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.

Life often throws curveballs that leave us feeling overwhelmed or trapped - especially during challenging times like divorce. But it doesn't have to stay that way. Dr. Carrie Johansson, a psychologist and author affectionately known as "The Sensible Psychologist," introduces a powerful yet simple framework that will shift you out of the "Drama Triangle" so you can reclaim your life.

Throughout this podcast episode, Dr. Johansson reveals practical tools that allow you to honestly assess your situation without judgment and finally break free from the cycle of avoidance that’s keeping you stuck. She also highlights the crucial mindset shift that will help you stop waiting for motivation and move forward into action.

Dr. Johansson also challenges conventional wisdom about relationships, suggesting that collaboration - NOT compromise - leads to healthier partnerships. By changing predictable conflict patterns and accepting that some disagreements may never be fully resolved, couples can move from resentment to understanding, creating relationships that feel less like work and more like joy.

Dr. Johansson’s straightforward yet compassionate approach helps you discover your "next best move" in any situation, guiding you toward the outcomes you truly desire.

About Dr. Johansson

Dr Carrie Johansson is a psychologist turned speaker and author. Fondly known as The Sensible Psychologist, she works with teams, corporate audiences and dedicated individuals, to build resilience and help them skillfully navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs. On a personal note, Dr. Carrie works her own program to create a life she really enjoys. One of her favorite pastimes is baking muffins, ask her for your favorite flavor and she’ll make them for you!

Connect with Dr. Johansson

Connect with Dr. Johansson on Facebook at Dr. Carrie Johansson and LinkedIn at Self Help on the Go and follow her on YouTube. To find out more about the work Dr. Johansson does visit her website at Self Help On The Go and grab her book Self Help On The Go.

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.

Ever feel like no matter how hard you try, life just keeps throwing more and more challenges at you? Psychologist Faust Ruggiero has spent over 35 years guiding clients through personal transformation by way of action. In his empowering “Fix Yourself” book series, Faust shares the keys to addressing anxiety, depression, anger, addiction, and life's countless hurdles through practical, action-based steps that anyone can follow.

Faust believes information alone isn't enough—real change happens when you put practical knowledge into action. That's why each book in his Fix Yourself Empowerment Series features short, accessible chapters paired with clear, measurable action steps.

If you're tired of repeating unproductive behavior patterns or staying stuck in unhappy relationships, Faust's approach offers a new way to help yourself break free of what's no longer working for you. By helping you define your struggles, reclaim your energy, and master personal accountability, Faust equips you to confidently overcome life's toughest challenges.

About Faust

Faust Ruggiero is a psychologist who has been in private practice for over thirty-five years. Before entering private practice, he worked in clinics for deaf children, prisons, nursing homes, substance abuse centers, inpatient facilities, and is a consultant for major national and international corporations. He is a published research author and a professional clinical trainer.

In the summer of 2016, he began to develop The Fix Yourself Empowerment Series based on the Process Life Program to help readers address difficult situations in their lives. The series currently includes The Fix Yourself Handbook, The Fix Your Anxiety Handbook, The Fix Your Depression Handbook, The Fix Your Anger Handbook and the new The Fix Your Addiction Handbook that was just released!

Connect with Faust

You can connect with Faust on Facebook at Faust Inspire and follow him on X at Faust Inspire and on Instagram at Faust Inspire. To learn more about Faust’s work visit his website at Faust Ruggiero where you can also find his The Empowerment Series – Handbooks.

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.

When your marriage isn’t going well, it’s easy to believe divorce is your only option. But what if the answer isn’t leaving, but breathing new life into your marriage?

Cristie Cerniglia, a certified relationship coach, shares her hard-earned wisdom on how women can shift their approach to love and marriage—without devaluing themselves or waiting for their husbands to change. Having transformed her own 30-year marriage, Cristie helps women rediscover the romance and joy in their relationships, even when their spouse seems to be disengaged and their marriage feels like it's beyond repair.

In this podcast episode, Cristie reveals the small but powerful shifts that changed everything in her marriage. She explains why many women unknowingly push their partners away and how a simple mindset shift can bring them closer. She shares how embracing authentic femininity can be empowering and can create a magnetic pull that reinvigorates your marriage.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything in your marriage and still not getting what you need from your partner, Cristie’s insights offers a hopeful, practical path forward.

