The Marriage To The Max Podcast

The 1970 film “Love Story” contained an infamous line that perpetuated a ludicrous mindset. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”. Gag! Anyone who’s been married for longer than, say, ten minutes knows how absurd that idea is. No matter how much we love someone, we make mistakes. And when we make mistakes, we need to know how to apologize well. If you need help with crafting more artful ap...

We all want our marriages to be the safest place on earth. Physically safe, of course. But emotional safety is key as well. How do you build emotionally safety into your relationship? Listen now as  Kellie & Brett Hurst  of  Home Encouragement  dialogue about how to better connect emotionally.

While most of us rely heavily on our smartphones and devices to help us run our lives more efficiently, are they getting in the way of our most personal relationships? Listen in on today’s episode while  Kellie & Brett Hurst  of  Home Encouragement  discuss the research-based information around technology, and how you can take steps to ensure it doesn’t invade your love life.

It’s been said that we spend a third of our lives either earning or worrying about money. One of the most common questions we hear from engaged couples is, “How do we handle money together when we’re just starting out?”. It’s true that the way you navigate your finances together can be a barometer for the rest of your relationship. Finances are a huge part of our lives, and managing our money is a...

No one really desires to be in a long distance relationship. Marriage is challenging enough when you live in the same house and see each other every day! Is it possible to be far apart while still remaining intimately connected? Listen in on today’s conversation as  Kellie & Brett Hurst  of Home Encouragement talk about tips for remaining close while you’re miles away.

What does the term “in-law” bring up for you? Tension? Anxiety? Full on craziness? Before we break out the bad mother-in-law jokes, remember that in-law relationships go both ways. You may think your mother or father-in-law is totally cray cray … but what kind of daughter or son-in-law are you? It’s not always easy to get along. But honoring your in-laws is not only possible, it’s recommended. So...

How in the world do you work on your marriage relationship when you have small children who demand every last ounce of your time, energy, and attention? Is it even possible? Yes! It takes a little planning, a lot of grace, and sometimes requires thinking outside of the box. Listen today as  Kellie & Brett Hurst  of  Home Encouragement  talk about ideas for keeping you and your spouse close while t...

When sorting laundry, why is there so often a lone sock that ends up without a mate? Such is the world of topics for podcasts. Once in a while we get an idea to discuss, and it’s sort of like an odd sock. It doesn’t really go with anything, and it doesn’t stand on its own to fill out an entire episode. So we’ve come up with a few of those lone ideas and combined them into one complete episode. Lik...

Sometimes it’s helpful to turn something on its head. Marriage tools can be like that. Instead of talking about what we should be doing to make our marriages better, this episode turns things upside down and discusses what you can do to ensure your marriage spirals downward! In this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss certain patterns that married couples can find thems...

Life can certainly throw us some surprises, both good and bad. For some things, we’ll never be completely prepared. But for other things, we can get ready. What will the next 3 years bring in your marriage? Are you desperately waiting for a baby? Or are you counting the days ‘til you’re out of diapers? Do you hear yourself saying things like … “As soon as our kid can drive …” Every marriage life c...

Is marriage really just a contract between two people? “I agree to love you as long as you agree to love me”? Or is it something more? Are we humans capable of staying for the long haul, even when marriage can be utterly challenging?  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement believe that God empowers us, as married couples, to love beyond our limited capacity. Not to stay in marriage because...

Can the words “routine” and “romance” go together? They may seem to contradict each other, but in this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement put a new spin on the daily grind. Is it possible to make kindness and affection part of your normal routine? Listen now to find out!

In this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement ask therapist Tim Mavergeorge about the topic of pornography and how it can negatively affect marriage. Although internet pornography is easily available and perhaps considered relatively harmless by some, it can cause some serious problems for interpersonal relationships.

In this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement finish their series on the 3 different types of marriage by describing the crème de la crème … the connecting marriage. This is the place every married couple wants to be. This is the type of relationship we all hope for when we say “I Do”. However, it takes a great deal of work and a huge amount of commitment. But as you’ll hear in t...

In this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement continue unpacking the 3 different types of marriage. In this busy world of careers, parenting, and other demands, couples can easily find themselves coasting in their marriage relationships. But no one wants to be “two ships that pass in the night”. Perhaps you’re moving in the general same direction as your spouse, but marriage requ...

How do you know if your marriage is in crisis or danger? In this episode,  Brett and Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss the ingredients of a “critical” marriage. Most married couples already know clearly if they are in a crisis situation. But despair is not the only option. If this situation applies to your marriage, learn how to navigate a critical marriage with hope and intentionality

Addictions of one or both spouses can create tremendous challenges for marriage. To move forward as a couple, it is very important for healthy understanding of what addictions actually are and also how to get help. This week,  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement interview  Tim Mavergeorge  about various addictions in marriage. Tim is the head of the  Houston Center for Christian Counseling...

This week,  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss how any spouse can bring something positive to a marriage. In fact, since everyone has been created with special gifts, all husbands and wives have the potential to become experts in something. What are your strengths? How might they be further enhanced in order to bring greater strength to your marriage? Thank you to Grant Peterson o...

This week, we conclude with the part two of  John Gottman’s “Four Horseman” , referring to four negative characteristics (based on research) that can be deadly to a marriage if not repaired.  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss on this episode the pitfalls of defensiveness and stonewalling and how they can damage a marriage relationship. Thanks to Grant Peterson of  South Hill Comm...

This week’s topic deals with the first two of  John Gottman’s “Four Horseman” , referring to four negative characteristics (based on research) that can be deadly to a marriage if not repaired.  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss how important it is to steer clear of critical and contemptuous remarks in a marriage relationship. Thanks to Grant Peterson of  South Hill Communications...

Marriage has enough challenges on its own. But what if you are a married couple serving together in ministry? Are there additional obstacles to navigate? This week,  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement interview Dave & Terri Peterson about the challenges and blessings of marriage and family life while serving in pastoral ministry. They speak from many years of experience. Over a span of 44...

It’s a very provocative question….one that could cause a fight! Is there even a definitive answer? This week  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement attempt to respond to this loaded question. Thanks to Grant Peterson of  South Hill Communications  and engineer/musician Grant Supak for their assistance with this podcast.

Do you ever get discouraged about your marriage relationship? Over the course of a long life together, that is certainly normal! This week,  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss two powerful marriage traits, perseverance and optimism. Practiced regularly, these qualities can most definitely help couples keep their relationship on track for the long haul. Thanks to Grant Peterson of ...

During this episode, we bring back the polarizing series of “Famous Marriage Quotes”. You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em! At any rate, this week  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement trade references and comments related to famous and not-so-famous quotes about the institute of marriage. Seriously, we hope you enjoy this format one more time. A special thanks to Grant Peterson of  South Hi...

Is it okay to admit that you have emotional needs? Why, of course it is! Without being able to communicate your emotional needs to your spouse, it’s going to be very difficult for your partner to be able to walk in harmony with you. And vice versa. In this week’s episode,  Brett & Kellie Hurst  of Home Encouragement discuss how much more effective growing in grace can become for a married couple w...