Podcast
Room to Grow Podcast with Emily Gough
Hosted by Emily Gough · EN
We go DEEP on the Room to Grow™ Podcast. Curiously exploring relationships, connection, and the nuances and complexities of the human experience, every episode combines a unique blend of wisdom & humour along with rare levels of openness & honesty.
Join host/founder Emily Gough, a relationship coach, author & speaker, as we explore how to take ownership of your life, revolutionize your relationship to yourself and learn to communicate while creating thriving connections with others.
With both solo episodes and highly curated guests sharing incredible stories, experiences and expertise, the Room to Grow™ Podcast takes the entire idea of growth to the next level - all while covering the uncomfortable topics many of us like to avoid.
There's always more room to grow.
For all info, free resources, and more, SHOWNOTES: www.roomtogrowpodcast.com INSTAGRAM: @emilygoughcoach FACEBOOK: "Emily Gough Coaching"
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Liminal Space Between Who You Are & Who You're Becoming
1w ago00:28:00Tap to summarize"The liminal space is the in-between, the transitionary period, that awkward and uncomfortable phase when you're on the precipice of moving towards the new, but haven't quite arrived yet. These are the sacred grounds upon which transformation is created, when you're closer than ever to find what you've been searching for, letting go of everything that's been holding you back, or being more open to love." I said those words for a past episode years ago about those seasons when life asks us to release old identities before the new ones have fully arrived. In this vulnerable conversation, I'm sharing what it looks like to navigate the in-between: rebuilding self-trust, allowing healing to be imperfect, and learning how to keep showing up for yourself, because that's where you actually integrate and become the new version of yourself that has been slowly emerging this whole time. REFERENCES Episode #304: The Sacred Liminal Space: Between the Familiar and the Completely Unknown CONNECT WITH EMILY Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →411. The Grief of Getting What You Want
2w ago00:40:01Tap to summarizeThis episode is raw, tender, and so deeply personal that I seriously considered not publishing (more on that in the next one). It's my reflection of the past two years and how this transition into all of these big, beautiful things that have come into my life, including marrying my incredible man, moving countries, and building a whole new life has also come with a lot of challenges I didn't expect. From ego deaths and complete loss of various identities to loneliness, emotional contradictions, and a whole lot of healing while learning to step into a much more honest, vulnerable and embodied version of myself. This is the part of manifestation that doesn't always get talked about: you can hope and pray and work towards something for so long, and then when it all comes together, it may require you to grieve expectations of timelines, survival patterns, unmet needs, self-abandonment, and the parts of yourself that once kept you safe. And sometimes, there can still be grief found in the joys of healthy love, being fully seen, and creating the life you always dreamed of. The biggest lesson to me is that grief becomes transformative once you no longer treat it like an obstacle to your becoming. I'd love to hear from you on this one. Let me know if you can relate <3 REFERENCES Episode #371: Lessons on Learning How to Receive Love in a Healthy Relationship Episode #366: Self Love, Loneliness & Learning to Like Yourself CONNECT WITH EMILY Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →410. When Everything Feels Serious in Your Relationship, Do This Instead
Apr 100:23:51Tap to summarizeIf your relationship feels like it's always about communication, processing, and "doing the work," this episode is for you. Yes, relationships take effort, but they're not meant to feel heavy all the time. In this episode, I'm breaking down why playfulness is one of the most advanced relational skills, and why it can feel surprisingly hard to access. Because play requires vulnerability. It asks you to drop your guard, release control, and risk not being met…all in the name of connection. I'm also sharing a powerful client story (the couch kiss moment) that shows what it looks like to bring lightness, openness, and emotional truth back into a relationship, even after tension. Inside, we explore: Why your relationship might feel overly serious The vulnerability underneath play and humor How you might be using "growth" to stay in control The difference between resolving vs. repairing Plus, simple ways to bring more ease and connection back in without bypassing what's real. Because your relationship doesn't just need better communication…it needs your joy, your lightness, sense of humor and your playfulness too. CONNECT WITH EMILY Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together Love in Practice: Couples Coaching with Emily & Kelly Gardner Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →409. Self-Discipline Is the Highest Form of Self-Love
