How To Weather A Financial Downturn Without It Hurting Your Marriage: Elena Cardone
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Release Date: 05/11/2020
What Women Are Taught Vs What Marriage Needs Them to Learn: Episode 443
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Many women enter marriage with expectations and habits shaped long before the relationship ever began. Some were modeled growing up, others reinforced by culture, and many rooted in a genuine desire to love well and create a strong home. But what once felt natural doesn’t always translate into what creates true connection and partnership in a marriage. This is where frustration can build and where many start to feel like they’re putting in effort but not getting the closeness they hoped for. In this episode, we unpack the gap between what women are taught about love and relationships and...
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What Men Are Taught Vs What Marriage Needs Them to Learn: Episode 442
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Many men enter marriage doing exactly what they’ve been conditioned to do their entire lives. They show up with a certain mindset about what it means to contribute, support, and lead in a family. And while those instincts come from a good place, they don’t always translate into what actually creates closeness, emotional safety, and a strong partnership. This is where a lot of couples get stuck. One partner feels like they’re giving a lot, while the other still feels something is missing. In this episode, we unpack the gap between what men are taught to bring into a relationship and what...
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Assumptions About Who’s Doing What and Responsibilities Slipping Through the Cracks: Episode 441
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
This time of year, life starts to fill up fast. Between holidays, travel plans, kids’ activities, family events, and everything in between… even couples who usually feel on top of things can start to feel stretched. And it’s not always the amount of responsibilities that creates tension, it’s what happens when those responsibilities aren’t clearly talked about. Assumptions start to form. Expectations go unspoken. And before you know it, things are slipping through the cracks or quietly falling on one person more than the other. In this episode, we’re breaking down why this season...
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The Conversation Couples AREN’T Having (But Need to Grow Together): Episode 440
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
There is a critical conversation many couples are missing, especially after going through a challenge or hard season together. And as we close out the first quarter of the year, this is one of the most important times to have it. When couples are in a difficult season, the focus is to put your head down and get through it. And once you do, it can feel like a relief… but then it’s right back into the logistics of daily life. This creates two problems. First, you miss the opportunity to reconnect and truly understand each other, which is what strengthens your bond. Second, you miss the...
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It’s Been a Tough Few Weeks - Here’s How We’re Working Through It & Staying United: Episode 439
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Some seasons in life feel heavier than others. More pressure. Less capacity. Things outside your control. And if you’re not careful, your marriage can start to feel like another place of tension instead of support. In this episode, Jocelyn opens up about the challenging few weeks we’ve been in and what it’s revealed about how couples either turn toward each other… or slowly start drifting apart. This is a powerful reminder of what actually keeps a relationship strong when life feels overwhelming—and why most couples don’t catch it until more disconnection happens or damage is done....
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3 Mistakes Women are Making in Marriage (and what to change): Episode 438
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Last week we talked about the mistakes we’re seeing men make in marriage. This week, we’re turning the lens toward women. And just like before, this isn’t about criticism. It’s about clarity and growth. Because in most marriages, the tension isn’t coming from one person being “the problem.” It’s coming from the way both partners’ habits and reactions feed into each other. When you see the pattern, you can finally change the pattern. In this episode, we unpack three common dynamics we’re seeing women fall into — patterns that unintentionally create defensiveness,...
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3 Mistakes Men are Making in Marriage (and what to change): Episode 437
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
This week we’re starting a two-part series on three mistakes we’re seeing in marriages right now. And we’re beginning with men. Before you brace yourself, this isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness. In almost every struggling relationship, there’s a pattern both partners are participating in. And often, the very things a husband thinks are helping or protecting the relationship are the same things quietly creating distance. In this episode, we unpack three subtle but powerful dynamics we’re seeing men fall into — patterns that impact emotional safety, initiative, and...
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Why Some Partners Don’t Follow-Through and How That Impacts a Marriage: Episode 436
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
At our recent couples workshop, during a private conversation, a wife began crying as we described how broken follow-through slowly erodes trust in a marriage. Not because of one missed promise but because of the pattern. This pattern was to have a hopeful conversation, a commitment to change, and verbal reassurance that “this time will be different.” And then… nothing changes. What many couples don’t realize is that inconsistent follow-through doesn’t just create frustration but it quietly chips away at trust. And when trust weakens, emotional safety and connection begin to fade...
