There are parts of my marriage I’ve never really talked about publicly…until now. Welcome to part one of a new four-part mini series, All the Stuff I Don’t Usually Talk About. I may share a lot of my life online, but the reality is that you’re only seeing a tiny fraction of what’s actually happening behind the scenes. In this episode, we’re starting with marriage. I’m opening up about what Michael and I actually argue about, how having kids changed our relationship, the ways our communication styles differ, and some of the traits in myself that I’ve had to confront along the way. I talk about my tendency to problem-solve when Michael really needs emotional support, why I’m working on becoming a better listener, my defensiveness during conflict, and some of the ways we approach parenting differently. I also share why becoming parents was the first time I truly understood what people meant when they told us “marriage is hard” — and why even after more than a decade together before having kids, we still had to learn how to navigate an entirely new version of our relationship. Michael and I have a relationship I’m incredibly grateful for, and we still have things we work through. We both go to therapy, we’ve tried couples counseling, and I’m always interested in finding ways to communicate better and continue strengthening our relationship. If you’re married, partnered, parenting together, or have ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of a relationship that looks solid from the outside, this one is for you. It’s vulnerable, but I think that's exactly why it's useful. Sponsors: Cotton: Learn more at https://www.TheFabricOfOurLives.com Labcorp OnDemand: Visit https://www.OnDemand.Labcorp.com/realstuff and use code "realstuff" to save up to 15% on select tests. Nutrafol: Visit https://www.nutrafol.com and enter promo code REALSTUFF for $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping. ButcherBox: Go to https://www.ButcherBox.com/realstuff for $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life, or free chicken thighs or top sirloins in every box for a year – with free shipping always. Watch this episode in video form on Spotify or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story. I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone. Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod Find Lucie here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink Website: https://luciefink.com/ Subscribe to my free newsletter "The Lucie List" here: https://thelucielist.beehiiv.com/subscribe Executive Producer: Cloud10 Produced by Dear Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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