“How do we create emotional safety and help each other regulate these emotions?”

–Tarah Kerwin

Do you keep having the same fights over and over? Do you feel like your partner is just trying to set you off? I’m really excited to talk with relationship counselor Tarah Kerwin about relationship renovation.

We dive into how childhood trauma (big and little) affects our relationships. Even if you think you didn’t experience trauma, Tarah shows us how different experiences can affect how we react to our partners, who tend to trigger us the most.

Many of us are in a transition period, perhaps becoming empty nesters or one person retiring, or stepping more into ourselves as responsibilities for others change. How does this shape our relationship? How can we make decisions based on clarity instead of anger or frustration or fear?

We talk about:

• How childhood trauma shows up later and how kids can reflect back our trauma
• The three Ps for relationships — predict, plan, prepare
• Codewords to stop overwhelm and resentment
• Tara Brach’s RAIN technique
• Developing emotional safety go through transitions together and making decisions from a place of clarity
• Creating a time to prioritize your relationship

ABOUT TARAH

Tarah Kerwin, along with her husband EJ, is dedicated to transforming couples’ lives through meaningful connection and support. They’ve built not one but two companies, with their second, Relationship Renovation Coaching Consulting and Media, offering coaching sessions to couples worldwide through the innovative Relationship Renovation @ Home Program. Their goal is to provide real tools for couples to thrive, no matter where they are.

The company also features a world-renowned podcast that dives into everything you want to know about relationships, helping listeners navigate the complexities of love and connection. Tarah’s passion lies in helping couples experience less suffering and more growth.

Tarah’s journey into the field began with her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2004. After beginning her career as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California, she moved to Arizona in 2010. It was there that she and EJ founded Relationship Renovation Counseling Practice, which set the foundation for their collaborative work.

LINKS

• https://relationshiprenovation.com/

MENTIONED RESOURCES

• https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action.

Sometimes action gets a bad rap. You can be kind to yourself. You can practice being AND doing, but for change to happen you have to take steps. The way we take care of ourselves is making the steps doable and focusing on one thing at a time. We take time to integrate the change and then move on to the next one. Pick a Doable Change that resonates with you the most to start from.

Here are three Doable changes that we chose from this conversation.

• MAKE A CODE WORD. Create a code word that means, “I’m overwhelmed and starting to get resentful” or out of your zone of tolerance. Discuss what you need to do when you use your code word. If your partner chooses one too, respect their needs when they use it.
• SCHEDULE TIME TO FOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP. Even if you are in couples therapy or counseling, schedule time outside to...

In this episode, I’m sharing a personal update—I'm heading into surgery—and how I planned for real time off. From setting up my business to letting myself receive help, I talk about what it means for me to rest, heal, and still feel held. Whether you’re navigating a big life moment or heading into summer vacation, I hope this helps you plan your time off with more intention and care.

“Your brand is going to evolve. Your business is going to evolve.”

–Barb Pritchard

Summer is a great time to update your brand, and I’m talking with Barb Pritchard, a brand strategist and intuitive designer about what that really looks like.

We talk about why you want to be consistent across platforms — but you brand is more than fonts and colors. You are a big piece of your brand and need to show up visually and in words.

And while you might want to redo your website and be done, your business and your brand are going to continue to evolve. This season is a great time to see what’s working and what’s not.

We talk about:

• Oracle cards and following breadcrumbs — yes, intuition as a business guide
• How following formulas doesn’t feel natural — and what happens when you really show up as you
• Learning to talk naturally about what you do
• Thinking about how you want people to feel when they interact with your brand
• Why brand photos matter so much
• Changing one small thing at a time to see what resonates with your audience

ABOUT BARB

Barb Pritchard, the creative force behind Infinity Brand Design, is a visionary brand strategist and intuitive designer with over 20 years of experience. Specializing in an empathy-first approach, she empowers spiritual entrepreneurs and shapes transformative brands, aligning mission-focused businesses with their soul clients. Leveraging her vast experience with Fortune 100 & 500 companies, Barb fuels growth and authenticity in impactful, heart-centered ventures. As the driving spirit of Infinity Brand Design, Barb is also an acclaimed author, speaker, and advocate for living a purpose-filled life, finding joy in global exploration, cultural immersions, and nurturing connections.

LINKS

• https://www.infinitybrand.design/
• https://www.facebook.com/ImBarbPritchard
• https://www.instagram.com/infinitybranddesign
• https://www.pinterest.com/infinitybranddesign/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbpritchard/

DOABLE CHANGES

At the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Change comes from action.

Doable changes are things that you can add into your life, one at a time to make micro shifts and really create a ripple effect that will create a big change over time. Choose one that really piques your interest and roll with it.

Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:

• MAKE A SMALL CHANGE. If you aren’t getting the results you want, try changing a few words or one photo. See if you get a different reaction. Sometimes a tiny change can shift the effect dramatically.
• KNOW YOURSELF FIRST. Do you know: What lights you up? What do you want to do? What are you here for? What is your passion? The answers to these questions are essential for talking about yourself clearly.
• BOOK PHOTOS. Book a photographer for brand photos. Someone else can help show, visually, who you are. Even if you don’t like being in pictures, you’ll want good ones of you — headshots but also you in action at what you do.