Do you ever feel like sharing your feelings with your spouse only leads to defensiveness, frustration, or being completely misunderstood? Like you’re trying to express something real and vulnerable, but instead you end up managing their reaction or feeling more alone than before? You're not broken (and neither is your marriage) but this episode explains exactly what’s getting in the way of the emotional safety and connection you crave.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through one of the most common (and least talked about) dynamics that makes emotional validation feel impossible in marriage, and how you can change it.

Tune in to discover:

• What the “I failed” filter is, and how it sabotages connection
• Why your spouse may not be validating you, even if they think they are
• A realistic mindset shift around what validation actually looks like
• The biggest validation trap couples fall into (and how to get out of it)
• Scripts to use when you want to feel heard, and when your partner needs to feel cared for

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Real talk: Marriage after kids can feel like one more thing you don’t have time or energy for. Between work, parenting, logistics, and exhaustion, even the thought of improving your marriage can feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: your marriage doesn’t need more time or money—it needs intention, consistency, and the right tools (even just a few minutes a day can make a huge difference).

In this episode, I’m sharing how to shift your marriage without adding anything more to your plate. You’ll learn exactly how to connect with your spouse in powerful, bite-sized ways that actually fit into your busy life.

Tune in to discover:

• Why time and money aren’t actually what’s holding your marriage back
• What to do when “I don’t have time” becomes the default response
• One-minute connection tools you can use (that are backed by science!)
• How to create emotional safety without big conversations or grand gestures
• What really needs to happen for you to prioritize your marriage every single day

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

You know I always keep it real with you, and this episode is no different—my marriage is in a rut. Not in crisis, not in shutdown, but just… off. More bickering, more distance, less connection. And if I’m being honest, it’s been really hard.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s going on, why I think we got here, and what we’re doing to climb out of it. Because ruts are part of every relationship, and they don’t mean your marriage is broken. But they do require intention, support, and some solid tools to move through them.

If you’ve ever felt like your marriage was stuck in a harder season, I hope this one gives you encouragement and the clarity to take a step forward.

Tune in to discover:

• Why even strong couples end up in ruts (and what causes them)
• What “safe haven abuse” is and how it shows up in everyday stress
• Why systemic stress after big life transitions (like having kids) can tank your connection
• The daily habits and conversations that help us reset and reconnect
• A brand new tool I created to help you build (or rebuild) the emotional support system your marriage needs

The Us System: *Coming soon*

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Ever find yourself planning a celebration (like Father’s Day) while quietly thinking, “But I’m the one doing everything”? When it feels like your involvement in the family is mandatory and your partner’s is optional, that disconnect can lead to resentment, disconnection, and burnout. In this episode, I’m getting real about this dynamic so many moms face—and sharing what you can actually do about it.

Whether it’s Father’s Day, your spouse’s birthday, or any other moment that asks you to celebrate someone who feels like a part-time participant in family life, this episode gives you practical ways to handle the emotional load and honor your own boundaries.

Tune in to discover:

• What to do when celebrating your spouse feels loaded with resentment
• The deeper reason it feels like your involvement is mandatory and theirs is optional
• How I handled this dynamic in my own marriage (even with an involved spouse)
• Why this is not just about effort, but about systems and conversations
• How to show up authentically, without gaslighting yourself or faking it

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Even in the healthiest marriages, disappointment is inevitable—especially after kids. Maybe your spouse forgets something important, doesn't show up how you hoped, or just doesn’t respond the way you needed in that moment. It’s frustrating, lonely, and can stir up a lot of resentment if it isn’t dealt with well.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how I personally deal with those moments of disappointment in my own marriage, and the tools I use with clients to keep these experiences from quietly unraveling connection. If you’ve ever felt let down by your partner (or struggled when your partner felt let down by you), this episode is for you.

Tune in to discover:

• Why disappointment hits harder after kids—and how to make sense of it
• How I stopped reacting and started responding when I felt disappointed
• The exact process I use before communicating hurt (and why it matters)
• How to turn disappointment into a conversation that actually strengthens your marriage
• What it actually takes to release resentment and rebuild connection

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Whether you're in the early days of parenting or years into raising kids, this conversation is going to speak to your heart. Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie, neonatologist, pediatrician, and mom of three, joins me to talk about what babies really need from us (hint: it’s not perfection), how those early moments of connection matter more than we realize, and why the same emotional tools that build strong bonds with our kids also strengthen our marriages.

This episode is full of warmth, wisdom, and truth, and I know you’re going to feel so seen and encouraged by it.

Tune in to discover:

• What truly helps your baby feel safe, loved, and connected from day one
• Why bonding is about showing up consistently, not getting it “right”
• How your relationship with your baby lays the foundation for all future relationships
• The powerful overlap between parenting and marriage connection
• A new way to think about missed moments (and why it’s never too late to reconnect)

This is the episode every new parent (and honestly, every human) needs to hear. And if you know someone who’s expecting or in the thick of new parenthood, send it their way. It’s also a beautiful conversation about what makes connection last—for our children and for ourselves.

Connect with Joanna:

Purchase her book! https://a.co/d/8wykSfW

Website: https://www.jpbelinkiemd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jopargalinkiemd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-parga-57133923/

Connect with Lindsay:

FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Have you ever found yourself prepping everything before you leave the house—or swooping in to “just fix it” when your partner handles a parenting moment differently than you would? It might feel helpful or necessary in the moment, but over time, it can quietly erode your partnership and leave you feeling more like a manager than a teammate.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the hidden cost of stepping in too often, why it happens (hint: it’s not just about your spouse), and how you can begin to shift this pattern in a way that benefits everyone in your family.

This isn’t about blame—it’s about awareness, relief, and building the kind of marriage where you feel held, supported, and safe to let go a little.

Tune in to discover:

• The deeper reasons why moms step in, even when they don’t want to
• What stepping in too often teaches your partner (and why it’s not helping)
• The emotional weight of always being “on” and how it builds resentment
• The powerful mindset shift that helped me finally stop doing it all
• Conversations that build real partnership instead of more to-do lists

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

FREE Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

FREE TRAINING! The Three Secrets to a Happier Marriage: https://marriedafterkids.com/3-secrets

Get your FREE EBOOK! 3 Ways To Connect More With Your Spouse (In 5 Min or Less): https://marriedafterkids.com/freebie

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids

Do you sometimes feel like, even after years of marriage, your partner still doesn’t know how to love you in the way you truly need? In this episode, I’m opening up about a pivotal shift in my own relationship—one that completely changed the way I felt seen, loved, and supported in my marriage.

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing your partner could understand your needs without you having to constantly explain them, or if you’ve felt the slow burn of resentment building, this episode will speak directly to your heart.

Tune in to discover:

• Why feeling unloved doesn't mean your marriage is broken
• What needed to shift in me before I could ever expect change in him
• The quiet ways resentment builds (and how I stopped it)
• How I helped my spouse understand the kind of love I actually needed
• What changed when I stopped dropping hints and started being clear

Connect with me for a FREE Married After Kids Intervention Call:

https://marriedafterkids.satoriapp.com/offers/277730-married-after-kids-intervention-call

Marriage Shutdown Checklist: https://marriedafterkids.com/marriage-shutdown?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=MSoptin

Follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing! www.instagram.com/marriedafterkids