Relating with Jen Funk: Getting Honest About the Relationships that Matter Most

Jen Funk
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Relating with Jen Funk! I’m Jen - a wife of 24 years, mom of three, and Certified Life & Relationship Coach who believes we need love AND skills to create better relationships. Each week we’ll get real about the ups and downs of marriage, family, and all the relationships that matter most. I’ll share simple strategies, tools, and encouragement to help you feel more connected, supported, and confident in building the relationships you truly want.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep. 58 Why Second Marriages Repeat First Marriage Mistakes

    You might know exactly what went wrong in your first marriage, but does that mean your second marriage will be any better? Whether you're getting remarried or already in your second or third marriage, the lessons you learned from your past relationship may not always help you the way you think they will. In this episode, Jen explores five ways your previous marriage can affect your next one - from choosing someone who's the complete opposite of your ex to bringing old baggage, fears, and habits into a new relationship. You'll also learn practical ways to avoid repeating old mistakes, work through disagreements, and give your next marriage a better chance of lasting. Because finding a different partner is one thing. Building a different kind of relationship is another. For more relationship support, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching Have you been married more than once? What surprised you about your next marriage? I'd love to hear your experience!

  2. Oct 8

    Ep. 57 When Your Old Routine Disappears: What Do You Do Now?

    What happens when the routine that used to structure your life suddenly disappears? Maybe your kids leave home and you become an empty nester. Maybe you retire. Maybe you move to a new city, graduate from college, or simply find yourself with more free time than you’re used to having. These life transitions can bring freedom, but they can also bring boredom, loneliness, restlessness, and the uncomfortable feeling of not quite knowing what to do with yourself. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, I’m talking about why losing your usual routine can feel so disorienting, the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, and why we sometimes start expecting our spouse, friends, or adult children to fill the empty space for us. We’ll also talk about how this can affect marriage - especially during retirement and the empty nest years - when one partner suddenly has more free time and begins looking to the other person for plans, companionship, and purpose. I’ll share practical ways to adjust when life changes, create a new routine without filling every minute, get more comfortable doing things on your own, and build a life that feels like yours while still staying connected to the people you love. If you’re navigating retirement, empty nesting, a move, a major life transition, loneliness, or simply wondering what to do with more time on your hands, this episode is for you. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  3. Oct 1

    Ep 56 Sexless Marriage? What to Do Before Months Turn Into Years

    Has sex or physical intimacy slowly disappeared from your marriage? Maybe it’s been weeks, months (or longer) and neither of you quite knows how you got here or how to start again. I’m talking about why couples stop having sex, how stress, kids, low sex drive, hormones, aging and body changes can affect desire, and why waiting for your sex life to magically fix itself can make getting it back so much harder. Plus, I share what KC and I have learned in 25 years of marriage and five simple ways to start talking, touching and reconnecting before months turn into years. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  4. Sep 24

    Ep. 55 Why Are So Many Couples Divorcing After 50? The Truth About Gray Divorce

    Divorce rates have been falling overall, but among adults over 50, the story looks very different. Gray divorce has more than doubled since 1990, and today nearly 40% of people getting divorced are 50 or older. But why are couples ending marriages after 20, 30, even 40 years together? In this episode, I’m talking about what’s really behind gray divorce - and it’s not always an affair or some huge betrayal. We’ll talk about: • Why couples can slowly grow apart without realizing it• What the empty nest can reveal about a marriage• Four warning signs that disconnection may be growing• Why resentment can build over decades• What couples can start doing now to stay close as life changes• Why getting help earlier can make such a difference If you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or simply want your marriage to still feel like a marriage long after the kids are grown - this episode is for you. And this week, I’m giving you one simple place to start: ask your partner a question you haven’t asked in a while. You may be surprised by what you don’t know. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  5. Sep 17

