Conflict doesn’t have to drive us apart—it can actually become the doorway to deeper intimacy. In this episode, Kristine Carlson explores how getting clear within yourself first is the key to transforming difficult moments into loving, constructive conversations. She reminds us that conflict isn’t “bad” when it’s handled with maturity, presence, and care—it can be a chance to strengthen trust and understanding.

Kristine shares how to:

• Turn conflict into connection by approaching it as a conversation versus a battle
• Pause and get clear on your own emotions before you speak
• Communicate in a way that softens defensiveness and invites openness
• Access empathy and compassion, even when you disagree
• Use loving communication to nurture intimacy in your most important relationships

With honesty and warmth, Kristine shows how the way we engage in conflict can either divide us, or bring us closer together.

In this tender episode of the Communication Mastery Series, Kristine Carlson shares the practice she and her late husband, Richard, used to keep their marriage strong: setting aside sacred time for heart-to-heart communication. She explains the simple yet powerful parameters they followed so each of them felt deeply heard and understood.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Choose a set time for intentional, heart-to-heart connection
• Create a safe space for open and honest sharing
• Speak without interruption and listen with full presence
• Honor each other’s feelings with empathy and respect
• Use this practice to bring more intimacy and trust into your closest relationships

Kristine invites you to bring this practice into your own life as a way to cultivate deeper love, closeness, and understanding one heartfelt conversation at a time.

Recorded just before her Italy retreat, Kristine shares how to move beyond the surface and create genuine intimacy in new relationships. Drawing from her experience working with women in retreat settings, she explains how simple gestures—like a warm greeting, smiling, or gentle touch—can melt away superficial barriers and allow us to meet each other in our shared humanity.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Offer a warm greeting that immediately softens barriers
• Use smiling, touch, and presence to create safety and warmth
• Open your heart so others feel truly seen
• Meet someone beyond the surface, in their humanity

She also reflects on how our triggers can be powerful teachers, guiding us toward deeper compassion—and how each new connection is an opportunity to practice intimacy, presence, and love.

Kristine launches her brand-new series, Communication Mastery, with an inspiring invitation to explore how deeper, more mindful communication can transform every relationship in your life.

In this series, you’ll discover how to:

• Navigate difficult conversations without triggering defensiveness
• Become less reactive and more grounded in your responses
• Understand “separate realities” and practice greater empathy
• Create more powerful, connected conversations at work
• Lead with love in every interaction

Plus, you’ll learn a powerful guided imagery meditation to help you transform the way you listen and speak! Get ready to bring intimacy and closeness into all of your conversations with this illuminating series.

Kristine welcomes back Dr. Paul Zeitz to the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Live the Big Stuff podcast for a heartfelt conversation about the true meaning of patriotism. Together, they explore how honoring our shared rights and humanity can bring us closer, even in times of deep division.

Together, they reveal practical insights on how to:

-Recognize whether leaders are working for unity or fueling division

-Stay open to hearing different perspectives without losing your own voice

-Navigate family and friendships when opinions don’t align

-Overcome the fear and uncertainty so many of us feel in today’s America

This powerful conversation is a reminder that what unites us is far greater than what divides us and that living with courage, empathy, and optimism is the path forward for all.

Dr. Paul Zeitz is a physician, epidemiologist, author, and award-winning advocate for global justice and human rights. For more than 35 years, he has led campaigns and movements with a bold vision for a more just and compassionate world. In his new book Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy, he shares how we can peacefully and inclusively rewrite the "code" of our democracy—so it truly works for everyone.

Visit his website: https://drpaulzeitz.org/

Follow Dr. Zeitz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpaulzeitz/

In the first episode in the Unify Series, Kristine Carlson speaks from the heart about the division and extremism we’re seeing in America today. At a time when polarization seems louder than ever, Kristine offers a compassionate call to return to moderation, empathy, and connection. This episode is a reminder that when we choose to stand in unity rather than division, we become part of the healing our world so desperately needs.

Join Kristine Carlson as she talks with life coach and Women Waking Up author Wendy Valentine—a guide for women ready to reignite their spark and embrace the magic of midlife. Wendy shares her powerful story of transformation, showing how unexpected change can become a catalyst for courage, freedom, and joy. Her daring leap into van life across Europe isn’t just adventure—it’s proof of what’s possible when you say yes to your next chapter!

In this inspiring conversation, you’ll learn:

-How to stay grounded and resilient through life’s biggest transitions

-Practical ways to step into a bold new direction with confidence

-What true freedom feels like when you create a life that matches your soul

Get ready to feel energized, uplifted, and inspired to reimagine your midlife—and step boldly into the extraordinary life waiting for you!

Wendy Valentine is a speaker, certified professional life coach, and author of Women Waking Up —a midlife rebel with a mission to help women reignite their spark and embrace the magic of midlife. Her podcast, The Midlife Makeover Show, helps midlifers who are ready to get unstuck, take courageous action, and reclaim their life. Visit her website: wendyvalentine.com

Reentering the dating world in midlife can feel daunting—but it doesn’t have to be. Internationally acclaimed relationship coach Bern Mendez joins Kris as she reflects on her own early experiences of stepping back into dating after loss, and together, they share practical strategies for navigating modern dating with authenticity and self-confidence.

Bern Mendez is a neuroscience-based dating and relationship coach with over 14 years of experience helping accomplished midlife women break through subconscious emotional barriers and create deeply committed, lasting partnerships.

Featured by CNN, HuffPost, Redbook, and more, Bern is recognized globally as a trusted voice in the field. His YouTube channel ranks among the top twelve most-followed dating advice platforms for women worldwide, with over 30 million views and a community of 227,000 subscribers.

Connect with Bern Mendez at Bernmendez.com