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PODCAST

This Complex Life

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

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All Episodes

41:27

The Future of Friendships: Are We Getting Lonelier?

This Complex Life ·

2025/09/22

Friendships are some of the most important relationships we have, but they’re also one of the easiest to neglect. In this episode of This Complex Life, I’m joined by Steph Clarke, futurist, facilitator, and author of How to Friend, to explore whether we’re really facing a loneliness epidemic, how friendships evolve as we age, and why maintaining meaningful connections takes intention.We talk about: • Why friendships can feel harder to maintain in adulthood • How technology shapes connection and

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31:42

Affairs, Trust, and the Work of Healing After Betrayal

This Complex Life ·

2025/09/15

Affairs can devastate a relationship, leaving couples questioning everything they thought they knew about each other. In this episode of This Complex Life, I sit down with couples therapist Andrea Dindinger to talk about healing after betrayal, the slow process of rebuilding trust, and the courage it takes to move forward.We unpack why affairs happen, what betrayal does to relationships, and how couples can recover together or separately with intention and care.What you'll learn in this episode:Why

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41:16

What Bad Therapy Taught Me About Good Therapy

This Complex Life ·

2025/09/10

Therapy is often described as a safe and healing space, but that’s not always the reality. In this episode of This Complex Life, I sit down with Carrie Wiita, adjunct professor, consultant, and creator of Interpersonal Branding, to explore what bad therapy can teach us about being better therapists and more empowered clients.We talked about what happens when therapy misses the mark, why repair skills are crucial, and how both therapists and clients can work together to build a safe, supportive

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16:33

Suicide, Grief and Connection: An R U OK? Day...

This Complex Life ·

2025/09/10

When suicide is mentioned, the room often goes quiet. The heaviness of the topic shows how much fear and stigma surround it, but also how important it is to talk about.In this solo episode of This Complex Life, I explore the silence around suicide, why the subject feels so confronting, and the impact it has not only on families and communities but also on practitioners who sit with these stories.You’ll hear about:• Why suicide is such a difficult conversation to have• The ripple effect on families,

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49:29

What Therapists Get Wrong (and How We Can Do Better)

This Complex Life ·

2025/09/01

Lessons learned from Very Bad Therapy. The Very Bad Therapy podcast has changed the way I think about therapy and the stories we do and do not tell. This episode is a replay from Inside Social Work with hosts Ben and Carrie.I loved this podcast and I learned so much from listening to it. It speaks to both therapists and non therapists, and it fits perfectly with the theme of This Complex Life. Therapy is difficult, messy, and complicated.I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the hosts of the

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17:31

The 4 Habits that Predict Relationship Trouble

This Complex Life ·

2025/08/25

Have you ever had a fight with your partner that started over something small but somehow turned into a huge blow up? It’s rarely about the dishes, the bills, or who walked the dog. The way we argue matters more than the content of the fight.In this solo episode, I talk about the four relationship habits that John and Julie Gottman call the “Four Horsemen” patterns of conflict that predict relationship distress and even separation. More importantly, I share the antidotes: what to do instead.We’ll

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14:48

Why Do We Keep Drifting Apart in Our Relationship

This Complex Life ·

2025/08/18

It doesn’t usually happen with one big fight. Most couples who find themselves feeling distant say it crept up slowly. Busy schedules, kids, work, distractions and one day you realise you’re living more like housemates than partners.In this episode of This Complex Life, I talk about why couples drift apart, what research tells us about disconnection, and the small everyday actions that keep love alive.I share:Why disconnection often happens without us noticingHow emotional bids shape the strength of

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16:55

Cassandra Syndrome

This Complex Life ·

2025/08/11

Have you ever tried to explain what’s wrong in your relationship, only to be told you’re overreacting, imagining it, or making it up?In this episode of This Complex Life, I’m talking about Cassandra Syndrome, the experience of feeling unheard, dismissed, or invisible in your own reality. While it’s often linked to partners of people with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergence, the truth is it can show up in any relationship dynamic where your experiences are minimised.We’ll explore how Cassandra

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05:03

When Dream Jobs Fade, Men Redefine Masculinity, and...

This Complex Life ·

2025/08/09

What if your dream job stopped feeling like a dream? What if suicide prevention strategies missed the voices of those who know it best? And what if modern masculinity was being reshaped right in front of us?In this Weekly Wrap, I explore three powerful stories making headlines in mental health and relationships. From rethinking passion at work, to placing lived experience at the heart of suicide prevention, to conversations about male role models and expectations, these stories reveal the deeper

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20:11

Is Falling in Love with an AI Companion Considered...

This Complex Life ·

2025/08/04

What emotional relationships with chatbots reveal about loneliness, safety, and the fear of real intimacySomeone recently said their AI companion understands them more than their actual partner. That it listens, responds with care, and never judges. For them, it felt like love. But is it?In this episode of This Complex Life, I’m looking at the growing number of people forming emotional connections with chatbots. Some call it companionship. Some call it cheating. I think it tells a much bigger story

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04:27

AI Affairs, Clinic Closures, and the Mental Health...

