Relationship Renovation: Marriage Advice, Intimacy & Couples Communication

When Life Gets Hard: How Couples Can Stay Connected Instead of Drifting Apart

Book a Discovery Call for Relationship Renovation CoachingOr email us directly at coaching@relationshiprenovation.com with the subject line “Couples Coaching Application.” Order Relationship Renovation at Home Manual from AmazonJoin Our Patreon CommunityTake the Emotional Safety Assessment QuizIn this deeply resonant episode of Relationship Renovation, hosts EJ Kerwin and Tarah Kerwin open up with raw honesty about the challenges and crises their relationship faced over the past year. Drawing on their own experiences—and the many couples they’ve supported—this conversation explores how practicing vulnerability, emotional safety, and practical decision-making skills can help couples withstand even the most severe financial and emotional stress. You'll discover how patterns from years past still shape present struggles, and gain insight into the power of creating new narratives together.Listen in for actionable strategies, real-life stories, and a heartfelt reminder: true connection isn’t about avoiding hardship, but learning how to support each other through it. If you’re seeking hope and practical guidance for your relationship, this episode offers powerful motivation to keep fighting for love, resilience, and the growth hiding beneath life’s toughest seasons. Plus, the hosts share resources like their Relationship Renovation at Home manual and community options to help you find the support you need, no matter what challenges you’re facing.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/he-said-she-said/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

When Sex Feels Like a Transaction: The Hidden Disconnect in Relationships

Book a Discovery Call for Relationship Renovation CoachingOr email us directly at coaching@relationshiprenovation.com with the subject line “Couples Coaching Application.” Order Relationship Renovation at Home Manual from AmazonJoin Our Patreon CommunityTake the Emotional Safety Assessment QuizHighlights from the EpisodeHow Sex Turns Transactional: Tarah shares a story from a recent couples session: “If you do this and you do it well, I’ll give you sex.” Sound familiar? Turns out, it’s more common than we think.Both Partners Are Responsible: EJ and Tarah reflect on their own patterns of expectation, let-down, and the rewards/punishments that silently build up over time.Unspoken Stories Drive Anxiety: Ever felt relief when your partner wasn’t expecting sex… or disappointment when connection didn’t lead there? You’re not alone. Opening up those stories, rather than burying them, is the first step to real change.Emotional Safety is Key: The hosts discuss how building a foundation of emotional safety—being able to share, be transparent, and give verbal appreciation—creates true desire and real intimacy.Actionable Tools: From ‘The Frisky Scale’ (yes, really!) to conversation starters on how you want to feel valued outside the bedroom, EJ and Tarah give you practical ways to break the transaction cycle.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/he-said-she-said/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Why I Shut Down in Conflict: Facing My Avoidant Patterns

In this deeply personal episode, Tarah interviews EJ about his avoidant tendencies — why he used to shut down during conflict, how it affected their relationship, and what it took to start feeling safe enough to stay present when things got hard.Book a Discovery Call for Relationship Renovation CoachingOr email us directly at coaching@relationshiprenovation.com with the subject line “Couples Coaching Application.” Order Relationship Renovation at Home Manual from AmazonJoin Our Patreon CommunityTake the Emotional Safety Assessment QuizSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/he-said-she-said/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

247 - How to Talk About Needs Without Triggering Defensiveness

Book a Discovery Call for Relationship Renovation CoachingOr email us directly at coaching@relationshiprenovation.com with the subject line “Couples Coaching Application.” Order Relationship Renovation at Home Manual from AmazonJoin Our Patreon CommunityTake the Emotional Safety Assessment QuizIn this episode of the Relationship Renovation Podcast, licensed therapists and hosts EJ and Tarah Kerwin explore the delicate balance between being attuned to your partner and staying true to yourself. Drawing from their own relationship journey—as both a couple and co-therapists—they share real stories, practical tools, and insights that help couples move from reactivity to connection.You’ll learn how to:Communicate your needs without triggering defensivenessRecognize and respond to your partner’s emotional cuesUse timing and tone to create emotional safety during conflictPrevent resentment and strengthen trust through consistent repairIf you’ve ever wished you could communicate better during moments of stress, this episode will give you hope, clarity, and actionable skills to build a more emotionally safe and connected relationship.Join EJ and Tarah as they model vulnerability, share their own “fail moments,” and guide you toward becoming more connected, understanding, and confident in your communication—one intentional conversation at a time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/he-said-she-said/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

246 - Why Your Partner Can’t Read Your Mind (and How to Stop Misunderstandings in Your Relationship)

Book a Discovery Call for Relationship Renovation CoachingOr email us directly at coaching@relationshiprenovation.com with the subject line “Couples Coaching Application.” Order Relationship Renovation at Home Manual from AmazonJoin Our Patreon CommunityTake the Emotional Safety Assessment QuizAre you tired of small habits turning into big fights? Do you wish your partner could just “know” how you feel—without you having to explain it every time?In this episode of Relationship Renovation, Tarah and EJ Kerwin share how hidden assumptions and unspoken judgments quietly chip away at intimacy. Drawing from a recent psychodrama training and their own marriage, they reveal how a simple act like fixing a partner’s hair uncovered 15 years of miscommunication and resentment.You’ll learn:Why assumptions and daily habits can trigger unexpected tensionHow to use the “Empty Chair” technique for safe, honest conversationsSimple ways to stop wishing your partner could read your mind—and start creating emotional safety insteadIf you’re ready to turn everyday frustrations into opportunities for growth and connection, this episode offers both heartfelt stories and actionable tools.🎧 Listen now to start breaking free from assumptions and building a stronger, more intentional relationship.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/he-said-she-said/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands