Love for Life Podcast
The podcast for modern couples who want real connection that lasts.
Hosted by relationship and family coach Nichole Farrow and her husband Ben, this show is for couples trying to stay close while raising kids, building careers, and handling the stress of everyday life. Each week, they unpack the real issues behind modern relationships—intimacy, emotional connection, mental load, conflict, communication, and the quiet resentments no one talks about.
With a mix of expert insight and raw honesty, Nichole and Ben give you practical tools to strengthen your relationship, raise emotionally secure kids, and create a life you both actually want. Because working on your relationship isn’t just for when things go wrong—it’s a lifestyle choice that impacts everything. Research shows couples who invest in their connection are 6x more successful and live 4 years longer.
If you’re ready to break generational cycles, ditch the surface-level advice, and do the real work of love—this is your podcast.
Love for Life Podcast
#74 In-laws and boundaries at Christmas
In this episode of Love for Life, Nichole and Ben unpack the festive minefield of Christmas boundaries when in-laws expect unwavering compliance with their holiday traditions. The hosts dive deep into a listener's dilemma about wanting to create new Christmas traditions with her husband and daughter, only to face tears, guilt-trips, and accusations of "destroying the family" from her mother-in-law.
This isn't just about where to eat Christmas dinner, it's about autonomy, emotional manipulation, and whether couples can function as a united front or remain extensions of their families of origin. Nichole and Ben explore why research shows that couples who establish clear boundaries with extended family report 40% higher relationship satisfaction, and how healthy families adapt whilst rigid ones fracture. They tackle the deeper symbolism of being expected to sleep in childhood single beds, the emotional coercion behind phrases like "family is everything," and why choosing parents over partners repeatedly sends a dangerous message to your spouse.
Essential listening for anyone whose partner struggles to prioritise their nuclear family, anyone dealing with guilt-tripping in-laws, or couples navigating the tricky waters of holiday expectations. The hosts provide practical scripts for boundary-setting and explore why this Christmas conflict is actually a litmus test for the relationship's future. If you've ever felt like you're fighting for basic autonomy in your own family decisions, this episode offers the clarity and courage you need.
Connect with Nichole & Ben:
Send in your questions or show suggestions to hello@house-of-farrow.com
Coaching, updates & all the good stuff → http://house-of-farrow.com
Say hi on Instagram or tiktok → @house-of-farrow @nichole.farrow
Catch every episode → Love for Life Podcast