SFIO 303 - Doing Life Side by Side

📋 Episode Summary
Marc and Emily get candid about what it’s been like to build a life, family, and work in close proximity for more than 30 years. This episode dives into what it means to “work together now,” unpacking the realities of sharing space, parenting, making intentional choices—and growing up alongside each other. From early dreams of connection and community to unromantic but essential rituals (like coffee at 6 a.m. and cereal in low cupboards), they reflect on what’s helped them stick together through different seasons, even when things got messy. Not as advice—just as their story.

 

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Living and working together isn’t about doing it “right”—it’s about creating something that works for you.
• A shared vision of connection and community was the throughline that held Marc and Emily through the hard parts.
• Rituals (like morning coffee) can be anchors—even if you’re mad with each other.
• Growth often looks like letting go of what you were taught and figuring out what works in real life.
• This is a story, not a prescription: fulfillment looks different for everyone.

 

🗣 Quote Highlights

“We’re not holding this up as the way to do life. This is just the lab we built—and we’re psyched it’s working.” – Emily
“There were points where we could have become two separate individuals who shared a house.” – Marc
“Connection and community were so compelling at the beginning that I couldn’t give up on them.” – Emily
“I don’t think my 25-year-old self would recognize who I am now—and that’s a good thing.” – Marc
“There’s a lot of garbage advice out there. We had to figure out what worked for us.” – Emily

 

🧰 Tools & Mentions

• Tony Martignetti’s Campfire Summit
• Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (Paladin: M’arkhem Stonevaeil!)
• Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits and Family Mission Statement (with critiques)
• The “7 on the clock” parenting rule
• Homemade bagels & muffin phases as connection rituals
• The phrase: “Liked Best / Next Time” (referenced in prior episodes)

 

👥 Who Should Listen

• Couples who live and/or work closely together
• Listeners questioning cultural “norms” of marriage and family
• Leaders trying to balance vision with day-to-day reality
• Anyone navigating long-term partnership and still figuring it out
• People curious how ritual, humor, and hard conversations shape connection

 

🎺 That Music!
Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music.
Lexi Moreno: composing / mixing / mastering / guitar
Caleb Pitman: composing / mixing / trumpet
Zoe Czarnecki: bass