Team Us: A Christian Marriage Podcast
The best marriages have a teamwork mentality. Spouses serve each other, support each other, and celebrate each other. They tackle life together, and when one slips, the other gives grace. Husbands and wives can be vulnerable with each other because they know they rise and fall as one. Do you want a marriage like this? On each episode of the Team Us: Christian Marriage Podcast, married couple Ted and Ashleigh Slater come alongside you and your spouse as friends and mentors. They talk openly, honestly, and humorously about the betters and the worsts of their marriage, sharing how grace, commitment...
Why Summer Is a Great Time to Make Your Marriage Fun Again
Do you and your spouse have fun together? As couples, sometimes we can get in a rut and feel like life — and marriage — are all work and no play. In this episode, we’re exploring how we can make marriage fun again. This month, we are reairing our favorite episodes, and this is definitely at the top of our list!
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
If fun is lacking from your marriage, try one of our suggestions.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review...
How Couples Can Tackle Stress as a Team
We don’t have a choice on whether we will experience stress. However, we do have a choice on how we will face it. Today, we share three practical ways you and your spouse can tackle stress as a team.
3 WAYS COUPLES CAN TACKLE STRESS AS A TEAM
Reaffirm your team mentality Stay open and stay communicating Laugh, cry, or eat your equivalent of ice creamTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Reaffirm your team mentality. Whether the stress you are experiencing is big or small, remind each other that you are on the same t...
5 Key Strategies for Teamwork in Marriage
We share five of our favorite strategies for teamwork in marriage. So, if you and your spouse are feeling out of synch lately, don’t miss this episode!
5 KEY STRATEGIES FOR TEAMWORK
Get on the same page Enjoy something new Choose lightheartedness Make peace with the past Fight as alliesTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Think about what you and your spouse do that makes you most feel like a team and why.
CONNECT WITH US
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple...
How Wedding Planning Together Builds Your Team
In this episode, we focus on engaged couples and those contemplating marriage. A wedding marks the beginning of a marriage — and that marriage is the joining of two people. So, a wedding should be the joint ideas, preferences, and efforts of those two people. Listen in as we share three skills couples can practice when they approach wedding planning as a team.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
We have two this week. First, for the already-married couples who listened, look back at your wedding planning and reminisce on how you may have practiced one or more o...
5 Essential Tips for Traveling Together
Do you and your spouse have summer travel plans? Whether it’s a family vacation, a couple’s getaway, or a trip to spend time with extended family, we have five travel tips for you in today’s episode.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Talk with your spouse about your travel styles. And, if you plan to travel this summer, spend time making the plans together and anticipating and preparing for triggers.
CONNECT WITH US
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should...
How to Prepare Your Marriage for the Empty Nest with Mike and Kate Battistelli
Author, speaker, and podcaster Kate Battistelli and her husband Mike are back on the podcast to give us practical wisdom on why preparing for the empty nest starts while the nest is still full.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Invest in your relationship this week by watching either the sunrise or the sunset together.
ABOUT MIKE AND KATE BATTISTELLI
Mike and Kate met as active professionals in the NYC Music and Broadway Theatre world. But when God called them to follow Him and lay down those dreams, they did! They’ve now be...
10 Budget-Friendly Date Ideas for Couples
Dating your spouse is vital for a thriving marriage. While dates can sometimes be pricey, they don’t have to be. We’re sharing ten fun, budget-friendly date ideas for you and your spouse.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Pick one of the date ideas we shared and try it, or come up with your own. Let us know what you did by sharing on social media and tagging us. If you subscribe to my email newsletter at AshleighSlater.com, you can also respond to it and let us know what you did.
CONNECT...
How to Speak Your Spouse’s Love Language
How do you and your spouse give and receive love? In this episode, we talk about the five love languages. We unpack each one and give you practical ideas on how to express them.
FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES
Words of Affirmation Quality Time Receiving Gifts Acts of Service Physical TouchTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Pick a practical way to speak your spouse’s love language this week. It doesn’t have to be one of our suggestions. If you don’t know your spouse’s love language, either get them to take the quiz or obse...
Why Happily Ever After Starts in Your Head with Dan and Danielle Macaulay
Do you want a happier marriage? Then, it’s time to start thinking about what you think about! We have marriage and family speakers, podcasters, and authors Dan and Danielle Macaulay on the podcast. They share why the happiness of your marriage starts in your head.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Make a positive adjective list as Danielle talked about. Then, as Dan mentioned, share at least one of those list items with your spouse.
