Marriage Therapy Radio

Epizode

• Ep 427 When One of You Is the Problem (And It's Both of You) w/James & Molly 02.06.2026 41min

  Zach sits down with James and Molly Christensen, a married couple and fellow therapists based in Sacramento, who spent more than six years in couples therapy before it actually worked. They burned through eight therapists, logged over a hundred sessions, and came within reach of a marriage that had been quietly failing for years. The fact that they are now both practicing couples therapists themselves makes this conversation something rare: a behind-the-curtain look at what the struggle actually looks like from inside. The conversation gets honest fast. James names what he had to face: narcissism, manipulation, a sense of superiority, and an inability to take feedback without it threatening his identity. Molly describes her own side of the dynamic, a deeply people-pleasing, avoidant woman who had been raised to see relationships as transactional, and who spent years wondering whether her instincts about James were accurate or whether she was the one losing her mind. The turning point for both of them came in the form of an intensive with a therapist who was finally skilled enough to hold them both, call them both out in the moment, and care enough about James to be blunt with him without losing him. James started recording every session and listening back four times. By the fourth listen, he could hear himself clearly. That's when things shifted. What runs underneath this whole episode is a conviction that most couples are doing "recovery lounge" therapy, showing up, going through the motions, and feeling okay about it, without ever actually growing. James makes the case that conflict is not the problem in most marriages. Avoidance is. The goal, for both of them as clients and now as clinicians, is more conflict with less anger, which means developing the capacity to say what you actually think, to your spouse, with genuine care behind it, and to hold your ground when they push back. That's differentiation. That's the work. And if you get through it, Zach notes, the intimacy on the other side is real. Key TakeawaysFiring your therapist is sometimes the right call. If you're not making progress after significant time, the fit may be the problem, not the process.Being resistant to therapy is often not about therapy. Molly's refusal to engage was partly a refusal to let James dictate her path. Understanding the resistance tells you a lot about the relationship dynamic.Narcissism has four components worth knowing: fragility (inability to take criticism), a sense of superiority, indifference to others, and manipulation as a means of protecting a false self.The breakthrough often requires a therapist who combines genuine care with genuine bluntness. Truth without love is abusive. Love without truth is just convenient. Both together is what actually moves people.Conflict is not the enemy. Avoidance is. Couples who never fight aren't at peace, they're just not saying what they really think, and it costs them.Differentiation is the ability to stay grounded in yourself when your partner is not okay. It's not about getting them to back down. It's about whether you can hold your own truth without crumbling under pressure.The tools from research-based approaches like Gottman are only as useful as the people holding them. If underlying traits like narcissism or avoidance are untreated, the tools won't stick.When couples heal, families heal. James and Molly both note that their children have noticed the difference, and that the work they've done has changed the floor their kids are jumping from. Guest Info James Christensen Licensed couples therapist based in Sacramento, California. Former Air Force pilot with 22 years of military service before transitioning to therapy. Specializes in high-conflict couples using the Crucible approach. Brings his own history as a client, over six years in couples therapy, to his clinical work. Website: https://jamesmchristensen.com/ Molly Christensen Associate therapist (currently under supervision), working at a nonprofit and accepting sliding scale and insurance clients. Followed James into the field after their shared experience in therapy. Brings her perspective as a former people-pleaser and avoidant partner to her work with couples. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 426 Gratitude, Attitude, Courage: What Summer Camp Taught These Two About Marriage w/Kate & Cole Kelly 26.05.2026 45min

  Zach sits down with Kate and Cole Kelly, married co-directors of Camp Equahic in northeastern Pennsylvania and the authors behind the relationship practice they built almost by accident: Three Happys and an Appreciation. What started as a long-distance dating ritual, Kate asking Cole to name three things that made him happy each day just so she could get to know him, became the through line of a 25-year marriage, a shared business, three sons, and a camp community that now serves 450 kids per session from 15 states and 14 countries. The conversation moves across a lot of terrain. Cole grew up in Athens, Georgia, went to Dartmouth, coached golf at the University of Virginia, and came to camp life through Kate, who had already found her footing running a boarding school and never wanted to be in a classroom. Together they took over a camp that was quietly dying after a family ownership dispute, grew it back from the ground up, and built their philosophy around three values they believe transcend religion, background, and age: gratitude, attitude, and courage. Along the way they layered in everything from Viktor Frankl and Tony Robbins to Alison Armstrong's research on how men and women communicate differently, and applied all of it to the work of staying close while also running a business that puts 675 souls in their care every summer. The emotional center of this episode is surprisingly practical. Kate and Cole are not people who talk about their marriage in abstractions. They talk about the appreciation Cole had to ask for because Kate was falling asleep before he got it. They talk about what it cost Kate for Cole to travel most of the year meeting families in person, and why they kept doing it anyway. They built a coming-of-age ritual for their three boys because there was no secular equivalent to a bar mitzvah and they thought someone should. Their oldest son Cole Jr. is getting married this summer at camp, with half the wedding party made up of his childhood bunkmates. This episode is a portrait of two people who decided very early that marriage is a practice, not a feeling, and then built the systems to prove it. Key TakeawaysGratitude is a skill, not a mood. Building a daily habit of noticing what is good, no matter how small, physically changes how you see your partner and your life.The appreciation piece is the one that often gets resisted most and matters most. Telling your partner specifically what you noticed and valued about them that day is different from a general "I love you," and it hits differently too.Scanning for the good in your partner is something you have to train yourself to do. It does not happen naturally for most people. The three happys practice creates the conditions for it.Men and women often process differently, and understanding that is an attitude adjustment in itself. Cole stopped resisting Kate's multi-threaded thinking when he understood it was not chaos; it was wiring.Courage in marriage looks less like big dramatic moments and more like saying the hard thing, asking for help, or admitting you do not have it today.Kids grow by being allowed to fail. Snowplowing the obstacles out of their path also removes the muscle they need to handle real life.Consistency beats perfection. The three happys practice works not because every night is meaningful but because doing it every night makes the meaningful nights possible.A system is not a substitute for connection. It is the container that makes connection repeatable.Guest Info Kate Kelly is the co-director and operational backbone of Camp Weequahic, one of the top co-ed overnight camps in the country. A former boarding school educator, Kate has spent over two decades building systems, leading staff, and quietly running the kind of operation that camp families trust with their kids for up to six weeks at a time. She and Cole are co-authors of the book Three Happys and an Appreciation, available in both a family edition and a couples edition on Amazon. Cole Kelly is the co-director of Camp Weequahic and the front-facing voice of the Kelly family's camp community. A Dartmouth graduate with a background in sports psychology and golf coaching, Cole spends much of the year traveling the country to meet prospective families in person, a practice he refuses to give up despite the flight miles it costs him. He is a student of Tony Robbins, Viktor Frankl, and Alison Armstrong, and has spent years thinking intentionally about how to raise good men, including building a secular coming-of-age program for his three sons and a cohort of their fathers. Website: https://weequahic.com Podcast and relationship resources: https://campfireconversation.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 425 When Life Keeps Breaking You: A Marriage Story About Illness, Resilience, and Starting Over w/Kate & Mike 19.05.2026 44min

