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

Travel isn’t just about getting away - it’s one of the most powerful relationship tools we have. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , relationship coach Jen Funk sits down with travel advisor Jennifer Sullivan to explore why travel brings us closer - to our partners, our kids, our friends, ourselves, and even the world around us. We talk about: why couples often reconnect faster when they t...

Relationship goals don’t have to mean fixing something broken. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , certified life and relationship coach, Jen Funk, explores how to set meaningful relationship goals for the New Year - whether you’re married, dating, parenting, navigating friendships, or working on your relationship with yourself. Most people set New Year’s goals for health, productivity, or...

The week after Christmas can feel surprisingly heavy, unsettling, or confusing - especially when it comes to your relationship. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , relationship coach Jen Funk talks about why the days between Christmas and the New Year often distort how we feel about our lives and our relationships. Exhaustion, disappointment, reflection, and even grief can all show up duri...

The holidays can feel overwhelming for parents - especially when you’re trying to make everything special for your kids. The holidays often come with pressure - pressure to make everything magical, memorable, and perfect for our kids. But what if what they need most from us has very little to do with the details? In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , relationship coach Jen Funk explores what...

Navigating family during the holidays isn’t easy - especially when expectations, opinions, and emotional dynamics all collide. In this Ask Jen: Holiday Edition episode, Jen answers three real listener questions about splitting holiday time, handling unsolicited input, and supporting your partner when family gatherings feel overwhelming. You’ll learn simple, practical boundary tools to help you sta...

It's the first week of December hits…and suddenly it feels like it’s your job to remember everything for everyone - holiday parties, teacher gifts, family plans, travel, meals, and keeping the magic of the season alive and well for all you love. But in the middle of all that remembering, most of us forget the one person who actually needs our attention the most: Ourselves. In this episode, I’m...

In this Thanksgiving episode, Jen offers a refreshing perspective on gratitude - not as something you check off a list, but as a spotlight. Wherever you shine your light, things become brighter. And whatever you don’t… quietly fades into the background, maybe going totally unnoticed. This episode explores how gratitude can shift the way you experience your relationships, without ignoring the hard...

Money is one of the biggest sources of tension in relationships - and the holiday season has a way of making it louder. In this episode, Jen breaks down why couples struggle with money, how childhood “money stories” shape our reactions, and why the scarcity mindset shows up even when you’re doing fine financially. You’ll learn the five steps every couple needs to create financial peace: building a...

Feeling distant from your partner? Wondering if it’s just life being busy… or something deeper? In this Ask Jen episode, Jen Funk, Certified Relationship Coach, answers three listener questions that nearly every couple can relate to: 1. How to tell if emotional disconnection is temporary or a sign of something bigger 2. What to do when your parenting styles clash and cause conflict 3. How to plan...

If your partner zones out mid-conversation or your child can’t seem to remember what you just said, it’s easy to take it personally. But sometimes, it’s not lack of care - it’s wiring. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , Relationship Coach Jen Funk and ADHD/Neurodivergence Coach Chantal Massad dive into what’s really happening in the ADHD brain and how it impacts marriages, families, and d...

We all wear masks - but not just on Halloween. In this episode, Jen shares a personal story from early motherhood that reveals how pretending to “have it all together” can quietly disconnect us from our partners. In this episode, you’ll learn: The six most common emotional masks - The Peacekeeper, The Perfectionist, The Caretaker, The Comedian, The Stoic, and The “I’m Fine” mask. The fears driving...

Ever feel like you and your partner keep having big arguments over small things? In this episode, Jen shares why most “communication problems” are actually connection problems. You’ll learn what happens in your brain when you feel unseen or unheard, why your inner dialogue can sabotage connection, and five practical ways to reconnect before you communicate — so conversations bring you closer inste...

In this deeply personal episode, Jen shares the story of losing her mom to frontotemporal dementia and what she’s learned about love, loss, and healing in the four years since. Joined by grief coach Ellyn Villar , they talk about how grief shows up differently for everyone, how to support your partner, children, or friends through loss, and how to carry grief with more love than pain. This convers...

In this first Ask Jen episode, I’m answering three real relationship questions that so many couples wrestle with: “Separate bedrooms - is it the beginning of the end?” “How can we feel more connected when our schedules are crazy busy?” “Is it normal to want more alone time in marriage?” We’ll talk about how to balance sleep and intimacy, simple habits for staying connected when life feels overwhel...

Saying “I’m sorry” isn’t always enough. In fact, the wrong kind of apology can make things worse and leave both people feeling even more disconnected. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I talk about what makes a real apology different from a fake one, and why learning this skill can transform your relationship. You’ll hear why so many couples stay stuck in cycles of hurt, what often goes...

We’ve all heard the phrase “my spouse is my best friend” - and while that’s beautiful, it can also be limiting. The truth is, your spouse can’t be your everything . In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I sit down with my friends Barbara Kasten and Jodi Tandett to talk about why friendships outside your marriage are not just important, but essential to a healthy relationship. Together, we sh...

Every relationship begins with hope - the excitement of possibility, the dream of what could be. But lasting love requires something deeper: commitment. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I explore how marriages grow and change over time, why couples often get stuck in unhelpful patterns, and what it really takes to build a marriage that lasts. I also share six practical steps you can sta...

When kids leave home, it doesn’t just change your daily routine - it changes your marriage. The empty nest can bring unexpected distance, conflict, or even silence, but it can also be a season of rediscovery and renewal. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I talk about the emotions that come with this transition and share how to keep your relationship strong when the kids no longer fill th...

Every strong relationship has a story behind it - and so does this podcast. In the very first episode of Relating with Jen Funk , I introduce myself and share my own journey: 24 years of marriage, the challenges my husband and I faced, and why getting the right kind of help made all the difference. You’ll hear how my personal struggles and growth inspired me to become a Relationship Coach and why...