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/31

AI affairs, vanishing therapy clinics, and phones before age 13Cheating with a chatbot. Therapy clinics shutting almost overnight. And new research on what smartphones are doing to young people’s mental health. These stories aren’t just news headlines. They are real issues showing up in therapy sessions and kitchen table conversations.Here’s what stood out this week:Chatbots and cheatingMore people are forming emotional bonds with AI bots. Some are even calling it an affair. It might seem

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19:00

Why Are We So Fascinated by Other People’s Affairs?

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/28

Affairs grab our attention. Whether it’s someone in the news or a friend of a friend, we tune in, pass judgement, or quietly reflect on our own relationships. But what is it that makes cheating stories so captivating?In this episode, I talk about why we care so much about other people’s affairs. I explore how unmet needs, identity, and longing can show up in relationships. I unpack what betrayal can do to a person’s sense of self, why fantasy can feel easier than reality, and why some couples do try

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06:01

The Weekly Wrap Men, Tech, and Trust

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/24

When a breakup becomes life-threatening, why the Coldplay affair is stirring up fears about trust and betrayal, and what teens are really saying about how technology is affecting their mental health.This week:Men, separation and suicide risk New research from Orygen shows separated men are up to nine times more likely to die by suicide. We explore why this matters and what support is available. → Orygen summary → Full paperThe Coldplay affair It is more than celebrity gossip. Infidelity brings up

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12:09

Is this a red flag or just discomfort?

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/16

Not every uncomfortable feeling in a relationship is a warning sign. Sometimes it’s about growth, not danger.In this episode of This Complex Life, I explore how to tell the difference between genuine red flags and the emotional discomfort that comes with learning, stretching, and getting close to someone. From conflict to communication styles to how we ask for space, not everything unfamiliar is unsafe.We talk about the moments that feel uncertain and how to pause before labelling something as toxic

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11:46

10 Relationship Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/09

Not all red flags are loud or obvious. Some show up in small, repeated moments that leave you feeling uneasy.In this episode of This Complex Life, I unpack 10 relationship red flags you shouldn’t ignore. These aren’t just the dramatic ones like cheating or lying, they’re the quieter patterns that can slowly wear you down over time.I talk about how to tell the difference between a red flag and a misunderstanding, what emotional safety really means, and how to use discomfort as a signal to reflect,

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18:35

Why Love Isn’t Enough When Trust Is Missing

This Complex Life ·

2025/07/01

Love matters, but without trust, relationships can’t feel safe.In this episode of This Complex Life, I will share what happens when couples love each other deeply but still feel disconnected. We often think love will carry us through anything, but when trust is missing, the relationship can start to erode.I share why trust breaks down (even without betrayal), how to recognise the small moments that matter, and what you can do to start rebuilding.Using the BRAVING framework, this episode gives you a

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25:21

When Your Teen Struggles to Make Friends. What...

This Complex Life ·

2025/06/19

It’s hard to watch your child struggle to make friends. You might feel stuck between wanting to help and not wanting to push too hard.In this episode of This Complex Life, I answer a listener’s question "Hi Marie. My daughter has trouble making friends. We really pinned all our hopes and things changing when she started high school this year, but it has come around to the school holidays again and she is feeling sad and lonely. I don't know how best to support her. Should I fill her days with

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16:29

Why We Avoid Talking About Sex (And How to Start)

This Complex Life ·

2025/06/04

Why We Avoid Talking About S3x (And How to Start)Conversations about sex often feel awkward, avoidant or emotionally loaded. I talk about what’s happening underneath the surface, how gender myths and pressure shape desire, and what couples can do to reconnect with honesty and care.In this episode, I share :How emotional safety shapes intimacyWhat’s really behind avoidance in long-term relationshipsGender myths and pressure in sexual desireWhy non-sexual connection mattersHow to talk about sex

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33:22

Navigating Therapy as a BIPOC Client: Stigma, Support...

This Complex Life ·

2025/05/21

What if your therapist just gets it and you don’t have to explain everything from scratch?That’s what this episode is all about. I sat down with Tham Fuyana, Social Worker family Therapist and Educator, to talk about what it’s like navigating therapy as a BIPOC client.BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people/ person of colourIn this episode, Tham shares his reflections growing up as a Black migrant, navigating services that didn’t always see him, and why representation in therapy matters.Key

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37:03

Why You Don’t Feel Good Enough (Even When You’re...

This Complex Life ·

2025/05/14

Do you ever feel like you're just not good enough, even when you're doing all the right things? In this conversation with psychologist Belinda Gibson, we explore the roots of that persistent feeling of inadequacy. We unpack how perfectionism, people-pleasing and harsh self-talk can sneak into our lives and affect our relationships, even when we don’t realise it.We talk about where these beliefs start, how they show up, and what you can do to respond differently. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling

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