EP123: Spiritual Marriage, Conscious Fatherhood & Healing 'Outlawed Parts' with Preston Smiles

Hey lovers! We are so excited to share this incredibly potent conversation with the one and only Preston Smiles. Preston is a devoted husband, a father of four, a profound teacher, and a massive pillar in the personal development and men's work space.

In this episode, we dive deep into the messy, beautiful, and deeply spiritual practice of long-term partnership and parenthood. Preston opens up about his personal journey—from facing a life-altering heart condition at 25 to dedicating his life to service—and how that shaped the way he shows up for his family today.

We explore what it really means to hold boundaries with children through deep love and containment, why our partners trigger our hidden "outlawed parts," and how true relationships require us to burn down our fantasies of the "happily ever after" to build something real. We also have a deeply moving conversation about honoring the feminine, the profound biological journey women go through, and why our culture’s fear of aging is robbing us of true eldership.
This conversation is a massive expansion on what it means to be a devoted partner, parent, and human. Grab a coffee, settle in, and let's get into it. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, we cover:
[00:00:00] The Ripple Effect of Brotherhood: Jacob shares how Preston’s work filtered through the men’s coaching community and impacted his own marriage and business long before they ever met.
[00:03:19] A Vow of Service: Preston discusses the heart condition he faced 20 years ago that completely changed the trajectory of his life and led to his commitment to never gatekeep his wisdom.
[00:08:51] The Four States of Consciousness: Moving from life happening to you, by you, through you, and ultimately, as you—and how to apply this to the chaos of daily family life.
[00:13:50] Conscious Parenting & Containment: How Preston navigates raising four kids, parenting to each child's unique nervous system, and the power of separating a child from the environment without isolating them from your love.
[00:23:28] True Wealth: Why the ultimate inheritance you leave your children isn't in a bank account, but in how they witness you loving your partner and treating the world.
[00:33:18] The Delusion of Marriage & "Outlawed Parts": Grieving the rom-com fantasy of relationships, burning down the first iteration of a marriage, and how we attract partners who mirror the parts of ourselves we’ve suppressed.
[00:50:38] Honoring the Feminine: Preston’s deep reverence for the biological realities women endure (from menstruation to perimenopause) and the importance of men building the capacity to hold the "weather" of the feminine.
[00:55:56] The Fear of Aging & Lack of Eldership: A candid conversation on society's obsession with freezing women in time, the denial of the life cycle, and what we lose when we stop valuing the aging process.
[01:03:59] Energetics of Intimacy: The profound difference between extracting pleasure and deepening connection in the bedroom, and how intention changes everything.
[01:11:16] Connect with Preston: Where to find Preston online and learn more about The Bridge Experience.

Connect with us:
Follow Meg on Instagram: @themegoneill
Follow Jacob on Instagram: @thejacoboneill
Follow Preston Smiles on Instagram: @prestonsmiles
Learn more about Preston's work: thebridge.org

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