In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Thaen Saelee, licensed clinical psychologist, tackle a common but rarely talked-about relationship issue: What do you do when your partner has friends you don’t like?

We explore the difference between preference and control, autonomy versus enmeshment, and how negative core beliefs can quietly escalate conflict. From tolerating discomfort to setting clear boundaries, we break down when to self-reflect, when to speak up, and how to protect your relationship without asking your partner to give up their autonomy.

This episode is for couples navigating social differences, blended values, and outside influences—without sacrificing trust, safety, or connection.

Valentine’s Day has a way of turning love into pressure—and connection into conflict. In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Tanay Lee unpack why holidays like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and birthdays so often lead to resentment, disappointment, and fights.

We explore the difference between invitations and expectations, how unspoken needs turn into silent tests, and why unmet expectations hurt so deeply. The conversation dives into negative core beliefs—like “I’m not important” or “I’m unlovable”—and how they quietly shape our reactions when our partner doesn’t show up the way we hoped.

You’ll learn how to communicate desires without making them demands, how to stop using holidays as emotional tests, and how to create connection without conditions. Whether you love Valentine’s Day, hate it, or feel anxious every time it comes around, this episode will help you approach it with clarity, compassion, and a lot less pressure.

What are the questions people really ask about relationships when they don’t know who else to turn to?

In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Thaen Saelee, PsyD, do something a little different. We explore the top five relationship questions people ask ChatGPT—without reading the answers first.

Together, we react in real time and unpack:

1. “Is my relationship normal, or is something wrong?”
2. “How do I communicate without it turning into a fight?”
3. “Am I asking for too much… or not enough?”
4. “Why does my partner react so strongly to small things?”
5. “Should I stay, or should I leave?”

Rather than quick fixes or judgment-based answers, we focus on curiosity, emotional safety, communication patterns, and self-trust—and we compare our clinical perspectives to what AI gets right (and where it misses the mark).

If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or unsure about your relationship, this episode is designed to help you think more clearly, compassionately, and honestly about what you want and need.

We often enter relationships with quiet expectations—hoping our partner won’t change, or believing they eventually will. And that’s where trouble begins.

In this episode, we unpack one of the most common relationship traps: loving someone for who you hope they’ll become instead of who they are right now. We talk about how expectations turn into pressure, how resentment builds when change doesn’t happen—or happens in unexpected ways—and why trying to mold your partner often damages connection rather than strengthening it.

We also explore:

1. The difference between healthy boundaries and trying to change someone
2. Why people do change—and why that isn’t the problem
3. How past harm, resentment, and “potential thinking” keep couples stuck
4. When acceptance is healing—and when a relationship may no longer be compatible

This episode is about learning how to grow together without control, pressure, or conditional love—while still honoring your limits, needs, and deal-breakers.

Passive-aggressive communication can sound harmless—but it slowly fractures relationships.

In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Thaen Saelee unpack what passive-aggressive communication really looks like, why people use it (often without realizing it), and how it damages trust, emotional safety, and connection over time.

We explore the four communication styles, common guilt-trips and “hidden knives” in everyday language, and why resentment builds when needs aren’t expressed honestly. You’ll learn how to shift toward assertive communication, how to respond when your partner is being passive-aggressive, and how curiosity, boundaries, and self-awareness can stop destructive patterns before they take over your relationship.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells—or noticed resentment creeping in—this episode gives you practical tools to move toward clarity, honesty, and connection.

Have you ever been told “you’re not listening”—or said it yourself—and felt everything shut down instantly?

In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Tanay Lee, clinical psychologist, unpack why this phrase is so damaging in relationships—and what’s actually happening beneath it.

We explore:

1. Why “you’re not listening” feels like an accusation
2. How reactivity and brain chemistry block real hearing
3. The difference between not listening and not feeling heard
4. Why curiosity works better than criticism
5. Practical language shifts that reduce defensiveness and repair connection

Whether you’re navigating conflict with a partner, parenting a child, or struggling to feel understood, this episode offers simple, actionable tools to help conversations move forward instead of breaking down.

Because most of the time, the problem isn’t listening—it’s how we talk about it.

Today we tackle one of the biggest modern stressors in relationships: What do you do when you and your partner have completely different political views?

From boundaries to communication to avoiding toxic patterns, Jason Wilcox and Dr. Thaen Saelee break down how to stay connected, stay curious, and stay grounded—even when the world feels divided.

We explore:

• Why political differences feel so personal
• How to talk about politics without fighting
• When to set boundaries
• When it’s a deal-breaker
• What to do when deeper issues are hiding under political conflict

If you and your partner ever feel tension around politics, this one will help you breathe again.

In this episode of The Spaghetti Wall Podcast, Jason Wilcox, LCSW, and Dr. Thaen Saelee, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, break down one of the most confusing emotional experiences: feeling lonely even when you're in a relationship.

We unpack why loneliness happens, how to identify what’s really going on inside you, and the practical steps couples can take to reconnect, rebuild, and break out of the doubt spiral.

Whether you're feeling disconnected from your partner, missing friendships, overwhelmed by life, or stuck in patterns that feed loneliness—this episode gives you a roadmap back to clarity and connection.

Real talk. Real tools. No shame. No judgment.

Because the mess is the method.