Dear Young Married Couple

This is an old episode that you guys loved, so we're bringing it back!

Adam and Karissa recorded this when they had just finished EntreLeadership Summit where they heard Patrick Lencioni speak. His book "5 Dysfunctions of a Team" is so powerful and SO APPLICABLE to marriage, so we figured we'd share our reflections on these dynamics with you!

You can grab his book here: https://amzn.to/3zAKBhY

Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: https...

🔥💍 Which pieces of “good marriage advice” are actually helpful, and which ones might quietly make your marriage worse?

We are back to rate the advice YOU submitted, from “the first year is the hardest” to “forgive and forget,” “marriage is 50/50,” and even the controversial question of whether a husband should be allowed to golf whenever he wants. 😅 Along the way, we'll unpack the nuance behind each one and share a better way to think about communication, sex, forgiveness, prioritizing your marriage, and loving your spouse wholeheartedly. Some advice gets an A, some gets an F, and a few sound wise until you...

😬 Not all marriage advice deserves an A. In this episode, Adam and Karissa put seven common pieces of marriage advice to the test - from “marriage is all about compromise” to “happy wife, happy life” - and give each one a grade. Some sound wise but need a little more nuance, some are surprisingly solid, and a few might actually be setting couples up for disaster.

Come find out which advice gets an A… and which ones newlyweds should stop being told. 👀

Resources:

prEquipped: The DYMC Premari...

Most of us have confidence all WRONG (especially in today's self-righteous and entitled culture.) Why do you think even highly successful people starve for validation? How secure are you in the possibility of failure? Let's explore the difference between chasing approval, trying to manufacture your own worth, and receiving an identity that doesn't have to be earned.

Resources:

Monthly Live Date Night at DYMC:

https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com/monthlylivedatenight

prEquipped: The DYMC Premarital Course

https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple...

We've all done it... We've labeled ourselves and our spouse as the "high/low drive" one. We assume one party can get it on at any given time and the other just generally isn't in the mood. The truth is, it's much more complex than that. In this episode, we're gonna share a simple tool that will take you minutes to complete, but give you so much insight into each others' desire for sex.

Resources:

The Integrity Project led by Adam King

https://www...

This is an episode we aired in 2022 and it really resonated with you all. It's a message that doesn't have an expiration date: How to Repair After an Argument

It's not always easy to know the steps to take to repair after a nuclear argument. Join Adam + Karissa as they share how you can repair + the steps to do so!

Join us for the next DYMC Monthly Live Date Night where we dig into some of these topics with you LIVE for 90 minutes this month! 

🛡️📱 When should "the" conversation start, and what happens if we wait too long? Do you know the danger of some of the seemingly "innocent" games your kids are playing online? Hear author and educator Kristen Jenson  unpack one of the most important parenting conversations of our time.

Whether your child is a toddler, tween, or somewhere in between, this episode will equip you with confidence, clarity, and actionable tools to help your kids navigate today’s digital landscape with wisdom and resilience.

Resources:

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures

https...

You can genuinely care about your spouse, say all the “right” things, and still leave them feeling completely alone.

In this episode, we explore why empathy can sometimes feel fake, how your spouse’s emotions stir up emotions in you, and the subtle difference between holding space and simply trying to make the moment end.

What looks like listening may actually be fixing, defending, or even overvalidating. So how do you stay present without becoming your spouse’s therapist, punching bag, or problem solver?

The answer may change the way you handle emotional conversa...

🏡 We’re moving and chasing a God-sized dream.

This isn’t a story about running away from California. It’s about moving toward the life, ministry, and vision we believe God has been leading us toward for years. We talk about the grief of leaving our home, church, family, and friends; the “breadcrumbs” that helped us recognize God’s direction; and why Nashville gives us a better opportunity to serve couples without sacrificing time with our own family.

We’re also sharing more about our dream of building the Married Couple Refuge—a beautiful retreat center created to p...

📖 TODAY'S THE DAY! Hard copies are available on Amazon! You can get it on your doorstep as early as tomorrow. After years of conversations, counseling, rewriting, and refining, we are pulling back the curtain on what creating Dear Young Married Couple taught them about strengthening our own marriage.

Whether you're building a dream together or simply trying to build a stronger relationship, this conversation will leave you with practical encouragement you can start applying today.

Resources:

📘 Dear Young Married Couple: Letters & Tools for the Fights, the Fun, the Sex...

🤖 Is AI a good substitute for marriage counseling? We say no (shocking, right?) 😆

ChatGPT is designed to reinforce assumptions, whether they're accurate or not, and deliver confident answers that aren't always wise. In this episode, we unpack why turning to AI for relationship advice can sometimes deepen misunderstandings instead of bringing healing.

