The Human Intimacy Podcast

The Human Intimacy Podcast

Intimacy is a fundamental human experience that goes far beyond romantic relationships. Join us as we dive into the deep and multifaceted layers of human connection, exploring everything from friendship and family bonds to self-love and vulnerability. Through thought-provoking conversations with experts, personal stories, and practical advice, we’ll uncover the secrets to nurturing meaningful relationships in a fast-paced digital world. From exploring trust and fostering emotional intimacy to navigating conflicts and rediscovering oneself, we’re here to discover the essence of what it means to truly connect with others and ourselves. Whether you’re seeking to improve your relationships, gain insights into human behaviors, or simply crave a meaningful conversation that enriches your understanding of human connection, you won’t want to miss a single episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast.

Episodes

August 13, 2025 36 mins

 

It Didn’t Start With You:

Breaking Generational Patterns

and Healing the Past

Summary:

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the powerful concept of generational patterns and how our family history shapes our lives. Drawing on insights from Mark Wolynn’s book It Didn’t Start With ...

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Rebuilding Us: Turning Conflict into Connection

Podcast Summary:

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive deep into the essential relationship cycle of rupture, repair, responsibility, and rebuilding. Drawing from their personal experiences and clinical work, they explore how every relationship inevitably encounters conflict—not because something is w...

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Finding the Why:

The Courage to Understand Betrayal

When betrayal strikes, one of the first—and most painful—questions we ask is: Why? Why did they do this? Why am I reacting this way? Why does it still hurt?

In this weeks episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the emotional terrain beneath the question “Why?”—from both si...

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The Healing Power of Honesty:

Trauma, Truth, and Relationship Repair

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis take a deep dive into the role of honesty in trauma recovery and relational healing. The conversation begins with MaryAnn recounting a personal traumatic experience of being held at gunpoint and how ...

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Facing Fear:

What’s Holding You Back from Healing and Connection?

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn discuss a powerful and universal emotion—fear—and how it shapes our decisions, relationships, and personal growth. From the fear of being seen, rejected, or betrayed, to the fear of facing consequences or being ...

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The Mask and the Mirror:

Seeing Yourself Clearly After Betrayal

In this raw and revealing conversation, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore what happens when betrayal, addiction, secrecy, or early trauma fracture your sense of identity. Whether you’re a betrayed partner or someone who has acted out, this episode is an invitation to step out from behind the ma...

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In this powerful and emotionally rich episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis shift the focus from trauma to transformation. While past episodes have explored the symptoms of post-traumatic stress following betrayal, this conversation is all about post-traumatic growth—the process of finding meaning, strength, and purpose through adversity.

MaryAnn shares her personal journey from betrayal and...

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The Disclosure Process:

When Honesty Opens the Door to Healing

 

Episode Summary:

In this deeply compassionate and informative episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels explore one of the most difficult but essential stages in healing from betrayal trauma—the disclosure process. Beginning with the devastation of discovery (D-Day), the...

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When Your Partner Won’t Engage:

Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Part 2)

📝 Episode Summary:

In Part 2 of this powerful series on emotional regulation and effective communication, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels dive deeper into what happens between partners when conflict escalates—and how to interrupt destructive patterns before more harm is done.

They expl...

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When Your Partner Won’t Engage (Part 1):

Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection

In Part 1 of this two-part series on The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into one of the most common yet painful relationship challenges: emotional disengagement. Whether it's a partner who won’t talk, shuts down, or avoids hard conversations, this episode ...

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Words That Shape Us: Rethinking the Language We Use in Relationships

In this thought-provoking episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the powerful impact of the words we use in our relationships. From misunderstood terms like gaslighting, addiction, and defensiveness to therapeutic concepts like parts work, triggers, and intimacy, they unpack what these words really mean and why c...

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🎙️ The Human Intimacy Podcast:

Grieving What Was—and What Wasn't: Finding Meaning in Loss

📝 Episode Summary:

In this deeply moving episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore the often-unspoken grief that arises not only from death but from lost experiences, missed relationships, betrayal, and the life we thought we would have. Together, they discuss how grief shows up in unexpected w...

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Self-Leadership:

The Roadmap to Healing, Hope, and Deeper Intimacy

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis reflect on Marianne’s powerful experience presenting at the ITAP (International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals) Conference, where she introduced a healing-intensive approac...

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The Lens of Betrayal:

Relearning How to See the Ones We Love

In this thought-provoking episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore how betrayal changes the way we see the people closest to us. When trust is broken, our brain naturally shifts into self-protection, filtering our perception through trauma, pain, and fear. Dr. Ski...

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Consent, Communication, and the Core of Intimacy

In this powerful and essential episode of The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of sexual consent within committed relationships. Drawing from years of clinical experience and recent conversations with clients, they explore what true consent looks like—voluntary, informed...

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Healing Body Image and Self-Perception After Betrayal

 

In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore how early life experiences, cultural messaging, and exposure to media and pornography shape self-perception and body image—especially after betrayal. They discuss why betrayed partners often feel "not enough," and they share research shows that pornography harms both users’ and partn...

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The Bravery of Letting Go:

A Deep Dive into Self-Forgiveness and Healing

  In this vulnerable and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore one of the most challenging aspects of the healing journey: self-forgiveness. Whether you've acted in ways you're not proud of or internalized blame after betrayal, the burden of shame can keep you t...

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The Shame We Carry:

Giving Voice to the Unspoken

In this special episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and co-host MaryAnn Michaelis delve into the profound impact of shame, secrecy, and silent suffering in relationships—especially in the context of sexual betrayal. They explore the internal negotiations we make with ourselves to hide the parts we fe...

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Forgiveness:

The Misunderstood Path to Healing and Human Intimacy

  In this heartfelt and powerful episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels dive into the complex, often misunderstood topic of forgiveness—especially within relationships affected by betrayal and emotional wounds. Using real-life role-play, personal insight, and profess...

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From Self-Deception to Self-Trust:

Honoring Emotions After Betrayal

In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaels are joined by special guest Jennifer Johnson, a clinical mental health counselor and expert in betrayal trauma and sex addiction recovery. Together, they explore the nuanced concept of self-deception—not as a character flaw, but as a ...

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