Emotionally Wealthy

About Emotionally Wealthy

You look successful on the outside. You know how to get things done, stay productive, and keep it together. But inside, you may struggle to feel seen, valued, or emotionally safe in your closest relationships. You crave deeper, more authentic connection, and it’s not just about who you choose, it’s about how you show up. High achievement often comes at the cost of emotional connection. Hosted by Karen Conlon, coach, psychotherapist, and relationship expert, Emotionally Wealthy explores how childhood conditioning, emotional patterns, and unexamined beliefs quietly shape the way we show up in love, work, and life. If you have ever wondered: - Why you feel numb, lonely, or unfulfilled despite “doing everything right” - Why relationships feel harder than they should - Why you struggle to name your needs, trust your emotions, or set boundaries without guilt - Why insight alone hasn’t led to lasting change You are in the right place. Each episode blends emotional insight, relational neuroscience, and real-life conversations to help you master self-awareness, break old patterns, and build deeper, more authentic relationships. Topics include emotional intelligence, attachment, boundaries, people-pleasing, emotional resilience, self-trust, and what it actually takes to feel connected, grounded, and fulfilled. This is not surface-level motivation or quick-fix advice. It is honest, practical, and deeply human. Whether you are navigating relationships, questioning long-held patterns, or ready to stop performing and start living with clarity and intention, Emotionally Wealthy offers the insight and tools to help you move from emotional disconnection to clarity and direction.

Publisher

Karen Conlon

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

5 Feb 2026

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

46 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Part 2: Autism and ABA: What It Is, What It Isn’t, Building Skills That Matter in Real Life with Dr. Mike Marroquin, BCBA-D

   In this episode of Emotionally Wealthy, Karen Conlon continues her two-part conversation on autism with Board Certified Behavior Analyst Dr. Mike Marroquin. Together, they take a closer look at what ABA is, what it isn’t, and how parents can think more carefully about the therapy and providers they choose. Rather than treating ABA as a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr. Mike explains how the goals should come from the skills a child or family actually needs. Whether that means learning to communicate where something hurts, developing social skills, expanding food choices, or learning when to let something go, the focus is on teaching skills that can be used in everyday life. The conversation also looks at what parents should expect from a potential provider. Dr. Mike encourages families to ask about experience, request a resume, meet the RBT who will be working directly with their child, and ask why particular strategies are being used. He also shares why therapy should be enjoyable for the child, the family, and the therapist, and why a good therapist should ultimately be working toward making themselves less necessary. For families navigating autism services, this conversation offers practical ways to ask better questions, observe what is happening around a child’s behavior, and become more involved in the process. In this episode, we discuss: What ABA actually is and why discrete trial teaching is only one ABA technique How ABA goals can be shaped around the needs of each child and family Why teaching skills is different from simply trying to change behavior How practical skills can help children communicate their needs more effectively Questions parents can ask about a provider’s experience and training Why parents should also get to know and interview the RBT working with their child What a first meeting with a potential provider can reveal about fit and expectations Why therapy should feel enjoyable for the child, family, and therapist How parents can ask “why” and understand the strategies being used Why good therapy should help children and families become less dependent on the therapist This episode is for you if you've ever wondered: How do I know whether an ABA provider is a good fit for my child and family? What questions should I ask before choosing an ABA therapist? How do I know whether the goals being taught actually make sense for my child? What should therapy look and feel like for my child? How can I better understand what happens before and after a difficult behavior? How can I become more involved in supporting what my child is learning? What can I do if I’m concerned about a developmental milestone? One of the central ideas in this conversation is that supporting a child isn’t only about the child. The family, caregivers, teachers, therapists, and others who spend time with that child are all part of the environment around them. Resources & Links Website www.karenconlon.com (http://www.karenconlon.com) Book Karen as a Podcast Guest www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw (http://www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw) Apply to Be a Guest Expert or Live Coaching Guest www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest (http://www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest) Review the Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review) Grab Your Free Guide 5 Steps to Powerful Self-Awareness and More Authentic Connections www.karenconlon.com/freebie (http://www.karenconlon.com/freebie) Books & Workbooks The Teenager’s Guide to Adulting Skills and Life Hacks www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L) Manage Your Anxiety Workbook & Journal www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J) Connect With Karen Instagram: www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw) Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659 (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw (http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw) Threads: www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw) Substack: www.karenconlon.substack.com (http://www.karenconlon.substack.com) Tune in to the Emotionally Wealthy Podcast on Your Preferred Platform Apple Podcasts: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500 (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500) Spotify: www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304 (http://www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304) iHeart: www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964 (http://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964) YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w) Connect with Dr. Mike Marroquin: Instagram: www.instagram.com/psychmike22 (http://www.instagram.com/psychmike22) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikemarroquinbcba (http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemarroquinbcba) Email Address: psychmike22@gmail.com (mailto:psychmike22@gmail.com) Post-production is handled by the Buzzspear team: www.buzzspear.com (http://www.buzzspear.com)

2. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Part 1: When Your Child Has Autism: Helping the Whole Family Understand, Adapt, and Connect with Dr. Mike Marroquin, BCBA-D

   This episode is part 1 of a two-part series. When a child has autism, the learning isn't only happening for the child. Parents and families often have to learn new ways of understanding behavior, communication, routines, and everyday experiences. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Karen Conlon sits down with Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Dr. Mike Marroquin to explore what can happen when parents look beyond the behavior and begin to understand what a child may be experiencing. Mike brings more than 20 years of experience working with children with autism and other behavioral challenges across home, school, and community settings. Together, Karen and Mike talk about behavior as communication, the role of language in helping children express their needs, and why there isn't one experience of autism or one approach that works for every child. The conversation also looks at the ways families can unintentionally adapt their entire lives around avoiding difficult situations. While those changes may make things easier in the moment, they can also reduce a child's opportunities to practice and develop new skills. Mike shares examples from his work with families that illustrate why parents may need to become observers rather than constantly reacting, and why helping the child often begins with helping the adults learn new skills as well. This conversation is for parents, family members, and professionals who want to better understand autism without reducing a child to their behavior or diagnosis. It also offers a reminder that supporting a child does not mean making every difficult experience disappear. Sometimes, it means helping them learn how to navigate experiences that are difficult. In this episode, we discuss: Why behavior may communicate a need when a child does not yet have the language to express it How sensory experiences, transitions, routines, and unpredictability can affect a child's behavior Why parents may need to understand the child's experience before reacting to the behavior The difference between observing behavior and assuming what a child is feeling internally How families can unintentionally make a child's comfort zone smaller by avoiding difficult situations Why children with autism may need different approaches from strategies that worked with their siblings What parents should consider when developmental milestones or language development raise concerns Why early evaluation and support can matter when a child is struggling with language or daily skills How parents and children both continue learning and adapting as the child grows Why extended family and support systems may also need education and a shared understanding This episode is for you if you've ever wondered: How can I understand what my child's behavior is trying to communicate? How do I know when I'm helping my child and when I'm unintentionally avoiding a challenge for them? What might my child be experiencing that they don't yet have the language to explain? How can I respond differently when behavior looks like refusal, defiance, or a tantrum? What should I do if my child isn't meeting expected developmental or language milestones? How can I help my family understand and respond to autism more consistently? How do I support my child without making their world smaller? One of the central ideas in this conversation is that supporting a child with autism is not simply about changing the child's behavior. It is also about helping parents, siblings, and other caregivers learn to observe, understand, adapt, and teach in ways that meet the child where they are. There isn't one experience of autism, and there isn't one path that every family will follow. What can make a difference is continuing to learn about the child in front of you while helping them build the skills they need to participate more fully in everyday life. Resources & Links Website www.karenconlon.com (http://www.karenconlon.com) Book Karen as a Podcast Guest www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw (http://www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw) Apply to Be a Guest Expert or Live Coaching Guest www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest (http://www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest) Review the Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review) Grab Your Free Guide 5 Steps to Powerful Self-Awareness and More Authentic Connections www.karenconlon.com/freebie (http://www.karenconlon.com/freebie) Books & Workbooks The Teenager’s Guide to Adulting Skills and Life Hacks www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L) Manage Your Anxiety Workbook & Journal www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J) Connect With Karen Instagram: www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw) Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659 (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw (http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw) Threads: www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw) Substack: www.karenconlon.substack.com (http://www.karenconlon.substack.com) Tune in to the Emotionally Wealthy Podcast on Your Preferred Platform Apple Podcasts: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500 (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500) Spotify: www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304 (http://www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304) iHeart: www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964 (http://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964) YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w) Connect with Dr. Mike Marroquin: Instagram: www.instagram.com/psychmike22 (http://www.instagram.com/psychmike22) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikemarroquinbcba (http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemarroquinbcba) Email Address: psychmike22@gmail.com (mailto:psychmike22@gmail.com) Post-production is handled by the Buzzspear team: www.buzzspear.com (http://www.buzzspear.com)

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   The Needs Beneath Your Parenting Struggles with Jen Lumanlan, M.S., M.Ed.

