Beyond I Do

Is it unreasonable to want one lazy day a week? Should your mother-in-law have a key to your house without you knowing? And can your husband dip into the kitchen fund for a vintage motorcycle if he promises it'll "go up in value"? In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron and Margaret react to three real "Am I being unreasonable?" stories from married couples. We ta...

In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron and Margaret sit down with Angela and Surie Alexander, married 41 years, to talk about a love story tested by two life-altering crises: a brain aneurysm two years into their marriage, and a car accident 15 years later that took the lives of two of their sons. Angela shares how she turned unimaginable grief into purpose by becoming an author, speake...

In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron & Margaret sit down with Jennifer Struffert, founder of Enduring Connections and Advocacy, a divorce coach, relationship coach, and co-parenting mediator who went through the same coaching training program they did. Jennifer gets real about the difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict, why "how you show up" matters more than...

In this episode, we break down the 5 C's every marriage needs more of — connection, conversation, compliments, collaboration, and care — and get real about two we've struggled with. Plus, two new segments debut: the Marriage-First Minute and What We're Reading, where we crack open our own book to talk about the season when a lack of communication almost cost them everything. This episo...

What happens after the kids grow up, careers settle down, and it's finally just the two of you again? For Shari and Terry Doherty, the answer is simple: they're falling in love all over again. In this conversation, they share what 31 years of marriage has taught them about friendship, forgiveness, conflict, parenting, and building a relationship that keeps getting better with time. They also talk...

Can you build a successful career without sacrificing your marriage? On this episode, we're joined by David "Kiwi" Kiwimagi, relationship coach and co-founder of Kiwi Coaching. David shares how he and his wife went from sleeping in separate rooms, feeling disconnected, and struggling to communicate, to building a thriving marriage and business together. We discuss: • Why busy couples...

Some couples take years to figure things out. Jaylee and Chana knew quickly that what they had was different. In this episode, they share how they met, blended their families, handled conflict early in marriage, and built a relationship rooted in communication, trust, and intentionality. We also talk about: Dating and marrying later in life Blended family dynamics Learning how your partner communi...

What happens after the honeymoon phase fades and real life shows up? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alena Crawley (Dr. Lena) to talk about the real work of marriage. We discuss conflict avoidance, gratitude, sacrifice, personal growth, purpose, and why love alone is not enough to sustain a long-term relationship. This conversation goes beyond surface-level relationship advice. We talk hones...

In this episode of Beyond I Do, Byron and Margaret sit down with Eric and Carissa, a couple who met in Hawaii, spent a week putting every card on the table, and never looked back. Six months in, they've driven across the country twice, co-founded a business, and are building something most couples take years to find. In this episode: How they met on the Big Island and decided to be radically h...

Most couples think their problem is communication. It’s not. It’s how they approach decisions, conflict, and responsibility in the relationship. In this episode, we talk with G. Scott Graham about the “co-pilot” mindset—and why most couples are stuck negotiating, avoiding, or forcing outcomes instead of actually working together. We get into: Why negotiation isn’t the goal in marriage What “turbul...

What if the secret to a strong marriage isn't avoiding the hard parts, but actually choosing which hard parts you're willing to live with? In this episode, Byron and Margaret sit down with Jason and Christie McMullen, a couple who have been married 26 years and have personally mentored over 100 couples through their church in the Tampa Bay area. What started as a ministry has turned into a...

Dr. Jackie Black has coached over a thousand couples, and she’s clear about one thing: emotional safety is the foundation of real connection. In this conversation, we get into how couples drift apart, how “fine” becomes normal, and why the smallest moments can quietly shut a partner down. We also talk about the difference between therapy and coaching, how to tell the truth without blowing things u...

Jay and Renee Linsom are back. Last time, you heard their love story, the long-distance start, the doubts from others, the wheelchair, the faith, and the commitment. This time? You hear the storm. Jay spent much of the past year in and out of the hospital with serious health challenges. They spent their anniversary together in a hospital room. Four years into marriage. And already tested. In this...

