One Degree Marriage

Sex is meant to be a gift, but what happens when it feels confusing, painful, or even like a burden? In this honest conversation, we open up about the first few years of our marriage when sex was really difficult. We share what we learned through trial, tears, and prayer: how to handle mismatched drives, pain, pressure, and the impact of purity culture. You'll hear five practical steps we wish we'd known sooner, and why patient, sacrificial love (and some gentle honesty) changes everything. 🎧 Plus, paid Substack subscribers get this week's bonus: The Honest Intimacy Conversation Guide — a step-by-step tool to start gentle, Christ-centered conversations about sex. RESOURCES MENTIONED: 📚 Books:  • The Mingling of Souls — Matt Chandler  • The Meaning of Marriage — Tim & Kathy Keller (referenced for context)  • Intended for Pleasure — Ed & Gaye Wheat (older book; contains some outdated views)  • A Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex — Sheila Wray Gregoire (the "good girl's" title they were recalling) Other: @christiansexeducator — education on biblical, healthy sexuality Mentionables Lingerie— model-free, beautiful lingerie (10% off with ONEDEGREE) Intimately Us app— clean, marriage-focused intimacy app for couples 👉 Download the free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template  👉 Become a paid Substack subscriber for the bonus guide 

What do you do when your spouse isn't leading, isn't helping with the kids, and is far from Christ? In this conversation, we share six anchors: pray daily for your spouse, pursue personal holiness, "win without a word" through conduct, lead your children spiritually, seek wise care and counsel, and know your biblical freedom without trivializing covenant. Scripture referenced: Ezekiel 36:26; James 1:5 John 15:1–5; Galatians 5:22–23 1 Peter 3:1–2 2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 16:1–3 1 Corinthians 7 (esp. v.15) Links/Resources: ACTS prayer model guide (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) 7-Day Spouse Prayer Challenge (this week's bonus resource for paid Substack Subscribers) Related episode: "When You Feel Like You're the Only One Trying"  

Ever feel like you're swimming upstream in your marriage? You're trying to grow spiritually and build healthy rhythms while your spouse just… isn't there? You're not alone. In this episode, we're breaking down how to stay faithful, hopeful, and steadfast when it feels one-sided. Bonus Resource: Subscribers on Substack get access to our new 7-Day Pray-for-Your-Spouse Challenge — a short daily guide to help you pray intentionally and stay hopeful in this season. 👉 SUBSCRIBE AND GET ACCESS TO ALL PODCAST BONUS RESOURCES  

When it comes to spiritual intimacy, many couples want it, but few know where to start. Between busy schedules, young kids, and never-ending to-do lists, it's easy to relegate your faith as individuals instead of something shared. In this episode, we unpack how to actually grow in spiritual intimacy with your spouse without making it overwhelming or forced. We share three practical ways to build that connection—starting with short, simple prayer, adding a daily Scripture rhythm, and ending with a weekly family devotional that brings it all together. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to invite God into your everyday marriage rhythms, this episode is for you. 🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another couple who wants to grow closer to God together.

Many couples know the Bible mentions marriage, but few stop to consider what those passages actually mean for everyday life. In this episode, we unpack five core biblical truths, from reflecting Christ and the church to living on mission together, and explain how they can reshape your relationship. Grab a notebook and join us on the comfy, cozy, virtual couch for a practical, Christ‑centered conversation. 👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template 👉 Step-by-Step Writing Your Marriage Mission Statement  👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily encouragement + practical tips: @onedegreemarriage 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more couples find this show!

Life can get crowded with work, kids, church and errands, and sometimes the fun in your marriage gets squeezed out. In this episode, we share why date nights and vacations aren't the only solution and offer three practical steps to cultivate fun right where you are. Join us as we chat candidly about seasons of busyness, weekly marriage meetings and simple habits that restore light‑heartedness. 👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily encouragement + practical tips: @onedegreemarriage 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more couples find this show!

Want to prepare for marriage in a way that sets you up for connection, honesty, and a Christ-centered foundation? In this episode, we share three powerful steps every engaged or seriously dating couple should take before saying "I do": pursuing the Lord individually and together, getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations, and pursuing premarital counseling with wise, trusted mentors. Whether you're a few months from the altar or prayerfully discerning the future, these habits will help you step into marriage ready for unity, intimacy, and mission. 👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily encouragement + practical tips: @onedegreemarriage 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more couples find this show!

