EQ Over Ego: Why Emotional Intelligence Saves Relationships
04/03/25 • 15 min
Knowing how you feel is one thing. Knowing what to do with those feelings? That’s emotional intelligence—and it can make or break your relationship.
In this episode of The Voyage Cast, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Eddie Eccker explores why emotional intelligence (EQ) is essential for relational health—and why so many of us were never taught how to use it.
You’ll discover:
- How low EQ shows up in marriage as blame, defensiveness, and emotional shutdown
- How to build emotional awareness without shame or self-criticism
- Why empathy, regulation, and honest expression are critical to connection
- Simple tools to shift from emotional chaos to relational clarity
Think of this as the emotional skills class you should’ve had in school—but for grown-up relationships.
This podcast is a labor of love, and you can help us keep it going strong. Join our Patreon community and become a key part of what makes it all possible.
Connect with us on the socials The Voyage Cast - Link Tree
Products used to create The Voyage Cast:
Rodecaster Pro 2
AKG P120 Mic
Mogami XLR Mic Cables
Knowing how you feel is one thing. Knowing what to do with those feelings? That’s emotional intelligence—and it can make or break your relationship.
In this episode of The Voyage Cast, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Eddie Eccker explores why emotional intelligence (EQ) is essential for relational health—and why so many of us were never taught how to use it.
You’ll discover:
- How low EQ shows up in marriage as blame, defensiveness, and emotional shutdown
- How to build emotional awareness without shame or self-criticism
- Why empathy, regulation, and honest expression are critical to connection
- Simple tools to shift from emotional chaos to relational clarity
Think of this as the emotional skills class you should’ve had in school—but for grown-up relationships.
This podcast is a labor of love, and you can help us keep it going strong. Join our Patreon community and become a key part of what makes it all possible.
Connect with us on the socials The Voyage Cast - Link Tree
Products used to create The Voyage Cast:
Rodecaster Pro 2
AKG P120 Mic
Mogami XLR Mic Cables
Previous Episode
Comfortable Lies VS Hard Truths
We all say we want the truth—but do we really? In this episode of The Voyage Cast, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Eddie Eccker unpacks the emotional and relational cost of avoiding honesty. Whether it’s pretending everything’s fine, avoiding conflict, or withholding your real thoughts to “keep the peace,” comfortable lies slowly fracture connection. You’ll learn how to spot self-protective patterns, how to approach honesty without cruelty, and why facing hard truths is often the most loving move you can make. This one’s for the people who smile and nod while their insides scream “no.”
For the Full Article “Comfortable Lies vs Hard Truths” click here.
This podcast is a labor of love, and you can help us keep it going strong. Join our Patreon community and become a key part of what makes it all possible.
Connect with us on the socials The Voyage Cast - Link Tree
Products used to create The Voyage Cast:
Rodecaster Pro 2
AKG P120 Mic
Mogami XLR Mic Cables
Next Episode
Me, Myself, and Decline: When Self-Focus Sabotages Connection
Independence is a virtue—until it turns into emotional isolation. In this episode of The Voyage Cast, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Eddie Eccker explores what happens when self-focus, over-functioning, and “I’ll do it myself” mindsets quietly erode connection. You’ll learn how hyper-independence affects intimacy, why emotional decline often masquerades as strength, and how to rebuild connection without giving up your sense of self. It’s a real look at what we call “strength” in culture—and how it might actually be keeping us from love.
Recommended Reading:
- The Two Parent Privilege
- The End of Sex
- Grateful
- Me, Myself, and Decline - The Original Article for this episode
This podcast is a labor of love, and you can help us keep it going strong. Join our Patreon community and become a key part of what makes it all possible.
Connect with us on the socials The Voyage Cast - Link Tree
Products used to create The Voyage Cast:
Rodecaster Pro 2
AKG P120 Mic
Mogami XLR Mic Cables
The Voyage Cast: Real Talk on Relationships and Mental Wellness - EQ Over Ego: Why Emotional Intelligence Saves Relationships
Transcript
Emotional Intelligence: Your Social Superpower
Imagine you’re in a heated meeting, your colleague lashes out, and the atmosphere turns icy. You want to respond, but something stops you from blurting the first thing that comes to mind. Instead, you take a breath, consider their perspective, and reply thoughtfully. That pause, my friend, is a hallmark of emotional intelligence.
Now, emotional intelligence isn’t just a buzzword tossed around at workplace seminars. It’s the sil
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