Episodes 109
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (4)
Since Jul 2023
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
40%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

Got questions about parenting, teenagers, or relationships? Ever wonder why your teen won’t talk to you, or why your relationship feels like hard work lately? Hi, I’m Marie Vakakis—a therapist, mental health educator, and someone who’s been behind the scenes with countless families and couples navigating the ups and downs of real life. This Complex Life is your go-to for relatable insights, practical advice, and real talk about parenting, raising teenagers, and navigating relationships. I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of sitting in the therapist’s chair—helping parents understand their teens, supporting couples through tough times, and figuring out what actually works when life feels overwhelming. Whether it’s understanding your teen’s moods, handling family drama, or reconnecting in your relationship, I’m here to give you practical advice, relatable insights and a little humour to keep it real. Parenting and relationships aren’t easy, but they don’t have to feel impossible. Subscribe to This Complex Life for honest advice and actionable tips to make life’s messiness more manageable.

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Recent Episodes

7 signs your partner is emotionally checked out

Jun 01, 2026 27m

You're spending time together. Dinners, dog walks, evenings on the couch. Nobody's fighting, nothing is obviously broken. Something feels completely off and you can't quite point to it. In this…

Feeling lonely in your relationship? Ask Marie

May 21, 2026 29m

Feeling lonely in a relationship even a good one? This is one of the most common things I hear in therapy, and one of the hardest feelings to name.You're in a relationship with someone you love.…

Bad marriage advice with Monica Tanner

May 04, 2026 32m

You've probably received the same relationship advice everyone gets. Never go to bed angry. Just communicate more. Send them the link. Some of it sounds reasonable and most of it gets misapplied in…

The Fawn Response: What It Is and how to change it

Apr 27, 2026 38m

If you've ever agreed to something and immediately regretted it, apologised for something that wasn't your fault, or changed your opinion halfway through a conversation just to keep the peace, this…

Help, We Keep Fighting About Money

Apr 19, 2026 26m

Most couples have had the same money argument dozens of times without ever having the real conversation underneath it. Research shows that 58% of Australian couples report finances as a major source…

Sex and Disability: Pleasure Is for Everyone

Apr 08, 2026 30m

Sex and disability. Two words most people still find uncomfortable in the same sentence. I sat down with sexologist Casey Payne to talk about what we get wrong, why pleasure belongs to everyone…

The Psychology of the Ick — and What It Says About You

Mar 30, 2026 19m

The ick in dating, it’s that moment where someone does something completely normal, and your whole body just shuts down. A 2025 study found that 64% of people have felt it, and about a quarter ended…

Is Your Wounded Child Ruining Your Relationship?

Feb 18, 2026 11m

Have you ever had a reaction to your partner that felt huge?Like a ten out of ten response to something small?You are crying over coffee.They are confused.You are both thinking, what just happened?It…

Attachment Styles in Conflict: Breaking the Cycle

Feb 09, 2026 11m

If you keep having the same argument with your partner, it might not be about the topic at all. Often, it is not about the dishes, the plans for the weekend, or who forgot to call back. How you…

5 Conversations Couples Should Have Before It’s Too Late

Feb 02, 2026 18m

So many couples say the same thing when they come to therapy. We probably should have talked about this earlier. Not because of one big issue, but because of all the small conversations that got…

I Got a Promotion and My Partner Isn’t Happy for Me

Jan 20, 2026 20m

Sharing good news with your partner should feel connecting. Yet for many people, moments of success can quickly turn into hurt or tension when the response feels flat, awkward, or dismissive.In this…

Why Won’t My Partner Communicate With Me

Jan 06, 2026 20m

Why won’t my partner communicate with meIt’s one of the most common questions I hear in the therapy room and it’s usually coming from someone who feels shut out, unheard or like they’re carrying the…

Soulmates Or More Like Roommates?

Dec 22, 2025 16m

Do you want to feel closer to your partner, but feel unsure how to bring it up?Many couples care deeply about each other and still drift apart. Life gets busy. Conversations become practical.…

They Should Just Know and Other Ways Relationships Get Hard

Dec 15, 2025 20m

Have you ever found yourself thinking my partner is not the same person I fell in love with.Maybe you still care deeply but something feels off.Conversations go in circles.You keep fighting about the…

Is This Anxiety or Is My Brain Just Freaking Out

Dec 08, 2025 42m

Anxiety can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when your brain reacts faster than you can make sense of it. In this episode, I talk with Dr Jodi Richardson about the difference between…

Breakups, Masculinity and Men’s Mental Health

Dec 01, 2025 40m

Breakups can be hard on all of us, they can shake our sense of self in ways we don't expect. For men, the emotional impact is not something that's often spoken about. They’re taught to suck it up and…

Rethinking Who You Are After Having Kids with Bronte Taylor

Nov 24, 2025 38m

People often imagine that parenthood clicks into place the moment a baby arrives. For many, the emotional changes, the exhaustion and the adjustment to a new sense of self are far more complex than…

Making Sense of ADHD in Therapy

Nov 17, 2025 44m

ADHD is often misunderstood, especially in therapy. In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with ADHD coach Ron Souers about what happens when therapy meets the realities of living with ADHD.We…

Turning ADHD Struggles into Strengths

Nov 10, 2025 30m

ADHD can bring creativity, energy, and passion, but it can also make everyday life feel chaotic or overwhelming.In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk with Ron Souers, ADHD coach and host of…

Growing Yourself Up with Dr Jenny Brown - Encore

Nov 04, 2025 43m

We all like to think of ourselves as grown-ups, but what does it really mean to grow yourself up? And how does that shape every relationship you have at home, at work, and with the people you love…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does This Complex Life have?

This Complex Life has published 109 episodes since July 2023, covering topics in Education, Health & Fitness.

Is This Complex Life still active?

This Complex Life is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 28m.

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