  Zach sits down with Kate Northrup and Mike Watts, a married couple and longtime business partners who have navigated one of the more quietly grueling partnership stories you'll hear on this show. Kate is an author, podcast host, and creator of the wealth and wellness program Relaxed Money. Mike is her co-founder and the operational engine behind their growing portfolio of ventures. Together they have been a couple since 2011, and by their own account, about eight of those years were genuinely brutal. The episode covers a lot of terrain: a traumatic first birth and a chronically ill newborn, Mike's years-long battle with topical steroid withdrawal that left him dropping 40 pounds and unable to function, two broken bones from separate accidents, a second pregnancy in the middle of all of it, a family that moved nine times in eleven years, and a business they were building through every bit of it. Kate describes reaching a breaking point in 2016 and calling her best friend from a supermarket parking lot to say the marriage might not survive. That call led them to the couples therapist they have worked with ever since. The conversation goes deep on what therapy actually gave them, why Mike initially resisted it, how they reframed getting help as a business decision rather than a personal failure, and the structural tools that have kept their partnership functioning, from scheduled money meetings to the weekly date night they kept even when Mike could barely walk. What makes this episode land is the lack of drama about the drama. Kate and Mike are not performing for the camera. They correct each other's word choices in real time, laugh about falling asleep at dinner, and openly admit that the early years were impulsive in ways that could have unraveled everything. But underneath the lightness is a real story about what it takes to hold a marriage together when the body, the business, and the bank account are all under stress at once, and how asking for help is not a sign the relationship is failing. It is what keeps it from doing so. Key TakeawaysAsking for help is an operational decision, not a confession of failure. Mike Watts reframed couples therapy the same way he would think about hiring a contractor: the job needs doing, so you bring in someone qualified to do it.The crisis that breaks you open may also be the one that moves you forward. Mike's illness forced a relocation that ultimately brought both of them back to life.Running a business with your spouse requires containers. Logistics bleed into date nights. Business ideas creep into bedtime. Designated meetings for money, planning, and connection keep the categories from collapsing into each other.Repair over time builds something stronger than ease from the start. Kate says their connection now is better than it was in the early years, and those early years were not the hard ones.The body is not a passive vehicle. Kate and Mike both treat physical experience as meaningful information, not just inconvenience to push through.Having a standing weekly date night matters more than having a perfect one. They kept theirs through illness, stress, and bad company.Stability is something you can grow into, even if it was never your default. Mike describes the provider instinct arriving a decade late, and finding that it fit.What your partner brings to the table may be the thing you cannot generate on your own. Kate saw every conversation as connected; Mike compartmentalized. The tension between those two things became a feature, not a flaw. Guest Info Kate Northrup is an author, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Plenty. She and Mike run a coaching and education company focused on helping high-capacity people build what she describes as the energetic and logistical infrastructure behind their financial lives. Their signature program is called Relaxed Money, currently in its sixth iteration. Kate's approach combines neuroscience-based somatic techniques, nervous system work, and practical personal finance. Instagram: instagram.com/katenorthrup Website: katenorthrup.com Mike Watts is Kate's husband and business partner, handling the operational and strategic side of their ventures. He is also building out a short-term rental portfolio and has been open about his years-long experience with topical steroid withdrawal and the physical and relational toll of chronic illness. Instagram: instagram.com/mikejwatts See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 424 How Two Alphas Build a Marriage That Actually Works w/Dana & Adam 12.05.2026 39min

