In this special holiday episode, Ellen Dorian reflects on the Spirit of Generosity, a concept she learned from her father and continues to embody in her coaching. Through heartfelt storytelling, she introduces the five aspects of generosity—emotional, relational, philosophical, action-oriented, and legacy-focused—and shares actionable ways to bring these into your relationships. This episode is a guide to creating deeper connections, fostering trust, and leaving a meaningful legacy for your loved ones.

Part 1: A Holiday Story About Generosity

1. Ellen shares a moving story about her father’s approach to Christmas and the lessons he imparted through the concept of Santa Claus as the embodiment of generosity.
2. She recounts her dad’s final gift to her, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, and how it symbolizes selflessness, love, and sacrifice in relationships.

Part 2: The Five Aspects of Generosity

1. Emotional Generosity: Giving time, attention, and love freely without expecting anything in return. Includes practical tips like using a “root cause analysis” approach to stay present during emotional conversations.
2. Relational Generosity: Paying attention to your partner’s needs and stepping in to share the mental load. Features the “By The Clock” exercise to anticipate and address tasks proactively.
3. Philosophical Generosity: Cultivating a mindset of abundance by focusing on gratitude and appreciation rather than scarcity or criticism.
4. Action-Oriented Generosity: Doing what you say you’ll do, being reliable, and supporting your partner when it matters most, even when it’s inconvenient.
5. Legacy of Generosity: Building a lasting impact through selflessness in relationships, modeled after her father’s example.

Part 3: Holiday Reflections

1. Ellen encourages listeners to embrace the Spirit of Generosity during the holiday season and to pass it forward in their own lives.
2. She reminds listeners that the greatest gift they can give their children is the example of a passionate and connected partnership.

1. Generosity is More Than Money. True generosity lies in how you give your time, attention, and care to those you love. It’s about showing up fully and selflessly in ways that matter most.
2. Emotional and Relational Generosity Build Connection.Trust and connection grow when you’re emotionally present and proactive in supporting your partner’s needs—whether by sharing the mental load or simply listening with focus and care.
3. Your Legacy Begins in Your Relationships.The most impactful legacy you leave isn’t material; it’s the example you set in your relationships. Cultivating a passionate and connected partnership shapes how your children and loved ones approach their own connections.

Call to Action:

Feeling stuck in your relationship? Schedule a free...

In this heartfelt bonus episode of the Make More Love Podcast, Ellen Dorian addresses the complex emotions that can arise during the Christmas season, especially for those who feel isolated, disconnected, or out-of-step with the festivities. Drawing from personal experiences and real client stories, Ellen offers compassionate strategies for coping with holiday loneliness, respecting individual traditions, and rebuilding meaningful connections—both with ourselves and those we love.

Part 1: Navigating the Overwhelm and Outside Expectations

Ellen opens the episode by acknowledging the saturation and pressures of the Christmas season, emphasizing that not everyone celebrates—and for many, the unrelenting holiday messaging can feel isolating or invalidating. She shares her own childhood memories of cross-cultural celebrations and discusses how differing traditions, loss, and changes in family dynamics can leave people feeling invisible or alone.

Part 2: Reclaiming the Holidays Through Intention and Small Rituals

After describing her personal struggles with grief and holiday disconnect, Ellen outlines how she slowly rebuilt her relationship with the season by honoring her feelings, embracing gratitude and generosity, and establishing new, personally meaningful holiday rituals—like joining a caroling group, creating her own movie traditions, or starting small annual rituals just for herself.

Part 3: Connection, Grace, and Taking Action—For Yourself and Others

Ellen addresses the unique isolation that successful business owners and those in disconnected relationships may experience. She offers a powerful exercise: identifying and fulfilling a childhood wish for yourself (and possibly your partner) to foster reconnection and healing. The episode closes with an appeal for listeners to reach out to those who might be alone, and a reminder that support is available—both through community (like Andy Grant’s virtual hangout) and professional crisis lines.

1. Holiday loneliness is real, whether you celebrate or not, and your feelings are valid.
2. Small, intentional changes—like creating a new tradition or reaching out to someone else—can slowly restore a sense of joy and belonging.
3. Giving yourself (and your partner) a “lost” gift from childhood can be a surprisingly meaningful way to reconnect with the spirit of the season.
4. You are not alone—resources, supportive communities, and professional help are available if the season feels overwhelming.

Share your own strategies for making the holidays more meaningful with Ellen Dorian by email or in the P3 Insider’s Community. If you’re struggling, consider booking a free Relationship Reset Call for personalized support, or take the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard at MakeMoreLove.show/quiz for immediate insights.

