In this milestone 200th episode, I sit down with licensed therapist and sex educator Tia Conway to talk about why pleasure actually matters, especially for those of us who've spent our whole lives prioritizing productivity over feeling good.

Tia shares her definition of pleasure, why it's not selfish or indulgent, and how giving yourself permission to enjoy your life transforms everything. We talk about the difference between aesthetic pleasure and embodied pleasure, why we resist good feelings, and how to create more joy without waiting for the perfect moment.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• Why pleasure isn't hedonism or laziness—it's essential for operating effectively

• The difference between aesthetic pleasure (looking good) and embodied pleasure (feeling good)

• How to bring pleasure to mundane tasks (yes, even grocery shopping)

• Why high-achievers resist pleasure and how to reclaim permission

• The connection between pleasure and reducing relational conflict

• Practical ways to increase pleasure capacity in your marriage

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Tia's Podcast: Pleasure and Peace Practice

• Connect with Tia on Instagram @pleasureandpeacewithtia

• Anonymous Question Box for Tia

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Growth Gap Workshop (Free)

• Marriage Mindset Makeover

• Private Coaching with Maggie

This week's episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast is something special. I'm joined by my emotional support Canadian (yes, really!) and fellow coach Crystal Thompson, and we're diving into a book that touched both our hearts: Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground by Mirabai Starr.

If you've ever wanted to feel more connected—spiritually, emotionally, relationally—but didn't quite know how, this conversation is for you. We talk about finding sacredness in everyday life, receiving love when it feels hard, and why awe and gratitude can change everything, especially in long-term relationships.

There's laughter. There's depth. There's even a moment that made me cry on the mic.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• Why the word mysticism can feel scary—and how to reclaim it

• What sacred ground actually looks like in everyday life

• How awe + gratitude fuel connection (and soften resentment)

• The neuroscience of wonder, and why it matters in marriage

• What Mirabai Starr, Richard Rohr, and Mary of Guadalupe have in common

• The real-life moment I almost deflected a miracle

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Ordinary Mysticism by Mirabai Starr

• Connect with Crystal on Instagram @crystalruthcoaching

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Private Coaching with Maggie

If you feel like you're exhausted and angry all the time, you're probably treating every frustration like a crisis. In this greatest hits episode, I'm teaching you The Anger Scale - a simple but powerful tool that helps you stop reacting to dirty socks the same way you'd react to unpaid bills.

I'll share:

• Why we treat anger like an on/off switch (and why that's exhausting)

• The story of when I completely lost it at my bank (Cuban-ity unleashed!)

• How to rate your anger on a 1-10 scale and why this changes everything

• How to decide ahead of time what's worth your energy

• The 15-minute rule that prevents explosions

• How to stop being angry all the time and actually enjoy your marriage

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

📖 Questions for Couples Journal My bestselling journal with conversation starters to deepen connection in your marriage

🎓 The Growth Gap Workshop (FREE) Free on-demand training for high-achieving women who are growing while their partner stands still

💎 Private Coaching with Maggie: Work with me 1:1 to create more clarity, power, and love in your marriage

✨ The Marriage Mindset Makeover: Self-study program with all my best tools and frameworks for transforming your marriage

In this greatest hits episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast, I'm joined by my friend and colleague Karen C.L. Anderson for a powerful conversation about the role of healthy anger—and how to relate to it in a way that creates healing instead of harm.

Karen is a master-certified life coach and author who helps smart, creative women transform their relationships with their mothers—into catalysts for growth. She's the author of Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters, one of my favorite books to recommend to clients when mom stuff comes up, and You Are Not Your Mother: Releasing Generational Trauma and Shame (Living Free from Narcissistic Mothers and Fathers) which I also highly recommend.

Her work has also been featured in the New York Times as an expert on boundaries, and I'm so excited to share her wisdom with you.

Together, we talk about the difference between immature and mature anger, how to use anger as a guide instead of something to fear, and why giving yourself permission to feel it can lead to deeper self-trust and healthier boundaries.

