The Marriage Life Coach Podcast

Heated Rivalry is is one of my favorite love stories ever told & I cannot get enough of reviewing, analyzing & talking about it. I am so excited to share Part 2 of my conversation with the amazing Laura Jurgens! SPOILER ALERT! This is not a spoiler-free zone. We go deep on specific scenes & episodes, so if you haven't watched it yet & you care about spoilers, save this for another day. And if you haven't heard Part 1 yet, go back & start there as we set up so much context about why this show matters so much to me and what themes we think can help you see your own relationship differently. In Part 2, Laura Jurgens, PhD & I pick the conversation right back up. This time we go into the cultural phenomenon of Heated Rivalry and what it reveals about women's desire & why vulnerability is the real game-changer in relationships. We also get into the episode-by-episode moments that stopped us in our tracks, & the creative lessons from writer-producer Jacob Tierney about trusting your vision. A quick note on where we're each coming from: I'm a cisgender heterosexual woman, & Laura is a bisexual woman bringing her own lived experience to this. We're both speaking from our specific lenses, & that feels especially worth naming here in Part 2, where we talk about desire & women's sexuality. As a person who loves love both in real life & on TV, I have LOTS OF THOUGHTS — & I'm so grateful for the deep joy this celebration of queer love has brought to my life. A second quick note: we talk about sex & sexual situations, so if you're listening somewhere with people who shouldn't be hearing this, save it for later. Here is the scoop on what we talked about — ✨ Episode at a Glance Why "women don't like sex" is a cultural myth — & what's actually true The response to this show as a phenomenon, & what it's revealing about women's desire Why so much of our cultural sexual script is written for & around men The pizza analogy that completely reframes "low libido" Why the show works as inspiration, not a manual "Stop guessing, start asking" — the coaching homework hiding inside the love story Rose, & why we all need allies who help us see ourselves What episode four teaches us about letting fear run the show The Russian monologue & the relief of finally saying it out loud Trusting your vision: the creative bravery of writer-producer Jacob Tierney Why being deeply specific is exactly what makes a story (or a relationship) universal What collaborative leadership on set teaches us about co-creating in our relationships Resources mentioned in this episode: Part 1 of this conversation: Heated Rivalry — Courage, Shame & Being Seen with Laura Jurgens The Polarity Episode: Masculine, Feminine & Repackaged Patriarchy with Laura Jurgens — www.maggiereyes.com/podcast/203 The Questions for Couples Journal Private Coaching with Maggie Free Workshop: The Growth Gap Marriage Mindset Makeover Visit Laura's website: www.laurajurgens.com Follow Laura on Instagram: @laura.jurgens.coach Listen to Laura's podcast: The Pleasure Uprising Podcast

Today's episode is a little bit different because I'm sharing a conversation I had with my dear friend, Lindsay Dotzlaf, on her podcast Mastering Coaching Skills. When Lindsay asked me to come on her show and talk about coaches and mental health, specifically sharing about my mental health journey—I said yes immediately. Here's the thing: We talk a lot on this podcast about doing the inner work, about taking responsibility for your half of the relationship, about choosing who you want to be and what values you want to express. And I 100% believe in everything I teach and in using my own tools on myself on a regular basis. And I also believe that sometimes the inner work is something we can do individually and sometimes the inner work requires us to get support. In this season of my life, when I am getting a lot of support, I wanted to share what it was like, what I was going through. And in my case, part of being supported involved speaking to a psychiatric nurse, starting therapy, and starting a medication that genuinely changed my life and how I live day to day. This episode is me being the kind of coach I want you to have, the kind of coach I want to be in the world—someone who models that there is such a thing as toxic hyper-individualism, that trying to do it all by yourself is absolutely not it. A quick note: In this episode, I share how I got diagnosed with depression and what my journey has been to get support around that. If hearing someone share their mental health story will feel useful and nourishing, please listen and share with anyone who could be comforted by it. At the same time, if it's something that is a little too close to home, I have over 200 podcast episodes, just go back into the feed and pick one that calls to you today. Here is the scoop on what's included — ✨ Episode at a Glance How I got diagnosed with depression (and what that journey looked like) Why I started therapy and medication—and how it changed my life The myth of "I should have this figured out by now" Toxic hyper-individualism and why we need support How to reconcile your self-concept with a mental health diagnosis The difference between therapy and coaching (and when you need both) Why Googling "successful people with depression" at midnight matters ;-) How to look for a therapist or coach who aligns with your values Permission to do what you need to do to take care of yourself RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Questions for Couples Journal Private Coaching with Maggie Free Workshop: The Growth Gap Marriage Mindset Makeover Visit Lindsay's Website: https://lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/ Listen to The Mastering Coaching Skills Podcast: https://lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/podcast/

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

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

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 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

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

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