The Partnership Podcast

The show must go on! Despite a massive headache and being on the verge of tears from the sheer exhaustion of prepping for a five-week move, Lauren sits down with Trey to tackle a raw, urgent conversation sparked by the dark side of the internet. A recent clip from the show, unpacking why pity sex and obligation sex destroy intimacy, went viral, landing squarely in a toxic corner of the internation...

If you listened to our last episode, you know things got incredibly real, incredibly fast. We hit a massive, unexpected friction point on-air, original source wounds were triggered, and we awkwardly cut the episode short. But because we practice the relational intimacy we preach, we didn't edit it out, and we didn't sweep it under the rug. We sat right back down, hit record, and picked up...

We hope you’re ready for the ultimate exercise in relational transparency, because this week’s episode takes a turn that none of us saw coming. Lauren and Trey sit down after a two-week batching break to look at a pattern plaguing many hetero relationships: the feeling of being "duped" after the wedding ceremony when the lingerie, the dates, and the blowjobs seem to stop, or when a partn...

We are back for the second half of our deep-dive review into the straight-sex hockey show that had us laughing, groaning, and hitting pause to jump under the sheets; Amazon Prime’s Off-Campus ! Lauren and Trey are continuing the conversation by looking past the cringey storyboard edits to examine the surprisingly mature, brave male conversations hidden inside this season. Lauren and Trey use a piv...

Spoiler warning, because this week Trey and Lauren are diving headfirst into the world of televised hockey smut. The duo takes a deep dive into the Amazon Prime series Off-Campus . The series showcased something rarely seen in mainstream media: emotionally mature male characters who prioritize safety and consent over physical technique. Lauren and Trey use the show’s plotlines as a springboard for...

We always promise to pull back the curtain on real relational work, but this week, we are right in the thick of it. In this raw and deeply transparent episode, Trey and Lauren unpack a real-time relational rift that occurred just days ago. What started as a seemingly "small" lie via text message; Trey claiming he was playing in a golf tournament just to avoid an event, became the catalys...

After pulling back the curtain on the brutal stomach virus that hit the final leg of their European tour last week, Lauren and Trey are back to talk about the good stuff . In this episode, they recount Trey’s first-ever trip overseas; a three-country whirlwind through Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona (with a final stop in the quiet beach town of Sitges) in April and May of 2026. Moving past the sic...

In this quieter, beautifully raw episode of The Partnership Podcast , Lauren and Trey are back from their three-week trip to Europe, but they didn’t exactly get the fairytale ending they planned. Instead, the final leg of their journey was hit by a severe stomach virus and otherworldly fevers that completely upended their vacation. Moving away from their usual high-octane discussions on sex and de...

In this high-energy episode, Lauren and Trey dive deep into the carnal mechanics of desire. Picking up from their previous discussion on David Schnarch’s work, they explore the concept of "f*cking" as a specific, functional, and necessary category of sex that is often the hardest to maintain in a long-term marriage. They pull back the curtain on how they negotiate "taking" and...

In this episode of The Partnership Podcast , Lauren and Trey dive deep into a topic that often gets "cleaned up" or ignored in long-term relationships: the difference between standard intercourse and the raw, self-focused act of f*cking . Inspired by David Schnarch’s book, Intimacy and Desire , they explore why the hardest person to "f*ck" is often the person you love the most...

In this episode of The Partnership Podcast , Lauren and Trey take us to a busy train in New York City for a real-time breakdown of a relational misstep. What started as a simple gesture to find seating for Lauren’s baby sister turned into a clash of tones, intentions, and deep-seated childhood triggers. They deconstruct how a single word, "bossy", can carry decades of weight, and how the...

In this vulnerable and raw episode of The Partnership Podcast, Trey shares his experience with a recent panic attack . While traveling home from New York City, Trey experienced a sudden, debilitating panic attack in the middle of a crowded Amtrak station. Up until recently, Trey had only ever experienced a panic attack once in his life. Now, having navigated two, he and Lauren deconstruct what a p...

