What should you do if you’re unhappy enough in your marriage to consider divorce? Divorce is expensive, it’s messy, and complicated. And it’s hard for kids. But staying in a marriage that isn’t working is also a really hard and painful way to live. Anna Howerton joins the podcast to talk about navigating the divorce contemplation phase. Listen to l…

Would you like to learn how to set boundaries around difficult behavior without creating more drama? In this episode, we dive into the often discussed but misunderstood concept of boundaries. Sharon shares some ideas for de-escalating and neutralizing offensive behavior without being punitive or provocative. Website and Linktree: Get the full show …

Let’s face it. Most of us haven’t been taught how to do conflict well. And our lack of skill in tough conversations can really wreak havoc on our relationships. In this episode, host Sharon Costanzo talks to Kat Newport about the principles from her book Smart Conflict. Kat has done some brilliant work identifying and teaching the core skills for n…

Feel like you’re doing too much work in your relationship? Jessica Myers-Adams, a certified therapist and relationship coach talks about the power of being a relationship visionary. We explore practical strategies for improving relationships even in the face of personal challenges & disappointment. We discuss: the importance of self and other diffe…

Can too much stability in a relationship be a bad thing? Dr. Bruce Chalmer, a psychologist with over 30 years of experience in couples therapy says that often couples get so good at stability in their relationship that they neglect their need for intimacy. We discuss: The tension between stability & intimacy in relationships Bruce’s seven word form…

A very casual conversation with Corrie Woods about our mutual dislike for the very common relationship advice to “let men lead.” Website and Linktree: Get the full show notes and links to the resources mentioned at https://respectedandconnected.com/podcast/b/ep-133 Sign up for the next Thriving Together Couples Call: https://www.respectedandconnect…

What’s wrong with being a “Nice Guy” anyway? Jason Lange, a specialist in men’s issues, particularly the Nice Guy Syndrome shares his insights on the evolution of men’s roles and the importance of being connected with one’s power, head, and heart. We discuss: What is the Nice Guy Syndrome and how do men develop it Challenges and misconceptions abou…

Christ Church Anglican Savannah, GA. Interactive Discussion / workshop led by Jule Golingan Roberts. Some audio is of the discussion time in small groups where there is no speaker to listen to.

Have you ever felt hesitant to speak up and advocate for the supportive partnership that you want? Dr. Julie Hanks, a licensed therapist, owner of Wasatch Family Therapy, and well known influencer, shares her insights on creating partnership families and the challenges that often come with this endeavor. We discuss: The concept of aspirational sham…

Would you like to experience greater intimacy and connection with your male partner? In this episode, we welcome Eric Fitz Medrud, a therapist specializing in relationships and men's issues. Eric shares his personal journey from struggling with his own desires and ethical values to becoming a specialist in relationship and sexuality therapy. He hig…

What did you learn about sex growing up and how is it impacting your marriage? In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, an esteemed author and sex therapist, to explore the profound impact of sexual shame on intimacy and relationships. Dr. Sellers shares her extensive knowledge on the subject, drawing from years of …

What’s the best way to respond when your spouse rejects your carefully considered requests? In this episode, we dive into the often overlooked yet critical topic of dealing with rejection in marriage. Sharon shares valuable insights on maintaining a healthy relationship despite disappointments. Listen to learn how to handle rejection with grace and…

Do you ever wonder if your marriage would be easier if your spouse was just a little more like you? In this insightful episode, we delve into the complexities and beauty of personality differences within relationships. Our guest, Erin Woodruff, a life coach who specializes in helping high-achieving women stay happily married to introverts, joins us…

Welcome to Respected & Connected the podcast dedicated to helping couples build more balanced and equitable relationships. Whether you're in the thick of raising kids and trying to establish a career or you’re considering what you want your empty nester chapter to look like our conversations are here to empower you and validate your experiences. In…

In today's episode I talk with Saren and answer the question “How do I support my 13-year-old daughter who wants to stay in the LDS Church when I have left?” Saren is trying to reconcile letting her child be a part of something that she has chosen to leave behind while also respecting her daughter’s agency. To top it off, her daughter has had a dif…

Tired of the old advice on the "right" way to get what you need in your relationships? Discover the transformative power of discovering your true identity and how your relationships can benefit with Megan Gibson. We discuss: The journey from people-pleasing to self-empowerment How to identify and let go of false identities Practical tips for aligni…

