The Human Intimacy Podcast

The Healing Power of Honesty: Trauma, Truth, and Relationship Repair Episode Summary: In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis take a deep dive into the role of honesty in trauma recovery and relational healing. The conversation begins with MaryAnn recounting a personal traumatic experience of being held at gunpoint and how it changed her sense of safe...

Facing Fear: What’s Holding You Back from Healing and Connection? Episode Summary: In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn discuss a powerful and universal emotion—fear—and how it shapes our decisions, relationships, and personal growth. From the fear of being seen, rejected, or betrayed, to the fear of facing consequences or being alone, fear often acts as bot...

The Mask and the Mirror: Seeing Yourself Clearly After Betrayal In this raw and revealing conversation, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore what happens when betrayal, addiction, secrecy, or early trauma fracture your sense of identity. Whether you’re a betrayed partner or someone who has acted out, this episode is an invitation to step out from behind the mask and face the mirror—to lo...

In this powerful and emotionally rich episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis shift the focus from trauma to transformation. While past episodes have explored the symptoms of post-traumatic stress following betrayal, this conversation is all about post-traumatic growth—the process of finding meaning, strength, and purpose through adversity. MaryAnn shares her...

The Disclosure Process: When Honesty Opens the Door to Healing   Episode Summary: In this deeply compassionate and informative episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore one of the most difficult but essential stages in healing from betrayal trauma—the disclosure process. Beginning with the devastation of discovery (D-Day), they walk listeners through the...

When Your Partner Won’t Engage: Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Part 2) 📝 Episode Summary: In Part 2 of this powerful series on emotional regulation and effective communication, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels dive deeper into what happens between partners when conflict escalates—and how to interrupt destructive patterns before more harm is done. They explore the importance of calling...

When Your Partner Won’t Engage (Part 1): Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection In Part 1 of this two-part series on The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into one of the most common yet painful relationship challenges: emotional disengagement. Whether it's a partner who won’t talk, shuts down, or avoids hard conversations, this episode unpacks the underlying reason...

  Words That Shape Us: Rethinking the Language We Use in Relationships In this thought-provoking episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the powerful impact of the words we use in our relationships. From misunderstood terms like gaslighting, addiction, and defensiveness to therapeutic concepts like parts work, triggers, and intimacy, they unpack what...

  🎙️ The Human Intimacy Podcast: Grieving What Was—and What Wasn't: Finding Meaning in Loss 📝 Episode Summary: In this deeply moving episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the often-unspoken grief that arises not only from death but from lost experiences, missed relationships, betrayal, and the life we thought we would have. Together, they discuss h...

Self-Leadership: The Roadmap to Healing, Hope, and Deeper Intimacy In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis reflect on Marianne’s powerful experience presenting at the ITAP (International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals) Conference, where she introduced a healing-intensive approach combining Frazier’s Dissociative Table and Accelerated...

The Lens of Betrayal: Relearning How to See the Ones We Love In this thought-provoking episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore how betrayal changes the way we see the people closest to us. When trust is broken, our brain naturally shifts into self-protection, filtering our perception through trauma, pain, and fear. Dr. Skinner shares personal stories...

Consent, Communication, and the Core of Intimacy In this powerful and essential episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of sexual consent within committed relationships. Drawing from years of clinical experience and recent conversations with clients, they explore what true consent looks like—voluntary, infor...

Healing Body Image and Self-Perception After Betrayal   In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore how early life experiences, cultural messaging, and exposure to media and pornography shape self-perception and body image—especially after betrayal. They discuss why betrayed partners often feel "not enough," and they share research shows that porn...

The Bravery of Letting Go: A Deep Dive into Self-Forgiveness and Healing   In this vulnerable and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore one of the most challenging aspects of the healing journey: self-forgiveness. Whether you've acted in ways you're not proud of or internalized blame after betrayal, the burden of shame can keep you tethered to past pain. Togeth...

The Shame We Carry: Giving Voice to the Unspoken In this special episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and co-host MaryAnn Michaelis delve into the profound impact of shame, secrecy, and silent suffering in relationships—especially in the context of sexual betrayal. They explore the internal negotiations we make with ourselves to hide the parts we fear will lead to rejection, an...

Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Path to Healing and Human Intimacy   In this heartfelt and powerful episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels dive into the complex, often misunderstood topic of forgiveness—especially within relationships affected by betrayal and emotional wounds. Using real-life role-play, personal insight, and professional wisdom, they explore w...

From Self-Deception to Self-Trust: Honoring Emotions After Betrayal In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels are joined by special guest Jennifer Johnson, a clinical mental health counselor and expert in betrayal trauma and sex addiction recovery. Together, they explore the nuanced concept of self-deception—not as a character flaw, but as a survival response often root...

🎙️Learning to Regulate Difficult Emotions: A Key to Thriving Relationships   In this powerful post-conference episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore one of the most essential skills for emotional and relational well-being: affect regulation. Building on their recent discussion about resentment, this episode dives deeper into what happens when emotion...

Overcoming Resentment: A Barrier to Connection and Healing   In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, hosts Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into the profound impact of resentment in relationships, particularly in the context of betrayal, trust, and healing. They explore how resentment stems from unmet expectations, unresolved hurts, and past wounds, and how it influences behavio...

Parenting Through Betrayal: Helping Children When You’re in Chaos   In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis discuss one of the most challenging aspects of betrayal—parenting while navigating your own trauma. When betrayal shakes a relationship, children often experience the ripple effects, sometimes without fully understanding what’s happening. The co...

Finding the Right Support: How to Get Help After Betrayal and Addiction     In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis discuss the crucial topic of seeking help after experiencing sexual betrayal, addiction, or trauma. They explore the different types of support available—family, friends, support groups, sponsors, therapy, and coaching—highlighting the i...

Navigating Attachment, Fear, and Connection in a Divided World      In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner is joined by Michelle Mays, author of The Betrayal Bind, to discuss the impact of betrayal trauma on attachment and how attachment plays a broader role in our relationships and society. Michelle shares insights from her experience as a licensed professional counselor...

Gaslighting, Lies, and Healing: The Path to Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal In this powerful episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner is joined by Dr. Sheri Denham Keffer, a nationally recognized expert on betrayal trauma and author of “Intimate Deception: Healing the Wounds of Sexual Betrayal.” Together, they dive deep into the topic of gaslighting—what it is, how it impacts betra...

The Power of Attachment in Healing Relationships with Geoff Steurer   In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner welcomes his longtime friend and colleague, Geoff Steurer, a licensed marriage and family therapist and expert in relational healing. Together, they dive into the crucial role of attachment in relationships, especially in the aftermath of betrayal and addiction.  ...

Breaking Free: How to Get Unstuck from Trauma and Reclaim Your Life   In this milestone 52nd episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis discuss one of the most challenging aspects of healing—getting stuck in trauma. Many individuals feel trapped in past experiences, unable to move forward despite years of therapy or self-help efforts. Trauma is not logical; it b...