The research says the key to a happy life is happy relationships. But how exactly do you make your relationships better? That’s what this show is all about.
I’m Dr. Abby Medcalf, psychologist, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and (according to my kids) the bossy Jewish mom you didn’t know you needed. With decades of experience and millions of listeners in over 180 countries, I give you the no-fluff, research-backed strategies to make all your relationships better: with your partner, your family, your friends, and (most importantly) yourself.
Every week on the Relationships Made Easy podcast, I mix straight talk, humor, and science to help you communicate effectively, set healthy boundaries, and stop second-guessing yourself. Because great relationships aren’t built in a day. Great relationships are built daily.
378. Stuck in a Situationship? Here's What's Really Going On
Season 8 · Episode 378
Monday, April 13, 2026 • Duration 29:26
I've been quoted in both the Wall Street Journal and Women's Health about situationships, and I’ve been on countless radio broadcasts talking about situationships, so apparently, I’m an expert on this topic, but somehow I've never done an episode with a situationship focus. That changes right now. Today you'll learn why you can't leave, what your brain and your attachment history have to do with it, and what you need to start doing differently.
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
377. Relationship Anxiety Explained: Why You Feel Insecure Even When Your Partner Is Safe
Season 8 · Episode 377
Monday, April 6, 2026 • Duration 27:17
You can be in a genuinely (or relatively) healthy relationship and still feel anxious. Your partner texts you back, they show up when they say they will, and they're not pulling away or playing games. And yet, you still find yourself overthinking their tone, needing reassurance, or waiting for the other shoe to drop. If you've ever thought, "Why do I feel insecure when nothing is actually wrong?" this episode is for you.
Today we're talking about why love can feel unsafe even when you're with a safe partner, what's happening in your brain when closeness starts to trigger anxiety, and why reassurance or better communication usually doesn't fix it for long.
✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations
✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby
_________
Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!
376. Why Do I Always Feel Like a Victim? Here's What's Really Going On
Season 8 · Episode 376
Monday, March 30, 2026 • Duration 47:16
Do you ever feel like life is just constantly happening to you? Like, no matter how hard you try, you end up right back in that same exhausting place, feeling small, stuck, powerless, and like you're always the one getting the short end of the stick? If you've ever caught yourself thinking, "Why does this always happen to me?" or "Why are people always treating me this way?", you're in exactly the right place. Today I'm going to answer that question. Why you feel like a victim and why you feel powerless, where it comes from, and most importantly, what you can actually do to change it. We're going to get into the neuroscience, of course the childhood piece, and I'm going to give you concrete tools you can use starting today.
375. Are You Codependent or Just a Good Person? Here’s How to Tell
Season 8 · Episode 375
Monday, March 23, 2026 • Duration 40:23
You’re a caring person. You show up. You give. You’d do just about anything for the people you love. So when someone suggests you might be codependent, it stings because, from where you’re standing, you’re just being a good person. But what if both things are true? Today I’m going to show you the difference between true compassion and fear-based helping, the sneakiest place codependency actually hides, four questions to tell which one you’re doing in real time, and five things to do the moment you catch yourself crossing that line.
Download The Compassion Check. It’s a quick self-quiz that helps you see in real time whether you’re giving from love or from fear: https://abbymedcalf.com/compassion-check
👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Easy and Joy:
374. Is It Love or Limerence? How to Tell the Difference
Season 8 · Episode 374
Monday, March 16, 2026 • Duration 34:37
You know that feeling. You’re going about your day and, out of nowhere, they’re in your head again. You replay a conversation from three weeks ago. You check your phone even though you know you didn’t hear it buzz. You catch yourself spinning out a whole imaginary future and then, when they actually do text, the rush is so intense it’s almost physical. But when they go quiet? Or when you can’t tell how they feel about you? The whole thing somehow gets even more intense. Most people call that falling in love. But what if it isn’t?
Today we’re talking about limerence: what it actually is, how it’s different from love, how to know if you’re in it, and what to do if you are. Whether you’re single, partnered, or in a relationship and suddenly consumed by someone who isn’t your partner, this episode will give you the language and the clarity you’ve been missing.
✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations
✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby
_________
Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!
373. Hustle Culture Is Lying to You: Make More Money by Working Smarter, Not Harder
Season 8 · Episode 373
Monday, March 9, 2026 • Duration 37:43
What if I told you that the most powerful thing you could do for your financial life has nothing to do with working harder, hustling more, or grinding until something breaks? What if the real shift is an inside job? Today, we're going to talk about the science and, yes, the spirit behind creating more money with less effort. And I promise you, by the end, whether you're a hard-nosed data person or someone who keeps crystals on your desk, there’s going to be something today to make you think differently about how to create more wealth in your life.
👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Easy and Joy:
372. Why You Can't Get Out of Bed: Understanding Nervous System Shutdown vs. Rest
Season 8 · Episode 372
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 • Duration 43:00
If you've been on TikTok lately, you've probably seen "bed rotting," people staying in bed all day, calling it self-care and radical rest. Gen Z is embracing it as a way to recover from burnout (and I’m finding it’s not just Gen Z’s who are doing this). But here's what's actually happening: your nervous system has gone into shutdown mode. Today we're talking about the difference between genuine rest and nervous system shutdown, why your body sometimes chooses immobilization over action, and what to do when you literally can't get yourself out of bed. You'll learn the science behind shutdown, how to tell if you're resting or avoiding, and practical tools to gently reactivate when you're stuck.
371. Co-Regulation Explained: Why You Absorb Other People's Emotions (And How to Stop)
Season 8 · Episode 371
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 • Duration 41:51
Have you ever noticed how your partner's bad mood can completely derail your day? Or how when your sister calls upset, suddenly your heart is racing even though nothing's wrong in your life? Maybe you walk into the office and instantly feel tense because your coworker is stressed, or you leave a phone call with your mom feeling drained and anxious for hours afterward.
What's happening isn't a character flaw or a sign that you're "too sensitive." It's called co-regulation, and it's one of the most powerful forces in all your relationships. The problem? Most of us are doing it unconsciously, using patterns we learned as babies that no longer serve us.
Today, you're going to learn exactly how co-regulation works in your brain and body, why your childhood experiences are still running the show in all your relationships, and most importantly, three practical skills you can use right now to stop the cycle of mutual dysregulation. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why you can't think your way out of emotional reactivity, and what to do instead.
✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations
✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby
370. Should You Have Kids or Not? The Psychology Behind One of Life’s Biggest Decisions
Season 8 · Episode 370
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Duration 38:29
Deciding whether to have kids isn’t just a practical decision. It’s one of the few choices in life that can feel irreversible, identity-shaping, and loaded with expectations you never asked for. Maybe part of you imagines a future with children and feels something warm and meaningful. And another part of you imagines the same future and feels panic, grief, or a quiet sense of “I’m not sure this is for me.” In this episode, I’m breaking down what the research actually says about parenthood, happiness, and meaning, why this decision feels so emotionally charged, and the five questions that genuinely help you figure out what you want, not what you’re supposed to want. If you’ve ever felt stuck between fear, pressure, and honesty about your own life, this episode is for you.
DownloadThe Kids Decision Snapshot. It will help you start to think this through in a grounded way without pushing you toward any answer: https://abbymedcalf.com/kids-decision-snapshot
✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations
✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby
_________
Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!
369. Avoidant Attachment: How to Love an Avoidant Partner Without Chasing or Losing Yourself
Season 8 · Episode 369
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 • Duration 40:53
If you love someone who shuts down, pulls away, or goes emotionally quiet when things get close, this episode is for you. You might feel confused, lonely, or like you’re constantly guessing where you stand. Today, you’ll learn why people are avoidantly attached, why pursuing closeness backfires, and how to love an avoidant partner without chasing, over-explaining, or disappearing yourself.
Get the Scripts! Loving an Avoidant Partner: 10 Things to Say and Not Say When They Pull Away. This guide gives you clear scripts, common traps, and repair language so you can show up grounded, direct, and self-respecting: https://abbymedcalf.com/avoidant-partner-scripts
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop
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