   In this episode of Emotionally Wealthy, we're joined by parenting researcher and coach Jen Lumanlan, M.S., M.Ed., host of Your Parenting Mojo and author of Parenting Beyond Power, for an honest conversation about children's behavior, parental triggers, and what happens when we look beneath the behavior instead of simply trying to stop it. Parenting can bring up some of our strongest emotional reactions. A child refuses to cooperate, melts down, pushes back, or repeatedly does something we've asked them not to do, and suddenly our response feels much bigger than the moment. This episode invites us to consider that the behavior may be communicating something important about what our child needs, whether that's connection, autonomy, movement, sensory support, or simply the experience of being heard and understood. We also explore how our own childhood experiences can shape the way we interpret our children's behavior. Sometimes what feels like a frustrating or defiant behavior in our child is touching an old pattern in us. Jen shares how early experiences around emotional expression and having her needs heard influenced her understanding of relationships, and how that awareness has informed the way she parents today. This conversation is especially relevant for parents and caregivers who find themselves repeatedly triggered by age-appropriate behavior. Together, we look at how curiosity can create more flexibility, how parents and children can work toward meeting both of their needs, and how repairing after conflict can strengthen a relationship rather than define it. In this episode, we discuss: The difference between a child's need and the strategy they're using to meet it Why behavior that looks defiant may actually be an attempt to meet a need How connection, autonomy, movement, and sensory needs can show up through behavior Why our children's behavior can activate patterns rooted in our own childhoods How recognizing a child's need can change the way we respond Finding creative solutions that meet both the parent's and child's needs Why parental openness and curiosity create more flexibility in difficult moments How the pressures accumulating throughout the day can affect both parents and children Why conflict is inevitable in relationships and how repair can strengthen connection What emotional wealth can look like when both people’s needs matter This episode is for you if you've ever wondered: Why does my child's behavior trigger such a strong reaction in me? How can I tell what my child actually needs beneath the behavior? Am I being too permissive if I try to understand the need behind the behavior? Why does the same behavior keep becoming a source of conflict? How can I honor my child's needs without ignoring my own? What can I do when I realize I'm already triggered? Is there a different way to respond when my child's behavior brings up something old in me? Once we understand what the child is trying to accomplish, we may be able to find another strategy that works for both of us. 00:00 Introduction to Emotional Responses in Parenting 02:17 Understanding Emotional Expression and Needs 09:55 The Parent-Child Dynamic: Needs and Strategies 13:08 Exploring Universal Human Needs 15:39 The Importance of Early Emotional Awareness 26:53 Navigating Expectations in Child Development 30:42 Understanding Shame in Parenting 35:49 Navigating Emotional Dysregulation 50:15 Building Empathy and Connection 57:26 Defining Emotional Wealth Resources & Links Website www.karenconlon.com (http://www.karenconlon.com) Book Karen as a Podcast Guest www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw (http://www.talks.co/karen-conlon-lcsw) Apply to Be a Guest Expert or Live Coaching Guest www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest (http://www.karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guest) Review the Podcast www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-review) Grab Your Free Guide 5 Steps to Powerful Self-Awareness and More Authentic Connections www.karenconlon.com/freebie (http://www.karenconlon.com/freebie) Books & Workbooks The Teenager’s Guide to Adulting Skills and Life Hacks www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6L) Manage Your Anxiety Workbook & Journal www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2J) Connect With Karen Instagram: www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw) Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659 (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw (http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw) Threads: www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw (http://www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw) Substack: www.karenconlon.substack.com (http://www.karenconlon.substack.com) Tune in to the Emotionally Wealthy Podcast on Your Preferred Platform Apple Podcasts: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500 (http://www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500) Spotify: www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304 (http://www.open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304) iHeart: www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964 (http://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-emotionally-wealthy-321235964) YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4w) Connect with Jen Lumanlan, M.S., M.Ed.: Website: www.yourparentingmojo.com (http://www.yourparentingmojo.com) Instagram: www.instagram.com/yourparentingmojo (http://www.instagram.com/yourparentingmojo) Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourParentingMojo (http://www.facebook.com/YourParentingMojo) Tools for Parents from Jen: Free quizzes: Find your child's most important need and explore some of the reasons you may get angry with your kids: www.go.yourparentingmojo.com/tl/313 (http://www.go.yourparentingmojo.com/tl/313) Self-Paced Masterclass: Why You're So Angry With Your Child's Age-Appropriate Behavior (And What to Do About It) ($27). Use coupon code WEALTHY for $10 off: www.go.yourparentingmojo.com/tl/305 (http://www.go.yourparentingmojo.com/tl/305) Taming Your Triggers Workshop ($397), with scholarships available. www.yourparentingmojo.com/triggersmasterclass?utm_source=Emotionally+Wealthy+podcast (http://www.yourparentingmojo.com/triggersmasterclass?utm_source=Emotionally+Wealthy+podcast) Post-production is handled by the Buzzspear team: www.buzzspear.com (http://www.buzzspear.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings