This episode of Couples Unfiltered is sponsored in part by Color Story Florals in Vista, CA. We’ve partnered with them to feature some of their handcrafted arrangements in our episodes—designed with 80% locally grown California flowers.

Use code UNFILTERED10 at croziersflowersvista.com for 10% off your next order or call them today at 760-726-3800

In this episode we sit down with two incredibly accomplished individuals who have built a strong identity in their own fields and an even stronger bond as a couple. Elaine Swann is a lifestyle etiquette expert, speaker, author, and founder of the Swann School of Protocol. Her work helps people lead with confidence and respect in every area of life. Her husband, Christopher Swann, is a gifted musician and creative visionary who spent years performing, producing, and composing — a man who lives and breathes artistic life.

Throughout this unfiltered conversation, we dive into how their seemingly different worlds — the structured world of etiquette and the free-form world of rock and creativity — actually harmonize in their marriage and their mission. Elaine shares what’s coming next with Elaine Swann’s Book of Modern Etiquette, and you’ll want to visit elaineswann.com for more. Christopher’s creative world is just as vibrant at chrisswannmusic.com. For more information and to learn more about this beautiful couple and what they’re doing in the world, be sure to check both sites.

And whatever you do… stay for the end. Let’s just say Lionel and Chris found themselves in an unexpected, impromptu jam session — yes, Lionel is an artist too — and the moment they created together is something you have to see to understand.

This episode of Couples Unfiltered is sponsored in part by Color Story Florals in Vista, CA. We’ve partnered with them to feature some of their handcrafted arrangements in our episodes—designed with 80% locally grown California flowers.

Use code UNFILTERED10 at croziersflowersvista.com for 10% off your next order or call them today at 760-726-3800

On this episode of Couples Unfiltered, we sit down with someone the world knows as Chef Claudia Sandoval. But today, it's just Claudia.

Behind the MasterChef title, the cookbook, and the television presence is a woman navigating life, love, motherhood, and dating in the public eye. This conversation is personal and real. Claudia opens up about what it means to be seen, the weight of assumptions, and the vulnerability that comes with wanting true connection.

This episode isn't about food. It's about the human behind the hustle, the soul beyond the spotlight, and the strength it takes to stay open when the world sees only your résumé.

Listen in for honest reflections, shared truths, and an intimate look at what Claudia really wants from love and life. This is what it means to keep it unfiltered.

Season 6 | Master Chef Winner 

Claudia's Story

Chef Claudia Sandoval is an award-winning chef, bestselling author, TV host, and executive producer internationally recognized for her modern approach to Mexican cuisine and her deep commitment to community. She launched her career after winning Season 6 of MasterChef U.S., becoming the first Latina to hold the title, and has since built a robust television résumé with appearances on Chopped, Worst Cooks in America, Tournament of Champions, Grudge Match, Easter Basket Challenge, and Top Chef VIP. She has also judged MasterChef Latino (Telemundo) and MasterChef Latinos (Estrella TV).

Beyond the screen, Claudia has produced and hosted the docuseries Taste of the Border (Discovery+) and La Mesa Mexa (Bite Originals). In 2025, she expanded her global impact as a Mentor for Team Mexico at the Bocuse d’Or Competition, the world’s most prestigious culinary contest.

Founder of Claudia’s Cocina and creator of the acclaimed pop-up bakery Cochi Dorado, she has partnered with leading global brands and helped raise more than $1 million for nonprofits. Based between San Diego and Tijuana, Claudia continues to champion culture, storytelling, and community through every dish and project she touches.

In this powerful episode of Couples Unfiltered, hosts Lionel and Natalie sit down with Renee and Gerard Washington — a couple whose love story has withstood fire, faith, and fierce challenges.

From a chance meeting in Milwaukee to raising a miracle child and overcoming a life-threatening diagnosis, the Washingtons open up about what it means to be truly tested — and to come out stronger. Gerard shares his journey from Firefighter to Fire Chief in Vista, CA, and what it took to climb the ranks — even when he was the most qualified but not always the most accepted. Renee reflects on her growth into “Dr. Renee Washington” and the faith that carried them through it all.

They talk about love, cultural identity, perseverance, mentorship, parenting, and what it means to fight for each other.

Don’t miss the story behind “10-4,” the head-shaving moment that brought their family closer, and the wisdom they have for couples facing storms of their own.

Chief Gerard Washington's bio:

A little San Diego history:

Lionel and Natalie dive deep into the sometimes blurry line between chivalry and control. Natalie opens up about growing up without examples of healthy male care, and how acts of kindness can feel like threats to her independence. Meanwhile, Lionel shares how his instinct to protect and provide is rooted in love and respect—not dominance. Together, they explore how past experiences shape the way we receive love, and what it means to truly understand your partner’s lens. Unfiltered as always.

In this episode of Couples Unfiltered, we sit down with Latoya and Brian to explore a love story rooted in purpose, healing, and legacy. From swiping right to building a wellness movement in California, they share how very different upbringings—Latoya’s entrepreneurial family and Brian’s journey through profound loss—shaped the way they love, lead, and parent together.

We dive into their evolving views on marriage, the emotional reckoning that changed Brian’s life, and how Latoya turned personal grief into a powerful wellness mission. As co-creators of Movement Matters Collective, their story is a testament to resilience, intentional love, and building community through movement. This episode isn’t just about romance—it’s about doing the real work of partnership and healing, together.