Your presence truly is your gift. No matter your circumstances this season, remember that you matter and that reaching out (for support or to offer it) can make a world of difference. Ellen Dorian encourages everyone to take small steps toward building connection, meaning, and, ultimately, more love.

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one-on-one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call.

For immediate insights, take the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard: A fast free quiz to pinpoint...

The holiday season can transform what should be magical moments into stressful, pressure-filled events—especially for high-performing men balancing relationships, business demands, and personal fulfillment. In this insightful solo episode, host Ellen Dorian shares the practical "GGG Principles"—Gratitude, Generosity, and Grace—as anchors to help couples thrive and deepen connection through the holidays (and beyond).

Part 1: The Reality of Holiday Expectations

Ellen explores how holidays often shift from childlike excitement to a time burdened with overwhelming expectations, emotional baggage, and pressure to deliver for loved ones—particularly if the relationship is already strained.

Part 2: The GGG Principles for Relationship Success:

Gratitude: Move beyond obligatory platitudes. Ellen suggests a personal practice focused on recognizing what you genuinely value about your partner. She provides thoughtful questions to guide listeners through recognizing meaningful attributes and experiences, and encourages using this awareness to foster connection and reduce reactivity.

Generosity: True generosity isn’t about sacrifice or guilt, but about giving from surplus—whether that's time, money, energy, skills, or flexibility. Practical examples are shared on how to proactively support your partner and lighten their holiday load, without resentment.

Grace: The antidote to perfectionism. Ellen shares how practicing patience, compassion, and forgiveness—even when mistakes happen—can transform your relationship dynamic and foster lasting trust.

Part 3: Applying GGG Principles

Listeners are encouraged to develop gratitude statements, create weekly generosity plans, and let go of rigid expectations. These steps provide real relief and renewed intimacy, keeping stress in check and making space for true human connection.

Action Steps for Listeners:

• Try the grounding gratitude exercise and observe how it shifts your perspective.
• Make a generosity plan: Choose two stress points and match them to the partner with the right surplus.
• Practice grace by forgiving imperfections and celebrating best intentions.

1. The real win with gratitude comes from genuinely feeling it, not just saying it—let actions follow heartfelt awareness.
2. Generosity works best when you give what you have in abundance, not from scarcity, to avoid burnout and build goodwill.
3. Grace lets go of perfection and nurtures authentic connection; no one gets it right all the time, and accepting this opens the door to real intimacy.

Ellen encourages listeners to take the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard: A free, quick quiz to pinpoint relationship strengths and stressors (find it at MakeMoreLove.show/quiz).

Whenever you are ready, you can reach out for deeper support: Free Relationship Reset calls, workshops, private coaching, and an Insider Facebook community for ongoing connection and resources. Links are below.

You don’t need to create a perfect holiday—just show up with presence, forethought, and a little grace. Small shifts in mindset and action can profoundly change your holiday experience and your relationship.

Next week, Ellen Dorian will be back with a bonus episode addressing holiday stress when Christmas isn’t your thing. Until then, take care of each other!

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free

Ellen Dorian addresses the stress and conflict that holidays bring to high-performing business leaders, particularly business owners facing Q4 pressures alongside personal obligations. She introduces a strategic planning approach to transform the holiday season from a source of tension into an opportunity for connection. Through the story of client Bill and his wife Gina, Ellen demonstrates how joint planning, clear boundaries, and shared ownership can prevent the annual cycle of holiday resentment that often leads to January's "divorce season."

Part 1: Understanding Holiday Pressure Points

- Recognition that holidays arrive during Q4 chaos for business owners.

- Identification of competing demands: closing deals, managing budgets, and handling staff needs.

- Acknowledgment of seasonality impacts—some businesses face their busiest period while others experience dead zones.

- The compounding effect of personal demands from partners, family obligations, and social events.

- Pressure to appear joyful despite mounting stress.

Part 2: The Planning Framework

- Starting with baseline questions about what worked, what didn't, what was missing, and what to change.

- The necessity of partner buy-in rather than unilateral decision-making.

- Bill and Gina's story as a case study in initiating the planning conversation.

- Three core elements: planning together, setting limits, and taking ownership.

- Two essential ground rules: everything is open for discussion, and protecting the couple comes first.

- Establishing a gatekeeping script for external pressures.

Part 3: Building Your Holiday Strategy

- Two approaches: blue ocean brainstorming or process of elimination.

- Using post-it notes to map out events, tasks, and obligations visually.

- Three key decisions: enthusiastic yeses, emphatic nos, and the desired outcome.

