The Marriage Life Coach Podcast

Maggie Reyes
The Marriage Life Coach Podcast

Do you feel like you are always doing all the heavy lifting in your marriage? If you have a lot going on at work and home, and you're tired of going at it alone, you need a simple approach to start having a better marriage now. Life Coach Maggie Reyes helps smart, high achieving women just like you every day in her coaching practice. Maggie turns the most effective psychological principles into simple, practical, fun steps so you can listen to a podcast episode today and put what you learned into practice tomorrow and actually create the change you want. Visit https://www.MaggieReyes.com to download The 5 Power Questions Every Woman Should Know to Improve Her Marriage Today.

  1. 55M AGO

    The Hidden Power of Emotional Leadership: Why Going First Changes Everything

    Today, friends, we’re talking about one of my favorite marriage coaching concepts: emotional leadership, and why going first in your marriage matters more than you might think. We all want deeper connection, warmth, and understanding in our relationships, but so often we find ourselves waiting… Waiting for our partner to initiate, to change, to get it. But what if the key to transforming your marriage isn’t waiting, but leading? We’re diving into the idea of emotional leadership: what it means to take the lead in creating the kind of marriage you want without feeling like you’re doing ALL the work.  We’ll explore how your emotional state influences your partner’s response, why small shifts in how you show up can create a ripple effect in your relationship, and how a cool thing called systems theory explains why changing even one part of a relationship changes the whole. I’m breaking down how showing up as the partner you want to be (before expecting your partner to do the same) can help you create shifts you never imagined. This isn’t about “doing more work” or carrying an unfair emotional load. It’s about going first and then growing together. It’s about taking ownership of your experience, leading with love, and watching what happens. Listen in to the episode for all this, PLUS: Four key ways to practice emotional leadership One of my favorite tools - emotional safety drills - and how to use it This episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately. If you’re tired of waiting for things to change and want a fresh perspective on how to create the marriage you desire, this one’s for you!   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 96: Thought Work and The Self Coaching Model The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    38 min
  2. MAR 10

    Compound Stress Syndrome, The Story/State Cycle & Turning Stress into an Opportunity for Connection in Your Marriage

    On this episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast, we’re diving into compound stress syndrome. Specifically, how stress actually stacks up in layers, why it impacts your relationship more than you realize, and most importantly, how to start closing stress cycles (both individually and together) so you can create more opportunities for connection, ease, and love in your marriage. You know how sometimes life just piles up, one thing after another until you’re running on fumes, feeling crispy (as one of my dear friends says), and reacting to every little thing?  That’s not just “having a tough week.” That’s what I call compound stress syndrome, it is a term I coined to describe what I was seeing in my clients and the more I observe it, the more I think it’s a universal experience in our modern industrial society.  Unresolved stress accumulates and leaves you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or reactive.  The good news? Once you really understand stress and the effect it has, you can do something about it. Especially in your relationships. I’ve been teaching my private clients about this for years, but we haven’t talked about it in-depth here on the podcast. So, today, we’re diving in.  I’ll even share how changing your emotional state first can shift the stories you tell yourself about your partner so you have the tools to strengthen your bond even during stressful times.  Listen in to learn more about: >> What compound stress syndrome is and why modern life makes it worse >> How your nervous system reacts to stress (fight, flight, freeze, or appease) and what that looks like in relationships >> How stress affects your partner, and why their reactions might not mean what you think they do >> Why stress doesn’t just “go away” on its own, and what actually helps release it >> How one person shifting their relationship with stress can change the entire dynamic of a marriage RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 75: Sex, Stress, and Gratitude with Emily Nagoski Episode 14: The Anger Scale Episode 18: The Daily Check In and Why It Matters Episode 179: Navigating Stress Cycles The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    30 min
  3. FEB 24

    From ER Doctor to Soul Guide: The Power of Retreats & Healing in Community with Dr. Judith Borger

    Today’s episode is for every high-achieving woman who has ever felt torn between doing all the things and deeply wanting transformation. If that’s you, then big hug. You are not alone. I am beyond thrilled to welcome my friend Dr. Judith Borger to the podcast. From the emergency room to empowerment coaching, Judith knows firsthand what it’s like to look like you have it all together while feeling that something deeper is calling you. Together, we dive into what happens when women create intentional space for healing, connection, and true growth. In this episode, we explore: Why healing in community is so powerful, and how women rising together has always been the way. How high-achievers can break free from burnout and create a life of intention, not just obligation. The magic of retreats and why stepping away from the daily grind is sometimes the only way to find clarity. The role of nervous system regulation in transformation—because you cannot create lasting change from a state of overwhelm. Why joy is an act of resistance and how reclaiming what lights you up is more important now than ever. We also talk about the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Retreat happening this April at Miraval (aka the most magical healing vortex of a place), where Judith and I will be leading transformational workshops together! But even if you can’t join us in person, this episode is an invitation to ask yourself: When was the last time I prioritized my own healing and joy? What does my soul truly want, separate from what the world expects of me? Who are the women who make me feel seen, safe, and strong?   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Judith Borger’s April 2025 Retreat Dr. Judith Borger’s website Dr. Judith Borger on Instagram Dr. Judith Borger on Facebook Heather Cox Richardson on Facebook The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    48 min
  4. FEB 15

