What does it take to stay together—not just through the good times, but through unimaginable grief? In this deeply moving episode, Michael and Robin open up about their 30-year journey of partnership, from early friendship and blended family life to the devastating loss of Michael’s daughter.

With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, they share how they rebuilt trust, leaned into personal growth, and stayed connected even when everything around them was falling apart. Along the way, they offer powerful tools for communication, reflection, and healing that have helped them sustain intimacy over three decades.

Whether you're in a long-term relationship or navigating love after loss, this episode is a testament to what's possible when two people choose each other—over and over again.

00:00 – Intro: Love, Loss & Longevity
Welcome to the episode and a brief intro to Michael & Robin’s 30-year journey of partnership and healing.

02:11 – The Early Years: Friendship Before Romance
Michael and Robin share how their relationship began as colleagues and friends—and how the spark slowly turned to love.

05:45 – Becoming a Couple: Learning to Trust Again
Navigating early fears, family blending, and the pivotal moment Robin said “yes” to moving in.

09:30 – A Marriage Formed by Fire
They recall the early days of marriage, co-parenting challenges, and the emotional work required to stay committed.

14:12 – Tragedy Strikes: The Loss That Changed Everything
Michael and Robin open up about the devastating loss of Michael’s daughter and the grief that nearly tore them apart.

18:40 – Choosing to Stay: Healing in the Hardest Times
What it meant to stay together during grief—and how their marriage became a container for healing.

22:30 – Tools That Transformed Us: From Reactivity to Repair
The couple shares a favorite communication tool that helped them transform conflict into connection.

27:15 – Growing Up Together
How their individual personal growth work influenced their relationship—and how they learned to grow together.

30:40 – The Power of Perspective: Seeing Each Other Clearly
They discuss the gift of being truly seen by your partner, and the “long game” of intimacy.

35:20 – What Keeps the Spark Alive After 30 Years
Michael and Robin reflect on how they continue to nurture intimacy, play, and connection over the decades.

39:55 – Final Thoughts: Love as a Practice
Closing reflections on what love looks like now, and their hopes for other couples navigating love and loss.

How healthy is your relationship? Take the FREE Relationship Quiz and find out. https://couples.solutions/ Want to learn a couple of tools to upgrade your connection? Attend the two-hour Introduction to True Love. https://couples.solutions/intro/ Partner reluctant to participate? Transform your relationship on your own.

Social Handle: instagram.com/couples.solutions

Online Community Link

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⁠⁠transform@itsmikeelliott.com⁠⁠

⁠relating@courtneywren.com⁠

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Episode Summary

In the first episode of the Toe Curling Spiritual Sex Series, the hosts dive deep into the role of emotions and vulnerability in sexual intimacy. They debunk common myths that both men and women have been told about suppressing emotions during sex and reveal how true sexual alchemy emerges when emotions are embraced rather than repressed. The conversation explores how the masculine can welcome the feminine’s full emotional expression, while the feminine learns to trust the masculine’s presence. Through personal stories and intimate experiences, they demonstrate how emotional honesty in lovemaking can lead to deeper intimacy, profound healing, and "life-activating orgasms." Listeners are encouraged to cultivate sexual alchemy by embracing the full spectrum of emotions, creating a space of surrender, pleasure, and connection in their relationships.

Chapters

(00:00:17)Introduction to the Toe Curling Spiritual Sex Series(00:01:28) Debunking the Lies AboutEmotions in Sexuality

(00:02:21) The Role of Emotions inSexual Alchemy

(00:03:12) Parenting, Distractions,and Intimacy

(00:04:08) The Feminine Experience:How Suppressing Emotions Kills Desire

(00:05:51) The Masculine Experience:The Pressure to Perform

(00:07:42) Why Avoiding EmotionsCreates Sexual Disconnect

(00:10:12) Embracing Vulnerability inSexuality

(00:12:52) The Masculine’s Role inHolding Space for Emotions

(00:15:19) The Body’s Wisdom: How theNervous System Reacts to Pressure

(00:17:00) Personal Story: HealingShame Through Sexual Connection

(00:20:04) The Shift from Performanceto Presence

(00:22:34) The Feminine’s Invitationto the Masculine

(00:25:06) How Feminine ExpressionGuides Deeper Intimacy

(00:30:08) The Masculine’s Invitationto the Feminine

(00:35:49) Practical Ways to BuildSexual Alchemy

(00:42:40) A Profound Sexual HealingExperience

(00:49:54) Expanding Passion Beyondthe Bedroom

(00:55:31) Closing Thoughts &Invitation to the Community

Online Community Link

⁠https://www.sacredrelating.com/⁠

Donation link 👇🙏🏼❤️🌏

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Email:

⁠⁠transform@itsmikeelliott.com⁠⁠

⁠relating@courtneywren.com⁠

Website

⁠⁠www.itsmikeelliott.com⁠⁠

Instagram

@MikeElliott.Relating

MINDFULMEDS MUSHROOM PRODUCTS

⁠https://mindfulmeds.io/⁠

15% off with

PROMO CODE: TOGETHER

THE SKIN DEEP CARDS

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Courtney goes into the journey of the "awakened woman" and the importance of the feminine energy in sacred relationship, including the need to work through anger and frustration to cultivate a fierce love that can initiate and call forth the masculine. She emphasizes the importance of the feminine developing a strong relationship with her inner masculine, as well as being willing to be fiercely loving and truthful with the outer masculine partner. The speaker also addresses common hang-ups for the feminine, such as spilling emotions without discernment and struggling to hold space for the masculine's vulnerability. She encourages the feminine to practice assuming their partner has wisdom they cannot see, and to be open to being initiated and grown by the masculine. Courtney invites listeners to explore these themes further through her upcoming women's community.

(00:00:17) Welcome & Introduction
(00:01:28) The Power of Community
(00:02:21) The Feminine Journey & Why It Matters
(00:03:11) From Anger to Fierce Love
(00:03:57) Strengthening Our Inner Masculine
(00:04:33) My Personal Relationship Journey
(00:06:23) The Power of Relational Mirrors
(00:07:32) Honoring the Feminine Blueprint
(00:10:14) Sacred Rage: Catalyst or Destruction?
(00:14:14) Fiercely Loving the Masculine
(00:18:17) Working with Emotion: Not Just Spilling
(00:24:27) The Masculine in Vulnerability
(00:35:38) The Inner Masculine: Our Foundation
(00:47:10) Dreaming with the Masculine
(01:02:02) Seeing the Masculine’s Wisdom
(01:04:56) Final Thoughts & Community Offerings

Online Community Link

https://www.sacredrelating.com/

Donation link 👇🙏🏼❤️🌏

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VWHABJWZ749X4

Email:

⁠transform@itsmikeelliott.com⁠

relating@courtneywren.com

Website

⁠www.itsmikeelliott.com⁠

Instagram

@MikeElliott.Relating

MINDFULMEDS MUSHROOM PRODUCTS

https://mindfulmeds.io/

15% off with

PROMO CODE: TOGETHER

THE SKIN DEEP CARDS

https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/all

Promo Code: Together15