  Zach sits down with Adam Roach and Dana Gentry, a married couple from Charleston, South Carolina, who have spent nearly a decade building what might be the most strategically intentional relationship he has ever heard described on the show. Both are high-achieving entrepreneurs on their second marriages, and they arrive with real tools, real failures, and a refreshing lack of pretense about how hard it was to get here. The conversation opens with Dana sharing that her first book, Restore: 90 Days to Intentional Living, just landed at number 14 on the USA Today bestseller list, which sets the tone for everything that follows. These are people who do not drift. From their annual January planning retreat to vision boards presented to the whole family, their approach to marriage looks less like a feeling and more like a decision they make over and over again. Adam, a communication-focused coach who played tennis in college, describes how they identified early on, with the help of a therapist, that they were both alphas and would need to figure out who takes the lead and when. That single insight has shaped the way they handle conflict, celebrate each other's wins, and divide the emotional labor of their relationship. Some of the richest material surfaces around what it actually means for two competitive, driven people to stop trying to win and start trying to keep the ball moving. Adam draws a vivid parallel from the tennis court: in a match between two alphas, one will always dominate. But if the goal becomes keeping the rally alive, the whole game changes. Zach builds on this with his own framework for conflict, noting that the problem is never really about winning the point but about whether the relationship is the court or the casualty. The episode closes with two practical tools that listeners can use immediately: the feel it or fix it check-in before someone unloads on their partner, and Zach's version, do you want to be helped, hurt, or hugged. Key TakeawaysSecond marriages can thrive when both partners are honest about what went wrong the first time and intentional about not repeating itWhen two alpha personalities share a relationship, they need to decide who leads in which lane. Defaulting to whoever is more passionate or skilled in a given area works better than trying to win every roomThe seven-day rule: no more than seven days apart without one of you flying to the other. Proximity protects connection, especially when both partners travelBefore your partner starts venting, ask: do you want me to feel this with you or help you fix it? That one question changes the entire conversationZach's version: do you want to be helped, hurt, or hugged? The alliteration is easy to remember and the question is hard to skip"Vegetable soup" conversations, where grievances from five different fights get stirred into one, are a sign you did not release the last point before serving the next oneVision boards are not just personal. Adam and Dana make them as a family, present them to each other, and stay genuinely invested in each other's goals, not just their ownSeeing your partner as a true equal, not just a legal partner, is a prerequisite for the kind of mutual support that makes ambitious two-career marriages workGuest Info Adam Roach is a communication-focused entrepreneur and relationship coach based in Charleston, South Carolina. He is the founder of I Love Coaching Co., a coaching community, and brings a background in competitive tennis to his frameworks for conflict, communication, and resilience in relationships. Instagram: @adamrroach Website: https://ilovecoachingco.com/ Dana Gentry is an entrepreneur, speaker, and newly minted USA Today bestselling author. Her first book, Restore: 90 Days to Intentional Living, published February 3rd and hit number 14 on the USA Today bestseller list during launch week. Her work centers on helping people stop drifting and start living with intention across faith, business, and relationships. Instagram: @danaggentry Book: Restore: 90 Days to Intentional Living, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. https://restoredevotional.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 423 |19 Years In: How a Dating Coach and His Wife Actually Do It w/Evan and Bridget 05.05.2026 42min

  Zach sits down with Evan Marc Katz, a dating coach for smart, successful women, and his wife Bridget. The premise alone creates an interesting tension: what does it look like when the guy who coaches women on how to find a partner actually goes home to one? The answer, it turns out, is less glamorous and more grounded than anyone might expect. What surfaces quickly is that Evan and Bridget do not have a fairytale origin story. They were on the same dating site at the same time and never matched. They met at a party, talked for six hours, and built something slowly. Evan, who dated more than 300 people online over a decade, had never stayed in a relationship longer than eight months before Bridget. She, a serial monogamist by nature, had come from a completely different kind of romantic history. The episode moves through how two genuinely different people with different worldviews, different sleep schedules, different appetites for depth, decided to stop scanning for flaws and start building something that actually works. Along the way, Evan makes a sharp case that the qualities dating culture rewards, height, income, shared hobbies, politics, are almost entirely irrelevant to long-term happiness. Bridget holds her own throughout, and some of the episode's best moments come from her plainspoken honesty: she does not love deep conversations on demand, she sleeps until 11 on weekends without apology, and she has no interest in discussing politics with anyone. Far from being a liability, Zach and Evan both recognize this as a kind of relationship wisdom. Bridget is the high-EQ anchor of the marriage, the one who sees everyone's point of view without judgment and never keeps score. Her sign-off captures the whole thing: never keep track, but always be ahead in giving. Key TakeawaysThe traits that attract you to someone (chemistry, common interests, credentials) are almost entirely unrelated to the traits that keep a marriage togetherWhat gets you into a relationship and what sustains it are two distinctly different skill setsChoosing a partner who is good enough without requiring them to change is not lowering the bar, it is setting the right oneThe couple is a unit; when you stop tending the relationship itself, the garden dies even if nothing dramatic happensOne person cannot be everything; healthy relationships require each partner to have a life outside the marriage tooAssuming positive intent when your partner does something frustrating is one of the most practical things you can do dailyCommon interests are probably the least important compatibility factor, and most people treat them like the most importantThe Five C's are what every failed relationship actually failed on: character, kindness, consistency, communication, and commitment Guest Info Evan Marc Katz Dating coach for smart, successful women, primarily working with clients in their late 30s through early 70s who are navigating first-time or second-time partnerships. Evan spent over a decade dating online himself before meeting Bridget, which informs a very personal and data-driven approach to his work. He is also the host of his own podcast. https://www.evanmarckatz.com/ Bridget Katz Evan's wife of 17 years, together for approximately 19. Bridget brings a grounded, high-EQ perspective to the conversation as someone who has lived alongside a relationship expert without becoming one herself. Her candor and warmth are notable throughout. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 422 She Thought He Was Just a Jerk: The Hidden Addiction That Nearly Cost Them w/ Matt & Paige 28.04.2026 45min

