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When someone asks for space, it can feel like the ground falls out from under you. You start spiraling, Googling, second-guessing everything, and trying to hold it all together, but underneath, you’re unraveling.

This week, we’re opening up about the real reason we rebuilt our entire brand, launched a brand-new website, and created the Relationship Space Survival Quiz. Because too many people are walking through space and separation alone, blaming themselves for the very survival patterns that are trying to protect them.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “Why can’t I stop overfunctioning?”
• “Why do I feel completely frozen?”
• “Why can’t I stop obsessing over what they’re doing?”
• “Where did I go in all this?”

…then this episode is for you.

We’ll explore the emotional survival modes that hijack your clarity, the identity crisis of being in space, and why we finally created a quiz that helps people name what they’re really going through.

You’ll hear:

• The behind-the-scenes story of our website and brand transformation
• How emotional survival patterns shape our communication (and sabotage reconnection)
• What the four quiz archetypes reveal about the nervous system in limbo
• Why we believe love isn’t magic, it’s skills

Take the quiz. Learn your pattern. And if you’re ready, take the next step toward healing.

This episode isn’t about branding, it’s about naming what’s really going on in the space between.

Timestamps: 

03:34 The Emotional Journey of Redesign
08:13 Pressure and Creativity in Relationships
11:58 The Importance of Vulnerability
25:09 Trusting the Process in Uncertain Times
27:43 Trusting the Process
27:54 Understanding the Need for Space
28:47 Emotional Pushups and Grace
30:01 Navigating Disappointment
32:36 Introducing the Quiz
35:20 The Four Archetypes
44:34 The Roadmap to Healing
49:50 Fun Reflection and Song Recommendation
53:19 Final Thoughts and Goodbye

💬 Ready to go deeper?

If this episode stirred something in you, and you’ve been feeling lost, frozen, or unsure how to move forward in the space between you, take The Relationship Space Survival Quiz.

It’s not just a personality quiz. It’s a mirror.

It’ll show you the emotional survival pattern you’ve been stuck in… and what to do next.

→ Take the quiz now: https://stacibartley.com/space-quiz

And if you’re ready for more support?

The Love in Limbo: 30-Day Roadmap kicks off August 17, and enrollment closes August 21. This is the last guided round of 2025, and spots are limited to 75 people so we can give you the support you deserve.

Inside, you’ll get the tools, structure, and community to stop spiraling and start coming home to yourself, no matter what your partner does next.

→ Check out the Roadmap here: https://stacibartley.com/30-day-roadmap

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They didn’t say it’s over. They just said they need space. But the silence that follows? It’s deafening. You’re still in the relationship, but not really. Still sleeping in the same house, maybe. Still scrolling their old messages. Still wondering if you’re holding on or just afraid to let go.

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for people at a relationship crossroads. If you’re navigating daily conflict, emotional distance, and a connection that feels like it’s slipping through your fingers, you’re in the right place. 

In today’s episode, we ask: What actually helps when someone you love pulls away, and what just adds more panic to the pain?

You’ll discover:

• Why your heartbreak feels like physical pain (neuroscience backs you up)
• The dangerous stories your brain spins in the silence, and how to stop believing them
• The real reason they seem “fine” while you’re falling apart
• How community, not isolation, is the key to healing

This episode isn’t about quick fixes. It’s a lifeline for the moments you don’t know how you’ll make it through. Stay with us. The way forward starts here.

Timestamps:
02:42 The Neuroscience of Heartbreak
03:27 Navigating Emotional Turmoil
06:15 Understanding the Process of Change
12:45 The Importance of Relationship Skills
16:12 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth
18:53 Overcoming the Fear of New Skills
19:49 The Power of Clear Communication
20:47 The Importance of Asking Directly
21:29 Coping Mechanisms in Relationships
22:35 The Value of Community Support
23:45 Mentorship and Shared Experiences
27:52 Invitation to Join the Program
28:03 The Creation of the 30-Day Roadmap
29:58 Final Live Round Announcement
34:00 Message in a Bottle Activity
36:39 Closing Thoughts and Resources

🛠️ Ready to turn this space into a turning point?