Make sure to check out Part 1! Sex is one of the most talked-about topics online. And one of the least talked about at home. In this episode, we sit down with Holly Eckelberger , founder of That Sex Educator and host of Meet Me at the Spot , for a real conversation about sex, intimacy, shame, and why so many adults are still confused about their own bodies. We talk about: Why most adults never got...

Sex is one of the most talked-about topics online. And one of the least talked about at home. In this episode, we sit down with Holly Eckelberger , founder of That Sex Educator and host of Meet Me at the Spot , for a real conversation about sex, intimacy, shame, and why so many adults are still confused about their own bodies. We talk about: Why most adults never got real sex education How porn be...

You’re not arguing. You’re not unhappy. You’re just not connected. That quiet drift? That’s complacency. In this episode, we break down 11 signs of complacency in a marriage —the kind that sneaks in when life gets busy, and effort slows down. We talk about: Letting yourself go Robotic “I love yous” No date nights Loss of intimacy Shallow communication Avoiding hard conversations Not planning a fut...

You don't just need love to stay married. You need to like each other. In this episode, we sit down with C. Natasha Richburg , author, storyteller, life coach, professor, and wife of 42+ years. Natasha breaks down what actually keeps a marriage alive after the honeymoon fades. You’ll hear: Why liking your spouse matters more than being right How values—not chemistry—hold a marriage together Wh...

Marriage takes effort. Not “work” that feels like misery. In this episode, we sit down with Tyrone and Verlyn Talton, married 18 years (together 19), and the conversation feels like family from minute one. You’ll hear: The mindset shift that changed everything: effort vs. work What “put your spouse first” looks like in a blended family The boundary lessons that come with being the youngest of 10…...

A marriage can feel shaky long before anyone says the D-word. In this episode, Byron and Margaret talk with Dr. Becky Whetstone, PhD , Marriage and Family Therapist, Life Coach, and "Marriage Crisis Manager” about what happens when one person thinks they want out, and what couples can do before panic and chaos take over. Dr. Becky shares why the "marriage crisis" creates a chase-and...

What if one person could change the dynamic of a whole relationship? In this episode, we sit down with Lindsay Jean—Registered Nurse turned Relationship Coach—whose personal journey from breakup to breakthrough sparked a calling to help couples reconnect. We talk about: Why the power struggle in relationships is inevitable How to make change even when your partner isn’t interested in doing “the wo...

In this episode, we sit down and share some of the most real, honest pieces of our marriage journey. From being 22 and 23 when we got married to learning each other through raising kids, evolving as people, growing up together, and building a relationship that works because they choose to work on it, not because it’s perfect. We talk about: Why you can’t expect your spouse to meet every need How t...

Make sure to check out Part 1! Robin and Scott’s story is full of small moments that add up to a big, steady, joyful love. They spent 30 years as friends before finally marrying, and now they’re almost two years into building a life together — laughing through differences, learning each other’s habits, and choosing peace every day. They talk about: Life after hitting the one-year mark Finding harm...

Robin and Scott’s story is full of small moments that add up to a big, steady, joyful love. They spent 30 years as friends before finally marrying, and now they’re almost two years into building a life together — laughing through differences, learning each other’s habits, and choosing peace every day. They talk about: Life after hitting the one-year mark Finding harmony in the tiny everyday moment...

Kimberly and Adam’s story is one of those journeys that reminds you how love can unfold fast, steady, and intentional. They met online during COVID, built their connection in long car rides and park picnics, and created a relationship rooted in consistency, communication, and showing up for each other. They talk about: Meeting on Plenty of Fish and their “Be blessed” moment Long drives, music batt...

In this episode, we dig into the real signs couples ignore before and after saying “I do.” Using stories from Reddit and BuzzFeed, we break down seven warning signs that your relationship may not be aligned and then flip it with ten reminders that help you see when you did choose the right person. It’s honest, funny, and, in moments, painfully real. We talk about trust, conflict, resentment, misma...