Love Is Us: Exploring Relationships and How We Connect

Do you and your partner disagree on how often to have sex? Does it seem like one of you wants it more than the other? If so, you're not alone! This is the reality for most couples. In this episode I explain what spontaneous and responsive desire is, as well as the many different factors that influence the likelihood that we'll feel turned on in any given situation.  What will work for you and your...

The Surgeon General of the United States has officially recognized that loneliness is a major public health issue. In May he released an 82-page report about how it affects people's mental and physical health. He explains how it affects us at the individual, family, community, and societal levels. We can all play a role in ending loneliness, which will help make the world a better place.    During...

Many people are walking around with dysregulated nervous systems and don't even know it. Any yet, it can impact a person profoundly. When your nervous system is dysregulated, there's more likely to be tension, conflict, and misunderstandings in your relationships. My guest today, Adam Hart, talks about how to regulate your nervous system with ease so that your relationships flourish and you experi...

This episode is for anyone in a committed, intimate relationship. In today's episode with Dr. Ray and Jean Kadkhodaian, we talk about what it takes for people to stay together, especially in midlife. But whether you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s or beyond, this episode has a ton of information about how to create a deep bond that will carry you through parenthood (if you have kids), the empty nest time...

As the start of the next school year approaches, many kids and teens are wondering if they'll find friends and fit in. Relationships are paramount to a child's healthy development, yet they are more challenging than ever given the impact and prevalence of social media. If you are a parent of kids aged 8-18, this episode is for you. My guest today, Jessica Speer, can help your kids and teens learn...

Resentment and anger can damage relationships and impact the quality of our lives when we push them down and don't address them. Because those aren't emotions we like to feel, we tend to deny them or wish them away. Most people don't know how to work with those emotions on their own, but help is available. Elana Israel, former therapist turned relationship coach, is the creator of Partnership Alig...

Many marriages and long-term, committed relationships are under a lot of stress at a time when we need connection more than ever. We all want to feel loved, but our committed relationships don't always provide that. Many are headed for divorce. While that might be the best solution for some people, Beth Rowles wants to help you avoid that path. She has a method to help you do just that.   Beth Row...

If you'd like to understand yourself, your partner, and your relationship better, the Enneagram can help you do that.  The Enneagram is a system for understanding the nine universal personality types. It holds within it a map for emotional wellness for each of the nine types, which is key to the body-mind-spirit continuum of overall wellness. When we understand our core type and the types of those...

In today's episode I talk with Erin Slutsky, an Integrative Enneagram Accredited Practitioner. The Enneagram is a personality system, made up of 9 types. When you understand your type, you better understand what motivates you, the ways you interact and relate to others, and paths for growth. And yet, there is so much more to it than that!   This episode is part one of two. Today, Erin is going to...

Do your kids ever trigger you? As a parent, do you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day? Are you confused and frustrated by the choices your kids make? If you answered no to any of these questions, you might be superhuman!  Laura Reardon is a certified Child Behavior Specialist who helps parents respond to big emotions and challenging behaviors in a way that builds emotional regulation. S...

Have you or someone you know tried talk therapy with no success? Do you have the nagging feeling there's something you're not able to access in therapy or coaching but continues to hold you back in your relationships or in life? You might find that unconscious methods are more powerful for you.    Today I talk with Dr. Peg Hurley Dawson about the many methods she calls upon to help her clients hea...

PTSD has a tremendous impact on all areas of a person's life, including on their relationships. PTSD is an internal reaction to trauma that helps a person cope with an overwhelming event. It can also keep that person stuck in a place of pain and fear, which makes it difficult to relate to others. The good news is that there are ways to heal.   Today I talk with Elizabeth Polinsky, who works with c...

Parenting teens can sometimes feel like an impossible task -- but it can get easier. On today's episode I talk with parenting coach Jim White about how to talk with your teen so they're more likely to open up and share with you what's going on in their lives. Not only does Jim give us some helpful tools, but also shares his insights on why life nowadays is extra challenging for teens.    Jim is an...

James "J" Stamatelos graduated from the Duquesne University coaching program in May of 2013. Since that time, he has helped countless individuals – especially men – replace chronic insecurity and shame with a sense of internal peace and grounded confidence. J specializes in helping people break out of what he calls "anxious insecurity," or the chronic feeling of not being "enough" regardless of ho...

You might have heard the buzz about IFS (Internal Family Systems). But why is it becoming so popular? How does it work? Is it effective? Can it help you? I talk about all of these things during this episode, which I created to give you some background and hopefully interest you in learning more about it.   For more resources: Derek Scott's YouTube Channel No Bad Parts, by Richard Schwartz Self-The...

What is self-love and how can it help you improve your relationships? Judith Costa is an "Unconditional Love Coach" who helps people develop self-love. Your relationship with yourself plays a central role in your ability to connect with others. When that relationship with yourself is a kind, accepting, loving one, it will improve the quality of your life. And the thing is, there's nothing to fix....

Are you curious about adoption? Are you an adoptee who struggles to feel like you belong and are worthy of love? Are you unsure about how to talk about it? In this episode I have a conversation with Joi Fisher-Griffin about her personal experiences growing up as a child who was adopted.   Joi is a recently retired school assistant principal, published author, and in recent years, adoption communit...

What did you learn about love while growing up, and how does influence the way you love as an adult? How might non-attachment benefit your relationships, and how do you go from feeling anxious in your relationships to experiencing non-attachment? These are some of the areas we cover in our conversation. Zach Beach is a love coach with a Masters in Psychology, the best-selling author of The Seven L...

What do you say when someone you know loses a loved one or has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? You might want to say something other than "sorry for your loss," but putting words to your feelings can be hard – REALLY hard. Kim Hamer knows what it's like to lose a loved one and now she helps others navigate this sensitive area. If you think this is going to be a heavy conversation,...

Many couples report that communication is their number one issue. But what if that wasn't the real problem? My guest today, Dr. Bruce Chalmer, is a psychologist who specializes in working with couples. In his latest book, he says that the communication tools couples spend so much time trying to learn, can get in the way of their relationship. We talk about what the actual issues are, we talk about...

How do you define success at work? Do you feel like your voice is heard and your contributions are recognized and valued? Do you feel connected to a sense of purpose at work? If you work for (or lead) an organization in any capacity, this episode is for you. In this episode I talk with Julia Armet. Julia is an executive leadership coach and consultant who values love and connection. She was diagno...

How do we make friends once we're adults? And how do we keep the ones that we really care about? Most of us haven't been taught how to build or maintain friendships. As we become more isolated from people, we need to be intentional about our relationships if we want to have the connections we crave. If you feel like your friendship circle is lacking, you're not alone. Research shows that in the  l...

Whether you're a woman going through a divorce or have a friend going through one, this episode can help. Divorce is HARD. I know, because I've been through it. Even when you're clear that it's the right thing to do, there are a lot of unknowns and there can be unexpected twists and turns that can knock you to the ground. The good new is that there are lots of resources available to help you, such...

In today's world where there seems to be no end to angry rhetoric, violence, and consumerism, this episode offers an alternative. What if we could help the next generation have a different experience? What if our kids learned that they can make the world a better place, instead of feeling overwhelmed by its problems? Today's guest, Susy Lee, is doing everything she can to help us achieve such a fu...

Many women believe there are no good, available men. Lisa Shield disagrees. Lisa is a love coach who helps women find compatible, loving men. I'll admit, as a feminist, I found some of Lisa's ideas challenging at first. But the more I talked to her and sought to understand, the more I intrigued I became -- and the more convinced I was that she's on to something. Not only did this conversation help...