The Evolved Marriage Podcast

Kate & Eric MacDougall
  • 4.9 (24)
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Join Kate and Eric MacDougall as they talk about all things Intimacy. Growth in your marriage doesn’t need to be a drag! We make growth and connection fun, and give you actionable skills to make sure the best years of your marriage are ahead of you!

  1. 3D AGO

    Stop Saying “Sorry”: The 5-Step Fix That Actually Repairs Your Marriage

    Feeling distant? Stuck in the same fight on repeat?Today’s episode is your roadmap out of the loop. In this conversation, Kate and I break down the real skill that keeps long-term marriages strong: repair. Not avoiding conflict. Not pretending everything’s fine.Repair. Clean, honest, connected repair. You’ll hear us dig into: ➡️ What makes repair the backbone of a healthy marriage Most couples aren’t struggling because they fight. They struggle because they don’t repair. ➡️ Why so many people avoid repairing Is it pride? Shame? Fear of being wrong? We get raw about what stops each of us from stepping in. ➡️ The 5-Step Repair Map we use in our own marriage This is the exact framework we teach inside Evolved Marriage and EMC. Simple. Clear. Repeatable. You’ll learn how to: ➡️ Own what you did without excuses ➡️ Attune to your partner’s experience even when it’s uncomfortable ➡️ Show real remorse (not the “fine, sorry” version) ➡️ State one specific thing you’ll do differently next time ➡️ Invite reconnection in a grounded, low-pressure way These steps will help you: ➡️ Break disconnection cycles ➡️ Build trust that lasts ➡️ Strengthen emotional and physical intimacy ➡️ Feel like a team again And you’ll hear us use real examples from our own marriage… the messy ones included. 💥 Get My Free Guide: Reignite Your Marriage Blueprint ⁠⁠https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/go⁠⁠ 🎙 Listen & Subscribe: Evolved Marriage Podcast on YouTube ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@evolved_marriage

    29 min

  2. NOV 7

    The Power Struggle That’s Killing Your Connection

    Every couple hits this wall: the power struggle. You both want to feel heard, safe, and respected—but somehow every disagreement turns into a tug-of-war instead of teamwork. In this raw, honest conversation, Eric and Kate break down why power struggles happen, what’s really hiding underneath them, and the simple shift that turns conflict into connection. They share real stories from their marriage, moments of tension around parenting, and how they learned to stop trying to win—and start working together. If you ever find yourself walking on eggshells, defending yourself, or trying to fix your partner’s mood, this episode will hit home. Why every couple ends up in a power struggle (and how to break the loop) What it means when you’re protecting instead of connecting How to spot your adaptive child in action—and move into your wise adult The mindset shift from me vs. you to us vs. the problem 5 steps to move from competition to collaboration Real tools to repair faster and reconnect deeper 💥 Get My Free Guide: Reignite Your Marriage Blueprint ⁠https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/go⁠ 🎙 Listen & Subscribe: Evolved Marriage Podcast on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@evolved_marriage

    28 min

  3. OCT 31

    Why Your Partner Doesn’t Know What You Need and How to Fix It With Monica Tanner

    If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or like your partner should just know what you need, this conversation is going to change the way you do love. In this episode, I sit down with Monica Tanner, relationship coach and author of Bad Marriage Advice, to unpack one of the biggest roadblocks to long-term intimacy: the gap between what we need and what we actually share with our partner. We talk about why asking for what you want can feel risky, how to turn complaints into clear requests, and the simple shifts that make your relationship feel safer, more connected, and more playful again. Why so many couples struggle to ask for what they want and what to do instead How childhood attachment patterns play out in adult relationships The difference between complaining and clearly requesting what you need The power of modeling vulnerability instead of demanding it How to create emotional safety so both partners can open up The “STAY” Framework for deeper vulnerability -------------------------------------------------------------------- Favorite Moments 💬 “Unsaid needs are premeditated resentments.”💬 “If my partner really loved me, they’d know what I need—that story is killing your connection.”💬 “It’s not about managing your partner, it’s about helping them win.”💬 “Model the vulnerability you want to see.” -------------------------------------------------------------------- Monica Tanner is a relationship coach, podcast host, and author of Bad Marriage Advice, a book that exposes 15 common half-truths that quietly destroy connection (and what to do instead). You can learn more about her work at monicatanner.com Grab Monica’s Book: Bad Marriage Advice -------------------------------------------------------------------- 💥 Get My Free Guide: Reignite Your Marriage Blueprint https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/go 🎙 Listen & Subscribe: Evolved Marriage Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@evolved_marriage

