The Relationship School PodcastRelationships

The Relationship School Podcast


The Jayson Gaddis Podcast

Why Us Men Get So Defensive & What to Do About It - Jayson Gaddis & Ellen Boeder - 564

Wed, 29 Jul 2026

Why do so many men get defensive? Jayson and Ellen explore where defensiveness comes from, the impact it has on relationships, and why it gets in the way of real connection. They share practical ways to interrupt defensive patterns, how to stay with your partner's feelings instead of protecting yourself, and what it looks like to take responsibility when you get it wrong. Jayson also shares what led him to dedicate his work to helping men and boys grow. If you want to become less defensive and more available in your relationships, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

  • 4:30 - examples of defensiveness
  • 9:30 - the relational cost of getting defensive
  • 19:30 - how to address defensive patterns
  • 28:00 - how to attend to your partner's feelings instead of being defensive
  • 36:18 - what got Jayson interested in working with men and boys
  • 49:36 - how to take responsibility for defensiveness
  • 1:02:00 - increasing your capacity for growth

Links:


Why Life Keeps Kicking Your Ass (And What It's Trying to Teach You) - 563

Tue, 21 Jul 2026

Why does life keep kicking your ass? Jayson explains why the hardest parts of life are often the biggest opportunities for growth. He explores the difference between horizontal and vertical development, why your relationships expose where you need to grow, and why working on what causes you the most pain leads to the biggest breakthroughs. He also shares why marriage takes effort and why committed relationships require a willingness to keep developing. If you want to stop repeating the same patterns and start growing through them, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

  • 1:16 - levelling up in life
  • 2:54 - the problem with not leveling up your relationship skills
  • 5:07 - horizontal development vs vertical development
  • 6:19 - work on what causes you the most pain
  • 8:27 - relationships are hard because they're collaborative
  • 10:02 - marriages take effort
  • 13:04 - if you don't want to do developmental work don't get married

Links:


Why It’s a Bad Idea to Say "Be a Man" to a Guy - 562

Tue, 30 Jun 2026

Why is telling a man to "be a man" such a bad idea? Jayson breaks down what messages men actually hear when they're told to "man up" and how those messages create shame instead of growth. He explores why men constantly compare themselves to other men, what people are really asking for in moments of conflict, and why making relationship problems about gender usually misses the point. If you want to communicate with men in a way that actually works, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

  • 0:49 - what saying "be a man" does to your guy
  • 3:00 - how men compare themselves with other men
  • 5:48 - what does "man up" really mean in this moment?
  • 8:06 - just stop making relationship conflicts about gender

Links:


Suffering - 561

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

What do you do with suffering? Jayson touches on the four noble truths and what they point to in everyday life. He explores why suffering is part of being human, what happens when you stop avoiding it, and how to be with your experience instead of trying to escape it. He also shares how making meaning from your suffering can change how you relate to your life. If you are dealing with pain and want a different way to approach it, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

  • 0:13 - Four noble truths
  • 1:01 - Life is suffering
  • 1:52 - Be with your suffering
  • 6:25 - Making meaning from suffering

Links:


Good Couples Work Does This - Jayson Gaddis - 560

Tue, 12 May 2026

How do you know if couples work is actually working? Jayson breaks down what good couples therapy should feel like and the signs you are making real progress. He explains why you need to advocate for yourself as a client, the two directions effective work should move in, and why you should be getting somewhere over time. If you are in therapy and wondering if it is helping, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

  • 0:29 - How do you know that couples therapy is working?
  • 2:51 - Advocate for yourself as a therapy client
  • 5:08 - The two directions couples work should go
  • 6:24 - You should be getting somewhere in therapy

Links:


Send Message to The Relationship School Podcast

Unverified Podcast
Is this your Podcast? Claim It!

Podcaster File The Relationship School Podcast

Reviews for The Relationship School Podcast