When your kids leave home to spread their wings, it’s exciting! And bittersweet. It’s exactly what you raised them to do but also a letdown because you won’t get to see them as much and they no longer need you as much—which is great but can leave you feeling empty. If co-parenting was a big part of the glue that kept your marriage together, then the new quiet in the house can feel sad, especially if your marriage is struggling. While the divorce rate among those 65 and up has tripled in recent decades, nearly two-thirds of couples actually become closer after the kids move out. So how do you become part of that group? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 3 secrets for even greater intimacy as an empty nester. Plus, after 35 years of marriage, Basya’s husband relapsed in his addiction and ran up a huge debt. She thought her only option was to resign herself to the situation, but then she discovered a power within herself that changed everything. Today they enjoy warmth and affection, and just when she thinks things can’t get better, they do. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.

As you already know if you or your husband has chronic pain, it can put a big strain on a marriage! When one of you is always hurting, it’s an ever present challenge to emotional and physical intimacy. Just like when you’re sick, it’s very hard to be at your best when you’re going “ouch ouch ouch” all day. It can also interfere with receiving or giving physical affection, which is frustrating and can make you feel lonely on top of everything else. If you’re not sure how that pain is ever going to be alleviated, it can be so discouraging and leave you feeling guilty that you’re not able to be the kind of wife you want to be and hopeless that you’ll ever have a happy marriage. So much seems out of your control, it’s hard to know what you can ever do to improve the situation, especially if your marriage feels like it’s unraveling already.  So how can you even begin to fix your marriage when that’s happening? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’ll share three ways you can. Plus, my guest Janice knew she was a controlling and sometimes downright cruel wife, but she had no idea how to stop. Even early on, the constant tension at their house was punctuated by her husband’s angry outbursts. Then she learned a different approach, and today she is thrilled to feel emotional stability within herself and a culture of peace, comfort and mutual respect in her marriage. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.

If you’ve ever been separated, I don’t need to tell you what a stressful, heartbreaking experience it is. It’s also awkward and embarrassing to have to explain to everybody what’s going on. You don’t want their pity or for the kids to get scared or start asking really hard questions. You just want to fix what’s broken and get back on track already. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 4 steps to fight for your marriage when separated.  I’ll share a four-step game plan that our students have used to make their marriages last and thrive after separation, even when he said he was never coming back. My guest Izzy was devastated about her husband’s emotional affair and addiction to porn. He wanted to divorce when her maternity leave ended. Then Izzy made a big change, and things became dramatically different at her house. She and her husband now feel like a team, their physical intimacy better than ever. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.

When your husband is there but not there, it’s lonely. It’s also stressful and exhausting. When you’re reaching out trying to get reassurance and he doesn’t respond, it only reinforces how disconnected you are, which hurts. A lot. If this goes on for a long time, you feel a wave of hopelessness that it will never get better because that’s just who he is. Then you feel disappointed that you didn’t see it sooner, before you chose him.  But his emotional detachment doesn’t have to be a life sentence of loneliness. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about two cures for an emotionally detached husband. Plus, my guest Sarah was appalled by her man’s health choices because of what he ate, drank and smoked. She felt that his views on raising children could be a dealbreaker. But then she read something that gave her some answers and there was a huge change. She now trusts him wholeheartedly. She’s going to describe what she did so you can do it too.  

When my marriage was full of drama, it was incredibly taxing. I felt so overwhelmed and consumed by our problems. It was painful and exhausting to fight all the time and to feel so hopeless that it would ever get better. It robbed me of energy for other relationships, work, and having fun. What I know now is that anything that’s sucking out a lot of energy and focus pulls you away from your true calling. With so many relationships falling apart, many people are losing vital energy on Needless Emotional Turmoil. The important things they’re supposed to be contributing, things they’re called to do and the world desperately needs them to do, are not getting the time and energy they deserve. If you’re in survival mode in your relationship like I was, you may not even know what your calling is! On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what happens when your marriage drama ends. Plus, my guest Kathy and her husband had been sleeping in separate beds for six months. She didn't think he would ever change, but then she got the Six Intimacy Skills™. That was twenty years ago, and she gets tears in her eyes when she talks about how wonderful her marriage still is. She became a Certified Laura Doyle Relationship Coach then a Master Relationship Coach then a Master Coach for Relationship Coaches and the CEO of a multimillion-dollar coaching organization. She's going to talk with us about what happens when you end your relationship drama for good. 

When you fell in love with your husband, he made you feel beautiful, sexy and special. So it can be crushing to find out that he’s looking at other women online. It can make you feel undesirable, disappointed and less-than, not to mention lowering your opinion of him. Why would he sink so low to sneak around and look at sleazy strangers? Is this really who you married? Naturally you just want him to stop looking—for good. Fortunately, you can restore your confidence, get the respect you deserve, and preserve the passion. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about three actions to take if your husband looks at other women online.  Plus, my guest Taylor was tired of her husband’s heavy drinking and how controlling HE was. On their ten-year anniversary, she felt trapped and resentful, wishing she were with someone else. Then she started using a particular phrase and today her marriage is better than she ever thought possible. Plus her husband mostly stopped drinking. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too!

If he doesn't want you anymore, it does hurt—really bad. Whether his actions are speaking louder than words and he’s too busy to spend time with you or he’s saying he doesn’t want you or making plans to leave or has already left, it can give you the excruciating impression that you’re unlovable. And there’s no lonelier feeling than that. Well-meaning friends can make it even worse by telling you to stop loving him or stop trying to make him love you. They might advise you to cut off all ties with him. Sure, you could do that. But what if that’s not what your heart is telling you to do? Maybe there’s a good reason you still love someone who doesn’t seem to be loving you back right now. While you may wish that things could go back to the way they were before, maybe there’s something even better waiting for you. At least, that’s what I see happen with students of the Six Intimacy Skills™ who use the Connection Framework. They’ve gone through this crushing experience of feeling completely rejected and unloved, and they come out the other side saying their marriage is better than ever. How can you do that too? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what to do if he doesn't want you anymore and it hurts. Plus, my guest Rachel and her husband were fighting, fighting, fighting. It had become the norm at their house. She couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t try to heal their marriage. Then Rachel decided to experiment with all of the Intimacy Skills and after a long winter, her husband said something he hadn’t said in a very long time. Today, she says her 19-year marriage feels like a miracle and she is full of JOY! She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.

When things were out of balance in my marriage, I was seething with resentment about my husband not doing enough chores or making enough money, which left me having to make up for him in both areas. I also had to control the finances since we were always so close to the edge and I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it. It was very stressful and lonely to be stuck carrying these heavy burdens, but I didn’t see any way out. Maybe you’ve been there too.  Fortunately, I learned a practice that completely changed all that. Today my relationship feels much more balanced, and far from doing everything around here, I feel well taken care of and even spoiled! It may even be out of balance the other way, with him doing practically everything and me just coasting along.  And I’m married to the same guy, so go figure.  On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 5 ways to maintain balance in a relationship while feeling taken care of. My guest Steph’s husband was distant, and she was resentful, lonely and tired of feeling rejected. Then she ran headfirst into a new process, and today he does things she’s wanted him to do for forever. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too. 

Everybody has doubts about their relationship from time to time. It’s painful when you feel like your values don’t match, or your husband is engaging in behavior that you never would have condoned, or his parenting is not at all what you see your children needing to thrive. What if such doubts make you question your own judgment about having said “I do”? It’s an exhausting and scary place to be. What if your marriage is a big mistake—then you should leave, right? But what if you devastate your husband and kids and end up breaking your own heart too? It’s a terrible quandary not knowing what the right decision is. It’s tempting to jump on the fence and stay there. But doubt is the devil. It eats away at the joy and connection you could otherwise be having if you could find your faith, and it pretends that you have no choice but to suffer or leave. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 3 tips to deal with relationship doubts. With no physical intimacy for two years, my guest Irena and her husband were both miserable. The marriage counselor told them they had no chance of survival and fired them as clients. But things got a lot better when Irena made a discovery and ran with it. Today she says her marriage is exactly where she wants it to be—and getting better every day. Plus, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a T-shirt that a student was too embarrassed to take a picture of in front of her husband and kids.

A student named Gigi told me she wanted intimacy in her marriage but didn’t really know what it looked like. “I’ve been married for over 20 years,” she confessed, “and I feel like I just don’t even know what intimacy is.” I knew what she meant because I was similarly baffled early in my marriage. Was intimacy purely physical–just another way to say “sex”? What did emotional intimacy look like? Whatever it was, I knew I wanted it. And although I knew I had experienced it at times, I had no idea why or how to create more of it. I didn’t realize I was unwittingly crushing the emotional and physical connection in my marriage. I didn’t know that intimacy was a matter of expertise and that there were Six Intimacy Skills™ that would help me feel lovable and loved every single day. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about the roadmap that will give you these Skills. My guest Charlie was angry and confronted her husband about his lack of help with their financial life and lack of activity in the bedroom. Then they separated. But Charlie had an epiphany about how to solve the problems in her marriage and today they are back together, the physical intimacy is frequent, and he compliments her all the time. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.  Plus, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a bumper sticker about what to expect when you’re married. But it’s got it all wrong!

When your marriage is in trouble, you know it because you’re worried. And you’re scared something bad will happen to your family, like getting broken beyond repair. But how do you know whether your relationship is really in trouble or just going through a phase that everybody goes through? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about three signs your marriage is in trouble. My guest Atesh and her husband fought constantly, even fighting about the fight, and she felt so unloved. They separated and it seemed hopeless. But then she took a completely different approach, and today her marriage is peaceful, light, safe and warm. She’ll tell us how she did it so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an unoriginal yet harmful suggestion about how to stop feeling dismissed and ignored. Wait until you hear this claptrap!

