290. What to Do When Your Partner Won't Do the Work

291. Do you have enough fun in your marriage?

When we think about creating a more intimate marriage, it's easy to focus on communication, conflict, or even sex. But what if one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your relationship is also one of the simplest? In this episode, Alexandra Stockwell explores what she calls our modern-day "fun recession" and why so many couples have unintentionally stopped prioritizing joy together. Drawing from years of coaching couples, as well as her own marriage, she shares why laughter, novelty, and play aren't luxuries. They're essential ingredients for emotional closeness, trust, and lasting passion. Whether your relationship feels busy, predictable, or simply overdue for more lighthearted moments, this episode offers a heartfelt invitation to reconnect through shared experiences that bring you both alive. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why fun is a powerful foundation for intimacy• How novelty and shared experiences strengthen emotional and physical connection• Simple ways to bring more laughter, play, and delight into everyday married life• Why creating joy together makes navigating life's challenges easier When you choose fun, you're not avoiding the deeper work of marriage. You're creating the conditions that make deeper connection possible.

290. What to Do When Your Partner Won't Do the Work

When you’re the only one invested in improving your marriage, it’s easy to feel lonely, frustrated, and discouraged. In this episode of The Intimate Marriage Podcast, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell responds to a listener’s heartfelt question about what happens when one partner is eager to grow while the other seems resistant. She explores the “teenager attitude” that can emerge in relationships, explains why pushing for change often creates more resistance, and offers practical ways to foster deeper connection without pressure. Through personal stories, coaching insights, and compassionate guidance, Alexandra shares how choosing your own growth can positively transform your marriage—even if your partner isn’t ready to join you yet. Resources Mentioned: What To Do When You’re Outgrowing Your Partner: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/how-to-handle-growth-differences/ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/how-to-handle-growth-differences/] When Your Partner Isn’t Into Personal Growth:  https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/102-when-your-partner-isnt-into-personal-growth-the-intimate-marriage-podcast/ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/102-when-your-partner-isnt-into-personal-growth-the-intimate-marriage-podcast/] The Intimate Connection App: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/app [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/app] Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-intimate-marriage-podcast-with-intimacy/id1548060690]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NFfwXTz2n6C_2QdmrfEVg]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Wbafv13jIABeLgiZvr1l8]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrastockwell]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/intimacydoctor/] Get your copy of "Uncompromising Intimacy" by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Uncompromising-Intimacy-Unfulfilling-Satisfying-Partnership/dp/B087MY7BNS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UCLRKQ6UMCFA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CBmjPJbFVzHcZMOoEnsJ0XgvHu8abBpmqrNuhQDFsuEaK3COExgsuF9_oWGF3MCjJNL1qORfU70dE6ayIdB--uYJEVlLb5qbxSQBQ0qA0SIfwa90TJzuDiojq3HFRYLyB9HjZVOaOKdbUYKhaMpqWzdQQMUAR05uFYPE8XPDbjn0nwbU5oY2_2rAcWcCDtG11ghlNnn23Ebbk0ooSE6jp-2J-9z2tgEZCcu2V07HGGo.wgHbV0BqQKTOI14hqybQ0CiRoIVDsESOYwNOgMMrOsw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Uncompromising+Intimacy&qid=1783609286&sprefix=uncompromising+intimacy%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1] Download the first chapter of Dr. Alexandra’s bestselling book, Uncompromising Intimacy, here: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book/] Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra’s proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/aligned-hot-marriage [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/aligned-hot-marriage/] Join Dr. Alexandra’s email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights, and opportunities to learn with her: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

289. How to Reignite Desire After Having Children | with Cordelia Kent

When children become the center of family life, it's easy for intimacy to fade into the background. In this episode of The Intimate Marriage Podcast, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell and Cordelia Kent share a heartfelt conversation about how to reignite desire, deepen emotional connection, and return to one another as loving partners.  About Cordelia Kent Cordelia Kent writes evocative love stories where desire tells the truth. Her contemporary romances are known for their emotional intelligence and unapologetic heat: in her worlds sex is transformation, intimacy is courage, and every happily-ever-after starts with radical vulnerability. She lives in a storybook Tudor in Kansas City with her dreamboat husband, two small wonders, and a backyard full of bunnies. Connect with Cordelia Kent: ⁠https://www.cordeliakent.com/⁠ [https://www.cordeliakent.com/] ⁠https://amzn.to/4a583Gb⁠ [https://amzn.to/4a583Gb] ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cordeliakentauthor⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/cordeliakentauthor] ⁠https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29131546.Cordelia_Kent⁠ [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29131546.Cordelia_Kent] https://www.facebook.com/cordeliakentauthor/  https://freebie.cordeliakent.com  Resources Mentioned: Emily Nagoski’s “Come As You Are”⁠ https://amzn.to/3MjOBfx⁠ [https://amzn.to/3MjOBfx] Certified Sexological Bodywork Trainings throughout the world: ⁠https://sexologicalbodyworkers.org/schools ⁠ [https://sexologicalbodyworkers.org/schools ] Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intimate-marriage-podcast/id1548060690] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NFfwXTz2n6C_2QdmrfEVg] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Wbafv13jIABeLgiZvr1l8]   Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=contact&utm_content=podcast] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrastockwell] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/intimacydoctor/]   Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl]   Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra’s bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book]   Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra’s proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alignedhotmarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alignedhotmarriage.com/]   Join Dr. Alexandra’s email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights, and opportunities to learn with her: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe]   This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Simplified Impact⁠⁠⁠ [https://hubs.ly/Q02vvMx10]

288. Marriage Communication That Builds Intimacy | Text Like Lovers, Not Roommates

Marriage communication is shaped by the small moments you create every day, including the texts you send. In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell shares simple, heartfelt ways to bring more playfulness, intimacy, and authentic relationship communication into your messages so you can nurture a marriage that feels warm, connected, and fully alive. Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intimate-marriage-podcast/id1548060690] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NFfwXTz2n6C_2QdmrfEVg] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Wbafv13jIABeLgiZvr1l8]   Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=contact&utm_content=podcast] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrastockwell] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/intimacydoctor/]   Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl]   Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra’s bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book]   Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra’s proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alignedhotmarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alignedhotmarriage.com/]   Join Dr. Alexandra’s email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights, and opportunities to learn with her: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe]   This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Simplified Impact⁠⁠ [https://hubs.ly/Q02vvMx10]

287. How Small Moments Build Extraordinary Marriages | 30 Years of Choosing Intimacy

Intimacy in marriage is not something you find. It's something you create through everyday moments of connection, vulnerability, and care. In this live talk, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell shares the simple yet powerful practice of choosing emotional intimacy, deepening communication, and creating a passionate, fulfilling relationship that grows stronger with time. Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intimate-marriage-podcast/id1548060690] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_NFfwXTz2n6C_2QdmrfEVg] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Wbafv13jIABeLgiZvr1l8]   Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=contact&utm_content=podcast] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrastockwell] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/intimacydoctor/]   Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl]   Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra’s bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book]   Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra’s proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.alignedhotmarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alignedhotmarriage.com/]   Join Dr. Alexandra’s email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights, and opportunities to learn with her: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe]   This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Simplified Impact⁠⁠ [https://hubs.ly/Q02vvMx10]