Marriage Bites! Podcast | Improve Your Marriage One "Bite" at a Time

In Part 2, we don't talk as much about addiction directly, but dive more into relationship dynamics. We start by discussing where she was in her journey when her current marriage relationship began. We talk about how the need to prove ourselves to others affects how we show up for ourselves and in our relationships. We also talk about trauma and conditioning--the similarities and differences b...

What is addiction? And how does addiction affect your closest relationships? Cathi has a unique and interesting experience with addiction. We discuss what addiction is, where it comes from, family patterns, how emotional unavailability plays into addictive behaviors, and so much more. We also speak to the role of the spouse of the addicted, and what support Watch for Part 2 coming next week! Cathi...

We have all felt shame. I think we have all felt or seen the devastating effects of shame on an individual, as well as in a relationship. We offer some tips--some things you can try--if you or a loved one is being driven by shame. It is possible--and easier than you might think--to heal shame, for good. Mentions: Book: "No Bad Parts" by Richard C. Schwartz Brene Brown: Shame Researcher h...

The term "the natural man" comes from our religious tradition. But many religions teach some version of this concept--the idea that you need to stop yourself from "being bad" and reject that part of yourself. For a lot of people, this can lead do a lot of shame. Internal Family Systems, developed by Richard Schwartz, is a method of healing trauma and restoring wholeness. It foc...

A couple weeks ago we talked about apologies. This week we discuss the "sister" topic of forgiveness. Learn about times we each had to forgive, and the power it had in our lives. We know the power of forgiving other people, especially your marriage partner. Forgiveness lifts a weight off your shoulders, and changes who you are (in a good way!) in your relationships. Episode mentions: Are...

Kurt is the leader of his church congregation, and in his role, he has counseled many couples through a variety of relationship challenges. His wife, Ashley, joined in the conversation as well. In the episode they talk about the importance of good communication, effects of pride on a relationship, how they keep their marriage strong with their busy lives, and so much more. Enjoy! Looking for some...

We are taught from a VERY young age to say "I'm sorry." So why, as adults, does it sometimes feel so hard to say those two little words? We also talk about why it can feel especially hard to apologize to those who are closest to you (as in, the person you're married to). We discuss the power an apology can have, and the damage that can be done to relationships that can happen fro...

Can you LOVE someone but not LIKE them? What is Love, anyway? We explore this question in this episode. It's such a big topic, of course we can't cover EVERYTHING, but I think you'll find something mind-bending in it. If you are looking for a relationship coach, look no further! I help couples create more connection, intimacy, and love in their relationship through honest communication...

What does a welder have to do with marriage? I could make all kinds of jokes here: The two of you bonded together for life. "Welded in Holy Matrimony." "Nothing could ever break you apart." "And Two Become One." That's not quite what this episode is about, although I love the analogy. Listen to this episode to find out what in the world a welder (a welder from the...

This episode is part 2 of a 2 part conversation with my friend, colleague, and all around amazing person, Maureen Kafkis. In this episode we cover topics like: People Pleasing/Holding Boundaries Being your Authentic Self The Importance of Self-Trust Reacting vs. Responding How to handle conflict productively Why we aren't the kind of partner we wish we were And more! Maureen Kafkis is the host...

Is "Brain BS" messing with your relationship? (Spoiler alert: it probably is!) Maureen and I had a GREAT conversation about this, and more importantly, we talk about what to do about it! This conversation was so amazing that we decided to divide it into two parts. (twice as nice, am I right?) Subscribe so you don't miss the second half next week!! Maureen Kafkis is the host of The Br...

What do you do when you know you need to have a hard conversation with someone? In this episode we share a 4 step process (the 4 C's) to help you know what to do to prepare for a hard conversation. We talk mostly about the context of a convo with a spouse, but it works with anyone! In last week's episode we went in depth on step 1, this week we outline the entire process. Looking for more...

How do you create a safe space to have a tough conversation? In this episode you'll hear several suggestions for how to create your own safety. Safety is really important for intimate sharing. This episode is all about step 1 of a 4 step process (tune in to the next episode for the other 3 steps!). Looking for more fun ways to connect with your spouse? Get 24 super fun, free, and easy at home...

