061: How to improve intimacy in a relationship with Chloe Mascord
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Release Date: 04/07/2025
88: Stop Trying to Save Your Marriage—Start by Stopping the Damage First
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
When couples come into my counseling office in crisis, they almost always want immediate connection, intimacy, and solutions to their problems. It makes so much sense why they want that. But just like in an emergency room, doctors don't ask a patient to run a marathon while they're bleeding—they focus on stopping the bleeding and controlling the damage first. Research shows that couples wait an average of six years after problems begin before seeking help. By that point, years of built-up pain, erosion, and negative spirals have left both partners constantly hurting each other. In...
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87: Communication Skills Won’t Save Your Relationship Without Emotional Safety
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
So many couples come into my counseling office equipped with scripts, books, and communication tools they’ve learned over the years . They intellectually know what they should say when a disagreement arises . Yet, in the heat of the moment, those skills seem to completely vanish, leaving them trapped in the same painful argument once again . If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to use your communication skills when you need them most, please know that you are not broken and you are definitely not alone . The issue isn't a lack of skill—it's a lack of emotional safety . ...
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86: Neurodivergent Families in Military Life: Parenting, Systems, and Survival with Priscilla Corson
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Military families are often trained to be exceptionally adaptable. Between PCS moves, deployments, changing routines, and new bases, constant movement becomes the norm. But if you are raising a neurodivergent child or if you are neurodivergent yourself, that constant change isn't just neutral—it can be incredibly expensive for your nervous system. Have you ever wondered why military life feels harder for your family than it seems to be for others? You are definitely not alone. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky sits down with Priscilla Corson—a military spouse, AuDHD-er, therapist,...
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85: Your Intentions Aren’t the Problem—But They’re Not Fixing Your Relationship Either
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a frustrating disagreement, saying, "Well, that's not what I meant to say. You aren't understanding what my intentions were"? It is incredibly common for couples to fall into this loop. We naturally operate under the belief that if we didn't mean to cause pain, our partner shouldn't feel hurt. But what this really means is that we are trying to force our partner into the world of our intentions, while they are living entirely inside the raw emotional impact of what was said. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky discusses why good intentions...
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84: How to Support Neurodivergent Teens Without Trying to “Fix” Them with Jamie Roberts
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
When our kids are struggling, our natural instinct as parents is often to jump right into problem-solving mode . We want to push harder, structure tighter, or fix whatever is going wrong . But what if the more you try to fix, the less safe they actually feel on the inside? In this episode of the Communicate & Connect Podcast, I sit down with Jamie Roberts, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author who specializes in working with neurodivergent and neuroqueer teenagers . Jamie courageously shares her own journey as a late-diagnosed adult with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia,...
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83:How to Handle Different Conflict Styles
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Have you ever noticed that during a disagreement, one of you always wants to talk things through right away, while the other desperately needs space ? Somehow, this difference in timing often turns into a much bigger fight than the original issue ever was . When one person says, "Can we talk about this?" and the other says, "Not right now," it doesn't just impact the relationship as a simple preference . It impacts the nervous system as a message that you don't care or you're too much . In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky breaks down the two most common conflict styles: the...
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82: Caring for Aging Parents from a Distance - Preventing Caregiver Burnout with Janice Goldmintz
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Navigating the care of our aging parents is one of the most profound, yet least talked about, transitions we face as adults. This is really common—we rarely sit down to discuss end-of-life wishes or logistics until a sudden medical crisis throws us into an emotional whirlwind. When you are managing this transition from a distance—whether due to life circumstances or the unique demands of military deployment and relocation—the weight can easily ripple into your marriage, leading to invisible strain and emotional disconnection. In this episode, I sit down with gerontologist Janice...
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81: Introvert Married to an Extrovert? Here’s What Works.
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Have you ever looked at your partner and wondered, “How did we end up so completely different?” In this episode, we are pulling back the rug on the typical introvert-extrovert clash. We’ll explore why this isn't actually a personality flaw or a sign of incompatibility, but a beautiful, natural difference in how your nervous systems get regulated. You'll learn how to stop tracking who "wins" the argument and start creating win-win compromises, establishing healthy time apart, and injecting intentional structure into your relationship so that both of your attachment needs feel honored....
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80: Loneliness in Relationships - Why Stress, Busyness, and Disconnection Keep Us Feeling Alone with Dr. Sylvia Kalicinski
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Have you ever sat right next to your partner on the couch, completely silent, and realized you felt entirely alone? It is a heartbreaking sensation, but I want you to take a deep breath: you are not alone in this experience, and it doesn't mean your relationship is broken. This is really common, especially in military families where the pressure to keep everything looking fine is so high. In this episode, I sit down with the wonderful Dr. Sylvia Kalicinski, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Lonely AF: A Therapist's No BS Guide to Feeling Less Alone. Together, we explore...
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79: Opposites Attract—Until They Don’t. What Your Differences Are Really About
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Being different is so exciting—until it isn’t. At first, it feels like a beautiful balance. One of you plans everything, and the other just goes with the flow. It evens you out. But over time, those exact same qualities can start to feel irritating, exhausting, or like you’re constantly missing each other. If you’ve ever wondered why things feel so hard when you’re both truly good people who love each other, you are definitely not alone. In this episode, we are pulling back the curtain on why we are drawn to our opposites and what those differences are actually trying to tell us when...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Communicate & Connect Podcast, host Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky welcomes intimacy expert Chloe Mascord to the show, where they dive deep into the intricacies of nurturing intimacy within relationships, with a special focus on the unique dynamics faced by military couples. Chloe, renowned for her expertise in the field, discusses the common challenges and misconceptions surrounding intimacy, emphasizing the crucial distinction between intimacy and sex and the need for emotional closeness for a fulfilling intimate life.
Throughout the episode, Chloe offers a wealth of practical tips and strategies to help couples reignite the spark in their relationships, even when faced with hectic schedules and stress. They explore the impact of individual and external factors like stress and body image on intimacy and offer insights into building a positive, connected partnership. Chloe also highlights the power of mindful communication and the transformative effects of simple habits, such as scheduled quality time and thoughtful gestures, in fostering deeper connections.
Listeners will gain valuable advice on strengthening their relationships, ensuring intimacy is not only maintained but thrives amidst life's challenges. Whether you're a military couple navigating deployment separations or simply looking to enhance your relationship, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you and your partner connect more deeply. Tune in to discover how to create a more intimate and connected relationship that withstands the test of time.
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Free Relationship Pattern Assessment
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