Before You Pack: The Conversations Every Couple Needs Before Vacation

Relationship Advice

Colter Bloxom

Relationships, Mental Health, Society & Culture, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vacation stress usually isn’t about the trip itself — it’s about the unspoken expectations couples bring into it. In this episode, the hosts unpack the conversations that can completely change the tone of a vacation before you ever leave the driveway: money, planning, intimacy, parenting, downtime, technology, and more. They explore how different nervous systems, personalities, and expectations can either create connection or turn a “dream trip” into the same fight in a different location. Main Talking Points: Vacation Expectations Planning Differences Money Conversations Parenting Stress Intimacy Pressure Technology Boundaries Give Me Discounts! ⁠⁠AG1 - ⁠⁠AG1 has become my go to every morning. ⁠⁠Beducate⁠⁠ - Use code relationship69 for 65% off the annual pass. Check out Relationship Academy! ⁠ ⁠Cozy Earth⁠⁠ - Black Friday has come early! Right now, you can stack my code “IDO” on top of their sitewide sale — giving you up to 40% off in savings. These deals won’t last, so start your holiday shopping today! Kiwi Fodzyme - Get 30% off your first order! Rythm - Get 15% off your first month + free shipping! ⁠⁠Simple Practice⁠⁠ - If you're in mental health and not using simple practice then what are you doing??? ⁠⁠Spark My Relationship Course:⁠⁠ Get $100 off our online course. Visit⁠⁠ SparkMyRelationship.com/Unlock⁠⁠ for our special offer just for our I Do Podcast listeners! ⁠⁠Skylight⁠⁠⁠ - Use code “IDO” for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. Tanasi - Use code “relationship" for 25% off your first order. Quince - Get Free Shipping and 365-day Returns using our link! If you love this episode (and our podcast!), would you mind giving us a⁠ review in iTunes⁠? It would mean the world to us and we promise it only takes a minute. Many thanks in advance! – Colter, Cayla, & Lauren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Changes in sexual performance are more common than most people realize, and support doesn't need to feel awkward.
0:05.9	With MedExpress, everything happens privately online. Start by completing a short consultation reviewed by
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0:17.4	whenever you need it. You're not alone in this. Visit medexpress.co.com
0:21.8	dot UK slash podcast to learn more. All right. Hello. Welcome to relationship advice. My name is
0:27.0	Colter Bloxum and I am joined with my best gal pals. I mean, I'm not a gal, but they're gals. So
0:33.1	they're my gal pals. Lauren Mo Carey and Kayla Bozovich. We are three licensed professional counselors.
0:39.6	We run a therapy community here in Phoenix, Arizona, and this podcast is an extension of what we
0:44.9	do, and all about all things, relationships connecting better with others. And the first place
0:51.5	that you start is by connecting with yourself. In today's episode,
0:56.1	I want you to consider this an investment in your next vacation. So the next time you and your
1:02.3	partner, whether you're dating or married or have kids or empty nesters, are going on a vacation,
1:08.9	this is going to be some preparation for that vacation to be 10 out of 10.
1:13.3	The vacation starts before we even leave the house, starts when we start packing.
1:18.1	And that's when the fights start coming up and we start bickering with each other about like,
1:23.2	well, we're going to need this.
1:23.9	We're not going to have time for this.
1:25.0	And so this episode is all about as you're packing before you're packing and going on vacation, we're getting to need this. We're not going to have time for this. And so this episode is all about
1:27.7	as you're packing before you're packing and going on vacation. We're getting into summer
1:32.0	and starting to have those summer plans. And we don't want you having those trips where you're
1:36.3	driving up north and you're not even talking to each other. You're like, should we just turn this
1:39.5	car around? So that is what today's episode is about Lauren and Kayla. I am wondering, is this something that shows up in your relationship at all? Or is it just freaking easy, peasy? What about you, Lauren? Well, I'm laughing because when you said, you know, the vacation starts when you're packing. I was like, oh, no, the vacation starts when you're planning. That's probably true. Where are we going to go?
	...

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