Extraordinary Relationships Podcast
Extraordinary Relationships
Extraordinary and Ordinary Love with Shared Purpose
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Extraordinary and Ordinary Love with Shared Purpose

with Caroline & Jason Bernhardt-Lanier

In this conversation with Andrew and Danielle in Barcelona, Jason and Caroline reflect on 35+ years together since meeting at university, describing their relationship as both extraordinary and ordinary: a long unfolding of commitment, shared purpose, and growth through bliss and struggle, now including four adult children exploring relationships themselves.

They recount co-leading a service trip to Honduras, falling in love, marrying young, and later living in Bolivia doing service work with street youth, establishing a pattern of “shared projects” that continues to this day through family life and co-leading couples workshops.

They share how they have evolved from people-pleasing, disembodiment, emotional illiteracy, and control into greater self-awareness and relational skills, including how to repair when things get challenging. They offer many ideas and suggestions for keeping the aliveness thriving in a long-term relationship. These include structured Imago Dialogue (mirroring, validation, empathy), appreciation practices, and a renewed focus on pleasure, playfulness, and embodiment.

Guest Links & Resources:

Jason & Caroline’s workshops & website

Getting the Love You Want couples workshops

Imago therapy & dialogue

Enneagram 2

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Ma (間): A Japanese aesthetic concept translated as “pause,” “interval,” or “space-between”. In painting, it refers to the empty space that gives form to the overall artwork, often considered as substantive as the painted areas.

Reflections Episode soon to come:

In our Reflections episode, we reflect on the key moments, insights, and practices that stood out in our conversation with Jason and Caroline. We share:

  • Observations and highlights from the original conversation & experience.

  • Personal insights from Andrew and Danielle on applying these principles in daily life.

  • Practical ideas and exercises you can try to deepen the connection in your own relationships.

  • A worksheet with instructions you can download.

The Reflections episode is a shorter, intimate companion to the main interview—designed to help you process, integrate, and embody what was discussed.

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