Marriage Unhindered

Doug answers listener questions about contraception, intimacy, and openness to life in today's mailbag. He also tackles questions about past trauma and prudence in family planning and closes the show with the Friday Rant on no-fault divorce. Listener questions and comments: Marie – My husband and I discovered a beautiful way to have date nights while traveling in Italy. May I share our exper...

What happens when a seemingly perfect marriage ends in divorce? Doug shares a case study from Impossible Marriages Redeemed by Leila Miller, discussing the impact of selfishness on a marriage and how daily prayer can save your marriage. He also continues his commentary on the 5:1 ratio you need to practice to keep love alive. [ENCORE]   Impossible Marriages Redeemed https://www.leilamiller.ne...

Doug discusses the writings of Arthur Brooks as he talks about death, emotional distress and attractiveness.   3:43-On Death  and How it Relates to Happiness 12:47- On Emotional Distress 24:15 Leah-What are your thoughts are for having a dating relationships with someone who has an eating disorder that is undiagnosed and untreated? 36:43 Deedee-Regarding Arthur Brooks. I remember se...

Doug answers numerous questions from emailers ranging from non practicing son coming home with his family; how to live with an alcoholic spouse and fatherly relationship compared to God the father relationship 3:45-How to handle a son who got married outside the Church and wants to bring his family home for a visit 12:14-How to live with an alcoholic spouse  24:44 Susan-I have a friend w...

Adam Lane Smith joins Doug as they talk about exploring how to form secure attachment bonds with your spouse, children and friends.  Ben--My biggest challenge is coming to my wife and she turns things on me. I don't want things to blow up but they always do.  How do I prevent that?  (26:09) Gene-My wife ignores me and I'm avoidant because it always leads to an argument. (30:06) Mary...

What do you do when your future father-in-law is getting in between you and your fiancé? Should you talk to your daughter about concerns you have with her 11-year-old? Should you be concerned that your daughter is dating a single dad? Doug goes to the mail bag.   Listener questions and comments: Brenda - I am a single mother and I think that it takes a lot of discernment. It’s ha...

Doug shares tips for surviving the 4th of July picnic with family while avoiding arguments.   Listener questions and comments: Doug - At the family functions there is an emphasis on the drinking during the 4th. I can’t drink because my dad is an alcoholic so I want to know what I should do. (29:27) Jane - My son in law's father died from alcohol and I find that he drinks too much....

Are you a victim of a no-fault divorce? Today, Mary Bowan joins Doug to discuss her efforts to overturn the no-fault divorce law in Texas.   Listener questions and comments: Patrick - I went through a no-fault divorce and my wife threatened to say 'cruel and unusual punishment' which just means she is mean to me. (23:46) Karen - This happened to me and they called it irreconcilable difference...

Should you change your name after a divorce? What do you do when your wife has a chronic, incurable illness, and most of the responsibilities at home fall on you and your children? How do you cope when your wife feels guilty and worries about the burden placed on you? Do struggles with pornography make it difficult to give full consent to marriage? Doug goes to the mailbag answering these question...

Relationship coach Rose Sweet joins Doug to discuss the foundations of good marriages.   Listener questions and comments: Denise - My boyfriend’s best friend is a concern to me. He wants me to meet her and her husband. I feel weird about it. (9:38) Shirley - My daughter is 'Christian' but has a second marriage. The kid from the first marriage still lives at home at 34. Is my daughter pu...

You be the therapist as Doug shares the stories of two couples—one celebrating 30 years of marriage and the other just beginning their journey as newlyweds.   Listener questions and comments: Joe - My wife has decided to leave the Church and had a sterilization without my consent. What do I do? (5:02) Mary - Comment for Joe: His wife did what she did because she felt like she had no con...

Does self-love harm a marriage? Do you struggle with the idea or think that marriage is all about selfless service? Today, Doug looks at self-love in marriage through the lens of Luke 10:27 and Matthew 5:44.   Listener questions and comments: Anne - I agree with you and I would add that respect for yourself is respecting God because he made us out of love. (9:13) Deedee - What does it mean to...

