Marriage & Motherhood - How To Reconnect With Your Spouse After Kids

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Feel like you're constantly arguing with your partner? You’re not having different arguments, you’re actually stuck repeating the same pattern.

If you feel like you and your partner keep going in circles… talking about the same things… and nothing ever changes, this episode will help you understand why.

Because the truth is, most couples think they have a communication problem.

But what’s actually happening is a pattern problem.

In this episode, I break down:

- Why repetitive arguments happen in marriage
- The emotional pattern that keeps couples stuck
- What’s really happening before the words are even spoken
- Why trying to “communicate better” isn’t enough
- The simple awareness shift that changes everything

You’ll also hear a real client example that shows how resentment, disconnection, and feeling unsupported aren’t about what you think it's about. They’re about how you're each responding to each other in the moment.

This episode will help you stop focusing on what you’re fighting about and start understanding why it keeps happening.

Because when you can see the pattern… you can finally change it. Awareness is the first step.

Resources Mentioned:
Grab the Conflict to Connection Guide here!

Ready to deepen and strengthen your marriage? Book a clarity call today to learn how my Connected Partnership Framework can help you!

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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The way you talk to your kids becomes the way they talk to themselves.

Most parents are trying their best to raise kind, confident, emotionally healthy kids and without realizing it, the words we use and how we say them can either build connection or create distance.

In this episode, I sit down with parenting expert Cara Tyrrell to unpack how everyday communication shapes your child’s identity, emotional safety, and willingness to open up to you. Not just now, but as they grow too.

This conversation will help you parent with more intention, more confidence, and more connection and all without feeling like you have to be perfect.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• Why “not listening” is often misunderstood, how to build deep trust with your kids from an early age, and how small shifts in your language can completely change your relationship.
• Why connection (not control) is the foundation of effective parenting 
•  The Core 4 relationship builders every child needs 
•  What’s really happening when your child acts out or shuts down 
•  Why only 7% of communication is verbal — and what matters more 
•  How subconscious speech patterns from your own childhood show up in parenting 
•  Simple ways to regulate yourself before responding to your child 

If you’ve ever thought:
 “I just want my kids to talk to me”
 “I don’t want to mess this up”
 “I want a better relationship than I had growing up”

This episode is for you.

Love this episode? Buy her new book 

Connect with Cara:

Website: https://www.caratyrrell.com
Podcast: Transforming The Toddler Years
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-tyrrell/
IG: @core4parenting

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

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You don’t feel disconnected in your marriage because something is wrong. You feel disconnected because you’ve stopped going deeper.

So many couples come to me saying they feel like roommates.

They’re handling life.

They love each other.

But something feels… off.

Flat.
Predictable.
Disconnected.

And what most people don’t realize is this:

You can know everything about your partner’s life… and still not know their inner world.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

•  Why couples start to feel like strangers after kids 
•  The difference between surface-level connection and true intimacy 
•  Why most people avoid going deeper (and don’t even realize it) 
•  How emotional awareness directly impacts connection 
•  What it actually looks like to build depth in your relationship 
•  How staying surface-level quietly creates resentment and disconnection 

You’ll also hear a real client example of a couple who “never fought” but felt like roommates—and how everything shifted once they started sharing what was really going on beneath the surface.

If your conversations feel transactional, your connection feels stuck, or your marriage feels like it’s missing something… this episode will help you understand why.

Ready to deepen and strengthen your marriage? Book a clarity call today to learn what marriage coaching can do to help you!

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Motherhood can bring on a lot of anxiety. The sheer overwhelm of going from just taking care of yourself to taking care of people who don't always want to listen is nothing you can ever fully prepare for. Cue the second guessing and the shoulding.

If you've ever wondered why certain things feel harder for you than they “should” or if there's a better way to feel confident in your decision making, this conversation is going to give you a new lens.

In this episode, I got to chat about human design and nervous system regulation with my new friend MaKenzie Byram.

Inside this episode, we cover:

•  What human design is (in a simple, digestible way) 
•  How nervous system regulation helps you actually live your design 
•  Why you struggle with decision-making and how to change that 
•  How to better understand your spouse and stop misinterpreting their behavior
•  Using human design to parent your kids in a way that actually works for them 
•  How to stop “should-ing” your life and start living in alignment 
•  The difference between logical decisions vs. aligned decisions 
•  Practical ways to start using human design in your everyday life 

This episode will help you move from confusion and self-doubt to clarity and confidence so you can show up as the partner and parent you want to be.

Connect with MaKenzie:

Instagram: @thecleanmomedit
Podcast: Clean Mom Edit
Work with MaKenzie: Aligned Membership

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Doing more doesn’t make you a better partner. It makes you exhausted, resentful, and disconnected.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the mental load, keeping everything running, and wondering why your partner isn’t stepping up… this episode is going to shift how you see it.

The truth is, this dynamic isn’t just happening to you. It’s being created inside the relationship pattern itself.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

•  Why overfunctioning leads to your partner underfunctioning 
•  The difference between being supportive vs controlling 
•  How “doing it all” quietly creates resentment and disconnection 
•  Why silent expectations are setting your relationship up to fail 
•  How to shift from manager mode into real partnership 
•  Simple ways to start redistributing responsibility without chaos 

The good news? You don’t need to do more. You need to create space for partnership.

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Your body isn’t broken. It just needs a different approach.

If you’ve hit your late 30s or 40s and suddenly feel like nothing is working anymore… you’re not imagining it.

