65: THE RAS: What is it? Why do you need to know?

65: THE RAS: What is it? Why do you need to know?

Your brain is constantly filtering what you notice - and that filter might be sabotaging your relationship. Julie and David Bulitt explore the Reticular Activating System (RAS), a neuroscience concept that explains why you might only see the negative in your partner when you're disconnected, how it blinds you to red flags when you're newly in love, and most importantly, how to retrain your brain to notice the positive. They discuss the 5:1 ratio, the danger of affairs and disconnection, and practical tools like gratitude journaling and assuming good intentions to shift your RAS into positive territory. If you've ever wondered why your perception of your partner can change so dramatically, this episode has the answers. Learn more at thebulitts.com [http://thebulitts.com] Subscribe on YouTube: @TheBulitts Julie is not your therapist and David is not your lawyer. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

64: Marriage and Money with Rachel Cruze

Money is one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage — but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, Julie and David sit down with Rachel Cruze, two-time #1 national bestselling author, financial expert, and host of The Rachel Cruze Show, for an honest and insightful conversation about how money habits, money personalities, and money histories shape our most intimate relationships. Rachel shares how growing up as Dave Ramsey's daughter — born just months before her parents filed bankruptcy — shaped her life's mission of helping people win with money before they hit rock bottom. Together, Julie, David, and Rachel dig into the real reasons couples fight about money, and what to do about it. In this episode: * The two most common money conflicts couples face — and how to navigate them * Spenders vs. savers: how opposites can actually make each other stronger * Why your "money story" from childhood may be running your finances today * The shame and guilt cycle around money — and how to break it * Why combining finances in marriage isn't about control, it's about intimacy * The debt snowball method and zero-based budgeting explained * Why both spouses need a seat at the financial table * How tackling hard money conversations can actually deepen your relationship * Julie and David's own debt story — and how Dave Ramsey's work changed their marriage * Rachel's husband Winston, and how a spender married a saver (and made it work) * Raising kids with a healthy money mindset in the age of Amazon and Apple Pay Whether you're just starting out, merging finances later in life, or trying to get on the same page after years of conflict — this episode is packed with practical wisdom and real talk. Connect with Rachel Cruze: Instagram: @rachelcruze [https://www.instagram.com/rachelcruze] Facebook: @rachelramseycruze [https://www.facebook.com/rachelramseycruze] The Rachel Cruze Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rachel-cruze-show/id1447308241 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rachel-cruze-show/id1447308241]  Visit us at thebulitts.com [https://thebulitts.com] Julie is not your therapist and David is not your lawyer. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

63: Two Docs Find Each Other - Twice!

What happens when two doctors fall in love, get married, go through medical school and residency together, survive a pandemic on the front lines and then get divorced? And then get married again? Julie and David sit down with trauma surgeon Dr. Brittany Bankhead and emergency physician Dr. Brian Kendall to unpack one of the most remarkable relationship stories they've ever heard. Brittany and Brian met in college in a medical communications class, dated long distance while Brian was in the Peace Corps in Albania, got engaged after their first kiss on the beach, and married seven months later. Thirteen years, two kids, multiple cities, and the chaos of COVID later, their marriage crumbled. But the way they divorced was just as intentional as the way they came back together. In this episode, Julie and David explore: ✔️ How Brittany and Brian navigated a whirlwind romance and early marriage shaped by cultural and religious expectations ✔️ The emotional weight of training together in medical school, long-distance residencies, and COVID on the front lines ✔️ Why Brittany was the one who said "enough" and how post-COVID PTSD and suicidal ideation led her to transform her own life ✔️ How they co-parented from houses in the same neighborhood (with a pool in between and a golf cart to get around) ✔️ The moment at the pool, two and a half years after the divorce, when they looked at each other and thought: wait ✔️ Their "rant or remedy" communication tool for supporting each other without trying to fix everything ✔️ How intentional scheduling, coffee walks, pickleball, and date days booked by their family virtual assistant keeps their relationship strong ✔️ Dr. Brittany Bankhead's passion project, Modern Mom Lab, pairing high-achieving moms with family virtual assistants to help both sides thrive Dr. Brittany Bankhead, Trauma Surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Founder of Modern Mom Lab 🌐 https://www.modernmomlab.com [https://www.modernmomlab.com] 📱 TikTok & Instagram: @BBankheadMD Dr. Brian Kendall, Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Communicator 📱 TikTok: @BKendallMD | Instagram: @BriankendallMD Family Virtual Assistant: Jessica Geist | 785-564-3997 | jessicageist.bbkt@gmail.com Find Julie & David at https://thebulitts.com [https://thebulitts.com] and on all social media platforms @TheBulitts

62: What a Couple! Savvy and Spectacular!

After 39 years of marriage, Jamie and Zane Tarence from Alabama have learned that the secret to a lasting relationship isn't doing everything together — it's knowing when to give each other space. In this candid conversation, Julie and David sit down with Jamie, creator of the popular lifestyle brand Family Savvy, and Zane, an entrepreneur and investment banker, to talk about what almost broke them, what ultimately saved them, and how they built an independent but deeply connected partnership. From taking separate cars to events to navigating completely different personalities, this episode is full of honest, practical wisdom for any couple trying to figure out how to grow together without losing themselves. Julie is not your therapist and David is not your lawyer. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. What You'll Learn: * Why Jamie and Zane credit community, faith, and professional resources — not luck — for saving their marriage * How understanding personality profiles (DISC, Enneagram) changed the way they see their differences * The surprising habit that eliminated a major source of conflict in their marriage (hint: separate cars) * Why healthy independence in a marriage is a strength, not a red flag * How to meet your partner's top needs — and stop sweating the rest * The story behind Family Savvy and Jamie's mission to empower women in their "second act" * Why both spouses understanding family finances is essential, regardless of who earns the money Connect with Jamie & Zane: * The SavvyCast Podcast — available on all podcast platforms * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/family_savvy/ [https://www.instagram.com/family_savvy/] * Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/familysavvy/pins/ [https://www.pinterest.com/familysavvy/pins/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familysavvy/ [https://www.facebook.com/familysavvy/] * Email: letschat@familysavvy.com [letschat@familysavvy.com] Find Julie & David: * Website: thebulitts.com [https://thebulitts.com] * Follow on all social media platforms: @thebulitts

61: Building A Women's Business

What does building a business have in common with building a relationship? More than you'd think. Carla Biesinger is a business mentor and Instagram marketing expert who helps women create profitable online businesses — and she's coached over 10,000 clients worldwide to do it. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Carla's journey started in Buenos Aires, where she co-built the city's #1 restaurant on TripAdvisor with her then-boyfriend — only to walk away with $12,000 after five years of work. That moment became her turning point: she would never be financially dependent again. Today, Carla teaches women how to grow on Instagram, build an email list, and sell without feeling pushy — so they can create real income on their own terms. Julie and David Bulitt talk with Carla about what it takes to rebuild after a relationship and a business fall apart at the same time, why financial independence matters in relationships, and how the same intentionality required to grow a business is the same intentionality every couple needs. What You'll Learn: How to grow on Instagram without a big following Instagram Stories vs. feed posts — what actually drives sales Building an email list that converts How to sell authentically if you hate selling Why financial independence strengthens relationships The confidence gap holding women back from entrepreneurship Connect with Carla Biesinger: Instagram: @carlabiesinger Free Webinar: Available in Carla's Instagram bio Learn more about Julie and David at thebulitts.com [http://thebulitts.com]