Terminal Vocation

In this episode Mark and Erin give their dueling "Top 5 Rules for Dating. " But there’s a twist—neither host shared their list before recording, making for an entirely blind, hot-take-heavy conversation. Before diving into the relationship playbook, the duo catches up on their July 4th weekend and some of the historical 'goings on' in their hometown. In "This Just In" w...

Episode Summary: Coming Home & Postpartum Realities In this episode of Terminal Vocation , hosts Deacon Mark and Erin conclude their two-part mini-series. Shifting focus from pre-partum topics, they dive into the joys, anxieties, and practical realities of navigating the postpartum period and bringing a new baby home. Before diving into the main topic, Mark and Erin catch up on their week, whi...

Pregnancy is a wild nine months and in this episode we break down some of the things to consider as you prepare for the arrival of a child. How to share the news and with whom? Picking a doctor Dealing with the physical and emotional changes taking place Nesting and getting ready Delivery Some things mentioned in this episode: Study by Binghamton Univ. on Wordle strategy Article on the risks of ho...

As we conclude our series on the top 5 challenges that couples face we talk about the ways that religion and politics can become divisive within a relationship. Our most tightly held beliefs can often be something we seek to find in common with others, so how do we balance finding agreement on the big issues while still understanding that a 100% perfect match is not always possible. We also talk a...

Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges relationships face we talk about our families of origin and in-laws. How do we handle overcoming some of our 'core memories' and default settings in order to communicate better with each other? How do we distinguish between extended families who are involved vs. intruding? What to do to grow in our love for these people? We also talk about deal...

Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges in marriage, we cover the topic of sex, and the three categories of how it can be corrupted: Use/Abuse, Infidelity, and Weaponization. We also talk about waiting until marriage, NFP , and the Blue Origin Rocket explosion .

Part 2 of our series on the top 5 topics that cause challenges for couples -- this week we talk about kids. Part 1 - We discuss the "Enhanced Games" and what this kind of mentality looks like in parenting. Being an overly permissive parent who just goes along with 'what they're gonna do anyway' is a recipe for problems. Part 2 - We talk about the important things couples need...

Mark and Erin kick off a series on the top issues that couples need to align on and that can be a source of conflict. This Just In: The recent rash of commencement speakers talking about AI, and subsequently getting booed, is a good reminder of the importance of preparing well for having conversations with our kids about difficult situations for them. NPR on AI Commencement Addresses Topic: We dis...

Mark and Erin talk about: Amazon's new "Ultra" delivery service How to know when to 'go steady' How to know when you're ready to say I love You How to know when you're ready to get engaged

Mark and Erin open with a discussion about Spirit airlines shutdown and the impact of poor customer service in raising kids. Then we have a conversation about the five rules for handling fighting in relationships. Links: Spirit Airlines Article Teams of Our Lady

Mark and Erin talk about Allyson Felix's potential comeback and how that can affect a family, and then go into a discussion about how dating changes through different stages in life, but is always important as a way of coming to know each other continually. They end with a hot-take on the prom-posal trend. Links: Allyson Felix The Dating Project He's Just Not That Into You

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