The strategies that used to “just work” stop working — and most women are left feeling frustrated, confused, and honestly… a little betrayed by their bodies.

In this episode, I am joined by Health and Fitness Coach Emily Erb to talk about what’s actually happening in your body, why traditional dieting fails, and how to fuel yourself in a way that feels sustainable, supportive, and freeing.

We’re not talking about restriction.
We’re not talking about cutting out your favorite foods.
We’re talking about understanding your body — so you can finally work with it instead of against it.

Inside this episode, we cover:
- Why your metabolism changes in your 30s and beyond
- What “metabolic adaptation” is
- The truth about calorie counting vs macro counting
- Why restriction leads to binge cycles
- How to eat dessert and still reach your goals
- Why protein matters (and how to increase it realistically)
- The real reason most women struggle with consistency
- How to build trust with yourself around food
- Why mindset and inner work matter more than you think

If you’ve been feeling stuck, frustrated, or like your body is working against you… this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently.

Grab Emily's free macros starter kit here!

Connect with Emily:

IG + FB: @Ems_Empowerment_Coaching

Podcast "Stop It" on Spotify + Apple

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

The fastest way to change your marriage is not by getting your partner to change.

If your marriage has been feeling heavy, tense, or stuck in the same arguments on repeat… you’re not alone.

Most couples believe things will finally get better when their partner starts communicating differently, showing up more, or meeting their needs.

But here’s the truth: waiting for your partner to go first keeps you stuck.

In this episode, we’re diving into the powerful ripple effect that happens when you start showing up differently — and how that shift naturally inspires your partner to do the same.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why focusing on your partner’s behavior keeps you stuck
- What’s actually happening underneath resentment and disconnection
- How your energy, communication, and self-care impact your relationship dynamic
- Why “good begets more good” in marriage
- A simple but powerful reflection to assess how you’re showing up as a partner

Ready to reconnect with your partner and create a more hopeful and positive future with each other? Schedule a clarity call so we can chat about how marriage coaching can help you!

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

So many women are living lives that look right on the outside…
but internally feel off, overwhelming, or unfulfilling.

In this episode, I am joined by Intuition Coach, Taylor Nosakhere to unpack what intuition actually is, why so many women feel disconnected from it, and how rebuilding self-trust can transform your motherhood, marriage, and everyday decisions.

You’ll learn why following your intuition doesn’t always feel easy—and why that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

If you’ve been second-guessing yourself, stuck in people-pleasing, or feeling resentment build in your relationships… this conversation will help you reconnect with your inner voice and start making aligned decisions again.

What You’ll Learn:
- What intuition really is (and what it’s not)
- How to tell the difference between fear and intuition
- How self-trust can impact your relationships with your partner and kids
- Simple ways to start rebuilding your self-trust today

Resources Mentioned:
Taylor’s Private Podcast: How The F To Trust Yourself (Free code: MANDMPOD)

Connect with Taylor:
Instagram: @taylornosakhere
Website: https://www.taylornosakhere.com/

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Staying calm in conflict doesn’t mean your conversation is actually working.

If you’ve ever walked away from a calm conversation with your partner and thought…
“Okay, but nothing actually changed…” — this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the missing skill most couples were never taught: collaborative problem solving.

Because the truth is—
You can regulate your emotions, say things nicely, and still end up stuck in the same patterns.

In this episode, I share:
- Why calm conversations don’t automatically lead to resolution
- The difference between explaining vs. collaborating
- How couples unintentionally argue like they’re in court instead of on the same team
- The role of vagueness in creating repeated conflict
- How to ask better questions that actually move conversations forward
- Why overexplaining keeps you stuck (and what to do instead)
- How to use the P.E.A.C.E. Method to turn conflict into connection

You’ll also hear a real-life example of how misunderstandings happen when couples aren’t clear—and how small shifts in communication can completely change the outcome.

If you’re tired of having the same conversations on repeat, this episode will help you start creating real change.

If you want help turning your conflicts into productive, connecting conversations:

- Download the Conflict to Connection Guide
- Book a Clarity Call to get personalized support

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Your reactions aren’t random — they’re regulated (or dysregulated).

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “Why did I react like that?” — this episode is for you.

In this episode, I am joined by Personal Growth Coach and Breathwork Facilitator, Ashlee Livingstone to break down what nervous system regulation actually is and why it’s the foundation for healthy communication, emotional control, and connection in your marriage.

Because here’s the truth:
Most relationship conflict isn’t about the words being said — it’s about the state your nervous system is in when you say them.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What your nervous system actually is (in simple terms)
- The difference between being regulated vs. dysregulated
- Why so many moms are stuck in survival mode
- How dysregulation fuels arguments, defensiveness, and emotional shutdown
- The fastest way to calm your body in the middle of conflict
- Why “just be calm” doesn’t work (and what does instead)
- How breathwork helps you reset your reactions in real time
- What it looks like to take responsibility for your emotional patterns without blaming yourself

You’ll also hear real-life examples of how stress, parenting, and daily pressure impact your reactions — and how to start shifting those patterns in a practical way.

If you want to stop escalating arguments, feel more in control of your emotions, and create calmer, more productive conversations in your marriage… this episode will show you where to start.

If you loved this episode, check out Ep. 90 to learn more from Ashlee!

Connect with Ashlee:
www.ashleelivingstone.com
IG: @ashlee.livingstone

If you'd like to explore working with Ashlee 1:1, she is offering a special discount to my listeners! Schedule your session here!

Thanks for listening!

Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoaching

If you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!

Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)

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