The Naked Marriage with Dave & Ashley Willis

Carl and Laura Lentz open up about rebuilding their marriage after infidelity, betrayal, and the very public fallout that followed. They join Dave and Ashley to share what healing has required of each of them, why rebuilding trust takes evidence, and how they stopped trying to recover their old marriage and began building a new one. Listener Question: My husband and I have been married almost 20 years. I always believed we were each other's firsts, but he recently told me he had sexual relationships back in high school and college that he'd never disclosed before. It happened 25+ years ago to him, but it feels brand new to me. How do I process this loss and distrust while extending grace — without constantly bringing it back up? Order their new book, Overcoming Infidelity: https://a.co/d/0gHxDUyU Lights On with Carl Lentz Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lights-on-with-carl-lentz/id1747789103 Explore Free Marriage Courses: https://xomarriage.com/courses __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this behind-the-scenes bonus episode, Dave and Ashley introduce Karina “Nina” Lopez – part of the XO Marriage team for seven years, where she produces audiobooks, works with distributors, and holds down the publishing fort. Best friends long before they dated, Karina and her husband Mark spent years long distance before marrying, and she shares the wisdom that’s shaped their seven years together: believing the best in your spouse, and staying best friends instead of drifting into roommates. A warm, encouraging peek at the team behind the podcast.Explore XO Marriage’s Marriage Intensive certification: https://xomarriage.com/mictExplore XO Marriage’s free digital courses: https://xomarriage.com/courses __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes a wife feels unseen and alone without understanding why – and the missing piece is undiagnosed Asperger’s or neurodivergence in her spouse. In this Marriage Minute, Patrick and Theresa share how conflict gets misread as criticism, and why fewer words and one topic at a time can change everything. Tune in Monday for the full conversation. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of adventure, ministry, and moving around the world together, Joel and Emily Malm learned that even good things can become too heavy to carry. They join Dave and Ashley to talk about recognizing when your spouse is overwhelmed, making space for conversations, and learning what to take out of the "backpack" before resentment builds. Listener Question: I've thought about starting a marriage-focused blog, but I'm nervous about how much of our real struggles to share versus keep private. How do you decide what parts of your marriage struggles are okay to share publicly versus keep private? Devotionals on anger, anxiety, and fear by Joel: https://www.bible.com/organizations/7568e48c-3e6d-4264-bc22-8a8f9e5b8147 Keep It Light by Joel Malm: https://a.co/d/06DGlnsx Connect with Joel: https://joelmalm.com/ Explore Free Marriage Courses: https://xomarriage.com/courses __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the world could tell you were a follower of Jesus – not by what you post, but by how you live? Pastor Nirup Alphonse, lead pastor of LIFEGATE Church in Denver, joins Dave and Ashley to talk about his brand-new book Defiant Lights and why ordinary Christians are called to live noticeably different from the culture around them. He unpacks the seven countercultural postures believers can embody, why our marriages are meant to reflect God rather than revolve around us, the power of asking "how do you experience me?", and what he hopes his own kids take away from his life. It's a challenging, hope-filled conversation about shining like stars in a dark world. Listener question: Is it wise to send your spouse nude photos when you're apart? My husband is recovering from a porn addiction and says it helps him when we're apart. Porn and masturbation have been a chronic issue for him. I'm not comfortable sharing photos, but I'm wondering if it's helpful or harmful to his recovery. Get Nirup's new book Defiant Lights: https://a.co/d/0b3QUQbVLearn more about LIFEGATE Church Denver: https://lifegatedenver.com/Pure Desire (porn recovery resources): https://puredesire.orgExplore XO Marriage's free digital courses: https://xomarriage.com Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When your spouse shares a problem, simply asking "do you just want me to listen, or do you want solutions?" can transform how connected you both feel. This one small question helps you meet your partner's real need instead of accidentally making them feel dismissed. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Childhood trauma can silently shut down your ability to emotionally connect with your spouse, but restoration begins the moment you choose honesty over self-protection. You can't be healed from something you're not willing to be vulnerable about – and your marriage is worth that first brave step. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Rosalind look back on more than 30 years of marriage, from getting married with little preparation to facing conversations that challenges how well they really knew one another. In this episode with Dave and Ashley, they open up about the hidden struggles, conflict, communication, and the changes in intimacy that come with different seasons of marriage. Listener Question: My spouse and I are in our early 50’s, been married a good long while. My spouse and I haven’t had sex in years: no touching, no kissing in years. It makes me feel so lonely and not wanted. All other areas of marriage are pretty good. I’ve considered having an affair to have my needs met, but I haven’t gone through with it because I know it’s wrong. I love my spouse but it has ruined my self esteem and I think I resent them. What can I do to help this or open up safe conversations to find a solution? Jason and Rosalind's Podcast: https://jasonandros.com/love-letters-with-jason-and-ros-podcast/ Marriage Academyhttps://www.daveandashley.com/the-marriage-coaching-academy __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices