What does it really mean to be a we in a relationship—and how do you balance it with your own I? In this insightful episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona dig into the delicate art of collaboration, compromise, and connection.

Iona shares how therapy (and a lot of practice) helped her have a wonderful holiday trip with her husband—addressing bumps in the road through true partnership and communication. Meanwhile, Pam reflects on her past marriage, where two I's gradually grew apart instead of working together to nurture a shared we.

From the influence of childhood family dynamics to the impact of raising kids, Pam and Iona explore how couples can navigate individuality and togetherness, vulnerability and selfhood. Because building a healthy we isn’t about losing yourself—it’s about creating something greater together.

Fights happen, but what really matters is what comes next. In this raw and revealing episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona explore the often-missed art of repair—the intentional process of healing after conflict. Whether you grew up in a home where repair was modeled or swept under the rug, chances are no one taught you how to do it well.

From repeating old parent/child dynamics to the all-too-human urge to “make them suffer” before softening, Iona shares a personal story of how her early wounds show up in moments of disconnect with her partner—and how she’s learning to move beyond them. Together, Pam and Iona unpack the difference between accountability and defensiveness, why sweeping things under the rug kills intimacy, and how to build the self-worth and emotional maturity needed to truly own your side of the street.

You’ll even get a simple 4-step protocol to help guide you through your next relationship repair. Because the goal isn’t to avoid rupture—it’s to learn how to repair, and come back stronger each time.

Thinking about couples therapy? Wondering if it can really fix what's broken—or if you're just signing up for weekly battles on a therapist’s couch? In this episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona pull back the curtain on what actually happens in couples therapy, what brings most couples through the door, and why it only works if both partners are willing to show up—messy feelings and all.

They share revealing stories of clients who sabotaged the process by refusing to take responsibility (hello, emotional affairs and unacknowledged shame), and why no magical apology can heal betrayal without true accountability. You’ll also hear why therapists aren't there to convince you of what you "should" want, and why sometimes the goal isn’t saving the relationship—but ending it with grace.

Whether you’re considering therapy, already in it, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes dynamics, this episode offers an unfiltered, compassionate look at the hard truths—and the hope—that therapy can bring.

We all say we want healthy boundaries—but actually setting them? That’s where things get messy. In this raw and revealing episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona go beyond the surface-level how-to's and explore the deeper emotional blocks that keep so many of us stuck in people-pleasing, self-abandonment, and silent resentment.

They share personal stories of how their childhoods shaped their boundary struggles—from families that labeled limits as “unloving” to patterns of emotional neglect and over-functioning. You’ll learn the crucial difference between “I can’t” and “I won’t,” how anxiety disguises itself as selflessness, and why the body often knows we need a boundary before the brain will admit it.

If you’ve ever felt like setting boundaries threatens your relationships, this episode will help you see that, in truth, they’re what make true intimacy possible.

Sure, you’ve done the hard work—therapy, repair, tough conversations. But now what? In this feel-good episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona dive into something couples often forget to prioritize: fun. From day trips to date nights, puzzles to pub nights, they explore how joy acts as a deposit in your relationship bank account—and why it’s crucial for long-term connection.

Pam shares honestly about the lack of joy in her past relationship and what lights her up now, while Iona talks about prioritizing fun with her husband after their daughter left home. They offer real-life ideas (and a hilarious lightning round!) to help you bring more play, laughter, and lightness into your love life—before and after the kids fly the coop.

Because fun isn’t frivolous—it’s the glue that keeps you together.

What does a real apology sound like—and why is it so damn hard to get one? In this episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona dive into the delicate art of apologizing. After Iona arrives very late to the recording, she offers a genuine, no-excuses apology—and it sparks a deeper conversation about how we repair emotional ruptures in relationships.

They explore the difference between heartfelt accountability and hollow placation, why calling someone “too sensitive” doesn’t count, and how many of us (even the most polite Canadians!) are still learning to feel our feelings—and express them constructively.

From the anatomy of a good apology to the role of anger in intimacy, this episode is packed with insights on how to show up with vulnerability, stay out of shame, and create stronger, more resilient connections—one repair at a time.

Ever feel like you’re arguing with your partner’s past self—or like they’re stuck seeing you as who you used to be? In this candid and insightful episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona explore the “ghosts” that haunt our relationships—old dynamics, traumas, and one-dimensional perceptions that get projected onto our partners and shape how we relate.

From confirmation bias to emotional overfunctioning, they unpack how unresolved experiences (from childhood and from earlier stages of the relationship itself) can distort the present—and block growth. Iona shares a personal story about her pattern of going into Superwoman mode when her husband is unwell, and how her default reactions are slowly changing… even if the “ghost” of her old self still lingers. Pam opens up about facing similar struggles with her daughter.

Tune in for heartfelt reflection, a few laugh-out-loud moments, and some powerful insights on how to give your partner—and yourself—the space to evolve.

In this episode, Pam and Iona unpack how childhood experiences with explosive anger shaped their adult relationships—and their own relationship with anger. From avoiding conflict to striving for perfection, they explore what happens when we bury our feelings to keep the peace, and how that can backfire. With honesty and humor, they show how learning to sit with emotions like annoyance can lead to healthier, more direct communication. Because as Iona says, “Anger doesn’t have to look like your mother.”

In this episode, Iona and Pam dig into the powerful dynamics of over- and under-compensating in relationships and how these patterns often reflect parent-child ego states. Drawing from personal stories and therapeutic insights, they explore how mindfulness, validation, and understanding our triggers can help us shift into an adult state—where real intimacy and connection can thrive. Whether it's soothing your nervous system or showing appreciation in playful ways, it all starts with noticing how you're showing up.

Do your childhood wounds still have a seat at the table in your relationships? In this episode of Relationship Dish, Pam and Iona dive into how early emotional experiences shape our adult love lives—often in ways we don’t realize. They explore how childhood traumas, attachment wounds, and subconscious patterns can lead to conflict, insecurity, or emotional distance. Tune in for insights on recognizing these patterns and, most importantly, how to heal them to create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.