In this week's special recap episode of [Your Podcast Name - You'll need to fill this in!], we're revisiting the fascinating world of narcissism.

We're diving into the spectrum from healthy self-love to Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), unpacking the many faces of this complex trait.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

Bottom line?

If you're looking to solidify your understanding of narcissism or just need a refresher on how to navigate these challenging dynamics, this recap episode is for you. And it will show you how.

In this week’s episode of Breaking the Cycle, we’re talking about the unthinkable:

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

Bottom line?

In this episode of Breaking the Cycle, couples therapist Jessica Myers-Adams unpacks one of the most common reasons conversations turn into conflict: bad timing. If you're trying to talk to your partner about something important and it keeps ending in a fight, shutdown, or stonewalling, the issue may not be what you’re saying—it’s when you’re saying it.

Bringing up hard conversations at the wrong time can create distance instead of connection. Whether your goal is to stop the same argument from repeating, avoid triggering defensiveness, or finally feel heard, this episode will give you practical tools to communicate with your partner more effectively—and in the right moment.

This is for anyone who’s tired of their partner getting defensive, walking away mid-conversation, or avoiding important topics. Learn how to recognize when your partner is most likely to listen, how to approach serious topics without causing tension, and how to create emotional safety before bringing up a concern.

What you’ll walk away with:

How to avoid fights by picking the right time to talk

What causes communication breakdowns even with good intentions

How to stop your partner from shutting down during hard conversations

A simple strategy to make your partner feel more open and engaged

Want to change the way you talk to each other—without going to couples therapy every week?

You’ve stayed calm. You’ve picked your battles. You’ve tried to be patient, understanding, forgiving.

But deep down, you’re exhausted — and wondering why it still feels like you’re the only one trying.

In today’s episode, we’re unpacking a powerful — and often overlooked — truth about relationships:

If you think doing "everything right" means keeping your partner happy at your own expense, this conversation is for you.

Why people-pleasing kills intimacy (even with the best intentions)

How empathy is about understanding, not self-erasure

The secret to being a strong partner without abandoning yourself

What real connection actually requires — even when it's uncomfortable

If you're ready to stop carrying the relationship on your back and start building something real, hit play.

🎧 Let’s talk about why your effort deserves better results — and how to get there.

What You'll Learn:

The critical difference between empathy and people-pleasing

How trying to "keep the peace" can quietly damage your relationship

Why mutual understanding (not sacrifice) is the key to lasting connection

A simple mindset shift that can change the entire dynamic between you and your partner

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👉 Want more tools to rebuild your relationship without losing yourself? Check out

Episode Summary:

It explores what to do when your partner is irritated or shut down, and how to respond in a way that lowers defensiveness, builds connection, and actually inspires different behavior.

You’ll learn:

Why reacting to hurt with hurt only deepens the disconnect

The mindset shift that softens even the toughest dynamic

How to shift your frustration instantly

What actually encourages your partner to change (hint: it’s not criticism)

This episode is for you if:

You don’t feel like you’re treated kindly

You want your partner to change

You’re tired of walking on eggshells

You’re ready to stop reacting and start reconnecting

✨ Journal Prompt:

🔥 Want to go deeper?

When your partner shuts down, communication goes nowhere, and you're stuck having the same fight on repeat—it's easy to think, "What’s the point?"

But the truth is: lasting relationships aren’t built on perfect compatibility.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to build the kind of relationship mindset that keeps you grounded—even when your connection feels fragile.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

What mental toughness really looks like in a relationship

Why a fixed mindset keeps you stuck (and what a growth mindset unlocks)

The key to staying calm when your partner won’t open up or walks away

How to build emotional endurance without burning out

A powerful mindset shift that can change your entire dynamic

This is for anyone who’s been giving their all, but still feels like the only one trying.

You’ll walk away with:

Tools to strengthen your emotional core

A fresh perspective on your relationship struggles

The first step to shifting your dynamic without waiting for your partner to go first

🎧 Listen now to discover how mental toughness can help you stop the cycle, reconnect with purpose, and lead your relationship toward real change.

