So many couples love each other deeply… yet still feel disconnected. They talk every day, but the conversations revolve around schedules, responsibilities, and what needs to get done next. In this episode, we're unpacking why emotional intimacy often fades in long-term relationships, not because the love is gone, but because genuine connection isn't being fed. You'll learn what emotional intimacy actually is (in practical, real-life terms), why so many partners misunderstand it, and the surprising psychology behind why couples get stuck in surface-level communication.

Then we'll walk you through 5 simple, powerful actions that help you move from "talking" to truly connecting again. Whether your marriage feels good but could use a deeper spark, or you've been feeling like roommates who care about each other but don't feel emotionally close, this episode will give you clarity, hope, and next steps you can implement right away.

If you're ready to reignite the spark and create more emotional and physical intimacy in your marriage, sign-up for our special edition 30-Day Couples Challenge, The Best of Us. It's only open 3 times per year and couples absolutely love it.

Relationship Resources:

If you are looking for our other top resources, you can find everything from guides, courses, events, and coaching here 👉 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

The holidays can bring out both the best and the worst in a marriage. Between packed schedules, family dynamics, and endless to-do lists, it's easy for connection to get lost in the chaos. But this season doesn't have to feel like survival mode or that you are just getting through the functions. There are a few key areas in your relationship that—if you focus on them each day—can make you feel appreciated and united as a couple, no matter what the holidays throw your way.

In this episode, we're sharing three powerful shifts with the "3C's" to help you stay emotionally close and work as a team through the holiday season. You'll walk away knowing exactly where to put your attention so the two of you can feel loved, supported, and in sync instead of drained or distant at the end of this holiday season.

Desiring to bring back more affection, intimacy, and spark during this season 🔥 Join the 30-Day Best of Us Couples Challenge—open now—to reignite emotional and physical intimacy through small, daily actions. We only host this challenge 3x per year, so head to MyCouplesChallenge.com/Best to register for the January 1st start date!

Relationship Resources:

If you are looking for our top resources—everything from guides, to challenges, coaching, and live events, just visit 👉 https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

The holidays are supposed to feel relaxing and joyful. But for many couples, they're anything but. Between travel plans, family visits, and unspoken expectations, this season can quickly become chaotic, exhausting, and full of tension. One partner often ends up feeling like they're carrying most of the mental and emotional load, while the other doesn't realize how unbalanced it feels.

In this episode, we're unpacking the real root of holiday stress in relationships: mismatched and unmet expectations. You'll hear the kinds of conversations you need to have to prevent disconnection and resentment. Everything from dividing travel and family responsibilities to setting boundaries with in-laws and staying emotionally connected as a couple. Because when you plan as a team, the holidays can actually bring you closer instead of pulling you apart.

✨ If you want the holidays to feel connected rather than chaotic - Join the Prioritizing Us 30-Day Couples Challenge starting December 1st. This will keep your love accounts full before the season begins so you can stay united through whatever the season brings. Register at: MyCouplesChallenge.com.

Have you ever shared an idea or dream with your spouse, something that genuinely excited you, only to have the energy immediately flattened by practicality or fear? In this episode, we're unpacking a dynamic that quietly drains energy and connection in many marriages: when one partner is in enthusiastic, imaginative energy and the other instantly shifts into logic and control mode. We'll explore why this happens, what it reveals emotionally for each partner, and how to respond in a way that keeps the energy between you alive instead of shutting it down.

In this episode you'll hear:

• The hidden psychology behind why partners "squash" enthusiasm (even with good intentions)

• How to frame a conversation for your partner from the start, so you're on the same wavelength

• Practical shifts that help you stay connected and engaged, even when you see things differently

• Why joining in the energy doesn't mean agreeing to every idea

• How this dynamic slowly erodes emotional intimacy if you don't adjust

If you've ever felt misunderstood for your excitement, or struggled to stay open when your spouse starts dreaming big, this conversation will help you both feel seen and stay on the same wavelength.

If this episode resonates, grab our 3-Guide Bundle—a powerful trio of tools that help you communicate and stay connected during the moments that matter most: 📘 De-Escalating Conflicts 📘 Making Up & Moving Forward 📘 The Family Meeting Guide

Get the bundle at meetthefreemans.com/links and start using the same tools we teach our couples every day.

As the holiday season approaches, many couples find themselves hitting a quiet but undeniable breaking point. Something about this stretch of time—from mid-October through the new year—brings things to the surface. Maybe it's the reflection that comes with the end of a year. Maybe it's the pressure of finances, family expectations, or feeling like life is flying by. But without the closeness you hoped to feel by now. For many, it's a season where the question "Can we really keep going like this?" starts to creep in.

In this episode, we unpack a question so many couples wrestle with: Can one spouse change the marriage if the other isn't ready or willing? What happens when one person is trying, growing, learning... and the other seems stuck? Is it unfair to hope for more? Is it foolish to keep waiting? We're diving into the emotional weight of this question, why so many couples delay getting support, and what it really takes to shift the direction of your relationship. Especially in the seasons that feel the hardest.