  Zach sits down with Matt and Paige, a married couple from the DFW area who have been together since they were 14 years old, and who now host their own podcast for spouses and partners of people navigating addiction. What sounds like a high school sweetheart story quickly opens into something far more complicated: a decade-long opioid addiction, financial abuse, gaslighting, panic attacks, and a slow, hard-won rebuild that took most of their adult lives. Matt frames their relationship in three chapters: young and naive kids figuring out what love even is, the dark middle years where addiction quietly dismantled the life they were trying to build, and the current chapter where, for the first time in 25 years, they describe themselves as genuinely on equal footing. Paige's side of the story carries the weight of what spouses often carry alone. She didn't know it was addiction for years. She thought he was just treating her badly. And when his recovery finally stabilized, her body held the bill: panic attacks, rage, and a grief that had nowhere to go while things were still dangerous. She eventually came to a kind of peace, but only after Matt began holding real accountability, not just staying sober. The conversation covers the question of when an addict actually earns credit from their partner, the long gap between sobriety and true marital recovery, how they talk to their kids about addiction, and what it means to finally feel known by someone rather than just tolerated. This is a candid, unsentimental look at what it takes to come back from something that breaks most couples apart. Key TakeawaysSobriety and marital recovery are not the same clock. For Matt and Paige, it took nearly a decade after Matt got sober for Paige to feel genuinely safe again.When one partner gets well, the other one often falls apart. Paige's panic attacks and depression showed up four years into Matt's sobriety, once she finally felt safe enough to stop holding everything together.Feeling known is different from knowing someone. Matt describes the shift in their marriage as the moment they both stopped managing each other and started actually seeing each other.Validation is not a soft skill. Paige names Matt learning to validate her experience, not dismiss or minimize it, as one of the most meaningful turning points in their relationship.Putting your marriage first is not selfish parenting. Matt and Paige kept the marriage as the anchor even through the chaos of raising kids, and they're clear that a thriving marriage is part of what their kids need to witness.The spouse's story often goes untold. There are far more resources for addicts than for the partners who stay, hold things together, and absorb the fallout. Matt and Paige built their podcast specifically to fill that gap.Recovery for the partner requires genuine accountability from the addict, not just behavior change. Paige needed Matt to name what he had done to her before her body would let her relax.Curiosity is what keeps a long marriage alive. Even 25 years in, Matt describes Paige as someone he's still discovering, and he credits that sense of ongoing curiosity as part of what keeps them close. Guest Info Matt and Paige Hosts of Till the Wheels Fall Off, a podcast focused on the experience of spouses and partners of people struggling with addiction. Matt has 13 years of sobriety following a ten-year opioid addiction that began after an injury in his mid-twenties. Paige navigated those years as a partner who didn't know addiction was the cause of what she was living through, and has become a voice for others in similar situations. The show publishes three episodes per week, is over 300 episodes deep, and has a companion program built alongside a licensed therapist as well as a free Facebook community for listeners. Podcast: Till the Wheels Fall Off https://twfo.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 421 The Other Side of Divorce with Susie and Paul Pettit 21.04.2026 51min

  Zach sits down with Susie and Paul, a couple who found each other through the comment section of a meditation app, fell in love before ever seeing each other's faces, and eventually moved across the globe to build a life together in Wollongong, Australia. Both came out of 20-year marriages. Both made the decision to leave. And both arrived at this second chapter with a fundamentally different understanding of what a relationship is actually for. The conversation covers a lot of ground: the fear and courage it takes to end a marriage, what the brain does when it's protecting you from change, and why staying in stable misery can feel like the smarter option even when it clearly isn't. Susie, a life coach and host of the Love Your Life Show, talks about how she once saw relationships as a transaction, where she got something and gave something back, and how completely that framing has shifted. Paul, who has spent a decade studying, practicing, and teaching Buddhism and mindfulness, brings a steadying philosophy: you are the creator of your experience, not the victim of your circumstance, and your emotions exist to teach you, not to be avoided. Together they describe a marriage built on two whole people rather than two people trying to complete each other, and what it actually looks like in practice, including how Paul came back after a moment of frustration over grocery bags and said, simply, that he'd been a little unregulated earlier. Susie calls it the sexiest thing a man can do. What makes this episode stick is how honest it is about the cost of the path they took and the fruit of it. All five of their kids, across two blended families, are thriving. And neither Susie nor Paul thinks that's a coincidence. Key TakeawaysYour brain will give you every reason to stay in a relationship that isn't working because discomfort is still known, and known feels safeLeaving a long marriage at midlife is not a failure. Sometimes the most courageous act is moving toward discomfort instead of away from itA relationship is not a transaction. It's a container for self-growth and a practice in loving someone imperfectlyOne plus one should equal three: two whole, self-responsible people creating something stronger together, not two halves looking for completionThe most important things to cultivate in yourself and to look for in a partner: the ability to self-regulate and the ability to repairRepair doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as "I could have handled that more skillfully" or "I was a little unregulated earlier"Your emotions aren't happening to you. They're here to teach you something. The path through discomfort is the path, not a detour from itStaying in a broken marriage "for the kids" may be the very thing harming them. What children need modeled is not a facade of togetherness but emotional honesty and growth Guest Info Susie is a life coach and educator who works primarily with women on emotional intelligence, relationships, and parenting. She hosts the Love Your Life Show podcast (now at 400 episodes) and runs a monthly membership called the Love Your Life School, which offers classes on emotional regulation, difficult conversations, and parenting coaching, along with live coaching. She offers a free podcast roadmap at her website for new listeners looking for a starting point. https://smbwell.com/ Paul is Susie's husband and a decade-long practitioner, student, and teacher of Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation. He is the author of 9756 Miles to Happiness, named for the exact distance between where he and Susie were living when they met. He is offering MTR listeners a free 15-minute consultation through his website, https://www.paulpettit.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 420 What If Taking Responsibility Is the Most Romantic Thing You Can Do? w/ Arlina and Bob Allen 14.04.2026 45min

  Zach sits down with Arlina and Bob Allen, a couple who met in a recovery community over 30 years ago and have been building their marriage with the same tools ever since. What starts as a surprisingly revealing Game of Thrones conversation (they watch it on repeat as a bedtime ritual, and yes, they have strong opinions about House of the Dragon) turns into a grounded, real-world look at how recovery principles translate directly into relational health. Arlina walks through a go-to story from early in their relationship: a tipping dispute at a dinner with friends that spiraled into a full-blown money fight. She breaks down the four-column resentment inventory she learned in recovery, showing how she moved from "it's clearly his fault" to "oh no, I'm the jerk." Bob talks about the role his men's group played as a sounding board, helping him sort through what was his business and what wasn't before bringing anything back to Arlina. Together, they describe a pattern of going to their separate corners, doing individual work, and coming back ready to own their part. The conversation shifts into their current season of life: approaching the empty nest, figuring out what retirement looks like, and trying to answer the question "what kind of experiences do we want to have?" Zach reframes self-care as something that is actually selfish not to do, comparing it to an athlete hiding an injury from their team. Arlina and Bob both affirm that their self-care practices, morning routines, gratitude, exercise, prayer, are what keep them showing up as the best versions of themselves for each other. This is a couple who makes 31 years look like something worth rooting for. Key TakeawaysResentment is the wedge that drives couples apart. Having a structured process to work through it, not just vent about it, is what keeps it from calcifying.The four-column inventory (who, why, how it affected you, and your part) is a simple, powerful tool for getting honest with yourself before you try to get honest with your partner.Money fights are almost never about math. They're about fear, control, and what you believe you deserve.Having your own people (sponsors, friends, a therapist) to process with before bringing conflict back to your partner changes everything about how the conversation goes.An amends is not just "I'm sorry." It's naming the impact of your behavior and asking what you can do to make it right.Self-care is not selfish. Skipping it is. When you don't take care of yourself, your partner is the one who pays the price.You can "out-responsible" each other in conflict. Instead of chicken-and-egging blame in one direction, try racing to own your part first.Couples who laugh about old fights have usually done the real work underneath. The lightness is earned, not accidental.Guest InfoArlina Allen: Entrepreneur, sobriety coach, podcast host, and author of The 12 Step Guide for Skeptics. Arlina supports people who are considering quitting drinking or figuring out life after getting sober. Website: soberlifeschool.comBob Allen: Communications professional who describes himself as "the guy in the chair," orchestrating communication across teams from engineers to executives. Bob is not on social media by choice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 419 Zach on the Sexology Podcast: Negative Sentiment Override and Erotic Connection 07.04.2026 34min