When you first say the words “I do,” the idea that your marriage will last forever feels like a given. Of course it will! That’s why you’re committing for life in front of God and everybody! You met the right person, who miraculously felt all melty with you just like you did with him. Your marriage will definitely last forever and ever–the end. But then life kicks in, there’s a misunderstanding, and you notice he has a strange way of doing things, or he hurts your feelings or gets very angry. Oooh! Maybe he has an anger problem and you notice that the “forever” part seems longer than it did during that “I do” session. It’s a big accomplishment to stay married forever. I used to think it was just luck, but now I know that there are powerful habits that contribute to marriage longevity. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what makes a marriage last forever. My guest Dina felt like she was drowning because she had to do everything to take care of their small kids while her unsupportive husband was at his leisure. But she had an insight that changed how she looked at things, and today her husband spoils her, taking care of the kids so she has time for herself. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too! Plus, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an Instagram post from a coach–but definitely NOT one of our coaches–who gives examples of how you should talk to your partner that will definitely make you very, very resistible.

If you’re anything like me, you love feeling desired. When the physical passion is missing or rare in your relationship, it makes you feel undesirable, which is an awful feeling. You wonder if the extra pounds or wrinkles are turning him off or if there’s something wrong with him. Either way, it’s lonely, painful and confusing. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’ll reveal 5 ways to fix a sexless marriage. My guest Sofia’s husband said he wanted a divorce then moved out two days a week, and he was having an affair. Her marriage felt like a mess. But Sofia made some big changes, and today her husband is back home and they snuggle and are so close. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week award goes to a pithy quote about what strong women do, but it’s actually the opposite of what I see truly strong women doing every day. 

If you’re asking yourself what cheating is, that means you’re already between a rock and a hard place trying to figure out what to do. Like, what if he’s sending inappropriate flirty messages to his ex from high school but you know he hasn’t seen her in person? Or he’s texting a female colleague all the time and won’t show you his phone but says nothing is going on? What if you overhear him saying he has feelings for someone else? Or you find out he’s got an online dating profile? It sure feels icky to know he’s having intimate conversations with a woman who isn’t you. Of course you want him to stop before he crosses the line, which brings up some very tough questions: How should you react? Does this mean your husband can’t be faithful? Does it mean he’s going to leave you? Can you even repair things from here, or is your marriage doomed to be another divorce statistic? Should you give him an ultimatum that you’ll divorce unless he stops? Or should you try to be understanding but insist on marriage counseling? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what cheating is in a relationship. To say my guest Brenda was disillusioned about marriage is an understatement. She was resentful about always having to be the responsible one and questioning whether she’d made a good decision to marry her husband in the first place. But then she tried an experiment and was amazed that it led to immediate closeness, connection and the realization that she has a good man. Today she says she has the true partnership she always wanted. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to some familiar tripe meant to help a woman who’s anguished about her husband not coming to bed at the same time as her. 

Everybody knows there are some things you can’t just forgive in marriage. Like abuse–physical, emotional or verbal. It’s terrible. Two is being cheated on. Whether he’s going to prostitutes or has another woman, it makes you feel like a doormat and a fool. It’s awful. And three is being with an addict who abuses drugs or alcohol. That’s so unpredictable you never know what might happen, which is a painful way to live. Logically speaking, you can’t just forgive and carry on with the status quo in those situations. You can either choose endless suffering in your marriage, option A. Or you can give up on your dreams of a lasting, happy marriage and tear apart your family, option B. What if there’s a third option? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what really works with the big, stubborn, scary problems in a marriage. My guest Sam was burned out in her marriage and her life. She was doing everything she could for her husband, but she really just wanted to run away. Her daughter even told her to just leave! Instead she started two new habits that turned out to be life changing, and today her marriage is peaceful, joyful, intimate and vulnerable. Her husband sends her long-stem roses at work. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too! This week’s Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article about how to get your husband’s attention without begging for it, and it’s a great way to make yourself seem desperate and insecure.

When your marriage is falling apart, it can be pretty hard to know exactly what to do next, except for going to marriage counseling. Everyone knows that’s what you’re supposed to do if your marriage is falling apart, only it didn’t work for my husband and me–or for thousands of students on the Laura Doyle campus either. So what can you do to fix your marriage if it’s gotten dull and you want it to be shiny again? Or if it’s got serious problems that you feel overwhelmed about? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, you’ll discover 7 resources for fixing your marriage.  My guest Christina’s marriage was filled with explosive rage, cold wars and fights about everything: parenting, money, time, housework, feeling alone and unloved. They were on the brink of divorce. But she learned a secret that seemed too good to be true, and today her marriage is filled with slow dances, companionable silence and peace. She feels cherished beyond what she ever could have imagined. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too! And, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a saying that’s meant to be funny but hit too close to home for one student. And for me too!

We all want to feel seen, heard and understood. If you’re not feeling understood, it’s like you’re missing a nutrient in your diet, and you start to feel malnourished. I remember feeling this way when I’d listen to my husband talk endlessly about something he was interested in and then as soon as I brought up something I was interested in, he’d interrupt me. Harrumph! If he just doesn’t seem to get you or care about what you want, it hurts! In today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’m revealing what to do when your husband doesn’t understand you.  My guest Charlotte says there was no trust or connection in her marriage. With nothing in common, she felt like she’d married the wrong person–and a liar too. But when she took a different approach, they became closer and closer. She says they have a bright future together and that she respects her husband now, not just because she’s supposed to but because she feels it.  Plus, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is about what I should have said years ago when my husband was avoiding me. It’s not only ineffective, it’s also insulting. 