In this episode we cover:

• The surprising reason many marriages reach a breaking point during this season

• The #1 personality trait that determines whether couples make it through hard seasons

• Why some partners resist working on themselves or the relationship until separation is on the table

• What delays couples from getting help—and how much damage that can do

• The emotional cost of carrying the growth for two people

To then interrupt destructive cycles and finally start moving forward together:

🎥 Watch the free 1-hour Marriage WebClass: [The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in Marriage & How to Overcome Them]

This is the fastest way to learn what's really underneath recurring arguments, disconnection, and shutdowns—and how to turn it around together. Couples say it gave them more clarity than 6 months of counseling.

👉 Watch this Marriage WebClass now [with this link here]

👉 See all of our practical resources here - from couples challenges, guides, and in-person events.

Have you ever thought about how your own stress affects your kids — or how your parents' stress might still be affecting you? In this powerful conversation with Dr. Taz Bhatia, integrative medicine physician, author, and founder of Hol+, we explore how the health of the parents — especially the mother — sets the tone for the entire family system. Because wellness isn't just about self-care… it's about the legacy you're creating for the next generation.

Together, we unpack how patterns of anger, overwhelm, and chronic stress get passed down in families — and how to finally break the cycle. In this episode you'll hear:

• Why stress isn't always bad, but becomes harmful when your body never feels safe (aka the cortisol hum).

• How unresolved emotions and disconnection show up in the body — from hormone imbalances to fatigue and resentment.

• The way childhood modeling shapes how we handle conflict and stress in marriage.

• Practical ways to track your body's signals (like HRV) and create a calmer emotional climate at home.

• Simple habits couples can build to protect their emotional and physical well-being — and, in turn, their kids'.

Dr. Taz also shares how she's disrupting the medical industry through her Hol+ network (add link) — an integrative system combining Eastern and Western medicine to care for families as a whole, offering both in-person clinics and virtual access nationwide. Her mission is simple yet profound: to help every family heal from the inside out.

This episode is a reminder that when one person in the family heals, everyone benefits. The health of your marriage, your body, and your home are all connected — and you have the power to create a new emotional legacy for your family.

You can find our most popular resources including our FREE Marriage Webclass: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection at - meetthefreemans.com/links

It seems like the "I need more space" and "I need to talk this out now" partners always find each other! This is the basis of the Pursuer/Withdrawer as well as the Anxious/Avoidant partner dynamics in marriage. When this dynamic happens, it always causes more tension, defensiveness, anxiety, and distance than the initial topic of conversation. If this sounds at all like dynamics you and your partner get into, you certainly are not alone!

In today's episode you will hear more detail about what's really happening for each partner, whether it is the need for space or resolution. There are many factors that contribute to this, like personality type and emotional processing capacity. But tune in to hear about details you would have never thought of, hear more about how this dynamic has played out in our own marriage over the years, and then specific steps you can take to keep this dynamic from escalating simple conversations. This will make you both feel even more secure, understood, and loved in your relationship.

👉 Don't forget to join us on our FREE Live Marriage Webclass on: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in Marriage. This live event only happens 2x per year. If you can't attend live, still register, as we will send you the replay. So don't miss out!

Division isn't just a problem in the world—it's creeping into homes, marriages, and families everywhere. When couples start turning against each other instead of standing together, the bond that once felt safe and secure begins to weaken. In this episode, we're breaking down The 4 D's That Create Division in a Marriage: Dismissiveness, Defensiveness, Deflecting, and Divorce Threats. These subtle but destructive patterns slowly undermine connection and emotional safety, often without you even realizing it.

We'll clearly define what each of these behaviors looks and sounds like—and why they're so damaging to your closeness and trust. More importantly, we'll share how to stop them before they erode your foundation.

👉 And don't miss our live + free Marriage WebClass: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in a Marriage. It's a topic we've never taught publicly before, packed with the exact insights and tools we use with coaching clients. Register now at OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com

Many times in marriage, you can start what you think is a simple conversation and have it turn into a miscommunication or even a conflict. It is frustrating when you are trying to simply communicate something and it isn't received by your partner.

In this episode we talk about the difference between productive and unproductive communication and what makes partners good communicators vs poor communicators. You will be surprised by the simple shift you can make and the massive difference it will make in how you each speak and listen to one another.

To dive further into the source of conflicts, attend our FREE LIVE Marriage Webclass on Oct 23rd: Navigating the 5 Root Causes of Conflicts. After this date you will be able to watch the replay as well.

For all of our resources visit: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links

When emotions run high in marriage, one of the most common traps couples fall into is what to do with each other's feelings. Should you validate them? Should you challenge them? Or should you just offer a quick solution so you can move on?

The truth is when emotional validation is missing or misunderstood, small hurts linger, conflicts spiral, and one or both partners can end up feeling dismissed, forced into solutions, or left unresolved. It's also one of the biggest complaints we hear from spouses…"you're not validating my feelings!"

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why couples often confuse validation with agreement

• The hidden ways spouses accidentally invalidate each other

• Why solutions don't stick if this piece is missing

• What actually creates the safety to collaborate, repair, and move forward together

If you've ever wondered "Am I supposed to validate even when I don't agree?"—this conversation is for you. Because the order in which you respond to your partner's emotions might be the very thing that determines whether you stay stuck… or actually grow closer.

Also, register for our LIVE + FREE Marriage WebClass coming up on: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection…and the Tools to Overcome Them!

Register For The Webclass HERE 👈