We all wear masks - but not just on Halloween. In this episode, Jen shares a personal story from early motherhood that reveals how pretending to “have it all together” can quietly disconnect us from our partners.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The six most common emotional masks - The Peacekeeper, The Perfectionist, The Caretaker, The Comedian, The Stoic, and The “I’m Fine” mask.
The fears driving each one - and the quiet damage they cause over time.
Practical, actionable steps to take your mask off and create deeper emotional connection.
If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or exhausted from keeping it together, this episode will help you reconnect with yourself — and your partner — in a real, honest way.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
#RelationshipCoach, #MarriagePodcast, #Emotional Intimacy, #HealthyRelationships, #EmotionalSafety, #AuthenticRelationships
Ever feel like you and your partner keep having big arguments over small things?
In this episode, Jen shares why most “communication problems” are actually connection problems. You’ll learn what happens in your brain when you feel unseen or unheard, why your inner dialogue can sabotage connection, and five practical ways to reconnect before you communicate — so conversations bring you closer instead of further apart.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
In this deeply personal episode, Jen shares the story of losing her mom to frontotemporal dementia and what she’s learned about love, loss, and healing in the four years since. Joined by grief coach Ellyn Villar, they talk about how grief shows up differently for everyone, how to support your partner, children, or friends through loss, and how to carry grief with more love than pain.
This conversation will help you:
Understand why everyone grieves differently (and that’s okay)
Learn how to support others without needing to “fix” their pain
Find healing rituals that help your love live on
Discover what it means to move forward with love still at the center
Whether your loss is fresh or years behind you, this episode offers comfort, connection, and the reminder that you’re not alone.
If you'd like to connect with Ellyn or follow her for more grief tips and education, you can find her on Instagram at EllynVCoaching.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 SimpleSteps to Improve Your Relationship Today, andsign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
In this first Ask Jen episode, I’m answering three real relationship questions that so many couples wrestle with:
“Separate bedrooms - is it the beginning of the end?”
“How can we feel more connected when our schedules are crazy busy?”
“Is it normal to want more alone time in marriage?”
We’ll talk about how to balance sleep and intimacy, simple habits for staying connected when life feels overwhelming, and why craving space in marriage is actually healthy.
Whether you’re married, dating, or just curious about how relationships work, you’ll walk away with practical strategies for communication, connection, and compassion that you can start using today.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 SimpleSteps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
Saying “I’m sorry” isn’t always enough. In fact, the wrong kind of apology can make things worse and leave both people feeling even more disconnected. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I talk about what makes a real apology different from a fake one, and why learning this skill can transform your relationship.
You’ll hear why so many couples stay stuck in cycles of hurt, what often goes wrong when we try to apologize, and a simple framework for saying sorry in a way that actually heals. A genuine apology doesn’t just end a fight - it builds trust, restores connection, and deepens intimacy.
If you’ve ever felt like “sorry” just isn’t enough or wished your partner understood what you really needed after a conflict, this episode will give you practical tools and fresh hope for your marriage or relationship.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For moresupport, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
We’ve all heard the phrase “my spouse is my best friend” - and while that’s beautiful, it can also be limiting. The truth is, your spouse can’t be your everything. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I sit down with my friends Barbara Kasten and Jodi Tandett to talk about why friendships outside your marriage are not just important, but essential to a healthy relationship.
Together, we share personal stories and insights about what happens when we expect one person to meet every need, why community matters more than ever in midlife, and how nurturing friendships can actually make your marriage stronger.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for needing friends outside your relationship, this conversation will give you both freedom and encouragement. A huge thank you to Barbara and Jodi for joining me in this honest and fun discussion about friendship, marriage, and connection.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For moresupport, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
Every relationship begins with hope - the excitement of possibility, the dream of what could be. But lasting love requires something deeper: commitment. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I explore how marriages grow and change over time, why couples often get stuck in unhelpful patterns, and what it really takes to build a marriage that lasts.
I also share six practical steps you can start using today to move from “good enough” to deeply connected. Whether you’re newly married, in the middle years, or decades into your relationship, these steps will help you shift from surviving to thriving.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For moresupport, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
When kids leave home, it doesn’t just change your daily routine - it changes your marriage. The empty nest can bring unexpected distance, conflict, or even silence, but it can also be a season of rediscovery and renewal. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I talk about the emotions that come with this transition and share how to keep your relationship strong when the kids no longer fill the house.
You’ll hear why so many couples struggle in this stage, how to avoid common pitfalls, and practical ways to reconnect and rediscover fun with your spouse. If you’re in or approaching the empty nest, this conversation will help you see the opportunity hidden in the challenge.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
Every strong relationship has a story behind it - and so does this podcast. In the very first episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I introduce myself and share my own journey: 24 years of marriage, the challenges my husband and I faced, and why getting the right kind of help made all the difference. You’ll hear how my personal struggles and growth inspired me to become a Relationship Coach and why I’m so passionate about helping others.
This episode is your invitation into honest conversations about love, marriage, and the relationships that shape our lives. You’ll also get a preview of what to expect from the show: practical tools, encouragement, and stories that remind you - you’re not alone.
If you enjoy this episode, hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday. For more support, head to jenfunkcoaching.com to grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my free weekly newsletter filled with insights and inspiration sent right to your inbox. You can also discover how we can work together to help you build stronger relationships.
