Intimacy is a fundamental human experience that goes far beyond romantic relationships. Join us as we dive into the deep and multifaceted layers of human connection, exploring everything from friendship and family bonds to self-love and vulnerability. Through thought-provoking conversations with experts, personal stories, and practical advice, we’ll uncover the secrets to nurturing meaningful relationships in a fast-paced digital world. From exploring trust and fostering emotional intimacy to navigating conflicts and rediscovering oneself, we’re here to discover the essence of what it means to truly connect with others and ourselves. Whether you’re seeking to improve your relationships, gain insights into human behaviors, or simply crave a meaningful conversation that enriches your understanding of human connection, you won’t want to miss a single episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast.
All content for The Human Intimacy Podcast is the property of Humanintimacy and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Intimacy is a fundamental human experience that goes far beyond romantic relationships. Join us as we dive into the deep and multifaceted layers of human connection, exploring everything from friendship and family bonds to self-love and vulnerability. Through thought-provoking conversations with experts, personal stories, and practical advice, we’ll uncover the secrets to nurturing meaningful relationships in a fast-paced digital world. From exploring trust and fostering emotional intimacy to navigating conflicts and rediscovering oneself, we’re here to discover the essence of what it means to truly connect with others and ourselves. Whether you’re seeking to improve your relationships, gain insights into human behaviors, or simply crave a meaningful conversation that enriches your understanding of human connection, you won’t want to miss a single episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast.
When Your Partner Won’t Engage: Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Part 2) (Episode #71)
The Human Intimacy Podcast
42 minutes 45 seconds
4 months ago
When Your Partner Won’t Engage: Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Part 2) (Episode #71)
When Your Partner Won’t Engage:
Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Part 2)
📝 Episode Summary:
In Part 2 of this powerful series on emotional regulation and effective communication, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels dive deeper into what happens between partners when conflict escalates—and how to interrupt destructive patterns before more harm is done.
They explore the importance of calling a timeout when either partner is flooded, how to pre-agree on safe ways to pause conversations, and how to return with emotional regulation and self-awareness. The episode highlights key tools like reflective listening, part-based language, and empathy-building through self-inquiry.
From managing physiological signs of stress to tracing emotional triggers back to past wounds, this episode offers a practical roadmap for repairing conflict and building trust—even when conversations are hard. You’ll walk away with language, tools, and hope that deep emotional connection is possible with preparation and practice.
📚 Resources & Tools Mentioned:
HumanIntimacy.com Resources:
Test Your Relationship (Assessment)
How to Communicate When You Don’t Know What to Say (Course by Dr. Kevin Skinner)
Boundaries and Communication (Course by MaryAnn Michaels)
The Communication Course (MaryAnn Michaels)
Core Concepts Covered:
Emotional Flooding: Recognizing signs (e.g., heart rate above 100 BPM) and pausing accordingly.
Timeout Agreements: Pre-agreed-upon plans to pause difficult conversations with a set return time.
Training Wheels Communication: Using index cards, scripts, or notes to aid vulnerable conversations.
Reflective Self-Inquiry: Questions like “Where have I felt this before?” and “What story am I telling myself?”
Parts Language: Naming the internal parts that are activated in conflict (“A part of me felt abandoned…”).
Empathic Imagination: Asking, “I wonder what my partner was thinking or feeling?”
The Zeigarnik Effect: The need to close emotional loops to find peace and resolution.
Post-timeout Reflection: Asking, “Did we resolve this?” and celebrating progress made together.
The Human Intimacy Podcast
Intimacy is a fundamental human experience that goes far beyond romantic relationships. Join us as we dive into the deep and multifaceted layers of human connection, exploring everything from friendship and family bonds to self-love and vulnerability. Through thought-provoking conversations with experts, personal stories, and practical advice, we’ll uncover the secrets to nurturing meaningful relationships in a fast-paced digital world. From exploring trust and fostering emotional intimacy to navigating conflicts and rediscovering oneself, we’re here to discover the essence of what it means to truly connect with others and ourselves. Whether you’re seeking to improve your relationships, gain insights into human behaviors, or simply crave a meaningful conversation that enriches your understanding of human connection, you won’t want to miss a single episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast.
