The Connection Podcast - Lauren Dry

There’s a particular moment many high-functioning people recognise. You’re self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and used to solving problems. You reflect, you communicate, you look for tools, yet the relationship still feels heavy, confusing, or quietly draining. You start wondering what you’re missing, and why it still doesn’t feel settled in your body.In this episode, Lauren Dry is joined by psychologist, therapist, and author Katarzyna (Kasia) Dodd, creator of the Inner Parent Theory and the INHERENCE® process. Together, they explore covert narcissism through a grounded, nervous-system-informed lens, unpacking how it differs from trauma patterns or relationship dysfunction, and why capable, empathetic people often stay far longer than they meant to.This is a hopeful, clarifying conversation for anyone trying to work out whether the work is about repair, or about learning to stop carrying what was never yours to fix.You’ll hear us explore:The difference between covert narcissism and trauma-based relationship patternsWhy emotionally intelligent, high-achieving people are especially vulnerable to trauma bondsHow intensity, love bombing, and mirroring can bypass discernmentWhat your nervous system can tell you when something isn’t workableHow boundaries, self-trust, and inner work create clarity and emotional easeResources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage.📱 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryConnect with Katarzyna Dodd:Website: https://katarzynadodd.com/Book: The Chameleon’s Game – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZYTZMSMIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren x

Have you ever noticed that you can be the most supportive, present friend in the world, but the second you’re alone with your partner, you feel like you're losing your footing?You’re functioning. You’re handling the logistics. You’re a success everywhere else. But inside your marriage, it feels like the air has gone heavy and you’re back to feeling like the "common denominator" who just can't get it right.If you’ve ever felt like you're failing at the one thing that should be simple, wondering why you can’t just find that same ease at home, this episode will land. It’s about understanding the "mask" that happens when your nervous system starts protecting you before your heart even has a chance to connect.In this episode, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, unpacks why high-achieving individuals so often feel more secure in their community than in their own living room. She explores how the very skills that make you successful in business can quietly work against your intimacy, and what it actually takes to trade that armour for a connection that feels like a soft landing.You’ll hear about:Why you feel like a "great friend" to the world but "not okay" in your marriage.How being "highly capable" is often just a survival habit in a fancy suit.Why your body screams when you try to take off your armour and put down your sword.The difference between who you truly are and the patterns you’ve used to survive.Small, tender shifts to help closeness start to feel safe again.Resources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

You know that feeling when everything was fine ten minutes ago, but suddenly you’re in a cold, prickly standoff over something as small as the school pickup?You’re not trying to be dramatic. You’re not trying to pick a fight. But suddenly, the air feels heavy, someone is quiet, and you’ve both retreated into your corners without even knowing how you got there.If you’ve ever thought, Why does everything always spiral like this?, this episode is for you. It’s about understanding the "dance" that happens when your nervous systems start arguing before your brains can even catch up.In this episode of The Connection Podcast, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, unpacks the defensive resentment loop that high-achieving couples fall into. She explores why your partner’s defensiveness is rarely about your tone, and why your resentment is usually about the emotional baggage of carrying the load alone.You’ll hear about:Why normal conversations can suddenly feel like a personal attack on your identity.The "spiral of doom" that happens when one person feels abandoned and the other feels like a failure.How old childhood patterns make your body brace for impact and pull connection away when you make a mistake.The difference between fighting about a topic and your nervous systems simply reacting to each other.Three micro-tools to interrupt the cycle today so that connection starts to feel easier and less like "stepping on Lego."Resources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage.📱 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

If your relationship has started to feel more like managing life than sharing it, there’s a reason.You’re functioning. You’re handling the logistics. You’re a solid team. On the outside, it looks like things are working.But inside, it can feel like the relationship part has gone quiet. Like you’ve become really good at running a life together, and you’re not sure how to find your way back to closeness, ease, and intimacy.If you’ve ever had the thought, Is this it now?, while also feeling guilty for even thinking it, this episode will land.In this episode Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, unpacks why high-achieving couples so often slip into teammate mode. She explores how the skills that help you build a life together can quietly work against intimacy, and what actually helps connection come back without forcing it or blowing everything up.You’ll hear about:Why marriage can start to feel transactional, even when the love is still thereHow compromise and compartmentalising keep things running, but disconnect you emotionallyThe fear of wanting more, and why that doesn’t mean something is wrong with youHow attention, energy, and daily habits quietly shape intimacySmall, realistic shifts that help closeness come back onlineResources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

