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

Jen Funk
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Relationships
  • 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. 3d ago

    Ep. 60 Stop Talking! Sometimes It's the Best Thing for Your Marriage

    Have you ever been in the middle of an argument with your spouse when one of you says, "I'm done talking!" and walks away? One person wants to resolve the disagreement immediately, while the other needs space to cool off. And before you know it, you're arguing about how you're arguing! We hear all the time that communication is the key to a healthy marriage. But sometimes, the best thing you can do for your relationship is to STOP talking. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, Jen shares a personal lesson she and her husband KC learned in marriage counseling after struggling with arguments that escalated unnecessarily. You'll learn how to recognize when an argument is no longer productive, what emotional flooding looks like, and how to use a healthy timeout technique to prevent disagreements from becoming more damaging. Jen also explains why taking space isn't the same as avoiding conflict or giving your spouse the silent treatment - and why respecting your partner's need for a break can actually improve communication in your marriage. Whether you're the one who wants to talk things through immediately or the one who needs time to cool off, this episode offers practical relationship advice to help you handle conflict more effectively. 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 Relating with Jen Funk is a weekly relationship podcast offering practical insights into marriage, communication, conflict resolution, and building healthier, happier relationships.

  2. Oct 22

    Ep. 59 When Everyone Else Gets the Best of Your Spouse (And You Get What's Left)

    Have you ever noticed how your spouse can be funny, friendly, and patient with everyone else, but when it's just the two of you, you seem to get whatever's left? It can be hurtful to watch everyone else enjoy a version of your spouse that you wish you experienced more often. In this episode of Relating with Jen Funk, we're talking about why this happens, from feeling comfortable enough to let our guard down to the years of history and everyday habits that affect how we treat each other. You'll learn how to bring up what you're missing without starting another argument, why your spouse may not even realize how their behavior affects you, and four simple ways to bring more kindness, patience, and fun back into your marriage. Because it's not just about how much we love our spouse. It's about whether they feel that love in the way we treat them. 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! Ready to feel more connected? Download my free guide, 5 Simple Habits to Improve Your Relationship Today, and sign up for my weekly relationship newsletter at www.jenfunkcoaching.com. You can also check out Jen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenfunkcoaching

  3. Oct 15

    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!

  4. 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/5simplehabitsOr 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. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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6 Ratings

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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