Connectedness

What does it really take to stay married — and stay connected — for 39 years?

In this episode, I’m joined by Fabi Preslar, entrepreneur and author of Wilted and Worthy, to talk about the real foundations of long-term love: respect, honest communication, shared laughter, and continuous growth.

Fabi and her husband not only built a 39-year marriage — they work together full-time and run a publishing company as a team. She shares insights on:

• Healthy conflict resolution in marriage

• Why “fighting deep and fast” prevents resentment

• Working with your spouse successfully

• Growing individually without growing apart

• Letting go of relationships that no longer serve you

• Finding worthiness in life’s “wilting” seasons

From cancer recovery to grief to entrepreneurship, this episode is a powerful reminder that lasting love isn’t about perfection — it’s about evolution.

If you care about connection, emotional maturity, and building a relationship that endures through every season, this conversation will stay with you.

Motherhood doesn’t always look like the highlight reel.

In this episode, I’m joined by Crystal, founder of Rotten Lemons (not2rotten), a maternal mental health initiative creating safe, trauma-informed spaces for moms to share honestly — without shame.

We talk about postpartum struggles, anxiety, rage, grief, and why maternal mental health is a critical health issue — not a personal shortcoming. Crystal shares how her mommy meetups and “Off the Record” roundtables give women a place to be seen, heard, and connected to real resources.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, isolated, or quietly struggling in motherhood, you are not alone.

This conversation is compassionate, honest, and deeply needed.

Why do friendships feel harder in adulthood — and what actually makes them grow?

In this episode of Connectedness, Fernanda explores the core lessons from Friendships Don’t Just Happen by Shasta Nelson. She breaks down the author’s powerful Friendship Triangle model — Consistency, Vulnerability, and Positivity — and explains how these three elements determine the depth of our relationships.

You’ll learn:

• Why meaningful friendships require intention

• The different types of friends and why each matters

• How to move from acquaintance to close friend

• What might be missing in your current relationships

• Small, practical ways to deepen connection this week

If you’re craving deeper connection, navigating loneliness, or learning how to show up more authentically in your relationships, this episode is for you.

Because friendship doesn’t just happen — it’s built.

Why is making friends as an adult so hard?In this episode of Connectedness, I’m joined by Zayne for an honest, thoughtful conversation about adult friendships, loneliness, and what it really takes to build meaningful connection later in life.

We talk about why friendships often fade as responsibilities grow, the emotional barriers that keep people disconnected, and why so many adults quietly struggle with loneliness. Zayne shares personal insights on social anxiety, fear of rejection, and how past friendship experiences shape the way we show up today.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode explores friendship as a skill—something we were never taught, but can learn with intention, self-awareness, and compassion. If you’ve ever felt awkward reaching out, unsure how to deepen friendships, or wondered if something is “wrong” with you for feeling lonely, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why adult friendships feel harder than they used to

• Loneliness, shame, and the unspoken struggle to admit disconnection

• Emotional blocks like fear, awkwardness, and past friendship wounds

• What healthy, realistic adult friendships actually look like

• Small mindset shifts that make connection feel more possible

This episode is for anyone craving deeper connection—and reassurance that you’re not alone in feeling this way.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with someone who might need it.

Why is making friends as an adult so hard?
In this episode of Connectedness, I’m joined by Zayne for an honest, thoughtful conversation about adult friendships, loneliness, and what it really takes to build meaningful connection later in life.

We talk about why friendships often fade as responsibilities grow, the emotional barriers that keep people disconnected, and why so many adults quietly struggle with loneliness. Zayne shares personal insights on social anxiety, fear of rejection, and how past friendship experiences shape the way we show up today.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode explores friendship as a skill—something we were never taught, but can learn with intention, self-awareness, and compassion. If you’ve ever felt awkward reaching out, unsure how to deepen friendships, or wondered if something is “wrong” with you for feeling lonely, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why adult friendships feel harder than they used to

• Loneliness, shame, and the unspoken struggle to admit disconnection

• Emotional blocks like fear, awkwardness, and past friendship wounds

• What healthy, realistic adult friendships actually look like

• Small mindset shifts that make connection feel more possible

This episode is for anyone craving deeper connection—and reassurance that you’re not alone in feeling this way.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with someone who might need it.

What actually makes online dating work? In this episode, we sit down with Tony and Jenny, a real-life couple who met through online dating 13 years ago and are still going strong. Together, we break down what went right in their dating experience—and what modern daters can learn from it today.

