Relationships Made Easy

379. You're Not Overreacting. Here's What's Actually Happening.

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You snapped at your partner over something small, and you already know it wasn't really about that. You've gotten defensive with your mom, shu...

378. Stuck in a Situationship? Here's What's Really Going On

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I've been quoted in both the Wall Street Journal and Women's Health about situationships, and I’ve been on countless radio broadcasts talking about ...

377. Relationship Anxiety Explained: Why You Feel Insecure Even When Your Partner Is Safe

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You can be in a genuinely (or relatively) healthy relationship and still feel anxious. Your partner texts you back, they show up when they say they wi...

376. Why Do I Always Feel Like a Victim? Here's What's Really Going On

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like life is just constantly happening to you? Like, no matter how hard you try, you end up right back in that same exhausting place,...

375. Are You Codependent or Just a Good Person? Here’s How to Tell

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You’re a caring person. You show up. You give. You’d do just about anything for the people you love. So when someone suggests you might be codepen...

374. Is It Love or Limerence? How to Tell the Difference

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You know that feeling. You’re going about your day and, out of nowhere, they’re in your head again. You replay a conversation from three weeks ago...

373. Hustle Culture Is Lying to You: Make More Money by Working Smarter, Not Harder

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if I told you that the most powerful thing you could do for your financial life has nothing to do with working harder, hustling more, or grinding...

372. Why You Can't Get Out of Bed: Understanding Nervous System Shutdown vs. Rest

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been on TikTok lately, you've probably seen "bed rotting," people staying in bed all day, calling it self-care and radical rest. Gen Z is em...

371. Co-Regulation Explained: Why You Absorb Other People's Emotions (And How to Stop)

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever noticed how your partner's bad mood can completely derail your day? Or how when your sister calls upset, suddenly your heart is racing e...

370. Should You Have Kids or Not? The Psychology Behind One of Life’s Biggest Decisions

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Deciding whether to have kids isn’t just a practical decision. It’s one of the few choices in life that can feel irreversible, identity-shaping, a...

369. Avoidant Attachment: How to Love an Avoidant Partner Without Chasing or Losing Yourself

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you love someone who shuts down, pulls away, or goes emotionally quiet when things get close, this episode is for you. You might feel confused, lon...

368. When Your Partner Needs Constant Reassurance: What Helps and What Hurts

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you love someone who needs a lot of reassurance, clarity, or emotional check-ins, this episode is for you. Today you’ll learn what anxious attach...

367. Why Anxious and Avoidant Partners Keep Getting Stuck in the Same Cycle

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever been in a romantic relationship where one of you keeps reaching for closeness while the other pulls away just when things feel import...

366. Divorcing a Narcissistic Ex: Why It Escalates and How to Protect Yourself and Your Kids

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most people expect a divorce or breakup to be painful. What they don’t expect is for it to feel strategic, relentless, and never-ending. If you’re...

365. Should You Stay or Leave Your Relationship?

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you know when it’s time to stop trying in a relationship? I get asked this question a lot. How do you know if you’re giving up too soon? Ho...

364. You Think Everyone Is Judging You, But They Aren’t

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You think everyone is watching you. You think they noticed the weird thing you said. You think they’re analyzing your silence or your laugh or that ...

363. What to Do When Your Partner Shuts Down in Conflict

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your partner is not trying to ignore you during conflict. Their brain is overwhelmed. In this episode I explain emotional flooding, why it happens, an...

362. They Were There But Not Really: Healing From Neglectful Parents

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like your parents were there but somehow you still grew up feeling unseen, unheard, or like you had to handle everything alone? In this week...

361. How to Stop Freaking Out When Life Feels Uncertain

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your brain treats “not knowing” as danger, which is why uncertainty feels so awful. But you can train yourself to handle it. In this video, Dr. Ab...

360. Why You Keep Getting Triggered and How to Finally Break the Pattern

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You swear it’ll be different this time. You’ll stay calm when your mom criticizes you, when your partner walks away mid-argument, or when your fri...

