Marriage iQ

Why do so many loving couples still feel misunderstood? Most marriages don't struggle because of a lack of love- they struggle because of a lack of understanding. In this episode of Marriage iQ , Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings welcome personality expert and bestselling author Marita Littauer Tedder to explore why your spouse thinks, feels, and responds so differently than you do. Drawing from n...

Most people think midlife is about hormones. But what if the real challenge is learning how to navigate an entirely new season of life? In this episode of Marriage IQ, Drs. Scott and Heidi Hastings sit down with Dr. Sue McCreadie to explore the midlife shift that so many women experience-and the impact it can have on marriage, identity, confidence, and connection. From empty nest transitions and c...

Most couples think their marriage arguments are caused by something their spouse said or did. In this episode of Marriage IQ, Dr. Heidi Hastings and Dr. Scott Hastings sit down with Dr. Mort Orman- physician, anger elimination expert, and author of Dr. Orman's Life-Changing Anger Cure —to explore a surprising idea: the real cause of anger, relationship conflict, and recurring arguments may not...

At the beginning of a relationship, doing things for your spouse feels natural—even joyful. But what happens when it slowly turns into silencing your own needs, opinions, and desires? In this episode of Marriage IQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with therapist and coach Diane McDowell to explore how people pleasing can quietly erode your sense of self and create distance in your marriage....

What if the thing hurting your intimacy isn't a marriage problem at all? Many couples struggle with desire, pain, and disconnection without realizing a hidden physical issue may be part of the cause. In this episode, Dr. Heidi Hastings and Dr. Scott Hastings sit down with pelvic floor specialist Kristen Damery to explore the hidden physical factors that can affect desire, arousal, orgasm, confiden...

Why do we end up resenting the people we love most? Most resentment doesn’t begin with anger. It begins with hurt. Feeling unheard. Feeling unsupported. Feeling alone. Over time, those wounds can quietly grow into resentment, causing us to see our spouse not as a partner, but as an obstacle—or even an enemy. In this episode of Marriage iQ, Dr. Heidi and Dr. Scott Hastings explore how resentment de...

Have you ever had the same argument so many times that it feels almost watching reruns? In this episode of Marriage iQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with couples therapist and author Raffi Bilek to uncover the real reason so many couples stay stuck in the same painful communication patterns — and the simple shift that can change everything. We talk about:✨Why trying to “win” arguments b...

Dr. Heidi and Scott Hastings celebrate 30 years of marriage by sharing the biggest lessons they’ve learned along the way—the good, the hard, and the surprisingly fun. From laughter and intimacy to conflict, agency, and learning to turn toward each other instead of away, this episode is an honest conversation about what actually helps a marriage grow stronger over time. They open up about difficult...

Why sex feels so confusing in marriage isn’t just about desire—it’s about identity, fear, and what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Dr. Heidi Hastings sits down with renowned sex therapist Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to unpack why intimacy can feel so complicated, especially for those navigating both faith and sexuality. Together, they explore how marriage and sex reveal deeper tr...

Most marriages don’t fall apart—they slowly drift. In this episode, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with Dr. Lee Baucom, marriage and family therapist, to talk about why that happens—and how to turn it around. We get into how couples unintentionally “pause” their relationship, why that distance builds over time, and what you can start doing right now to reconnect. If you’ve ever felt like y...

What if the way you’ve been thinking about love… isn’t enough? In this episode, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings dive into what it really means to build a deeper, more connected marriage—and why the usual advice on love, communication, and even intimacy can fall short. They break down the idea of radical love—what it looks like in real life, why most couples stay on the surface, and how to move towar...

Amish marriages are known for one thing: they last. In a world full of distractions, disconnection, and rising divorce rates, the Amish have quietly built a culture where commitment runs deep and marriages endure for generations. So what are they doing differently? In this episode, we explore with Enos Hershberger, who grew up Amish, what Amish marriages can teach us about lasting love, deep commi...

50% of men by age 50 experience erectile dysfunction—but almost no one talks about what it does to a marriage. Specializing in urology and sexual health, Dr. Stephanie Zwonitzer joins Drs. Scott and Heidi Hastings to break down the truth about sexual dysfunction in men as they age—and why it’s not just a physical issue. Most couples think it’s about performance. But what’s really happening is deep...