Catherine DiNuzzo joins Doug to discuss anxiety from a Catholic perspective. They define good vs bad anxiety, the problem of guilt and how to manage anxiety as a Catholic.   Listener questions and comments: Jasmine - How do I fight my mind that triggers anxiety even if I’m doing okay? (10:19) Rose - I get anxiety around my kids but I don’t want to share with my kids. What do I say...

Did you have doubts before you got married? Did you worry that divorce was a possibility? Today, Doug shares another case study of an impossible marriage that was redeemed.   Listener question and comments: Jenny - I am struggling in my marriage with my husband’s anger issues and his unwillingness to work. (13:05) Joe - Comment: I want to say that we as men need to get it together and p...

In honor of Father’s Day, Doug pays tribute to the women who made us fathers.   Listener questions and comments: Christine - I had the most optimistic father of all time. He used to say 'when you come from nothing, you appreciate everything'. (23:28) Constantine - My mother was not supposed to make it in childbirth and neither was I but I lived and she did too. I was able to tell my dad...

Mark Swartzberg joins Doug to discuss his conversion to the Catholic Church, family life, and his journey to Relevant Radio.   Listener questions and comments: Brian - What are the specifics on the validity of the marriage and sacramentality of marrying a non-Catholic? (40:32)

Fr. Peter Armenio joins Doug to discuss marriage and spousal love from his book  Highlights of the Catholic Faith.   Listener questions and comments: Josephina - I went to confession and I was able to apologize to my husband. It opened up the world of forgiveness. (19:55) Deedee - I have been married twice and both men are deceased. What is the Catholic position on getting married a thir...

What do dads really need on Father’s Day? Doug offers seven powerful reminders of how love, respect, and gratitude can make a father feel seen and valued.   Resources: The Bible and Marriage: The Two Shall Become One Flesh (A Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments) https://stpaulcenter.com/store/the-bible-and-marriage-the-two-shall-become-one-flesh-a-catholic-biblical-theology-of-...

Doug discusses how married people are living their best lives and how married women are increasingly the happiest women.   Listener questions and comments: Denise - My boyfriend has stopped talking to other women but he has a friend who is a woman. She is married but he doesn't want to hurt the friendship. It bothers me. (10:34) Dana - It seems like Catholicism encourages marriage when Paul a...

Doug unpacks the 5 attachment needs every married person has. PLUS: The Friday rant!   Listener questions and comments: Liza - My daughter is 28, lives at home and will never help me with any chores. Her father won’t make her help and she ignores me. (37:36)   Resources:   5 attachment needs in marriage To be seen, known, heard and understood To feel safe and secure To be comf...

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to discuss ways parents lose their children without realizing it.   Listener questions and comments: Lucy - I have an 18-year-old and 20-year-old and I caught them drinking. What do I do? (8:44) Monica - My children have cut me off because of a divorce. They are influenced by their father on this. (19:42) Shirley - Comment about drinking: you can't forget that the p...

Doug continues his discussion on childhood attachment wounds and how they can negatively impact your marriage. Today, he looks at anxious and disorganized attachment strategies.   Listener questions and comments: John - My wife doesn't like talking about difficult topics and she just wants me to listen but I want to fix. its effecting our communication. (24:20) Angel - My fiancé was an...

Doug begins Part 1 of looking into childhood attachment wounds and how they can negatively impact your marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Natalie - How can I create a secure attachment style in friendship? (38:29) Julia - What is advice for a couple when one of them has problems and they blame the other? (46:58)   Resources: Emotionally Focused Therapy https://iceeft.com/ &nbsp...

Deacon Patrick Conley joins Doug to discuss his faith journey that led him to the Deaconate. Doug also goes to the mailbag. What can a couple do if the husband is no longer physically able to fulfill his role in the bedroom?   Listener questions and comments:   Joan – Congratulations to Deacon Patrick Conley! (9:12)   Resources: NaPro Technology https://naprotechnology.com/

Doug continues his discussion on how cognitive distortions harm marriages. He also shares how to not resent a husband for spending too much time at work. Plus: The Friday rant!   Listener questions and comments: Michael - My wife’s therapist confirmed that my wife’s feelings were reality even when it wasn’t the truth and I had to fight him on that. (16:50) David - I am civil...