The Love Spark Podcast

Hosts Tonya and Stevi Maveros wrap up their season on The 7 Principles of Making Marriage Work, discussing the book’s afterword and the power of small, consistent changes to improve relationships. They break down Gottman’s “magic six hours” — simple daily and weekly rituals and explain how to adapt these practices for busy couples and parents. The episode highlights the science behind the methods,...

Episode highlights include designing rituals, including a new sex initiation phrase, supporting each other’s roles, and revisiting life goals as Tonya and Stevi Maveros break down Principle 7 from Gottman’s The 7 Principles of Making Marriage Work: Creating Shared Meaning. They walk through the workbook’s four pillars—rituals of connection, roles, goals, and values—use true/false prompts, and shar...

In this episode of the Love Spark Podcast, Tonya and Stevi explain how surface topics mask deeper "dreams" and values, share clues to spot gridlock, and walk through Gottman’s steps: explore dreams, soothe, reach a temporary compromise (two-circle method), and express gratitude. The hosts use sample scenarios and their own business-related gridlock to demonstrate practical tools for turning perpet...

Hosts Tonya and Stevi Maveros discuss Chapter 10 of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, covering common solvable problems like digital distractions, in‑laws, money, housework, parenting, and sex. They share personal examples, take quizzes from the workbook, and highlight practical solutions focused on teamwork, clear agreements, and maintaining connection and intimacy.

Hosts Tonya and Stevi Maveros unpack Chapter 9 of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (Principle 5: Solve Your Solvable Problems), guiding listeners through softened startups, repair attempts, signs of flooding, self-soothing, and compromise using workbook exercises and real examples (in‑laws, intimacy, and money). They offer practical phrases, the Gottman repair checklist, and calming s...

Tonya and Stevi Maveros break down Chapter 8 of The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work, explaining the difference between solvable and perpetual marital conflicts, why 69% of issues are ongoing, and how gridlock leads to emotional disengagement. The hosts use workbook scenarios and personal examples—covering topics like children, tidiness, money, ambition, and sex—to show how couples can tal...

Tonya and Stevi discuss Principle Four from The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: letting your partner influence you. They explore why sharing power and accepting influence predicts happier, more stable relationships. The episode mixes research and real-life examples with practical workbook activities — from everyday scenarios to the Gottman Island Survival Game — offering simple, actiona...

In this episode of the Love Spark Podcast, hosts Tonya and Stevi explore Gottman’s Principle 3: turning toward each other instead of away, including the 5:1 “magic ratio” and how small daily bids build an emotional bank account that sustains romance. They read from the book, share personal examples (hug rituals, shared chores, watching shows together), and guide listeners through exercises: listin...

It's easier than might think to strengthen your friendship which is the foundation to passion, intimacy, and good sex. With the day-to-day logistics, complaints, and stressors it's easy to take your partner for granted. In fact, it might be easy to look at the person sitting next to you breathing loudly, sneezing obnoxiously, and paying more attention to a screen than to you and think, "Ugh! Who t...

Your partner's love map is more important and easier to learn than you might think. Follow along as Stevi and Tonya work through the next activity in Chapter 4 from The Seven Principles to Making Marriage Work. Listen and learn!

Tonya and Stevi aren't psychic and neither are the Gottmans but they can still predict relationship dissolution based upon six specific signs and with 91% accuracy. Do you know what they are? Listen the to the latest episode  and Chapter 3 of The Seven Principles To Making Marriage Work, to learn the six signs that can signal relationship decline and how to prevent them. 

You know about the Love Lab, so now it's time do learn what does make a marriage work! Tonya and Stevi dive into chapter 2, of The Seven Principles to Making Marriage Work, because knowing what works is just as important as knowing what doesn't.

Hosts Tonya and Stevi Mavaros introduce the Love Spot Podcast and walk through Chapter 1 of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, sharing workbook activities and personal responses. The episode breaks down common relationship myths, offers practical tools to build a stronger foundation while things are good, and models real-time exercises couples can try together. Listeners are invited to...

Learn about what The Love Spark Podcast will offer you as a listener directly from its host!