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So many couples start wondering, “How did we get here?” once kids enter the picture. It’s not that the love disappeared — it’s that it got deprioritized. Parenthood changes everything. Between sleepless nights, endless to-dos, and the emotional load of raising kids, your relationship can easily slip into “roommate mode.”

In this episode, I break down what’s really happening when love feels distant — and how to start nurturing it again in simple, sustainable ways. I share why parenthood naturally shifts your focus, how couples drift from lovers to co-parenting partners, and how to rebuild emotional intimacy through micro-moments of connection.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “We used to be so in love — what happened?” this episode will help you see that you haven’t lost love… you’ve just stopped putting in the work to grow it.

You’ll learn:

• Why love fades when it’s not nurtured (and how to revive it)
• The shift from romantic partners to logistical roommates
• Simple ways to reconnect without overhauling your life
• Why intentional connection matters more than big gestures

It’s never too late to realign with your priorities — or each other.

Resources Mentioned:

• Marriage 360 Review
  Discover what your marriage needs most
• Book a Clarity Call
  Explore how marriage coaching can help you rebuild connection and feel like an “us” again

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

You don’t need to do it all to have it all.

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram during the holidays and thought, “How are other moms doing all this?”, this episode is for you.

I’m joined again by my friend and Marisa Lonic of Mama Work It to talk about the  comparison traps and guilt that come with modern motherhood — especially during the school and holiday rush.

We break down:

• How social media fuels “comparisonitis” and how to protect your peace online
• Why doing less can actually make you a better mom, wife, and human
• How to redefine success and capacity in each season
• Practical strategies for staying grounded, setting boundaries, and delegating without guilt

We also talk about what it looks like to be confident in saying no without apology and how modeling this for your kids teaches them self-respect and emotional intelligence.

If you’re ready to make this school year and holiday season lighter, calmer, and more connected — this conversation will help you do just that.

Connect with Marisa!

IG: @letmamaworkit

Website: www.mamaworkit.com

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

You might think time with friends is a luxury once you have kids — but what if it’s actually essential for your marriage and your experience of motherhood?

In this episode, I share how female friendships aren’t just nice-to-have — they’re a powerful form of self-care that make you a better partner, parent, and person.

There are just some things that our partner just won't get and that's where friends come in. When you feel seen, supported, and reminded of who you are outside your role as wife and mom, you show up with more patience, joy, and capacity at home.

Tune in to learn how investing in your friendships can transform your marriage and motherhood!

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Before you can create the relationship you want with your partner or your kids, you have to build a healthy one with yourself.

Many women lose themselves somewhere between wife and mom. The roles pile up, the needs of others take over, and suddenly the woman underneath feels like a stranger. But the truth is — every relationship you have mirrors the one you have with yourself.

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Evelyn LaVasseur, an Identity Coach who helps women reconnect with who they are underneath all the roles. Together, we explore what it means to have a relationship with self, how our upbringing shapes that connection, and why reclaiming it is essential for a fulfilling marriage and experience of motherhood.

Listen now to learn how to improve your relationship with yourself and watch how doing so shifts your relationships for the better.

Connect with Evelyn!

www.evelynlevasseur.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/evelyn.levasseur/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsevelynlevasseur/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@evelynlevasseur

Grab her Exhaustion Guide here!

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Have you ever talked to a couple married for 20+ years and wondered, “How do they do it?”

Lasting love isn’t about luck—it’s about growth. Sure, meeting your person takes timing and chemistry, but staying happily married takes emotional awareness, communication, and a willingness to evolve together.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what really keeps a marriage strong—and it’s not avoiding arguments or scheduling more date nights. It’s the health of you.

Because your marriage is only as healthy as you are.

When you work on your emotional well-being, your self-awareness, and how you show up in conflict, everything else starts to shift. Conversations feel safer, connection feels easier, and teamwork becomes natural again.

If you’ve been doing all the “right” things but still feel distant, this episode will show you what’s really missing—and how to start changing it.

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Menopause isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of rediscovering who you are.

In this  episode, Michelle sits down with Adele Johnston, also known as The Menopause Coach, to debunk the myths, fear, and shame surrounding menopause. Together, they explore the emotional and physical changes that come with this transition — and how this next chapter can actually be one of the most liberating times of a woman’s life.