    26 min

  4. OCT 24

    Rediscovering Sexual Pleasure in a Long Term Marriage

    In this episode, Eric and Kate unpack how to bring back sexual pleasure and real connection in marriage. They get honest about what makes sex feel deeply good for both partners. They cover: → The Pleasure + Connection rule → Why orgasm is not the only marker of great sex → How to spot the desire mismatch → How to talk about what you actually want without shame ➡️ Download the FREE Reignite Your Marriage Blueprint: https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/go ➡️ For Men: Join The Evolved Men’s Collective https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/emcmastermindsite ➡️For Couples: Complete your Relationship Assessment https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/couples-coaching

    29 min

  5. OCT 17

    Why Physical Affection Matters More Than Sex in Marriage

    Most couples think affection means sex but that mindset quietly kills emotional safety and intimacy. In this episode, Eric and Kate get real about the difference between physical affection and sexual connection. You’ll learn why touch matters, how to rebuild it when it’s gone missing, and simple ways to bring warmth and playfulness back into your marriage without pressure, rejection, or awkwardness. If your relationship feels a little “cold” or distant lately, this one’s for you. What You’ll Learn: → The difference between affection and foreplay (and why couples confuse them) → Why non-sexual touch is essential for safety and trust → The biological reason affection makes you feel close (hello, oxytocin) → Why physical affection often disappears in long-term relationships → How to rebuild affection safely when it’s been missing for years → Simple daily habits that reignite connection (without making it about sex)The “hug until relaxed” and “six-second kiss” practices that deepen love ➡️ Download the FREE Reignite Your Marriage Blueprint: https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/go ➡️ For Men: Join The Evolved Men’s Collective https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/emcmastermindsite ➡️For Couples: Complete your Relationship Assessment https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/couples-coaching

    25 min

  6. OCT 10

    Deepen Emotional Intimacy in a Long-Term Marriage: The No BS Approach

    Feel distant and stuck on “good”? Here’s how to rebuild real closeness that lasts. Most couples want emotional intimacy but can’t name it. In this episode we define it, show why it fades, and give you simple daily practices to get it back. We cover emotional safety, bids for connection, and how to stop living on surface talk and start feeling close again. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What emotional intimacy really means—and why it fades.The everyday habits killing closeness (and how to stop them).How to answer bids for connection so your partner feels seen.Simple daily moves to rebuild trust, safety, and passion.

    30 min

  7. OCT 3

    How to Ask for What You Need Without Conflict

    Too many husbands and wives walk through life silently hoping their needs will be met, then end up frustrated, resentful, and disconnected when they aren’t. In this episode, Eric and Kate break down one of the most important skills for creating a healthy marriage: advocating for yourself. You’ll learn Why we stay silent: fear of conflict, rejection, being “too much.” The clean request formula your partner can say yes, no, or “alternative” to. Boundaries that protect connection, not avoid it. How to own your desires without shame or apology. ➡️ For Men: Join The Evolved Men’s Collective https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/emcmastermindsite ➡️For Couples: Complete your Relationship Assessment https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/couples-coaching

    29 min

  8. SEP 26

    How to Truly Understand Your Partner (Without Fixing or Fighting)

    In this episode, Kate and Eric reveal how to understand your partner, cut conflict, and build safety, trust, and deeper intimacy. Why understanding and agreement aren’t the same and how mixing them up keeps couples stuck in the same fights. Practical tools: reflective listening, curiosity, and even short silences that create space for closeness.The role of timing: how to check your partner’s capacity before diving into hard conversations.Emotional safety builders: labeling feelings and asking, “Do you want advice or just a witness?”Advanced skills: empathy, attunement, and the Experience Cube for moving beyond surface talk into genuine intimacy.➡️ For Men: Join The Evolved Men’s Collective https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/emcmastermindsite ➡️For Couples: Complete your Relationship Assessment https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/couples-coaching ➡️ FREE Communication Blueprint https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/start

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Join Kate and Eric MacDougall as they talk about all things Intimacy. Growth in your marriage doesn’t need to be a drag! We make growth and connection fun, and give you actionable skills to make sure the best years of your marriage are ahead of you!

Information

  • Creator
    Kate & Eric MacDougall
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kate & Eric MacDougall
  • Show Website
    The Evolved Marriage Podcast

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