Home Podcasts Secrets of Happily Ever After: Marriage and Intimacy Tips for Couples
Secrets of Happily Ever After: Marriage and Intimacy Tips for Couples

Secrets of Happily Ever After: Marriage and Intimacy Tips for Couples

Monica Tanner - Marriage and Intimacy Coach for Couples 372 Episodes Sep 15, 2026

A relationship podcast hosted by Monica Tanner, a marriage and intimacy coach, aimed at couples who want a lasting, loving partnership. Each weekly episode explores the habits and principles that keep couples connected, drawing on interviews and coaching insight. Topics include communication, intimacy, commitment and overcoming resentment or the feeling of being mere roommates. The show offers practical marriage advice for couples who want both a deep friendship and a passionate partnership.

Episodes

E380 How to Stop Fighting About Desire Discrepancy in Marriage
E380 How to Stop Fighting About Desire Discrepancy in Marriage Sep 15, 2026 1289 What if we stop treating a sex drive mismatch like a problem to solve and start treating it like a cycle to understand so neither spouse becomes the villain. Today, I break down spontaneous and responsive desire, then map simple ways to build safety, warmth, and a better sexual connection without pressure.• why “who’s right” is the wrong question• how the pursue and withdraw cycle turns sex into a
E379 From Sexual Entitlement To Shared Sexual Responsibility
E379 From Sexual Entitlement To Shared Sexual Responsibility Sep 8, 2026 1365 Consent and autonomy matter in marriage, and nobody should feel pressured or coerced into sex. I also believe a monogamous couple can care for their shared sexual relationship without turning it into entitlement, duty, or a fight about who is “the problem”.• the difference between sexual entitlement and sexual responsibility• how pressure after a “no” kills desire and creates obligation• why “low
E378 What If Better Sex Starts With Play?
E378 What If Better Sex Starts With Play? Aug 31, 2026 1206 I share why so many married couples ruin desire by treating sex like a performance, then show how a playful mindset brings freedom back. We trade judgment for curiosity, build safety with boundaries, and start creating a sex life that fits us instead of chasing someone else’s standard. • why pressure turns sex into scorekeeping and shuts down desire • how “play” changes the goal from performing to
E377 Why “You Complete Me” Can Damage Your Marriage
E377 Why “You Complete Me” Can Damage Your Marriage Aug 25, 2026 1329 I'm talking about the famous “You complete me” line and explaining why it can be beautiful as a sentiment but damaging as a marriage blueprint. I show how owning our own happiness, stopping the quiet quit, and making small bids for connection can bring warmth back fast. • the difference between sharing a richer life and feeling incomplete without your partner • how “you complete me” turns int
E376 The Three Skills That Predict Marriage Success and Intimacy
E376 The Three Skills That Predict Marriage Success and Intimacy Aug 18, 2026 1075 This week I share the fastest way I can tell whether a couple will make progress, and it has little to do with how messy the problems look. I break down the E.V.A framework, three ingredients that turn stuck fights into real intimacy: empathy, vulnerability, and accountability. • how repeating arguments form a painful loop of pursuit and shutdown • why “communicate better” advice fails without the
E375: Turning Hot Takes Into Deeper Marriage Truths
E375: Turning Hot Takes Into Deeper Marriage Truths Aug 11, 2026 1161 I'm kicking off Season 6 by turning Instagram comments and real marriage questions into deeper conversations about what actually builds a strong relationship. I'm sharing what Ben and I have learned about disagreement, repair, fun, trust, and why an extraordinary marriage doesn’t require perfection. • the Season 6 format shift from reels to long-form depth • why “You complete me” can cre
Clear Responsibilities Build Stronger Marriages
Clear Responsibilities Build Stronger Marriages May 26, 2026 1051 I'm closing out season 5 by naming a common marriage stressor: resentment that grows when one person carries the invisible load. I'm sharing my “offices” system that saved our teamwork in business and later brought clarity, relief, and more connection at home. • resentment driven by carrying responsibility alone rather than the amount of work • how unclear ownership creates chaos, droppe
Invisible Labor Is Real And It's Exhausting with Zach Watson
Invisible Labor Is Real And It's Exhausting with Zach Watson May 19, 2026 2259 Today, I talk with Zach Watson about how “helping” at home can still leave one partner carrying the mental load, and how naming invisible labor changes the way couples work together. We break down emotional labor, cognitive labor, and the Fair Play framework so we can close more tabs in our brains and show up as true partners. • Zach’s “recovering man child” story and why humor lowers defensivenes
How Mental Load Quietly Builds Resentment In Marriage
How Mental Load Quietly Builds Resentment In Marriage May 12, 2026 1007 In today's episode, I talk about the invisible work of love and why feeling appreciated for a day can still leave you feeling alone the rest of the week. I  share how mental load becomes resentment, plus a simple way to make the unseen visible without blaming each other. • Mother’s Day as a spotlight on unnoticed work • The mental, emotional and relational load that keeps life running • How b
24 Lessons From 24 Years Of Marriage
24 Lessons From 24 Years Of Marriage May 6, 2026 1455 Today, I share 24 hard-earned lessons from 24 years of marriage, from building love maps to repairing after conflict. The biggest shift comes when we stop trying to be right and start choosing curiosity, clear requests, and respect for our differences. • love is something we build intentionally rather than find • updating love maps as we both keep changing • harmony, disharmony, and repair as the
How To Deal With Your Stuff So Your Kids Don’t Have To with Eli Harwood
How To Deal With Your Stuff So Your Kids Don’t Have To with Eli Harwood Apr 28, 2026 1725 In this week's episode with my friend, Eli Harwood, we talk about how our unhealed wounds show up in parenting and how healing can change what our kids inherit. We share stories, practical repair language, and why self-compassion and community support matter more than getting everything right. • Monica’s story of divorce, absence, and later healing • Eli’s family experience with mental health
You Can Be Right Or You Can Hold Hands
You Can Be Right Or You Can Hold Hands Apr 21, 2026 621 In this week's episode, I name the messy middle of a relationship reset and explain why falling into an old fight can be evidence of growth instead of failure. I'm sharing a simple three-step framework to help us respond differently, protect connection, and build a stronger couple identity through repair. • reframing “nothing’s changing” as an opportunity to do it differently • treating

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