You know that feeling when you still love them, but your body is like… nope.You’re not trying to be dramatic, you’re not trying to nitpick, but suddenly everything feels irritating, flat, or strangely off.If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I getting the ick?” or “Where did the romance go?”, this episode is a deep exhale. It’s not about blaming your partner or making you feel broken. It’s about understanding what your nervous system is doing underneath it all.In this episode of The Connection Podcast, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, unpacks how resentment, nervous system overload, and feeling emotionally unsafe can quietly switch off desire and connection in modern relationships.This is a conversation about what “the ick” can actually be pointing to, and how to start rebuilding safety and closeness without forcing romance or pretending things are fine.You’ll hear us explore:Why “the ick” can be a nervous system response, not a sign your relationship is doomedHow resentment builds when you’re carrying too much, or not saying what’s trueWhat happens when your body stops feeling safe, even if your mind still wants connectionThe difference between a relationship problem and a dysregulation problemSmall, realistic ways to bring safety, softness, and romance back online over timeResources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren x

Have you ever known you should apologise, but your body just won’t let you? Not because you don’t care, but because even thinking about saying sorry feels heavy, tight, or almost impossible. You replay the moment, feel the shame rise, and somehow the words stay stuck.This episode is for the moments after disconnection, when your nervous system is still activated and repair feels out of reach, even though connection matters deeply to you.This is the second episode in a holiday series where Lauren revisits some of the most listened to and most returned to conversations from The Connection Podcast, to support you through busy, emotionally loaded seasons.In this episode of The Connection Podcast, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, unpacks why apologising can feel so threatening when you’re dysregulated, what’s actually happening in your nervous system, and how to approach repair in a way that doesn’t require self abandonment.Lauren shares honest reflections, nervous system context, and practical ways to begin repairing without forcing yourself to bypass your body’s signals.You’ll hear about:Why saying sorry can feel physically unsafe when your nervous system is activatedHow shame and self protection block repair, even when you want to reconnectThe difference between forced apologies and regulated repairWhy repair starts with safety in your body, not the perfect wordsSmall, honest ways to move back towards connection after a hard momentResources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren x

There’s a particular kind of shame that hits after you snap at your kids or your partner, especially around holidays and long weekends when everyone’s “meant” to be happy. On the outside it looks like family time and full calendars. Inside, your body feels tense, wired and stretched thin.You know the tools. You understand the nervous system. You care deeply about your people. But in those moments when you’re exhausted or overstimulated, it can feel like something else takes over and you’re left replaying it all, wondering why you couldn’t just pause.This episode opens a holiday series where Lauren revisits some of the most listened to and most returned to conversations from The Connection Podcast to support you through busy, emotionally loaded seasons.In this episode, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, shares a real parenting moment where she was at her limit, what was happening in her body, and the simple exercise that helped her move out of shame and back into connection.You’ll hear what’s actually going on in your nervous system when you’re maxed out, why your inner critic gets louder under pressure, and how to reset after hard moments instead of staying stuck in the spiral.You’ll hear about:How shame shows up in your body after you lose it, and what to notice nextThe “harsh inner coach” voice, and what it’s trying to protectA short guided exercise you can use to reset after a tough moment with your kids or partnerHow small, honest repair moments rebuild trust more than getting it “right” every timeWhat changes when you repair with yourself before you repair with your kids or partnerResources & Links:🌐 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren x

A note before we begin: this episode includes conversation about domestic violence and coercive control. Please take care of yourself as you listen, and pause anytime you need. 🤍There’s a kind of confusion that can live inside a relationship, especially when everything looks “fine” on the outside. You’re functioning, achieving, holding it all together… but inside, something feels tight, uneasy, or off.In this episode, Lauren Dry is joined by Cat Dunn, an award-winning Online Business Manager, mentor, speaker, and founder of Life After I Left podcast and speaker events. Cat shares her lived experience of domestic violence, including emotional, financial, and digital control, and why it’s so easy to minimise what’s happening when there’s no obvious moment you can point to and say, this is abuse.This is an honest, grounded conversation about self-trust, nervous system wisdom, and the slow work of naming what’s real, so clarity and ease become possible again.You’ll hear us explore:How domestic violence can show up without physical harm (emotional, financial, and digital control)Why “it’s not that bad” and “at least…” thinking can keep you stuckIntuition vs hypervigilance, and how your body tells the truthCompromise vs coercion, and what repeated shutdown can signalHow safe support and community help you rebuild self-trust, one step at a timeResources & Links:🛜 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryConnect with Cat Dunn:Website: catlouisedunn.comInstagram: @catlouisedunnLife After I Left: IG @lifeafterileftpodcast Podcast: Life After I LeftIf something in this episode opened something up for you, share it with someone who might need it, leave a review, or send me a message on Instagram. You don’t have to hold this alone.Big love,Lauren X

