Ok this episode is basically a two-parter! I’m back to share a coaching framework I use all the time: chochma (what I know intellectually), binah (what lands emotionally), and daas (what I actually integrate into behavior). I'll teach you how to use this framework when you're feeling stuck. We're also talking about shana rishona as a developmental stage: what it's for, how to know if you've "done it," and what to do if something's gone haywire. For those of you IN shana rishona or wanting a repeat, my First Year Married course starting Sunday the 19th! Get all the details and sign up at kaylalevin.com/newlywed

This week's episode is truly special. When Noah and I sat down to discuss who would be our absolute dream podcast guests, Alison Armstrong topped the list. Her work has been transformative for hundreds of men and women, as she takes the most confusing and frustrating differences between us and makes them crystal clear with humor, compassion, and her characteristic charm. For this episode, I got on the call with the intention of bringing her work into the realm of the newly married... those couples who are just getting to know each other, maybe building families and careers while they're at it. Alison was so wonderfully generous with her knowledge. The episode is divided into two parts, for several reasons. Mainly, I wanted to give you all the best opportunity to digest and try some of these ideas. So if you aren't subscribed yet, make sure to do that right away and you'll get the second part next Sunday when it is released. Alison Armstrong is the co-founder of PAX programs, author of The Queen’s Code book, Understand Men Online Course, and many more programs and workshops. You can find out much more at Alison’s Website: www.understandmen.com and learn about her upcoming LIVE event called LUX here: https://www.understandmen.com/worldevent/lux/ This is what we discussed in this week’s episode: What exactly is Frog Farming? How we just need to get out of the way. What causes men to misbehave? What should we do if our husbands are working too much? The surprising statistic about men in the first year of fatherhood. Why our plans for others never work. How to survive our husband’s early career intensity. How playfulness and affection feed our relationships. How young mothers can incorporate self-care. Why we aren’t getting what we need, and what to do about it. Let me know what you took from this episode! I can’t wait to hear your wins and celebrate with you!

This week I'm so excited to bring you Lauren Ohayon of the popular Restore Your Core and One Strong Mama programs. Lauren is a body expert who guides her clients to prepare for healthy births and recovery. I asked Lauren to come on and share with us, since I've had so many questions about preparing for and recovering from a first pregnancy. Whatever type of birth you are aiming for, I just love how Lauren describes how the body works and functions in a way that is totally understandable and holistic. We morphed from interview to conversation, but I think you'll really enjoy eavesdropping on that so I included our conversation on our brain's power over our bodies (so if pregnancy isn't on your radar you may want to skip ahead to about 2/3 through the episode to hear this). Sources from this episode: Restore Your Core One Strong Mama @thelaurenohayon on Instagram

When you got married, you didn’t just marry him—you married his personality, his family, his past experiences… the whole package. In this episode, we’re unpacking what it really means to accept our spouses (and in-laws!) as a package deal, and how to shift from frustration to curiosity when things feel hard.You'll learn:Why every middah (character trait) comes with its own pros and consHow to handle personality clashes—like chessed vs. gevurah typesThe importance of addressing challenges early to avoid long-term resentmentA gentle reminder: you’re a package deal too Whether you’re dealing with in-law dynamics or learning to navigate your husband’s quirks, this episode will help you approach it all with more compassion and clarity. 💬 Want to go deeper? 📅 Book a free consult call to explore if private coaching is the right next step for you. 💛 kaylalevin.com/coaching 💍 Just married? Want to feel confident and connected in shana rishona? Start the First Year Married course now: 👉 kaylalevin.com/newlywed

A good relationship with your in-laws is possible—even if it doesn’t always feel that way. In this episode, we’re tackling one of the most common struggles I hear from newlyweds: feeling criticized or undermined by their mother-in-law. But what if the issue isn’t confidence, boundaries, or even her intentions? What if the key is simply allowing yourself to be new at this? I’ll walk you through a mindset shift that transforms interactions with your MIL from stressful to supportive—so you can embrace her advice (or let it roll off your back) with ease. This is the final day of the Shana Rishona Challenge—let’s finish strong! 🎉 Resources:Join our Shalom Challenge on WhatsApp to find out when the next challenge comes out: bit.ly/4shalomCheck out the First Year Married course, open now! kaylalevin.com/newlywedLooking for more? I have a few spots open for private coaching. Maybe one of them is yours. Book a free consult call with me and let's find out! kaylalevin.com/coaching

Shana Rishona Challenge Day 7: Communication Upgrade It wasn't easy for me to pick which communication hack to use, but yesterday someone told me that after DECADES of marriage, this tool gave her a new insight into her husband. That's enough HP for me. Here's the idea: women talk back-and-forth. We interrupt to show we get it. We finish each other's sentences. Men don't. Men talk until the idea is finished. If they see they won't get to finish the idea, they might not bother to start it. It's tricky, because when he IS talking, we might feel disengaged--after all, we're not used to being so passive. On the other hand, we might not know he even HAS much to say, because he's never really had the chance. So here's your challenge today: at some point today, listen to your husband AD HA SOF. Until he's done. No interruptions, agreements, disagreements, sentence-finishers, "here's what you're probably trying to say"s. Enjoy the gift of seeing more and more of him. The full Communication Masterclass (basically a course in and of itself) is inside the First Year Married program. Check it out at kaylalevin.com/newlywed Looking for more support? Book a call to learn more about private coaching availability.