Mar 2400:23:31Tap to summarizeYou say you want to trust yourself more. To feel consistent, confident, and grounded. But then you don't follow through. Again. You avoid the thing, break your own promises and move a little farther away from building the life you say that you want. Worse yet, you slowly stop trusting yourself. In this episode, we're reframing self-discipline, because it's not about punishment or forcing yourself to be better. It's about devotion, and self-discpline being the highest form of self-love. If you've been stuck in cycles of starting and stopping or waiting to feel ready, this episode will show you why. And the real question becomes: What am I protecting myself from? In this episode, we're talking about: Discipline as devotion, not punishment Where avoidance can look like gentleness The fears underneath lack of follow-through How to rebuild self-trust through consistency Choosing yourself, one small action at a time Tangible tools to start to take action and build the self-discipline muscle RELATED EPISODES #352: The Subtle Ways Self-Abandonment Sneaks Up On Us #366: Self-Love, Loneliness & Learning to Like Yourself #277: Are You Waiting Around to Be Chosen? CONNECT WITH EMILY Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together Love in Practice: Couples Coaching with Emily & Kelly Gardner Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →408. Why You Keep Proving Your Worst Fears About Yourself True
Mar 1700:28:51Tap to summarizeThe most addictive feeling is the one that confirms that you are who you think you are when you receive feedback - for better or for worse. Because what if your life isn't repeating the same story, but the same stories keep creating your life? For example, why do you keep finding yourself in the same relationship dynamics, even when you know better? In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the most powerful (and often invisible) forces shaping your life: your identity. Because the truth is, you're not just repeating patterns. You're unconsciously confirming who you believe yourself to be. And that confirmation can feel strangely satisfying, even when it hurts. We explore why your nervous system prioritizes familiarity over happiness, how your core beliefs were formed, and what it actually takes to shift them. Today we're talking about: Why your brain seeks confirmation, not happiness The hidden addiction to familiar identity Why certain feedback triggers you (and others don't) How "I'm not enough" shows up in relationships Fear vs. hope and which one is really driving your life What it takes to rewrite and rewire your identity Your brain is wired for coherence, not happieness. Even when it's deeply painful. But when you shift your identity? Everything changes. Can't wait to hear how this one lands for you. New episodes weekly! CONNECT WITH EMILY Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together Love in Practice: Couples Coaching with Emily & Kelly Gardner Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →407. Containment, Self-Abandonment & How to Feel Everything Without Making Others Pay for It
Dec 1900:31:19Tap to summarizeWe talk a lot about boundaries, but almost always in the context of protecting ourselves from other people. This episode is about the boundary no one talks about: the one you hold with yourself. I'm diving into containment, which is the ability to feel your emotions fully without discharging them onto someone else, and why lack of containment quietly destroys intimacy, even when you think you're "just being honest." Moreover, I truly believe that every human is capable of emotional regulation, and am pulling apart the idea floating around the New Age / polarity world that men should be the stoic containers for the unbridled rage and emotional expression of women. We'll explore: Why the most important boundaries are self-boundaries How emotional dumping differs from real vulnerability, and examples of the difference between the two Why anxiety, sadness, and fear can be just as uncontained as anger The difference between sharing to connect vs. spilling to feel better How to be raw, honest, and unrehearsed without abandoning responsibility Why containment is a human relational skill - not a gendered one This isn't about suppressing emotions or trying to be nice (which is often dishonesty in disguise.) It's actually an invitation into deeper intimacy, true connection, and allowing your authenicity to shine through in a way that invites others in rather than pushing them away unconsciously. It's about self-leadership, relational safety, and learning how to feel everything without making the people you love pay for it. So much to unpack here! Let's dive in, AND... Don't forget to check out my BRAND NEW podcast Love in Practice, co-hosted with my husband Kelly Gardner. You can find it on Youtube or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Listen here. CONNECT WITH EMILY Grown Ass Woman Era: Group details HERE Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together COUPLES COACHING with Emily & Kelly Gardner (apply here) Get Your FREE Guide "The Four Tools Missing From Your Relationship" here Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →406. Stop Performing Vulnerability: How to Speak From Your Heart Instead of Your Head