That doesn't mean AI is all bad, though. Used wisely, it can actually be a helpful tool for personal growth. We explore where AI can add value, where it falls short, and how to tell the difference. If you've ever asked AI what to do ab...

📖 A dream years in the making is finally becoming reality! Dear Young Married Couple: Letters & Tools for the Fights, the Fun, the Sex, and the Soulwork is available for pre-order in the Kindle version. Hard copies drop 7/7!

Pre-order the ebook here and get the audiobook for FREE when it's available!

https://a.co/d/02yhAD8O

See where we're headed on our book tour! We'd love to meet you !🚗

https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com/marriage-toolbox-tour

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What does it really take to build a lasting ministry without sacrificing your marriage, family, or personal well-being along the way? JD and Lori Pearring pull back the curtain on the hidden challenges many leaders face from blind spots and burnout to finances, calling, and emotional health.

Resources:

LoriPearringLMFT@gmail.com

Dear Young Married Couple Book Tour:

https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com/marriage-toolbox-tour

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💔 Betrayal doesn’t just break trust. It shatters the entire sense of safety a marriage was built on. So what does real repair actually look like? Let's unpack the three actions that help rebuild what was lost after a breach of trust.

If you're tired of surface-level advice and wondering how trust is rebuilt in the real world, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for the long road back to connection, intimacy, and healing.

Resources :

🔥In a culture where pride is often celebrated as a virtue, what if it's actually the thing holding us back?

In this conversation with Pastor Josh Melancon, we unpack the hidden ways pride can shape our marriages, leadership, parenting, and spiritual growth without us even realizing it. From learning how to receive hard feedback to uncovering the wounds that drive our behavior, Pastor Josh shares hard-earned wisdom that is both deeply convicting and incredibly freeing. If you've ever struggled with defensiveness, disappointment, the need to be right, or the pressure to keep up appearances, this episode is an...

⛪️ Ministry can look fruitful on the outside while quietly draining the people you love most at home. Adam & Karissa had the privilege of sitting down with Kevin & Chassidy Allen to discuss how couples can stay connected when life feels nonstop. This episode is packed with wisdom for leaders, pastors, and couples trying to balance calling, family, and emotional health without losing themselves in the process. ❤️‍🩹

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🧠❤️ What if your desires aren’t the problem, but rather the roadmap? Listen to Adam, Karissa, and Jay Stringer unpack why so many marriages feel stuck between suppression and self-indulgence - from purity culture and porn struggles to emotional intimacy, self-sabotage, family dynamics, and the hidden stories shaping our marriages.

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns or why marriage exposes parts of you you’d rather avoid, this conversation is going to stay with you long after it ends. 🔥

Resources:

• Desi...

This is one of our most listened to podcasts of all time! The reason? EVERY COUPLE argues. Aaaaand, arguments can be great & productive if they are done correctly. Have your arguments been going nuclear? Join Adam + Karissa as they share a tool to rescue your toxic arguments, along with some simple, easy steps to apply it!

Stay in conversation with us on IG: @dearyoungmarriedcouple or on our website: https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 This post BLEW UP! A couple weeks ago, we made a post on IG about prioritizing your spouse over every other relationship.... including your kids. Aaaaand it got some pushback. 

In this episode, we unpack the tension around prioritizing your spouse and bring clarity to what “putting your marriage first” actually means (hint: it’s not about neglecting your kids). If you’ve ever felt like your spouse gets the leftovers or you’re stuck in survival mode, this is your reset moment.

Resources:

👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 Prioritize your marriage and join us on the DYMC Cruise in May of 2027! 

https://www...

👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏽 Submission is a hot topic because it's often misinterpreted, ignored, or distorted. In this conversation with Cornelius J. Williams, we unpack a fresh, thought-provoking framework: what it really looks like to surrender your mind, will, and pride to God and each other in marriage.

Let's get honest about the messy middle where faith meets everyday decisions. If you’ve ever wrestled with roles, authority, or how to stay unified when you disagree, this one will challenge and ground you in a deeper, more beautiful vision of partnership.

Resources: 

📖 Will You Follow Me? Th...

😰 When your body sounds the alarm, you feel out of control, and you can't even identify what triggered it, you may be having a panic attack.

In this episode, we’re unpacking panic attacks -- what they are (and aren’t), why they can feel so intense and out of nowhere, and how fear can quietly fuel the cycle.