- Establishing boundaries around time, money, travel, work, and special circumstances.

- The chocolate mousse rule and the three-hour family visit boundary as practical examples.

- Assigning ownership by category rather than individual tasks.

- Weekly check-ins to adjust and maintain alignment.

- Holiday conflicts repeat annually because couples fail to plan or fear disrupting established patterns.

- Joint planning creates clarity and protects relationships from external pressures.

- Boundaries and clear ownership prevent resentment and energy drain.

- Breaking with tradition is necessary when current patterns aren't working.

- A united front in public with private discussion space helps manage family pushback.

- Regular check-ins keep the plan flexible and responsive to changing circumstances.

If the planning process becomes contentious or confusing, Ellen offers a Relationship Reset Call to help work through the challenges. She emphasizes not letting issues drop only to face worse circumstances in January. Listeners can book a free call at relationshipresetcall.com.

Ellen previews the next episode's focus on gratitude, generosity, and grace—the "GGG of the holidays"—as tools for managing seasonal chaos. She reflects on recent episodes addressing out-of-control situations and invites listeners experiencing this to reach out. The goal isn't perfection but creating the best opportunity to enjoy life and maintain connection despite competing demands.

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call.

All links can be found below.

"Until next time, remember, 'What I want

Ellen Dorian explores how business owners can strengthen their relationships by treating their partnership as the foundation that holds everything else together. Drawing from a Trevor Noah podcast quote about spending time with his father, she examines the cost of making unilateral business decisions without partner input. The episode provides a framework for integrating business and relationship priorities through structured communication, tiered decision-making, and weekly alignment meetings.

Part 1: The Cost of Exclusion

- Ellen shares a quote from Roy Wood Jr. about being along for the ride rather than truly included in his father's life.

- Business owners often make rapid decisions without consulting partners who will be affected by the outcomes.

- Top-down thinking creates resistance and undermines support, even when partners don't openly object.

- Shared visions can drift apart over time, leaving couples working toward completely different outcomes.

- The question "Are you running your business or is your business running you?" reveals a common trap.

Part 2: The Juggling and Herding Problem

- Most business owners have three competing priorities: work, family, and personal fulfillment.

- Juggling means keeping balls in the air, but one is always falling—you can only hold two at a time.

- Herding is attempting to control everything at once, like stuffing three cats in a bag.

- Both approaches fail because they rely on one person being solely responsible for everything.

- Business decisions directly impact partners whether they've agreed to them or not.

Part 3: The Airplane Framework

- Ellen introduces a new model: your relationship is the airplane, with two seats in the cockpit.

- Everything else—business, kids, extended family, hobbies—belongs in the cabin as passengers.

- Kids and business should not fly the plane or always come first.

- Strong partnerships create the framework where everything else thrives.

- Partners become copilots without becoming business partners.

Part 4: Three Best Practices for Partnership Alignment

#1 Weekly Business Review Meeting

- Hold a short weekly meeting focused on decisions that touch shared life.

- Cover four topics: what happened since last meeting, what's coming up, what needs joint decision, and what matters most this week.

- Make it enjoyable with coffee, wine, or pancakes—call it whatever makes it fun.

- Prevents the "I never heard that" or "you didn't tell me" conflicts.

#2 Tiered Decision-Making Categories

- Green zone: everyday decisions that don't impact shared life, just keep partner informed.

- Yellow zone: give heads up and chance to weigh in, minimize surprises, maximize respect.

- Red zone: decisions requiring full discussion before moving forward.

#3 Red Zone Topics

- Money: any shared resource at risk, new debt, contracts, personal guarantees, compensation changes.

- Time: anything significantly changing availability, focus, or energy—major projects, expansion, increased travel.

- People: hiring or firing key team members, bringing on investors, forming partnerships.

- These decisions affect stress levels, time, and how you show up in the relationship.

- Your relationship should be the context in which your business, family, and fulfillment exist, not just another competing priority.

- The entrepreneur divorce rate sits above 60% because not everyone commits to this level of discipline and openness.

- Your partner needs to be an important voice in your business without necessarily working in it.

- Trying to control everything by yourself guarantees something will crash, taking everything else down with it.

- Real work-life integration requires...

Ellen Dorian shares insights from her 10th anniversary Viking river cruise, highlighting three key moves for long-lasting relationships: acceptance, longevity, and defaulting to yes.

