What “The Work” in Relationships Actually Looks Like: A Marriage & Family Therapist’s Take on Love, Listening, and Control

In this episode of Breaking Bread, Jessyca sits down with her longtime friend Janae — a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) — for an honest conversation about love, relationships, and the work nobody really prepares you for.

They unpack what it actually means when people say “relationships take work,” from learning how to listen (not just hear), to accepting people for who they are right now, not who we hope they’ll become. Janae breaks down the difference between boundaries, rules, and standards, why so many couples argue about symptoms instead of root issues, and how control often shows up in unexpected ways — especially for independent women.

Through real stories, humor, and therapist-level insight, this conversation explores dating, communication breakdowns, conflict, growth, and the realities of building healthy relationships in a hyper-connected world. It’s candid, validating, and a reminder that love isn’t just about chemistry — it’s about awareness, accountability, and choosing to do the work together.

Stick around — this is just Part 1.

Learn More About Janae Tipton

• Website: janaebreahn.com
• IG: @JanaeBreahn
• TikTok: @JanaeMFT
• Psychology Today Profile

In this episode, Jessyca sits down with Michael Brooks of Middle Tennessee Construction for a powerful conversation about purpose, consistency, and the mindset behind real success. From laying one brick at a time to trusting the uncertainty of growth, they explore the role of faith, integrity, and personal evolution in both business and life. Together, they unpack relationships, ambition, emotional discipline, and what it truly takes to build a life you love—brick by brick.

In Part 2, we sit at the kitchen table and talk about legacy, love, and the quiet strength that runs through the women in our family. It’s a conversation about motherhood, becoming, and the pieces of my mother I now recognize in myself.

Check out some of the books we reference

• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

Hope you enjoy!

In this episode, my mom takes us back to Grove Hill — a four-room house, peach trees, propane tanks, and the kind of childhood stories you can feel in your bones. Together, we peel back the layers of where we come from and how those early memories shape who we become.