In Part 2 of our happiness series, we break down three more simple habits—eye contact, touch, and prayer—that can instantly deepen connection, boost intimacy, and even rewire your marriage relationship. Backed by research from Dr. Arthur Brooks and real-life experience, these small shifts can transform how you and your spouse feel—starting today. If you missed Part 1 of this episode, click this li...

Are happy marriages actually real—or are most couples just figuring it out as they go? In this episode of Marriage iQ, we respond to a powerful listener question and unpack what truly creates a happy, connected, and fulfilling marriage. Drawing on insights from Arthur Brooks, we explore why happiness isn’t something you feel—it’s something you do. And one of the most overlooked ways to build a hap...

Masculinity in marriage is under pressure—and it may be quietly hurting your relationship. In this episode of Marriage iQ, we break down the real reason many couples feel disconnected: the loss of masculine and feminine polarity. Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with gender intelligence expert Andre Paradis, who shares how discovering he didn’t understand his own wife changed everything—and...

Why saying “I’m sorry” too much can hurt your marriage. In this episode of Marriage iQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings explore “apology inflation”—how unnecessary apologies can quietly erode respect, blur responsibility, and create emotional imbalance in relationships. Using research, personal stories, and cultural examples like Princess Diana, Meet the Parents, and the viral “All About the Nail” v...

Anger in Marriage  might be the emotion you’ve been taught to avoid—but what if it’s actually a powerful tool for  deeper connection ? In this episode of Marriage IQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with anger expert Davina Hehn to explore the surprising benefits of anger in marriage and  how to harness anger  without aggression. You’ll learn why  anger can act as a compass  pointing to unm...

Grief Almost Broke Us  - and we didn’t see it coming. After the deaths of Heidi’s parents just weeks apart, we found ourselves navigating overwhelming grief, secondary losses, emotional reactivity, reduced intimacy, and serious miscommunication in our marriage. In this episode, we unpack the stages of grief, the emotional and physical symptoms of loss, how partners grieve differently, and what res...

Proposal Pro Secrets for Spicing Up Your Marriage  aren’t just about popping the question—they’re about learning how to romance your spouse again and reignite passion long after the wedding day. In this episode, proposal planner Ash Fox (3,000+ proposals and host of The Proposal Podcast) reveals how polarity, vulnerability, and intentional pursuit can transform an ordinary marriage into something...

Emotional Hypocrisy is Fueling Marital Inequality—and you might be contributing to it without realizing it. If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I the only one trying?” this episode may gently (or not so gently) challenge that assumption. In many marriages, double standards quietly shape emotional labor, communication patterns, and resentment. We want closeness, attention, and intentional love—but excu...

What if happiness in marriage—and in your family—isn’t about trying harder… but talking smarter? In this episode of Marriage IQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings sit down with Anil Gupta, aka The Love Doctor, to unpack his viral Happiness Formula and why most people think they’re doing it—while quietly missing the point. We dive into why loving families still struggle with hard conversations, how avo...

If you are feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, discover how the simple word "maybe" can reduce your anxiety and open the door to new possibilities. In a world filled with unpredictability, it is easy to get stuck in rigid thinking that fuels stress. In this episode of Marriage iQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings are joined by attorney and author Allison Carmen to discuss the surprising power of unce...

You might think hiding small things protects your spouse to "keep the peace," but science shows those unshared truths are actually corroding your relationship's foundation like a hidden leak. In this episode of Marriage IQ, Dr. Scott and Dr. Heidi Hastings utilize relationship research to uncover why quiet emotional distance is often fatal to a marriage, even more so than explosive fights. They di...

Most couples never learn how to talk about sex—and it quietly sabotages intimacy, desire, and connection in marriage. In this powerful Marriage IQ episode, Dr. Heidi Hastings and Dr. Scott Hastings sit down with OB/GYN nurse, educator, author, and podcast host Cindy Scharkey (Permission for Pleasure) to talk about female pleasure, sexual communication, desire discrepancy, anatomy education, painfu...