ERP 508: The Power of Collaboration: Building Trust and Connection in Love and Life — An Interview with Leslie Grossman
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Release Date: 12/23/2025
ERP 523: The Subconscious Patterns That Keep Us Stuck in Love — And How to Break the Cycle – An Interview with Riana Malia
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Are you living a life that looks great on paper, but feels like something's missing beneath the surface? You’ve climbed the ladder, checked all the boxes, yet relationships and real fulfillment seem just out of reach. The cycle of “almost, but not quite” can leave even the most accomplished individuals wondering why old patterns keep resurfacing and why true connection remains elusive. In this episode, listeners will explore how subconscious beliefs, habitual thought patterns, and unresolved emotional baggage shape the dynamics of love and connection. Through practical approaches like...
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ERP 522: Fair Isn’t 50/50: How Couples Build a Financial Partnership That Works - An Interview with Heather and Douglas Boneparth
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Money isn’t just about numbers; it’s the silent language shaping intimacy, trust, and fairness in our closest relationships. Beneath the surface of budgets and bank accounts often lies a tangled web of beliefs, emotions, and unspoken histories that can spark misunderstanding, resentment, or even distance between partners. The challenge? Finding a way to transform financial conversations from battlegrounds into bridges of deeper connection. In this episode, listeners will discover how to unpack personal money stories, identify invisible patterns, and create a foundation for fairness that...
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ERP 521: Resentment as a Mirror and What It Reveals About You and Your Relationship - An Interview With Katie Rössler
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Resentment is the silent killer of connection—creeping in beneath the surface, quietly eroding the intimacy and trust between partners. Too often, the frustration we feel in our relationships stems not just from our partner’s actions, but from deeper unmet needs and patterns we haven’t paused to examine. When left unaddressed, this silent disconnect can blossom into the so-called “roommate syndrome,” where couples drift apart, stuck in cycles of survival mode, logistical interactions, and emotional isolation. In this episode, listeners are invited to explore how resentment actually...
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ERP 520: Why We Keep Repeating the Same Relationship Patterns and How to Change Them — An Interview With Dr. Molly Burrets
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Have you ever wondered why you keep finding yourself in the same relationship patterns, no matter how hard you try to change? It’s almost as if, despite our best intentions and awareness, we’re drawn to the familiar—even if it’s painful. The fear of uncertainty trumps the discomfort of what we know, leaving many stuck in cycles of repeated conflict, unmet needs, and unclear intentions. In this episode, listeners are guided through the origins of these repeating patterns, from early attachment experiences to later life trauma, and how they shape the template for adult relationships. The...
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ERP 519: From Love to Leadership: Creating Alignment in Family Life - An Interview with April Eldemire
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Love alone isn’t always enough to keep everyone under one roof feeling connected and secure. Despite the dream of harmony and the promise of new beginnings, many families find themselves struggling with uncertainty, misaligned expectations, and recurring conflicts that love simply can’t resolve. Is it possible to create a sense of “home” where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported—without sacrificing your relationship or your own well-being? In this episode, listeners will discover why building a thriving blended family isn’t just about love—it’s about creating alignment...
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ERP 518: When Stress Hijacks Connection: How Couples Can Use Stress to Grow Closer — An Interview with Dr. Rebecca Heiss
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Ever notice how the smallest trigger in your relationship—a tone of voice, a lingering look, or a forgotten chore—can suddenly feel like a five-alarm fire? The truth is, most couples aren’t fighting about the dishes or the laundry; they’re struggling against the undercurrents of stress, anxiety, and unspoken needs that simmer just beneath the surface. When these emotions erupt, it’s not just about the task at hand but the deep human urge to be seen, valued, and connected. Left unchecked, these survival-driven stress responses can turn moments of misunderstanding into cycles of blame,...
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ERP 517: Pleasure, Pain, and Partnership: Navigating Pelvic Floor Health Together - An Interview with Dr. Sara Reardon
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
There’s a silent struggle that many couples face—issues of pain, discomfort, or disconnection in intimate life that go unspoken and unattended. For so long, pelvic floor challenges have been seen as private burdens to bear alone, surrounded by stigma or confusion about where to turn for help. But what if we viewed these not as individual problems, but as shared matters that impact the whole relationship? Could better understanding and open conversation actually transform your intimacy and emotional connection? In this episode, you’ll discover how pelvic floor health influences pleasure,...
