This Complex Life
Marie Vakakis
Show overview
This Complex Life has been publishing since 2023, and across the 3 years since has built a catalogue of 121 episodes. That works out to roughly 55 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 18 min and 39 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language Health & Fitness show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 days ago, with 24 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 51 episodes published. Published by Marie Vakakis.
From the publisher
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 what I’ve learned from years of sitting in the therapist’s chair—helping parents understand their teens, supporting couples through tough times, and figuring out what actually works when life feels overwhelming. Whether it’s understanding your teen’s moods, handling family drama, or reconnecting in your relationship, I’m here to give you practical advice, relatable insights and a little humour to keep it real. Parenting and relationships aren’t easy, but they don’t have to feel impossible. Subscribe to This Complex Life for honest advice and actionable tips to make life’s messiness more manageable.
Latest Episodes
View all 121 episodesWhy Do I Feel Empty When Everything Looks Good on Paper? With Edy Xie
Are You a Good Girl? The Hidden Cost of People Pleasing with Maryna Bilousova
Who Holds You When You're Holding Everyone Else with Fi Mims
Why You Feel Like Strangers After Years Together
Sex Therapy vs Couples Therapy: What's the Difference?
Love Without Desire: Navigating Spark Loss
My Partner Wants Sex More Than I Do
Why Mental Health Advice Doesn't Change What You Do a Conversation with All in the Mind Host Sana Qadar
The 5 Love Languages: What the Research Actually Says
Why does my partner get so defensive?
Grief: How to Cope and Support Someone Grieving
How to fall back in love with your partner
7 signs your partner is emotionally checked out
Feeling lonely in your relationship? Ask Marie
Bad marriage advice with Monica Tanner
The Fawn Response: What It Is and how to change it
Help, We Keep Fighting About Money
Ep 104Sex and Disability: Pleasure Is for Everyone
ESex and disability. Two words most people still find uncomfortable in the same sentence. I sat down with sexologist Casey Payne to talk about what we get wrong, why pleasure belongs to everyone regardless of how their body works, and what it actually looks like to reclaim intimacy after disability, illness, or a body that's changed.Things DiscussedWhy disability and sexuality are both taboo and what happens when you put them togetherRedefining sex beyond intercourse and why that matters for anyone whose body has changedThe orgasm gap and why around 90 per cent of women can't orgasm through penetration aloneHow carers and parents can support sexual autonomy without having every conversation themselvesPractical ways to start reclaiming pleasure after illness, injury, or chronic health conditionsHow to find a sexologist in Australia and what to expectChapter Timestamps[00:00] Sex and disability: why this conversation matters[03:00] Redefining what sex actually is[06:30] Body image and who sex is for[09:00] The orgasm gap and sex toys as tools[13:00] Carers, parents and adult sexuality[18:30] How sex education lowers abuse risk[22:00] Reclaiming sexuality after disability[26:00] Starting with pleasure, not sex[28:00] What sex education should look like[29:30] How to find a sexologist in AustraliaResources and LinksThe Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor, includes a workbookThe Orgasm Gap by Karen GurneySex Education on Netflix, seasons 1 and 2 recommendedSociety of Australian Sexologists: sexologist.org.auPleasure Pixel professional development course for support workers: pleasurepixel.com.auFree resource on getting comfortable talking about sex: marievakakis.com.au/time-to-get-comfortable-talking-about-sexKeep the Conversation GoingDownload the free resource at marievakakis.com.au/time-to-get-comfortable-talking-about-sexGot a question about sex, intimacy, or relationships? Submit it at forms.gle/ExJAeBTXAfn8xGkQ9 and it might feature in a future Ask Marie episode.If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it. A rating on Apple Podcasts helps more people find the show.Guest InformationCasey Payne is a sexologist specialising in sexual health, disability, and intimacy, with a professional development course for support workers and other resources for adults at pleasurepixel.com.au.About the Showhttps://marievakakis.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marievakakis/https://www.youtube.com/@marievakakisfacebook.com/marievakakisconsulting
Ep 103The Psychology of the Ick — and What It Says About You
The ick in dating, it’s that moment where someone does something completely normal, and your whole body just shuts down. A 2025 study found that 64% of people have felt it, and about a quarter ended the relationship because of it. It is a real psychological phenomenon, and it might be telling you more about yourself than the person across the table.This episode covers:What the ick actually is and why it happensRed flags versus superficial triggersHow shame, projection and avoidant attachment show up as the ickWhether we are being too picky in the wrong ways and not picky enough in the right onesWhat to do when the ick shows up in your relationshipResources:If you want to move from reacting to reflecting, download my Conflict & Connection Guide to help you navigate those moments of disconnect.https://marievakakis.com.au/working-with-conflict-in-couples-therapy/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/guys-things-women-do-ick_l_65fdc42fe4b087dad305664b
Ep 102Is Your Wounded Child Ruining Your Relationship?
Have you ever had a reaction to your partner that felt huge?Like a ten out of ten response to something small?You are crying over coffee.They are confused.You are both thinking, what just happened?It makes sense that this feels confusing. Most couples are not fighting about the present moment. They are reacting from something older.In this episode, I explore how your wounded child shows up in adult relationships, why conflict can feel bigger than the situation and how attachment patterns keep couples stuck in the same loop.This is not about blame. It is about understanding the pattern.In this episode I cover:• Why small arguments turn into big emotional reactions• How childhood needs for safety, soothing and validation shape adult conflict• What anxious and avoidant attachment can look like in a fight• Why you get louder and they shut down• What secure conflict actually feels like• Practical steps to pause, name your needs and respond rather than reactYou are not broken for reacting strongly. There is nothing wrong with you for feeling that. Often, if it feels hysterical, it is historical.The goal is not to erase your wounds. The goal is to make sure they are not driving your adult intimacy. Resources:If you want more support, download the Conflict Guide and start noticing your patterns with compassion and clarity.https://marievakakis.com.au/why-couples-keep-arguing-and-what-its-really-aboutand-what-its-really-about/ENROL NOW Relationship New Year RESET 2026https://marievakakis.com.au/relationship-new-year-reset-2026/Connect with Mariehttps://thetherapyhub.com.au/https://marievakakis.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Submit a question to the Podcasthttps://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6