There’s a kind of holiday stress that never makes it into the cute Christmas photos. On the outside it looks like full tables, busy calendars and everyone “making an effort”. Inside, it can feel like you’re bracing for certain comments, carrying the mental load, or wondering how you’ll hold it together all day.You might already know which relative will push your buttons, or which topic will set things off. Maybe you leave family gatherings wired, flat, or annoyed at yourself for snapping, overexplaining or going quiet. If your body feels tense before you have even walked through the door, you’re not imagining it.In this episode, Lauren Dry, Master Marriage Coach and founder of Rise into Regulation™, talks through what is actually happening in your nervous system during the holiday season. She unpacks how old roles, enmeshment and different communication styles stir things up, then shares simple, body-based tools and language you can lean on in real family moments.This is a honest chat about protecting your peace, staying connected where it feels safe, and letting your nervous system guide you instead of old survival patterns.You’ll hear about:Why your body can mix up anxiety and excitement around Christmas and holidaysSimple nervous system tools to use when you feel flooded, restless or on edgeHow enmeshment can show up in everyday family moments and old rolesHow Lauren’s Connected Boundaries Bible can guide your choicesHow educate, redirect and release can support you when conversations get tenseConnected Boundaries Bible: quick referenceThree layers of connection:Communication: how you want to speak and be spoken to, tone, timing, space to pause and repairLifestyle: how you want day to day life and holidays to feel, time, routines, drinking, parenting load, where and how you spend eventsCore values: your non negotiables, safety, how you raise your kids, what you are and are not willing to live with long termThree doorways for boundaries:Educate: name what happened, share how it lands in your body, and gently say what you need insteadRedirect: change the topic, timing or setting so the conversation is shorter, safer or more workableRelease: step away or opt out, with a simple bridge like, “I am not available for this right now, let’s talk about it another time.”Resources & Links:🛜 Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

There’s a moment in so many relationships where things look fine on the outside, but inside it feels like you’re talking different emotional languages. You’re naming what you feel, you’re trying to connect, you’re doing the work, yet somehow he still shuts down or pulls away. And if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I feel like his mother”, or wondered, “Why is this so hard? Am I missing something?” this episode brings so much clarity and relief.In this episode, Lauren Dry is joined by her husband and co-coach, Morgan Dry, Men’s Relationship and Leadership Mentor. Together they unpack what’s really happening inside men when things feel overwhelming, why shutdown happens even when they care deeply, and how tiny shifts in safety, tone and communication can change everything.It’s a honest and grounding conversation that helps couples translate each other’s emotional language and reconnect in ways that feel safer, clearer and more mutual.You’ll hear us explore:Why men often care deeply but struggle to understand emotional languageWhat avoidant shutdown feels like inside a man’s bodyHow tone impacts connection more than most women realiseWhy appreciation and safety create deeper intimacy than pressure or resentmentSimple communication shifts that reduce defensiveness and help both partners feel heardResources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication and nervous system safety in modern marriage → Rise into Regulation™Follow Lauren on Instagram → @lauren_dryIf this episode opened something up for you, please share it with someone who needs it, leave a review, or send me a message on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

