Stronger Marriage Connection

We explore how to design a fair, secure-functioning relationship that protects both partners, repairs fast, and prevents repeated harm. Dr. Stan Tatkin explains why instinct fights intimacy and how governance, PEPPER, and daily presence keep love strong under stress. • human nature as difficult and self-protective  • difference between difficult and too difficult  • clean repair and real apology w...

We sit down with Susanne Alexander to explore unity as a daily practice and walk through research-based tools that help couples merge hearts and minds. Small habits, virtue-based praise, and playful rituals turn conflict into clarity and make friendship the backbone of marriage. Susanne M. Alexander is a relationship and marriage educator, coach, author, and publisher with her company Marriage Tra...

We explore how sexual intimacy becomes joyful and life-giving when anchored in self-honesty, personal responsibility and spiritual growth. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife shares practical ways to move beyond rigid roles, foster freedom and desire, and build a marriage that can hold two full adults. • linking sexuality and spirituality as sources of joy • defining intimacy as being seen and known • reframi...

Dr. Dave Schramm and Dr. Liz Hale sit down with Dr. Julia Garcia to explore how hope becomes a daily habit that strengthens love, repairs conflict, and restores self-worth. We map the five habits of hope and show how one small word—maybe—can interrupt despair and create momentum. • defining hope as practice not positivity • Julia’s journey from hopelessness to healthy habits • five habits of hope:...

We talk with therapist and author Marc Cameron about how childhood bonds shape adult love and how anyone can “earn” secure attachment through story, skills, and practice. Practical tools like boundaries that invite connection and the Comfort Circle help couples move from reactivity to responsiveness. • what avoidant, pleaser, vacillator, and disorganized styles look like in childhood and adulthood...

We dig into holiday spending habits with Amanda Christensen and show how couples can protect peace and pocketbooks. From impulse triggers to simple tools and a revolving savings plan, we share practical steps to keep joy high and stress low. • impulse buying traps and how to slow down • agreeing a shared goal for the season • setting a total budget and four key categories • choosing cash for high-...

We explore how to handle family “emotional storms” with practical, science-backed tools so parents can stay calm, help kids feel seen, and keep their partnership strong. Dr. Alyssa Jerud shares the ART and CARE frameworks, opposite action, and simple mindfulness moves that work in the real world. • why emotional agility matters for parents and partners • how ART helps accept, regulate, and tolerat...

We explore how the Enneagram, mindfulness, and personal values help couples understand patterns, reduce conflict, and build trust. Amanda Ford shares practical tools to translate differences into connection, redefine compatibility, and communicate requests with clarity and care. • Nine types as lenses for patterns and needs • Head, heart, body centers explained with examples • Using insights witho...

We sit down with Dr. Jordan Rullo to unpack why sexual desire often misfires, how brakes and gas shape intimacy, and why responsive desire is just as healthy as spontaneous desire. We share practical tools to manage mismatch, avoid pressure, and build trust through small rituals. • Brake and gas model of sexual function • Causes of low desire across biology, psychology, relationship, culture • Spo...

We explore how grief moves like a spiral through life, how it reshapes identity and marriage, and why presence matters more than platitudes. Alexandra Carroll shares her story, reframes the stages, and offers practical tools for self-kindness, attunement, and meaning. • stages as observations, not a rigid program • grief as spiral with triggers across the year • why each person grieves differently...

We explore why money triggers big feelings, how to spot the Four Horsemen in finance talks, and how to turn weekly check-ins into a simple habit. Money coach Dee Zimmerman shares tools for gentle startups, healthy boundaries, and practical next steps. • different money histories shaping expectations • money as emotional language, not just numbers • Four Horsemen applied to money conversations • an...

We share Christina Morales’s story of moving from the brink of divorce to two decades of service with Retrouvaille, a couples-led program that turns communication into real change. Hope becomes concrete through a weekend intensive, post-sessions, and a community that protects confidentiality and growth. • what Retrouvaille is and who it serves • why lived experience creates safety and trust • comm...