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ERP 516: Conscious Love: From Reactivity to Responsibility in Intimate Relationships — An Interview with Christian de la Huerta
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Why do so many relationships, despite the best intentions, end up stuck in cycles of hurt, disappointment, or disconnection? We search for “the one,” hope for a soulmate to fulfill us, and cling to romantic ideals—even as we find ourselves repeating old patterns and feeling powerless when things get tough. The real challenge, it seems, isn’t just finding love, but learning how to nurture it consciously and responsibly. What if the secret isn’t about changing others, but transforming how we relate, both to ourselves and to our loved ones? In this episode, discover how to break free...
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ERP 515: How Couples Can Rethink Time to Reduce Burnout and Strengthen Connection — An Interview with Michelle Niemeyer
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Are you constantly racing against the clock, feeling like life’s demands are pulling you in every direction—and yet, your own needs, goals, and relationships are slipping through the cracks? Burnout, overwhelm, and the tricky balance of work, family, and personal fulfillment are challenges that leave many people wondering: Does time own me, or can I truly shape how I live within it? In this episode, the conversation delves deep into how our relationship with time can be transformed from a relentless source of stress into a foundation for personal wholeness and relational strength. You’ll...
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ERP 514: Measuring What Matters: How Awareness and Alignment Create Enduring Love - An Interview with Zoey Charif
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
Ever wondered why, despite our best intentions, we keep falling into the same relationship traps? Or how two people can feel worlds apart even when they desperately want things to work? The subtle dance of self-worth, mutual respect, and compatibility often determines whether love thrives or fizzles out. Too often, we end up settling for relationships that slowly chip away at our confidence, hoping for change while ignoring the mismatch in values, traits, and emotional needs. In this episode, listeners are guided through a groundbreaking and practical approach for understanding the science...
info_outlineIn a world that often glorifies rugged individualism, finding real connection and mutual growth with others can feel elusive, especially when it comes to our closest relationships. The secret ingredient might just be what so many overlook: genuine collaboration—both at home and beyond. What if the key to thriving wasn’t “doing it all yourself,” but learning how to truly work together?
In this episode, you’ll discover how building circles of collaboration can transform your personal relationships, family dynamics, and even your broader social and professional connections. Through real-life stories and practical strategies, you’ll learn why trust, curiosity, and deep listening are so essential for building fulfilling partnerships. You’ll also hear how taking intentional steps—like active listening, sharing vulnerability, and nurturing supportive communities—can help you experience more connection, resilience, and joy in every area of your life.
Leslie Grossman is a trailblazer in leadership, and professional and career development for women. She is an accomplished executive coach, keynote speaker, researcher, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Exchange, the first national conference program for women based on collaborative leadership. She is faculty director of Executive Women’s Leadership at The George Washington University – Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Leslie’s latest book, “Circles of Collaboration”, reveals the time-tested method of harnessing one’s success and fulfillment on the principles of collaboration, trust, generosity and communication.
Episode Highlights
06:27 Navigating leadership roles and collaboration in relationships.
08:21 Intentionality in creating circles of collaboration.
10:33 The power of deep listening and curiosity in partnership.
14:38 Building meaningful connections through intentional questions.
17:40 Vulnerability, trust, and support systems in relationships.
20:27 Generosity, active listening, and expanding your circles.
25:28 Collaborative exchanges and asking for support.
28:24 Negotiating imperfect collaboration and relationship expectations.
31:06 Bringing up important issues: Timing and communication.
34:17 The impact of collaborative relationships and taking action.
Your Check List of Actions to Take
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Divide and conquer roles: In partnerships, clearly designate leaders for different areas, but always ensure communication and final decisions respect collaboration and listening.
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Practice deep listening: Be intentional about giving your full attention to your partner or colleague; don’t interrupt or assume you know what they’ll say.
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Ask curious questions: Show genuine interest by asking open-ended questions about feelings, experiences, and perspectives to foster connection.
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Build multiple circles of collaboration: Develop relationships beyond your intimate partnership—think family, friends, work, and community circles—to enrich your support network.
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Be intentional with connection: Choose to initiate deeper conversations with those you care about, rather than keeping interactions at a surface level.
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Cultivate generosity: Offer your time and listening ear generously; seek ways to support others, such as facilitating introductions or sharing helpful resources.
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Keep track of important issues: If topics arise that feel uncomfortable to discuss, jot them down and revisit them when the timing is better; don’t let them slip away.
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Let go of perfection: Accept that not all relationships or collaborations will be perfectly reciprocal; allow space for difference and focus energy on relationships that foster growth and mutual support.
Mentioned
Circles of Collaboration (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)
12 Relationship Principles to Strengthen Your Love (free guide)
Connect with Leslie Grossman
Website: Lesliegrossmanvision.com
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCqjD0Y4L0XVjzixocEsO8kw
Instagram: instagram.com/lesliegrossmanvision
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lesliegrossmanleadership