Episode Description

Most women are taught there are only two ways to move through conflict and relationships:

• Be nice → swallow your feelings, smooth things over, keep the peace at your own expense
• Be strong → armor up, go sharp, cut people off, or handle everything yourself
• 
  

Neither one feels good. Neither feels like you.

In this episode of Is It Me or Is It Them?, I share the lightning-bolt insight that helped me name the heart of what so much of my work is really about: a third way for women, a middle ground where you don’t have to choose between being a doormat or a battle axe, where you can hold soft power: clear, kind, and steady.

You’ll hear how over-tolerating and over-hitting both come from the same place (fear), what it means to live from simply zeroing in on what's actually true, and how the Bold as Love Collective helps women practice this “soft AND strong” way of being in real life.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The two default “templates” many women are handed:
• be nice (self-abandonment) or be strong (hard, defended, distant)
• Why both options come from the same place: fear of conflict, rejection, and being “too much” or “not enough”
• How swinging between silence and explosion keeps you out of alignment with what you actually want
• Why we need to get honest with ourselves faster and act and speak from here (What is really happening here? What is actually true for me? What do I want to see happen here?)
• The idea of soft power:
• soft without being a doormat
• strong without being a battle axe
• clear without being cruel
• honest without burning everything down
• How to set “rules of engagement” for yourself (your own internal policies for how you do relationship)
• Why “win–win relationships” can become a powerful compass when you’re deciding how to respond
• The difference between tidying your side of the street vs. trying to control how other people react
• How practicing this third way changes not just big conflicts, but the tiny everyday interactions with partners, family, coworkers, and strangers
• 
  

Key Takeaways

• Feeling powerful because you snapped or withdrew is not the same as feeling grounded, confident and steady in your truth.
• Numbing out and blowing up are both protection strategies, not self-respect.
• Soft power sounds like: “I’m neither collapsing nor exploding. I’m steady. I’ll have my own back, no matter what.”
• You can be honest and boundaried and still be loving, considerate, and kind.
• The real shift happens when your words and actions line up with who you actually want to be — even in the messy moments.
• 
  

Mentioned in This Episode: The Bold as Love Collective

If you’re tired of choosing between being a doormat or being “the difficult one,” you’ll love Bold as Love Collective— A 3-month coaching circle for women who want:

• clearer, cleaner boundaries (without guilt or explosion)
• fewer spirals before (and after) hard conversations
• a steadier, more self-assured presence in their relationships
• softness without disappearing; strength without the hard shell
• 
  

It’s part self-paced course, part live virtual circle, and fully focused on practicing this third way in the real world, with ourselves, the people we love and the ones who push our buttons.

👉 Learn more / join the next round: here.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

We’re taught to toughen up, care less, harden ourselves. But you probably already know that none of that actually works. It doesn't make us safer or more confident, it just sends us into a tug of war with ourselves. In this episode, April unpacks the powerful middle ground — where softness and self-respect can live together — and shares a story that reframes what real strength can look like.

In This Episode:

• Why “toughening up” disconnects you from your instincts
• The trap of believing softness equals weakness
• How we confuse fear-based posturing with strength
• The difference between the performance of confidence and genuine grounded power
• What it looks like to be clear without being cruel
• How to listen to your body’s cues instead of overriding them
• The third option between collapsing and attacking
• Why real safety lives in self-trust, not force.

Key Takeaways:

• Softness isn’t vulnerability to harm — it’s your internal compass.
• If you have to try to force someone to respect you and treat you well- you're dealing with a completely different problem.
• Power isn’t making others bend to your will; it’s knowing you can have your own back in any room you walk into.
• Discernment comes from staying connected to yourself and listening to your emotions, not armouring up and shutting down.
• 
  

Links Mentioned:

• Join the Bold as Love Collective Experience (starting January)
• Learn more about the program
• Connect with April on Instagram / Email

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

When something feels off in a relationship, how do you know whether to speak up… or let it go?

In this episode of Is It Me or Is It Them?, I walk you through two real-life friendship situations - one that led to a soft, productive conversation, and another that crashed and burned - to help you understand how to make this decision with more clarity and self-assurance.