  Zach is traveling this week, so this episode features his guest appearance on the Sexology Podcast with Dr. Nazanin Moali. Zach joins Dr. Nazanin Moali on the Sexology Podcast for a conversation about how the emotional climate of a relationship directly shapes what happens (or doesn't happen) in the bedroom. The focus is Negative Sentiment Override, a concept from John Gottman's research that describes what happens when couples get stuck in a pattern where even neutral or well-meaning moments get filtered through a lens of criticism, contempt, or defensiveness. It's the kind of thing that quietly erodes connection without either partner fully understanding why. The conversation covers how positive and negative emotional filters work, why a simple comment about pasta can become a full-blown conflict when trust is low, and how gender socialization plays into desire patterns in ways most couples never talk about. Zach and Dr. Moali also talk about the gap between impulse and response, the role of personal responsibility in conflict, and why contempt carries a particular kind of poison because it comes wrapped in a feeling of superiority. What makes this conversation worth your time is the way it connects relational safety to sexual vulnerability. If your relationship feels charged, tense, or emotionally distant, that almost always shows up in your intimate life too. Zach and Dr. Moali reframe what sex is actually for in a long-term relationship and make the case for scheduling erotic play and expanding what intimacy can look like. It's practical, grounded, and refreshingly honest. Key TakeawaysNegative Sentiment Override means your partner's neutral actions start getting interpreted through a filter of criticism or hostility, and it happens gradually enough that you may not notice.Emotional safety is the foundation of sexual vulnerability. If it doesn't feel safe to be honest in the kitchen, it won't feel safe to be honest in the bedroom.The "pasta example" is a good litmus test: if your partner makes dinner and your first internal response is irritation rather than gratitude, your filter may have shifted negative.Contempt is uniquely damaging because it comes with a sense of superiority. It's not just anger; it's the belief that you're better than your partner.Gender socialization shapes desire in ways most couples never discuss openly, and those unspoken patterns create misunderstandings that look like rejection.Slowing down the space between impulse and response is one of the most powerful things you can do for your relationship. Reactivity is the enemy of repair.Taking personal responsibility in conflict is not about taking blame. It's about owning your part of the dynamic so something can actually shift.Scheduling erotic play and broadening what counts as intimacy helps couples move past the pressure of performance and back toward genuine connection.Guest Info This episode is a guest appearance by Zach on the Sexology Podcast. Host: Dr. Nazanin Moali, clinical psychologist and host of the Sexology Podcast Website: sexologypodcast.com Instagram: @sexologypodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 418 Resolving Dissonance: What Bands and Marriages Have in Common w/Ron and Catrina 31.03.2026 59min

  Zach sits down with Ron and Catrina, a married couple behind the YouTube music show Covers on the Spot, to find out what happens when you treat a relationship like a live recording session. Ron is the creative director and host of the show, where bands are given a song they have never heard and tasked with covering it in a single day. Catrina is a graphic designer on the same media team at Musora and the quieter half of a pairing that, by their own description, sounds like "something harmonic." Together, they have three kids, a shared workplace, and a relationship built on aligned values and very different processing speeds. Using a "covers on the spot" framework for the conversation, Zach gives Ron and Catrina relationship prompts and asks them to riff. What comes out is a candid look at how they handle conflict, protect their time together, and keep choosing each other through the daily grind of parenting and working side by side. Catrina is open about her tendency toward passive aggression and the work she is doing to change it. Ron talks honestly about learning to stop "winning" arguments and start listening instead. One of the most striking moments comes when Catrina says their relationship at its best sounds like silence: quiet, smooth, still moving. Zach ties it all together with a Ben Folds story about orchestras resolving dissonance, not just difference, and drops one of his signature reframes: repair is more important than resolve. This is an episode for anyone who has ever stayed up until 2 a.m. trying to fix something with their partner and wondered if there was a better way. Key TakeawaysWinning the argument is not the same thing as being right about the relationshipGiving your partner time to process is not waiting. It is participating.A relationship is not something you find. It is something you build with someone who wants to build with you.Repair is more important than resolve. You can go to bed without solving it and still be okay.Protecting your time together matters more than filling your calendar with activityThe best relationships keep evolving their sound. What worked five years ago may not be the song you need now.Constraints (kids, time, fatigue) can actually sharpen how a couple communicates, not just limit itVulnerability is daring to be fully honest with someone, not just showing them the version of yourself you think they wantGuest InfoRon (Catrina's husband): Producer and host of Covers on the Spot, a YouTube music show where bands cover a song they have never heard in a single day. Former high school musical theater teacher. Based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.Catrina (Ron's wife): Graphic designer at Musora. Handles YouTube thumbnails, Instagram assets, and physical product design. Former theater student (played Ariel in The Tempest). Self-described introvert.They have three children.They started dating January 1, 2011 after being friends since high school.Covers on the Spot: YouTube PlaylistMusora (music lessons platform): musora.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 417 Aligning Your Numbers and Your Values w/Natalie and Dan Slagle 24.03.2026 49min

