How Romance Books Can Improve Your Marriage

The Complicated Truth of Women Supporting Women

This week we’re talking about something most women have experienced… but almost no one says out loud: when real life starts to look like the movie Mean Girls. Because it’s actually pretty easy for women to show up for other women when they’re struggling. But when a woman starts thriving? That’s when things can get a little weird. In this episode we talk about the subtle comparison, the moments that can feel like friendly fire, and how we’ve both navigated it in our own lives. Not in a blaming way; more like a “how did we get here?” conversation. Because when women truly support other women, especially when they’re succeeding, everyone rises. If this episode resonates, share it with a friend and help us keep the conversation going.

The Truth About Perimenopause No One Prepared Us For

In this episode, we’re just being honest about the absolute chaos that can be perimenopause. From brain fog to random ovulation pain in places you didn’t know could hurt, to the very glamorous reality of pelvic floors that have been through a lot — nothing is off limits in this conversation. We talk about the things women experience but rarely say out loud: the hormonal rollercoaster, the weird body changes, the moments where you wonder if you’re losing your mind… and why sometimes the only sane response is to laugh about it. This episode is real, raw, and honestly hilarious. Because when your body is doing things no one warned you about, sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it openly and find the humor in the ridiculousness. If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re experiencing is normal or just needed a reminder that you’re not the only one navigating this phase of life, this conversation is for you. And as always, if this episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs the laugh. Following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating the messy middle of life, and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – Starting Strong With Our Latest Health Adventures 03:13 – The Reality of Women’s Health Appointments 04:53 – Why Ovulation Pain Shows Up in the Weirdest Places 06:47 – Medical Acronyms We Probably Shouldn’t Joke About 08:33 – “Normal” vs. “Common” in Perimenopause 10:29 – The Things Our Kids Say About Marriage 12:14 – Classic Messy Middle Moments 15:36 – If You Think Perimenopause Is Starting… Listen to This 19:06 – The Kind of Support Women Actually Need 22:31 – Shoutout to the Partners Holding It Down 25:05 – Laughing Through the Ridiculousness of It All

If You’re in a Hard Season Right Now, Listen to This

In this episode, we’re talking about what it looks like when you’re in a really hard season of life… and you don’t get to pause everything else while you move through it. The grief. The overwhelm. The chaos. The very real reality of trying to keep showing up for your kids, your partner, your work — all while feeling like you’re barely holding it together behind the scenes. We share what this season has looked like for us and the things that are actually helping us survive it in real time. From asking for help (even when it feels uncomfortable), to delegating, to resting when we need to, to letting ourselves feel emotions instead of pushing them down and powering through. This isn’t about having it figured out. It’s about what you do when life doesn’t stop — and you still have to keep going. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. Following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating the messy middle of real life — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – When Everything Feels Like Too Much 03:52 – Holding Grief While Life Keeps Going 06:38 – Trying to Find Balance in the Chaos 09:40 – Why Asking for Help Feels So Hard 12:25 – What Happens When You Bottle It Up 18:48 – Letting Yourself Feel It (Instead of Powering Through) 22:29 – Actually Letting Someone Support You 25:02 – Rest Isn’t a Reward 30:19 – The Lie of “Having It All Together” 36:33 – Being Real in the Messy Middle

How Romance Books Can Improve Your Marriage

In this episode, we’re talking about something that started as a fun escape… and ended up having a much bigger impact than either of us expected. We dive into how getting into romance audiobooks has shifted the way we think about connection, communication, and intimacy — not just in our relationships with our partners, but in our friendships and with ourselves. What began as entertainment turned into conversations we weren’t having before, awareness we didn’t realize we were missing, and a deeper understanding of what we actually want and need in long-term relationships. We talk about the ripple effect that leaning into this genre has had in our real lives — from feeling more empowered to voice our desires to being more intentional about connection in our marriages. If you’ve ever wondered why romance resonates so deeply for so many women, or what happens when you stop dismissing it as “just fluff,” this conversation is for you. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. And as always, following the show and leaving a review helps us reach more women navigating relationships in the messy middle of real life — and we’re so grateful you’re here. Chapters 00:00 – Getting Into Romance (Against Our Better Judgment) 02:36 – Why Narration Matters So Much 05:12 – Romance, Desire & Real-Life Relationships 07:45 – The Ripple Effect of Reading Romance 10:18 – Feeling Empowered to Want More 12:29 – Conversations Romance Opens Up 15:07 – How It’s Showing Up in Our Marriages

The Messy Middle: Hormones, Relationships, and Being Present

Consider this week’s podcast the group chat you’ve been longing to be part of. The one where nothing is too polished, no one is pretending to have it all figured out, and the conversation goes exactly where it needs to go. We talk about the real messy middle. Things like how hormones actually affect relationships, what being present as a parent looks like when you’re overstimulated and tired, how communication breaks down (and how it comes back together), and why listening isn’t about fixing or agreeing… It’s about staying. There’s laughter, honesty, tangents, and a whole lot of same energy. 👉 Send this to your group chat👉 Follow Permission to Be so you don’t miss future conversations👉 And if this episode felt familiar, leave a review — it helps more people find us CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Real Life Check-In & No-Plan Energy 03:14 – “This Is the Week”: Hormones, Cycles & Relationships 05:55 – Home Remedies, Body Wisdom & Trial-and-Error Living 08:17 – Manifesting Generators vs. Manifestors (Why We Do Things Differently) 10:47 – DIY Expectations vs. Reality 16:08 – Parenting, Presence & Catching Ourselves on Autopilot 21:02 – What Active Listening Actually Looks Like 31:56 – Vulnerability, Being Seen & Sharing in Real Time 35:06 – Closing Reflections & Invitation to Stay Present