Let’s get one thing straight: If you’re the one managing the calendar, making all the decisions, planning every date night, and still motivating your husband to help with the kids—you’re not crazy, you’re exhausted. And you’re not alone. In this eye-opening episode of the Empowered and Unapologetic Podcast, I sat down with relationship coach and best-selling author Dr. Ray Doktor, Psy.D., to dive deep into the very real struggle so many high-achieving women face in their relationships: Why are you always the one leading—and what can you do about it? This wasn’t some surface-level chat. Dr. Ray and I went in. From generational conditioning to masculine energy and emotional safety, we unraveled what’s really going on when your partner doesn’t show up—and what it takes to shift the dynamic.

Let’s get one thing straight: If you’re the one managing the calendar, making all the decisions, planning every date night, and still motivating your husband to help with the kids—you’re not crazy, you’re exhausted. And you’re not alone. In this eye-opening episode of the Empowered and Unapologetic Podcast, I sat down with relationship coach and best-selling author Dr. Ray Doktor, Psy.D., to dive deep into the very real struggle so many high-achieving women face in their relationships: Why are you always the one leading—and what can you do about it? This wasn’t some surface-level chat. Dr. Ray and I went in. From generational conditioning to masculine energy and emotional safety, we unraveled what’s really going on when your partner doesn’t show up—and what it takes to shift the dynamic.

"Why Won’t He Step Up?" What High-Achieving Women Need to Know About Emotionally Unavailable Partners | EU 272

You’re exhausted.
Not just physically. Emotionally. You’re running a household, keeping up with your career, holding the family calendar together, and still somehow managing the grocery list. You’re the default parent, the peacekeeper, the one who never stops, even when you should be resting. And somewhere in between the laundry and the late-night emails, you’ve lost the version of yourself that wasn’t running on fumes.

I’m Veronica Cisneros, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, wife, and mom of three. I know what it’s like to feel disconnected from your spouse, stuck in silent power struggles over household chores, and torn between excelling in your career and actually enjoying your family. I’ve been the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the one trying to “hold it all together” while anxiety worked overtime behind the scenes.

On Empowered and Unapologetic, we’re ditching the guilt and having the conversations no one’s having at the PTA meeting. Here, you’ll get real talk and therapist-backed strategies on:

• Navigating marriage when it feels more like a business partnership than a relationship.
• Breaking the cycle of over-functioning and learning to rest without guilt.
• Sharing the mental and physical load at home—without another chore chart that no one uses.
• Shutting down power-pleasing patterns that leave you drained and resentful.
• Managing the anxiety that comes from constantly being “on.”

If you’re tired of looking like you have it all together while feeling like you’re falling apart, you’re in the right place. This is your space to breathe, laugh, and rebuild connection, without having to compromise yourself in the process.

Let’s do this together.

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You’re exhausted. Not just physically. Emotionally. You’re running a household, keeping up with your career, holding the family calendar together, and still somehow managing the grocery list. You’re the default parent, the peacekeeper, the one who never stops, even when you should be resting. And somewhere in between the laundry and the late-night emails, you’ve lost the version of yourself that wasn’t running on fumes. I’m Veronica Cisneros, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, wife, and mom of three. I know what it’s like to feel disconnected from your spouse, stuck in silent power struggles over household chores, and torn between excelling in your career and actually enjoying your family. I’ve been the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the one trying to “hold it all together” while anxiety worked overtime behind the scenes. On Empowered and Unapologetic, we’re ditching the guilt and having the conversations no one’s having at the PTA meeting. Here, you’ll get real talk and therapist-backed strategies on: • Navigating marriage when it feels more like a business partnership than a relationship. • Breaking the cycle of over-functioning and learning to rest without guilt. • Sharing the mental and physical load at home—without another chore chart that no one uses. • Shutting down power-pleasing patterns that leave you drained and resentful. • Managing the anxiety that comes from constantly being “on.” If you’re tired of looking like you have it all together while feeling like you’re falling apart, you’re in the right place. This is your space to breathe, laugh, and rebuild connection, without having to compromise yourself in the process. Let’s do this together.

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"Why Won’t He Step Up?" What High-Achieving Women Need to Know About Emotionally Unavailable Partners | EU 272

"Why Won’t He Step Up?" What High-Achieving Women Need to Know About Emotionally Unavailable Partners | EU 272

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