  Zach sits down with Natalie and Dan Slagle, a married couple and co-founders of Fyooz Financial Planning, to explore why money is one of the most charged—and revealing—topics in relationships. Despite being financial professionals, Natalie and Dan found themselves running into the same conflicts as the couples they serve. The issue wasn’t knowledge. It was meaning. They describe how two people can look at the exact same number—$2,700 spent this month—and experience it completely differently. For Natalie, it can trigger scarcity and concern about staying within limits. For Dan, it can represent flexibility and confidence that everything will be okay. Same number. Different story. The conversation explores how those differences are rooted in early experiences: Natalie learning at a young age to separate “needs” from “wants” and take responsibility for the latter, while Dan grew up in a household where generosity and gift-giving shaped his relationship to money. Zach helps reframe the tension: the problem isn’t who’s right—it’s that couples often don’t realize they’re talking about different contexts entirely. One partner may be thinking about this month’s budget, while the other is thinking about long-term security. Natalie and Dan share the simple but powerful practice that changed everything for them: regular, structured money conversations. By sitting down together—often in a public space to keep things grounded—and asking each other how they feel about the numbers, they’ve been able to move from assumption to alignment. The conversation expands beyond finances into time, parenting, and partnership—especially as they navigate building a business together while raising a young child. From learning how to “clock out” of work to intentionally creating space to miss each other again, Natalie and Dan offer a practical and honest look at what it takes to stay connected in a shared life. This episode is a reminder that money problems are rarely about money—they’re about meaning, communication, and learning how to build a shared vision. Key TakeawaysThe same financial number can mean completely different things to each partnerMoney is measurable, which makes conflict around it more intenseFinancial behaviors are deeply shaped by childhood experiencesAssumptions—not numbers—are often the real source of conflictStructured conversations reduce anxiety and increase alignmentTalking about how you feel about money matters as much as the mathHousehold values should guide how money is spentSeparation (work, space, roles) can increase connection in relationships Guest Info Natalie & Dan Slagle Natalie and Dan are a married couple and co-founders of Fyooz Financial Planning, a firm focused on helping couples align their finances with their values and life goals. Their work sits at the intersection of financial strategy and relational dynamics—helping couples not just manage money, but communicate about it effectively.Website: https://www.fyoozfinancial.com/Free consultations available nationwide (U.S.-based clients) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 416 Multiple Love, One Commitment to Repair w/ Hazel Grace & Nico 17.03.2026 56min

  Zach sits down with Hazel Grace and Nico for a wide-ranging conversation about polyamory, relational integrity, and what it actually takes to repair after conflict.
• Ep 415 Cancer, Recovery, and Us with Pete and Tasha 10.03.2026 54min

  Zach sits down with Pete and Tasha, a couple whose relationship was forged in the middle of some of life’s hardest realities: addiction, cancer, caregiving, recovery, and the challenge of staying connected when survival itself becomes the focus. Pete and Tasha met in Boulder after years of each pursuing health and healing in different ways. Tasha had already devoted much of her life to recovery from eating disorders, addiction, and chronic illness, and she knew she wanted a partner who was committed to that same path. Pete initially appeared to be on that path too, but as their relationship deepened, more of his struggle with addiction surfaced. Then, shortly after getting engaged, everything escalated: Pete began experiencing severe symptoms and was ultimately diagnosed with a life-threatening tumor in his mediastinum, wrapped around his trachea and pressing against his heart and lungs. What follows is not just a story about illness. It’s a story about what happens to a couple when one person becomes “the patient” and the other becomes “the caregiver,” and how hard it is to keep that dynamic from hardening into resentment, overfunctioning, codependence, and loss of reciprocity. Pete talks about how cancer forced him to confront not only his physical condition but the deeper patterns underneath his addiction and lifestyle. Tasha reflects on the toll of supporting him through treatment while also trying not to lose herself in fixing, managing, and carrying too much. Together, they explore what it means to heal in relationship: how trust gets rebuilt after dishonesty, how accountability has to become daily practice, and how love matures when both people are willing to face their own patterns. They describe practical tools they now use—like regular honesty check-ins, weekly date nights, therapy, and explicit conversations about support, food, recovery, and emotional responsibility—to keep their relationship from sliding into the old “nagging wife / resentful husband” script. This is a deeply layered conversation about partnership under pressure, and about choosing each other not just in romance, but in recovery, grief, health, and the long work of becoming whole. Key Takeaways Serious illness can expose everything already under strain in a relationship Addiction and cancer may look different, but both can force deep reckoning with identity, pain, and self-responsibility Caregiving can become overfunctioning if couples are not intentional about reciprocity Honesty has to be practiced, not assumed Recovery is not just individual; it reshapes the couple dynamic Love is not enough without accountability, boundaries, and tools Trust can be rebuilt, but it requires repeated truth-telling Healing together means learning how not to collapse into patient/caregiver roles forever Guest Info PetePete is the founder of Evolve Health https://www.evolvvhealth.com, where he supports cancer patients through coaching and resource navigation after his own experience with cancer treatment and recovery. TashaTasha is a therapeutic mentor who works with people recovering from chronic illness, addiction, and eating disorders, helping them better understand their patterns and develop healing tools for a more resilient life. Her practice is Resilient Grace https://www.resilient-grace.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 414 The State of the Union: One Year Later | with Robin and Hector 03.03.2026 52min