One of the worst feelings is when you’re not getting your husband’s love and attention. And, to make things worse, he’s giving it to other women. Like when his voice gets warm and happy when talking to the kids’ teachers or a co-worker. So what should you do? How do you tell him that he’s being inappropriate and to stop embarrassing you? Especially if you already told him and he’s acting like it’s no big deal even though it’s hurting you? You don’t deserve that. In today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’m revealing 3 ways to respond when your husband is being nicer to other women than he is to you.  My guest Jeanne’s husband was the controlling one in their marriage. In fact, things were so bad between them that their son was scared they would divorce, and Jeanne herself thought her husband would leave. But she made a few changes to the way she showed up in her marriage. Today, Jeanne says she and her husband are happy, respectful, and they like to hang out together. They have a peaceful and loving home. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too. Plus, as always, I reveal this week’s worst relationship advice. It starts with a cute story…but is totally false!

How do you save your marriage when you are the only one trying? It’s frustrating when you know your marriage is broken and yet your husband won’t do anything about it. He won’t read a marriage book, won’t go to counseling, won’t even have a conversation about it! It can make you crazy. I mean why even try if he’s not going to do anything! I know you would much rather saving your marriage be a team effort. I remember feeling this way early on in my marriage. I was dreadfully unhappy and thought divorce would solve all my problems. But as a last resort, I decided to try out some ideas from wives with happy marriages. I was out of options, so why not? These ideas changed everything…and I started to notice that maybe I was part of the problem. Sure, I was the only one trying to save my marriage—but I had been doing all the wrong things. I don’t want that to be you! That's why on today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’m revealing my top 3 strategies to save your marriage when you’re the only one trying.  My guest Liliana and her husband tried to fight quietly but sometimes they spiraled out of control. This was affecting the kids, who were drifting. She was terrified that they would divorce or separate and she’d have to go back to her parents, who always told her her husband would eventually do this to her! But then Liliana did something radical and she has something she’s never had before: Her relationship feels easy! She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a columnist's response to relationship advice (it’s shocking!).

If you’re thinking of leaving your relationship, it’s because you’re feeling lonely, hurt and hopeless about it ever getting better. I still remember how terrible that felt and how much relief I felt thinking about escaping my marriage for that very reason. That pain was real! The part that wasn’t so real was my fantasy that leaving the relationship was going to fix my problems and make me feel better. The illusion, which I was completely convinced was the truth, was that my husband was the source of the problems that hurt me so much. But the reality, I now know, was that most of my suffering was because of a lack of training and support in practicing the Six Intimacy Skills™ and not because of a terrible, incorrigible husband. Back then, I would have sworn that it was all his fault and that he was never going to change. So my options were to leave or continue to suffer forever–and let’s not forget–ever. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about when to leave a relationship.  My guest Julie went to their last couple’s counseling appointment by herself because her husband wouldn’t go. She was living with constant cold wars and wondering whether he was a gaming addict or depressed. But then the marriage counselor recommended a book, and today Julie says her marriage is such a safe place and she feels like a new woman who is happy and hopeful. She’s so grateful for her patient, loyal, honest, fun husband. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a new Netflix show about getting married, and the title alone made me spit out my tea! 

When your husband is harsh, thoughtless or downright mean, of course you want him to stop. If you’re anything like I was, you want him to feel embarrassed or ashamed so he won’t do that again! And since he promised to love you in front of God and everybody, it stands to reason that letting him know how much he hurt you should be very persuasive in getting him to be more gentle, thoughtful and kind. But if you’ve ever had the experience of your husband not even listening when you’re telling him how hurt you are or just telling you to stop being upset, it’s so frustrating! You can end up even more hurt than you were to begin with. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to tell someone they hurt you while teaching him how to treat you. My guest Noelle felt completely ignored by her husband, who talked to the dog instead of her at dinner. He would laugh and laugh with their son but not with her. Now her husband is so attentive to her! He takes her out for brunch and is giving her a new kitchen. Then there was the very special moment she knew that the 6 Intimacy Skills™ were working for her. She’s going to share how she got there so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a book that may be meant to help address verbal abuse in marriage but goes about it in all the wrong ways. 