There’s a kind of loneliness that doesn’t look like being alone. It looks like a full life, a partner you care about, a home you’ve worked hard for, yet something inside you still feels distant or quietly aching. Maybe conversations feel shallow, you’re carrying more than anyone realises, or you feel misunderstood in the places that matter most.In this episode, Lauren Dry is joined by Emma Gibbens, a speaker, author and mentor who helps people talk about the things they usually avoid. Together, they unpack why loneliness shows up for high-functioning adults, how dissociation can sneak in without noticing, and why connection can feel risky even when you want it.This conversation is about clarity, honesty and learning to stay with yourself long enough to reconnect in a way that feels real and mutual again.You’ll hear us explore:Why loneliness appears even when your life looks full and functioningThe difference between healthy space and emotionally checking outHow fear and survival patterns shape your reactions and assumptionsWhy friction and discomfort are part of real intimacySmall ways to make hard conversations feel safer for everyone involvedResources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication, and nervous system safety in modern marriage → Rise into Regulation™Follow Lauren on Instagram → @lauren_dryConnect with Emma Gibbens:Website: www.emmagibbens.comInstagram: @emmagibbensLinkedIn: Emma GibbensTikTok: @convoclinicBuy Anatomy of ConversationBook a clarity call with EmmaIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

Is AI helping us connect, or quietly teaching us to disconnect?In a world where ChatGPT feels like a friend, it’s never been more important to stay human.AI is making life easier, faster, and more efficient, but it’s also changing how we relate to ourselves and each other. Beneath the convenience, something deeper is happening to our nervous systems and our sense of connection.In this episode, Lauren Dry sits down with Milana Sarenac, a former corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur, sales mentor, and founder of The School of Sales & Influence™. Together, they unpack how AI is reshaping human behaviour, relationships, and communication and how we can protect the parts of us that make connection real.It’s an honest, grounding conversation about nervous system awareness, healthy discomfort, and the subtle ways validation and automation can pull us away from authenticity.You’ll hear us explore:How AI is quietly shaping our emotions, relationships, and sense of realityWhy constant validation, from tech or people, can disconnect us from our inner truthThe difference between performing connection and actually feeling it in your bodyHow to use healthy discomfort to build stronger self-trust and resilienceSimple ways to stay grounded, human, and heart-led in a high-tech world🔍 If you’re using ChatGPT for business or personal reflection, try Milana’s favourite objectivity prompt: “Respond like a world-class strategist. Be direct. Be neutral. Be honest.Don’t tell me what I want to hear. Evaluate my idea like an outsider with no emotional investment. Give me pros, cons, risks, blind spots, opportunities, and strategic alternatives. Highlight anything I’m missing or underestimating. Challenge my assumptions. Your job is not to hype me up.”Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication, and nervous system safety in modern marriage → Rise into Regulation™Follow Lauren on Instagram → @lauren_dryFollow Milana on Instagram → @milanasarenacIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

What if the real reason you’re exhausted, snappy, or totally flat... isn’t emotional at all but mineral depletion?Yep, we’re going there. If you’ve been doing the mindset work, the therapy, the breathwork, but your energy still crashes by 3pm and every little thing feels too much, this episode is for you.In this episode, Lauren is joined by Hope Pedraza, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Human Design Guide and Clinical Therapist, to unpack the missing links between your physical health, your emotional patterns, and the nervous system safety you’re craving in your relationships.We talk burnout, minerals, Human Design, and what it actually takes to feel good in your body again.You’ll hear us explore:Why emotional dysregulation might be a mineral issue, not a mindset oneThe overlooked connection between magnesium and nervous system safetyHow burnout can show up as disconnection even in people who “look fine”Human Design as a tool for honouring your energy, not pushing throughThe truth about healing: it starts in the body, not just in the brainIf you’ve been wondering why your nervous system work isn’t “sticking,” or why your emotions feel bigger than your tools can handle this conversation might connect the dots in a whole new way.Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication, and nervous system safety in modern marriage → Rise into Regulation™Follow Lauren on Instagram → @lauren_dryFollow Hope on Instagram → @thehopepedrazaExplore Hope’s work → hopefulandwholesome.comListen to Hopeful and Wholesome → Hope’s PodcastIf this episode opened something up for you, please share it with someone who needs it, leave a review, or send me a message on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