Enrollment is now open for the Love in Limbo: 30-Day Roadmap, our guided 30-day journey to help you stop spiraling, regulate your emotions, and communicate with clarity (even when everything feels uncertain).

This is the final live round of 2025, and you can save $50 with code ROADMAP50 at checkout. (Earlybird enrollment code expires on July 31, 2025.)

👉 Join us now at loveinlimboroadmap.com and give yourself the emotional tools you wish you’d had sooner. 

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You love them. You want it to work. But no matter how hard you try, something keeps getting in the way of that deep connection you crave.

This episode is for anyone standing at the edge of love, wondering why it feels so lonely even when you’re not alone.

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for people at a relationship crossroads. If you’re facing daily conflict, growing emotional distance, or just aching for a more genuine connection, you’re in the right place.

This week, we’re digging into the hard truth about connection: why love alone isn’t enough, and why vulnerability (the thing we often avoid) is the very thing that makes lasting intimacy possible.

What if the connection you’re chasing isn’t missing… it’s just unskilled?

In this raw and revealing episode, we unpack:

• Why revealing and witnessing are the non-negotiables of intimacy
• How the race to the bottom begins in silence and ends in disconnection
• What to do when love is present, but safety and truth-telling are not

If you’ve ever stayed in a relationship by clinging to the dream of what could be, while avoiding the truth of what is, this conversation is your mirror, your manual, and your permission slip to begin again with skills.

Timestamps: 

02:36 Navigating Relationship Conflicts
04:32 The Importance of Vulnerability
05:34 Love Alone is Not Enough
06:38 Skills Required for Lasting Love
08:48 The Illusion of Love Without Skills
11:04 Personal Story: The Reality of Unbalanced Relationships
18:28 The Need for Mutual Effort in Relationships
18:48 Living in Pretend and Illusion
22:59 Staying Current with Each Other
24:57 The Challenge of Staying Current in Relationships
26:24 The Importance of Making Time for Your Partner
28:06 Understanding Relationship Dynamics
31:01 The Race to the Bottom: Emotional Safety in Relationships
36:01 Practical Tips for Revealing and Witnessing
41:38 Follow the Fun: Reveal Roulette Exercise
44:29 Final Thoughts and Resources

🌀 Follow the Fun: Reveal Roulette

Ready to put connection into practice? Try a little game we call Reveal Roulette. It’s low-stakes, a little silly, and sneakily deep.

Here’s how it works:

Grab your partner (or a close friend, or even your journal if you’re solo). Pick a number from 1 to 6, or roll a die if you’ve got one handy, and answer the corresponding prompt. One person reveals, the other witnesses. No fixing. No interrupting. Just listening.

Ready? Here are your prompts:

1. Something small that’s been bothering me lately is…
2. If you really knew me right now, you’d know that I’m feeling…
3. One thing I wish I could say out loud more often is…
4. Here’s something I pretend doesn’t matter to me, but it really does…
5. A moment this week when I felt disconnected was…
6. One thing I’m afraid you might misunderstand about me is…

Remember: connection is built through brave moments of truth-telling and grounded witnessing. You don’t have to fix anything. You just have to stay with it.

🛠️ Ready to turn this space into a turning point?

Enrollment is now open for the Love in Limbo: 30-Day Roadmap, our guided 30-day journey to help you stop spiraling, regulate your emotions, and communicate with clarity (even when everything feels uncertain).

This is the final live round of 2025, and you can save $50 with code ROADMAP50 at checkout. (Earlybird enrollment code expires on July 31, 2025.)

👉 Join us now at loveinlimboroadmap.com and give yourself the emotional tools you wish you’d had soone

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When your partner asks for space, what are they really stepping away from, and how long should you wait before reaching out?

If you’ve been stuck in limbo, quietly wondering if silence means it’s really over… this one’s for you. In this deeply-requested rebroadcast, we’re breaking down one of the most agonizing questions in modern relationships:

“How do I restart the conversation without pushing them further away?”

