The Marriage To The Max Podcast

It should be simple enough.  You need help with something, so you ask your spouse.  But what is the cost?  Will they respond positively or negatively?  In this episode, we explore a concept that gives the perfect description to a common problem.  Are you emotionally accessible ... or emotionally costly to your partner?  Listen in for some good advice!

Every couple expects to face hard seasons, but few of us are prepared when illness, injury, or unexpected medical challenges suddenly become part of everyday life.  In this episode, Kellie and Brett Hurst get uber personal about how a recent health crisis tested their relationship, while revealing hidden strengths in surprising ways.  Listen in for hope when "in sickness and in health" gets real.

Can AI save your marriage?  For all the fear mongering out there about AI taking us all down - there are obviously some positive elements to it.  Like today’s episode for example … listen in as Kellie Hurst gives some ChatGPT-suggested relationship experiments.  Are you willing to try some of them?

Even the happiest marriages aren’t tension-free, and that’s not a sign something’s wrong.  It’s a sign something’s real.  In this episode, we unpack the friction that shows up in every relationship; but not around conflict management perse'.  More about navigating a long life together without naturally growing apart.  For example, if one partner longs for more autonomy than the other, can they be...

In this episode, Kellie Hurst sits down with Jodie Berndt, author of Praying the Scriptures For Your Marriage (among other titles in the series)  It's a heartfelt conversation about the how, what, and why of praying for your most important (and challenging) relationship.  You’ll walk away inspired and maybe even ready to dig into the holy Scriptures for inspiration.  Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon known as The Walkaway Wife Syndrome—aka the moment a wife mentally packs her bags long before she ever touches a suitcase.  We’ll talk about how she didn’t suddenly snap (shocking, we know), and why husbands often miss the mile-high stack of warning signs.  Most importantly, we’ll walk through what couples can do before someone heads for the mental exit...

The holidays can bring joy… and a whole lot of stress.  Between shopping lists, family gatherings, and endless to-do’s, it’s easy for your marriage to get lost in the shuffle.  In this episode, Kellie and Brett Hurst discuss how to stay connected, communicate well, and keep your sense of humor when the holiday pressure starts to build.  Because your relationship deserves more than just survival th...

In this second part of the discussion about finances, Kellie and Brett Hurst break down the final three types of "money personalities".  Which one describes you best?  Which one explains how your partner deals with money?  Talking about the way we feel about money can be a real relationship-strengthener.  Don't give in to the temptation to avoid conversations about your money.  Come together aroun...

When it comes to finances, some say every married couple has a "saver" and a "spender".  But do these two options tell the whole story?  In today's conversation, Kellie and Brett Hurst discuss four "money personalities".  Pull up a chair and listen in.  It might spur some great conversation!

We all played the "Hide and Seek" game as kids.  Some of us still play it as adults; but not the same way.  We hide in marriage.  It's called self-protection and it shows up in all of us in different ways and for different reasons.  Listen to today's episode with Kellie and Brett Hurst to see if you're hiding - and how you can be found.

We all have our immature moments.  They can show up regularly when we're arguing with our partner.  However, if you find yourself saying certain phrases repeatedly, you may want to listen to today's conversation with Kellie and Brett Hurst.  A pattern of particularly immature reactions can play havoc with your relationship.  Learn what responses to look for, and why you may need to mature up.

“It’s not my fault!” … Have you ever uttered those words during a fight with your partner?  We all have.  But can something be your responsibility even if it wasn’t your fault?  Are intentions the only litmus test to gauge responsibility?  Tune in to today’s conversation with Kellie and Brett Hurst as they attempt to dissect this topic.

Is gratitude something we need to actually do?  Or is it enough to simply have an attitude of gratitude?  Listen in on today's conversation with Kellie and Brett Hurst as they discuss how to up your gratitude game, and how it will absolutely improve your marriage.

Many things shape who we become as adults.  How we were raised, our life experiences, our natural personality types, our enneagram type, etc.  But what about our birth order?  Could our place in our family of origin really affect how we show up in life?  In marriage?  Listen to today’s episode between Kellie Hurst and Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst (no relation) as they talk about a unique understanding of...

Help … my marriage is boring!  This was the title of a recent article that caught my attention.  How many of us find ourselves stuck in a boring rut with our partner?  Is it normal?  Does it mean something is wrong?  Take a few moments to listen in to today’s episode.  It might spark your creativity!

Continuing the conversation about conflict patterns, Kellie and Brett Hurst share information about how our unhealthy conflict patterns can erode our relationship over time.  Do you resonate with any of these patterns?  If so, what are you willing to do differently to change the dance?

Every couple has patterns they need to identify.  Communication patterns, affection patterns, etc.  Conflict patterns are no different, and perhaps even more important to identify.  Tune in to today’s conversation with Kellie and Brett Hurst as they lay out some common conflict patterns that may help you to think about doing things differently.

Marriage research tells us that grand gestures don’t do much to move the needle in relationships.  It truly is the “little things” done consistently over time that does the trick.  Want to know the most appreciated tiny gestures for both men and women?  Listen to today’s episode with Kellie and Brett Hurst to discover a few simple things that communicate deep love.

In this thought-provoking episode, Kellie and Brett Hurst discuss the topic that our marriages have influence.  This isn’t really a debatable idea.  It’s a fact that our marriages influence others.  However, can your marriage influence others for good?  Even having a transcendent imprint?  Listen in to today’s conversation to ponder whether your marriage is a city on a hill … or a pile of rubble.

Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  These are prophetic words from the holy Scriptures.  You could also insert “where your time is spent” and it would still work.  That’s what today’s episode is all about.  Your money and your time … how you spend them says a lot about what you truly prioritize.  Listen in as Kellie Hurst talks about how to use these types of currency to cur...

There’s a comfort in marriage.  A familiarity … a protective cocoon … the known quantity that most of us seek; making us feel secure and known.  It’s wonderful.  But we also crave novelty and surprise.  Listen in on today’s conversation as Kellie and Brett Hurst discuss how to keep the mystery alive in the midst of the mundane.

As humans, we’re wired for connection.  However, we don’t always recognize when our partner is trying to connect with us.  Today’s conversation helps us identify when our spouse is trying to connect with us – and how our response can make or break that request.

Are there phrases you regret saying and wish you could take back?  We’ve all been there.  However, therapists suggest there are several phrases that are not only unhelpful during an argument; they can also derail what could be a productive conversation.  Take a few minutes and tune in to today’s episode with Kellie and Brett Hurst of Home Encouragement to discover which phrases to avoid.

Is forgiveness the same thing as acceptance?  And if they’re different … where does one end and the other begin?  In today’s conversation, Kellie and Brett Hurst discuss when each of these elements is necessary in marriage – and when it’s not.

Married couples fight over silly things all the time.  But are they really so silly?  Maybe the silly things are the tip of a bigger iceberg that needs to be talked out.  Join Kellie and Brett Hurst as they talk about the bigger reasons we fight, and what we can do about it.