About Cristie

Cristie Cerniglia is a ridiculously happy wife after 30 years of marriage. Mom of 4 and Kiki to 3, she is passionate about helping women rewind their relationships back to the fun and romance of dating (with or without their husband's efforts)! Cristie is a certified Laura Doyle Relationship Coach - with a passion for inspiring and coaching women back in to magnetic marriages.

When following Cristie’s map to a magnetic marriage you can expect to learn six practical skills you can apply from day one that will change your perspectives, your responses and ultimately your marriage.

Connect with Cristie

You can connect with Cristie on Facebook at Relationships With A Map and follow her on Instagram at Relationships With A Map and on YouTube at Relationships With A Map. You can find out more about Cristie’s work by visiting her website at Relationships With A Map.

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.

Divorce and menopause. Are they just two random events in a woman’s life? Or is there a connection between them?

In this podcast episode certified health coach and menopause specialist Denise Stegall explores how unaddressed menopausal changes can silently erode relationships. That’s especially true when couples stop communicating about intimate challenges like diminishing libido or emotional upheaval.

Throughout the conversation, Denise tackles misconceptions about menopause, emphasizing that it's not a one-size-fits-all experience. She shares practical strategies, from tracking symptoms and optimizing hormones to managing mood swings, weight changes, and libido.

All in all, while menopause may not directly cause divorce, when its symptoms go unrecognized and untreated, it can certainly contribute to it.

Whether you’re male or female, this candid conversation about a phenomenon that every woman will face will give you a depth of understanding that will help in your relationships with any woman.

About Denise

Denise Stegall is a healthy lifestyle coach, international best-selling author, and culinary expert with over 25 years of experience in nutrition, mindset, and coaching. Armed with a professional plant-based certification, she empowers high-achieving women to navigate menopause and embrace vibrant, joyful living. Denise’s personalized approach blends nourishing whole foods, mental fitness, and overcoming self-doubt to create sustainable well-being. Her mission is to help women move better, feel better, and live better, making every moment of life rich with energy, purpose, and vitality.

Connect with Denise

You can connect with Denise on LinkedIn at Healthy Living with Denise Stegall and on Facebook at Denise Stegall and follow her on Instagram at Healthy Living With Denise and YouTube at Healthy Living With Denise. To learn more about Denise’s work visit her website Denise Stegall and take her quiz Unlock the Key To Balance.

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.

Imagine discovering that your once-loving adult child has suddenly become a stranger, cutting you off from their life and your grandchildren over seemingly trivial incidents like giving them a strawberry or a cup of water. Tracy Malone, an international divorce and narcissist abuse survival coach, reveals a disturbing trend of narcissistic alienation of adult children. This alienation occurs when an adult child's narcissistic partner systematically isolates them from their parents, siblings, and other family members.

The narcissist’s tactics usually follow a calculated pattern, starting with love-bombing the family before marriage, then gradually introducing false allegations and twisted interpretations of normal interactions to drive wedges between parents and their adult child. This psychological manipulation can lead to complete estrangement or seriously limited contact.

What’s worse, the narcissist often “splits” the parents, choosing one who is identified as “bad,” while the other is still allowed contact with their adult child. That strategy can then create devastating conflict in the parents’ marriage.

If you're navigating the intricacies of parental estrangement or seeking ways to protect your loved ones from narcissistic behavior, this episode offers essential insights and practical survival strategies.

About Tracy

Tracy Malone is an International divorce coach, narcissist abuse survival coach, author, speaker, educator, victim, and surTHRIVER of narcissistic abuse. Tracy is also the author of Divorcing Your Narcissist: You Can't make This Shit up! And the founder of Narcissist Abuse Support.com.

Connect with Tracy

You can connect with Tracy on LinkedIn at Tracy Malone and Facebook at Narcissist Abuse Support Group. You can follow Tracy on YouTube at Tracy Malone, Twitter at Tracy Malone and on Instagram at Tracy A Malone. You can find out more about Tracy’s work and find support with narcissist abuse on Tracy’s website Narcissist Abuse Support and buy her book Divorcing Your Narcissist: You Can’take This Shit Up!

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.