Dec 1000:36:13Tap to summarize2025 didn't ask for transformation, it demanded it. For me, that meant shedding so many layers of protection and armor to let myself be truly seen. In today's episode, we go deep on the difference between performing vulnerability and actually letting someone in. Because you say you want intimacy…but are you actually bringing your vulnerability, or are you throwing it like a weapon and calling it connection? We explore: What vulnerability actually means versus performing it or using it as a weapon Activiely choosing to go first in vulnerablity and how it can shift your entire relationship and love life, even when it doesn't feel fair - and how to completely shift that resistance entirely The art of feminine communication and learning to speak from your heart instead of your head The IMMENSE power you as a woman wield in relationship and in the world, and how to use it from a place of deep devotion to love itself The four questions you can ask yourself to access true vulnerability with an open heart The total energetic shift that makes you more magnetic than ever How to exercise more presence and trust with your partner You'll walk away with tools to access your true needs, speak from the heart, and embrace vulnerability as a source of connection rather than depending on intellectualizing or allowing fears to take over. --> Book a call with me to talk about options on how we can work together in 2026! EPISODES REFERENCED Episode #375: Can You Trust Him More? how to Love and Trust More Deeply Episdoe #117: The 9 Year Affair: Lessons in Infidelity CONNECT WITH EMILY Grown Ass Woman Era: Group details HERE Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together COUPLES COACHING with Emily & Kelly Gardner (apply here) Get Your FREE Guide "The Four Tools Missing From Your Relationship" here Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →405. Coaching Call: Anxiety vs Intuition When Healthy Love Feels Scary with Haley
Sep 2801:03:30Tap to summarizeToday I'm sitting down with my incredible former client Haley, who very bravely volunteered to share some of her story publicly and to allow me to coach her while you get to listen in. Haley was part of the last round of my women's group Grown A$$ Woman Era, and you get to hear directly from her how much of a massive impact the group had on her. It was truly a joy for all of us in the group to get to watch her life completely transform as a direct result of the changes she made throughout the program, the connection she created with herself, and the patterns she completely rewrote to step into a whole new chapter of her life. This episode is a powerful look at what happens when you choose to face your fear and trust yourself. Haley's story is raw, relatable and a reminder that your next level is probably going to be uncomfortable...but it's all in the name of creating the life and relationships you say you want. --> If you're craving the kind of support and life-altering shifts that Haley experienced, book a call with me about joining my women's group, Grown As$ Woman Era. Starts in october and only a few spots left! More details here. CONNECT WITH EMILY Grown Ass Woman Era: Group details HERE Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together COUPLES COACHING with Emily & Kelly Gardner (apply here) Get Your FREE Guide "The Four Tools Missing From Your Relationship" here Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →404. When Safety Becomes the Cage: The Price of Playing Small
Sep 2400:28:22Tap to summarizeSo often we choose safety over purpose — pulling back, isolating, or waiting for the "right" moment instead of leaning into the uncertainty of what our soul is calling us toward. True safety isn't found in control or certainty, but in the trust we create within ourselves and the connections we nurture with others. Playing it small might feel comfy and familiar, but it keeps you from the aliveness, love, and freedom you're craving so deeply. Here's a different thought: what if the uncertainty you're resisting is actually proof that you're aligned and growing? Today we're talking about: Staying connected to your body, listening to the whispers and taking that leap of faith When to seek safety...and when that safety you're pulled towards is actually the biggest block holding you back Sometimes your most solid foundation is built from navigating uncertainty Letting go, surrendering, and opening to the possibilities a bold life will both offer and demand from you --> Book a call with me to join my women's group, Grown A$$ Woman Era. Starts soon and only a few spots left! More details here. CONNECT WITH EMILY Grown Ass Woman Era: Group details HERE Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together COUPLES COACHING with Emily & Kelly Gardner (apply here) Get Your FREE Guide "The Four Tools Missing From Your Relationship" here Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →403. How to Keep the Fire & Desire Burning in Your Long Term Relationship
Jul 100:23:04Tap to summarize"When you make your partner your entire world, you slowly stop being YOU. And the very things that drew them to you in the first place, your energy, your passions, your independence, your joy, they all begin to dim." Today I'm giving you the tools you need to not just keep the spark alive in your relationship, but to keep the fire thriving - and it's not about the latest polarity trend. CONNECT WITH EMILY Grown Ass Woman Era: Group details HERE Book a Connection Call With Emily To Work Together COUPLES COACHING with Emily & Kelly Gardner (apply here) Get Your FREE Guide "The Four Tools Missing From Your Relationship" here Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilygoughcoach Website: https://emilygoughcoaching.com/ BOOK: "You Grow Me: The Next Level Human Philosophy of Love, Sex and Romantic Connection
Transcribe →