Dear Dr. Tracy

In this episode, I sit down with Mira Simone, a grief coach, published writer, mother, and widow. Mira shares her experience of losing her partner Brian to an aggressive form of cancer in 2019 and her story of navigating this grief in the years that followed. Mira discusses how she found her passion for writing, which led her to launch her grief support platform, New Moon Mira, in 2022. Together, we discuss how writing and sharing her story publicly became a crucial outlet for her to process her thoughts and grief, guiding her on her healing journey. We also discuss the additional challenges of being a solo parent, starting a business, and navigating friendships and relationships following her partner’s passing.    In this episode, we discuss:    Writing publicly about her grief became a vital outlet for Mira to process her thoughts and guide her healing journey.   The feelings and challenges you experience in the first 2 years of grieving    How to receive and give comfort to someone who is grieving  Navigating solo parenting, starting a business, and raising a young daughter as a widow   The difficulties and challenges of navigating dating as a widow and a parent   Mira Simone Instagram New Moon Mira Website  Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again    Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love   Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass      Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected     Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with renowned Potty Training Consultant, Allison Jandu. As the owner and founder of Potty Training Consultant, Allison has worked with over 6,000 families, offering potty training advice and support for parents. Together, we explore the pressures and challenges of potty training, how to navigate setbacks, and the importance of taking a personalized approach that suits your family's needs. From identifying readiness signs in your child to incorporating rewards and measuring small wins, we cover a range of practical strategies to make the potty training journey smoother and more successful.    In this episode, we discuss:    How to know when your child is ready and when to start the potty training process   The pressures of potty training and how to navigate setbacks   The importance of allowing you and your family time to readjust along the way   Using rewards in the potty training process   The importance of acknowledging the successes of your potty-training progress  Recognizing that potty training involves everyone in your family    Allison’s top tips to parents entering the potty training process  Episode Links: Allison Jandu Instagram Potty Training Consultant Website Potty Training Consultant Free Resources   Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again    Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love   Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass      Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected     Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with my husband Greg to discuss our experience completing my 100 Questions to Spark a Deeper Connection Guide. We'll also discuss the poll results from a series of relationship questions I shared on my Instagram, and share our perspectives on enhancing communication and connection with your partner. In this episode we discuss:  Our experience completing the 100 Questions Guide (it's free!) Finding balance between the quantity and quality of communication in your relationship  The significance of open discussions and setting expectations during major life transitions like starting a family  Identifying common triggers for resentment and finding effective ways to address them in relationships  Overcoming the challenges of initiating meaningful conversations with your partner  The benefit of dedicating regular check-ins with your partner to nurture and strengthen your relationship   Pre-order my book now (Released 09/12)! Your pre-order purchase includes many exclusive bonuses.Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love   Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass      Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected     Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Kacie Rose, the world traveler behind Kacie Rose Travel. After a life-changing solo trip and her own "Under the Tuscan Sun" moment, Kacie Rose moved to Italy in January 2021 to be with her long-distance partner. By sharing her experiences online about her life as an American living abroad, travel tips, and more, she has built an outstanding online community of 1.5 million people. Together, we delve into her experiences of moving abroad and the struggles of navigating life living in a new country. She shares her experiences of embracing a new culture, navigating the language barrier, building friendships as an adult, and how she has worked to maintain a healthy relationship with her partner.  In this episode we discuss:  The importance of prioritizing quality time in a long-distance relationship  Navigating personal growth and significant life changes as a couple  Adapting to cultural differences in an intercultural relationship  Struggles with losing independence when navigating language barriers  Building and nurturing friendships as an adult  Tips for individuals planning to live abroad  EPISODE LINKS:  Kacie Rose Travel Instagram Kacie Rose Travel TikTok Kacie Rose Travel YouTube Kacie Rose Travel Website  Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again    Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love   Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass      Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected     Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Fray, a relationship coach and author of "This is How Your Marriage Ends". He leans on the lessons of his failed marriage and divorce to help others avoid making the same mistakes he did.    Together, we discuss the importance of mindful validation and communication in marriages. He shares his insights on how small actions can lead to bigger messages and the impact of emotional neglect and micro-betrayals in relationships. Matthew also shares tips on how to embrace uncomfortable conversations and work towards conflict resolution in a marriage.   In this episode, we discuss:  The common struggle between communication and validation when there is a problem   Inadvertently delivering a message through small actions and the long term effects   How to get over your defensive and invalidating tendencies   Mindful validation during disagreements can help couples work through conflicts   How our relationships often reflect the stuff we are working through   The key to working towards conflict resolution is leaning into discomfort and embracing uncomfortable conversations   EPISODE LINKS: Matthew Fray Instagram Matthew Fray Blog Purchase his book here!  Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again       Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love      Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass         Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected      Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Christina Nelson, a social worker and creator of the Radical Stepmoms podcast.    