Many couples facing relationship issues are faced with the question - do we need help as a couple or do we need to do individual work first? In this episode we're exploring the differences between individual work and couples work and when you should consider each type. We discuss: The risks and benefits of couples work The limitations of individual…

In this episode I meet with Kellice and answer the question “How do I decide on a career that I won’t later regret or wish I had taken a different path?” Kellice wants to choose a sustainable career to support herself and her boys, but she isn’t sure where to start. How can she be sure she isn’t going to make the wrong decision? I challenge Kellice…

In this podcast episode, Sharon interviews Lark Galley, a wife and mother who has experienced the profound grief of losing a son to suicide. Lark shares the challenges this tragedy posed to her marriage and how it has affected both her and her husband's perception of success, personal achievements, and their relationship with each other. We explore…

Working on your marriage without seeing any noticeable results is exhausting. If you're running out of energy and motivation to work on your marriage, but you're not ready to walk away, this episode is for you. We talk about three reasons we get burned out on working on our relationships and some ideas for how you can address them, so that you can …

This bonus episode of the podcast is for anyone who is wanting to step back from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while also protecting their mental health. Listen as fellow LDS therapist Valerie Hamaker and I share insight on important topics like why people choose to leave the LDS Church after a faith transition and how to develop …

Violetta Znorkowski is on a mission to close the gender gap from the inside out. Listen in for an insightful conversation about: Recovering from hustle culture Self-leadership Recognizing and releasing emotions that don't serve us Redefining personal empowerment & success Navigating gender biases Get the full show notes and links to the resources m…

Making the decision to get help with your marriage can be difficult, especially if you want help more than your spouse does. If you're on the fence about getting help because you don't know if things are bad enough to warrant it or if you're afraid to rock the boat this episode is for you. We're talking about: signs to look for, the value of third-…

If you're in a relationship for any period of time you're going to experience a major conflict or disappointment and that is not easy to deal with. In this episode we share what it takes to rebuild trust and connection after conflict and disappointment so that you can grow together as a couple instead of slowly drifting apart. We discuss: The impor…

Listen as I chat with Alyssa and answer the question “How do I heal from a patriarchal marriage and let go of resentment I’m carrying towards the LDS Church?” Alyssa and her husband reevaluated the lessons they were taught about marriage and have worked to move toward a partnership model. She feels angry when she thinks about the time she lost livi…

Spoiler alert...safety in intimate relationships is a myth! Many of us hesitate to discuss sensitive issues, even in our most important relationships. But relationships don't work longterm when you can't discuss concerns and issues openly and honestly. In this episode we're talking about things you can do to create more courage, curiosity, & humili…

We're fooling ourselves if we think that every choice we make in our relationships is consciously determined. But how to we access our subconscious so that we can make more conscious and aligned actions toward deeper understanding and connection? Dr. Tonia Winchester joins us on the podcast to talk about how to slow down, question our triggered tho…

In this podcast episode I sit down with Mallory and answer the question “How do I pursue a high-powered career and still show up as the mom I want to be?” Mallory recently went back to work part-time and is feeling immense guilt. It feels like she can’t win: When she is at work, she feels like she should be staying home with her children (and feel …

Conflict in our intimate relationships is inevitable. When we’re faced with a conflict in an intimate relationship we’re trying to achieve two goals at the same time. Maintain a connection with our person and our autonomy. It can be challenging to stay connected when we feel like our personal goals and desires are at risk. And since very few of us …

In this episode I talk with Diana and answer the question “How can I better communicate to my husband that I’m not comfortable letting our child sleep at my in-laws’ house?” Diana is not okay with either herself or her child sleeping there because years ago, her father-in-law was arrested for child molestation. Her husband has struggled to respect …

We all want happy, healthy relationships. And that can be hard to achieve when you're feeling disappointed or frustrated with your spouse. Sharon shares a few ideas for approaching your partner when you're frustrated so you can address the issue and use a difficult conversation as an opportunity to connect and deepen your relationship. Get the full…

In this episode, I chat with Christine and answer the question “How should I approach my daughter’s upcoming baptism when I don’t believe 8-year-olds are capable of making this choice?” Christine and her husband have several valid hesitations about their daughter getting baptized when they aren't sure that she really understands what she would be c…

Every woman from every walk of life understands the burden of invisible labor. Laura Mickler, a mindset coach and yoga studio owner, joins us on the podcast for an insightful conversation about how to understand and share the burden of the mental load with your partner and family members. We discuss: The concept of invisible labor Why it can be so …

