About this episode

Zach discusses the challenges faced by Pete and Tasha as they navigate cancer, addiction, and caregiving within their relationship.

Zach sits down with Pete and Tasha , a couple whose relationship was forged in the middle of some of life’s hardest realities: addiction, cancer, caregiving, recovery, and the challenge of staying connected when survival itself becomes the focus. Pete and Tasha met in Boulder after years of each pursuing health and healing in different ways. Tasha had already devoted much of her life to recovery from eating disorders, addiction, and chronic illness, and she knew she wanted a partner who was committed to that same path. Pete initially appeared to be on that path too, but as their relationship deepened, more of his struggle with addiction surfaced. Then, shortly after getting engaged, everything escalated: Pete began experiencing severe symptoms and was ultimately diagnosed with a life-threatening tumor in his mediastinum , wrapped around his trachea and pressing against his heart and lungs. What follows is not just a story about illness. It’s a story about what happens to a couple when one person becomes “the patient” and the other becomes “the caregiver,” and how hard it is to keep that dynamic from hardening into resentment, overfunctioning, codependence, and loss of…

People in this episode

Host: Zach

Guests: Pete, Tasha

Topics covered

• cancer
• recovery
• addiction
• caregiving
• relationships
• health

Keywords

• cancer
• recovery
• addiction
• caregiving
• relationships
• health
• support

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Boulder

More episodes of Marriage Therapy Radio

• Ep 422 She Thought He Was Just a Jerk: The Hidden Addiction That Nearly Cost Them w/ Matt & Paige · April 28, 2026 · 46 min
• Ep 421 The Other Side of Divorce with Susie and Paul Pettit · April 21, 2026 · 52 min
• Ep 420 What If Taking Responsibility Is the Most Romantic Thing You Can Do? w/ Arlina and Bob Allen · April 14, 2026 · 45 min
• Ep 419 Zach on the Sexology Podcast: Negative Sentiment Override and Erotic Connection · April 7, 2026 · 35 min
• Ep 418 Resolving Dissonance: What Bands and Marriages Have in Common w/Ron and Catrina · March 31, 2026 · 60 min
• Ep 417 Aligning Your Numbers and Your Values w/Natalie and Dan Slagle · March 24, 2026 · 49 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Marriage Therapy Radio podcast page.