Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage
Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear, practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family.
Episodes
Does it feel like your life is being interrupted? Financial issues, health concerns, and disagreements with family members can all throw a wrench into our plans. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley talk with Julie Plagens, who describes common interruptions in her life. We address the need for control, people-pleasing, and messages from how a strict faith background fueled anger and unforgiveness. Greg and Erin also talk about benefits of sp...
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley focus on infidelity with Brad and Tami Miller. They discuss how couples drift through busyness, unmet emotional needs, validation-seeking, social media connections, and contrast emotional vs. physical affairs. They also have helpful ideas for couples to avoid the "chore war" and they tackle a listener question about a wife who seems to weaponize the mistakes her husband made in the past. If you know someon...
You're really going to be blessed by this program, even if you and your spouse share the same faith. Greg and Erin talk with David McIver, author of Looking For The One. David teaches that loving a spiritually different spouse means seeing them through Jesus’ eyes and praying about where the trust was first broken rather than focusing on behavior. Greg and Erin also talk about a couple that have been married for 84 years, and...
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley host a rapid-fire episode answering common marriage questions from both a husband and a wife perspective - with timed responses! They discuss whether spouses should check in when apart, address hidden purchases as “financial infidelity,” evaluate location sharing and phone/social media access, and other common questions couples have. Ultimately, this is to help you and your spouse discuss what ...
How is your relationship with your in-laws? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what research and experience reveals about in-law relationships, prompted by Erin being asked to speak to a moms group. If conflict, enabling behavior, and parenting disagreements with in-laws seem to take away the PEACE in your family - this is the podcast for you! Make sure you forward the link to other members of your family, too!
Married Into The F...
Do differences between you and your spouse trigger tension in your marriage? Greg and Erin talk with Amber Lia and offer tips to respond well and explore how miscommunication fuels anger. They discuss common conflict points like “chore wars,” the invisible mental load, and backseat driving, while emphasizing teamwork, communication, and going the extra mile. They also encourage you and your spouse to take the personalit...
Get ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel” for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally leak energy and require intentional refueling. We'll look at the animal kingdom to help you understand your per...
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley speak with Pastors Todd and Carolyn Petkau about their Relationship Rocket Formula, comparing marriage to a rocket needing navigation, fuel, and spark! They encourage looking into Scritpture, deep “fuel and spark” questions, and creating safety through active listening and saying, “tell me more.” Greg and Erin also apply ideas to TV couples, then answer a listener question about ove...
What was your dad like growing up? Do you have good memories, or could things be better between you? Greg and Erin celebrate all dads with a special presentation from Pastor Ken Davis, who shares four important reminders based on Scripture in Malachi. We hope you'll be encouraged by this message, and that you'll share this podcast with those you love.
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley continue their discussion on how couples can use finances to strengthen marriage, featuring guest Matt Bell of Sound Mind Investing. If you and your spouse have money conflicts, THIS is the podcast for you! Matt explains that spenders often marry savers. He warns that debt can be a “cancer on marriage,” and urges couples to stop taking on new debt. Greg and Erin then share favorite books and su...
How are you with money? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley get advice from Matt Bell, about biblical money principles. He explains the Parable of the Talents as a stewardship framework, contrasting consumer vs. steward mindsets, while urging couples to serve the Lord. We'll also challenge you to turn your home into a mini carnival for an at-home date night. The listener Q & A is about motivating a husband to read the Bible and take spir...
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley emphasize that a strong marriage rests on friendship! Author and speaker, Becky Harling discusses how a past breast cancer diagnosis reshaped her priorities toward intentional friendships. She highlights bringing fun and adventure back, expressing gratitude, avoiding complacency, practicing wise vulnerability, and setting boundaries to prevent over-functioning or controlling behavior, including tighter saf...
Do you feel like your prayer life with your spouse could be better? Do you usually pray about circumstantial things? Mike and Melissa Kruger share about 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse that will transform your marriage and draw you both closer to Christ.
5 Things To Pray For Your Spouse
How do you and your spouse handle conflict? Greg and Erin share insights from Dave and Ann Wilson today. They discuss common conflict styles (e.g., yielding, defending, resolving) and emphasize that conflict is often driven by deeper emotions and desires, requiring an open heart, slowing down, listening, and sometimes choosing to “solve or sleep” when exhausted. In the Q&A, they advise a listener to describe behavio...
Greg and Erin talk about what each of us wish our spouse knew about our inner most secrets and desires in marriage. Sometimes it's hard to express our feelings. Greg and Erin share ideas on how to access our emotions, and share them with our spouse. This is a program that both wives and husbands need to hear! We also give you specific scripture to pray over various situations, and we are encouraged by a testimony from a listener.
Erin and Greg share their thoughts on the value of women and we hear excerpts from author and former CEO of Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS), Elisa Morgan. She shared how women should find their beauty by looking through God's eyes. We'll also talk about the upcoming Mother's Day podcast series from Focus On The Family called Legacy of Love.
Listen to the Legacy of Love podcast series celebrating Mother's Day
This special edition encourages moms on their journey of motherhood, and it's hosted by Whitney Lowe and Erin Smalley. We're covering why becoming a mom is a gift, finding your identity in Christ, hope for tired moms, and ways to celebrate Mother's Day!
Praying The Scriptures For Your Children: Discover How To Pray God's Purpose For Their Lives
Listen to the Legacy of Love podcast series celebrating Mother's Day
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley have a treat for you today! Get ready for a presentation from Pastor Ted Cunningham, highlighting humorous, scripture-based encouragement to revere marriage. Greg and Erin give a “Share and Compare” date-night exercise, an a Q&A, from a husband whose wife feels “touched out” after caring for five young kids. Share this show link with friends!
We're continuing our conversation on selfless sex with Pastor Doug Hanna, who shares his encouragement to pursue sexual satisfaction. He goes into how self-forgetful sex is a lifestyle, an attitude, its patient, and it seeks pleasure. Greg and Erin also have an exercise with foods around the world and date nights. We also answer a listener question about a spouse's lies and affairs.
On this episode, we're talking about Christian married sex with Pastor Doug Hannah, author of Sex and Self Forgetfulness. Does your sex life reflect covenant love through self-forgetfulness rather than selfishness transactional “getting what I’m owed"? We'll talk about serving your spouse, sinning against conscience, and even losing one’s voice. Boundaries matter, and sex is designed by God to be mutually pleasura...
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