359. Soothing Yourself First: Why Relying on Others Isn’t the Answer

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You always wait. You wait for the phone call from your partner, the text from a friend, the counselor’s time, maybe even your parent’s voice to ca...

358. Holiday Peace On Demand: What to Do When Family Drama Boils Over

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The holidays can bring out the best in us and the absolute worst. One minute you’re sipping cocoa, the next you’re fantasizing about running away ...

357. Talk So They Lean In: The 5 Moves for Difficult Conversations

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hard conversations don’t usually blow up because of the issue itself. They blow up because of the moves we make in the moment. You’ve been there: ...

356. When Kindness Has Claws: Dealing With Relational Aggression

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever had someone freeze you out of a group text? Spread just enough gossip to make you doubt yourself? Smile to your face while subtly undermining you...

355. What to Do When Someone Gives You the Silent Treatment

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re in a conflict, and suddenly, silence. No texts. No words. Just... nothing. It’s like you’re talking to a ghost. Whether it's your partner...

354. How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated: Science-Backed Strategies That Work

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever notice how you can get excited about something in the beginning, but then totally lose steam? You start a new meditation practice, promise yourse...

353. When to Speak Up: What to Do If You Think Your Friend’s Relationship Is Toxic

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re sitting across from your friend, watching them light up when their partner texts, and your stomach turns. Something feels off. You’ve seen ...

352. Is Your Anxiety Trying to Protect You?

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve probably been taught that anxiety is a bad thing. Something to eliminate, avoid, or medicate (legally or otherwise) into oblivion. But what i...

351. Tired of Being the Scapegoat? How to Handle Blamers Without Losing Your Mind

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You didn’t forget the milk, cause the delay, or ruin the weekend plans. But here you are, somehow the one being blamed. Again. Whether it’s a part...

350. Can You Be in Love but Live Apart? The Truth About LAT Relationships

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the healthiest thing for your relationship… was your own front door? Living Apart Together (LAT) is a growing trend where committed couples ...

349. Can AI Replace Your Therapist? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Try

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s be real. AI is everywhere, and it’s not just writing grocery lists or your kid’s English essay anymore, it’s sliding into the therapist’...

348. Love Goggles: Why You Ignore Red Flags When You’re Falling for Someone

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder why love makes you overlook the obvious red flags? 🛑 Your brain is literally on a chemical high. In this episode, Dr. Abby Medcalf reve...

347. When Your Partner Takes Other People’s Side (And What to Do About It)

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why your partner defends others instead of validating you, why it hurts so much, how this breaks the goodwill pillar of trust, and exactly how t...

346. Why You Stay: The Brain Science of Trauma Bonding and How to Break Free

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know the relationship isn’t healthy. Your friends see it. You feel it. So why can’t you let go? Maybe you’ve said something like:"They’...

345. Forgiveness Is a One-Person Job: Why You Don’t Need Them to Feel Better

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re taught that forgiveness is a mutual thing. That it’s about making amends, talking it through, hugging it out. But the truth, the freeing and...

Season 8 Sneak Peek: New Format, Big News, and How to Get Involved

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this teaser for Season 8, Abby shares a quick update on what’s changing and what’s staying the same on the Relationships Made Easy po...

344. Why Is Dating So Damn Hard Right Now? (And How to Spot Real Emotional Availability)

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been wondering whether dating is harder than it used to be, I’m here to tell you: yes. You’re not imagining things. It’s not just th...

343. Micro-Gaslighting: The Tiny Cuts That Undermine You

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know those moments that make you pause and think, “Wait, am I being ridiculous right now?” You feel off, but you can’t quite explain why. Th...

342. You Don’t Have to Earn It: Breaking Free from Transactional Self-Worth

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing enough?” at work, in your relationships, as a parent, or just as a person, you’re not alone. So many of m...

341. When Your Partner Is Being Evasive, Withholding Information, or Lying: A Guide to Navigating Relationship Deception

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing makes your stomach drop quite like that moment when you realize your partner isn’t telling you the truth. Whether it's an outright lie, a ca...

