Stronger Marriage Connection

Avsnitt

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  Happy Hacks: 101 Practical Ways To Improve Happiness | Dave Schramm | 187 29.06.2026 50min

  We flip the mic and let Liz and Rex interview Dave about his new book, Happy Hacks, and the science-backed habits that make joy more durable in real life. We dig into why happiness matters for marriages and families, how small choices build momentum, and why compassion and kindness are the glue of a stronger marriage connection. • why happiness is not toxic positivity and still involves choice through perspective • why Dave wrote a “hacks” book and how short, simple practices bea...
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  The Three Phases To Rebuild Trust After Infidelity | Bill Bumberry | 186 22.06.2026 1h 2min

  Discovering infidelity can be one of the most painful experiences a couple faces. In this episode, Dr. Bill Bumberry shares practical guidance and hope for couples navigating betrayal trauma and rebuilding trust. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the Gottman Method, Bill explains the three key phases of healing after infidelity—atonement, attunement, and attachment—and offers actionable strategies for restoring safety, connection, and commitment. Whether you're recovering from bet...
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  Why Conflict Is A Cry For Safety And How To Respond | Kirsten Davidson | 185 15.06.2026 38min

  We sit down with psychotherapist Kirsten Davidson to unpack why couples drift into disconnection and how Internal Family Systems therapy can help us lead ourselves with more clarity, compassion, and courage. We challenge the stories we tell ourselves in conflict, practice speaking from “parts” instead of blame, and lay out simple shifts that rebuild real connection. • assumptions driving communication breakdowns and unnecessary hurt • avoiding hard talks out of fear of the truth ...
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  Why Trying To Be Perfect Can Ruin Your Relationship | Andrea Dindinger | 184 08.06.2026 48min

  We sit down with marriage and family therapist Andrea Dindinger to name the repeat fight loops that hijack connection and to practice simple ways to interrupt them before they turn mean. We walk away with concrete tools for calmer conflict, deeper intimacy, and more intentional partnership that ripples into the next generation. • naming the “loop” as the problem, not each other • spotting triggers and the deeper needs underneath them • using “bookmark” to pause conflict and...
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  Why Embracing Vulnerability Is Key To Rebuilding Trust | Josh Otani | 183 01.06.2026 55min

  We sit down with therapist Josh O’Tani to talk about pornography use as a couples issue and why secrecy can wound a relationship as deeply as infidelity. We map the shame and anger cycle that keeps partners stuck, then share practical ways to rebuild trust through curiosity, empathy, and consistent repair. • Reframing pornography use as relational and systemic, not just individual behavior • Pornography as a coping strategy for difficult emotions and how avoidance spills into mar...
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  The Secret of Erotic Blueprints To Revive Your Marriage | Keeley Rankin | #182 25.05.2026 54min

  Sexual intimacy changes over the arc of a long-term relationship, and treating every lull like a crisis often adds pressure that makes things worse. We talk with sex and relationship coach Keeley Rankin about how to rebuild closeness through curiosity, kinder communication, and a better understanding of what each partner actually desires. • Defining what “sexless marriage” can mean and why the couple’s definition matters most • Moving beyond frequency to sexual satisfaction and q...
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  A Strong Relationship Can Outlive Death | C. Ryan Dunn | #181 18.05.2026 1h 18min

  We talk honestly about grief, loss, and why love can keep shaping us even after someone is gone. We share research and real stories that reframe mourning as both painful and meaningful, then land on practical ways to build a relationship that strengthens you now and later. • why grief is complex across mind and body • what predicts higher grief levels in young widowhood • loss-oriented versus restoration-oriented coping • how relationship length and intimacy relate to ...
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  Rebuilding Intimacy In Marriage | Nick and Amy McKinlay | #180 11.05.2026 47min

  We talk with Nick and Amy about how their marriage nearly ended, and how rebuilding emotional safety brought back real connection and passionate sexual intimacy. They share the simple habits and tools that helped them stop drifting, communicate about hard topics, and create the Ultimate Intimacy app to help other couples do the same. • their turning point after financial stress and burnout • why sex can stay frequent yet still feel disconnected • emotional safety as listeni...
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  Protecting Your Marriage During The Transition To Parenthood | Sean Brotherson | #179 04.05.2026 1h 5min

  We welcome Dr. Sean Brotherson to talk about the joys and pressures of becoming parents and how that transition can strain or strengthen a marriage. We share concrete ways to stay connected through fatigue, changing roles, and shifting intimacy while building the stability kids need most. • why the transition to parenthood feels so intense even with preparation • setting realistic expectations through education, planning, and honest conversations • protecting couple time wit...
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  How Emotional Closeness Builds Better Sex In Marriage | Chelom Leavitt | #178 27.04.2026 39min

  We sit down with Dr. Chelom Leavitt to unpack why emotional intimacy is the strongest predictor of sexual wellbeing and what “feeling seen” actually looks like in a real marriage. We share science, stories, and simple daily practices that help us build trust, repair disconnection, and create a safer path to desire over time. • emotional intimacy as being known and accepted, including fears and weaknesses • why emotional connection shapes sexual satisfaction and long-term desire&n...
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  How Our Counterfeit Emotions Undermine Connection and Intimacy | Curtis Morley | #177 20.04.2026 58min

