacle Podcast

Nobody told you "how" to date they just expected you to show up married one day. And then wondered why it wasn't working. That's the gap Alison Wellington has built her entire career around closing. She's not a matchmaker. She's not your standard dating coach teaching you what to wear to dinner. As a relationship strategist and founder of Align with Alison, she works with busy professional women,...

Your apology might be making things worse and you don't even know it. Most couples think saying "I'm sorry" is enough. But if you and your partner are speaking completely different apology languages, that "sorry" lands like silence. One person feels unheard. The other feels like nothing they do is ever good enough. And slowly, without either of you meaning to, the distance grows. In this conversat...

CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 01:49 Who Is Gilly & What Is Nu Momish 03:44 How Nu Momish Was Born 09:02 Why Moms Are Still Isolated in 2026 17:11 The Biggest Struggle Moms Face in Community 20:56 Transformation Stories From Nu Momish Girls 24:47 Identity & The New Version of Yourself After Motherhood 32:58 How Having a Baby Changed Gilly's Marriage 40:47 Balancing Entrepreneurs...

In honor of BACK TO SCHOOL, this episode is about them kids!!! Your kids didn't hurt your marriage. But the version of you that's been running on empty, managing logistics, and somewhere losing track of your spouse? That's worth talking about. In this episode of Chats from the Peak, Memi and Dr. Lara pull back the curtain on one of the quietest threats to a healthy marriage. It's not a big blow-up...

What happens when your past has shaped the way you trust, date, attach, and protect yourself? In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with Michelle Valorae for an honest conversation about singleness, trauma, dating after painful experiences, emotional safety, boundaries, trust, and healing before partnership. Rather than focusing only on what happened to her, this conve...

Every couple has conflict. But have you ever noticed that you and your spouse seem to have the same argument over and over again, even when the issue changes? In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Memi and Dr. Lara break down four common conflict patterns that can shape how couples argue, communicate, disconnect, and repair: pursue-withdraw, attack-attack, pursue-pursue, and withdraw-withdraw. F...

What inspires someone to dedicate their life to strengthening relationships? Welcome to the very first episode of 'Founders Corner,' a Marriage Pinnacle series that takes you behind the brands, organizations, and movements making an impact in the relationship space. In this inaugural conversation, Memi and Dr. Lara sit down with Nai Sobowale, founder of Black Marriage Club and Room to Relate, to e...

What nobody tells you about having a baby is that two people are born that day and historically, we've only been preparing for one of them. Dr. Nicole Kumi, founder of The Whole Mom and maternal mental health expert, joins the ladies of Marriage Pinnacle for one of the most honest conversations about postpartum life, Black maternal health, and what the fourth trimester actually does to a marriage....

What you don't say before the wedding can shake your entire marriage to its foundation. Memi and Dr. Lara are pulling back the curtain on the conversations most couples avoid, rush through, or flat-out skip and why those silences cost you later. From body counts to bankruptcy, chronic illness to childhood trauma, this episode breaks down exactly what belongs on the table before you say "I do" and...

When did your relationship beome content instead of connection? You're posting the Valentine's Day roses, holding hands for the camera, and captioning it "blessed,"but the second the phone goes down, so does the act. You're performing a marriage for people who don't sleep in your bed, and it's exhausting. This episode calls out what nobody wants to admit: some of us are better at curating our rela...

In this fun episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with beauty and lifestyle influencer AminaPlease to talk about faith, dating standards, singleness, and navigating your 20s with intention. After growing up Muslim and giving her life to Christ at 22, Amina shares how her faith completely transformed the way she approaches relationships, boundaries, and self-worth. From leaving...

In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi break down what it really means to be unequally yoked—both spiritually and practically—and why it matters more than people think. This episode isn’t about religion or to make you feel bad about the current state of your relationship. It’s about alignment in values, vision, lifestyle, emotional maturity, and long-term goals. And when that al...

In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with Dr. Christelle Samen, a double board-certified pain specialist and anesthesiologist, to unpack how chronic pain shows up in relationships and marriage. Pain is not just physical. It impacts your mood, your communication, your patience, your intimacy, and the overall health of your relationship. And for many couples, it is a si...