This episode is especially for you if you tend to overthink conversations, carry resentment quietly, or struggle with knowing when to address something versus adapting your expectations.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• When the hurt or frustration “lingers” and why that’s an important signal
• Why waiting before responding (instead of reacting) can change everything
• What it actually means to “clear the air” — and what you’re really asking for when you do
• A real example of speaking up that led to reassurance, repair, and deeper understanding
• A second example where speaking up led to defensiveness, shutdown, and another problem to be solved.
• How to tell if you’re truly letting something go — or just going quiet and resentful
• Why not every relationship needs the same standards
• How boundaries are often about what you will do differently moving forward
• Letting go of personalization when someone’s behaviour is about their own patterns
• Deciding who still gets a seat at your table — and on what terms
• 
  

Mentioned in This Episode: Bold as Love

If this episode resonates, you’ll love the work we’re doing inside The Bold as Love Collective— a small, intimate coaching collective for women who want to:

• stop overfunctioning and overgiving
• navigate hard conversations with steadiness and clarity
• set boundaries without guilt or explosion
• feel more self-trust, confidence, and integrity in their relationships
• 
  

👉 Learn more here.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Are your expectations a little unrealistic? If you’ve been feeling that pressure to be endlessly composed, endlessly capable, endlessly “fine” — this episode is for you.

We’re talking about the real reason perfectionism shows up (hint: it’s not a personality trait). It’s an old survival strategy your nervous system learned a long time ago… one that might be quietly running your life today.

Inside this episode you’ll hear:

• why your self-criticism spikes when you make a mistake
• how old patterns of people-pleasing and “getting it right” still shape your reactions
• the one question that shows you whether a standard is actually yours — or conditioning
• how perfectionism disconnects you from yourself and your relationships
• what to do in the exact moment you feel the trap door of shame start to open

I also share a real-life story about a mistake I made last week — and how easy it is to fall back into old patterns unless we consciously choose something different.

Perfectionism isn’t about being better.

It’s about feeling safer.

And once you understand that, everything softens.

If this conversation hits close to home…

You’ll love the work we’re doing inside The Bold as Love Collective, my intimate coaching circle for women who want to stop overthinking, stop over-functioning, and start showing up with truth, steadiness, and self-respect — in every relationship they care about.

We start in January, and early registration is now open.

Join us here → [link]

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Have you been feeling the urge to reach out to that old friend you took distance from? As we move into the holidays it can be tempting to re-connect— send a quick message, extend an invite, or reopen the door with someone we’ve drifted from. But how do you know whether it’s a relationship worth revisiting… or one that’s better left gently in the past?

In this episode, we help you decide whether to re-engage with an old friend, or keep your distance. You’ll hear some important questions you need to ask yourself, real examples, and a grounded look at the difference between healthy discomfort and unhealthy self-abandonment.

In This Episode We Explore:

• How duty and obligation can both connect and confine us
• How to tell when a relationship brings more stress than support
• Why we need to think of our time and energy as "investments"
• How the people around you shape who you become
• Some key questions, like: Has anything actually changed?
• Getting honest about your standards and what you are willing to put up with

Reflection Questions to Consider:

1. What’s driving the urge to reconnect — guilt, habit, or expectation?
2. Do you have the capacity to carry someone who brings weight instead of warmth?
3. What kind of relationships do you believe in surrounding yourself with?

A Takeaway to Sit With:

You can love someone, care about them, and hold fond memories — and still choose distance. Protecting your peace can be an act of honesty, not rejection.

For Women Who Want Support With This Kind of Work & More Connections with Likeminded Folk:

I'm reopening The Bold as Love Collective — a three-month coaching circle for women who have a tendency towards overthinking, over-functioning, and over-giving, and want to feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded in their relationships and conversations.

If you want to feel more seen without performing and more heard without raising your voice, check out all the info here and DM with questions.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

If you’re wrestling with the choice to go to the family event or finally opt out of the chaos, this episode is for you.

Today we explore how to decide whether you should go, skip it, or do things differently this year.

You’ll hear questions, reflections, and practical guidance to help you get honest about what you’re walking into, what it will cost you emotionally, and what you actually want or need.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The real cost of going

What usually happens when you show up?

Why do the same dynamics keep repeating?

And why does it take days to recover afterward?

• How to see the situation clearly

Who are you showing up for really?

What are the unrealistic hopes that keep you stuck in the same toxic loops?

How to get honest about what usually happens, without minimizing or sugarcoating it.

• Understanding your own triggers

Why certain people hit your deepest buttons

How old wounds get activated

And how that plays into the dread and emotional overwhelm you feel

• How to protect your peace if you do decide to go

Setting clear intentions for yourself

Showing up in a more detached, grounded way

Not engaging with the people who drain you

Choosing arrival and exit strategies that support you

Honouring your own bottom line

• The “third option” we don’t talk about enough

It’s not only:

pretend everything’s fine and keep performing…or

cut everyone off and keep your distance.

There’s also the thoughtful middle path: deciding how to engage on your own terms.