You’ll hear Karissa's personal story, learn how panic connects to your mind, body, and spirit, and walk away with practical tools to steady yourself (or your spouse) in the moment.

💥 What if your fights aren’t actually the problem… but the doorway to something better? In this conversation with Dr. Les Parrott, we unpack why some arguments quietly tear couples apart while others can actually bring you closer.

You’ll walk away with a simple but powerful shift: learning to see your spouse’s world from the inside out.

Grab the free relationship assessment at https://www.myheartchart.com

Check out The Love Language That Matters Most

https://a.co/d/00mIVjKo

Learn more about your...

🙏 What if one simple habit could completely shift the atmosphere of your marriage? Let's unpack why so many couples want to pray together—but feel stuck, unsure, or even intimidated to start. Through raw honesty and real-life stories (including a marriage rebuilt from broken trust), you’ll discover that prayer isn’t about saying the “right” words, but it’s about showing up together.

If you’ve ever felt unsure where to begin, don’t miss the simple, doable starting points shared in this episode. 

Resources:

Build Your Marriage With Prayer on Amazon

⛓️ If you’ve been stuck in the same cycle and can't seem to break free, this might explain why…

This is what's actually driving unwanted behaviors (spoiler: it’s not just a lack of discipline.) There are deeper patterns at play: the way your brain solves discomfort, the condition of your body when stress is high, and the hidden role of shame that quietly keeps people stuck. When you understand these three layers, things start to click in a whole new way.

Resources:

Adam's FREE Porn Recovery Assessment: https://www.dearyoungmar...

❤️ You know the five love languages… but what if you’re still missing each other? Hear Dr. Gary Chapman explain why many couples feel frustrated even when they’re trying to love their spouse well. Sometimes it’s not the language that’s wrong - it’s the dialect, the timing, or the agenda getting in the way.

We talk about personality differences, empathy in communication, the two stages of romantic love, and one simple question you can start asking your spouse this week to reconnect.

Resources:

Dr Gary Chapman's...

👵🏻👴🏼 What do couples married 61 years know about love that the rest of us don’t? Karissa’s Papa gave us some pretty great marriage advice just days before he passed away. Wisdom forged through decades of faith, family, hardship, laughter, and unwavering commitment.

His number-one piece of advice may sound simple, but it has the power to transform the spiritual, emotional, and even physical connection in your marriage. ♥️

Resources:

Monthly Live Date Night at DYMC

https://www.dearyoungmarriedcouple.com/monthlylivedatenight

Lear...

💡 Ever had a moment in your marriage where something just clicked? In this episode, we sit down with marriage expert and bestselling author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs to talk about the powerful “light bulb moments” that can completely reframe the way couples see each other. What if the issue you keep arguing about isn’t actually about who’s right and who’s wrong? What if it’s just… different shades of right? Are you accidentally treating a preference like a moral issue? Could there be a “third option” that honors both of you? If you’ve ever wondered why the same conflict keeps re...

💔 Ever felt like quitting your marriage… even though you promised you never would? In this powerful conversation with Lindsey Maestas, we talk about the silent resentment, exhaustion, and disconnection that can creep in during the early years—and what to do before you “burn your own house down.”

Lindsey shares how sleep deprivation, unmet expectations, and poor communication nearly unraveled her relationship, and the surprising shifts that brought friendship, intimacy, and joy back to life. If you’ve been feeling stuck, unseen, or just worn out, this episode will both challenge and equip you.

❤️‍🩹 What if the real problem in your marriage isn’t “communication”… but resistance? Join us as we interview Dr. David Burns to unpack why so many couples say they want a better relationship—yet subtly fight the very change that would heal it.

Are you truly willing to let go of being right? Could the breakthrough you’re praying for be on the other side of owning your part? If you’ve ever felt criticized, misunderstood, or stuck in the same fight on repeat, this episode will challenge and equip you in the best way.

...

🕯️🏡 If you’ve ever wanted to be “that house” - the one that gathers people, builds community, and makes everyone feel welcomed - but hosting somehow turns into stress, tension, and resentment between the two of you… tune in.

Abby Turner Kuykendall (author of Let the Biscuits Burn) joins Karissa to talk about the real emotional obstacles behind hospitality in marriage: mismatched expectations, introvert vs. extrovert dynamics, unspoken resentment, and the pressure to make everything look perfect.

You’ll walk away with practical ways to plan ahead, delegate without bitterness, and shift your mindset from entertaining to tru...

💘😅 Valentine’s Day is supposed to feel romantic… so why does it leave so many couples feeling more discouraged than connected? Listen in as Adam and Karissa break down three surprisingly common reasons Valentine’s Day can actually make your marriage feel worse - even if you’re not “in crisis.”