As a listener of The Empowered Wife Podcast, you may have found yourself feeling hopeful that you could make your marriage last and thrive, like you hear every week from the women who share their stories. Maybe you got inspired to experiment with the Six Intimacy Skills™. But maybe it just didn’t go over well. Maybe your husband didn’t even respond when you apologized. Or he told you to stop with the gratitude because he doesn’t need that. Or maybe you’re working hard to practice the Intimacy Skills and he won’t even talk to you. Or he’s announced he’s moving out or that he wants a divorce. It’s so demoralizing and unfair. You might conclude that your situation is different, or too far gone, and the Intimacy Skills just won’t work for you! And because you’ve heard so many success stories here, you feel like the only woman this isn’t working for, which is awful. It’s scary and painful to feel all alone and hopeless like that. It’s especially tragic because you’re not alone at all. It’s not uncommon for students and even our coaches to feel like the Skills just aren’t working for them. No kidding. But that doesn’t mean your situation is hopeless. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about when the Intimacy Skills don't work for you. My guest Marla’s home was full of fights that turned violent, and their children were suffering. Her husband avoided her then said he wanted to separate and live alone abroad. Marla made a decision to do a few things differently in her marriage, and today she says it’s very respectful and her husband is no longer planning to leave. He cleans the kitchen every day before she comes home and hangs out in the living room to talk to her. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too! The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an answer to the question “My Husband Won't Spend Time With Me—What Should I Do?” It’s actually what you should do if you want him to leave tire marks in the driveway.

 If your husband cheated and left you, it’s one of the most heart-wrenching things anyone can go through. When the man who vowed to love you for better or worse betrays you, it affects your self-esteem, your health, your family, every aspect of your life. No one deserves to be treated that way. A lot of people will tell you it’s time to give up on your marriage. But if you’re reading this, there must be some part of you that still wants to make it work. The question is: How are you supposed to do that, especially if your husband is living with another woman? Or maybe he’s saying he is done, he’s not in love with you anymore and there’s no changing his mind. It’s enough to make anyone feel hopeless and ready to give up. Kudos to you for not giving up. Because as the wife, the keeper of your relationship, you have enormous power to turn things around, in my experience. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about why husbands come back after leaving for another woman. My guest Julie’s husband filed for divorce twice, and their marriage had little intimacy physically or emotionally. The whole thing seemed hopeless. But today her marriage is a delight because he dotes on her, they laugh together, and there’s a lot of intimacy between them. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article that promises “The Secret to Stopping Housework-Related Resentment” but actually just says the same old same old tired thing that you and I already tried and never, ever worked.

If you’re begging for attention in a relationship, it is so lonely, demoralizing and even demeaning. You shouldn’t have to beg for attention from the man you married! I remember the bad old days when my husband didn’t want to be around me, and they were lousy. Fortunately, I learned a thing or two to turn that around completely. So if you’re tired of trying to get attention from your husband, you are in the right place. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 3 steps to a more attentive spouse. My guest Rebecca’s workaholic husband never had time for her and was probably having an affair with a coworker. She went all in with the Intimacy Skills but did not get a great response. Today, though, she says her relationship is amazing, simply amazing. She’s going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week has all the answers on whether marriage is a good choice.

Are you stuck in an unhappy marriage but can’t leave? Maybe you don’t want to see your family torn apart, so you grin (at least sometimes) and bear it. But at what cost? It’s all so painful: the frustration of not being able to communicate with the one you love, the overwhelm and resentment at not getting the support you need, the loneliness at night. Well, I have good news and bad news. If you’re wondering how to get OUT of an unhappy marriage or how to survive a loveless, sexless marriage, then bad news: this is not the podcast for you. The good news is that if you want to stay married, you can turn things around to create the vibrant, happy marriage you deserve. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 3 secrets you need to know if your marriage is unhappy. My guest Sage had mistakenly married a broken, immature, ignorant man who was ruining her life with his narcissistic tendencies. He had anger issues and told her he was in no way attracted to her. But Sage made a decision and followed it up with action that changed everything about her marriage, her family and her world! Today she says she couldn’t be happier with the road she and her husband are on. She’s going to explain how she transformed her marriage so you can do the same thing.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a blog about who gets the short end of the stick in marriage, and it sure is a doozy!

If your husband keeps getting angry, you’re not alone. When he blows a fuse at you or the kids, it can be really hurtful and scary. When it happens again and again, then it has a way of making you angry too. Especially if he jumps down your throat at the smallest things, like how you stock the groceries! It’s baffling when you’re being nice by making his coffee or having his dinner ready. If you’re doing everything you can think of to be a good wife and still getting snapped at, it is downright disheartening. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast we’re talking about 2 proven ways to make a rageaholic be respectful. My guest Kait was sure her husband was the problem. He played video games all the time and didn’t help with the kids. She started talking to another man, who was saying all the things she wanted to hear from her husband. Then she used a phrase that turned things around 180 degrees, and now she says she has the marriage she has always dreamed of, full of I love you’s, laughter and snuggling. She’s going to tell us what she said and did so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is a tired refrain that I had in the bad old days of my marriage, and here it is popping up again, presented as a modern remedy for overwhelmed wives. But it didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now!