CONNECT WITH US
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple...
5 Books to Enrich Your Marriage
Are you a reader? In this episode, we share five super practical, must-read marriage books that will encourage, challenge, and inspire you and your spouse.
5 Books to Enrich Your Marriage
The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages by Shaunti Feldhahn The Marriage Course with Nicky and Sila LeeTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Start reading one of t...
How Pets Make You Better Partners
Do you have a pet? We have three! Today, we share how having pets has benefited our marriage, and we believe they can make your relationship better, too.
3 WAYS PETS MAKE YOU BETTER PARTNERS
Pets bring us together Pets help us laugh together more Pets offer opportunities for teamworkTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
If you have a pet, talk about how your pet has benefited your marriage. If you don’t have a pet, maybe visit a park this week and watch the dogs and other wildlife. See how it sparks conversation or hel...
Why Nostalgia, Flirting, and Scripture Can Spark Conversation
Do you and your spouse struggle to find things to talk about? We hope to help with that! We’ll share three practical ways to spark conversation in your marriage when you’ve run out of things to say.
3 WAYS TO SPARK CONVERSATION
Through Scripture and stories By getting nostalgic With flirtingTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Pick one of these three ways to spark conversation with your spouse this week.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https...
3 Ways to Embrace a Growth Mindset in Marriage
Some relationship experts say that couples don’t grow apart. Instead, they stop growing together. Today, we share three practical ways you and your spouse can embrace a growth mindset and continue growing together. A couple of them may surprise you.
3 WAYS TO HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET
Allow your spouse to live outside the box Get to know your spouse … continually Keep “under the rug” cleanTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Grow together this week with online date night questions or Jon Gottman’s love map exercises.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
...How Shared Humor Strengthens Marriage
Do you and your spouse laugh together? Today, we talk about how shared humor and laughter can benefit your relationship.
3 WAYS SHARED HUMOR STRENGTHENS MARRIAGE
Builds intimacy Helps defuse conflict and restore connection Makes the hard times more manageableTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Do something to feed your shared sense of humor. As one writer we quote in this episode recommends, “Collect experiences, look for the places where comedy shows up. Look for the ridiculous, the surprising, the awkward.”
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this epi...
What You Can Do to Brave Sorrow Together in Your Marriage
Sometimes we sit back and wonder how we made it through our weeping years. But here we are, still married, still friends, and still liking each other. It wasn’t easy to remain united when miscarriage, multiple job losses, debt, and a house that wouldn’t sell desperately fought to pull us apart. While an attitude of “us vs. the problem” helped, we realized we couldn’t stop with the idea of us against the world. We needed more.
Today, we’re discussing how to walk together through the really hard situations, seasons, and losses that we experience a...
3 Simple Ways to Feed Your Spouse More Praise
How often do you intentionally stop to praise your spouse? To recognize and affirm their character or actions? Many of us probably cringe at answering these questions because we know we could do better!
If you struggle to feed your spouse praise regularly, this episode is for you. Listen in as we share some practical steps we all can take to criticize less and affirm and build up our spouse more.
While Ted and Ashleigh are taking a break, we're thrilled to bring back this popular episode from the archives!Â
TAKE THE "US T...
How to Have a Date-Night Conversation That’s Not about Work, Bills, Schedules, or Kids
What if every time you go out on a date with your spouse, all you talk about is work, bills, schedules, and — if you have them — kids? As vitally important as those things are to discuss, we chat about how you can have a date-night conversation that’s NOT about work, bills, schedules, or kids. Listen in as we share four steps you can put into practice.
While Ted and Ashleigh are taking a break, we're thrilled to bring back this popular episode from the archives!
Take the "Us Time" ChallengeÂ
Go on a date...
Why Becoming a Team Takes Time... and That’s Okay
While Ted and Ashleigh are taking a break, we're thrilled to bring back this popular episode from the archives! From its inconceivable R.O.U.Ses to its iconic lines, the 1987 film The Princess Bride is a favorite at our house. For us, one of the most memorable characters is Inigo Montoya. His patience and persistence as he hunts for the six-fingered man remind us that it takes time to execute a “death wish.” But what does a “death wish” have to do with marriage?
While we joined a new team when we promised, “I do,” that doesn’t mean...
