The Connected Life

For many of us, setting boundaries sounds reasonable outside of a romantic relationship. But what happens once you’re in deep—sharing a life, a home, and a bed? How do you navigate that kind of nearness? In part one of this two part series, Justin and Abi get personal about the power of boundaries inside a romantic relationship. They unpack the painful dance between autonomy and connection and share the chaos of their early years: the unspoken expectations, the fights about leaving parties, and the struggle to find themselves without losing each other. They also discuss how healthy boundaries preserve individuality while also becoming bridges to intimacy. If you want to create a thriving relationship where both parties feel secure to be fully themselves this series is just what you’re looking for. You won’t want to miss out. You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Most of us never learned how to share pain in a way that brings us closer. Instead, we vent, shut down, accuse, or spiral into fear—hoping to feel understood but often creating more disconnection in the process. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In part two of this two-part series, Justin and Abi get practical about how to communicate pain in a way that invites connection. They unpack how all-or-nothing language, judgment, and emotional weaponization drive partners further apart. They also share vulnerable stories about the moments they got it wrong, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and the practical tools they now use to stay safe and soft—even in conflict. Lastly, they explore the power of self-awareness, inward communication, emotional nuance, and learning to narrate what’s really happening inside. If you’ve ever wanted to be heard without hurting someone, or feel safer sharing your emotions without shutting your partner down, this episode is a powerful guide for building the kind of trust and closeness you’ve always wanted. Don’t miss out! You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Most of us were never taught how to share pain in a way that brings connection. We were taught to explode, shut down, or stay silent—and those patterns don’t just disappear when we get into relationships. In this episode, Justin and Abi explore the messy ways they both used to express pain—and the chaos it created in their marriage. From nonverbal shutdowns to emotional overwhelm and assumptions that turned into judgments, they explain how unspoken pain builds walls and leaves both people feeling powerless. You’ll hear how their childhoods shaped their reactions, how misreading each other’s signals led to bigger disconnects, and what it took to begin rewiring those patterns. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much” when you try to share your feelings—or you find yourself constantly shutting down instead of opening up—this episode will help you understand why. This is part one of a two-part series—don’t miss it. You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Empathy can be one of the most destructive forces to connection—or one of the most powerful. Without it, relationships become cold and judgmental. But too much of it, without boundaries, and we lose ourselves trying to carry everyone else’s pain. So how do we find that middle ground? In this episode, Justin and Abi unpack what healthy empathy looks like, and what happens when it gets twisted into judgment or codependency. They share raw and personal stories from their own marriage—navigating chronic illness, financial stress, different upbringings, and PTSD—to show how empathy helped them heal long-standing patterns of resentment, disconnection, and pain. You’ll learn the difference between cognitive and affective empathy, how boundaries make empathy safer, and why being “too empathetic” can actually be a sign of unprocessed trauma. If you’ve ever struggled with being too empathetic, not empathetic enough, or confused about what empathy should look like in healthy relationships, this conversation is a game-changer. Don’t miss out! You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Discover the tangled web of disorganized attachment styles and how they create mixed signals in relationships. The hosts unpack emotional incest, boundaries, and the chaos of wanting closeness while fearing intimacy. Personal stories reveal how childhood trauma shapes our connections. Learn about the internal struggles of feeling inadequate and the journey towards healthier relationships. This enlightening discussion offers hope for clarity and healing, guiding listeners towards secure connections and self-awareness.

Most of us don’t realize how much of our relationship pain is rooted in old stories—until those stories start playing out with the person we love most. It’s easy to blame our partners for the chaos in a relationship. But what if the truth is that we’re all just scared kids trapped in adult bodies, equally making messes as we search for safety? In this raw and redemptive episode, Justin and Abi share the full arc of their healing journey—from trauma bonding and codependency to finding internal safety, building emotional resilience, and learning to love without self-abandonment. They reflect on the missteps, the meltdowns, the moments that nearly broke them, and the powerful shifts that changed everything. Together, they paint a picture of what it means to stop trying to fix each other and start healing from the inside out. If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you don’t understand, judged yourself for how you react, or wondered if your relationship could really change—this episode is for you. Don’t miss out! You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!  

Most of us were never taught how to feel emotions—let alone how to express them in a way that feels safe for us and the people we love. From family dynamics to gender norms to childhood survival strategies, our emotional patterns were shaped long before we had words to describe them. In this episode, Justin and Abi dive into one of the most common relationship struggles: how we respond to emotions—both our own and others’. They explore the battle between “too emotional” and “not emotional enough,” sharing personal stories that reveal just how often those extremes are shaped by past pain. They also break down what’s really happening in these moments—threat responses, nervous system dysregulation, and internalized judgments—and show what it looks like to feel without becoming consumed. Whether you’ve ever been shut down for having big feelings or felt overwhelmed by someone else’s, this conversation will help you understand where those reactions come from and how to move toward emotional safety—for you and the people you care about. You won’t want to miss this episode—it might just shift how you see emotional connection altogether. You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Most of us were never taught to explore where our beliefs about sex came from—let alone how those beliefs affect our experience of it. From purity culture to porn culture, from family dynamics to religious messaging, our beliefs are shaped long before we’re ever in the bedroom. In this episode, Justin and Abi have a candid and compassionate conversation about the belief systems that shape our sexuality. They share personal stories—from childhood moments that left lasting impressions to conversations that helped them heal shame and find a new perspective. Together, they unpack the spectrum of sexual messaging—from repression to overexposure—and explore how to find a path toward sexual wholeness. Whether you’ve felt shut down, confused or ashamed, or simply want a deeper connection to your sexuality, this episode will help you identify where your beliefs came from and how to reshape them. You won’t want to this opportunity to make the most out of your sex life! You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

Let’s be real—most of us didn’t get great sex ed growing up, and even fewer of us learned how emotional pain, shame, and past beliefs impact our sex lives. If your sex life has lost its spark or feels more like pressure than connection, you’re not alone. Many couples quietly struggle, unsure how to talk about it without blame or guilt. In this episode, Justin and Abi open up about their own journey with intimacy, from navigating physical illness and shifting hormones to learning how emotional safety, body presence, and communication shape a thriving sex life. They unpack why sex often changes in long-term relationships, how old wounds surface when real intimacy begins, and how building mutual value for sex can reignite passion and deepen connection. Whether you’ve felt distant in your relationship, shut down around sex, or just want to build something more fulfilling—this episode is full of compassionate, honest wisdom. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to talk about your sex life without shame and begin cultivating connection that feels life-giving, not performative. This conversation might just be the starting point your relationship needs. You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!

So many of us feel like we’re just going through the motions of life—rushing through tasks, ignoring our bodies, and avoiding the feelings that seem too big to face. But the more we disconnect from what’s happening inside, the more life starts to feel flat, disconnected, and exhausting. What if the real magic of life is found in slowing down and being present? In this episode, Justin and Abi explore what it really means to be present. They discuss how daily distractions pull us away from truly living life and how deep internal fears keep us from being with ourselves. Through personal stories of dissociation, grief, and healing, they invite listeners into a powerful conversation about the joy, connection, and love that become available when we stop running and start feeling. If you’ve been caught in constant busyness, numbing out with your phone, or avoiding parts of your story because they feel too big to handle—this episode is a gentle reminder that you don’t have to face it all at once. Presence is a practice. And even the smallest step toward noticing your internal world can bring more connection, clarity, and compassion than you imagined possible. You can WATCH us at https://www.justinandabi.com/theconnectedlife Don’t forget to RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!