In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi unpack a hard truth many couples avoid: selfishness in marriage and how it quietly destroys connection over time. From subtle habits to outright scorekeeping, selfishness can show up in ways we don’t always recognize in ourselves. And if left unchecked, it leads to resentment, emotional distance, and relationships that feel more like roomma...

In this powerful episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with Dr. Deondra Smith of Breakthrough Therapeutic Concepts for an honest and transparent conversation about raising a child with autism while balancing identity, faith, and professional insight. Dr. Smith shares her personal journey as a mother navigating life with a neurodivergent child, and how her background as a psych...

In this important episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi tackle a conversation many couples avoid but absolutely need to have: death and what it means to having your affairs in order. Planning for death may feel uncomfortable, but avoiding the conversation can create emotional stress, family conflict, and financial strain for the people you love most. From funeral expenses to medical de...

In this episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi tackle one of the biggest communication killers in relationships: defensiveness. It's the story as old as time... you’ve seen it before. “Here we go again.” “Well YOU do this too.” “That’s not what I meant.” And just like that… the conversation is over. If you’ve ever wondered why small disagreements escalate into full-blown arguments, or w...

Valentine’s Day is cute… but is your love consistent? In this episode of Chats From the Peak, we break down 5 Valentine’s Day Dos and Don’ts that can make or break the mood and more importantly, how to show love in ways that last all year long. From unrealistic expectations and last-minute planning to meaningful connection and everyday intimacy, we’re talking about how to move from performance-bas...

(00:00:00) Intro (00:01:20) The Importance of Communication in Relationships (00:02:42) Introducing the Communication Quiz (00:05:12) Navigating Different Communication Styles (00:10:03) The Connector: Feeling-Driven Communication (00:12:42) The Analyzer: Logic-Driven Communication (00:15:15) The Fixer: Solution-Oriented Communication (00:17:56) The Peacemaker: Harmony-Seeking Communication (00:21...

When we say “that’s just how I am,” we think we’re being honest, but often, we’re being defensive. Stop calling it your personality when it’s really your protection. This episode dives into how that mindset quietly damages connection, blocks growth, and keeps couples stuck in cycles of frustration. We explore: - Why “that’s just how I am” is emotional armor - How self-awareness can turn into self-...

In this deeply inspiring episode of Chats From the Peak, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with William “Tipper” Thomas, a multi-hyphenate man! He's an engineer, CEO, speaker, and forced resigned almost "Sugar Daddy," whose life changed forever at age 17 after surviving a high school shooting that left him paralyzed. Though his world shifted physically, Tip rebuilt his life with purpose, discipline and r...

The internet is an interesting place! In this episode of Chats Unmuted, we’re diving into the wild world of Reddit’s AITAH (Am I the A**hole) threads and breaking down three viral relationship dilemmas—marriage meltdowns, boundary issues, and petty partner energy. Dr. Lara and Memi give their real-time hot takes, blending clinical insight, cultural perspective, and a lot of Memi saying, “nah sis,...

In this MUCH NEEDED Chats From the Peak episode, Dr. Lara and Memi sit down with licensed sex therapist Jen, aka @SexTherapistJen, for a raw conversation on healing sexual shame, reigniting desire, and redefining intimacy in real relationships. Whether you’re married, healing from purity culture, or just tired of performance-based intimacy, this episode offers practical insight, honest reflection,...

In this week’s Chats Unmuted, we unpack how to know when a relationship no longer serves you, why self-worth determines how others treat you, the danger of ignoring red flags, and how to spot real change versus fake growth. This episode is for you if: your relationship doesn't feel safe the effort you give is not reciprocated you are looking for consistency Become a supporter of this podcast: http...

In this episode of Chats from the Peak, we unpack the viral conversation around Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’oir’s marriage and his openness about mental illness, personal struggle, and loyalty and we ask the real question: What does “for better or worse” actually look like in real relationships? We explore: What people think marriage vows mean vs what they actually demand Loving someone through ment...