Search the blog data base by keyword or topic:
A Strong Relationship Can Outlive Death | C. Ryan Dunn | #181
Grief is one of the most universal human experiences and one of the most avoided. We sit down with Dr. Ryan Dunn from Weber State University to talk about what actually happens when someone we love dies, why the pain can feel physical, and how a marriage bond can keep influencing our choices long after a partner is gone.
Rebuilding Intimacy In Marriage | Nick and Amy McKinlay | #180
A marriage can look “fine” on paper and still feel lonely in real life, especially when emotional connection and sexual intimacy start drifting apart. We sit down with Nick and Amy, creators of the Ultimate Intimacy app with more than one million downloads, to talk about what actually helped them rebuild after some brutally hard seasons. Their story includes financial stress, overload at home, and the moment Amy realized intimacy was starting to feel like a chore even though they were still trying to keep it going.
Protecting Your Marriage During The Transition To Parenthood | Sean Brotherson | #179
A baby can be pure joy and still shake your marriage to its core. We sit down with Dr. Sean Brotherson, professor and Extension family life specialist at North Dakota State University, to get honest about what really changes when couples become parents and how to come through the transition with a stronger marriage connection instead of quiet resentment.
How Emotional Closeness Builds Better Sex In Marriage | Chelom Leavitt | #178
Most couples don’t struggle because they “stopped loving each other.” They struggle because they stopped feeling emotionally safe and emotionally known and that distance eventually shows up in the bedroom. We’re joined again by Dr. Shalom Levitt, a BYU family scholar who studies relationship connection, sexual satisfaction, and mindfulness, to talk about the link so many couples sense but can’t quite explain: emotional intimacy and sexual intimacy.
How Our Counterfeit Emotions Undermine Connection and Intimacy | Curtis Morley | #177
Fake feelings can sound like truth in your head, especially when you’re stressed, hurt, or trying to protect yourself. We sit down with Curtis Morley, known as “The Emotionologist,” to unpack a simple idea with huge impact: counterfeit emotions look real, but they quietly sabotage connection, communication, and trust in marriage.
Reviving Intimacy in A Sexless Marriage: A Path Back To Connection | Ralph Brewer | #176
A dead bedroom rarely starts in the bedroom. When desire fades, many couples panic, many men blame themselves, and “fixing it” turns into overfunctioning, people-pleasing, and quiet resentment. We sit down with Ralph Brewer, founder of Help for Men and creator of Dad Starting Over, to talk about what actually drives sexual disconnect, emotional distance, and the anxious spiral that makes everything worse.
How To Help the Next Generation Break the Dating Recession | Alan Hawkins | #175
Only about 30% of young adults are actively dating, yet roughly 86% still expect to marry. That gap is the real story behind marriage right now, and it’s why we brought back Dr. Alan Hawkins to unpack the newest national findings on what some researchers are calling a dating recession.
Marriage 2.0: How To Rebuild A Marriage in Crisis | Naomi Light | #174
Your relationship can be full of love and still feel like it’s falling apart behind closed doors. We sit down with UK relationship expert and marriage therapist Naomi Light, founder of the Rewiring Love method, to talk about what finally changed her own marriage after they hit a severe crisis and faced the real possibility of divorce. What follows is a grounded, hopeful look at how couples rebuild trust when conflict has slowly turned toxic and repairs stop working.
Five Research-Based Secrets To More Passionate Sex | Emily Jamea | #173
Most couples don’t want “more tips.” They want sex that feels easy again, the kind where you’re fully there with each other and the outside world fades out. That’s why we brought on Dr. Emily Jamea, an award-winning sex and relationship therapist and the USA Today bestselling author of Anatomy of Desire, to talk about a surprisingly useful framework for long-term passion: flow state psychology.
Why Dating is in Decline & How to Fix It | Brian Willoughby | #172
Daily Marriage Habits That Can Improve Your Relationship | Meygan & Casey Caston | #171
We sit down with Casey and Megan Kasten of Marriage365 to unpack a practical “marriage operating system” that anyone can build—no pricey therapy schedule required. From their early struggles at the brink of divorce to reaching millions with simple tools, their path is proof that structure can feel like freedom when it’s designed for care.
Pageants, Parenting, And The Power Of Strong Family Connections | Kilie Tomadakis | #170
Miracles, grit, and a mission to strengthen families—Kilie Komandakis brings all three. We sit down with the current Mrs. South Valley to trace her journey from a turbulent early childhood to adoption, entrepreneurship, and a pageant run powered not by prizes but by purpose. Along the way, Kylie shares how farm life forged her work ethic, why she trusted her instincts to build Alora Hair Co, and what matchmaking has taught her about modern dating, communication breakdowns, and the questions couples skip before committing.
Understanding Neurodivergent Needs To Deepen Connection | Matt Zakreski | #169
What if the healthiest relationships aren’t built by sameness, but by smart design around different brains? We sit down with clinical psychologist, speaker, and author Dr. Matthew Zakresky to unpack how neurodiversity—across autism, ADHD, dyslexia, giftedness, and sensory profiles—can actually strengthen connection when couples understand it and plan for it.
How Attachment Shapes Desire, Arousal, And Closeness In Marriage | Marc Cameron | #168
We trace how childhood attachment styles shape sexual desire, arousal, and closeness in marriage, and why couples get stuck in the sex standoff. Mark Cameron shares practical steps to earn secure attachment and turn emotional safety into better intimacy.
Unpause Your Marriage To Go From Me to We | Lee Baucom | #167
We sit down with Dr. Lee Baucom to unpack the “pause button marriage,” why most couples misdiagnose communication issues, and how small, steady habits and a team mindset rebuild connection. One partner can start the change with curiosity, empowerment, and self-management.
Is Ai the New Partner? Ai vs Real Romance | Wendy Wang | #166
We sit down with researcher Wendy Wang to unpack how AI companionship, porn, and endless scrolling are reshaping dating, marriage, and mental health. We share data-backed risks and simple house rules that protect attention, intimacy, and commitment.
Untangling Codependency in Relationships: How To Heal and Reconnect | Payton Holt | #165
We unpack how codependency hides inside “helping,” why rescuing backfires, and how to build self-compassion, boundaries, and interdependence. Therapist Peyton Holt shares concrete tools for couples and parents to trade control for empathy and create safer, stronger bonds.
Premarriage Prep That Actually Works | Les and Leslie Parrott | #164
We welcome Les and Leslie Parrott to unpack how preparation, empathy, and practical tools create stronger marriages, from the origins of SYMBIS to the launch of the four-minute Heart Chart. We explore healthy conflict, invisible rule books, and thought patterns that quietly shape connection.
How Emotional Safety Transforms Your Marriage | Shane Birkel | #163
We explore how emotional safety fuels connection and why consent, validation, and nervous system awareness transform tough talks. Shane Burkle shares RLT’s “truth with love,” a six-hour intensive model, and a simple exercise couples can use today.
Why Relationships Feel Hard And How To Make Them Safe | Dr. Stan Tatkin | #162
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.