Libsyn Directory

ERP 528: Love as a Practice: How Virtues Help Couples Stay Connected and Aligned - An Interview with Susanne Alexander

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Release Date: 05/12/2026

ERP 541: Breaking the Shame Cycle: How Couples Create Safety and Connection — An Interview with Brannon and Tyler Patrick

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Shame might be the silent architect behind our biggest relationship struggles—fueling secrecy, driving distance, and making genuine intimacy feel just out of reach. When the fear of rejection or not being enough sneaks in, it often keeps us locked in painful cycles of criticism, defensiveness, and disconnect. But what if the way we react to shame is the very thing sabotaging our deepest connections? In this episode, the discussion dives into how shame operates beneath the surface of issues like betrayal, addiction, and disconnection, and offers concrete strategies for transforming these...

ERP 540: Healing After Betrayal: Why Truth Comes Before Trust — An Interview with Tammy Gustafson

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Is true healing after infidelity really possible? When trust is shattered by betrayal, the pain often feels insurmountable—turning love and certainty into confusion, grief, and self-doubt. The world seems to shift on its axis, leaving many to quietly question whether relationships can ever fully recover or whether individuals can truly reclaim safety and a sense of self after such a rupture. In this episode, listeners will discover compassionate guidance for facing the aftermath of intimate betrayal and pathways toward real healing. The conversation explores why facing uncomfortable truths...

ERP 539: When Work Follows You Home: Protecting Connection Before Stress Becomes Disconnection — An Interview with Dr. Guy Winch

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Are you bringing home more than just your briefcase at the end of a long workday? For many, the hidden toll of workplace stress doesn't stay behind at the office—it seeps into our most intimate relationships, silently undermining connection, emotional safety, and even physical closeness. It's a problem so common and subtle that many don’t realize work is affecting their love life until the damage is already done. In this episode, listeners are invited to uncover the overlooked ways that work stress spills over into the home, affecting both partners’ emotional well-being and the overall...

ERP 538: The Agreements That Hold Love Together: What a Divorce Attorney Sees Couples Learn Too Late — An Interview with Diana Romanov

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Is it ever just one big betrayal that ends a relationship—or is it those little, silent compromises and unspoken problems that slowly unravel the love you built? Too often, couples find themselves at a crossroads, wondering when things started to go wrong and why the issues weren’t tackled before it was too late. In this episode, listeners will hear stories pulled straight from the front lines of relationship dissolution and learn how to recognize the warning signs before they escalate. Through real-life examples and expert insights, the conversation shines a light on why negotiating...

ERP 537: The Relationship Mirror: How Dreams Reveal What We’re Not Seeing — An Interview with Dr. Bonnie Buckner

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Ever wonder why certain conflicts keep resurfacing in your relationships, or why you wake from a vivid dream feeling shaken without understanding why? Sometimes, the real roots of our struggles with loved ones aren’t just out in the open—they're buried in the deeper layers of our own subconscious. When we ignore these internal signals, challenges can feel insurmountable, and solutions remain out of reach. In this episode, listeners will explore how dreams and moments of inner reflection can act as a mirror, revealing hidden emotions and unresolved patterns that shape the way we connect...

ERP 536: Beyond the Budget: How Couples Align Money, Happiness, and Meaning — An Interview with Lori Atwood

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Money can be the silent partner in every relationship—often creating tension, stress, and confusion that can easily escalate into conflict. Beneath the numbers, every dollar spent or saved carries deeper questions about happiness, security, and the life we’re working so hard to build together. How can couples bridge the gap between financial security and true personal fulfillment, especially when their instincts and money habits seem worlds apart? In this episode, listeners are guided through the core foundations of financial well-being and shown how to transform money conversations from...

ERP 535: When Walls Replace Boundaries: The Hidden Path Back to Connection - An Interview with Kate King

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Are you building walls—or are you setting boundaries? It's a question that goes to the heart of why so many relationships end up feeling distant or disconnected. In a world where emotional safety matters more than ever, knowing when you're protecting yourself versus shutting others out can make all the difference. Too often, our automatic defenses keep us from the kind of authentic intimacy and connection we deeply crave. In this episode, listeners are guided through understanding the difference between healthy boundaries and protective walls, how early experiences shape these survival...