In this candid and high-energy episode of The Partnership Podcast, Lauren and Trey dive into a listener-requested topic: the "Slut Era." They explore how a season of recreational sex can actually serve as a vital foundation for long-term relational health, especially for those deconstructing from Purity Culture. Drawing on the work of David Schnarch (Intimacy and Desire), they tackle the...

In this deeply personal and transparent episode of The Partnership Podcast, Lauren and Trey pull back the curtain on a recent challenging season to show exactly how the work of relationship repair actually functions in real-time. They break down a multi-day journey that started with a "shadow story", an internal narrative that felt like an "ugly" courtroom defense, and ended in...

In this raw and timely episode of The Partnership Podcast, Lauren and Trey move beyond their usual "how-they" dynamic to tackle a growing digital crisis: the "Manosphere." After watching the Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix, Trey requested a total redo of their original recording. Why? Because viewing this content through the lens of a 41-year-old man is one thing, but view...

In this episode of The Partnership Podcast, Lauren and Trey dive deep into the transformative power of The Wheel of Consent® following Trey’s recent experience at the "Like a Pro" workshop. They move beyond the basics of "no means no" to explore the nuanced artistry of giving and receiving, and how understanding these four quadrants can dismantle years of sexual obligation and...

In this episode of The Partnership Podcast, Lauren and Trey delve into the complexities of sexual desire, the nuances of arousal non-concordance, and the power of radical accountability in relationship repair. Moving beyond the clinical definitions of High Desire Partners (HDP) and Low Desire Partners (LDP), they share personal stories; from bucket-list moments in an Amtrak bathroom to the restora...

In this episode, Lauren and Trey dive deep into the clinical and practical applications of David Schnarch’s Intimacy & Desire . Moving beyond the bedroom, they explore how the concepts of the High Desire Partner (HDP) and Low Desire Partner (LDP) manifest in every corner of a partnership; from travel and hosting to professional ambition and the pace of daily life. While these terms are often u...

In this final installment on relational wounding, Lauren and Trey explore the unspoken journey of returning to sex after conflict. They discuss navigating the transition from protective isolation to physical connection, proving that repair is as physiological as it is emotional. Lauren introduces Betty Martin’s "Base Camp" framework; the internal state required for pleasure after trauma....

In this follow-up to one of their most difficult episode to date, Lauren and Trey sit back down in the chairs just 48 hours later. Often in the world of relationship content, we see the "before" and the "after," but we rarely get to witness the messy, fragile middle. This conversation is a raw demonstration of what it looks like to navigate a major wounding in real-time, withou...

In this episode, Lauren and Trey sit down with a sense of relief and connection, marking their arrival on the "other side" of a major relational crisis. While the proximity to the wound is still close, the air has cleared, and the repair has taken deep root. They reflect on how this journey through conflict differed from their past experiences, moving away from old cycles of defensiveness and into...

In what may be their most vulnerable and raw conversation to date, Lauren and Trey open the record in the middle of a significant relational storm. Recorded just hours after Lauren returned from a high-stakes work trip to New York, this episode finds their marriage in a fragile place following a major conflict that unfolded while they were apart. Trey leads with extreme candor, identifying how he...

Following on from last week’s episode, Lauren and Trey pick up right where they left off; they pull back the curtain on why Lauren, a lifelong people-pleaser, is intentionally practicing standing in her ego rather than collapsing into a martyrdom apology. Trey reflects on the discomfort of watching his partner grow into a version of herself that doesn't immediately move to restore his comfort....

What happens when your partner’s behavior doesn’t just impact you, but someone you deeply care about too? In this Part One conversation, Lauren and Trey unpack a real-life moment that sparked tension around time, respect, and loyalty. When Lauren runs late, Trey finds himself worried about how it will land with his best friend, J, and names his fear that Lauren’s ego may be driving the moment rath...

Lauren and Trey pick up right where they left off, starting with a candid apology tour as they own a few mistakes listeners lovingly (and correctly) pointed out from the first two HEATED RIVALRY episodes, including a spirited mini-debate about whether the Hays Code is still “a thing.” Quick history moment: the Hays Code , officially enforced from the 1930s through the late 1960s, strictly limited...