Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

Dr. Erin and Dr. Greg Smalley continue their discussion with Debra Fileta about emotional awareness, warning against “spiritual bypassing” that skips hard feelings with spiritual phrases. We also talk about the impact of trauma as either muting emotions or creating hypervigilance and “false alarms.” Healing your emotions can happen. Listen to this conversation and honestly ask "Where am I in all of this?" Reach out to our counseling department if you need more help. Get the Book: Are You Really OK?Reactive Cycle AssessmentArticle on Healing SeparationEnjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple.Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster.Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A Counselor Marriage Assessment ToolMarriage Health In America StudyCheck Out Hope Restored

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley interview Pastor Kevin A. Thompson about his book The Creation of Us. Kevin emphasizes that marriage is its own entity where both spouses maintain individuality while building shared rhythms, mission, and unity. We talk about good dependence versus independence or enmeshment, how marriage reveals and can help heal attachment wounds, and “marital attention deficit.” We'll outline the phases of marriage and we answer a listener question about weaponizing sex.The Creation of Us: How To Build A Great Marriage Without Losing YourselfMarriage Assessment ToolReactive Cycle ToolLove Styles: Why You Love The Way You Do (And How to Change It)Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A CounselorMarriage Health In America StudyCheck Out Hope Restored.

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss the Manosphere and the “Christian Manosphere." This is a program that you want to share with all the men in your life. Greg shares research from months of reading forums and explains the first three of six lies that many men are believing. We also go into what submission means for women. Part two is coming up next week, and we can't wait to hear your thoughts after listening to these programs.Bearded Gospel Men: The Epic Quest for Manliness & GodlinessCheck out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A Counselor

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are joined by Bob Lepine to discuss how guilt, shame, and past wounds affect marriage. If unresolved hurts are triggering conflict in your relationship, listen to this episode and then share it with your spouse. We also talk about building a healthy sexual relationship and adjusting unrealistic expectations shaped by culture. You'll learn how self-regulate when you go into fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses, too. Plus, we answer a listener question about how to move forward when someone's medical treatment has changed them.Building A Stronger Marriage: The Path To OnenessHope RestoredConflict Style QuizEnjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster.Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A Counselor

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 someone who has experienced infidelity, share this link with them!Anatomy of An AffairJoin Our Facebook Group!Hope RestoredEnjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A Counselor

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 must be shared to maintain security, especially after betrayal, and how to respond without weaponizing.The Reactive Cycle AssessmentHope RestoredEnjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailSpeak With A Counselor

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 personality test, and they answer a listener's question about living with a depressed spouse.Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentile Biblical ResponsesUnTriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle With AngerReactive Cycle ToolHope RestoredAsk Us Your Question via Voicemail or EmailTake The Animal Personality TestHow To Give Your Spouse Constructive Feedback

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 overwhelm, grief, and criticism. This is a program for EVERY marriage.   The Relationship Rocket Formula   Hope Restored   Check Out The Reactive Cycle Assessment   Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!   Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email   Contact the show!   Send Us A Review!   Support the show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback. 

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 suggest a couples exercise about reading tastes. Then they answer a listener who is married to a non-believing, manipulative husband.   Starting Strong: Discovering the Good That Money Can Do In Marriage   Join Our Private Facebook Group - Strengthening Marriages   Learn About Healing Separation   Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email   Contact the show!   Send Us A Review!   Support the show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

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 safeguards around opposite-sex friendships. Greg and Erin also encourage reminiscing and flirting. In a listener question, they advise a husband navigating his wife’s perimenopause to stay curious and educate himself.   Friend-Wise: Practical Ideas for Richer Relationships   Marriage Assessment   Understanding Menopause   Hope Restored   Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email   Contact the show!   Send Us A Review!   Support the show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

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 behaviors without labeling, using “I feel” statements. It's like a free counseling session when you listen to Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage! The Vertical Marriage Here's a Blank Bingo Card Learn About The Reactive & Care Cycles Check Out The Marriage Assessment Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email Contact the show! Send Us A Review! Support the show! If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

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. Hello, Beauty Full Listen to the Legacy of Love podcast series celebrating Mother's Day Dealing With Inlaws Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email Contact the show! Send Us A Review! Support the show! If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.  

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!   Use the Marriage Assessment Tool! It's free!   Check Out the Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool!   Marriage Champions   Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email   Contact the show!   Send Us A Review!   Support the show!   If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.