A tender, practical look at life after divorce: how to co‑parent without drama, date with intention as a single parent, and rebuild a calm family system where kids feel safe and seen. Amber shares the habits, boundaries, and mindset shifts that turned conflict into cooperation. • early marriage, cross‑state moves, new parent stress • choosing divorce to model a healthy life for children • co‑paren...

We explore how Relational Life Therapy helps couples move from harshness to loving firmness, from accuracy wars to curiosity, and from quiet withdrawal to active repair. Kristy Gaisford shares personal lessons, the five dysfunctional patterns, and practical tools for daily change. • the five dysfunctional patterns: being right, controlling, unbridled self-expression, retaliation, withdrawal • star...

Dr. Jeremy Bowden returns to discuss free marriage preparation resources available through the Utah Marriage Commission and Utah State University, including his newly created "Marriage Ready" and "Remarriage Ready" online courses. • Premarital education helps couples understand relationship science, navigate potential challenges, and discuss expectations • Free six-hour online...

Lindsay Kelly shares her powerful journey of resilience as she navigates being a caregiver for her husband with MS, raising six children, and becoming the family's sole provider. Through finding support and learning to embrace hard emotions, she transformed her struggle into strength and now helps thousands of people facing similar challenges. • Discovering her husband's progressive MS d...

Conscious Relationship Coach Annmarie Chereso shares powerful insights on transforming conflict into deeper connection through mindfulness, vulnerability, and heart-centered awareness. She reveals how asking yourself "Where am I?" can identify whether fear or trust is driving your relationship patterns. • Conflict isn't a problem but a portal to deeper awareness and connection • Our...

Dr. Jason Whiting explores honesty, emotions, and relationship repair as foundational elements for building trust and connection in committed partnerships. • Honesty is universally valued but challenging to maintain consistently in relationships • Research shows people tell an average of three lies in ten minutes when first meeting someone new • Emotions strongly influence how we perceive our part...

Relationship coach Monica Tanner returns to discuss her new book "Bad Marriage Advice: 15 Myths That Are Keeping You Miserable" and challenges conventional wisdom that may be damaging marriages. She explores how common advice like "happy wife, happy life" and "don't sweat the small stuff" creates imbalanced relationships, poor communication patterns, and prevents...

Dating requires intention and skill, whether you're looking for fun or seeking a lifelong partnership. Marriage and family therapist Stacey Hubbard joins us to share her Gottman-based approach for singles navigating the relationship landscape. • Building friendship first is crucial when dating - take things slowly and watch for signs of trustworthiness • The honeymoon phase typically lasts 6-...

Dr. Talal Al-Saleem breaks down the complexities of infidelity from definition to recovery, offering hope through his specialized Systematic Affair Recovery Therapy approach. He challenges common misconceptions about infidelity causes and provides practical guidance for both healing after betrayal and safeguarding relationships against it. • Understanding infidelity as a breach of the unique exclu...

Dr. Jeffrey Du shares groundbreaking research identifying four key factors for a stronger marriage: commitment, protectiveness, shared religious attendance, and regular date nights. These factors emerged from data collected from over 2,000 individuals across the United States, focusing specifically on elements within couples' control. • Commitment means intentionally prioritizing your spouse...

Lisa Valentine Clark shares her extraordinary journey of love and resilience through her husband Christopher's battle with ALS, offering profound insights on how their marriage was strengthened through humor, sacrifice, and intentionally seeking joy amid terminal illness. • Starting as friends performing in a comedy play at BYU—Lisa as a chicken, Christopher as Satan—created a foundation of l...

Dr. Steve Harris joins us to explain discernment counseling, a specialized approach helping couples gain clarity about whether to work on their marriage or move toward divorce. • Developed at the University of Minnesota after research showed 30% of divorcing couples had at least one person who didn't want the divorce • Differs from traditional couples therapy by focusing on decision-making cl...

Chad Ford returns to share powerful insights from his new book 70x7, exploring how fear drives conflict and how radical forgiveness can transform our marriages and relationships. His work as an international conflict mediator brings unique perspectives on moving from destructive to constructive conflict patterns. • Understanding that conflict is natural and inevitable in marriage—the goal isn&apos...