If you’re struggling with family expectations or difficult in-law dynamics, this episode will help you:

• see the situation more clearly
• get honest about what’s actually happening and what you need to be okay
• understand your emotional reactions
• protect your peace
• choose a path that honours your wellbeing and your desire for connection
• 
  

Want some extra support?

If you want my help sorting out your specific situation—whether to stay, go, or set a plan for navigating it differently—you can reach out any time.

📧 Email: april@lovelossproject.com

📷 Instagram: @with.love.april

If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who might need it this holiday season.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Have you ever replayed a conversation - picking apart what you said, how you said it, or wishing you’d handled it differently? Maybe a mistake or embarrassing moment left you spiralling for days into shame and self-loathing?

There’s a big difference between self-reflection and self-attack.  One is productive. The other is just punishment.

✨ Self-reflection sounds like:

“What was happening for me in that moment?”

“What need is being brought to my attention?”

“How could I do this differently moving forward?”

🔥 Self-attack sounds like:

“I can’t believe I did that again.”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Omg I am such an idiot.”

In today's episode I'm sharing 3 questions you can ask yourself to move out of unproductive self-attack and into healthy self-reflection- and then let it go.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who might need a softer way to look inward — and don’t forget to subscribe to Is It Them or Is It Me? for more conversations about boundaries, relationships, and the moments that shape who we become.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

When life is moving a mile a minute, it’ might feel like you just want to get in your car and get away for a few days. But you don’t need to book a vacation or escape your life to get back in control. You can shift the energy in the moment, right where you are. And really, this is where our healing actually happens, right here, right now, in how we take control of ourselves on a moment by moment basis.

In this episode, I share three powerful ways to get grounded and in control, even when everything around you feels chaotic:

• Managing your energy with Spoon Theory – a practical way to understand your limits and use your resources wisely.
• Taking charge of your thoughts and self-talk – how to stop the inner spiral and slow down.
• Being responsible for the energy you bring into a room – how to stop adding to the negativity and reset your energy quickly.

Think of this episode as a reminder that you don’t need to overhaul your your whole entire life—you may just need a few small, intentional shifts to feel more calm and grounded right now.

💌 Want more support like this? Sign up for my newsletter to get more tips, tools and resources.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

In this episode of Is It Me or Is It Them?, we unpack one of the most misunderstood ideas about anxiety: the belief that feeling safe is the ultimate goal. We're going to explore why seeking safety can sometimes keep us stuck—and why building trust in ourselves is a more sustainable path forward.

Drawing on my work as a therapist, and real-life examples from clients and my own experiences, I walk you through the subtle but important shift from trying to avoid discomfort to learning we can handle it.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why “safety” might not be what you actually need
• The difference between control and trust
• How to build inner confidence and resilience, especially after trauma
• A reframe for those of us who tend to overprepare, overthink, or retreat
• 
  

If you’ve ever tried to fix your anxiety by making your world smaller—by canceling plans, avoiding conflict, or needing constant reassurance—this one’s for you.

Resources + Next Steps:

• Try a self-trust journal prompt this week: What have I already survived that proves I can do hard things?
• Want support applying this to your own life or relationship? Learn more at www.aprilboyd.ca

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

No one warns you about this part of love. One day you look across the table at the person you built a life with—and ask yourself: What if I made a huge mistake?

You have spent years getting to know them better than they may even know themselves- and some of it's ugly.

And you wonder: Is this still workable—or am I just fooling myself?

In this episode of Is It Me or Is It Them?, we’re talking about the part of long-term relationships that doesn’t get enough acknowledgment: The moment when your partner’s flaws aren’t just annoying, they are damn right repulsive, infuriating—and they make you question everything.

Here’s what we explore:

• Why seeing the worst in your partner is sometimes inevitable—and what it means
• The difference between difficult and deal breaker
• How your nervous system interprets relationship conflict as danger
• The internal process you need to go through before making major decisions
• Why even good people can still be wildly incompatible sometimes
• What to do when love starts to feel like work you don’t want to do
• 
  

Whether you’re in the middle of a long slow burnout or just hit a bump that’s bigger than usual, this conversation is here to bring some clarity, calm, and honest reflection.

Mentioned in this episode:

→ The Reset Your Relationship audio program – now self-paced and audio-only, for busy people doing hard relationship work.

Check it out here.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone else who’s wondering what’s “normal” in long-term love—and what isn’t. And as always, thank you for being here.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

What do you do when the problem isn’t just your in-laws—but your partner’s refusal to set limits with them?

In today’s episode of Is It Me or Is It Them? we’re talking about one of the most painful and confusing dynamics that shows up in relationships: when your partner won’t back you up, won’t speak up, and won’t protect the boundaries that matter to you.