Our son Cameron had an assignment for a class to interview some married couples. We decided to hit record and see what came of it. We thought he asked some really great questions. If you are considering marriage, this one's for you! And if you know someone who is thinking of getting married, they'll want to hear this one! If I could share the paper he wrote with you, I totally would! Enjoy...

Validation. When is it ok, when is it not ok? I've had this question for a while. I felt like I knew in the moment when to validate or not validate, but couldn't quite figure out how to explain it. Until now. Here's our take on validation--when it's ok to validate your spouse, when not to, and how to stop needing quite so much of it. Looking for more fun ways to connect with your s...

It's fair to say that women dominate the "self-help" world. I think we leave the men out. A LOT. This conversation with Rhonda Farr talks about how men are sometimes not allowed" to truly receive in their relationships. I probably say this a lot, but...this may be my favorite episode so far!! Connect with Rhonda: https://rhondafarr.com/ https://www.facebook.com/coachwithrhonda h...

Have you heard of the 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman? I love the idea of the 5 Love Languages. What I don't love is when I see people misusing it (or using it to make themselves feel bad). Today we're talking about the 5 Love Languages (find out what our Love Languages are!), how we think they should be used, and more importantly, how we think they shouldn't be used. Take the Love L...

Do you ever feel stuck in a situation and think there's nothing that can be done? You're definitely not alone in this!!! But there's ALWAYS something you can do! You just have to get creative enough, collaborative enough, and work on it long enough, to figure it out. But is it worth it? Ask the Apollo 13 mission. :) Looking for more fun ways to connect with your spouse? Get 24 super fu...

Everyone's talking about self-love these days. Including us. ;) We're talking in this episode about what it does for your most favorite relationships. Basically, showing yourself the love and care you deserve helps you love others BETTER. Want to know why? Listen to the episode, of course! :) Looking for some really fun, quick, free ideas of things you can do to connect with your spouse? L...

I sat down with Natalie Roush to talk about how perfectionism gets in the way of connection in our most important relationships. We had a great chat, and hope you enjoy it too. Learn more about Natalie: on IG: https://www.instagram.com/natalieroushcoaching/ Podcast: How's the View? https://open.spotify.com/show/1plMGGFHNhlWWTMWzjqydm?si=2e6f81ecd0ce43c5 Website: https://natalieroushcoaching.co...

This is a more informal (more informal than usual!) conversation about accountability. There are some important misunderstandings about what it is (and isn't!) and we talk about how to hold your spouse accountable, even if they don't want to hold their end of the bargain. Enjoy, and as always, we'd love to hear your take on this topic. Life without humor is not truly living!  We try no...

Turns out, you can learn a lot from conflict. We have a lot of kids. Kids have sibling rivalry. And sometimes, their fights can be the same types of conflict one might see in marriage relationships. Listen in to hear our insights from watching the conflict as well as finding ways to solve it. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe!  And feel free to share it with friends!  Life without humo...

I posted a reel a couple weeks ago that got some pushback from a lot of people. I wasn't trying to stir up controversy. I believe that what I said was largely misunderstood. We decided it would be worth it to dive deeper, to clarify, and open a conversation about what to do when you think you're doing more than your share of the work. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe!  And fee...

We've had a bunch of really serious episodes lately. So we decided to have a little bit of fun this time. We take turns asking each other questions (and getting silly answers). We encourage you to ask these questions (or other questions) with your spouse, to tell some funny stories, laugh together, and connect. (And bonus: laughing helps you de-stress! Win-win-win!) Enjoy! If you enjoyed this...

This episode talks about miscarriage and stillbirth, so if these topics are not comfortable with you, I gently suggest you find a different episode to listen to. How do you keep your marriage strong amid huge loss or grief? This week I interviewed Amy Watson, creator of Smooth Stones Coaching, to talk about the effects baby loss can have on a marriage. Each spouse will grieve differently, and it i...