You’ll learn the surprising real reason people ask for space (hint: it’s not usually about you), how to know when it’s time to reach out, and what to actually say when you do. We’ll also unpack why most advice on this topic misses the mark, and how to avoid sabotaging your shot at reconnection.

This episode isn’t about playing games or waiting around. It’s about honoring space with purpose, regaining your emotional footing, and communicating in a way that’s grounded, respectful, and real.

Whether it’s your first time hearing this conversation or your third, there’s wisdom here you’re ready to hear differently now.

Timestamps:

01:30 Understanding the Need for Space
03:05 The Role of Media in Relationship Perceptions
03:54 Emotional Exhaustion and Withdrawal
06:29 Codependency and Validation
19:55 The Timing Dilemma
26:37 Reflecting on Personal Growth
26:55 Cooling Off Period and Engagement
27:34 Sincere Invitations and Communication
28:50 Avoiding Manipulative Approaches
30:46 The Importance of Calm and Clarity
36:34 Navigating Limbo and Self-Discovery
46:43 Embracing Love and Letting Go of Fear
50:56 Conclusion and Resources

🛠️ Ready to turn this space into a turning point?

Enrollment is now open for the Love in Limbo: 30-Day Roadmap, our guided 30-day journey to help you stop spiraling, regulate your emotions, and communicate with clarity (even when everything feels uncertain).

This is the final live round of 2025, and you can save $50 with code ROADMAP50 at checkout. (Earlybird enrollment code expires on July 31, 2025.)

👉 Join us now at loveinlimboroadmap.com and give yourself the emotional tools you wish you’d had sooner.

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Why are we doing all the “right” things, but still feel so alone?

You plan the dinners, agree to keep the peace, perform the role of the supportive partner, and try not to rock the boat. And yet, something still feels off. The spark is gone. The intimacy is missing. The disconnection is unbearable.

In this episode of Love Shack Live, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood (and most essential) parts of love: real connection.

You’ll learn:

• Why performing, pleasing, or fixing actually kills intimacy
• The simple equation for true connection (and why it’s so hard to live)
• How to build emotional safety, even if it’s never existed before
• The personal stories, skills, and stumbles that make connection possible again

Whether you’re navigating space and separation or simply feeling emotionally distant in your relationship, this episode will help you stop spiraling and start practicing the kind of conversations that change everything.

Because connection isn’t found.

It’s created.

Chapters:

02:53 Real-Life Example: Maya and Alex
06:25 Common Relationship Dynamics
13:10 The Equation for Connection
14:51 Understanding Vulnerability
23:30 The Art of Witnessing
26:42 Practical Tips for Deep Connection
29:06 The Commitment to Vulnerability
29:31 The Importance of Emotional Safety
29:41 Handling Misunderstandings in Conversations
31:30 The Power of Self-Reflection
35:50 Creating Do-Overs in Relationships
36:32 Starting Small to Build Connection
38:36 The Challenge of Being a Witness
42:26 Managing Difficult Conversations
47:50 A Personal Story of Resilience
52:09 Invitation to Join the Better Love Club
54:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

Send us a text

Ever find yourself biting your tongue just to keep the peace, only to feel more alone than ever?

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for anyone standing at a relationship crossroads, navigating daily conflict, emotional distance, and the longing to rebuild a bond that feels real again. We’re here for the ones who want more than just “getting by” in love; you want connection that lasts.

This week, we’re asking: What’s the true cost of all those things left unsaid?

When we silence our truth to avoid rocking the boat, we think we’re keeping things safe. But what if every unspoken feeling is quietly eroding your connection, one day at a time? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the invisible ways silence creates distance, resentment, and heartbreak, sometimes more than any argument ever could.

We’ll share real-life stories, common scenarios, and the emotional “leaks” that happen when we shy away from honest conversations. More importantly, we’ll explore how naming the hard stuff, however imperfectly, can actually heal what silence has slowly broken.

Curious about how to stop tiptoeing around your truth, and start rebuilding trust?