Cristina is passionate about providing support to stepmoms and assisting them in getting unstuck so they can build the love and life they desire.    Together, we take a deeper look at the realities of being a stepmom and open up an honest conversation to discuss resentment, responsibilities, and dynamics within the stepmotherhood role.    In this episode, we discuss:    How stepmotherhood changes and challenges your identity   The negative representation of stepmoms in the media  Processing the grief and your initial expectations of motherhood    How to find confidence in your place and power in the stepmom role    The feeling of resentment and how to process through it    Addressing your needs and advocating for yourself when moving into a set family dynamic    Practicing open communication and boundary setting   The definition of "disengaging" and how to practice it    Tips to strengthen your relationship with your partner    EPISODE LINKS:   The Radical Stepmoms Podcast Instagram The Radical Stepmoms Podcast WebsiteLooking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again     Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love    Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass       Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected    Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Lo Mansfield, a specialty certified OB nurse who has spent her career in labor and postpartum, and the teacher and face behind the Labor Mama community courses and resources.  Together, we discuss the intricacies of postpartum and the power of how resources and knowledge can change our experiences.  In this episode, we cover:   The feeling of grief in pregnancy and child birth   The importance of having a support system and receiving help in postpartum  How to acknowledge and have grace for your own change on the parenting journey   The ability to have an empowered and knowledgeable birth experience  Responding to fear in the labor process  How to practice pain with purpose   Recognizing postpartum mental health challenges and implementing accountability    EPISODE LINKS:  The Labor Mama Instagram The Labor Mama Website     Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again   Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love  Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass     Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected  Deepen your Connection with your Partner: 100 Questions to Connect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Tracy sits down to answer some of your most asked questions across social media, her website, and clinical visits. Listen as Dr. Tracy tackles key topics in marriage and parenthood when it comes to managing boundaries, the mother-in-law dynamic, and more. In this episode, she covers: Grief and raising your family in a city without family support How to build friendship and connection with others outside of your family How to process inner narratives in alignment with your values Adjusting your expectations when the reality of family-life is different than you planned The shifts to the marriage dynamic after having children How to set, communicate, and act upon our boundaries with others Practices to create safe and secure environments in your marriage How to raise your children to be autonomous, interdependent individuals Tips to navigate different background experiences in defining your values and creating compromise with others Want Dr. Tracy to answer your questions? Submit your topic on drtracyd.com/podcast.Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again  Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love  Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass     Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with neurodiverse affirming pediatric occupational therapist, Laura Petix, who specializes in sensory processing skills for neurodivergent individuals.     Laura is the parent of a neurodivergent daughter and CEO of the OT Butterfly, where she educates parents on how sensory processing can have a direct impact on learning and behavior.    Together, we discuss neurodiversity, sensory processing, and a lot of good stories in between.  In this episode, we cover:   Defining the "sensory cup" and what that means for neurodivergent children   The differences in sensory processing between the neurodivergent and neurotypical brain   How to share knowledge with a partner when raising a neurodivergent child     The negative narratives children internalize about themselves   How to have regulated and calm responses as parents in dysregulated moments    Understanding the child’s internal experience when having a dysregulated moment     Normalizing communication with your child about your sensory stimulation and needs as a parent   Breaking down the meaning of neurodiversity and neurodiverse affirming  High threshold vs. low threshold profiles for sensory processing and how to regulate them    The autonomous connection we can have with our spouse and child when it comes to our sensory experience   After listening to this episode, be sure to listen to part 2, Episode 73, with Laura and Dr. Tracy here. EPISODE LINKS:  Laura Petix Instagram  Laura Petix Website   Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again   Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love  Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass     Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I sit down with Neha Ruch, a rising thought leader and sought after speaker in the world of women, work, parenting, and identity.  Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, and New York Family Magazine, and founder of Mother Untitled, the digital destination for ambitious and progressive women, Neha is on a mission to update the perception of stay at home motherhood in America.   Together, we tackle the topic of what it means to be “A Stay At Home Mom” and dive into the complexities that mothers face when transitioning from traditional career paths into a focus on family life.   In this episode, we discuss:  What it means to be ambitious and lean into family life for a chapter  The societal and internal barriers mothers face when choosing to pause from their careers  How to practice proper consideration and communication with your partner when preparing for shifts in parenthood and career life   What it means to “re-meet” your partner when you become parents  The responsibility behind advocating for your own needs and nurturing your identity  What it means to practice conscious parenting in the midst of healing from your own pain and trauma  How to ask and invest in help when you are the parent on pause   EPISODE LINKS:  Neha Ruch Instagram  Neha Ruch Website  Looking for more? Join me in my online teachings so you can feel like a team again   Get intentional with your partner and reconnect with small actions every day with 28 Days of Love  Ready to learn how to repair? Take my FREE masterclass     Looking to improve your relationship? Join me in my online program, Be Connected  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices