Marriage Unhindered

Have you and your spouse ever disagreed about money? Today, Doug is joined by Kevin Smith to discuss practical money management strategies. Kevin shares tips for creating and sticking to a budget, and explains the difference between good debt and bad debt—and how understanding that distinction can help you make smarter financial decisions.   Listener questions and comments: Deedee - My...

Fr. Carter Griffin joins Doug to discuss his book Forming Families, Forming Saints . Together, they explore how human and spiritual formation help cultivate virtue and shape families into communities of faith, fostering the growth of future saints.   Listener questions and comments: Len - I just bought the book! Lots of wisdom. I will order 8 more! (37:39)   Resources: Forming Families,...

Mike and Alicia Hernon from the Messy Family Project join Doug discussing how to handle the chaos of family life.   Listener questions and comments:   Cindy - My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and we are talking about money. My concern is that he isn’t 100% open to support me. Should it be 50/50? (8:39) Jean - We have been married 60 years and We share the money. (22:1...

Doug discusses how cognitive distortions can harm marriage. Listener questions and comments: Teresa - I have been married for 36 years and after living with this for so long we had to get different living situations. (19:24)   11 Cognitive distortions Filtering Discounting the positive Over generalization Jumping to conclusions Catastrophizing Personalization Fallacies The blame game “S...

What should you do if your spouse always says no to marital intimacy? What if there is conflict about abstaining from intimacy to avoid sin? Doug goes to the mailbag, answering these questions and more.     Listener questions and Comments: Ray - I am seeing the biggest hindrance in marriage being unrealistic expectations. (21:57)

Doug discusses suffering in marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Jennifer - How much suffering is too much? (8:44) Candy - I have been married for 40 years. My husband goes into funks and won’t talk to me for a day or up to 3 months. I start getting upset and I don’t know what to do. (19:37) Elaine - I was divorced in 1991, and he was having an affair with his secretary si...

Doug shares 10 practical habits that can help couples build a happy and successful marriage. The conversation also touches on infidelity, hoarding, forgiveness, and mental health struggles that can impact relationships. Resources:  https://internationalforgiveness.com/    https://www.internationalhoardingalliance.org/     https://www.nami.org/   

Doug looks at the marriage of Al and Lisa Robertson from  Duck Dynasty and their journey through infidelity and reconciliation. Listeners also share stories of addiction, emotional affairs, and fighting to save a sacramental marriage. Listener questions and comments: Ron – How should I guide my son after his arrest for drug-related charges? Al – My sister and brother-in-law surviv...

Is money causing stress in your marriage? Today, Doug is joined by Preston Allex to talk through practical ways to manage family finances. They cover why creating a family budget matters and how to support college-aged kids as they transition into independence. They also share the value of Catholic Legacy: Faithful planning for a peaceful tomorrow.   Listener questions and comments: Tony - My...

Doug discusses forgiveness. He also shares how to make the perfect apology and give the perfect compliment.   Listener questions and comments: Deedee - I like the idea of being specific with compliments. It shouldn’t be just in marriage but all your friendships. (38:56) Jeff - What you just went through and outlined for couples, could you also apply this to singles? Is the Christian lif...

What should you do if your Mother’s Day was a bust? What should you do if after 35 years there is no love left and you wish you had never married your husband? Doug goes to the mailbag answering these questions and more.   Listener question and comments: Chris - My wife says I don’t speak to her kindly. She will ask me to explain something and I won’t be super nice, I guess....

Are you in a difficult marriage? Are the people around you encouraging you to get a divorce? Today, Leila Miller joins Doug to discuss fidelity to your marriage vows even when it’s difficult.   Listener questions and comments: Joe - I have a friend who is considering annulment. What should I say to him? (19:11) Vinnie - America is a throw-a-way culture so it encourages this problem. (29...

April Readlinger, Executive Director of Cana Vox joins Doug to discuss  Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Kids About Sexual Identity and Attraction.   Listener questions and comments: Joseph - My daughter thinks she’s a boy. She is 27. (46:00)   Resources: Cana Vox https://canavox.com/   Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Kids About Sexual Identity...