If anger has ever felt confusing, overwhelming, or like something you had to avoid in order to be "good," this episode is for you.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• The difference between immature and mature anger

• What anger is often signaling—and why it matters

• The Anger Scale and how to use it for self-awareness

• The concept of the Microscopic Truth and how it helps in conflict

• How to process and move through anger without fear or shame

• The link between anger and healthy boundary-setting

• A powerful coaching moment from Karen that shows anger in action

Holding space is one of the most transformative relationship skills—and yet most of us were never taught how to do it.

In this greatest hits episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast, I'm joined by Adam Brady, teacher at the Chopra Center, for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about The Art of Holding Space.

Together, we explore what it means to be fully present with your partner without rushing to fix, defend, or solve. Whether you're navigating conflict, emotional moments, or just trying to be more supportive in your everyday life, this episode offers a gentle but powerful roadmap.

Holding space doesn't mean staying silent or stuffing your own feelings. It means creating a compassionate container where both people feel seen, safe, and supported. And in this conversation, Adam shares how to cultivate that kind of presence—starting with how you relate to yourself.

If you've ever wondered how to stay grounded while your partner is in pain, or how to listen without taking it all on, this episode will help you deepen your connection without burning out.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• What "holding space" really means (and what it doesn't)

• Why presence is often more powerful than problem-solving

• The role of non-judgment in creating emotional safety

• How to stay centered when your partner is triggered or upset

• The connection between mindfulness and communication

• How to offer compassion without self-abandonment

If you've ever caught yourself shrinking, shutting down, or bending over backwards to keep the peace in your relationship—even when it costs you your own peace—this episode is for you.

I'm joined by feminist healer, trauma-informed coach, and author Béatriz Victoria Albina, whose groundbreaking new book Ending Emotional Outsourcing names what so many of us experience… but don't know how to describe.

Together, we unpack what happens when your body goes into a functional freeze—where you look fine on the outside, but feel disconnected on the inside. We talk about why so many high-achieving women end up over-functioning in their relationships, and how feminist healing helps you reclaim your voice, your agency, and your inner safety.

Whether you've been stuck in a loop of doing all the work, feeling like it's never enough, or just craving a new way to relate to your emotions and your marriage—this conversation is the place to start.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• What functional freeze really looks like in high-achieving women

• Why emotional outsourcing is so common—and so costly

• How self-referencing can change the way you relate to everything

• Why boundaries often feel unsafe (and what to do instead)

• The difference between protecting peace and performing it

• The role of feminist healing in relational repair

• How Béa's new book helps you name, understand, and shift these patterns

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Private Coaching with Maggie

• Connect with Béa on Instagram

• GET THE BOOK HERE - https://beatrizalbina.com/book/

If you've ever wondered what marriage coaching really looks like behind the scenes—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast, I'm joined by my former client Amanda Gold, who vulnerably shares how her relationship transformed through coaching.

Amanda opens up about the frustration and disconnection she once felt in her marriage, and the moment she realized something had to shift—not just in her relationship, but in how she was showing up for herself.

Together, we unpack what it looks like to move from resentment to relief, how coaching helped Amanda reclaim her voice, and why creating emotional safety within is often the first step to creating it with your partner.

✨ If you've been stuck in a cycle of frustration or burnout in your relationship, let this episode remind you: it's possible to feel better—starting now.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• Amanda shares the "aha" moment that brought her to coaching

• Why self-silencing became a default—and what broke that pattern

• The Power of One and how Amanda took action without resentment

• What coaching actually looked like (and why it wasn't about fixing him)

• Building trust in herself, her partner, and the process

• What life and marriage feel like now: grounded, connected, and honest

In this greatest hits episode, we're revisiting one of the most powerful communication tools I teach—one that's both simple and transformative.

If you've ever walked away from a conversation feeling misunderstood, reactive, or like your needs weren't truly seen, this episode is for you.

It's not just about what you say. It's about the lens you're using to listen.