340. Judgment Detox: 8 Steps to Be Less Critical and More Connected

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While judgment can be a natural human response, being judgmental can erode your relationships and seriously hinder your personal growth. Yes, judgment...

339. Why You Keep Proving Yourself Right (Even When You're Miserable): The Psychology of Confirmation Bias and Defense Mechanisms

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You break up with someone and suddenly, every memory is framed as proof that they never really cared. You get into an argument with your mom, and you ...

338. How to Stop Taking It Personally: 5 Steps to Listen Without Getting Defensive

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not hard to stay calm and open when someone is complimenting your outfit or thanking you for dinner. But when they’re disappointed in you? Hu...

337. Why We’re So Afraid to Be Alone (and the Five Steps to Feel at Ease with Yourself)

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We talk a lot about loneliness these days, but we don’t talk enough about why being alone triggers such deep fear for so many of us. Is it just abou...

336. Is Food Addiction Real? Here’s the Truth (and 5 Steps to Healing)

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s start with a hard truth wrapped in a soft blanket: Yes, food addiction is real, and if you’re struggling with it, you’re not broken, lazy,...

335. Are You a Narcissist and Don’t Know It? The Truth About Healthy Selfishness vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“I’m just putting myself first, is that narcissistic?” “Am I being selfish or setting a boundary?” “I think I might be a narcissist.” So...

334. Dopamine Detoxing is a Scam (But You Should Still Do It)

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's fast-paced digital world, the concept of "dopamine detoxing" has gained traction as a method to reset our brains from constant stimulation....

333. Why You (or Your Partner) Struggle to Talk About Feelings: Understanding Alexithymia

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever felt like your partner shuts down when you ask, “How are you feeling?” or you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what I’m ...

332. Why We Eat Our Feelings: Understanding and Overcoming Emotional Eating

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever found yourself knee-deep in a pint of ice cream after a stressful day, convincing yourself that this is "self-care"? (Or is that just me?). Emoti...

331. A New Mindset for Navigating Neurodiverse Relationships

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re in a relationship where one or both partners are on the autism spectrum, you’ve probably noticed that the usual relationship advice does...

330. Codependency and Boundary Red Flags When Dating

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dating should be exciting, filled with curiosity, fun, and a growing sense of connection. But if you’ve struggled with boundaries in the past or fou...

329. The Science of Friendship: How to Build, Keep, and Let Go of Friends as an Adult

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Friendship is one of the most essential yet often overlooked aspects of our well-being. Not only does the research show that friendships keep us menta...

328. Stop Feeling Overwhelmed: The Four Steps to Set Healthy Boundaries with Family

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Families can be wonderful and supportive, but they can also be experts at overstepping, guilt-tripping, and ignoring personal space, like a TSA agent ...

327. Fear of Rejection vs. Fear of Abandonment: How to Tell the Difference and Heal Both

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fear of rejection and fear of abandonment are certainly similar, but they hold some important differences. In fact, what you do to heal your fear of r...

326. What Narcissists Do When Backed into a Corner: Lessons from Celebrities Who Lost Control

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When narcissistic, controlling people feel backed into a corner, meaning they’re exposed, challenged, or losing control, they tend to react with a r...

325. Seven Powerful Techniques to Breathe Yourself to Calm

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s something you do about 20,000 times a day: breathing. But don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Breathing isn’t just about keeping you alive; ...

324. Emotional Triggers: Understanding Your Brain and How to Keep It in Check

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever found yourself snapping at your partner because they left the toilet seat up (again), only to realize later that your reaction was a tad... over ...

323. Reclaiming Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Healing and Reparenting Yourself

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever felt like something was missing in your emotional development, struggled with self-worth, or found yourself repeating unhealthy pattern...

322. How to Move Past the Dysfunction or Trauma of Unhealthy Parenting

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in a dysfunctional or traumatic home can shape every part of your life: your sense of self, your relationships, your ability to trust, and ...

321. How to End a Relationship Without Breaking Each Other

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made conscious uncoupling famous in 2014. But where does it stand a decade later? When couples decide to part ways, t...