    Navigating Stress Cycles

    Today’s episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast is all about navigating stress cycles—because let’s be real, the world is a lot right now. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, shaken, or just plain exhausted, I want you to know: you are not alone. This conversation is a warm hug and a deep breath all rolled into one. We’ll talk about what stress cycles are, why they’re a completely natural part of being human, and—most importantly—how we can move through them with more ease, grace, and self-compassion.  You’ll learn about: The four main stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, and appease) and how they show up in your daily life—especially in relationships. How to tell the difference between actual danger and perceived danger, so you can respond with clarity rather than panic. Why “getting back home” matters—and the simple, grounding practices that can help you reset when stress takes over. The power of awareness in managing your stress cycle (because you can’t manage what you don’t measure!). Why your stress response is not a problem to fix, but rather a wise signal from your body that deserves attention and care. One of the biggest takeaways? You are not wrong for feeling stressed. You are not failing because you have big emotions. You are a human, living in a complex world, doing your best. And sometimes, the best thing we can do is pause, breathe, and come back to ourselves with love. So, grab a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into this conversation together. I hope it brings you the peace and reassurance you need today. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Catherine Andrews on Instagram Episode 30: Marriage MBA Maggie Reyes Private Coaching The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    24 min
  5. JAN 27

    Building Worlds & Breaking Limits - Inside the Dirtyverse and Beyond with Romance Author Jaine Diamond

    This episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.    Have you ever read a book that felt like it wrapped you in a cozy hug or cheered you on when you needed it most?    That’s what Jaine Diamond’s books have done for me, and today, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with her to talk about her journey, her process, and her passion. Jaine writes contemporary romance novels that are heartfelt, immersive, and filled with strong, relatable characters. She’s a best selling author with devoted readers around the world, and you’re going to love hearing her story.  We reflected on the importance of strong female characters in fiction. Jaine’s books are filled with women who are complex, powerful, and capable of extraordinary growth. For Jaine, these characters serve as both inspiration and representation, showing readers—especially young women and girls—what’s possible. We also dove into self-doubt, the fear of failure, and Jaine’s secret weapon for taking bold steps.  Jaine even shared how she’s creating new traditions for her daughter while healing from her own past – living proof that we can break limits and rewrite our stories no matter where we started. I know you will get so much out of listening to our conversation!  In This Episode, You’ll Hear: How exploring worst-case scenarios can remove the fear of failure Why persistence matters How you can learn to trust your instincts in any project Why reflecting on your past doesn’t define you How romance stories empower readers   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover Jaime Diamond’s Facebook Group, “VIPs” Jaine Diamond’s Facebook Group, “Spoiler Room” Jaine Diamond on Instagram Jaine Diamond’s website

    50 min
  6. JAN 13

    The Power of Fresh Starts and Do Overs

    Inside of this week’s episode of The Marriage Life Coach Podcast I am resharing one of our favorite episodes time to welcome the new year – I’m making a case for the power of fresh starts and do-overs. Because of my background in HR, I love to make connections between marriage culture and corporate culture.  Living in a society where productivity and accomplishment are deified we often have both external and internal narratives where mistakes are seen as problems, not opportunities.  Mistakes often require taking risks and trying new things, and in corporate culture it is often safer to fawn or appease and do everything possible not get caught being wrong vs to simply say, I was wrong about that, how can I do better or this is the plan I made with what I learned from this…. Doing this thousands of times at work will often make it our default go to at home. What if instead of protection or repeating mistakes without learning from them, we create a marriage culture of do overs?  Of course correcting any time we are off track instead of after years of building a resentment mountain. That is what this episode is about. Creating a new way of dealing with messups that brings more closeness and connection every time we coure correct.  This episode makes the case for do-overs as a healthy part of your marriage culture. A do-over is exactly what it sounds like: a request to do something over again because it didn’t go quite the way you wanted it to go the first time.  But how do you just do something over in your marriage? Isn’t it more complicated than that? It’s a lot simpler than you think, and this episode will tell you exactly how to do it. In the episode, I share: what a do-over is, the rules of do-overs, and  how and when to ask for one.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Thriving Authors Podcast Interview Episode 5 - Requests vs. Demands The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    20 min
  7. 12/30/2024