I'm breaking down why the perspective you bring into a conversation—the emotional framing you carry—can change everything. You'll learn how noticing your "lens" helps you shift your energy, change the direction of the dialogue, and respond in ways that bring more clarity, calm, and connection.

From the sneaky effects of internalized patriarchy to how we're conditioned to live "leftovers lives," this episode is packed with both mindset shifts and practical tools you can apply right away.

Grab a journal, take a walk, or just listen with curiosity—and let's explore how small shifts in perspective create big changes in communication.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• Why communication feels so hard (even though we do it every day)

• What it means to "notice your lens"—and why it matters

• The connection between your emotions and how you hear your partner

• A coaching challenge to shift your perspective and improve conversations

• How internalized patriarchy shapes how we listen, respond, and prioritize our needs

• An invitation to live a 5-star life instead of a "leftovers life"

What if self-sabotage isn't sabotage at all—but self-protection in disguise?

In this powerful and playful conversation between two life coaches (and dear friends), Dr. Melissa Parsons and I unpack the messy middle of procrastination, rest, and the inner parts that slow us down.

We talk about why so many high-achieving women resist rest, how to reframe "boredom" as a sign of emotional safety, and what happens when we stop making ourselves the villain in our own story.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• Why "self-sabotage" might actually be a protective part of you

• The difference between physiological vs. psychological procrastination

• How to practice satisfaction in a "what's next?" society

• Rewriting your internal script around rest, repair, and thriving

• The gift of a "boring" marriage—and why that might be exactly what you want

This episode is part life coaching, part loving smackdown, and all about giving yourself radical permission to be human.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Private Coaching with Maggie

• Visit Melissa's website https://www.melissaparsonscoaching.com/

• Connect with Melissa on IG @coachmelissaparsonsmd

When you think about making changes in your marriage, it can feel overwhelming—especially when you've tried things before and nothing seemed to stick. But if there's one thing I've seen over and over again, it's that beliefs shape everything.

In this greatest hits episode, I'm walking you through three powerful beliefs that will help you create real, lasting shifts in your relationship—starting today. These aren't vague affirmations. They're the foundation of the work I do with my private coaching clients and the work I've done in my own marriage.

If you've been wondering whether change is possible—or whether you're the one who can spark it—this episode is your reminder (and your roadmap) that you absolutely can.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• The first belief: You are worthy of something better.

• Why taking action on your own behalf matters more than waiting for your partner

• The second belief: Things can actually change.

• What to do if you've tried before and it didn't work

• The third belief: You need to trust your guide.

• Why support matters—and how to find the right fit for you

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Private Coaching with Maggie

• Move My Marriage Forward Worksheet

• Susan Hyatt's Bare Book - In this book, Susan Hyatt shares her personal story of weight gain, weight loss, diet hell, body drama, and her journey to health, happiness, and liberation—and how she decided to try the most radical thing of all: treating her body like a friend.

• EPISODE # 13 – Sex in Stressful Times with Danielle Savory

• EPISODE #15 – How to Argue Better with Simone Seol

• Rich Coach Club Podcast Interview - Maintaining A Thriving Business And A Successful Relationship With Maggie Reyes

In this first episode of my new four-part series on Love & Patriarchy, I'm breaking down why resentment isn't a flaw—it's a map. I'll share the real reason it shows up, how it connects to internalized patriarchy, and why your guilt might actually be your inner wisdom trying to guide you home. This is consciousness work—and it starts right here.

✨ Episode at a Glance

• What patriarchy really means (it's probably not what you think)

• Why guilt, frustration, and resentment are invitations—not flaws

• The difference between linear vs. holistic thinking in relationships

• Five Relationship Powers you can activate—no matter what your partner does

• The "Power of One" and how your inner shifts change the whole system

• Everyday examples of internalized patriarchy—and what to do about them

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Questions for Couples Journal

• Private Coaching with Maggie

• Episode 173: Responsive Desire

• Episode 189: Why Your Marriage Should Feel Like A Sanctuary

• Episode 58: The Power of One