After nearly a year away... we’re back.

The last year tested us.

Family challenges.

Business pressure.

Financial stress.

Long stretches where nothing seemed to move forward.

In this episode, we talk about where we’ve been and what it took to stay connected when things got hard.

Most people start a new year by trying to add more.

More habits.

More goals.

More pressure.

That usually doesn’t work.

Real growth starts somewhere else.

It starts by cutting away what no longer serves you.

We use a simple plant story to explain why dead branches drain energy, even when you don’t notice it.

And why removing them creates space for new growth.

We talk about distraction.

Social media.

Comparison.

Why men and women struggle with it in different ways.

And how it quietly damages focus, confidence, and intimacy.

We also share the four simple games that helped us reconnect during our hardest season.

They’re easy to use.

They don’t require fixing each other.

They help people feel seen, heard, and appreciated again.

If you’ve had a tough year.

If you feel distracted or disconnected.

If you want 2026 to feel different.

This episode is for you.

----------------------------

Download Our App:

http://liftit.app.link/

Register for Meal Engine (Coming Soon):

https://mealengine.com/

----------------------------

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – We’re Back: Where We’ve Been

02:30 – The Hard Year No One Talks About

05:10 – Business, Family, and Survival Mode

08:20 – Seasons in Relationships

11:00 – The Plant That Looked Dead

14:10 – Why Cutting Back Creates Growth

17:30 – When to Cut vs When to Keep Watering

19:10 – Why Adding More Usually Fails

20:30 – Social Media and the Comparison Trap

23:50 – Why AI Makes This Even Worse

26:30 – The Male vs Female Distraction Problem

31:40 – The Woman in the Red Dress (Matrix Analogy)

33:50 – Why Distraction Kills Intimacy

36:40 – Boundaries, Trust, and Eyegate Control

41:20 – How Men and Women Are Driven Differently

46:10 – Misunderstanding, Resentment, and Repair

49:00 – The Secret Relationship Games

52:10 – Game 1: Tell Me a Secret

55:20 – Game 2: Toot Your Horn

58:40 – Game 3: I’m Aware

01:02:30 – Game 4: I Give You Permission

01:05:10 – What to Cut Before 2026

01:06:30 – Final Thoughts and New Year Message

Discover the Questions You NEED to Ask Before Getting Serious in a Relationship!

In this episode of Life in Depth with Steph & Jamie...

We delve into some crucial questions we believe are worth asking before getting deeply involved in any relationship.

Jamie and Steph share their personal journey and the importance of understanding peoples values through their up-bring & past relationships / experiences.

This episode aims to help listeners navigate the dating landscape more effectively by encouraging introspection and transparency.

Tune in to learn how to better vet potential partners and avoid unnecessary heartache!

——————————

Proudly Sponsored by NEXUS NUTRITION

Shop Here: https://nexusnutrition.com/stephanie

*We highly recommend their Protein Waters!

——————————

FOLLOW US:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_and_jamie/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@steph_and_jamie

——————————

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Sneak Peek of the Episode

01:06 - About This Episode & Recap of the Previous Episode

03:39 - The Story of the Lonely Snake

05:44 - Why Hissing is Important when Dating

08:03 - Attract Love through Self Love

09:06 - Nexus Nutrition (Sponsorship)

11:26 - Why these Questions are Important

14:28 - When Jamie Vetted Steph with these Questions

15:00 - Question #1: What are your beliefs on God?

17:01 - Question #2A: What's your relationship like with your parents?

21:22 - Question #2B: What's your parents relationship like?

25:49 - Question #3: How did your last relationship end?

29:43 - Question #4: How many relationships & sexual partners have you had?

33:53 - Question #5: What's the biggest challenge you've ever faced?

41:47 - Question #6: How do you feel about joint accounts?

45:53 - The Importance of Alignment

47:35 - Word of Caution when Dating

48:33 - Recognise Your Wounds while Appreciating Your Value

49:32 - The Story of the Priceless Jewell

52:26 - Summary & Ideas for Future Episodes

——————————

REFERENCES:

1. “Psychopathy and victim selection: the use of gait as a cue to vulnerability” by A.Book, K.Costello & J.A.Camilleri

2. The Map of Consciousness by Dr. David R. Hawkins

3. Re-examining the link between premarital sex and divorce. Journal of Family Issues, by Smith, J., & Wolfinger, N. H. (2023)

4. “A Diamond is Forever" and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship Between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration. By Francis, A. M., & Mialon, H. M. (2015); Economic Inquiry 1919–1930