321. How to End a Relationship Without Breaking Each Other (Patreon Exclusive)

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made conscious uncoupling famous in 2014. But where does it stand a decade later? When couples decide to part ways, t...

320. How to Beat Stress and Overwhelm: 8 Research-Backed Tips for a Calmer Life

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s be real: life can feel like a never-ending hamster wheel. Between work, family, relationships, and that ever-growing to-do list, it’s easy t...

319. How to Make Long-Distance (and Live-In) Relationships Work: Proven Tips for Building Connection and Trust

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Abby's Patreon and get ad-free and early drop episodes of the podcast!Long-distance relationships (LDRs) are more prevalent than ever. With the r...

318. Why Body Image and Acceptance Can Be Tough: Five Steps to Make Peace with Your Body

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever caught yourself poking at your belly or scrutinizing your thighs in the mirror, you’re not alone. Body image is something most of u...

317. Emotional Healing Techniques: Mastering Mindfulness and Self-Acceptance/Compassion

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to heal emotionally, you have to focus on what you’re doing now, not what happened in the past. It’s, of course, important to speak ab...

316. How to Heal Yourself Emotionally: Mastering Self-Regulation for a Happier Life

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve talked about your past and likely know a lot of the reasons why you’ve got issues (I say with love). The problem is that even though you mi...

315. The Big Mistake You Make When Setting Goals (and How to Actually Achieve Your Goals This Year)

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it: setting goals is easy, but sticking to them? That’s a whole different story. How many times have you started the year determined to...

314. What to Do When They Need Constant Reassurance and Validation

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all had that person in our lives who constantly needs reassurance. Whether it’s your partner asking, “Do you really love me?” for the te...

313. Entitlement in Relationships: How to Recognize It and Break the Cycle

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Entitlement. It’s a word we toss around casually, usually about other people. (“Did you see how she cut the line? The entitlement!”) But here’...

312. The Five Steps to Resolving Conflict in Any Relationship

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Conflicts in any relationship are inevitable. Whether it's with a partner, friend, family member, or colleague, disagreements are going to happen as w...

311. Overcoming Self-Doubt: Five Steps to Confident Decision-Making

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Self-doubt is that relentless voice in your head that questions your choices, your worth, and your abilities. It can make even the most straightforwar...

310. Radical Acceptance: 5 Steps to Embrace Reality for Lasting Peace

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Radical acceptance is about fully acknowledging and accepting reality as it is, especially when it’s something we don’t like or want to change. Th...

309. How to Survive (and Enjoy!) the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind: 5 Steps for a Joyful Season

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, the holidays. A time of family, fun, and… overwhelm? If the thought of spending time with family or navigating the stress of the season makes yo...

308. How Childhood Neglect Impacts Your Adult Relationships and How to Heal: 3 Key Steps

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of my clients have issues today that relate back to being neglected as kids, but they’ve never realized that what happened to them was neglect....

307. What Is Compassion Fatigue? Signs, Causes, and 3 Powerful Tips to Overcome It

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Think about your relationships: Do you find yourself always giving but rarely receiving support? Are you the one everyone relies on to solve problems,...

306. Can You Trust Again After Betrayal? Three Key Areas to Heal Any Relationship

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While a partner cheating might seem like the most obvious betrayal in a relationship, there are actually many ways we can feel let down or deceived in...

305. How to Identify and Overcome Your Self-Limiting Beliefs

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Simply put, self-limiting beliefs are negative thoughts and perceptions you have (either consciously or unconsciously) about yourself that get in the ...

304. Three Holistic Approaches to Your Mental Health

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mental health issues come in all shapes and sizes, which means that mental health treatment needs to do the same. I’ve long been a fan of holistic a...

303. The Secret to Changing Your Unwanted Habits

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Creating a great relationship with yourself or others is all about creating healthy habits: getting into the habit of identifying and regulating your ...

302. Why You Feel Lonely (Even if You Have Friends) and Three Solutions that Work

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling lonely sucks! If you’re here with me now, you’ve likely experienced the pain of feeling lonely or isolated at some point in your life. Soc...

