Mark Groves is a human connection specialist who transformed his own painful relationship patterns into wisdom he now shares with millions. In this episode, Mark opens up about the Thanksgiving dinner betrayal that shut him down at 19, the years he spent as an emotionally unavailable guy, and the breakthrough that finally let him receive love. He and Dr. Emily dig into codependency, why chemistry fades, and what it actually takes to build a relationship where you can be fully yourself.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why a failed one-night stand taught Mark more about himself than years of relationships
• The real definition of codependency and why it’s not just about addiction
• How to identify your “Thanksgiving dinner moment” that shaped how you love
• Why the space between partners disappears and chemistry dies in long-term relationships
• The question that reveals if you’re being codependent in the bedroom
• What “liberated love” looks like and why truth-telling is the foundation
• How Mark and his wife broke up, had a closing ceremony, and came back stronger
• Why your capacity to love equals your capacity to lose
• The three things you can do now to get on the path toward the love you want
• How parenthood changes intimacy and why the six-week clearance is misleading
• What to do when you can’t stop fantasizing about past flings while in a relationship
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
3:13 – How Mark Started Sharing Vulnerable Relationship Advice
8:31 – The Thanksgiving Dinner That Changed Everything
16:00 – Finding Your “Moment” That Shapes How You Love
20:13 – What Is Codependency Really?
30:04 – Signs You’re in a Codependent Pattern
33:51 – Why Couples Stop Having Sex (It’s Not What You Think)
39:17 – How Parenthood Changes Your Sex Life
51:01 – Use Your Relationship to Become Everything
54:53 – Listener Question: Can’t Stop Thinking About Past Flings
1:02:55 – Quickie Q&A
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