Episodes

Every relationship includes letdowns, but some failures cause much deeper damage. In this episode, Ellen explains the difference between a disappointment, a breach of trust, and a full-on betrayal. She looks at the role of intent, why concealment can become the most damaging part of a betrayal, and how your partner’s perception shapes the impact. She also shares practical steps for repairing a breach and a five-step process for rebuilding after betrayal. Part 1: Disappointment, Breach, or Betr...

Ellen continues the conversation about trust by moving from the seven domains of trust into the personal patterns each partner brings to their relationship. She introduces seven relationship trust archetypes that shape how people naturally build trust, where they may create strain, and what they need to become more intentional about in order to build a high-trust profile with their partner. Part 1: Trust Is Personal Trust is not a single quality. It is built through seven domains: safety, ...

In this episode of Make More Love, Ellen takes on one of the most misunderstood issues in long-term relationships: trust. Most people think about trust in terms of the obvious violations — betrayal, secrets, lies, and affairs. But trust can also erode through the repeated daily letdowns that make a partner feel unsafe, uninformed, dismissed, unsupported, or unable to rely on the relationship. Ellen breaks trust down into seven practical domains: Safety, Security, Caring, Integrity, Fidelit...

Ellen continues her conversation with Shaun Zetlin, founder of Zetlin Fitness and author of Emotional Fitness. In Part 1, Ellen and Shaun focused on the philosophy and psychology of emotional fitness. In Part 2, they move into the practical side: choosing the right support, using Shaun’s five mantras, and understanding how emotional fitness shows up inside a relationship. Part 1: Choosing the Right Support Ellen shares her own experience with personal training and what she learned from wor...

Ellen speaks with Shaun Zetlin, founder of Zetlin Fitness and author of Emotional Fitness and Push-Up Progression. Shaun shares how being born with club feet, struggling with gross motor skills, and being picked last in gym class shaped his relationship with fitness, confidence, and resilience. What began as a desire to feel capable in his own body eventually became Shaun’s work as a personal trainer and emotional fitness advocate. In Part 1 of this conversation, Ellen and Shaun explore how t...

Ellen introduces the Five-Point Relationship Operating System — a practical, structured framework built from the same tools high-performing business owners already use every day. This isn't therapy. This isn't communication tips. It's a system. And you already know how to run one. When your business takes off, it demands everything you have. And while you're navigating that chaos, everything else in your life starts running on autopilot — including your relationship. The problem is that autop...

Ellen continues her conversation with Bill Storm — Peak Performance Strategist and veteran of both the Tony Robbins organization and the John Maxwell Leadership Team — diving into three things that keep high-performing business owners from having the conversations that matter most. Part 1: Blame Blame isn't one thing — it's three. Ellen breaks down fair blame, unfair blame, and self-blame, and gives you a practical strategy for handling each one. The goal isn't to avoid blame altogether. It's...

In this season opener, Ellen sits down with Bill Storm — Peak Performance Strategist and veteran of both the Tony Robbins organization and the John Maxwell Leadership Team — for a candid conversation about what really happens to your relationship when you're deep in the work of building a company. Bill opens up about his own 25-year marriage, and the conversation gets real—fast! Part 1: The Blind Spot Business owners are wired for optimism. It's what makes us great at building companies — and i...

In this Valentine’s Day special episode, Ellen Dorian dives into the history, meaning, and modern-day pressures of the holiday. Whether listeners are diehard romantics or Valentine’s Day cynics, Ellen provides practical advice and creative ideas to help them plan a day that fits their relationship. From understanding their partner’s expectations to avoiding last-minute stress, this episode is packed with insights to make Valentine's Day a meaningful and stress-free experience. Part 1: Underst...

In this special holiday episode, Ellen Dorian reflects on the Spirit of Generosity, a concept she learned from her father and continues to embody in her coaching. Through heartfelt storytelling, she introduces the five aspects of generosity—emotional, relational, philosophical, action-oriented, and legacy-focused—and shares actionable ways to bring these into your relationships. This episode is a guide to creating deeper connections, fostering trust, and leaving a meaningful legacy for your love...

In this heartfelt bonus episode of the Make More Love Podcast, Ellen Dorian addresses the complex emotions that can arise during the Christmas season, especially for those who feel isolated, disconnected, or out-of-step with the festivities. Drawing from personal experiences and real client stories, Ellen offers compassionate strategies for coping with holiday loneliness, respecting individual traditions, and rebuilding meaningful connections—both with ourselves and those we love. Part 1: Nav...

The holiday season can transform what should be magical moments into stressful, pressure-filled events—especially for high-performing men balancing relationships, business demands, and personal fulfillment. In this insightful solo episode, host Ellen Dorian shares the practical "GGG Principles"—Gratitude, Generosity, and Grace—as anchors to help couples thrive and deepen connection through the holidays (and beyond). Part 1: The Reality of Holiday Expectations Ellen explores how holidays often...

