The Long Game

Keep Marriage Fun!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607346/fan_mail/new] Marriage doesn’t have to turn into a running joke, a permission slip, or a scoreboard. We’re Natasha and Rodney Phipps, and we’re sharing the real reasons our relationship feels lighter and more fun now than it did years ago, even with two kids and a life where we work together almost every day. If you’ve ever wondered why some couples seem to genuinely like each other, this conversation is our honest look at the habits that keep that spark alive. We dig into the marriage cliches that quietly poison connection: “boys night” as an escape plan, the idea that you’re trapped at home, and the subtle control that shows up when partners have to ask permission. For us, the shift is simple but powerful: communicate, coordinate, and respect each other as adults. When something stings, we talk about why. Triggers and insecurities happen, but they’re a signal to understand each other better, not a reason to clamp down. We also talk about transactional relationships and why keeping score kills romance. Thoughtful gestures like flowers aren’t about holidays or rewards, they’re about intention and making your partner feel chosen. From parenting without “babysitting” language to rejecting a rigid 50/50 mindset, we share what helps us stay on the same team. We close with a big belief: working on your marriage doesn’t mean it’s failing, it means it matters. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with someone who needs a reset, and leave a review with the one relationship rule you think more couples should follow.

The Mirror Test

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607346/fan_mail/new] If you had to answer one question after every hard call, what would it be? We keep coming back to a simple standard: can we look at ourselves in the mirror afterward. That “mirror test” shapes how we handle business ethics, friendships, marriage, parenting, and the messy middle where you are trying to grow but you are not sure you are doing it right. We talk about why real self-reflection is uncomfortable when it is honest, and why “you’ve changed” is not always an insult. Sometimes it is proof you are evolving, and sometimes it is a signal that someone preferred the old you because it was easier for them. We share what vulnerability looks like at home, how support works when mental health is part of the story, and why long-term love is built through intention, not autopilot. Then we tie it directly to entrepreneurship, sales, and leadership. The best operators we know ask more questions than they answer. Whether you are pitching an idea, serving a real estate client, hiring a coach, or choosing a business partner, curiosity is a competitive advantage and a trust builder. We break down accountability, how to admit mistakes without spiraling, and how to avoid taking on guilt that is not yours. We also share a personal real estate investing lesson about selling assets instead of refinancing, and what we learned about flexibility when life hits fast. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who is building something hard, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of your life needs a clearer mirror test right now?

Intentional Parenting

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607346/fan_mail/new] We talk through the parenting principles that guide our home: intention, time spent, and consistent messaging grounded in respect. We share how those values show up in real-life hot topics like swearing, manners in public, screen time, and the different safety reality our daughter faces.  • parenting with intention instead of copying strict rule sets  • explaining the why so kids can build judgment  • prioritizing time spent as the antidote to screens as babysitters  • keeping consistency between parents to avoid mixed messages  • treating respect as a two-way street that must be earned and maintained  • our approach to swearing as social judgment not forbidden fruit  • being stricter about manners than about swear words  • handling girls’ clothing conversations through readiness and safety  • navigating screen time through check-ins and self-regulation  Thanks a lot for tuning in. Check in next time.

The Long Game

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607346/fan_mail/new] We look back at the years when we’re building businesses, building assets, and building a family at the same time, with all the risk and uncertainty that comes with being self-employed. We talk about confidence, equality, trauma, and the long game of doing work we can be proud of while still showing up for each other and our kids.  • revisiting our early entrepreneurship path through music, real estate, and Calgary infills  • the energy of starting from scratch and the fear of failing to provide  • learning the balance between bold risk and looking before we leap  • choosing integrity in a relationship-driven music industry  • unearned confidence, earned respect, and how gender shifts the playing field  • being underestimated as fuel and the pressure of perfectionism  • navigating infertility warnings, endometriosis, and a surprise pregnancy  • the planned C-section that turns into a terrifying birth moment  • building careers without a stable paycheck and why assets matter  • one parent in, one parent out and the cost of flexibility  • accepting good feedback, building self-belief, and staying open to hard truths  Please let us know the feedback if you're gonna be able to do that

Two Feet In

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2607346/fan_mail/new] We tell the real story of how we went from meeting as teenagers to choosing a life built on commitment, shared goals, and intentional decisions. We connect love, money, health, and entrepreneurship to show how our partnership grows through discomfort and big trade-offs.  • meeting at 13 or 14 and reconnecting years later  • the night we finally took the leap and the fast move from dating to serious commitment  • mental health challenges early on and how support works both ways  • moving to Penticton with no safety net to give the relationship a real chance  • the Vegas proposal story and what it revealed about us  • why we combine finances and treat assets as a team decision  • endometriosis, being dismissed, and learning to advocate for yourself  • bipolar diagnosis and the reality of living with mental health labels  • becoming comfortable being uncomfortable as partners and parents  • kids earlier than expected and surviving the no-sleep season  • the Calgary move, the Mexico near-move, and how one decision rewrites a life  • the camping question that sparked a pivot into music and bigger entrepreneurship