Press play. This is your invitation to practice the courage that real love requires.

Timestamps: 

01:50 Meet Jenna and Jim: A Story of Unspoken Resentments
04:30 The Impact of Unspoken Emotions
10:59 Common Relationship Dilemmas: The Dinner Dilemma
14:56 The Touchy Topic of Coming Home Late
17:27 Social Events: When One Partner Assumes
18:13 Navigating Social Events as a Couple
18:37 The Importance of Open Communication
18:58 Finding Solutions Together
19:50 The Power of Speaking Up
25:45 Parenting Challenges and Communication
28:18 The Cost of Silence in Relationships
33:45 Encouragement to Speak Your Truth
35:33 Join the Better Love Club
36:31 Truth or Dare Challenge
37:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

Send us a text

Have you ever been told to “just give them space” but all it did was leave you with more questions, more pain, and zero real answers? If you’re at a relationship crossroads, wrestling with daily conflict, growing emotional gaps, or the panic that comes with feeling your partner drift away, you’re not alone. Love Shack Live is the podcast for those who want to rebuild real, lasting connection, not with more clichés, but with honest conversation and practical skills.

In this episode, we go beyond the tired advice about space and separation and dig into what actually helps when your world feels upside down. What if the pain you’re feeling isn’t just something to survive, but a wake-up call, or even an opportunity? What should you really do when your partner asks for space? And is it possible to come home to yourself, and maybe, eventually, to each other, even when everything feels broken?

Whether you’re in the thick of separation, considering a breakup, or desperately hoping to fix what’s been lost, you’ll discover the hidden traps that keep people stuck, like panic, overgiving, or obsessing over your partner, and the surprising steps that lead to clarity, healing, and growth.

Curious what most relationship advice never covers? Ready for a conversation that goes deeper, and helps you shift your focus in a way that could change everything? Let’s get started.

Timestamps:

05:25 Common Misconceptions About Separation
08:29 The Work of Self-Discovery
12:57 The Role of Emotional Wellbeing
16:53 Resetting and Recalculating in Relationships
24:56 The Need for Mentorship and Support
25:25 The Importance of Self-Expression in Relationships
26:22 Understanding Relationship Principles
27:41 The Need for Relationship Education
30:41 The Role of Separation in Self-Discovery
35:29 Continuing Personal Growth Post-Breakup
40:07 The Journey of Personal and Relationship Growth
48:55 Embracing New Beginnings

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

Send us a text

Ever set a boundary in your relationship, only to feel more misunderstood, guilty, or disconnected than before? You’re not alone. In fact, so many of us try to draw healthy lines, only to end up in new arguments, feeling shut out, or wondering if we’re doing something wrong.

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for anyone standing at a relationship crossroads, feeling the gap widen, and searching for a way back to genuine, lasting connection. If you’ve tried to “set boundaries” and it just made things messier, you’re in the right place.

This week, we’re asking:

• Why do boundaries sometimes make us feel worse, not better?
• What’s the difference between a boundary and a barrier?
• And how do you set limits that protect your heart, without pushing your partner away?

Join relationship mentor Staci Bartley, along with Tom and Brooke, as they bust common myths about boundaries, share the real skills for setting limits that heal, and reveal what it takes to speak up for yourself and stay connected.

Curious to know why boundaries backfire, and what actually builds lasting trust? Listen in. This conversation might just change everything.

Timestamps: 

03:25 Physical Boundaries as a Metaphor

07:00 Emotional Boundaries and Compassionate Cruelty

16:49 The Misconception of Rigid Boundaries

26:26 The Story of Emma and Jake

27:53 Silent Resentment in Relationships

28:53 The Weight of Disregarding Yourself

29:50 The Illusion of Connection

33:24 Common Boundary Violations

36:37 Emotional Regulation and Boundaries

43:53 The Importance of Vulnerability

45:20 Practical Steps to Better Boundaries

47:55 Final Thoughts and Resources

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

Send us a text

You’re not angry. You’re not yelling. You’re just… tired.