In this episode I talk with Sylvia and answer the question “How can I stay engaged and active in the LDS Church as a working mom and a feminist?” Sylvia shares the story of a painful experience at Church that has left her wondering if she sustains her leaders. In fact, she has chosen not to renew her temple recommend because she isn’t sure if she c…

In today’s episode, I talk with Nicole and answer the question “How do I know if I want kids because I genuinely want them or because it’s always been expected of me?” After a recent break up caused by her partner not wanting to have children, Nicole is hoping to gain some clarity as to what she wants for her future and why. Nicole and I talk about…

Dr. Marsha Martin, a spiritual empowerment counselor and best-selling author, discusses the importance of healing one's relationship with themselves. We discuss: Acceptance and self love as the foundation for personal growth Taking responsibility to shift from blame to personal transformation The role of tools and resources in self-transformation E…

In today’s episode I chat with Morgan and answer the question “How can I talk about boundaries with my narcissistic mother-in-law who turns everything into my fault?” Morgan describes what interactions with her mother-in-law are typically like, and from what I hear it sounds like Morgan is doing a good job interacting with her. From my perspective,…

Are you listening? Really Listening? Laura Janusik, a trainer, coach, consultant, speaker, and researcher talks about the importance of listening in communication. We discuss: How our listening habits shape our interactions The importance of quality listening and it's impact on the quality of our communication The concept of "listening intelligence…

In today’s episode, I talk with Kelly and answer the question “How do I learn to trust myself when I feel a disconnect between what I learn in therapy and what I hear at Church?” I know that a lot of listeners are going to relate to our discussion. Kelly shares that she feels two parts of her life—therapy and the Church—have been influential and he…

Listen as I talk with Jennifer and answer the question “How can I be present when grief is always reminding me of what could have been?“ Jennifer shares the story of her relationship, her husband’s cancer diagnosis, and her experience of being a new mom of twins while navigating the grief of losing her husband. Now, five years later, she feels spli…

Does this sound like you...You know you want to communicate better, but you're not quite sure what to do differently? In this episode, we're talking about: The goal of healthy communication (spoiler alert - it's not getting the other person to change) Unhealthy attitudes and behaviors that prevent good communication Five specific skills to improve …

This bonus episode of the podcast is for anyone who is wanting to stay in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while also protecting their mental health. Listen as fellow LDS therapist Valerie Hamaker and I share insight on important topics like why people choose to stay in the LDS Church after a faith transition and how to develop the c…

In this podcast episode I talk with Mary and answer the question “Has my Latter-day Saint (LDS) upbringing impacted my sexuality?” I tell Mary that her LDS upbringing most likely has impacted her sexuality—but that is true for any person. During our time together we explore the specific ways that LDS culture may have influenced her development. Mar…

A heartfelt, hopeful, and practical perspective on how couples can make marriage work when one spouse has ADHD. Kara Laws (the ADHD spouse) shares her story of how she and Jamie have navigated the challenges of marriage, specifically when additional support and understanding is needed. We discuss: The importance of mutual respect in a partnership, …

In this episode I talk with Sarah and answer the question, “In the classroom, what techniques can I use to stop comparing myself to others and start fostering a growth mindset?” Sarah just started attending school after a 5-year break, and she has found herself worrying that she isn’t smart enough to be there. Having mixed feelings about trying som…

In this episode I talk with Ben Schilaty and answer the question “How can I help my LGBTQ+ friends who are in pain because they feel like they don’t belong in the LDS Church?” Ben’s question stems from his own experience of being a gay member of the LDS Church and from seeing loved ones in the LGBTQ+ community struggle to feel like they have a plac…

If I were to give you my best advice about relationships and whether or not now is the time to put a lot of effort into your relationship development, this is the main question I would ask… “Would you be able to continue with how things are right now indefinitely?” If the answer is no (which it has been for me several times over the course of my 10…

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda and answer the question, “How do I talk with my husband about expectations for behavior at Church and contributing at home?” Amanda’s husband often has his phone out during Church and doesn’t like singing along to the hymns. She recognizes that as an adult, he gets to choose how to worship. But she still wish…

Kamini Wood joins the podcast to talk about the interplay of imposter syndrome and people-pleasing among high achieving women, and how that can show up in intimate relationships. We talk about: Kamini's journey working in the dot.com industry as a project manager and running a law office and how she discovered her true passions from her corporate e…