What if losing the love didn’t mean it’s over... but that something real is finally being revealed?Maybe you’re in a hard season. Something broke. Maybe it was infidelity, years of resentment, or just that slow, quiet drift that happens when no one’s really saying the truth out loud. You still care, but you feel distant. Maybe numb. Maybe done. And underneath all of it, the question you keep coming back to is, Can the love come back?In this episode, Lauren gently holds this question in this episode, offering a grounded look at what it really takes to rebuild after rupture, not with pressure to fix things fast, but with nervous system safety, emotional clarity, and self-responsibility at the centre.The goal isn’t to push or pretend. It’s to create the kind of grounded safety where love can begin to return in its own time, and in its own way.You’ll hear about:What it actually means when the love feels like it’s gone, and why it’s not always a sign to walk awayWhat the “relationship death” stage is and how it can make space for something more honestHow we try to control outcomes when we feel scared or disconnectedWhy sitting in discomfort, instead of fixing or fleeing, can change everythingWhat it looks like to rebuild from self-trust and shared valuesIf you’re in that in-between space where you’re not sure what’s next, this episode will help you take a breath, feel your feet on the ground, and come back to yourself before making the next decision.Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriageFollow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryIf something in this episode landed for you, I’d love to hear about it. Share it with a friend, leave a review, or come say hi on Instagram. It means the world to know what resonates.Big love,Lauren X

Some of the things we say with the most conviction can feel like strength, but they’re often something else entirely. "I don't like being told what to do," "I'm just really independent," "I don't need anyone to take care of me."These phrases sound empowered. But more often than not, they’re not clarity, they’re protection. A brilliant nervous system strategy that once kept you safe, but might now be keeping you stuck.In this episode, Lauren Dry looks at how protective patterns show up in communication, how they quietly create distance in our most important relationships, and how to tell when your “truth” is actually a trauma response.You’ll hear about:What your nervous system might be trying to protect you from when you feel reactiveThe difference between speaking from identity versus from a woundWhy body language and tone often tell a different story than your wordsHow to use somatic awareness to shift from contraction to connectionA powerful practice for self-repair that lets you rewrite old moments with compassionIf you’ve ever felt misunderstood or frustrated that your efforts to connect only seem to push people away, this episode offers insight, relief, and a new way forward.Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriageFollow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryBig love,Lauren X.

Is “I’m tired” actually true, or is it your nervous system trying to protect you?Have you ever told yourself, “I’m just too tired” or “I don’t have the bandwidth right now” and it felt honest, but also a little off?Maybe it was a hard conversation you avoided. A class you skipped. A next step you kept pushing down the to-do list. If you’re a high-capacity, high-achieving human who still finds yourself stuck in old patterns, I want to gently ask: What if the tiredness isn’t just physical? What if it’s protective?In this episode, Lauren Dry shares a powerful and personal story about the moment she realized “I’m tired” had become her go-to escape clause. With the support of a trusted mentor, she uncovered what was really underneath that phrase and how it was quietly shaping her relationship with growth, rest, and regulation.Because sometimes what we call exhaustion is really the nervous system saying, This feels too vulnerable. And when we can name that, we begin to shift out of self-abandonment and into something much more nourishing.You’ll hear about:The hidden cost of saying “I’m too tired” and how it might be quietly stalling your goalsHow the nervous system disguises freeze or fawn responses as busyness or burnoutThe difference between true exhaustion and subtle dissociation“Escape clause” phrases that sound responsible but actually block your healingHow to stretch safely without slipping into self-abandonmentResources & Links:Rise into Regulation™ — The skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriageConnect with Lauren on Instagram — @lauren_dryIf this episode stirred something in you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or come chat with me on Instagram. I’d love to hear what landed for you.Big love,Lauren X

What do you do when you're the one everyone counts on, until you can't count on yourself?If you’ve ever found yourself exhausted from holding it all together, this episode is a lifeline and a mirror. It's about what happens when the helpers need help, and how we find our way back to ourselves.This episode is a powerful invitation to anyone who has ever been the strong one, the helper, the leader, the one others count on, and then hit a wall of pain, exhaustion, or identity loss. Natalie Newgent, a retired firefighter and founder of Rekindled Retreats, shares her raw and redemptive story of injury, PTSD, and the soul-deep process of rebuilding safety, identity, and connection from the inside out.In this episode, I sit down with Natalie to explore how identity, trauma, and the pressure to be the strong one can quietly erode our well-being, and how nervous system repair, somatic tools, and honest community can help us rise again.You’ll hear us explore:How helper identities are often shaped by early survival patternsWhat PTSD and moral injury can look like in high-functioning professionalsThe hidden cost of hyper-vigilance and the importance of restWhy being seen with compassion can change everythingSmall, accessible body-based practices for nervous system reset (including dancing it out)Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriage Rise into Regulation™Follow Lauren on Instagram: @lauren_dryFollow Natalie on Instagram: @rekindledretreatsExplore Natalie’s work at rekindledretreats.comFollow Natalie on TikTok: @rekindled.retreatIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X