Doug finishes discussing Ephesians 5:25. He also discusses gratitude and forgiveness.    Listener questions and comments:   Michelle - My daughter died a few years ago from cancer. My husband has treated me terribly since she died. He's even called girlfriends from high school. It's hard to live like this. What am I to do? I need some help dealing with this. (37:33) Mary - How do yo...

Doug continues his discussion on suffering in marriage. He also talks about St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and a husband’s obligation to love his wife as Christ loved the Church.   Listener questions and comments: Rocky - Is there a resource for mothers who are dealing with stress? We have kids ages 2-6. (20:25) Nick - In our vows we say “until death do us part.” I...

Emily Jaminet joins Doug to discuss enthroning our homes to the Sacred Heart.   Listener questions and comments: Mary – I would like to share the power of the First Friday Devotion and how it's been influential in my faith. (32:17)   Resources: Image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pompeo Batoni https://relevantradio.store/products/sacredheart   Home Enthronement to the Sacred...

Are you divorced and dealing the painful aftermath? Carolyn Klicka joins Doug to discuss Abounding Joy Ministry and healing after divorce.   Patty - I was divorced and I feel like the Church hasn’t helped divorcees who feel stuck by these processes. It’s given me PTSD. (28:10) Walt - I have an aunt who married a man with PTSD and she knew, but she stayed with him. I feel that peop...

Damon Owens joins Doug for a conversation about the growing crisis facing marriage in today’s society and culture. Together, they discuss the importance of strengthening Catholic marriages by forming and supporting spouses as they navigate the daily challenges of married life.   Joanna - Is it wrong to tell my kids that I hope they marry Catholic spouses? I want them to love who they ar...

Kathleen Beckman joins Doug for a conversation about the demonic influence in the family as she also talks about her book, "A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare". Walt-If belief in Universal Salvation leads to demonic influence (38:37) Anne-Is married to a Hindu and is wondering if that could lead to evil spirits (42:35) Sources: https://kathleenbeckman.com/ Foundation of Prayer for Priests: https:...

Dr. Tom Zimmer joins Doug for a conversation about motivation in family life and how it shapes behavior and relationships. They explore the principles of behaviorism, including the use of rewards and punishments, and discuss how positive influences can encourage growth, healthy habits, and stronger family connections.   Listener questions and comments: John - My 15-year-old daughter loves art...

Doug discusses suffering in marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Jennifer - How much suffering is too much? (8:44) Candy - I have been married for 40 years. My husband goes into funks and won’t talk to me for a day or up to 3 months. I start getting upset and I don’t know what to do. (19:37) Elaine - I was divorced in 1991 and he was having an affair with his secretary sin...

Doug unpacks 5 things that couples in good marriages do. He also discusses 12 saints who suffered from mental illness.   5 thing couples in good marriages do They always resolve conflicts They give each other freedom They don’t narrate each other’s feelings They make space for boredom They don’t outsource reassurance

What should you do if your husband suddenly announces he is an atheist? Will sleeping in separate bedrooms ruin your marriage? Doug goes to the mail bag answering these questions and more.   Listener questions and comments:   Sandy - I think that health has a lot to do with marital problems. it can ruin sex and home life. I lost 50 pounds and it helped my relationship. (20:10)   Res...

Sarah Bartel, co-founder of Cana Feast, joins Doug to discuss how women can enjoy holy and healthy physical intimacy with their husbands.   Listener questions and comments: Mary - My husband would wake me up in the middle of the night. I would tell him no, but he'd keep insisting. I got to the point that I told him, ‘It feels like you're raping me'. Was it wrong for me to say this? (14:...

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to discuss parenting and family relationship.   Listener questions and comments: Ron - It’s my job as a man to lead my wife regardless of how we feal at the time. This is something the younger generation does not understand. My son does not understand. I had to cut him off. (6:07) Maryann - My daughter's friends say she has a personality disorder. She doesn't...