In this solo mini-episode, I describe what I mean by the name "Practically Married" and I list the 10 subjects that make up the Practically Married approach to marriage preparation, which are:

1. Communication & Conflict
2. Careers & Goals
3. Money
4. Home Life
5. Sex & Romance
6. Leisure Time
7. Family & In-laws
8. Physical & Mental Health
9. Spirituality & Culture
10. Children

Join us next week when we get back to talking with our marriage experts!

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

In this episode, I welcome author, entrepreneur, and coach Abby Davisson to the show to talk about the intersection between careers and relationships. Abby is a Fortune 200 leader-turned-founder of the Money and Love Institute whose mission is to help people turn daunting decisions into achievable action. She's also the co-author of Money & Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions and the writer behind the popular newsletter, Practically Deliberate.

Abby and I discuss how couples can navigate pursuing their career aspirations while prioritizing the needs of a long-term committed partnership. More specifically, we address:

• The importance of self-reflection around values and career goals
• How to lead with curiosity when discussing careers with your partner
• Gendered expectations in straight couples
• Planning for eldercare and childcare
• Corporate trends in supporting dual career couples

Abby also explains the 5Cs framework for decision-making as explained in Money & Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions:

1. Clarify
2. Communicate
3. Choices
4. Check In
5. Consequences

Publications and resources mentioned in this episode

• "Talk It Out" by Rebecca Beyer (Stanford Magazine article)
• Money & Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions by Myra Strober & Abby Davisson
• Money and Love Institute
• Quiz: What's your money and love decision-making style?

Learn more about terms mentioned in this episode

• Sliding vs Deciding - Dr. Scott Stanley
• Kinwork (also known as kinkeeping)
• System 1 vs System 2 thinking from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Resulting - Annie Duke

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Today, we're going back to Season One to hear clips from the two-part conversation we had about sex. Our guest, Sex, Intimacy & Relationship Coach Keeley Rankin provided an overview of various topics that couples can expect to encounter in the context of a long-term committed partnership.

The first half of this episode corresponds to "Conversations About Sex (Part One): Sharing Sexual Histories with Keeley Rankin, MA" from Season One where we discuss:

• Keeley's definition of sex
• Sex's relevance in a relationship
• Challenges around communicating about sex
• Sharing your sexual history

In the second half of the show, we discuss topics from "Conversations About Sex (Part Two): Monogamy, Pornography & Fantasies with Keeley Rankin, MA" from Season One which covers:

• Non-monogamy (what it is and what it requires)
• Positive and negative uses of pornography
• Sexual fantasies and how to share them with your partner
• Sexual challenges
• Sex therapy

Keeley Rankin, MA is a San Francisco based sex and relationship coach. Keeley is a Certified Somatic Method Practitioner, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, and a Certified Queer Conscious Educator who has a passion for helping couples find and expand their pleasure.

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

In this episode, we revisit the key points from the two episodes on money from Season One. First, you'll hear clips from my conversation with Ed Coambs, CFP and therapist from Healthy Love & Money. Ed joined Season One to discuss the emotional side of money and the need to learn our partner's money history. He explained attachment theory and described how a person's attachment style might impact the way they want to handle money in a relationship. Finally, Ed shared a bit of his own marital financial experiences.

Next, you'll hear clips from my conversation with Natalie Slagle, CFP from Fyooz Financial Planning. Natalie echoed the need for partners to share their money histories, and went on to describe the steps she and her co-founder husband, Dan Slagle, CFP take couples through to help them create a financial foundation for their shared life. Natalie emphasized the importance of aligning your financial decisions with your values and goals.

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Practically Married with Paula Holt was specifically created to help dating, engaged, and newly married couples create a firm foundation for a long successful future together.

Join us to hear conversations with relationship experts as we address topics such as communication, money, sex, in-laws and more. You'll learn strategies to navigate the typical challenges couples encounter, and how to bring out the best from each other and your relationship.

In this introduction to Season Two, you'll hear...

• Why the show was on hiatus
• A preview of upcoming episode and new resources
• That I've missed you!

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

This is a wrap on Season One, but we're working on Season Two and looking for dating, engaged or newly married couples who would like to talk to our experts. Please complete the form on the PracticallyMarried.net/podcast if you and your partner are interested.

Thanks for listening and we'll talk to you in the fall!

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Having a child is a joyous yet extremely stressful experience for most couples. So, this week I’m talking to Nikki Lively, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) about some of the conversations couples should begin having years before starting a family.

We cover a wide range of topics including:

• Deciding if and when to have children
• Fertility issues
• Considerations for how many kids to have
• Gender & personality preferences
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Parental roles & expectations
• Division of labor
• Boundaries with extended family
• Culture, religion & community
• Childcare choices

Nikki Lively, LCSW is the Clinical Director of the Transitions to Parenthood Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. To learn more about Nikki's work, visit:

• NikkiLively.com
• Nikki Lively at The Family Institute

Additional resources:

• The Family Institute Resource Library
• The Fair Play Method
• Get Ready to Say "I Do" (the FREE Practically Married mini-course)

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall

Today, we welcome therapist and author Shemiah Derrick, LCPC, CADC back to the show to discuss the role conflict plays in your relationship. Shemiah brings her Gottman Method training and extensive experience working with couples to our conversation covering:

• How conflict presents an opportunity
• Why we shouldn't avoid conflict
• Perpetual and solvable problems
• How to apologize
• Forgiveness

To learn more about Shemiah’s work, visit:

• ShemiahDerrick.com
• shemiahderrick on Instagram
• Amazon author page
• Shemiah's "The Words Between Us" couples journals (Use promo code PMPOD20 for 20% discount for Practically Married listeners)

Resources referenced:

• Robert Taibi, LCSW
• Emotional disconnection (The Gottman Institute)
• Perpetual and solvable problems (The Gottman Institute)
• Gentle start-up (The Gottman Institute)
• Aftermath of a regrettable incident (The Gottman Institute)
• Marlene Chism
• Dr. Alexandra Solomon
• Get Ready to Say "I Do" (the FREE Practically Married mini-course)

If you like what you heard...

• Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode!
• Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources!
• Follow @getpracticallymarried on Instagram to tell us about your experiences using the strategies you hear on the show!

Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Sage Holt-Hall