301. Is There a Healthy Way to Cut People Off?

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Parental or other familial estrangement is a real thing these days. And it’s more common than ever to block or cut off toxic friends or siblings. Bu...

300. Three Simple Habits to Structure and Plan Your Day so You Can Be Effective, Productive and Calm

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In my 40 years of experience, I’ve worked with bus drivers, billionaires, movie stars, and stay-at-home parents. I’ve worked with people who are d...

299. How to Deal with Someone Being Mad at You: The Four Things You Can Do

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the toughest parts of being human is dealing with others being angry or disappointed in us. You might react by being angry back, people pleasin...

298. How to Overcome Social Anxiety: My Top Five Tips for Creating a More Relaxed and Connected Life

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel self-conscious in social situations? Are you often afraid that others are judging you? Do everyday interactions cause you significant anxi...

297. How to Stop Feeling Frustrated and Angry in Your Relationships

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s healthy and normal to get frustrated or angry from time to time. However, it’s not healthy or normal to feel frustration and anger on a daily...

296. How Do You Know if You’re in a Healthy Relationship? Five Signs to Look for

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Because so many of us come from dysfunctional families, it can be hard to know if we’re in a healthy relationship or just repeating the screwed up s...

295. The Three Surprising Reasons Why Relationships Fail

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do relationships fail? When I ask people, “What’s the biggest issue in your relationship?” they almost always answer, “We don’t communic...

294. Seven Effective tools to deal with stress in your relationship

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It doesn’t take a genius to know that your relationship is worse off when you or your partner are under stress. A fight with your friend, money woes...

293. How to Overcome Your Fear of Rejection and Abandonment

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you have abandonment issues, you have a persistent fear of rejection or isolation in your relationships. This means you struggle with trust, codepe...

292. Two Steps to Stop Morning Anxiety

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you open your eyes in the morning and your first thoughts are negative, or you notice a feeling of dread or worry lurking about? Well, you’re not...

291. Five Steps to Stop Ruminating and Repetitive Negative Thinking

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You can’t stop thinking about it, no matter how hard you try. You’ve got some event or interaction from your past or future on an endless negative...

290. The Four Ways to Be More Resilient So You Can Be Happier in All Your Relationships

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The research shows that resilient people do better in every area of life. They cope better with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, heal...

289. Should You Date While You’re Going Through Therapy and Working on Healing?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should You Date While You’re Going Through Therapy and Working on Healing? The short answer is no but you don’t have to wait until you’re comple...

288. Can Introverts and Extroverts Be in a Relationship? Three Steps for Making an Introvert/Extrovert Relationship Work

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

He’d rather stay home, and you’d rather have dinner out. She needs alone time after work, and all you want to do is talk about your day. Introvert...

287. You Can You Change Your Personality by Doing This One Thing

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So, you want to change some aspects of your personality. Maybe you’ve got a short fuse and want to be more calm. Maybe you’re shy and introverted ...

286. Best Dating App Advice: An Interview with the Pros

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So many of you have told me that you find dating apps exhausting, confusing and overwhelming. Since I haven’t used them in over a decade, I brought ...

285. Feeling Misunderstood, Disrespected or Dismissed? The 3 Steps to Be Heard in Any Relationship

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you walking away from conversations feeling misunderstood, disrespected or dismissed? Do you find yourself repeating the same questions or desires...

284. What To Do (and Not Do) if Your Partner is Jealous

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jealousy has no place in a love relationship because jealousy is about fear, not love. But, it continues to be a huge issue in many relationships (I k...

283. How to Forgive Yourself: Five Tips to Let Go of Guilt, Shame and Past Regrets

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You messed up, or at least you think you did. Maybe it was a job you quit in the heat of the moment, not finishing your education ten years ago or che...

282. The Five Steps to Know if an Open Relationship is Right for You

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you call it a consensually non-monogamous relationship or ethical nonmonogamy, open relationships can be hard to define. It’s not cheating o...