We dive into the importance of being specific and intentional in your dating profile to attract the right matches, not just more matches. Tony and Jenny share honest insights about dating when one partner has kids, navigating co-parenting dynamics, and building trust while blending lives. We also explore how they discovered their shared values, communicated expectations early on, and recognized healthy attachment styles in each other.

Whether you’re online dating for the first time, dating after divorce, or trying to build a more secure and aligned relationship, this episode offers practical dating advice, real relationship lessons, and a refreshing success story from the world of online dating.

🎧 Topics covered in this episode:

• Online dating success stories

• How to write a dating profile that attracts the right person

• Early dating phase while co-parenting with an Ex

• Identifying shared values in relationships

• Attachment styles and emotional compatibility

• Building healthy, long-term relationships

If you’re looking for honest conversations about love, dating, and relationships—this one’s for you.

Can you stay fit and healthy without going hardcore? In this episode, I’m joined by personal trainer and dancer Dev (Devone Smith) to talk about how busy professionals can build a realistic and sustainable fitness routine — without burning out.

We dive into:

• Why extreme diets and workout plans usually fail

• How to approach weight loss and exercise sustainably

• Dev’s top fitness and nutrition tips for busy people

• The role of consistency, walking, and protein (not perfection)

• How to make health a part of your lifestyle — not your whole life

Whether you're juggling a 9–5, a creative hustle, or just trying to find balance, this episode is for anyone who wants a healthy lifestyle that actually sticks.

Topics Covered:
sustainable fitness, weight loss tips, intermittent fasting, walking for fat loss, strength training, healthy eating, busy professionals, fat loss without burnout, calorie deficit, long-term health

Grab Dev’s free guide: “10 Steps for Getting in Shape as a Busy Professional”

Dev's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkslifestylefitness/

Dev's website: https://dkslifestylefitness.com/

Why is dating in the digital age so frustrating? In this episode, I share key takeaways from a live singles dinner discussion I moderated, where people of all ages opened up about the struggles of modern dating. We covered everything—from how dating apps have changed the game (and not always for the better), to why ghosting has become the norm, to the growing sense that people have become “disposable” in relationships.

You’ll hear insights from multiple generations on:
💔 How online dating has impacted connection
👻 Why ghosting happens—and how people really feel about it
🧠 What singles actually want in a partner today
🚫 Rejection: how to deal with it in a healthier way
🔁 The contrast between dating before vs. after the internet

Whether you're swiping, soul-searching, or just sick of the scene, this episode offers real talk on what’s going wrong—and what we might need to fix.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if this resonated with you!

#datingpodcast #modernlove #ghosting #relationships #onlinedating #datingapps #millennials #genz #singlesdiscussion

In this episode of Connectedness, Fernanda explores one of the most unspoken truths about adult friendships: sometimes, we outgrow people — or realize they’re simply not for us.

How do we handle those quiet realizations with honesty and compassion? How do we evaluate friendships through the lens of our values instead of guilt or obligation? And what does it look like to walk away — without drama, but with deep self-trust?

Join Fernanda as she guides you through the emotional landscape of letting go, from tuning into your inner wisdom to honoring the grief that can come with releasing a connection that no longer fits.

✨ In this episode:

• Why it’s okay to be discerning in friendships

• How to assess your relationships using values, energy, and emotional safety

• What to do when a friendship starts feeling one-sided, chaotic, or draining

• How to lovingly distance yourself from people who no longer align

• The emotional impact of friendship breakups — even quiet ones

This episode is for anyone who’s learning to protect their peace, make space for aligned relationships, and trust themselves in the process.

💬 Connect with Fernanda on Instagram @filled.cups to share your reflections or join the conversation.

In this episode of Connectedness, Fernanda dives into the powerful insights from David Richo’s transformational book, How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving.

We explore how childhood wounds shape our adult relationships — and how we can begin to heal them through self-awareness, presence, and compassion.

Fernanda unpacks Richo’s “Five A’s” — Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, and Allowing — and reflects on what it means to love mindfully, show up authentically, and take responsibility for our emotional patterns.

Whether you're in a relationship, healing from one, or deepening your connection with yourself, this episode offers meaningful tools to support your emotional growth.

✨ Topics covered:

• Who is David Richo and why his work matters

• The connection between unmet childhood needs and adult relationships

• What it really means to be an “adult” in love

• How to practice the 5 A’s of mindful loving in everyday life

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
How to Be an Adult in Relationships by David Richo
[Insert affiliate link or bookshop link if applicable]

💬 Let’s stay connected:
Follow Fernanda on Instagram and tiktok @filled.cups for more reflections on connection, healing, and self-trust.