Mindful Marriage and Family Podcast with Jake and Tamara Fackrell

Send us Fan Mail As we wrap up Season 2 of the podcast, we want to thank you for joining us on this journey. We are taking the summer off, but we are excited to announce that Season 3 will return next September. Next season we will focus on helping couples discover and build their own individualized love formula. In this final episode of the season, we share some of the family practices that stren...

Send us Fan Mail This is the long awaited episode on intimacy. In this episode, we sit down with sexual intimacy expert Dr. Chelom Leavitt, a leading researcher on sexuality in marriage, to have an open and thoughtful conversation about strengthening physical and emotional connection between spouses. She shares practical, research-based insights on how couples can improve communication, deepen tru...

Send us Fan Mail What you say in your marriage matters more than you think. In this episode of Say That Thing: The Power of Positive Words in Marriage , we explore how the words you choose can either strengthen your relationship or slowly tear it down. Healthy marriages aren’t conflict-free—they’re built by couples who know how to navigate conflict with intention and care.  You’ll learn why positi...

Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to move your marriage from good to great? In Episode 23, I share what changed everything for me. I didn’t always have a great marriage—but now I do, and I can honestly say I never want to go back. This episode is about the shift: the intentional choices, mindset changes, and daily actions that elevate a relationship beyond just “fine” or “functional.” If...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling stuck in the “marriage blahs”? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay that way. This episode is all about getting intentional with your relationship and rediscovering what truly works for you as a couple. We’ll explore how to break out of autopilot, identify your unique “marriage formula,” and make small, meaningful shifts that bring connection, energy, and purpose b...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for your mind to be exploded! Link for VAK Chicago Test In this episode, we break down one of the most overlooked reasons couples struggle to communicate: you and your spouse may be processing your non-verbals in completely different ways. Using the VAK framework—Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic—you’ll learn how each style shapes the way we listen, respond, and connect....

Send us Fan Mail Take the PRAISED Romance Styles TEST here . Relationships are a lot more dynamic than we sometimes give them credit for. While many people are familiar with traditional love languages, newer insights—like those from Dr. Tamara Fackrell’s work, highlight a few additional ways people feel deeply connected, especially through shared experiences and meaningful communication. What make...

Send us Fan Mail Teenage years often bring conflict, emotional distance, and moments that leave parents wondering if they are doing anything right. In this episode, Jake Fackrell and Dr. Tamara A. Fackrell offer thoughtful guidance for parents navigating the ups and downs of raising teens. They explore how choosing the right battles, staying calm during conflict, and forgiving without waiting for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore powerful principles for creating a strong, united family culture. Instead of parenting through control or constant persuasion, we discuss how shifting to a “family team” mindset can build trust, responsibility, and long-term cooperation in the home. We talk about how children thrive when they feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves....

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores how struggling marriages can begin to heal through small, intentional changes that rebuild trust and emotional safety. When relationships feel tense, distant, or stuck in negative patterns, improvement does not come from winning arguments — it comes from creating understanding, offering sincere apologies, and learning to communicate in ways that invite connec...

Send us Fan Mail Every marriage faces emotional moments — frustration, anger, hurt, stress, sadness, loneliness, and misunderstanding. But what if those emotions weren’t obstacles to connection, but invitations to understand each other more deeply? This podcast helps couples strengthen their relationship by learning how to regulate emotions using the Emotion Wheel. Instead of reacting in anger, sh...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we talk about what it truly means to become a Marriage Ambassador. Marriage is not something you casually maintain. It is something you fight for. You protect it. You save it. You cherish it. You try everything before you let it slip away. We believe in fighting for your marriage with courage, humility, and commitment. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we share 15 practical ways to create “Heart Burst” moments in your marriage — the moments that make you feel deeply connected, loved, and alive together. We walk couples through a simple but powerful exercise: looking back over the past year and identifying the patterns that brought the most joy, connection, laughter, intimacy, and meaning. Instead of leaving your...

Send us Fan Mail Marriage doesn’t change in grand gestures. It changes in small, intentional moments. Happify Your Marriage is where connection becomes a daily practice and small habits create real relationship miracles. Each idea gives you practical tools, guided journaling moments, and the signature Ten Minute Miracle — a simple, powerful way to reconnect even when life feels busy, heavy, or dis...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Tamara Fackrell and Jake Fackrell dive into the 8 essentials for creating joy in marriage. Love isn’t a one-time promise—it’s a daily decision. Small things matter, and small gestures done consistently can transform your relationship. Communicate with curiosity. Choose not to take offense, even when something feels offensive, and protect your connection with a healthy neutral...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Tamara Fackrell and her husband Jake break down one of the biggest insights from years of working with couples: Most people in struggling marriages are trying—but they’re aiming at the wrong targets. In this episode, they introduce The Bullseye Marriage Board, a simple system that helps couples figure out:     •    What actually matters to your spouse     •    What actions hit...

Send us Fan Mail Every couple has the same question: How can I make my spouse happy in my marriage? Believe it or not, your wife is not as complicated as you think! Today we dig into the heart-level needs that often go unspoken. We talk about why women crave appreciation and love , why men long for respect and peace, and how both can create a marriage full of affection, fun, passion, and partnersh...

Send us Fan Mail Finances are one of the top reasons couples drift apart—but they don’t have to be. In this episode, we dive into the ten financial must-dos every couple needs to strengthen their marriage and secure their future. Mindful marriages talk openly about money. They don’t hide, ignore, or pretend not to understand where the income and debts stand—they face it together. Learn how to buil...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Tamara Fackrell and Jake Fackrell dive into how to handle conflict without hurting connection. Learn what it means to stay in your lane, communicate with respect, and to never text fight. Discover how fighting fair can actually strengthen your marriage, deepen trust, and bring you closer together — even when you disagree. Learn to say what you mean without bei...

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Tamara Fackrell and Jake Fackrell as they help you design a marriage that feels closer and more connected. You'll learn ten practical ways to deepen connection. Together, we'll explore how to build your love map, create meaningful rituals, express gratitude, and embrace the power of a simple six-second kiss. Don't miss this episode of Closer by Design . For...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Tamara Fackrell and Jake share the “secret sauce” behind their strongest seasons of connection: a simple, repeatable marital retreat . Borrowing the best parts of business off-sites, they walk through how getting away for 1–2 nights creates space to dream, reconnect, and work on your relationship—not just in it. You’ll learn their 10–2 method (ten affirmations...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we take on what feels impossible—how to solve the unsolvable problems in your marriage. You’ll learn how bridge building can turn conflict into connection and transform a relationship that’s good into one that’s truly great. Discover the mindset and tools that helped our own marriage rise from good to great, and how they can do the same for you.

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Tamara Fackrell, a seasoned attorney with over 25 years of experience, as she dives deep into the eight common causes of divorce. Some of the causes might surprise you! Dr. Fackrell breaks down these key factors and provides insightful advice on how to avoid them. Whether you're newly married, in a long-term marriage, or navigating a challenging phase, understanding...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into four powerful and healthy ways to solve problems. So often, miscommunication happens not because of the issue itself, but because we’re using the wrong method to work through it. Sometimes the solution is as simple as knowing whether to “solve” or to “share.” Dr. Fackrell also introduces a practical technique designed she has developed to help emotion...

Send us Fan Mail Communication can either strengthen a marriage or slowly pull it apart. In this episode, we unpack the six common communication styles. We'll explain how each style shows up in everyday conversations, what strengths and challenges they bring, and how couples can bridge the gap when they communicate differently. You'll come away with practical insights on recognizing your...