What if the secret to a successful marriage wasn’t about being perfect… but about learning to love each other through the mess, the distance, and the fear?

If you're a military spouse or in any kind of long-distance or high-stress relationship, you know it’s not always easy. The deployments, the uncertainties, the constant adapting. And yet, somehow, we still long for connection, for belonging, for a love that lasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Tina Erwin, a retired Naval Commander, Navy wife, and mother, who’s been married for over 50 years. Through real stories and raw reflections, she shares the secrets to a successful marriage especially when life pulls you in different directions.

From navigating fear when your spouse is in danger, to reclaiming your identity in the chaos of military life, Tina offers more than advice. She offers hope, humor, and hard-won truth.

Whether you're just starting your military marriage, deep in the trenches, or wondering how to hold it all together…

This conversation is your gentle reminder that the secrets to a successful marriage are rooted in love, faith, communication and the courage to grow together.

>>>Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most.

• You can sign up for Elizabeth's FREE 10-week relationship email course here.
• Read the show notes for this episode here.

If anxiety is keeping you up at night, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to settle for sleepless, anxious nights. In this episode, we’re talking about exactly how to sleep better with anxiety, especially when stress, trauma, or PTSD are in the picture.

Dr. Elizabeth is joined by Savannah Hipes, LCSW, DBSM, a sleep and anxiety specialist who works with high-achieving, sleep-deprived professionals to help them finally get the rest they’ve been missing. Together, they explore why anxiety impacts sleep, how it affects relationships, and what you can do, starting tonight to get real, restorative rest.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever tossed and turned at night, woken up with their heart racing, or felt like anxiety was controlling their nights (and stealing their days).

>>>Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most.

• You can sign up for Elizabeth's FREE 10-week relationship email course here.
• Read the show notes for this episode here.

In this episode of the Communicate and Connect Podcast, Liz talks with relationship coach Lauren Dry about the freeze response and how it shows up in communication, connection, and conflict.

The freeze response is one of the most misunderstood nervous system reactions, especially in relationships. It can look like emotional shutdown, disconnection, or indifference but it’s actually a survival mechanism. Lauren explains why the freeze response happens, how it affects both partners, and what you can do to move from disconnection to reconnection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the freeze response looks like in relationships
• How unconscious programming and attachment styles affect your reactions
• Why high-achieving people often experience freeze in their personal lives
• Simple somatic tools to help regulate your nervous system in the moment
• How to set connected boundaries that build safety instead of walls

If you or your partner tend to shut down during conflict or feel emotionally frozen, this episode will give you practical tools and new insight to create a stronger, more connected relationship.

>>>Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most.

• You can sign up for Elizabeth's FREE 10-week relationship email course here.
• Read the show notes for this episode here.