Let’s talk about “young love.” This could mean you are young and in love or that you are simply in the early days of your relationship. In this episode, we explore how early relationship habits set the stage for lifelong connection. Our long-lasting love started super early (in our teens!) and has grown and changed over the years.

We begin by identifying 10 potential areas of relationship conflict. Spoiler alert… they cover almost every aspect of our lives! And then we dive deeper into three of them: communication, time management, and shared responsibility. Through candid stories, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, we show how every couple can turn friction into growth.

Next, we explore how our abilities to manage and address conflict have grown over the years of our marriage. Our conversation spans decades of marriage from our twenties to our fifties. This longevity offers a rare window into how communication and conflict evolve over time.

We close with a lighthearted discussion of mistakes we all make, and are still making today, with the goal of letting you know that you are not unique in your struggle to manage conflict in your long-lasting love.

💬 Key themes:

• Communication and Misinterpretation: How the shift from face-to-face conversations to digital messaging has changed tone, timing, and understanding in relationships.
• Balancing Priorities in Early Love: Learning to manage school/work, extended family, and romance without making your partner feel secondary.
• Emotional Labor and Relationship Equity: Recognizing and sharing the invisible work that keeps relationships strong.
• Growth Through Decades of Change: How communication and conflict evolve across a lifetime of love and partnership.
• Humor, Reflection, and Practical Application: Using laughter and small daily actions to turn ordinary moments into lasting growth.

🎧 Listen if you are…

• In the early stages of a relationship or marriage
• Trying to understand how to communicate without misreading tone or intent
• Learning how to balance individuality and togetherness
• Curious how long-term couples adapt through each decade of life

Chapters

00:00 – Episode teaser

00:29 – Welcome and introduction

01:46 – Core areas of conflict in relationships

03:17 – Quick rundown of 10 identified areas of conflict

06:51 – Deep dive into communication style & emotional expression

11:40 – Deep dive into time management & prioritization

18:36 – Deep dive into emotional labor & relationship maintenance

23:48 – Inked Moments: Pet peeves from early days of living together

26:54 – How has our communication evolved over the years together?

40:34 – Common relationship mistakes and how to avoid them

47:18 – Pen to Paper: Address issues early

48:58 – Closing thoughts