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

Have you ever looked at your relationship and thought… nothing is really wrong… but nothing is really right either? You’re not fighting all the time…but you’re also not really connecting. You’re doing life together, but if you’re honest, it feels more like coexisting than actually being close. In this episode, I’m breaking down why this happens (and why most couples stay stuck here way longer than...

If every conversation with your partner turns into defensiveness, blame, or the same fight on repeat… this episode will change how you see it - and how you handle it. Because here’s the truth most people miss: Your partner isn’t reacting to what you said… they’re reacting to what they think it means about them. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , we’re breaking down: ✔️ Why defensiveness h...

If you’ve ever felt disconnected in your relationship - or wondered why some relationships feel easy while others feel hard - this episode breaks down what actually works. Today, I’m sharing 10 relationship habits that build trust, improve communication, and create real emotional connection. These lessons apply to your marriage, your family, and your friendships - and they’re simple, practical, an...

Have you ever caught your partner in a lie and thought, why would they lie about THAT? Sometimes it’s not the big lies that hurt the most - it’s the small ones that don’t quite add up. “I already did it.” “It wasn’t that much.” “Nothing’s wrong.” Over time, those moments can create something really painful in a relationship: uncertainty. In this episode, we’re talking about why people lie in relat...

People often say things like: "You’re so lucky." Lucky you have a strong marriage. Lucky your kids turned out well. Lucky you found the right career. But the truth is, most of the things we call luck are really the result of small intentional choices made over time. In this episode, I share a simple exercise to help you stop drifting through life and start intentionally creating the life...

Why do couples fight so hard to prove they’re right? In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , relationship coach Jen Funk explains why arguments in relationships often turn into battles to win - instead of conversations that bring couples closer. Most conflicts aren’t actually about the dishes, the phone, or tone of voice. They’re about something deeper: wanting to feel heard, respected, and un...

Do you love each other… but feel miles apart? Distance in relationships doesn’t happen overnight. It builds through unresolved hurt, busy schedules, stress, and the quiet loss of emotional connection. In this final episode of the SPARK Intimacy Series, we explore how couples drift apart - and how they find their way back. You’ll learn how to: • rebuild emotional safety • repair hurt and reconnect...

If you’ve ever wondered why desire doesn’t feel as automatic as it once did, you’re not alone. In this episode, Jen Funk explores how desire evolves across life seasons - from early relationships to parenting, stress, and midlife body changes. You’ll learn the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, why feeling touched out is normal, and practical ways to reconnect with intimacy with...

You still love each other. But you don’t feel wanted the way you used to. In this episode, I’m getting honest about something that doesn’t get talked about enough - the vulnerability of wanting to feel wanted in a long-term marriage. We’re talking about: Why pursuit naturally fades What happens when one partner reaches and the other doesn’t How rejection stirs up insecurity Why romance is more abo...

Sex and physical intimacy often fade in long-term relationships - even when there’s still love. In this episode, relationship coach Jen Funk begins the SPARK Intimacy Series , a five-part framework designed to help couples rebuild intimacy in a realistic, sustainable way. This first episode focuses on Safety & Connection - the emotional foundation that supports desire, closeness, and a healthy...

Senior year is a big transition - not just for teens, but for parents too. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk , Jen is joined by her youngest daughter, Natalie, a high school senior, for a real conversation about senior year and what it’s like to live through a season full of endings, uncertainty, and change. Together, they talk about the emotional side of senior year, the “series of lasts,...

In-law relationships can be great… and also really hard. And what most couples don’t realize is how quickly in-law stress turns into marriage stress . In Part 2 of my in-laws series, I’m sharing 3 simple strategies that work to help you build a better relationship with your in-laws while also protecting your marriage - with clear boundaries, better communication, and practical scripts you can use...

In-law relationships can be some of the most emotionally complicated relationships we navigate - even when everyone has good intentions. In this episode, Jen Funk, Life and Relationship Coach, explores why relationships with in-laws feel so hard and why marriage changes family dynamics in ways most people don’t expect. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation focused on understanding - not blame....

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...