3 Simple Steps to Pray Together as a Couple
If you and your spouse struggle to pray together daily, listen in as we share easy three steps you can take to start.
3 EASY STEPS TO PRAY TOGETHER
Schedule Prayer Time Together Follow Established Prayer Patterns Keep Each Other AccountableTAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Give these steps a try this week and see if they help you and your spouse pray together more consistently.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
3 Benefits of Praying Together as a Couple
Do you and your spouse pray together consistently? Listen in as we share three ways praying together as a couple benefits your marriage.
3 BENEFITS TO PRAYING TOGETHER
Fosters greater unity Builds trust and intimacy Deepens communicationTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Brainstorm with your spouse some additional ways praying together consistently will benefit your marriage.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)
TEAM US RESOURCES
Team Us: The...Bids for Connection: Strengthening Your Marriage One Invitation at a Time
As couples, we aren’t bidding millions on artwork, movie props, or sports memorabilia. But we do regularly make emotional bids in marriage. Bids are invitations from and to our spouse for connection. Today, we talk about bids and how we can respond to them.
WAYS TO TURN TOWARD YOUR SPOUSE
Pay attention. Practice active listening, validate feelings, and show interest Prioritize RespondingTAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Pay attention to your spouse’s bids for connection this week. Make it a priority to turn toward them.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THIN...
No Pressure Valentine's Day: 4 Steps to Celebrate Love
Valentine's Day is often viewed and marketed as a holiday of grand gestures. But it doesn't have to be. Listen in as we share four steps to help you have a no-pressure Valentine's Day this year.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Discuss your expectations for Valentine's Day and develop a shared plan.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)
TEAM US RESOURCES
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Comm...Why Believing the Soulmate Myth Can Harm Your Marriage
The idea of a soulmate is a myth that has been around for thousands of years. It may seem like a concept only for non-married people looking for “the one.” But here’s the thing. If you are married and subscribe to this idea of soulmates, it can be harmful to your marriage. Listen in as we share why!
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Make a list of other marriage myths and reflect on whether they are impacting your marriage. If so, how can you replace them with truth?
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK<...
Why Marriage Isn’t 50/50 or 100/100
We unpack the popular myth that marriage is a 50/50 relationship. But we aren’t stopping there. We’ll also talk about how the counter to this 50/50 myth — that marriage needs to be 100/100 — isn’t always realistic either.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Ask your spouse practical ways you can encourage them when they aren’t able to give 100 percent.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)
TEAM US RESOURCES
Team Us: The Uni...Why "No Conflict Marriages" Don't Exist
What do you believe about conflict in marriage? There’s a popular marriage myth that says healthy marriages are conflict-free marriages, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. Listen in as we debunk this myth and share why couples in healthy marriages do experience conflict.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Spend some time searching conflict styles. There are five primary ones (competing, collaborating, compromising, accommodating, and avoiding). Reflect on which ones you and your spouse best fit and have a conversation about them.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you...
Why “Love Is All You Need” Falls Short
Have you heard that love is all you need to make a marriage work? This marriage myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Today, we debunk this myth and talk about how you need more than love if you want your marriage to go the distance.
TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE
Revisit your vows. Remind yourselves of what you promised when those “in love” feelings were at their newest and strongest.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.a...
4 Ways to Encourage Your Spouse's Aspirations and Goals
We all bring individual talents, abilities, and ambitions into marriage. On today’s episode, we share four ways to encourage and support your spouse in pursuing and accomplishing their personal aspirations and goals.
4 PRACTICAL WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR SPOUSE'S ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS
Ask your spouse what their aspirations and goals are and what tools or resources they may need to achieve them. Help your spouse make the time to pursue and accomplish their aspirations and goals. Encourage your spouse to take risks and step out of their comfort zone and support them in practical ways when th...Reflecting on Christmas Past, Present, and Future as a Couple
We don't have to be Scrooges to benefit from reflecting on Christmas past, present, and future. In this episode, we talk about how looking back, living now, and planning ahead together can enrich our marriages.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
If you’ve been married five years or more, practice nostalgia with your spouse. Ask each other about your favorite Christmas you’ve spent together and why it stands out to you. If you have been married less than five years, plan ahead on where you want to be relationally next Christmas.
LET US K...
The Art of Venting: 3 Key Questions for Couples
Should you vent to your spouse? Today, we talk about what venting is and share three key questions to ask yourself before you dive into an emotionally-charged vent.
