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You’re not angry. You’re not yelling. You’re just… tired.

The kind of tired that sinks in so deep, you’re not even fighting anymore, you’re just holding it together in silence, hoping things will somehow fix themselves. If love feels like a burden lately, if you find yourself walking on eggshells or wondering why it’s so quiet at home, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re living through one of the most common, yet least talked about, relationship struggles of our time: emotional exhaustion.

Welcome to Love Shack Live, the podcast for anyone at a relationship crossroads. Whether you’re trying to save your marriage, navigating space and separation, or aching to reconnect with your partner, we’re here to help you rebuild something real and lasting. I’m Staci Bartley, joined by my partner Tom and our daughter Brooke. Together, we’ll get honest about what’s actually happening when couples stop fighting, not because they’ve healed, but because they’ve run out of gas.

Here’s what we’re unpacking this week:

• Why “peace and quiet” can actually be a danger sign
• The real-life symptoms of emotional burnout most people miss
• How magical thinking (“we’ll get to it later”) quietly sabotages connection
• The invisible emotional labor that wears us down, especially for over-functioners and the quietly checked-out
• Why punishing your partner (or yourself) for not “fixing it” never works
• How modern life is straining our capacity for love, and what to do about it
• Practical ways to refuel your emotional gas tank (even when you feel totally spent)
• Why play and joy aren’t optional, they’re the medicine your relationship desperately needs
• The single most important skill you were never taught about love (and how to finally practice it)

If you’re exhausted from trying to keep your relationship together, or just tired of being the one who always tries, this episode will help you name what you’re feeling, and finally offer a way forward. We’ll share the science, the stories, and the skills that can help you stop spiraling, reconnect, and rebuild.

Here’s our big question:

What if “not fighting” isn’t a sign things are getting better, but the clearest warning that your relationship needs help, now?

It’s not your fault. You just haven’t learned the skills yet. Join us in the Love Shack, let’s talk about what no one else is saying, and get you the relief you deserve.

Timestamps:

02:56 Signs and Symptoms of Emotional Exhaustion

03:58 Cultural and Societal Impacts on Relationships

07:07 The Invisible Strain on Relationships

08:09 The Power of Communication and Understanding

18:36 The Cycle of Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

23:51 The Importance of Relationship Skills

26:50 Facing the Unexpected Challenges in Relationships

27:54 The Reality of Emotional Exhaustion

28:16 The Struggle of Authenticity in Relationships

31:45 The Importance of Play and Refueling

37:45 Practical Ways to Refuel and Reconnect

40:19 The Role of Fun in Strengthening Relationships

44:39 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

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Have you ever had that quiet, sinking feeling… the one in your gut that whispers something’s off? Nothing’s exploded. Nothing’s “wrong.”

But deep down, you know, this version of your relationship, your life, even yourself? It doesn’t quite fit anymore. And you’re just dancing through the motions, hoping no one notices the smoke.

You’re not alone. In this raw, behind-the-scenes episode of Love Shack Live, we’re turning the mic inward to talk about the moment before the moment, when something big needs to change, but you haven’t found the words yet.

This time, it wasn’t our relationships that needed a reset… It was our entire brand.

💥 What happens when you outgrow something that used to feel like home?

💬 How do you bring it up, especially when the people you need to say it to are your parents and business partners?

And maybe more importantly:

👉 What can this teach you about the patterns we fall into in relationships, when we tweak the symptoms instead of naming the truth?

Whether you're quietly questioning your relationship, your role, or your next right step, this episode will help you:

• Recognize the signs of emotional flatlining (in yourself or your partner)
• Understand why timing is never perfect, but the truth still matters
• Learn the relational skill that lets you speak up without blowing everything up

So if you’ve been stuck in a slow dance with something you’ve outgrown, this conversation might just be your turning point.

🎧 Press play to hear how one “I hate our website” moment turned into a rebrand, a family reckoning, and a reminder that honesty (even messy honesty) is the first step to everything better.

Timestamps:
01:49 The Big Reveal: Rebranding Announcement
03:04 Initial Reactions and Concerns
04:00 The Turning Point: Embracing Change
05:11 The Emotional Impact of Change
06:21 Navigating Family Dynamics
07:53 The Importance of Honest Communication
09:51 The Broader Implications of Change
12:07 The Journey of Rebranding
13:00 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
19:45 The Unexpected Benefits of Change
24:24 Trusting the Process
25:13 Navigating Relationship Nuances
26:29 Starting Difficult Conversations
28:04 Receiving Unexpected News
29:47 Emotional Skills for Rebranding
31:03 Challenges of Creative Work
40:54 The Importance of Community
43:16 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

This episode is your first emotional pushup rep toward better communication. It starts here, with you.

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Ever find yourself saying things you don’t mean… or going completely silent because it feels like nothing will help?

You’re not alone. When emotions run high, we don’t default to communication, we default to survival.

In this episode of Love Shack Live, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most important (and overlooked) relationship skills: how to regulate your emotional state before you try to “fix” the conversation.

You’ll learn:

• The two emotional survival modes we all fall into, Control and Collapse, and how to recognize yours
• Why communication tips don’t work when your nervous system is in overdrive
• What the “Window of Neutrality” is, and how to stay inside it
• The real reason your conversations keep going sideways (it’s not what you think)

🧠 This is a full-length video training pulled directly from our Love in Limbo: 30-Day Roadmap. If you want to see the slides and visuals Staci references, you can watch the video version in the Spotify app or on our website here: https://stacibartley.com/emotional-survival-mode-relationship/

🎯 Want to go deeper?

• Take the $9 Self-Assessment here: https://stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook/
• Start the 30-Day Roadmap and stop spiraling: https://stacibartley.com/self-paced/30-day-roadmap
• Get community support inside the Better Love Club (available as an add-on with the roadmap)

This episode is your first emotional pushup rep toward better communication. It starts here, with you.

Timestamps:

04:39 Control Survival Mode Explained
06:33 Collapse Survival Mode Explained
07:48 Personal Story: From Collapse to Control
10:43 Balancing Control and Collapse in Relationships
20:33 The Window of Neutrality
24:10 Practical Tips for Emotional Regulation
31:54 Conclusion: Building Better Relationships
34:50 Final Thoughts and Resources