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Partners to Parents

Partners to Parents

Written by: Podra Network
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About this listen

 You became parents and somewhere along the way you forgot you were partners first. How to find each other again in the chaos of family life.Copyright Podra Network Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Touched Out and Tuned Out: Reclaiming Your Body and Desire

    Touched Out and Tuned Out: Reclaiming Your Body and Desire
    May 15 2026
    In this honest and compassionate episode of Partners to Parents, host Cara Lennox explores the common but rarely discussed experience of feeling 'touched out' after becoming a parent. Many new parents struggle with physical overwhelm and disconnection from their own bodies and desires, yet often feel shame about these completely normal feelings. Cara discusses the physical and hormonal changes that contribute to feeling touched out, especially for breastfeeding parents who may feel their bodies belong to everyone but themselves. She offers practical strategies for gradually reconnecting with your physical self, starting with small, non-sexual experiences that bring comfort and pleasure. The episode emphasizes the importance of open communication with partners about boundaries and needs, helping couples navigate intimacy when one person feels physically overwhelmed. Cara addresses the connection between mental load and physical receptivity, encouraging parents to examine the distribution of emotional labor in their households. She reminds listeners that desire often follows action rather than preceding it, and that there's no timeline for feeling ready for intimacy again. The episode validates the struggle many parents face in maintaining their individual identity while caring for children's constant needs. Perfect for parents feeling disconnected from their bodies or struggling with intimacy after having children, this episode offers compassionate guidance without judgment.
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    5 mins
  • The Intimacy Drought: Finding Each Other Again

    The Intimacy Drought: Finding Each Other Again
    May 8 2026
    In this heartfelt episode of Partners to Parents, host Cara Lennox explores the intimacy drought that many couples experience during the parenting years. Learn practical strategies for reconnecting with your partner when life feels overwhelming and connection seems distant. Cara discusses the common causes of relationship disconnection, from exhaustion and responsibility overload to time scarcity, and offers actionable advice for rebuilding emotional and physical intimacy. Discover how micro-moments of connection, curiosity-based conversations, and protecting your couple bubble can help bridge the gap between you and your partner. This episode addresses the reality that rebuilding intimacy isn't linear and provides hope for couples feeling more like household managers than lovers. Whether you're in a temporary rough patch or feeling completely disconnected, this episode offers gentle guidance for finding your way back to each other. Perfect for busy parents who want to prioritize their relationship but don't know where to start. Cara's compassionate approach acknowledges the challenges of maintaining connection while managing the demands of family life, offering realistic solutions that fit into real life.
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    4 mins
  • Running on Empty: How Exhaustion Rewrites Your Marriage

    Running on Empty: How Exhaustion Rewrites Your Marriage
    May 1 2026
    In this heartfelt episode of Partners to Parents, host Cara Lennox explores how chronic exhaustion fundamentally changes marriage dynamics for new parents. Discover why sleep deprivation affects our brains' ability to process emotions and communicate effectively with our partners. Learn about the invisible mental load that becomes overwhelming when you're already running on empty, and how exhaustion can completely reshape your love languages and connection needs. Cara shares practical insights about timing difficult conversations, extending grace during survival mode, and understanding why comparison with other couples becomes particularly painful when you're struggling. This episode addresses the often-unspoken guilt parents feel about being exhausted and offers hope for couples navigating this challenging season. Whether you're in the thick of sleep deprivation or supporting someone who is, this episode provides validation and perspective on how exhaustion rewrites our relationships - and how couples can emerge stronger. Perfect for parents struggling with relationship dynamics during early parenthood, this episode offers realistic advice for maintaining partnership when you're both running on empty. Join thousands of parents finding community and understanding through Partners to Parents.
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    6 mins
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