Ep. 13: Charting an Intentional Course for Your Future as a Couple (with Lori Quintero)
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About This Episode
I'm so glad you're here for this one, because it is a conversation I think so many of us need. Whether you and your spouse are in a season of transition, feeling like you're just surviving day-to-day, or realizing you haven't talked about the bigger picture in a while — today's episode is going to give you a concrete, non-overwhelming way forward. I sat down with coach Lori Quintero to talk about what it actually looks like to build a future together intentionally — and how to start those conversations, even when they feel hard to open.
About Lori Quintero
Lori Quintero is a coach who helps women start the conversations that align their life, money, and future with their partner so they can stop drifting and start building intentionally together. With 20 years of experience leading and coaching teams in high tech, she brings a practical, real-world approach to helping couples turn their vision into aligned action. Lori's passion for this work grew directly out of personal experiences that brought home the truth that waiting is the biggest risk of all.
Connect with Lori and download her free guide at loriquintero.com
In This Episode
The two life-altering events — surviving the Route 91 mass shooting and her husband's widowmaker heart attack — that shaped Lori's conviction about not waiting to have the important conversations
Why most couples aren't avoiding future planning because they don't care, but because they don't know how
How drifting happens — and why it quietly creates distance over time
The travel metaphor Lori uses to make future planning feel exciting rather than overwhelming
What couples miss when they don't plan intentionally: reactive decisions, tense money conversations, and a slow loss of shared direction
One simple way to open the conversation — without it feeling like a confrontation
The Ikigai framework and how Lori uses it to help couples understand themselves and each other at a deeper level
What alignment actually makes possible: faster progress, easier decisions, and a real sense of being on the same team
Lori's personal story of realizing the goals she and her husband were chasing had started working against their relationship — and how a direct conversation changed everything
The couples alignment pledge and why quarterly check-ins are the key to staying on course
What to do when the first conversation doesn't land
Key Takeaways
Drifting isn't a character flaw — it's what happens when we get lost in the day-to-day without a shared direction.
Clarity doesn't come from thinking about it. It comes from talking about it.
Start small and make it safe. Try: "Hey, I was thinking about what we really want our life to look like in a few years — could we talk about that?"
If the first attempt doesn't work, don't give up. Try again.
One aligned step at a time creates momentum. You don't need a perfect plan.
Goals that cost the relationship aren't the right goals, no matter how good they look on paper.
The life you want doesn't happen later. It happens when you decide to choose it.
Resources Mentioned
Lori's website: loriquintero.com— learn more about her work and sign up for upcoming free workshops
Lori's free guide: The Future Conversation Starter
Book: Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John and Julie Gottman
Framework: Ikigai (used in Lori's coaching program)
Connect
Find me on Instagram: @vibrantmarriagepodcast
More resources at vibrantmarriage.co
Listen and Subscribe:
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