    Ep 54 7 Marriage Myths I No Longer Believe After 25 Years

    After 25 years of marriage, there are a lot of things I believed about relationships that I absolutely don’t believe anymore. Like - if you’re with the right person, it shouldn’t be this hard. If you need counseling, something must be really wrong. Solid couples don’t question their relationship. And after you’ve been together long enough, people don’t really change. Yeah… no. I don't agree. In this episode, I’m sharing seven marriage myths I’ve learned to let go of through 25 years with my husband, KC - including some really happy years, some really hard ones, three kids, plenty of counseling, and a whole lot of learning along the way. We’ll talk about why hard doesn’t necessarily mean wrong, why recurring problems don’t automatically mean you’re incompatible, why willingness matters so much more than perfection, and why “this is just how we are” doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Whether your relationship is thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between, I hope this episode gives you a different way to look at the season you’re in - and a few practical things to think about moving forward. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  6. Sep 10

    Ep 53 Feeling Lonely in Your Relationship? 5 Signs of Emotional Neglect

    What if nothing is really wrong in your relationship… but something still feels missing? You’re not constantly fighting. There hasn’t been some huge betrayal. You may genuinely love each other and have a life that looks completely fine from the outside. But somewhere along the way, the connection has started to fade. In this episode, I’m sharing five signs of emotional neglect that can be incredibly easy to miss because they often look like normal life - fewer real conversations, less curiosity about each other, feeling disconnected even when you’re together, and slowly losing that sense of closeness. We’ll also talk about why this happens in good relationships and, most importantly, what you can actually do about it. I’ll give you three simple things to try this week to start rebuilding some of what may have gone missing - without blaming your partner or turning it into one giant relationship conversation. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  7. Sep 3

    Ep. 52 Why People Stop Being Honest With You

    We all like to believe the people closest to us can tell us anything. But what happens when they actually tell us something we don’t want to hear? In this episode, I’m talking about how our reactions can unintentionally teach our spouse, kids, friends, and other people we love what feels safe to bring to us - and what they’re better off keeping to themselves. We’ll talk about why people stop bringing up the “little things,” how defensiveness can shut down honesty, and why creating a safe space for the truth doesn’t mean there are no boundaries, consequences, or disagreements. I’ll also share a few simple ways to respond differently when someone tells you something difficult - including how to watch your first reaction, stop arguing someone out of their feelings, and separate honesty from approval. Because the question isn’t just, “Are the people in my life honest with me?” The better question may be: What happens when they are? For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  8. Aug 27

    Ep. 51 When You're the Only One Trying in Your Relationship

    What do you do when it feels like you’re the only one trying to hold your relationship together? You’re the one initiating the conversations, suggesting date nights, bringing up counseling, trying to communicate differently - and your partner seems uninterested, checked out, or perfectly fine with the way things are. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between doing your part and taking responsibility for the entire relationship. I’ll share what you actually can change, what you can’t, how to stop managing the relationship for both of you, and how to look for something that matters even more than perfection: willingness. Because yes, one person can absolutely change the dynamic of a relationship. But one person cannot create a partnership alone. In this episode: How “trying harder” can turn into carrying too muchHow to ask more clearly for what you needWhy changing your approach can sometimes improve the relationshipWhat it means when your partner still doesn’t engage3 practical things to try this week If you’ve been feeling exhausted, resentful, or alone in your marriage, this one is for you. For more relationship support and free resources, visit jenfunkcoaching.com. Download Jen’s free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/5simplehabits Or sign up to receive Jen's weekly newsletter filled with relationship tips and tools at https://www.jenfunkcoaching.com/newsletter You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

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About

Welcome to Relating with Jen Funk! I’m Jen - a wife of 24 years, mom of three, and Certified Life & Relationship Coach who believes we need love AND skills to create better relationships. Each week we’ll get real about the ups and downs of marriage, family, and all the relationships that matter most. I’ll share simple strategies, tools, and encouragement to help you feel more connected, supported, and confident in building the relationships you truly want.

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