When you're trying to have a serious conversation but it keeps going sideways, it’s not always what’s being said that’s the problem. More often than not it’s about how you’re listening. In this podcast episode, communication expert and professional listener Deb Porter breaks down what it really means to feel heard and how most of us have never been taught to truly listen.

With a background in pastoral counseling and a business built around deep, empathetic listening, Deb shares her journey through caregiving, divorce, and ministry – as well was the lessons she learned along the way. Deb powerfully explains why she believes real listening – listening that picks up on both the message and the emotion behind it - is the missing ingredient in so many personal and professional relationships.

Deb also introduces her simple but powerful CORE Framework that helps people stay grounded and present in tough conversations. She explains how emotional regulation and clear intentions can change the way we connect with others, even in high-stakes moments like parenting conflicts or discussing divorce.

Whether you're talking with your spouse, your team, or your kids, Deb’s approach gives you the tools to create more meaningful conversations and stronger relationships.

About Deb

With a Master's specializing in Care & Counseling and experience in critical caregiving and divorce, Deb founded HOLD to provide the kind of support she once needed. As a professional listener and communication expert, she helps individuals find clarity through confidential listening sessions and teaches effective communication skills through courses and business training. Deb’s work focuses on fostering connection, empathy, and understanding—helping people feel truly heard in both personal and professional settings.

Connect with Deb

You can connect with Deb on LinkedIn at Deb Porter and on Facebook at Hearing Out Life Drama. You can follow Deb on Instagram at Hearing Out Life Drama and on her YouTube channel at Hold Listens. To find out more about Deb’s work please visit her website at Hearing Out Life Drama. You can find Deb’s guide, Thriving Through Divorce: Finding Peace, Purpose and Joy on her website here.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Have you ever wondered why even small disagreements can explode into intense emotional battles? In this podcast episode, Dr. Greg Stewart, a counselor and executive coach, explores why negative emotions often become inflated, causing us to react disproportionately in our relationships.

Drawing from personal experiences, including his own struggles and extensive academic background, Dr. Stewart reveals how understanding the deeper sources of our insecurities can transform our emotional responses and strengthen our connections.

Throughout the episode, we discuss the phenomenon of "emotional inflation," in which small triggers evoke intense reactions because of unresolved insecurities. By learning to identify these triggers and understanding the deeper narrative they often signify, you can gain control over your emotional responses.

If you’re struggling in an emotionally volatile relationship, this episode will empower you to recognize emotional patterns, overcome destructive cycles, and create lasting, positive change.

About Dr. Greg Stewart

Dr. Greg Stewart lives in Rockwall, TX and is currently a full-time telehealth counselor, executive coach, and consultant. He has a BA in Organizational Leadership (Cornerstone University), a Master of Divinity (Grand Rapids Theological Seminary), a MA in Counseling (GRTS), and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision (Regent U). His dissertation was The Relationship of Emotional Intelligence to Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment. He is the author of I3: Unlock the Inner Strength Behind Your Negative Emotions, and I3 for Couples: Facing Our Negative Emotions to Build Intimacy in Marriage. He is currently working on his third book, The Leadership Quotient, which will be available Fall of 2025.

Connect with Dr. Greg Stewart

You can connect with Dr. Greg on Facebook at Dr. Greg Stewart and on LinkedIn at Dr. Greg Stewart. You can follow Dr. Greg on his YouTube Channel at Becoming More CCC, on X at Dr. Greg Stewart and on Instagram at Dr. Greg Stewart. You can find out how to work with Dr. Greg by visiting his website at Dr. Greg Stewart where you can also find his books I-Cubed and I-Cubed for Couples.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

What if you could create an amazing marriage with the precision and effectiveness of an engineer? That's exactly what Gabriela Embon, a certified relationship coach and former engineer, helps couples do. Gabriela combines engineering strategy with deep emotional insights in a transformative relationship strategy, empowering couples to build legendary marriages through structured, actionable frameworks.

In her book, Becoming a Power Couple: Four Pillars to Engineer Legendary Marriages Gabriela helps couples reconnect, rekindle love, and establish meaningful rituals that sustain their bond. Gabriela highlights the importance of emotional attunement and proactive habits, making relationship-building a deliberate and strategic process.

Most importantly, Gabriela reassures couples that it's never too late to course-correct, even when a marriage is in crisis. Her unique blend of practical advice and emotional intelligence provides both hope and a clear path forward for anyone seeking genuine love and lasting connection.

About Gabriela

Certified coach and author Gabriela Embon believes that a fulfilling adult life hinges on two essential components: an ideal career and a thriving primary relationship. In the last 2 decades as a coach, Gabriela has dedicated herself to helping couples build fulfilling and enduring relationships. Gabriela utilizes the analytical and problem-solving skills from her engineering background, and applies them to the intricacies of human relationships. By combining the precision of engineering with the emotional depth of human behaviour, she empowers couples to transform their relationships, and become a Power Couple.

Connect with Gabriela

You can connect with Gabriela on LinkedIn at Gabriela Embon and Facebook at Gabriela Embon. You can also follow her on Instagram at Gabriela Embon and YouTube at Coaching Academy. To find out more about Gabriela’s work visit her website at Gabriela Embon.

Bonus:

Download the prologue of her book “Becoming a Power Couple - 4 Pillars to Engineer Legendary Marriages" here.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.