In this episode of the Intimate Marriage Podcast, Alexandra Stockwell, MD, invites Bob Gardner to share his innovative and intriguing perspective on cultivating passion and aliveness in relationships. Bob shares his transformational journey from enduring years of shame and personal distress to removing the inner shackles and attaining the zenith of inner freedom. His teachings, influenced by the resilient ethos of Russian Cossacks, revolve around alchemizing one's bodily and emotional responses to stress. Bob emphasizes the power of direct experience and the liberation from internal constraints, affirming that freedom is indeed a learnable skill, one that stokes passion for life and relationship. Also in this episode: Understanding the separation between one's thoughts and reality is key to experiencing life beyond self-imposed limitations. Freedom from internal tensions can be learned and embodied, rather than just tolerated or willed through. Bob Gardner explains the significance of training the body and mind to respond calmly to stressful stimuli through rigorous practices.   About Bob Gardner: Bob Gardner is the Founder of The Freedom Specialist, a body-based approach to happiness, health, and well-being on auto-pilot. He is also the author of the book Built for Freedom and host of the podcast Alive and Free. After 18 years of being trapped in addictive patterns, and on the brink of both divorce and suicide, something inside Bob told him it was not time to quit just yet. So, against the prevailing wisdom that said these problems are permanent, Bob chose to create a way to permanently eliminate them from his life. His body-based, no-nonsense approach to freedom has since helped thousands of people leave their struggles behind and find real freedom and happiness.  Visit his website: http://www.thefreedomspecialist.com   Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: Website | Linkedin | Instagram   Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra’s bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here:  https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra’s proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully:  www.alignedhotmarriage.com Join Dr. Alexandra’s email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights and opportunities to learn with her:  https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe   This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By:  Simplified Impact