They discuss:

• Why most women fear menopause — and what society has gotten wrong about it
• The real signs you’re entering perimenopause (and why lab tests often miss it)
• Adele’s personal story of early menopause and what every woman should learn from it
• How hormone therapy (HRT) works, who it helps, and what to know before considering it
• The emotional awakening that often happens during this phase — and why women feel more confident, grounded, and unapologetic than ever
• The connection between unprocessed emotions, burnout, and physical symptoms during menopause

This episode is for every woman — whether you’re approaching menopause, already in it, or simply want to understand your body better. You’ll walk away feeling informed, empowered, and hopeful about what’s next.

Connect with Adele:

IG: @The.Menopausecoach

Podcast: The Menopause Coach

Website: www.adelejohnstoncoaching.com

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Have you ever wondered why conflict with your spouse goes sideways all the time?

One thing a lot of my clients have in common is that they're focusing on protecting themselves rather than to connect.

In this episode, I uncover why so many married couples approach conversations to survive as if they're in a battle instead of connecting. When your nervous system feels threatened, your communication shifts into protection mode — fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. The result? Defensiveness, shutdown, or constant tension.

Tune in to learn how to break this learned habit and start experiencing conflict as an opportunity to connect rather than something that needs to be hard fought and won.

Download the Conflict to Connection Guide to help you slow down, name your emotions, and turn tension into teamwork.

Ready to take the next step and receive support to finally start having more healthy communication and feel stronger with each conflict? Book your clarity call today to learn more about how coaching can help you!

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Support the show

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Here is Part 2 of the Enneagram series with Christa Hardin! If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go check out Ep. 232 first and then come back to this!

Much of marriage conflict is because of misunderstandings. Whether we take things personally when we didn't need to or our partner just has a different style of communication. Marriage gets easier when you start getting to know each other better and one way you can do that is by knowing each other's Enneagram.

In this powerful conversation, I sit down again with Enneagram and Marriage expert Krista Hardin to dive deeper into how understanding personality types can strengthen your communication, conflict resolution, and connection.

We go beyond just identifying your number—we unpack how each Enneagram type shows up in marriage: what motivates them, what triggers them, and how to bring out their best self in partnership.

You’ll learn:

• How understanding core fears and motivations helps reduce conflict
• What each Enneagram type needs most in love and communication
• Why self-awareness is the key to being a better partner
• How to move from judgment to compassion using the Enneagram as a shared language

Whether you’re a loyal 6, nurturing 2, driven 3, or peaceful 9, you’ll leave this episode with fresh insight into how your personality influences your marriage—and how to create a stronger, more harmonious partnership.

Connect with Christa!

IG: @enneagramandmarriage

Website: www.enneagramandmarriage.com

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Marriage was never meant to feel like co-managing a household.

Yet for so many couples, that’s exactly where they find themselves—the roommate phase. You’re dividing chores, trading off bedtime routines, updating each other on logistics… but emotional intimacy, laughter, and closeness are nowhere to be found.

In this episode, I share:

• What the roommate phase is and why so many couples end up here after kids
• What creates this disconnection
• Three clear signs you’re in the roommate phase (and what that means for your relationship)
• Why this phase won’t fix itself once kids get older—and what to do instead
• Small, practical ways to rebuild connection without overhauling your entire schedule

The good news? This phase doesn’t mean you don’t love each other. It just means you’ve slipped into survival mode. And with awareness, small intentional steps, and consistency—you can shift from living like roommates to truly being partners again.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Grab my free Conflict to Connection Guide to process your thoughts and feelings before bringing them up to your spouse
• Ready for a complete reset in your marriage? Book a free Clarity Call with me here!

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!

Your personality shapes everything—from how you handle conflict to how you connect with your spouse and kids.

In this episode, I sit down with Christa Hardin, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of The Enneagram in Marriage. Krista has spent over 20 years helping couples strengthen their connection, and today she’s here to walk us through the Enneagram—a personality framework that goes beyond surface-level behaviors to uncover your core fears, desires, and motivations.

Together, we explore:

• What the Enneagram is and why it’s different from other personality tools
• The 9 personality types and their core fears and motivations

This conversation is packed with insights that will help you better understand yourself and the people you love most. Whether you’re brand new to the Enneagram or you’ve dabbled before, you’ll leave with practical ways to apply it in your everyday life.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series where we explore how the Enneagram shows up in marriage dynamics.

Connect with Christa!

IG: @enneagramandmarriage

Website: www.enneagramandmarriage.com

Thanks for listening!

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

Additional Resources:

• 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)
• Want to handle conflict with more confidence? Download this free workbook!
• Wanna make communication feel easy and stop feeling like roommates so you can bring back the romance and excitement into your marriage? Learn more about how coaching here!