Feel like you're just co-managing calendars and carpool schedules? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into what it means to live "on mission" as a married couple. We'll chat about how cultural norms can distract us from God's design for marriage.  We chat: Why a shared mission statement matters How praying together shifts your heart Why weekly marriage meetings are so transformative Looking at examples like Priscilla and Aquila and passages from Genesis and Ephesians, we're reminded that marriage is a picture of Christ and His Church... so why not aim for deeper purpose and eternal impact? If you're ready to move from cohabiting roommates to mission-minded partners, this episode is for you. Get our bonus resource, a worksheet guiding you step-by-step through writing your family's mission statement (and our library of bonus resources), by becoming a paid Substack subscriber for $5/month!  Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! 👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily encouragement + practical tips: @onedegreemarriage 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more couples find this show!

Want a thriving marriage that feels more connected, intentional, and Christ-centered? In this episode, we share five simple (but powerful!) ways to invest in your marriage this week—from praying together and having deeper conversations to starting a weekly marriage meeting that transforms your relationship. Whether you've been married one year or ten, these habits will help you move from "ships in the night" to a marriage rooted in faith, intimacy, and joy. 👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template 👉 Follow us on Instagram for daily encouragement + practical tips: @onedegreemarriage 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more couples find this show!

In this episode of the One Degree Podcast, we unpack how gratitude can transform your marriage from drifting into discontentment back into connection and joy. If you've found yourself slipping into nagging, comparison, or simply overlooking your spouse, this conversation is for you. We share: Why ungratefulness breeds discontentment in marriage How gratitude shifts your mindset and fosters intimacy Practical steps to show daily appreciation What to do when your spouse feels distant or difficult Whether you've been married one year or 30, this episode will help you cultivate gratitude as a Christ-centered discipline—replacing criticism with contentment, and rekindling love that glorifies God.   👉 Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template to start practicing gratitude today.   ⏱️ Timestamps   2:30 – Micro discontentments: avoidance, nagging, and comparison 11:00 – Practical step #1: Start with your thought life 13:40 – Practical step #2: Voice appreciation regularly 17:30 – Practical step #3: Start a gratitude journal 18:30 – When gratitude feels impossible in a difficult season 28:00 – Gratitude doesn't replace conflict resolution—don't ignore issues 29:00 – Your One Degree Shift

Making friends as an adult is tough—and when you're married, it can feel nearly impossible. Between busy schedules, kids' bedtimes, and the challenge of finding couples where everyone clicks, it's easy to feel lonely or disconnected. In this episode, we share real talk about why friendships matter for your marriage, the unique challenges of couple friendships, and three practical keys to building deep, lasting community: initiate, be curious, and be vulnerable. We'll also talk about the difference between hosting vs. hospitality, how to get over the fear of rejection, and why prayer is the best place to start when seeking friendships. ✨ Resources + Mentions Weekly Marriage Meeting Template (Free Download) Marriage on Mission 7-Day Challenge Whether you're newly married or deep in the trenches of family life, this conversation will encourage you to pursue friendships that strengthen your marriage and your faith.

How should Christian couples handle money? From budgeting basics to the biblical call to stewardship, this episode explores how finances can either create conflict or deepen unity in marriage. We discuss transparency, generosity, and aligning your budget with your family's mission—plus practical tools for starting today. Whether you're overwhelmed by debt or saving comfortably, you'll walk away with a biblical framework for money in marriage. 👉 Ready to put this into practice? Download our free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template and check out the 7-Day Marriage on Mission Challenge to take the first step toward financial unity and spiritual growth in your marriage.

You've probably heard them all—"Happy wife, happy life," "Marriage should be 50/50," "Don't go to bed angry." But are these catchy phrases actually helping your marriage… or quietly sabotaging it? In this episode, we're unpacking five of the most common marriage clichés and holding them up to the light of Scripture. Some of them sound sweet. Some of them sound wise. But all of them fall short of God's design for a thriving, Christ-centered marriage. Whether you're newly married or a few years in, this episode will help you trade in shallow slogans for deeper, gospel-rooted truth.   00:00 Intro 08:13 Exploring Marriage Clichés 11:22 Cliché 1: Happy Wife, Happy Life 15:02 Cliché 2: Marriage Should Be 50/50 20:20 Cliché 3: Love Means Never Having to Say Sorry 23:11 Cliché 4: My Spouse Completes Me 28:22 Cliché 5: Kids Come First 38:18 One Degree Shift   START THE 7-DAY MARRIAGE ON MISSION CHALLENGE