You’re not imagining it. You’re not being too sensitive.

You’re not crazy—you’re just outnumbered.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

• Why your partner might be avoiding hard conversations with their family (even when they agree with you privately)
• How your people-pleasing, approval-seeking tendencies might be keeping you stuck
• Why waiting for your partner to “handle it” often backfires
• What it looks like to stop outsourcing your self-respect
• The mindset shift that changes everything: Above no one. Below no one.

You’ll also hear a real (anonymous) client story about what changed when she stopped trying to get her partner to fix it—and started showing up as her own steady, grounded, grown-ass self.

This is not about going to war. This is about stepping out of the dance of dysfunction and giving yourself permission to speak truth, hold the line, and take up space—with clarity and dignity.

If this episode resonates, I’d love if you shared it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re ready to go deeper into the work of getting on the same page as your partner, check out the Reset & Reconnect program here.

Thanks for listening. I’m so glad you’re here.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

In today’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on a cultural trend that might seem harmless, but actually functions as a form of social control: the "Karen" meme.

While it may have started as a way to call out rude or entitled behaviour, it’s morphed into something much darker—something that often punishes women for speaking up, setting boundaries, or simply taking up space. Especially as they age.

Drawing on personal experience and research, April unpacks how the Karen label is weaponized to silence assertiveness in women, while men exhibiting the same behaviours are often rewarded or even celebrated.

What We Explore in This Episode:

• 🔹 Why calling someone a “Karen” is more than just a joke—it’s a tool of silencing
• 🔹 The disturbing double standards women face in leadership, public, and social spaces
• 🔹 The emotional cost of always having to be “extra nice” just to avoid backlash
• 🔹 Why male assertiveness is respected—and female assertiveness is often resented
• 🔹 How this meme reinforces internalized misogyny among women themselves
• 
  

Stats You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🧠 33% of women in performance reviews were told they’re “too opinionated” — compared to just 4% of men source

🗣 Women’s perceived competence drops 35% when they are described as assertive source

👔 66% of women receive feedback about their personal style (tone, demeanor) vs. 1% of men source

A Personal Story:

April shares a moment during a family trip in Amsterdam when she found herself at risk of being labeled a “Karen”—just for holding her ground about a café table she’d been given.

This episode is an invitation to:

• Question how we treat assertive women
• Notice how we might be unconsciously policing each other
• Start calling out sexism—even when it’s hiding behind a meme
• 
  

If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:

• Silence or Truth? Two Times I Bit My Tongue—And One Time I Didn’t
• The Ugly Truth About Long-Term Love
• 
  

Thanks for listening.

If this resonated with you, share it with someone else who'd benefit from hearing it. And if you have a story or topic you'd like April to talk about on the show, feel free to reach out.

✨ This podcast is a place for nuance, honesty, and taking up space with dignity.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Get on the Newsletter List here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Welcome back to Is It Me or Is It Them? After a short break, I’m so glad to be back with you—and today, we’re diving into something that comes up all the time in relationships: the fear of speaking up.

You might think the problem is that you don’t know how to say it. But what if the real issue is that you don’t think you’re allowed to?

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why many people struggle to voice their needs, even when the words are right there
• The cultural and relational conditioning that makes speaking up feel unsafe
• How guilt, shame, and people-pleasing silence us—and what that silence costs
• A mindset shift that can help you speak with more clarity, confidence, and care
• What to ask yourself when you’re stuck between honesty and harmony

Whether you're dealing with in-laws, a disconnected partner, or a moment where your heart is screaming to say something but your mouth won’t move—this conversation will help you start untangling the inner blocks to speaking your truth.

Mentioned in this episode:

• My break from the podcast and why honouring your own season matters
• The importance of knowing your intentions before having a hard conversation
• What it looks like to be direct and kind (at the same time)

If this episode resonates, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a review or share it with a friend. And if you're navigating these kinds of stuck points in your own relationship, check out the Reset & Reconnect program here.

Thanks for listening—I’ll see you next time.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

Today we explore two reasons why  the heavy burden many women feel when juggling responsibilities in their personal and professional lives. The conversation dives into the cultural expectations that lead to overfunctioning, how these beliefs impact relationships and why over-working becomes a stress management tool you probably don't even notice you're using.

• Discussing the overwhelming mental load women carry
• Societal expectations and the "good wife" stereotype
• The correlation between overfunctioning and self-worth
• Unpacking overfunctioning as a coping strategy for stress
• Challenging fears of being seen as demanding in relationships
• Introducing the Reset and Reconnect Program to help shift dynamics

Come check out Reset and Reconnect and see if this program feels right for you.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

The episode dives deep into the often-overlooked dynamic where one partner assumes a parental role over the other. We explore the roots of this behavior, how it can backfire, and actionable ways to restore balance in relationships.