  One year ago, Robin and Hector came on the show after their first year together. Now they’re back for a relationship “State of the Union.” Using a framework from the Gottman Method, Zach walks them through four powerful questions designed to help couples stay connected, prevent resentment, and strengthen emotional safety: What did we get right? How can I specifically appreciate you? Is there anything we need to repair? What’s coming up, and how can I support you? What unfolds is a masterclass in intentional love. They talk about: Learning empathy at a deeper level Building safety through micro-moments Giving each other the benefit of the doubt Taking accountability before blame creeps in Naming insecurities instead of letting them grow Supporting each other through major life transitions Robin is launching her book Real Love Ready: A Guide to Relational Literacy. Hector is preparing for a major hiking trip. They’re opening a taco shop. They’re blending families. They’re building businesses. And through it all, they’re keeping their relationship clear. This episode is both an update and a practical tool you can use immediately in your own relationship. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to conduct a weekly “State of the Union” conversation Why positive sentiment must come before hard conversations The power of leading with accountability instead of accusation How empathy transforms conflict Why repair attempts should happen quickly How to name insecurities before they become explosions What it means to “keep the relationship clear” How to support your partner through busy seasons The Four Questions (State of the Union Framework) If you want to try this at home, here are the questions Zach uses: What did we get right this week? How can I specifically appreciate or celebrate you? Is there anything we need to repair, revisit, or apologize for? What’s coming up, and how can I support you? When practiced regularly, this keeps small issues from turning into big ones—and builds an emotional bank account that protects your relationship. Guest Info Robin Founder of Real Love Ready Website: https://www.realloveready.com Conference (In Bloom): April 10–12 Book: Real Love Ready: A Guide to Relational Literacy (Available April 7) Robin’s work centers around relational literacy—breaking down big relationship concepts into practical, learnable skills. Hector Entrepreneur, chef, and emotional growth enthusiast. Co-founder of their upcoming taco venture Creator of a long-perfected chili oil recipe (15 years in the making!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 413 From Pattern to Partnership | Session 3 with Brian and Kristen 24.02.2026 39min

  In this final session of the three-part series, Brian and Kristen reflect on what has shifted—and what still feels tender. They don’t have “big crimes” in their marriage. No betrayal. No catastrophe. What they have are patterns. And the courage to look at them. This episode centers on their struggle around the language of “over-functioner” and “under-functioner.” What started as a helpful framework became a pain point—especially for Brian, whose family-of-origin history makes accusations of “not doing enough” land deeply. Zach helps them untangle what’s really underneath the label: It’s not about over-functioning. It’s about expectations. It’s about connection before correction. It’s about role clarity. It’s about appreciation. Through a simple example—a snowy driveway on the day they learned a friend had died—the couple sees how context, grief, and unmet expectations can spiral quickly. But they also discover something new: Brian doesn’t need fewer requests. He needs more connection and appreciation first. Kristen doesn’t need better labels. She needs help carrying the mental and emotional load. In the end, they shift from asking, “Who’s over- or under-functioning?” to asking: Who’s showing up right now—and how can we show up better for each other? Key Takeaways Labels can illuminate—but they can also wound Context (stress, grief, hunger, fatigue) matters more than theory Connection before correction changes everything Over-functioning often hides an unspoken request for help Defensiveness often protects an old family-of-origin wound Appreciation softens difficult conversations “What do you want more of?” is more useful than “What do you want less of?” Playing the long game means collaborating, not competing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 412 Breaking the Script | Session 2 with Brian and Kristen 17.02.2026 50min

  Brian and Kristen return after completing their homework: mapping their recurring conflict pattern step-by-step. And something shifts. Instead of focusing on who’s right, they begin identifying when the pattern starts, how it escalates, and where they might choose something different. They talk about having a “good week,” more laughter, and fewer misunderstandings—but Zach presses deeper: Was it luck, or was it intentional? What unfolds is a layered conversation about stress, chronic pain, medication changes, PMS, defensiveness, and the powerful internal story Brian carries that says, “If there’s a problem, it must be me.” Zach helps them connect the dots between depression’s lies, physiological stress, and how quickly neutral requests can turn into personal threat. The couple names their 10-step pattern openly—fight or flight, overthinking, mounting a defense, physical withdrawal—and begins experimenting with something new: interrupting the script before it reaches step six. This episode isn’t about resolution. It’s about pattern awareness and learning how to redirect before old muscle memory takes over. They close by identifying the next layer to explore in Episode 3: their over-functioner / under-functioner dynamic—and how it triggers deeper family-of-origin wounds. Key Takeaways A “good week” is often intentional, not accidental Externalizing the problem (“us vs. the schedule”) strengthens the team Physiological stress (sleep, pain, hormones, meds) directly impacts conflict Depression distorts perception and reinforces “I’m the problem” narratives Defensiveness often protects something deeply valuable Mapping a conflict pattern creates space for choice Interrupting the script—even once—builds momentum Repair matters more than resolution “Something new” is the antidote to “more of the same” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 411 We’ve Had This Fight Before | Session 1 with Brian and Kristen 10.02.2026 50min

  Zach begins a three-part series with Brian and Kristen, longtime MTR listeners who volunteered to work through their marriage challenges in real time. Brian and Kristen have been together for more than two decades and credit Marriage Therapy Radio as a resource that helped them find language for patterns they felt—but couldn’t name. They describe how listening separately (not together) gave them neutral ground to reflect, build vocabulary, and bring conversations back into their marriage without escalating conflict. The focus of this first session is a familiar cycle: Brian’s defensiveness, Kristen’s experience of being misunderstood, and the growing frustration around repair always landing on one partner. Zach helps them slow the pattern down, name the dynamics at play, and examine how early family modeling, parenting pressure, and long-term habits have shaped their responses to conflict. Rather than trying to “fix” the marriage, this episode centers on clarity: understanding what actually happens when things go off the rails, differentiating between feeling attacked and being attacked, and identifying where each partner has agency. Zach reframes responsibility not as blame, but as freedom—emphasizing that each partner can choose how they show up regardless of the other’s behavior. The episode closes with a concrete assignment: mapping their recurring argument step-by-step so they can externalize the pattern and begin changing it together in the next session. Key Takeaways Long marriages still require new skills as life circumstances change Defensiveness often comes from perceived threat, not actual attack Feeling misunderstood can be as painful as being criticized Responsibility is most powerful when it’s chosen, not demanded Repair patterns can unintentionally create resentment Taking breaks during conflict can prevent escalation and shutdown Naming the pattern creates options for change Playfulness and lightness are essential for long-term connection Why This Episode Matters This episode offers a rare, transparent look at the beginning of relational work—not the polished outcome. Brian and Kristen model what it looks like to be curious, honest, and willing to be seen while still feeling stuck. For listeners, this is an invitation to recognize familiar patterns in their own relationships and to remember: insight is the first step, not the finish line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 410 Make a Better You, Make a Better Marriage with Meygan and Casey Caston 03.02.2026 44min