3 KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK
What fuels my desire to vent about this particular frustration, situation, or person? If I vent in my emotional-charged state, will we be reacting or responding to whatever has upset me? Will what I share be beneficial to my spouse and our relationship?TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
If you find yourself ready to vent about something this week, pause first...
Every Marriage Can Get Better with Mark and Jill Savage
Have you been striving for the perfect marriage? Today, that striving stops. Our guests, Mark and Jill Savage, say that no marriage is perfect, but the good news is that every marriage can get better. Listen in as Mark and Jill share their story and the fundamentals they’ve learned to grow a healthy marriage.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Put into the practice the tool of grace that Mark and Jill talked about. Maybe even think of a creative way you can practice it — for example, how Mark took Jill sunglass shopping at the Doll...
3 Tools for Tackling Everyday Conflicts in Your Marriage
How do you and your spouse tackle everyday conflicts? Today, we share three of our favorite tools for working through those smaller disagreements or disputes.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Pick one of the tools we shared to try this week when you face conflict with your spouse.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)
TEAM US RESOURCES
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in...Work-Love Balance for Couples with Kyle and Ariel Tresch
Do you and your spouse struggle to move from work mode to romance mode? Kyle and Ariel Tresch join us to talk about work-love balance for couples. They share practical tips you can start using today.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Try one of Kyle and Ariel’s three suggestions for transitioning from work mode to romance mode. As a reminder, they are: Nostalgic transitions, treasure hunt, and mortality frame.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.co...
Timeless Relationship Insights from Modern Musicals
As couples, we can look for insight into how to improve our marriages in a variety of places. In this episode, we’re turning to the modern musical. We share some timeless relationship insights we can take away from three of them.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Have a date night and watch or listen to one of these musicals and talk through some of the insights we’ve shared.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com...
5 Ways to Face the Holidays Together
When it comes to the joy and the stress of the holidays, how do you and your spouse approach it? As a united team? Or do turkeys, tinsel, and extended family get-togethers tend to turn you against each other? If you aren’t sure how to face the holidays together, we share five ways you can navigate the season hand-in-hand rather than back-to-back.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Set expectations together for your holiday season. Determine what you want this holiday season to be like and then come up with some plans to accomplish that.
...From NPCs to Real Players: Why Engaging with Others as a Couple Matters
When you go out as a couple, do you and your spouse engage the people God puts in your path? Or are you so focused on yourselves that you miss out on impacting others and allowing others to affect you? Today, we share three reasons to engage others as a couple.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Look for opportunities to engage others the next time you’re out as a couple.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.ap...
The 3 Key Things Found in Every Strong Marriage
What’s the secret to a strong marriage? Listen in as we talk about the importance of consistent follow through in three specific areas.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Pick one idea from each of the areas to put into practice this week.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)
TEAM US RESOURCES
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FR...How to Navigate Grief Together
Are you and your spouse in a season of grief? When we face loss, sometimes it’s hard to walk through it hand-in-hand. We share two practical things we have done to navigate grief together over the years.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Think about how you grieve and consider how your spouse does. What are some ways you can better understand and respect the way your spouse experiences grief?
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.co...
What You Remember in Marriage Matters
Does what you choose to remember about your spouse impact your marriage? Absolutely. In today’s episode, we share three reasons why what you remember in your marriage matters.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
If you don’t already have your vows framed and hung in your house, do that this week. Read them regularly. As you do, remind yourself that what you remember about your spouse and your marriage matters.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.appl...
How to Leave and Cleave in Marriage
We talk about how getting married requires us to realign our relational loyalties and priorities. We’ll share three practical ways we’ve learned to “leave and cleave” in marriage. We hope you will find them helpful, too.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
Write down one specific thing you struggle with when it comes to leaving and cleaving. Share it with your spouse and see if they agree it’s an issue. Brainstorm together two or three ideas on how you can improve in this area.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Did you...
3 Ways to Stay Connected as You Parent
If you are parents or hope to be in the future, this episode is for you. We’re sharing three practical ways you can stay connected as a couple while you raise kids.
TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE
If you are currently parents, talk about what phase of parenting you are in and brainstorm ways you can stay connected. You can use the suggestions we’ve offered or come up with your own. If you don’t have kids yet, talk to friends with children and learn practical ways they stay connected while parenting.
LET...
