Yup… we’re doing it. In 2021 I sat across the table From Lewis Howes and his beautiful now-wife, Maria, listening to them gush over their then-new relationship… and how from Day One, therapy was a non-negotiable. Both individually and as a couple, they committed to working on themselves to give such a special union the best chance possible.

I’ve never forgotten that.

Fast forward to one year ago when I met Ryan, I immediately knew he was special. Our connection was special. And more than anything… it is a thing worth protecting and growing.

Patterns are a real thing. And to be honest, I have more than a bag of destructive patterns…individually and relationally. I’m aware enough to know these days that if I don’t continue to peel back the layers of healing, I will continue to repeat those patterns which have destroyed precious things historically.

This podcast is about that. And it’s about how over the last year Ryan and I have both committed to diving in head first.

Relationships are mirrors… and sometimes those damn mirrors are hard to look into. But only by allowing the mirrors to be held up, can we become aware of our blind spots and ultimately (hopefully) evolve into two people who can hold a healthy relationship. :)

This conversation touches on communication, self-awareness, people-pleasing, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to be fully seen by another person. We explore how our past experiences still shape the way we show up today and why healthy relationships often reveal the parts of ourselves that still need attention.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why personal growth doesn't stop when you find the right relationship

• The relationship patterns we never want to repeat

• How unspoken expectations can create distance and resentment

• The challenge of balancing ambition, family, friendships, and connection

• What vulnerability actually looks like in a healthy relationship

• The fears and insecurities that still show up for both of us

• Choosing curiosity over defensiveness during difficult conversations

• How growth often begins where comfort ends

  
  

  
  

More than anything, this episode is a reminder that the strongest relationships aren't built by two perfect people. They're built by two people willing to keep learning, keep communicating, and keep choosing each other through every season of growth.

Here are the key moments from the episode:

00:00 What Happens When Old Patterns Return

04:03 Why We’re Finally Talking About Long Distance

07:07 Redefining What “Failed” Relationships Really Mean

10:23 Can the Honeymoon Phase Actually Last Forever?

13:19 When Your Partner Notices Every Tiny Shift

16:11 The Fear of Being Fully Seen

18:06 When People-Pleasing Starts Stealing Your Peace

21:56 The Pattern Heidi Refuses to Repeat

26:16 Why We Chose Therapy Before Things Broke

29:21 The Truth About High Expectations in Love

33:36 When Independence Makes Partnership Harder

36:52 Becoming the Average of the Right People

37:43 Losing Yourself to Be Loved

40:10 What Comes Next After the Therapy Intensive

41:47 Why Therapy Is a Tool, Not a Last Resort

43:31 Awareness Is Where Real Change Begins

Connect with Heidi:
Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: podcast@heidipowell.netInstagram: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/