  Zach sits down with Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, to talk about how a marriage that nearly collapsed in year three became the foundation for a global relationship resource. Both Casey and Meygan grew up surrounded by divorce, affairs, and unresolved conflict. Determined not to repeat their parents’ patterns, they entered marriage with optimism—but no tools. By year three, resentment, blame, and emotional shutdown had taken over, and Meygan found herself convinced she had made the biggest mistake of her life. What changed everything wasn’t mutual effort at first—it was personal responsibility. After starting therapy alone, Meygan learned boundaries, emotional regulation, and how to take ownership of her part of the dance. Thirteen months later, her changed posture toward conflict forced a shift in the relationship dynamic, and Casey began doing his own work. Together, they share how changing one partner changes the entire system; why marriage is not about solo dancing; and how resentment—not communication—is usually the real problem couples face. Zach weaves in his own frameworks around adulthood, repair, and the “dance” of relationship, while Casey and Meygan offer practical insight from years of coaching couples in crisis. The conversation also explores forgiveness, curiosity, intentional choice, cultural myths about love, and why healthy marriages are built through habits—not hope. Key Takeaways You’re not stuck – Changing yourself changes the relationship system. Marriage is a team sport – Two people dancing separately isn’t partnership. Resentment breaks communication – Most “communication problems” are really unresolved hurt. Repair requires ownership – A real apology validates pain and invites rebuilding trust. Acceptance matters – Forgiveness doesn’t have to be instant, but honesty does. Curiosity beats defensiveness – Looking inward is the first step toward growth. Feelings fluctuate; choices endure – Love is sustained through intentional action. Differences aren’t the enemy – Harmony comes from resolving dissonance, not eliminating it. Guest Info Casey & Meygan Caston Casey and Meygan are the founders of Marriage365, a relationship coaching platform dedicated to helping couples build intentional, resilient marriages. Drawing from their own near-divorce story and years of coaching experience, they offer practical tools, habits, and frameworks for repair, communication, and connection. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriage365/ New Book The Marriage Habit — releasing February 3, 2026A practical, habit-based framework for couples who want clarity on how to build a strong marriage—not just why it matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 409 No One Wins Alone: Lessons in Partnership from Escape Room Experts David and Lisa Spira 27.01.2026 55min

  Zach sits down with David and Lisa, long-time partners and leaders in the escape room world, to explore what thousands of hours of collaborative problem-solving have taught them about communication, conflict, and teamwork. They talk about why escape rooms reward kindness over brilliance, why “being right” is a losing strategy, and how the habits that help teams escape under pressure are the same ones that help couples thrive in real life. From debriefing mistakes without blame to celebrating small wins—even when you lose—this conversation offers a surprisingly practical framework for building resilient, collaborative relationships. Key Takeaways Escape rooms reward communication and kindness, not intelligence or dominance The fastest way to lose—both in games and relationships—is trying to win alone Healthy teams normalize double-checking, feedback, and shared responsibility Conflict works best when it happens after the pressure, not during it Strong partnerships focus on learning from mistakes, not litigating them Celebrating small wins matters—even when the overall outcome isn’t perfect Mutual respect and curiosity are foundational to long-term collaboration Guest Info David & LisaPartners in life and business, David and Lisa are leading voices in the escape room community. They have played more than 1,300 escape rooms worldwide, built a global community of players, and help people experience collaborative play through reviews, tours, and industry leadership. They are the team behind Room Escape Artist, a trusted resource for discovering high-quality escape rooms around the world, and they also run curated escape room tours that bring players together across cities and countries. Website: https://roomescapeartist.com Email: contact@roomescapeartist.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
• Ep 408 When Desire Changes the Marriage with Courtney and Nathan Boyer 20.01.2026 42min

  Zach sits down with Courtney and Nathan Boyer, a couple married for over twenty years, parenting three kids, and living overseas on a U.S. military base in Germany. Courtney and Nathan share the story of a major turning point in their marriage—when Courtney asked to open the relationship after years of suppressing her needs, identity, and desire. Raised in a strict religious culture, Courtney explains how she spent much of her marriage prioritizing her husband’s career and her role as a mother, slowly becoming resentful and disconnected from herself. Nathan, a military physician, reflects on how his drive for achievement and constant “next step” mindset left him unaware of how much was being lost along the way. The couple walks through the six-month conversation that followed Courtney’s request—marked by resistance, fear, patience, and an honest willingness to walk away if they couldn’t find a way forward together. Nathan shares what it was like to realize he is deeply monogamous at his core, while Courtney names polyamory as an essential part of her identity rather than a lifestyle choice. They also talk candidly about shame, public backlash, parenting through non-traditional choices, and the surprising ways opening the relationship strengthened their emotional and sexual connection. Throughout the conversation, Zach highlights the importance of long-form conversations, adult responsibility, and the courage it takes to renegotiate a marriage rather than quietly disappear inside it. This episode is a nuanced, human look at love, consent, identity, and what it means to grow without abandoning one another. Key Takeaways Long-term marriages go through distinct cycles tied to life stages, not just emotions Suppressing needs often leads to resentment, not stability Identity shifts don’t happen overnight—they require long conversations Consent includes the real option to walk away Monogamy and polyamory can coexist in one marriage with clarity and care Erotic energy and trust can grow through expansion, not just exclusivity Adult relationships require ongoing renegotiation, not silent endurance Guest Info Courtney Boyer Relationship coach, author, and creator behind The Monopoly Couple. Courtney writes and speaks about identity, desire, religious conditioning, and non-traditional relationships. Website: https://www.courtneyboyercoaching.com/ Book: Opened (launching February 17)https://www.courtneyboyercoaching.com/store/p/opened Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonopolycouple/ Nathan Boyer Military physician and longtime partner to Courtney.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.