Parenting is where our deepest patterns rise up, and where the real healing begins.It's also where our nervous systems get stretched, our identities get questioned, and our old coping strategies stop working. For many high-achieving parents, especially those navigating modern relationships, parenting becomes the pressure point that reveals what still needs healing.In this powerful and insightful episode, I sit down with Pat Barber, founder of The Father’s Guild, a community of dads committed to being “harder to kill and easier to love.” Pat is a father of four, a coach with over 20 years of experience helping people build resilience both physically and mentally. But it’s fatherhood that cracked him open to deeper emotional awareness, presence, and the kind of strength that doesn't come from muscle alone.Together we explore the messy, meaningful, and sometimes maddening journey of parenting and modern fatherhood, and how our children can become the most honest mirrors we’ll ever have.You'll hear us explore:Why most models of masculinity fall flat, and the power of the middle groundHow kids reflect our unresolved patterns and why that mattersThe hidden cost of unprocessed trauma and the role of recoveryAnti-fragility and how stress plus rest builds emotional resilienceSmall wins, journaling, and the daily reps of cycle-breakingWhether you're a parent, parenting alongside someone, or healing from your own childhood patterns, this conversation is a powerful reminder that change is possible and connection is a skill we can all learn.Resources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation, the skillset for connection, communication, and nervous system safety in modern marriageFollow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryConnect with Pat Barber and The Father’s Guild on Instagram @thefathersguildVisit The Fathers Guild website thefathersguild.comWatch Pat’s videos on YouTube @thefathersguildIf this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Leave a review, tag us on socials, or message us to let us know what landed.Big love,Lauren X

What if all the insight in the world still leaves you feeling disconnected?You’ve read the books. You’ve gone to therapy. You know your attachment style. And yet... the same patterns keep showing up in your relationship.In this episode, Lauren Dry is joined by relationship coach Jack Bohannan, who brings both lived experience and expert insight to the conversation around love, nervous system healing, and emotional safety. Together, they delve into the intricacies of attachment theory, focusing on how these patterns show up in modern relationships especially for high-achieving women partnered with emotionally avoidant men.They explore the dynamics of anxious and avoidant attachment, how they often look different in men and women, and why doing all the emotional labor in a relationship doesn’t create connection, it erodes it. Jack shares his own journey of relational breakdown and healing, and offers practical, somatic tools to help you come back to yourself and create a secure bond that doesn’t cost your identity.You’ll hear us explore:Why therapy and insight don’t always create lasting changeHow anxious and avoidant patterns show up in real-time and what’s underneath themThe hidden cost of “doing all the work” in a relationshipWhy letting your partner struggle might be the most loving thing you doSomatic tools to regulate your nervous system and reconnect with yourselfResources & Links:Learn more about Rise into Regulation™, the skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriageFollow Lauren on Instagram @lauren_dryFollow Jack on Instagram @jack.unscriptedVisit Jack’s website www.jackbohannan.comAccess Jack’s free webinar Get Back Your Power in LoveIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren XThe Connection Catalyst

Hard conversations don’t have to blow things up. Or shut you down. Or leave you spiralling with regret.If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking, Why didn’t I say that better? or Why do I always freeze or fawn when it matters most? Then this episode is for you.Whether you’re navigating hot-button issues, navigating grief, or just trying to be heard in your own home, this conversation will help you show up with more clarity, more steadiness, and more influence.You don’t have to yell to be powerful. You don’t have to agree to stay connected. And you don’t have to lose your voice to keep the peace.In this episode, Lauren Dry breaks down how to move through big, uncomfortable conversations with your nervous system intact and your power in place.You’ll hear about:How your brain and body react in conflict and what to do about itWhat shuts people down (hint: it’s not your opinion, it’s how it’s delivered)Six ways to stay curious and strong when things get tenseHow to create space for nuance, without giving up your valuesWhy slowing down is the key to being truly heardResources Mentioned:Rise into Regulation™ – The skillset for connection, communication, and Nervous System safety in modern marriageConnect with Lauren on Instagram - @lauren_dryIf something in this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram. I love hearing what lands for you.Big love,Lauren X