Ellen Dorian addresses the stress and conflict that holidays bring to high-performing business leaders, particularly business owners facing Q4 pressures alongside personal obligations. She introduces a strategic planning approach to transform the holiday season from a source of tension into an opportunity for connection. Through the story of client Bill and his wife Gina, Ellen demonstrates how joint planning, clear boundaries, and shared ownership can prevent the annual cycle of holiday resentm...

Ellen Dorian explores how business owners can strengthen their relationships by treating their partnership as the foundation that holds everything else together. Drawing from a Trevor Noah podcast quote about spending time with his father, she examines the cost of making unilateral business decisions without partner input. The episode provides a framework for integrating business and relationship priorities through structured communication, tiered decision-making, and weekly alignment meetings. ...

Ellen Dorian shares insights from her 10th anniversary Viking river cruise, highlighting three key moves for long-lasting relationships: acceptance, longevity, and defaulting to yes. Part 1: Acceptance in Long Term Relationships - Recognizing and appreciating your partner's authentic self - Distinguishing between tolerance, resignation, and genuine acceptance - Example: Steve's acceptance of Ellen's coffee house visits Part 2: Longevity and Vitality - Importance of physical, mental, ...

Ellen Dorian analyzes the movie "The Roses" as a case study for relationship decline, illustrating Make More Love's Hierarchy of Relationship Needs and Spiral of Decline models. She breaks down the film's plot, highlighting key disruptions that lead to the couple's downfall, and relates these to common relationship issues faced by high-performing individuals. Part 1: Introduction and Movie Analysis - Ellen introduces the episode's focus on "The Roses" as a relationship case study - Explana...

Ellen Dorian discusses strategies for managing conflict in relationships, introducing the concept of "passionate problem solving" as an alternative to cold war and hot war conflict styles. She outlines two pathways: early intervention and radical repair, drawing inspiration from kink and BDSM protocols and Japanese apology frameworks. Part 1: Understanding Conflict and Early Intervention - Esther Perel's three categories of conflict: power and control, respect and recognition, care and closen...

Ellen Dorian explores hot war fighting tactics in relationships, discussing the escalation from Cold War to Hot War styles of conflict. She breaks down the spectrum of conflict, from bickering to brutality, and offers insights on recognizing and addressing unhealthy patterns. Part 1: The Spectrum of Conflict - Bickering as the turning point from Cold War to Hot War - Arguing as a conscious form of conflict - Fighting as a more aggressive, theatrical form of conflict - Brutality as th...

Ellen Dorian explores the concept of "never fighting" in relationships, discussing various reasons why couples might claim they don't fight and the potential implications for their relationship health. Part 1: Reasons for "Never Fighting" - Disengagement and avoidance - Temperament and perceptions - Philosophy and healthy skills Part 2: Analyzing "Never Fighting" in Relationships - Looking beneath the surface - Attacking the problem, not each other - Practicing conflict resolut...

Ellen Dorian, host of Make More Love, shares insights from her unexpected vacation in Lisbon, emphasizing the importance of balancing structure and spontaneity in both business and relationships. She discusses the need for resilience, planned breaks, and creating systems that allow for personal time off without compromising business operations. Part 1: The Importance of Planned Breaks - Ellen's unplanned vacation in Lisbon highlights the need for breaks before burnout - Resilience as a core pr...

Ellen Dorian addresses a listener's question about whether to end a long-term relationship, offering insights on recognizing emotional attachment, repairing relationships, and considering the hidden costs of divorce. Part 1: Analyzing Emotional Disengagement - Emotional clues indicating persistent attachment to a relationship - The significance of anger, bargaining, and seeking validation - Statistical insights on marital conflicts and desires for change Part 2: Strategies for Relati...

Ellen Dorian discusses common mistakes made in restaurants that can ruin date nights, offering practical advice to enhance romantic experiences and strengthen relationships. Part 1: Restaurant Etiquette and Date Night Atmosphere - The importance of making reservations - Avoiding rudeness towards restaurant staff - Refraining from extreme menu customization - Handling complaints discreetly Part 2: Financial Considerations and Tipping - Avoiding price audits and money talk at the ta...

Ellen Dorian discusses the importance of enjoying time with your partner and offers strategies to bring fun and playfulness back into relationships, especially for busy professionals. Part 1: Rediscovering Joy in Relationships - Ellen emphasizes the significance of simply enjoying being together - Introduces the concept of "affinity" from her relationship hierarchy of needs - Encourages listeners to reflect on their favorite activities with their partner - Addresses the challenge of ...

Ellen Dorian discusses the importance of balancing business growth with maintaining a healthy relationship. She emphasizes the risks of neglecting one's partnership while focusing solely on business success, and offers strategies to protect and nurture both aspects of life. Part 1: The Blind Spot in Business Coaching - Ellen shares insights from a recent business coaching conference - Highlights the common oversight of relationship health in business coaching - Introduces the concept of...