    Becoming Unapologetic with Mar Talanquer

    Today’s episode is so epic. Do you remember growing up wanting to be the best at something?    Then actually becoming the best at that thing and then being surrounded by people you absolutely loved because they were both the BEST and LOVED that thing the same way you did?   I know we just all have at least one story like that.    Today you are witnessing one of mine.  In today’s episode, I had the absolute honor of chatting with Mar Talanquer, a superstar coach in Latin America. She literally writes a column for Mexican Glamour. Yes, the magazine.  Mar is a visionary coach and pioneer in somatic and nervous system work, and her mission is nothing short of extraordinary: to help women break free from societal “spells” that hold us back and embrace the full, unapologetic power of who we are. Mar shared her revolutionary concept of the eight “spells” that patriarchal culture casts over women, from the pressure to always be the best to the burden of never showing vulnerability.  She introduces antidotes for these spells—ways to transform our disempowering strategies into authentic, empowering actions that align with our true selves. Here’s a sneak peek of 3 the archetypes we explored in our conversation so you get a feel for the depth and nuance we are having on the show today - (feel my considerable excitement!!) The C******a: The high-achieving, outwardly perfect woman who carries the weight of endless expectations but feels perpetually “not enough.” Mar revealed how to step into the empowering identity of the Expander—someone who inspires others not by perfection, but by showing what’s possible. The Overwhelmed One: The multi-tasker extraordinaire, juggling countless ideas and responsibilities, often at the expense of her peace of mind. Mar invites this archetype to become the Multi-Creative Adventurer, embracing her creativity while simplifying and focusing on what truly matters. The Responsible One: The steady, reliable problem-solver who is there for everyone—but struggles to ask for help. Mar’s antidote? A reframe as the Community Creator, a grounded leader who thrives when she allows herself to be supported, too. Mar’s wisdom is powerful for anyone feeling stuck in cycles of perfectionism, overwhelm, or self-doubt. Her stories and insights will have you nodding in recognition and, most importantly, seeing a path forward to living unapologetically. Yes we talked about these deep themes AND we had so much doing it! I can’t wait to hear your takeaways from this one.  Listen to our chat to hear more about: How to start to live as your unapologetic, empowered self Why achieving more doesn’t always feel fulfilling—and what you can do about it The first step to breaking free from the patriarchy The surprising antidote to overwhelm (it isn’t doing less!) Why showing vulnerability in your relationships is a superpower, not a weakness   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 132: How To Use the Questions For Couples Journal to Get Closer to Your Honey with Sarah Kennedy Episode 53: Processing Negative Emotions Episode 129: Understanding Your Stress Cycles with Maria Victoria Albina Episode 76: Trauma, Resourcing, and Windows of Tolerance with Shelby Leigh Episode 96: Thought Work and The Self Coaching Model Connect with Mar on Instagram Visit Mar’s website The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover

    1h 25m
  8. 12/16/2024

    3 Ways to Make Your Life Better for Overthinkers & People Pleasers with Jackie De Crinis

    I’m absolutely thrilled about this episode because it’s packed with heart, wisdom, and so many nuggets of inspiration. My guest is the one and only Jackie De Crinis, a former TV executive turned life coach, who has just released her debut book, The Overthinker’s Guide to Joy. Trust me – you’ll be laughing, reflecting, and taking notes all at once. Jackie spent decades in the high-stakes world of television, where she developed iconic shows like Suits, White Collar, Monk, and Mr. Robot. But as you’ll hear, she didn’t just curate hit series; she also navigated a deeply personal journey of listening to her intuition and creating a life of joy. Jackie shares the behind-the-scenes magic of her career, her insights on overthinking and joy, and the transformative power of asking for help. I especially loved her story about discovering tennis, which started with her assistant insisting she get a hobby and (spoiler alert!) ultimately led to her meeting her husband of 20+ years! It’s a beautiful example of how small steps can lead to life-changing outcomes.  We also dive into some themes from her book, like why asking for help is so challenging for many of us (especially perfectionists and people pleasers) and how to start practicing asking for help without guilt or fear.  Tune into our conversation and hear more about: Why listening to your intuition matters How asking for help (even when it’s hard!) transforms your relationships AND health How saying "no" is deeply connected to saying "yes" to yourself and your well-being The importance of gratitude in relationships The power of prioritizing the easy steps over the hard ones   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Overthinker’s Guide to Joy by Jackie De Crinis Episode 128: Doing What Feels Right with Jackie De Crinis The Questions for Couples Journal The Marriage Mindset Makeover Visit Jackie's Website Listen to Jackie's Podcast, The Overthinker's Guide to Joy Connect with Jackie on Instagram

    59 min
4.9
out of 5
104 Ratings

About

Do you feel like you are always doing all the heavy lifting in your marriage? If you have a lot going on at work and home, and you're tired of going at it alone, you need a simple approach to start having a better marriage now. Life Coach Maggie Reyes helps smart, high achieving women just like you every day in her coaching practice. Maggie turns the most effective psychological principles into simple, practical, fun steps so you can listen to a podcast episode today and put what you learned into practice tomorrow and actually create the change you want. Visit https://www.MaggieReyes.com to download The 5 Power Questions Every Woman Should Know to Improve Her Marriage Today.

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