Movement Matters Collective 

Movement is an essential expression of wellness!Movement Matters Collective was created by a tribe of somatic maestros as a safe space for folks of all walks of life to connect with, care for, and challenge the mind & body. Visit them today at Movement Matters Collective

In this episode of Couples Unfiltered, we sit down with Mila and Donnell—hosts of La Vida Blended—a beautifully honest and culturally rich podcast about love, parenting, and the realities of building a blended family. Based in Portland, Oregon, this mixed-race couple (she's Mexican, he's Black) opens up about navigating identity, second marriages, and the deep emotional terrain of pregnancy loss, having endured the heartbreak of nine miscarriages together.

Both social workers by profession, Mila and Donnell bring an unmatched level of emotional intelligence and cultural insight to the conversation. They share how their backgrounds influence their parenting, how they maintain a loving co-parenting relationship with Donnell’s ex-wife, and what it really means to create a home full of healing, communication, and respect.

From cultural expectations to grief, from honoring ex-spouses to redefining what “family” looks like—this is an episode that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Their transparency is a gift, and their story will inspire anyone navigating love after loss or learning to embrace the beautiful complexity of blended families.

🔗 Follow Mila & Donnell on IG: @LaVidaBlended 🎙️ Subscribe to their podcast: La Vida Blended on all streaming platforms!

This one’s a slow pour. Sip accordingly.

We’re on location at San Diego Magazine headquarters, sitting down with the couple behind the city’s most beloved lifestyle brand — and yes, we’re posted up at the iconic Happy Half Hour podcast scene. This episode? It’s a vibe. It’s a journey. And it’s a love story told in bylines, risk, and shared leftovers.

Troy Johnson — Food Network star, writer, host of Crave, Guy’s Grocery Games judge, co-host of Campus Eats, and the sharp pen behind San Diego Magazine's cultural voice — joins us with his wife Claire, the media-savvy CEO who left Brooklyn and a powerhouse career at NBC Universal to build something new in SoCal.

In 2021, the Johnsons bought San Diego Magazine — yes, during a pandemic — and began the wild process of transforming a legacy print publication into a thriving, multi-platform media brand. We talk about the chaos, the chemistry, and the conversations that made it all possible.

And maybe the most unforgettable part? On their first date, before they even talked business or brunch, they bonded over something deeply personal: both grew up with gay parents — a reality that shaped their resilience and worldview in a world that wasn’t always ready for it.

Claire, who is 14 years younger than Troy, jokes she thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” when she took the leap and moved across the country with him. Spoiler: it turns out, a lot. But most of it’s pretty amazing.

If you’re into stories about building something meaningful, creating against the odds, and holding onto love while holding down a business — this episode will fill your cup.

⚠️ Long episode ahead. But worth every delicious minute.

https://sandiegomagazine.com/

https://www.couplesunfiltered.comhttps://www.instagram.com/couples_unfiltered/

From friends to young lovers, Alex and Melissa’s story is anything but conventional—and that’s what makes it unforgettable. In this heartfelt episode, they take us on a journey that spans decades: from high school sweethearts navigating unexpected parenthood, to co-parenting while living separate lives, and finally reuniting to build a marriage and business together.

They open up about what it took to rekindle their relationship after years apart, how they embraced doing life "out of order," and why starting over was the best decision they ever made. Now as empty nesters, they’re finally enjoying life as newlyweds—this time with deeper love, a stronger foundation, and a shared passion for culinary hospitality.

Whether you're in a relationship, healing from one, or wondering if second chances are real—this episode is a raw, inspiring look at love, timing, resilience, and rewriting the rules.

This episode was filmed at Fox Point Farms in the Carriage Home (Available to rent for weekend stay) IG post 

Fox Point Farms- Bringing people together through experiences

Fox Point Haven Farm+Table

Fox Point Brewing 

Fox Point Roasters

Harvest Market

Huerta Taco Stand

The Bake House

Heal Botanics

The Farm

Fox Point Farms

1200 Fox Point Farms Lane

Encinitas, CA 92024

760-704-8333

@foxpointfarms on IG 

 After three years of chance encounters, missed timing, and life getting in the way, Mike and Casey finally decided to explore the connection they couldn’t shake. In this heartfelt episode of Couples Unfiltered, they open up about the roadblocks that kept them apart, what finally brought them together, and how they turned a long wait into a lasting love. From unexpected run-ins to building a life and starting a family, this is a story of patience, timing, and trusting the journey.

✨ Whether you're a believer in fate, timing, or just love a great love story — this one will stick with you.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an unfiltered conversation about love, growth, and everything in between.

The Watering Haul is a beverage catering company providing bar service for small gatherings to large scale wedding and events

https://www.thewateringhaul.com/

@thewateringhaul

The Hug Button is a comfort bracelet designed for children and caregivers to nurture a secure attachment, emotional regulation and independence. 

https://www.thehugbutton.com/

@thehugbutton  

In today’s deeply moving episode, we’re joined by Eric and Iris Dargan, a couple whose journey through grief and loss is nothing short of inspiring. Both widowed after many years of marriage, Eric and Iris have faced heart-wrenching challenges, but they’ve come out stronger, proving that love and happiness can be found even after the darkest of times.Their story is a testament to the healing power of love and resilience. Through pain, rediscovery, and growth, Eric and Iris learned that happiness isn’t a destination—it’s something we create, even when life feels unfair. Their journey is one of transformation, and it’s a reminder that we can turn our pain into purpose and rebuild our hearts.In this episode, they share how they found each other, their powerful connection, and how they’re creating a new life together. Their story will inspire anyone who’s experienced loss, and anyone who’s ready to believe that love can heal even the deepest wounds.

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