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The 3 Islands of Marriage: Moving From Dysfunction or Function to Connection: Episode 435
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Which island is your marriage on right now? In this episode, we share a simple but eye-opening framework we call The 3 Islands of Marriage: Dysfunction, Function, and Connection. Marriage naturally moves through different states depending on the season you’re in. Stress, transitions, parenting, unresolved conflict, or even just routine can shift where you and your partner are emotionally. We break down: • What each island looks and feels like • The subtle signs you may be drifting • And the practical steps to move toward Connection Island Every couple will land on different...
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Honesty vs Transparency: The Missing Piece to Feeling Fully Secure and Emotionally Safe: Episode 434
EmPowered Couples with The Freemans
Most couples believe trust is built by being honest—by not lying, not hiding anything major, and generally doing what you say you’ll do. And while integrity absolutely matters, many couples are surprised to find that honesty alone still leaves gaps in connection, security, and emotional safety. You can be faithful, responsible, and well-intentioned… and yet your partner can still feel out of the loop, uncertain, or like something is being held back. That’s because honesty and transparency are not the same thing and that difference matters more in marriage than most couples realize....
info_outlineThings have absolutely changed in the world and in your life from this pandemic. You probably experience a change in your relationship roles (including taking on additional roles you never thought you would have to) and the amount of time you are in your home and around your partner. Plus, no matter what type of job, career, or business you are in; you probably have felt an impact in your finances!
Of course this has always been a top stressor on marriages, but now it can be glaring at you in the face, having you feel a lot of fear and uncertainty. This can bring up additional tension and pressure in your relationship together causing you to fight against each other.
So get ready to hear from iconic Elena Cardone, as her and her husband Grant are no strangers to challenges, financial downturns, and crashes. What you are going to know from Elena is that marriage is what makes you a better individual and how you can handle financial downturns. You are going to have the ways to stop fighting about ‘small things’ when you envision, create, and defend your vision and empire together (whatever size it might be). Plus the ways to leverage your individual strengths and weaknesses. So you will feel complete trust, support, and confidence to lay the groundwork to fulfilling your dreams together, no matter what challenges arise.
Questions Asked In This Interview:
- You two had started your relationship 3 years before the 2008 crash. So while many people still feel the impact of that time what was your mindset and belief during those times, that positioned you to be here now?
- What can couples do (including believing) to keep from panicking and weather a financial downturn together without letting money hurt their marriage?
- In your book as well as personally in the media, you talk about “guarding your empire”-- what does that look like for couples right now?
- Many of the pressures on marriages come from forced change in relationship roles. What are some of your strategies for balancing parenting, business, and your vision as a couple?
- Have you and Grant been getting any couples time or huddle together during the quarantine to always be on the same page?
- What are ways that couples can come out stronger after this season?
Quotes:
“When you are attacking your partner, you are playing at a very small level and a small game. You need to have goals and visions that are big enough and exciting enough and know who it is you want to be as a couple.”
“It’s not about male or female, it's about your strengths and weaknesses and who does what best within the relationship. Do what you need to do and have 100% trust in your partner”
“Its vital to be able to change and not be fixed on ideas about the way things are supposed to be.”
- Elena Cardone
Other Resources From The Freemans:
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More About The Guests Elena & Grant Cardone:
They are a truly iconic couple that is building an empire. First for their family as they have been married for 15 years and are loving parents to two children (one of which you will even hear join at the end!)
Then second for other families as they are both best-selling authors, host the 10X Growth Conference, one of the largest for thousands of entrepreneurs, and run one of the largest real-estate empires (Cardone Capital) in the world, valued at $800 M. With this they have been able to raise hundreds of millions for charities. As you will hear from Elena, she passionately wants to empower women partners and help make marriage cool again!
Order Elena’s book Build An Empire HERE