If you’re asking yourself whether there’s hope for your marriage, it means you’re going through a lot of heartache. After all, no one asks that about a marriage that’s full of hand-holding and sweet nothings. That question comes up only when you’re incredibly hurt and angry, and you’ve been feeling that way for a long time. Even though it was long ago, I still remember feeling that way, and it was awful. I remember thinking there was no way things would improve and it was completely hopeless because he was not going to change. Of course, I was wrong. Things could improve, and they did–beyond my wildest dreams. And wouldn’t you know it–I was the one who had the power all along, just like Dorothy. But what about your situation? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I’ll share 4 questions to help you definitively know--right now–whether there is hope for your marriage. My guest Laurelie thought everything was perfect in her marriage except when it came to the bedroom, where it felt like an anxiety-inducing disaster. Finally she got fed up and gave her husband three months to shape up or else get divorced. But today her marriage is absolutely wonderful. She’s going to describe how she did it so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article on a popular website called “Ten Signs that You’re Not in Love with Your Partner Anymore,” and it has ten examples of terrible relationship advice! 

Listen and subscribe to the Empowered Wife podcast with New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle, the world's most trusted relationship expert, so you can stop feeling lonely, exhausted and unloved and start feeling desired, taken care of and special again.

When your husband is going through a tough time, it’s pretty hard to just stand by and watch without wanting to help him or fix things somehow. It’s agonizing to see him suffering, and why should he struggle when you’re right there ready to support him? Especially if you have solutions for him that, if he would only try them, would help him feel better and thus help you feel better too. But what if he’s pushing you away? Or seems distant and isn’t letting you contribute the way you’d like to? If you’ve already done all you can to be a good wife, only to feel more disconnected, you know how frustrating that is. So how are you supposed to be supportive when your partner is stressed or depressed? On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about five ways to be supportive in a relationship. My guest Liz was sure she was doing things properly, but she and her husband had been separated for five years. It was painful and lonely, and she didn’t know what to do about it. But then something happened that changed everything, and she now says that her marriage is wonderful and she couldn’t be happier! She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article in a well-known publication that gets nominated for this award more than Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks get nominated for Academy Awards combined! If you’re wondering how to interpret your spouse’s withdrawal, this advice is sure to make the problem much, much worse!

Listen and subscribe to the Empowered Wife podcast with New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle, the world's most trusted relationship expert, so you can stop feeling lonely, exhausted and unloved and start feeling desired, taken care of and special again.

What can you change about yourself to save your marriage? If you’re asking that question, my hat is off to you. Wanting to change myself is not what got me here–I wanted to change my husband! On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast we’re talking about 4 changes to make to save your marriage, even when he doesn’t want to work on things. My guest Lynn says that after her husband’s betrayals and the subsequent fallout, their two very disconnected lives became literally separate. She wanted to be with her trustworthy, passionate man back in one home, so she changed things up and now it feels like the beginning of their 37 years all over again. He moved home and took her on a cruise. She’s going to share what she did so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is how to respond when someone apologizes to you, and OMG will it ever make you resistible. Yikes! 

If your husband keeps stuff in the garage, stuff in the yard, stuff in the dining room, stuff in the bedroom and more stuff in the living room, it can feel suffocating. Especially if most of it is junk. The trash that nobody would want is standing between you and having the tidy home you dream of. And if you’ve asked him to get rid of things and he won’t or he just puts things somewhere else then brings home new stuff, it’s frustrating. Especially because it seems a little crazy that someone would want to have so much junk around. It makes you wonder if you married a mentally stable person. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about two solutions when your husband hoards. My guest Kim’s husband was always negative and moody, and she felt helpless to make her marriage feel hopeful and fun. But she started a practice that not only made him smile more, kiss her more and take her out on more dates, it made her happier too. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award winner explains the sinister, subconscious reasons you picked your husband and why you’re probably doomed. 

Listen and subscribe to the Empowered Wife podcast with New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle, the world's most trusted relationship expert, so you can stop feeling lonely, exhausted and unloved and start feeling desired, taken care of and special again.

If your husband never does anything romantic, it’s just sad. You know he’s capable of being sweeter. I bet he turned on the charm to get that ring on you. But now that you’ve put in all the hard work to build a life together, it’s like he values you less, not more. If you want to revive the romance and make it last, you’re in the right place. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about when your husband never does anything special for you. I’ll share four concrete steps you can take today to start feeling desired, taken care of and special–pronto. My guest Jessica’s marriage was so lonely that she cried herself to sleep every night. They had big fights full of verbal onslaughts and criticism, especially about parenting, and she felt like her husband hated her. Her self-confidence and her marriage were at an all-time low when she Googled “how to stay married to a narcissist.” She discovered something that changed the entire trajectory of their lives, and today she has a peaceful home filled with love and laughter. She’s going to describe the steps she took to get there so you can get there too.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week if your marriage looks dark has me booing in horror.

One of the things I was not very good at back in the bad old days was knowing how I felt. Even if I did know how I was feeling, I didn’t know what to do about it. So I mostly complained! That was all I knew to do. But it wasn’t good for my marriage and it wasn’t good for my happiness. Fortunately, the breakdown in my marriage taught me to focus on myself and pay attention to myself more. That was key for helping me become a happier wife and therefore have a happier marriage, since only happy people have happy marriages. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to know what you're feeling and what to do about it.  My guest Susan felt so disconnected and unloved because her husband would often stay up until 3 a.m. relaxing but never with her. Nor did he help out with anything, so she felt like the only parent to their four children, which made her feel like she had a fifth child. But today she says her marriage is wonderful, with her husband always wanting to make her happy and giving her gifts, like a honeymoon. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too! The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award winner is from a doctor who advises that you sit down together with your man, each with pen and paper to answer these 26 questions. Sounds so helpful, right? Wrong! Brace yourself for some harmful hogwash!