When public scandals break—like the one that sparked conversation at a recent Coldplay concert—how should Christians respond? In this episode, we talk about why our response to exposed sin should look different than the culture's. Not dismissive. Not self-righteous. But honest, humble, and reflective. We unpack why accountability matters, how easily we can grow desensitized to sin, and how these moments should turn our gaze inward before pointing fingers outward.   00:00 - Introduction: Welcome and overview of the episode. 02:15 - Viral Coldplay Concert Moment: Discussion on the viral kiss cam incident. 08:30 - Public Scandals and Personal Values: Exploring the impact on personal values. 15:45 - The Role of Accountability: Importance of accountability in relationships. 22:10 - Social Media's Influence: How social media affects our perception of morality. 30:00 - Christian Response to Scandals: Reflecting on a thoughtful and compassionate response. 38:20 - Closing Thoughts: Encouragement for reflection and personal growth. 🔗 Resources Marriage on Mission 7-Day Challenge ($10) — Includes daily prompts to walk you through crafting your mission statement, identifying your core values, and implementing them into your weekly rhythms. This one-week challenge will be a game-changer for your marriage! Become a patron by subscribing to our Substack — get access to bonus podcast episodes, posts, and lots of behind-the-scenes lifestyle content (think: homeschooling, fitness, home-keeping, and more)

If you and your spouse were asked, separately, what your family values most... would your answers match? And do your calendars, budgets, and habits reflect those values? In this episode, we walk you through our six core family values—how we came up with them, how they've practically shaped our decisions, and how you can develop and implement your own. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining old values, we'll show you why this "structured stuff" isn't stuffy... it's freeing. (00:00) Why family values matter more than you think (03:00) Three diagnostic questions to evaluate your current values (06:00) Why having structure in your marriage brings freedom (11:00) Our 6 family values and how we landed on them (25:50) Our weakest value vs. hardest value to live out (32:00) How our values shape our life today (especially in this busy season) (36:20) The practical way we revisit our values weekly (39:20) Your One Degree Shift + a shameless plug   🔗 Resources Marriage on Mission 7-Day Challenge ($10) — Includes daily prompts to walk you through crafting your mission statement, identifying your core values, and implementing them into your weekly rhythms. This one-week challenge will be a game-changer for your marriage!

Conflict in marriage isn't just inevitable—it can actually be good… if you know how to handle it. In this episode, we (Nathaniel and Xan) share five unhelpful ways couples commonly navigate conflict (think: avoidance, blame-shifting, and yelling matches) and contrast them with the six simple steps we use when tension arises in our own marriage. We talk about why a conflict resolution plan might sound stiff—but actually leads to deeper connection, better communication, and much less chaos.  Whether you're newly married or ten years in, this episode is packed with practical tools to help you stop fighting at each other and start fighting for your marriage. One Degree Shift: Create a conflict plan that works for you and your spouse… or at least start the conversation.

What if the biggest shift in your marriage isn't something dramatic—but something simple? In this episode, we're sharing the one habit that changed everything for us: weekly marriage meetings. No, it's not glamorous. And yes, it felt a little awkward at first. But creating space each week to realign, communicate, and set shared goals helped us move from just coexisting to building something intentional together. We'll walk you through how it started, what our meetings look like now (with three kids in the mix), and how you can start your own rhythm—even if your spouse isn't totally bought in yet. Plus, we'll share the exact questions we ask each week and offer practical tips to get started. 👉 Ready to take it deeper? Grab our Marriage on Mission 7-Day Challenge—a step-by-step guide to help you reconnect, get on the same page, and start building a marriage with purpose that you're excited to come home to.

We asked the One Degree IG community for their best random marriage advice... and yall delivered! We loved reading them, so we decided to do it live with our live raw responses and processing of each.  Enjoying your spot on the comfy, virtual couch? Help more couples find it by leaving a quick review and hitting "subscribe"! It means the world to us and helps us keep bringing gospel-centered, real-life marriage convos straight to your ears.  FOLLOW US ON IG

In this episode we dive into the whole idea of date nights and whether they're really needed for a thriving marriage. Come chill on the comfy couch while we chat about the rhetoric that regular date nights are a must, and look at how real connection and closeness can be built into everyday life without fancy outings. 

In this quick (for us) episode, we're sharing four simple things you can do every day to invest in your marriage. From high-low-buffalo check-ins to six-second hugs, serving each other, and praying together, these small habits add up big time. Plus, a funny story about our five-year-old future lawyer. Let's get intentional—without overcomplicating it!