ERP 534: Why Emotional Safety Isn’t Just a Conversation—It’s a Nervous System Experience - An Interview with Dr. Monique Thompson

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Feeling safe in a relationship isn’t just about talking things through—it’s about what happens deep within our bodies. When emotional wounds strike or betrayals occur, the impact is felt not only in the heart but in the nervous system, shifting how we experience and respond to our partners. Real healing goes beyond surface-level dialogue and requires us to understand how our physiological state shapes our sense of security, trust, and connection. In this episode, listeners are guided to rethink emotional safety as a whole-body experience. By unpacking the link between the nervous system...

ERP 533: How Couples Unintentionally Trade Passion for Stability — An Interview with Dr. Bruce Chalmer

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Do you feel miles apart from your partner—even though you still love each other deeply? Many long-term couples gradually drift into a “roommate” dynamic: life feels stable, the relationship is intact, but something vital is missing. Over time, habits and strategies designed to avoid conflict and maintain harmony can quietly diminish the spark, intimacy, and passion that once brought you together. In this episode, you'll discover why emotional distance often develops in otherwise loving relationships and what it takes to reconnect. Through fresh insights, relatable examples, and practical...

ERP 532: Acceptance and Change in Love: How Couples Navigate Conflict and Connection - An Interview with Dr. Shireen Rizvi

Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Navigating the ups and downs of relationships can feel like learning a new language without a guidebook. When emotions run high, or misunderstandings arise, it’s easy to get stuck in frustration or repeat patterns that don’t serve us—or our partners—well. How do you ask for what you need, stay true to yourself, and keep the connection strong, all at the same time? In this episode, the discussion explores practical tools rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that help you strike a balance between self-respect, relationship wellbeing, and getting your needs met. Listeners will...

More Episodes

What if the key to lasting love wasn’t just about finding the right person, but about growing the right partnership? Too often, couples step into long-term relationships without the relational tools, shared vision, or understanding of virtues that make for true unity. Instead of connection, misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts take root—leaving even the most committed couples wondering how to sustain harmony and joy in the face of life’s everyday challenges.

In this episode, listeners are guided through a practical roadmap for cultivating deeper unity within their relationships. Drawing on decades of experience and research, the conversation unpacks how virtues like respect, kindness, and flexibility serve as foundational elements to thriving partnerships. Listeners will hear about the stages of relational growth, learn tangible practices for resolving differences, and discover how to create a shared language and vision that brings them closer—not only to each other, but to a happier, more resilient family life.

Susanne M. Alexander is a relationship and marriage educator and coach with her company, Marriage Transformation. She is certified to offer couples assessments and coaching through Prepare-Enrich® and for individuals with the Character Foundations Assessment™. Susanne has written/co-written over 30 books, including the most recent “Growing Our Unity: 19 Vital Practices for a Thriving Relationship”.

Susanne is co-lead on Accordia Way, a project that assists couples with excellent communication and decision-making skills.

Episode Highlights

04:05 The Importance of character and virtues in relationships.

08:27 Developing and sustaining virtues: Tools, assessments, and early influences.

12:16 Virtues Project origins and the concept of unity as a relationship virtue.

15:33 Practicing unity without losing individuality.

17:54 The process of reaching unified decisions in relationships.

20:50 Navigating individualism and control dynamics in partnerships.

23:31 Balancing autonomy, collaboration, and flexibility.

27:49 The impact of unity on family, children, and community.

29:52 The 19 vital practices and applying virtues in everyday life.

35:11 Restoring connection and humor under relationship stress.

38:15 Consultation process: Detaching ego and co-creating solutions.

41:24 Symbolism in relationships and making unity a daily practice.

Your Checklist of Actions to Take

Schedule regular times to discuss important topics as a couple, allowing the conversation to flow naturally rather than treating it like a formal meeting.
Identify and openly share your individual strengths and growth areas in relational virtues such as kindness, patience, and responsibility.
Observe and assess your partner’s demonstration of key virtues in various situations to gauge character compatibility and growth potential.
Work on developing one or two virtues at a time rather than overwhelming yourselves with too many at once; focus on practical application each month.
Prioritize unity during decision-making processes by listening to each partner’s perspective and postponing decisions if mutual agreement isn't reached.
Incorporate rituals or symbols (like a decorative bowl during conversations) to facilitate ego detachment and emphasize shared goals.
Reflect as a couple on the integrity and unity of your relationship before individually committing to new community or family obligations.
Participate in couples’ groups or study circles to learn from and support each other in practicing relational virtues and building unity.