 
• The pitfalls of becoming a caretaker rather than a partner
• How societal expectations play into relationship dynamics
• Strategies for breaking the cycle of over-functioning

Check out the "Reset and Reconnect" program for couples ready to evolve their relationship dynamics! 

Get all the details here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

We all know that building healthy relationships requires open communication- but what when they don't want to hear what you have to say?  What about those times when it just seems to cause or fight- or worse- leaves you feeling dismissed and ignored?

When it doesn't feel it's okay to say what you need to say, you can develop a habit of biting your tongue, stuffing down your needs, and just trying harder to be more tolerant, more understanding, more forgiving.

But this doesn't get us what we want- and sometimes, like in my story that I'm sharing with you here- it's actually just makes things worse.

So today we're diving deep into the self-sacrificing and peace-making tendencies that can create emotional distance and contribute to the erosion of a relationship over time.  

Reset & Reconnect is open! This is a course for couples who want to create more balance, have more productive conversations and get back to things feeling fun and easy again.

Get all the details here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

Are you feeling the anxiety & stress that's all around us right now? Me too. That's why I decided to put some energy into the things I can control - and I'm inviting you to do the same by channelling your anxiety into your purpose. 

This conversation is a call to action for those with a yearning to share their ideas—whether it's writing a book, launching a business, or starting a nonprofit. 

Join me Saturday for a free workshop, Create & Contribute, where I'm going to share some of the questions I ask myself and processes I use when I am beginning a new project or putting my work out into the world.

Sign up here.

Right now the world needs more acts of care, service & contribution.  We need more do-gooders. 

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

Can a simple act of validation shift our relationships, both personally and professionally? Join me, April Boyd, as I share insights from my facilitator training session on the "Is it Me or Is it Them" podcast. We'll explore why acknowledging emotions is a critical ingredient in creating genuine connections, helping others and avoiding conflict.

 Whether you're consoling a grieving friend, having a difference of opinion with a colleague, or talking to your partner, understanding the power of validation is key to ensuring everyone feels truly heard and understood. I delve into practical strategies to incorporate this essential tool into your everyday interactions, promising a new level of effective communication and deeper connection.

But that's not all! I extend an invitation to a free workshop aimed at helping you get your gifts and ideas into the world.

This Saturday at 11 am Eastern, we gather for our first session of the "do-gooders club," a place to share your ideas, get support and ask me any questions about how I've wrote my books, created the Love & Loss Project or grew my private practice. 

Whether you're dreaming of writing a book, starting a business, or simply spreading kindness when this world needs it most, this session offers encouragement, clarity, and community support. Your ideas hold immense power, and together, we can harness it to make a meaningful impact in the world. Join us to fuel your imagination and contribute to a kinder, gentler world.

SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE:

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/b569939dk0

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Send us a text

Is it just a rough patch or a sign of a deeper relationship issue? This is the question I should have been asking during my first marriage and today I'm finally going to share my story. Join me, April Boyd, as I unravel the complexities of relationship dynamics, unpacking the difference between temporary stressors and recurring patterns that may indicate something more serious. Through my personal experiences, I touch on the importance of recognizing when a pattern of feeling unseen and unheard becomes too persistent to ignore. This conversation invites you to reflect on your own relationships and consider whether your struggles are truly temporary or symptoms of a larger issue that needs your attention.

As we explore this topic, I'm thrilled to introduce an upcoming program designed to transform relationships by going deeper into your own personal growth, and reconnecting with the stronger, happier version of you as you change the ways you and your partner communicate and connect.  Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative journey; sign up for my email list to receive exclusive updates and invitations. Thank you for joining me on this path to living more authentic lives and nurturing the relationships that matter most!

SIGN UP TO GET YOUR INVITATION TO RESET & RECONNECT HERE.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?
Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com
Instagram @with.love.april
https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Sign up to get tips & tools sent to your inbox.

https://fun-cell-31288.myflodesk.com/ppxzb70s3e

Please note:
This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed


All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.

Want to get better at speaking up? Sign up for the free on-demand workshop that will help you be more confident in standing your ground when you're dealing with a boundary bulldozer. Sign up here.

Have a topic or question you'd love to hear about?

Message me and let me know.

email april@lovelossproject.com

Instagram @with.love.april

https://www.instagram.com/with.love.april/

Please note:

This show is not a replacement for therapy, assessment, treatment or diagnosis. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. See your physician, counsellor or local crisis support centre if needed

All identifying details about the people and the stories shared here are removed to protect confidentiality.