Focus on the Family Strengthening Marriage Podcast

What helps you and your spouse connect emotionally? Jim Daly speaks to Tara Lalonde and Dr. Bob Paul about a concept they refer to as Heart Talk, and how you can practically do it. Plus, Erin provides hope to couples who are struggling to communicate at the heart level.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Empowered to Love for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Loving the Spouse God Gave You    Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment    Contact our Counseling Team   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

It's common for you and your spouse to have different styles for trying to resolve conflict. Jim Daly joins Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde, who both open up about times they worked through conflict with their spouses. Then, John Fuller asks Erin and Dr. Greg Smalley how you can make things right with your mate after a bad argument.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Empowered to Love for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Loving the Spouse God Gave You    Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment    Contact our Counseling Team   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

It's easy to believe the lie that things won't get better. But, we serve a God who's in the business of redemption. Jim Turner sits down with Jim Daly to explain how God has healed his story, even after his first marriage failed. Also, Greg Smalley offers encouragement to couples who don't feel like persevering through a rough season.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Dealing with Emotional Disconnection in Marriage    Contact our Counseling Team    Humility In Marital Conflict Makes A Difference   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

When was the last time you and your spouse went for a walk together? Erin Smalley discusses how the simple activity of going for a walk can help you and your spouse connect. Then, Jim Daly interviews Jim Turner on something called a Heart Walk   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Dealing with Emotional Disconnection in Marriage    Contact our Counseling Team    Developing Emotional Intimacy   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Do your words encourage or tear down your spouse? Jim Daly speaks to Jay and Laura Laffoon on how they've learned to be more encouraging to each other. Then, Erin Smalley gives some pointers for the person who recognizes they need to be a better encourager to their mate.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Celebrate Your Marriage for your donation of any amount!   Focus on Marriage Assessment   Practical Ways to Celebrate Your Marriage    Hope Restored    Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Saying "yes," to too many things is really bad for your marriage. Greg opens up about how he's learning to try and pull back from too many commitments. Also, Jay and Laura Laffoon join Jim Daly to share why prioritizing your spouse and kids matters more than career accomplishments.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Celebrate Your Marriage for your donation of any amount!   Focus on Marriage Assessment   Practical Ways to Celebrate Your Marriage    Hope Restored    Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Jesus tells us in the New Testament that looking lustfully at someone is equivalent to committing adultery in your heart. Greg Smalley explains why watching pornography will do serious damage to your marriage. Plus, Jim Daly and Jerry Jenkins discuss why porn also causes feelings of shame.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book "Hedges" for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   How to Guard Your Marriage From Temptation    Contact our Counseling Team    The Hedges Challenge   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

When you got married, it was easy to believe sexual temptation might disappear. John and Erin explain why temptation still needs to be dealt with even after you get married. Then, Jim Daly and author Jerry Jenkins share why God calls us to flee from sexual temptation, not just fight it.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book "Hedges" for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   How to Guard Your Marriage From Temptation    Contact our Counseling Team    The Hedges Challenge   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

How do you stay curious about your spouse, even if you've been married for a long time? Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde speak to Jim Daly about why there's always something new to learn about your mate. Also, John talks with Erin Smalley about how a couple can regain curiosity, even if you've lost that romantic spark.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book "Loving the Spouse God Gave You" for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Empowered to Love: Discovering Your God-Given Power to Create a Marriage You Both Love     Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment    Contact our Counseling Team   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

If you're focused too much on your spouse's issues, that might be a sign of codependency. Jim Daly talks with Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde, on how you need to deal with your own problems first before trying to fix your spouse. Also, John and the Smalley's bring up how to discern if you're not focusing on your own maturity enough.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book "Loving the Spouse God Gave You" for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Empowered to Love: Discovering Your God-Given Power to Create a Marriage You Both Love     Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment    Contact our Counseling Team   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