  We sit down with Curtis Morley to learn how “counterfeit emotions” quietly disconnect couples and how authentic emotions build peace, clarity, and real intimacy. We dig into practical shifts like choosing curiosity over anger, honoring pain without turning it into misery, and removing shame so connection can grow. • Curtis’s origin story after divorce and the loss of his friend Jerry • Four criteria for spotting counterfeit emotions: connection, direction, motivation, valuation&n...
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  Reviving Intimacy in A Sexless Marriage: A Path Back To Connection | Ralph Brewer | #176 13.04.2026 57min

  We sit down with Ralph Brewer to unpack what really sits underneath dead bedrooms, infidelity, and the quiet insecurity that many men carry into marriage. We talk straight about anxious attachment, “Mr Nice Guy” patterns, and how secure, connected couples protect intimacy by building a full life instead of clinging tighter. • Ralph’s turning point after discovering an affair and becoming a single father • why sex and intimacy become the biggest pain point for many men • anxious attachment pa...
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  How To Help the Next Generation Break the Dating Recession | Alan Hawkins | #175 06.04.2026 43min

  In this episode of the Stronger Marriage Connection podcast, Dr. Dave welcomes Dr. Alan Hawkins to explore the critical issues surrounding the current state of dating, its impact on marriage formation, and practical solutions to strengthen young adults' dating skills. Understanding these dynamics is essential for fostering healthier relationships and addressing the broader societal trends influencing marriage today. Key Topics: The concept of the "dating recession" and its scope, including da...
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  Marriage 2.0: How To Rebuild A Marriage in Crisis | Naomi Light | #174 30.03.2026 44min

  We welcome UK marriage therapist Naomi Light, who shares how her relationship nearly ended and how couples therapy helped her and her husband rebuild a stronger “marriage 2.0.” We dig into the science and skills behind her Rewiring Love method so you can shift patterns, lower conflict, and create real safety with your partner. • Naomi’s story of slow-building toxic conflict and the turning point that brought them into couples therapy • The first therapy question that changed everything...
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  Five Research-Based Secrets To More Passionate Sex | Emily Jamea | #173 23.03.2026 41min

  We explore how desire works over time and why many couples crave sex that feels effortless, absorbing, and deeply connected. Dr. Emily Jamea shares research on flow state in sexual intimacy and the five qualities that help couples sustain passion in busy real life. • Dr. Emily Jamea’s journey into sex and relationship therapy • How flow state connects to sexual satisfaction • The five desire “secrets” from Anatomy Of Desire: sensuality, curiosity, adaptability, vulnerabilit...
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  Why Dating is in Decline & How to Fix It | Brian Willoughby | #172 16.03.2026 52min

  We explore why dating feels harder, how on-demand culture reshapes expectations, and what AI companions and pornography are doing to our ideas of love. Dr. Brian Willoughby shares research, skills, and hopeful strategies for parents, teens, and singles who want real connection. • falling dating rates and fading norms among teens and young adults • benefits and costs of dating apps, including rejection mindset • updated divorce data and how agency and skills shift risk • on-demand expectation...
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  Daily Marriage Habits That Can Improve Your Relationship | Meygan & Casey Caston | #171 09.03.2026 54min

  We explore a marriage operating system built on small, specific habits that strengthen trust, make time for connection, and turn differences into strengths. Casey and Meygan share tools like Love Lists, the KNOWN position, the 60‑Second Blessing, weekly meetings, and a repair-first apology. • origin of Marriage365 and why access matters • building a marriage operating system with habits • tools versus therapy and affordability • unsolicited apology framework for real repair • Love Lists and ...
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  Pageants, Parenting, And The Power Of Strong Family Connections | Kilie Tomadakis | #170 02.03.2026 40min

  We share Kilie Tomadakis’s journey from early instability to adoption, entrepreneurship, and advocacy, and why strong families are the foundation for healthy communities. We explore her pageant platform, modern dating, communication skills, and practical steps to reduce distraction and deepen connection. • early childhood instability, adoption, and faith shaping values • lessons from farm work on grit and follow-through • meeting her husband young and building a marriage • choosing cosmetolo...
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  Understanding Neurodivergent Needs To Deepen Connection | Matt Zakreski | #169 23.02.2026 45min

  We explore how understanding neurodiversity can strengthen love, reduce conflict, and turn differences into design features rather than deficits. Dr. Matthew Zakresky shares science, stories, and practical tools to navigate communication, sensory needs, and executive function in marriage. • one in five partners as neurodivergent and why it matters • brain differences in form and function backed by scans • direct versus indirect communication and meta-communication • sensory needs at events, ...
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  How Attachment Shapes Desire, Arousal, And Closeness In Marriage | Marc Cameron | #168 16.02.2026 53min

  We trace how childhood attachment styles shape sexual desire, arousal, and closeness in marriage, and why couples get stuck in the sex standoff. Mark Cameron shares practical steps to earn secure attachment and turn emotional safety into better intimacy. • Key gender differences in arousal and desire • The sex standoff and how it spirals • Quick primer on attachment theory and styles • Avoider patterns and nonrelational sex • Pleaser appeasing, boundaries, and anxiety • Vacillator intensity,...