19/05/2026
This one was tough to record, but if it helps just one person or one partnership, it will have been worth it. Have a listen and let us know what you think. 😄
THE 'AFFAIR' THAT NEVER HAPPENED AND HOW IT ALMOST BROKE US
People refer to us as “couple goals” all the time, but the truth is far messier and a bit of a rollercoaster.
This week's episode of Awesomely Off Topic is about the moments that almost broke our relationship - and our business - and what actually helped us stay together after 28 years.
We talk candidly about jealousy, paranoia in relationships, and how low self-worth can distort reality until you start hunting for “proof” that does not exist.
If you have ever felt the spiral of anxiety, hypervigilance, and intrusive thoughts, you will recognise how easily your brain can turn coincidences into a story.
We share how those patterns affected day-to-day life, trust, intimacy, and even our ability to enjoy time away together.
FLASHPOINT
One of the biggest flashpoints happened around a work situation that we handled badly at the time, even though nothing 'naughty' actually happened.
We unpack why keeping information back can feel protective but often lands as guilt in the other person’s mind, especially when past hurt is already in the room.
We also talk about what “evidence-based thinking” looks like in real life: asking “Where is your evidence?”, noticing when you are forcing the wrong jigsaw piece into place, and choosing to sit in discomfort long enough to have the hard conversation.
For anyone searching for relationship advice that is practical rather than polished, the takeaway is simple: honesty is not a vibe, it is a practice, and it is often the only way back from the brink.
The episode also follows the pressure points that hit when you run a business with your partner.
We share what it looked like when our once-thriving marketing and PR agency started cracking under the weight of burnout, overwhelm, perimenopause, and undiagnosed ADHD traits. Missed notes, forgotten client calls, and the creeping fear of reputational damage forced us into painful choices, including splitting how we worked and even sacking our biggest paying clients to protect health and sanity.
If you are navigating entrepreneurship, business partnership conflict, or leadership under stress, you will hear the unglamorous truth: sometimes survival means reducing revenue, simplifying delivery, and rebuilding capacity before growth.
Then life piled on: multiple sclerosis relapse, grief, and the devastation of losing our pets while trying to keep finances afloat.
We talk about how stress amplifies existing triggers, how intimacy can disappear when you are in caregiving mode, and how money shocks like an unexpected VAT bill can push a couple into pure survival thinking.
Yet we also share what helped us rebuild: counselling and therapy, learning to communicate even when terrified, laughing on purpose, and deciding that “meant to be together” is not passive fate but an active choice.
TIPS APLENTY
If you are searching for long-term relationship tips, coping with menopause in a relationship, ADHD and marriage support, or how to save a relationship during burnout, this conversation offers hope without pretending it is easy.
Oh, and of course, we go awesomely off-topic towards the end of this one... we never set out to give you a detailed, visual walkthrough of our studio, but that's what happened! :D
Awesomely Off-Topic, Series 2, Episode 9: How We Nearly Lost Everything – And Built Something Better - out now. Listen, download and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
,
Taz and Asha
xx
