Conflict is going to happen in a healthy relationship. And more often than not, conflict starts with something laughably small – from doing dishes, to making food, and even how to decoratively light a podcast. But underneath the menial cause of conflict always lies a much deeper need that isn’t being met. This episode originally aired in February 2024 on Emily's podcast, Room to Grow as we unpacked a conflict we literally had in real time as we were trying to record this episode. Yes, s...

Every strong couple has them. Those tiny, invisible battles that shape connection, safety, and trust. In this episode we break down the unspoken power dynamics that show up in even the healthiest relationships: the triggers, shutdowns, leadership clashes, and moments where love meets old wounds. This conversation is honest, grounded, and real. You’ll hear how two strong partners navigate emotional intensity, masculine/feminine energy, nervous system activation, and that push-pull dance betwee...

We're taking you back in time! This episode originally aired in December 2023 on Emily's podcast, Room to Grow as we unpacked two of the patterns of over-functioning that can show up in relationship and keep us from true intimacy. Longtime Room to Grow listeners may recognize these archetypes from an earlier, more playfully named episode. It’s tempting to want to play the role of “superhero” in a relationship – the guardian, the savior, the teacher, or the fixer. But over-prioritizing t...

In this episode of Love in Practice, we dive into the hidden emotional patterns that quietly shape our relationships, often without us realizing it. From the subtle ways shame shows up, to the moments we flip into grandiosity, to the instinct to protect our inner child at all costs, we explore how these unconscious dynamics create the same painful cycles with the people we love most. We’re unpacking how conflict becomes a doorway into deeper intimacy when both partners can stay in their “adul...

This episode originally aired in September 2023 on Emily's podcast, Room to Grow. It was the first time we shared about our relationship, and we wanted to let you listen in so you can better understand right alongside us how love grows, shifts and evolves over time. We kept some of the original show notes below: My guest on this episode is my partner, Kelly Gardner. He and I met when he was a guest on this podcast (Room to Grow Episode #359 “Building A Community Of Better & More Pres...

You can do all the healing work in the world, and then real love shows up to find out if you really meant it. This episode dives into the beautiful and brutal reality of what happens when old patterns meet new love, and when the very person you adore also triggers the parts of you you thought were long gone. We're sharing how we have navigated (and still are, in some cases), enormous transitions that tested our bond, as well as our individual capacity to stay grounded. Between moving countrie...

Perfection isn’t the point; devotion is. It’s our commitment to the practice of love that keeps bringing us back to each other, again and again, even on the hard days. In this opening episode of Love in Practice, we’re inviting you into the real, raw, and beautifully messy work of love. We’ll be sharing the highs, the lows, and the downright difficult moments that continue to shape us as a couple and as individuals. Together, we’re exploring what it means to stay devoted to love, not just in ...