What would change if you talked about Valentine's Day Expectations before the day arrives instead of hoping it magically works out? You’ll walk away from this with simple conversation starters that can help you stop dreading Valentine’s Day and start using it as a chance to actually rec...

✨ What if the reset your marriage actually needs isn’t a new system, habit, or goal - but a clearer focus? In this episode, we sit down with O.S. Hawkins to talk about what it looks like to strip away the noise, the pressure, and the expectations and come back to the center: Jesus. ♥️

We explore why strong marriages are built from the inside out, how your relationship with God shapes every other relationship in your life, and why family has always been at the heart of God’s design.

This conversation is thoughtful, grounding, a...

🌱🔥 What if the things you’re avoiding talking about are the very things shaping your kids the most? Hear us sit down with Kristen Miele of Sex Ed Reclaimed to talk about the quiet ways intimacy fades in marriage, how kids sense more than we think, and why silence around sex and sexuality leaves a lasting mark.

This conversation reframes awkward moments as sacred opportunities for discipleship. When hard questions come up, will your kids come to you first? This episode challenges, equips, and invites you to lead with honesty instead of fear.

🌊⚓ What does it really take to stay connected after decades of marriage - through storms, trauma, transitions, and everything in between?

In this conversation, Rev. Charles and Stacey Robinette share hard-earned wisdom from over 30 years of marriage, unpacking why love isn’t about smooth sailing but about learning how to row together when the waves hit.

They open up about healing from past wounds, carrying each other through uneven seasons, and what it actually looks like to let Jesus lead your marriage - not just be invited aboard.

Resou...

💛🥘 When you picture a blended family, do you picture a blender spinning a whole bunch of ingredients together for a couple minutes until they're well-combined? Plot twist: blended families are less like a blender and more like a crock pot. Each vegetable/meat cooks at different frequencies and it takes a whole lot longer than a blender until the meal is complete.

In this episode, we sit down with Ron Deal of FamilyLife Blended to talk aboutwhy blended families are built in a crockpot, not a blender, how fear from past relationships quietly sabotages trust, and what i...

🎆 BEHIND THE SCENCES: Take a look at a year that stretched, surprised, and shaped everything we’re building next!  Adam and Karissa pull back the curtain on what really happened in 2025—from thousands of couples served, marriages rebuilt, to an entire team that grew their families while carrying the mission forward. 

What’s in store for 2026?! What are couples actually craving in this season? What happens when marriage tools move from theory into real life? Listen to hear some exciting things coming down the pike! 

Resources: 

Counseling with Adam and...

👶🤰 HUSTLE culture meets MOTHERHOOD in this honest conversation with Zim Flores. Meet a woman who went from building and selling companies to closing doors, slowing down, and embracing life with two little ones.

Zim opens up about the tension many moms feel between ambition and presence. What happens when the life you worked so hard to build no longer fits the season you’re in? How do you know when it’s time to delegate, pause, or let go altogether?

This episode may challenge the way you think about success, productivity, and what it really means to s...

🎄🔋 Ever leave a holiday gathering feeling totally energized… while your spouse is completely wiped? Hear Adam and Karissa unpack why the holidays can feel magical for one spouse and exhausting for the other—and why introversion has nothing to do with being antisocial or unloving.

They talk about social “battery life,” common myths that quietly fuel marital tension, and how couples can plan and protect each other’s energy without resentment.

Are you accidentally misreading your spouse’s quiet as rejection? Do your expectations around family events need a reset this season? You’ll walk away w...

🎄✨ The ache you feel during the holidays is likely an invitation to something deeper. In this conversation, bestselling author Donna VanLiere invites YOU to slow down, step away from the noise, and rediscover the quiet wonder of Christmas in the middle of real life - grief, busyness, loneliness, and all. From the ordinary people of the nativity to the ordinary pressures of modern marriage, Donna reminds us that God still does extraordinary things in everyday stories. 

Are you rushing past the peace your soul is craving? What might change if you let your “no” protect your family’s “yes”? Thi...

🎄✨ Ever wonder what your kids actually remember about the holidays? Hear Adam & Karissa hand the mic to their own kids for a full “holiday audit,” asking what traditions matter most, what feels boring, and what their family would win a trophy for.

Their unfiltered answers will make you laugh, but also get you thinking: what if the moments you stress about aren’t the moments your kids cherish? And what small, simple traditions are already shaping their hearts?

Tune in and take your own holiday audit—your kids might just surprise you. 

Learn more abo...