To not try to understand your wife's emotions can do great damage in your marriage. John asks Erin Smalley about how it makes a wife feel if her husband dismisses her emotions. Then, Jim Turner and Jim Daly explain why loving your wife is more than just doing nice things for her. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book "The Disconnected Man" for your donation of any amount! Hope Restored Dealing With Emotional Disconnection in Marriage  Contact our Counseling Team  Humility in Marital Conflict Makes a Difference Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

What do you do if your husband is not connecting with you emotionally? Jim Daly interviews Jim Turner about how he struggled with being emotionally distant in his first marriage. Also, Greg Smalley shares how he's learned to be more open to sharing his feelings with Erin. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book "The Disconnected Man" for your donation of any amount! Hope Restored Dealing With Emotional Disconnection in Marriage  Contact our Counseling Team  Humility in Marital Conflict Makes a Difference Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

You want fun dates with your spouse, but what if you simply don't have much time on your plate? Jay and Laura Laffoon speak with Jim Daly about how you can still make date nights a priority, even if you have a demanding schedule. Then, John asks Greg about how incremental changes in your relationship can have a major impact on having more time with your mate. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Celebrate Your Marriage: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy Couples for your donation of any amount! Focus on Marriage Assessment Practical Ways to Celebrate Your Marriage  Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage  Make Date Night with Your Spouse a Weekly Habit Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Date nights should be a part of every couple's schedule no matter how long you've been married. Jay and Laura Laffoon, who've been together for four decades, speak with Jim Daly about why their marriage is better because of date nights. Plus, Dr. Greg Smalley talks about some of the best dates he and Erin have been on. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book Celebrate Your Marriage: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy Couples for your donation of any amount! Focus on Marriage Assessment Practical Ways to Celebrate Your Marriage  Conversation Starters for Date Nights  How Important is Sex in a Marriage Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

The statistics on how many Christian men are viewing porn regularly are very sad. Jim Daly talks with Sherri Mueller and Erin Smalley on how sexual sin is having negative consequences on young people. Also, John and the Smalley's offer hope to people who are feeling shame over past sexual sin.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Pursuing Intimacy with a Reluctant Husband    Contact our Counseling Team    How Important is Sex in a Marriage   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul encourages couples to not go too long without physical intimacy. Jim Daly talks to Erin Smalley and Sherri Mueller on why it matters for a couple to not neglect sex in marriage. Then, Dr. Greg Smalley encourages families to talk about sex in healthy ways.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Pursuing Intimacy with a Reluctant Husband    Contact our Counseling Team    How Important is Sex in a Marriage   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

When you're upset, one of the worst things you can do is fixate too much on blaming your spouse. Dr. Greg Smalley shares a story about a time he snapped at Erin, and how he learned from it. Plus, Jim Daly joins Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde on why it's important to not give your spouse too much power over how you feel.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Empowered to Love: Discovering Your God-Given Power to Create a Marriage You Both Love    Contact our Counseling Team    Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

How do you respond well when one of your buttons gets pushed in marriage? Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde talk with Jim Daly about examining the reasons why your buttons get pushed. Also, John Fuller asks Erin Smalley about how couples can practice effective types of self-care.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book Loving the Spouse God Gave You for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Empowered to Love: Discovering Your God-Given Power to Create a Marriage You Both Love    Contact our Counseling Team    Take the Reactive Cycle Assessment   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Having supportive friends is one of the best ways to keep your marriage strong. Jim Turner tells Jim Daly a story about a time a friend called him out on something. Plus, Erin Smalley shares what women need from friends who love them.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Dealing with Emotional Disconnection in Marriage    Contact our Counseling Team    Humility In Marital Conflict Makes A Difference   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Allowing your spouse to share their feelings is one of the best ways to make your marriage safe. Jim Turner and Jim Daly talk about how men tend to compartmentalize their emotions. Also, John and the Smalley's will give some ideas on how to make sure you and your spouse are connecting frequently.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book The Disconnected Man for your donation of any amount!   Hope Restored   Dealing with Emotional Disconnection in Marriage    Contact our Counseling Team    Humility In Marital Conflict Makes A Difference   Support This Show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Marriage Podcast, please give us your feedback.