The kind of tired that sinks in so deep, you’re not even fighting anymore, you’re just holding it together in silence, hoping things will somehow fix themselves. If love feels like a burden lately, if you find yourself walking on eggshells or wondering why it’s so quiet at home, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re living through one of the most common, yet least talked about, relationship struggles of our time: emotional exhaustion.

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for anyone at a relationship crossroads. Whether you’re trying to save your marriage, navigating space and separation, or aching to reconnect with your partner, we’re here to help you rebuild something real and lasting. I’m Staci Bartley, joined by my partner Tom and our daughter Brooke. Together, we’ll get honest about what’s actually happening when couples stop fighting, not because they’ve healed, but because they’ve run out of gas.

Here’s what we’re unpacking this week:

• Why “peace and quiet” can actually be a danger sign
• The real-life symptoms of emotional burnout most people miss
• How magical thinking (“we’ll get to it later”) quietly sabotages connection
• The invisible emotional labor that wears us down, especially for over-functioners and the quietly checked-out
• Why punishing your partner (or yourself) for not “fixing it” never works
• How modern life is straining our capacity for love, and what to do about it
• Practical ways to refuel your emotional gas tank (even when you feel totally spent)
• Why play and joy aren’t optional, they’re the medicine your relationship desperately needs
• The single most important skill you were never taught about love (and how to finally practice it)

If you’re exhausted from trying to keep your relationship together, or just tired of being the one who always tries, this episode will help you name what you’re feeling, and finally offer a way forward. We’ll share the science, the stories, and the skills that can help you stop spiraling, reconnect, and rebuild.

Here’s our big question:

What if “not fighting” isn’t a sign things are getting better, but the clearest warning that your relationship needs help, now?

It’s not your fault. You just haven’t learned the skills yet. Join us in the Love Shack, let’s talk about what no one else is saying, and get you the relief you deserve.

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

Send us a text

Have you ever had that quiet, sinking feeling… the one in your gut that whispers something’s off? Nothing’s exploded. Nothing’s “wrong.”

But deep down, you know, this version of your relationship, your life, even yourself? It doesn’t quite fit anymore. And you’re just dancing through the motions, hoping no one notices the smoke.

You’re not alone. In this raw, behind-the-scenes episode of Love Shack Live, we’re turning the mic inward to talk about the moment before the moment, when something big needs to change, but you haven’t found the words yet.

This time, it wasn’t our relationships that needed a reset… It was our entire brand.

💥 What happens when you outgrow something that used to feel like home?

💬 How do you bring it up, especially when the people you need to say it to are your parents and business partners?

And maybe more importantly:

👉 What can this teach you about the patterns we fall into in relationships, when we tweak the symptoms instead of naming the truth?

Whether you're quietly questioning your relationship, your role, or your next right step, this episode will help you:

• Recognize the signs of emotional flatlining (in yourself or your partner)
• Understand why timing is never perfect, but the truth still matters
• Learn the relational skill that lets you speak up without blowing everything up

So if you’ve been stuck in a slow dance with something you’ve outgrown, this conversation might just be your turning point.

🎧 Press play to hear how one “I hate our website” moment turned into a rebrand, a family reckoning, and a reminder that honesty (even messy honesty) is the first step to everything better.

Timestamps: 
01:49 The Big Reveal: Rebranding Announcement
03:04 Initial Reactions and Concerns
04:00 The Turning Point: Embracing Change
05:11 The Emotional Impact of Change
06:21 Navigating Family Dynamics
07:53 The Importance of Honest Communication
09:51 The Broader Implications of Change
12:07 The Journey of Rebranding
13:00 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
19:45 The Unexpected Benefits of Change
24:24 Trusting the Process
25:13 Navigating Relationship Nuances
26:29 Starting Difficult Conversations
28:04 Receiving Unexpected News
29:47 Emotional Skills for Rebranding
31:03 Challenges of Creative Work
40:54 The Importance of Community
43:16 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

This episode is your first emotional pushup rep toward better communication. It starts here, with you.