Sometimes when I’m talking to a woman who’s struggling in her relationship and I mention feeling desired, cherished and adored, she looks disbelieving. Sure, she wants him to stop playing video games all the time, take out the trash before it’s overflowing and pay more attention to her. Or if her relationship is in a crisis, she wants him to stop sleeping in the spare bedroom, texting another woman, or to move back home. But she can’t imagine her man being tender, looking for ways to make her life easier and coming up behind her while she’s cooking to kiss her neck. That seems completely unrealistic to her. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to use your feminine gifts in marriage so it’s not pie in the sky. My guest Tiana and her husband argued all the time: about finances, parenting, home decor, in-laws, and even things that they agreed on! But today she says "big deals" aren't such big deals anymore. Instead of arguing all the time, they are relaxed, with lighthearted teasing and laughing. She’s going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.  The Worst Advice of the Week Award winner is from a student who sought support for her relationship and got a shocking response from the counselor. I’ll let her explain in her own words.

Listen and subscribe to the Empowered Wife podcast with New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle, the world's most trusted relationship expert, so you can stop feeling lonely, exhausted and unloved and start feeling desired, taken care of and special again.

When it’s clear your husband doesn’t like you, it feels really bad. Maybe he doesn’t say it with words, but if he’s always avoiding you, doesn’t want to talk, won’t come in for spontaneous kisses or cuddles, and just stares at his phone when you try to engage with him, that’s a painful kind of rejection. It kinda makes you not like him either! And then you think what is the point of being married if we don’t even like each other? It’s annoying. And sad.  If you’re anything like me though, even if you don’t like your husband at the moment, you still want him to like you. I like being liked. Or maybe you do still like him but you’re also hurting from knowing he doesn’t like you, which feels very personal. People even say, “I love this person, but I don’t like them right now.” Meaning, I’m committed, but I’m not finding much enjoyment from my relationship with them right now. So the underlying message of feeling unliked by your husband is: “I don’t enjoy your company.” Ouch! On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 4 solutions when your husband doesn't like you. My guest Victoria cried to her mother a lot about not being her husband’s number one priority. She was obsessed with him, but he was indifferent to her. On the rare occasions he wasn’t working, he would find other things to keep him busy, which really hurt. Plus, he was missing out on the wonder years with their two little boys, and they were missing him. Not any more though. Today Victoria says she has her dream relationship being married to her best friend. All they do is play and joke and spend every waking moment together and with their boys. Dancing in the kitchen is a weekly occurrence, and their sex life is better than it has ever been! She’s going to share the things she did so you can do them too! The worst advice of the week award winner was sent to me by a student who found a syndicated advice columnist’s answers appalling. And so did I! It’s good advice if what you want is to break up your family.

Listen and subscribe to the Empowered Wife podcast with New York Times bestselling author Laura Doyle, the world's most trusted relationship expert, so you can stop feeling lonely, exhausted and unloved and start feeling desired, taken care of and special again.

When your husband is miserable and grumping around the house or hiding in his man cave, naturally you want to help pull him out of it somehow. But what if he’s really committed to his suffering and your efforts don’t seem to do any good? What if you get exhausted trying to cheer him up? It’s lonely and irritating to be married to Mr. Misery, especially if it’s been a while and it doesn’t look like he’ll be feeling sunny any time soon. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about 3 solutions when your husband is miserable. My guest Jenna felt a recurring lack of attraction to her partner, who seemed weak and incompetent in many areas. Every time she attempted to express the hurt he was causing her, he would put up a wall. She felt so unheard and misunderstood. Then on New Year’s Day he told her she was controlling. That sparked her to take action where she ended up relaxing more, and to her amazement, her man stepped up to help more. Ten months later, he proposed and now they are planning two weddings! What did she do to turn things around? She’s going to explain so you can do it too.  The worst advice of the week is from a major online publication about habits that are sabotaging your relationship. Wait until you hear the dopey advice a couples therapist seems to think would help with communicating your needs. I can’t EVEN keep my eyes from rolling out of my head!

How do you keep a marriage alive after 20 years or more but also keep it sizzling? This is the secret sauce. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about what keeps a marriage together. I’ll share 3 simple methods I use every day for lasting peace, playfulness and passion. My guest Leann was lonely because her husband always had a hobby he was more interested in than spending time with her or the family. She was devastated when he stopped wearing his wedding ring, moved out, threatened divorce and spent his time with multiple other women. It seemed completely hopeless to make her marriage last. But when she changed up the script they had been following and took a totally different approach, her husband responded in a totally different way. He moved back in, bought new wedding rings and has become so affectionate and attentive.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week if you want your husband to get a better paying job is from a columnist in a major newspaper who gives some advice that sounds really wise and spiritual but is actually so cynical and sad!