Part 1: Acceptance in Long Term Relationships

- Recognizing and appreciating your partner's authentic self

- Distinguishing between tolerance, resignation, and genuine acceptance

- Example: Steve's acceptance of Ellen's coffee house visits

Part 2: Longevity and Vitality

- Importance of physical, mental, and emotional health in relationships

- Observations from the cruise demographic

- Connection between personal vitality and relationship strength

Part 3: Defaulting to Yes

- Overcoming the habit of saying no thanks

- Benefits of staying open to new experiences together

- Example: Hungarian street food cooking class

- Relationships play out over decades, not days

- Staying healthy and active contributes to relationship longevity

- Defaulting to yes keeps relationships fresh and engaging

Book a free Relationship Reset Call at relationshipresetcall.com for personalized guidance.

Relationships, like the Danube, change over time but can keep moving along for years with the right approach.

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call.

All links can be found below.

The Make More Love show is for information and entertainment purposes only, and reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the host and guests. It is not a substitute for professional advice or guidance in specific situations.



www.makemorelove.show

www.passionatepartnersproject.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/682764239165105

Email: ellen@passionatepartnersproject.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellen.dorian.7/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellendorian/

Ellen Dorian analyzes the movie "The Roses" as a case study for relationship decline, illustrating Make More Love's Hierarchy of Relationship Needs and Spiral of Decline models. She breaks down the film's plot, highlighting key disruptions that lead to the couple's downfall, and relates these to common relationship issues faced by high-performing individuals.

Part 1: Introduction and Movie Analysis

- Ellen introduces the episode's focus on "The Roses" as a relationship case study

- Explanation of why this movie is an ideal example for the Make More Love model

- Breakdown of the couple's initial connection and shared ambition

Part 2: Relationship Disruptions and Missed Opportunities

- Identification of five major disruptions in the Roses' relationship

- Analysis of how each disruption contributes to the spiral of decline

- Discussion of missed opportunities for intervention and repair

Part 3: Lessons and Application

- Relating the movie's themes to real-life relationship challenges

- Introduction of the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard tool

- Encouragement for listeners to assess their own relationships

- Shared ambition can be both a strong foundation and a potential pitfall in relationships

- Major life events and role changes can significantly impact relationship dynamics

- Ignoring relationship issues and failing to seek help can lead to a spiral of decline

- Open communication and willingness to address problems are crucial for relationship health

Ellen encourages listeners to take the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard quiz at MakeMoreLove.Show/Quiz

Or book a free Relationship Reset call at RelationshipResetCall.com.

Relationships require active maintenance and attention to thrive. Recognizing and addressing issues early can prevent the kind of decline depicted in "The Roses."

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call.

All links can be found below.

The Roses is a 2025 feature film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, directed by Jay Roach, and distributed by Searchlight Pictures. All rights belong to the respective copyright holders. This episode offers commentary and analysis for educational and review purposes only.

The Make More Love show is for information and entertainment purposes only, and reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the host and guests. It is not a substitute for professional advice or guidance in specific situations.



www.makemorelove.show

www.passionatepartnersproject.com

Ellen Dorian discusses strategies for managing conflict in relationships, introducing the concept of "passionate problem solving" as an alternative to cold war and hot war conflict styles. She outlines two pathways: early intervention and radical repair, drawing inspiration from kink and BDSM protocols and Japanese apology frameworks.

Part 1: Understanding Conflict and Early Intervention

- Esther Perel's three categories of conflict: power and control, respect and recognition, care and closeness

- Recognizing personal "tells" that signal emotional escalation

- Implementing kink-inspired protocols: safe words, negotiated agreements, and aftercare

Part 2: Radical Repair for Full-Blown Conflicts

- Step-by-step process for addressing conflicts after they've escalated

- Naming the hurt, reflecting back, owning responsibility, and offering a radical apology

- Reaffirming connection and attacking the problem, not each other

Part 3: Applying Passionate Problem Solving

- Factors influencing success: meaning gap, relationship foundation, and personal skills

- Importance of practice and commitment to transform conflict handling

- Encouragement to seek outside help when needed

- Early intervention focuses on self-control, not partner control

- Repair matters more than being right in conflicts

- Always attack the problem, not each other

- Passionate problem solving requires practice and discipline

Ellen encourages listeners to book a free Relationship Reset call, join the Passionate Partners Insider community on Facebook, and spread the word about the Make More Love podcast.

Passionate problem solving is not a quick fix but can transform how couples handle conflict when practiced consistently.

Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call.

All links can be found below.

The Make More Love show is for information and entertainment purposes only, and reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the host and guests. It is not a substitute for professional advice or guidance in specific situations.



www.makemorelove.show

www.passionatepartnersproject.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/682764239165105

Email: ellen@passionatepartnersproject.com