👉 Curious what inspired this episode? You can read more about the 93-mile challenge and how it connects to supporting young women here: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/45281/

Ever find yourself in a conversation where your partner says something that’s just… wrong? Maybe they misremember what you said or twist the facts—and you’re thinking, “I can’t let that slide.”

In this episode, we’re digging into that moment—the one that either leads to resolution or kicks off a recycled fight. I’ll walk you through why correcting your partner (even when they’re wrong) often backfires, and what to do instead to actually resolve issues without triggering defensiveness or disconnection.

I’m also sharing a personal story from my own relationship (yes, I had to admit I was wrong 😅), a powerful takeaway from Jim Jamm’s TED Talk, and my go-to exercise I use in the therapy room to help couples get clear on what really matters in a disagreement.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why telling your partner they’re wrong doesn’t usually help—and what works better

How defensiveness gets in the way of connection and what it’s really protecting

Why curiosity is more powerful than correction when it comes to resolving conflict

The 6-step framework I use with clients to move out of gridlock and into meaningful conversation

The one exception when correcting your partner might actually be helpful 😉

Bottom line?

Links & Resources:

📝 In this Episode:

Let’s be real — it’s exhausting when it feels like you’re the one carrying the emotional weight in the relationship. You’re trying. You’re learning. You’re showing up. And yet… your partner? Still doing the same things that drive you crazy.

In this episode, I’m talking directly to the person who feels like, “If they would just change, everything would be fine.” You might even feel like you’re right — and truthfully, you probably are about a lot. But here’s the twist: being right doesn’t fix the relationship.

So what do you do when you want your partner to change, but they won’t? How do you move forward when you’re stuck waiting for them to finally get it?

I’ll walk you through a totally different way to approach this — one that doesn’t involve begging, repeating yourself, or giving up. If you’re ready to stop spinning and start seeing real progress, this episode is your wake-up call.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

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🎧 Listen now and start deepening your connection today!

Are you feeling disconnected in your relationship? Do conversations with your partner feel surface-level, lacking emotional depth, affection, or real understanding? When emotional intimacy fades, relationships start to feel lonely and frustrating. If you’re longing for deeper conversations, more connection, and the feeling of truly being seen and heard, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode of Love, Connection, and Relationships (LCR), we’re tackling how to stop sabotaging vulnerability and create deeper emotional intimacy with your partner. Whether your relationship feels distant, your partner avoids deep conversations, or you struggle to express your own emotions, you’ll learn how to open up and create a safe space for connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why Your Relationship Feels Emotionally Distant – The common mistakes that block vulnerability and keep partners from opening up.

The 3-Acknowledgment Rule – Express appreciation three times per week to shift the dynamic.

Reduce Negative Interactions by 50% – Cut down tension and miscommunication to create emotional safety.

The ‘Pause & Pivot’ Method – How to respond when your partner shuts down without pushing them away.

If you’re tired of feeling unheard and disconnected, this episode will give you practical steps to rebuild emotional intimacy and create the relationship you truly want.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

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Does your partner grumble, dismiss you, or seem unsupportive when you try to connect? It’s frustrating—like you’re stuck in the same recycled fights, hoping for change but getting nowhere. It can feel exhausting, like you're talking to a wall, and over time, that disconnect can lead to resentment and an even wider gap between you.

In this episode, I’m diving into the common ways we try (and fail) to get our partner to be more responsive. Many of these efforts—whether it’s pushing harder, shutting down ourselves, or trying to reason with logic—actually backfire, making things worse instead of better. When these strategies don’t work, it’s easy to feel hopeless, but the truth is, there are two key ways you can influence real change in your relationship.

I’ll break down what those two approaches are, why they work when other tactics don’t, and—most importantly—what to do when your efforts fail so you can find peace and stop the cycle of frustration. If you listen until the end, I’ll also walk you through an action plan you can use right away to start seeing immediate change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the way you’re trying to get your partner to respond might be backfiring

The two key ways you can actually influence change in your relationship

What to do when your partner dismisses, ignores, or shuts you down

How to avoid the resentment cycle when your efforts don’t work

A step-by-step action plan for creating immediate change

If you’re tired of feeling ignored, dismissed, or unheard, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

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