💞 Shana Rishona Challenge Day 6: What Do You Need? Have you ever wished your husband would get you a drink/tell you to get some sleep/bring you something to eat so that you could feel like he really cared? Good. That's what you're supposed to feel like during shana rishona. At the beginning of a marriage (I'm talking the first decade), it's about her feeling totally secure that she's a priority. And it's about him learning how to make her a priority. Where we get stuck is when we forget that we actually can go get ourselves something to eat 🥪, a glass of water 🥤, and put ourselves to bed 🛌🏻. Because we are smart, grown women who know how to do these things. 💪 What happens next? She's hangry and whining that he doesn't care and he's honestly not really sure what just happened. 😣😳 It's funny now but it's not funny in the moment! One of the best ways to invest in your marriage is to invest in YOURSELF. YES, you want acts of love from him, but they don't need to be for your basic functioning. You don't have to be drowning for him to show he cares. The damsel in distress is so not a Jewish thing. Today's challenge is a fun one: do something for you! Resources:Class 6 in FYM is about Self Care-designing a life for yourself that you love despite all the changes of shana rishona. Check it out at kaylalevin.com/newlywedWant to be part of the WhatsApp challenge? Join us at bit.ly/4shalom

💞 Shana Rishona Challenge Day 6: What Do You Need? Have you ever wished your husband would get you a drink/tell you to get some sleep/bring you something to eat so that you could feel like he really cared? Good. That's what you're supposed to feel like during shana rishona. At the beginning of a marriage (I'm talking the first decade), it's about her feeling totally secure that she's a priority. And it's about him learning how to make her a priority. Where we get stuck is when we forget that we actually can go get ourselves something to eat 🥪, a glass of water 🥤, and put ourselves to bed 🛌🏻. Because we are smart, grown women who know how to do these things. 💪 What happens next? She's hangry and whining that he doesn't care and he's honestly not really sure what just happened. 😣😳 It's funny now but it's not funny in the moment! One of the best ways to invest in your marriage is to invest in YOURSELF. YES, you want acts of love from him, but they don't need to be for your basic functioning. You don't have to be drowning for him to show he cares. The damsel in distress is so not a Jewish thing. Today's challenge is a fun one: do something for you! Resources:Class 6 in FYM is about Self Care-designing a life for yourself that you love despite all the changes of shana rishona. Check it out at kaylalevin.com/newlywedWant to be part of the WhatsApp challenge? Join us at bit.ly/4shalom

Resources: ⁠Join the Shana Rishona Challenge on WhatsApp⁠⁠Check out the First Year Married Course 💞 Shana Rishona Challenge Day 2: Get Some Oxygen! 💞 Think about your young marriage like a preemie. Why do we put these tiny babies into incubators? We want to protect them from germs and we want to make sure they get high-quality oxygen. Your new marriage needs the same. It needs protection from germs. While most people immediately jump to boundaries and in-laws, the primary issue I've been seeing is BUSYNESS. Being too distracted or busy or stressed to give your marriage the attention it deserves is a germ. (Once your marriage is a nice strong, healthy kid--which doesn't mean you've been married a long time, it means you've actually DONE THE WORK--you'll be able to weather busy seasons without catching those germs.) But yes, unhealthy relationships or enmeshed relationships can also be germs. If you're turning to your girlfriends for emotional support and NEVER turning to your husband, make sure those girlfriend relationships are healthy and appropriate for this stage of life. If your mother wants to hear every detail about how you're adjusting to being a wife, it's time to get some incubator protection (this is NOT a ticket to cut your family members out of your life--just to be more conscientious about where the those conversations are going). What's the oxygen? The oxygen is paint night. The oxygen is figuring out his favorite dinner and actually making it. The oxygen is learning his Myers Briggs, Enneagram, DISC type, soul type, and love language (or just one of those unless you're a geek on this stuff like me!) so you can learn how to work with his nature and think outside the box of how you've always thought things should be done. Oxygen is a love note written with whiteboard marker on the bathroom mirror, a hot coffee delivery to the bedroom, or simply being present to give him a smile and your attention at the end of the day. In Class 2 of the First Year Married course, I teach you how to design a shana rishona that is nourishing to your marriage AND to you. Start today with some oxygen.