When your kids are getting yelled at, insulted or called terrible names by their own father, it’s very hard to handle without interfering. It’s hard to watch any kid treated harshly but almost unbearable when they’re your babies. It’s heart-wrenching to see their little faces fall and the tears start when clearly none of the treatment they’re getting is warranted or fair. How in the world can you stay respectful when that’s happening? I have no idea. I don’t have kids, so I’m still the perfect mother (just like I was the perfect wife, right up until I got married). But I have these amazing students who share how they’ve transformed the dynamic in their homes and brought out the best in their husbands’ interactions with their kids. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to make your husband a better dad. My guest Danielle’s husband was always angry because the house wasn’t clean and the kids were being, well, kids. Their oldest child would hide from him, which broke Danielle’s heart. She suspected that her husband had low self-esteem and an undiagnosed mental illness, but when she learned how to bring respect and speak positively she saw his confidence rise, and their marriage got so much better. It’s not perfect, but today she says her marriage is happy and loving, and her kids are excited to see their dad. How did she do it? She’s going to tell us.  The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week about how to avoid nagging is a classic from a major national publication and OMG does it stink!

If you’re longing for intimacy with your man like I used to and not getting it, you may not feel like there’s a key to creating it. If it’s just been so long since you felt emotionally, physically and spiritually intimate, you may have steeled yourself so you don’t even feel the longing anymore. That’s a logical thing to do if you keep hoping and keep getting let down. I felt the same way in the bad old days of my marriage. But staying guarded and giving up on intimacy wasn’t a real solution. The pain was still there, and hardening my heart like that was pretty much guaranteeing that I would NEVER have the soft, mushy connection I had long dreamed of having. That’s because there is a formula for creating intimacy. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast we’re talking about the key to creating mind-blowing intimacy.  My guest Danielle’s husband traveled a lot but couldn’t even make the time to call her. She felt so unloved. They were speaking past each other and the more unheard she felt, the more she nagged. It was ugly! But when Danielle changed it up, her husband chatted and chatted with her and is now always checking in on her. She says she realizes she has a great man who loves her and does want to help! The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is from a Facebook meme that sounds just like conventional wisdom.

When everything in your marriage feels like it’s on your shoulders, it’s pretty exhausting and stressful. If your to-do list is a mile long but never gets you any closer to feeling relaxed, supported, and taken care of, then I’m excited to share a connection and intimacy superpower that will. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to accomplish more by doing less. I’ll share three ways to get a lot more done without having to do it all yourself.  My guest Hindy was so disappointed she’d missed the signs that her husband had Asperger’s, no social skills and was lazy, and now she was stuck married to him. She felt so unloved, hopeless and stupid for choosing him! But today she says her marriage is full of passion and romantic dates. He even started working more and got a raise. Things are so exciting and good between them that they are planning to grow their family. What did she do that changed everything? She’s going to tell us so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is a tweet from an organizational psychologist and author about being honest in a relationship. To quote the student who sent it to me, it’s pretty messed up!

Getting what you want in your marriage is important. The whole world depends on strong families, which means strong marriages, which means it’s important to feel that your desires are being met. Because life gets tedious when day after day you go without feeling like you’re getting what you want. It makes everything feel gray, and your husband can seem like a giant disappointment for not caring what you want. It’s sad and lonely. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast we’re talking about how to ask for what you want in marriage. My guest Frances and her husband each had their own divorce attorneys. After all the anger and hurt in their marriage, they were both "done." But then Frances started a practice that not only stopped all the fighting, it also caused her husband to stop the divorce proceedings altogether. Now she says her marriage is so good she wouldn’t trade it for anything, and her husband says she makes him want to be his best self. They are both ridiculously happy! She’s going to tell us the steps she took to get her miracle. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is from a trending news story about how to decide if you can trust your partner. I think you’ll see why this conventional wisdom made me hopping mad!

It’s so lonely and exhausting to feel like the only one responsible for everything at your house. I remember how stressful it was when I was the sole breadwinner at our house and felt like I was doing all the housework and bill paying too. Talk about overwhelmed! And resentful. Not anymore though. Now I marvel at how my husband does so much and I do so little! It feels like he does 90% and I do 10%. And you know what’s so strange? We’re both happy about it. So much happier than we were in the bad old days. On today’s episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we’re talking about how to get more help from your husband. My guest Kelly had no help from her husband with their home or their children, along with no appreciation or empathy, no communication, and worst of all, no connection. She struggled with PTSD and her husband had a narcissistic parent, so they both had challenges from day one of the relationship. Then Kelly had an insight about how she was contributing to the nightmare she was living, and she changed it up. Today, she says her marriage is a dream–better than it was in the beginning, which she didn’t think possible. She’s going to describe exactly what she did so you can do it too. The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is to criticize your spouse then make him put a quarter in a jar. I’ll tell you all about this cockamamy concept so we can make fun of it behind its back together.