Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

Can your marriage survive a big storm? Join Dr.s Greg and Erin Smalley as they share intimate details about how they've learned to trust one another. Using the example of the La Jument lighthouse in Ushant, France, we'll learn how trust grows, what destroys trust, and how trust isn't a "once and for all" issue in marriage.

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

Marriage First Aid Kit

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Has your spouse cheated on you? Drs. Greg and Erin Smalley host a conversation on infidelity recovery, focusing on when betrayed spouses feel stuck or unmotivated to heal. Joining them is Pastor Brad Hambrick, author of “True Betrayal: Nine Steps to Processing Your Spouse’s Infidelity.” This conversation dives into true transparency, accountability, and assessing deeper relational problems beyond the affair. Even if you know someone who has gone through this experience, make sure you pick up Brad's book and share it as a gift!

True Betrayal: 9 Steps for Processing Your Spouse's Infidelity

Recovering From An Aff...

Drs. Greg and Erin Smalley welcome Pastor Seth Troutt, author of Authentic Masculinity, to discuss God’s design for masculinity in marriage and parenting, while contrasting it with “the manosphere” counterfeits. If you want to collaborate with your spouse, encourage and understand Biblical leadership, as well as cherish and nurture your life choice in new ways, Seth explains how men and women can work together and live as Godly examples. In a Q&A, we answer a wife's question on how to address a defensive husband. We'll also share how to create a family motto.

Authentic Masculinity: Leavin...

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.

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Reactive Cycle Assessment

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Do you prioritize spiritual health while neglecting emotional health? Have you intentionally aligned with the Holy Spirit when it comes to your feelings? Drs. Erin and Greg Smalley discuss cultural stigmas around expressing emotions with Debra Fileta, author of Are You Really Okay? They outline conversational levels, how to check in with your spouse, and what NOT to talk about on date nights. The listener Q&A involves a stressed out wife who hasn't set clear boundaries. This is just the beginning of this important conversation.

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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 Yourself

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We're continuing our discussion of the “manosphere,” reviewing how it distorts headship and submission and focusing on three additional lies: that emotional vulnerability is weakness, that women are biologically untrustworthy, and that a wife’s body belongs to her husband. Greg and Erin contrast these ideologies with scriptures calling husbands to sacrificially love, cherish, nourish, honor, and create safety so a wife can flourish. We'd love to hear your thoughts on these episodes, so click on the show notes to get in touch with us.
Bearded Gospel Men: The Epic Quest for Manliness & Godliness
What Is Biblical Leader...

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 & Godliness
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Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what it means to leave a marital legacy by building a healthy foundation -- with intentional core values -- rather than living by default. Guest Lain McCanless of Rally Your Family describes practical tools to guide decisions, unify spouses, and model faithfulness across generations.This is something you can start today! Then, Greg and Erin share how they fashioned their family crest, and they encourage you try this exercise with your family. Plus, they answer a listener question about leaving a husband who has pawned family heirlooms.
Finishing Well: Biblical Lessons to...

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 Oneness
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Does it feel like your life is being interrupted? Financial issues, health concerns, and disagreements with family members can all throw a wrench into our plans. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley talk with Julie Plagens, who describes common interruptions in her life. We address the need for control, people-pleasing, and messages from how a strict faith background fueled anger and unforgiveness. Greg and Erin also talk about benefits of spending time outdoors together, and they answer a listener about chronic blame in marriage. This is a "meat & potatoes" episode we know you'll enjoy.

Marriage Interrupted: How to...

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 Affair
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You're really going to be blessed by this program, even if you and your spouse share the same faith. Greg and Erin talk with David McIver, author of Looking For The One. David teaches that loving a spiritually different spouse means seeing them through Jesus’ eyes and praying about where the trust was first broken rather than focusing on behavior. Greg and Erin also talk about a couple that have been married for 84 years, and they answer a listener question about inter-faith marriage and children.
Looking For The One: Stories of Seeing The Lost, Lonely, and Broken Through Th...

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.
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Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Chec...

How is your relationship with your in-laws? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what research and experience reveals about in-law relationships, prompted by Erin being asked to speak to a moms group. If conflict, enabling behavior, and parenting disagreements with in-laws seem to take away the PEACE in your family - this is the podcast for you! Make sure you forward the link to other members of your family, too!
Married Into The Family
Article: How Your Relationship with Your In-Laws Impacts Your Marriage
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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 Responses
UnTriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle With...

Get ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel” for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally leak energy and require intentional refueling. We'll look at the animal kingdom to help you understand your personality, and we have a listener Q & A about how to manage a family when your health is struggling.

The Relationship Rocket Formula

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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

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What was your dad like growing up? Do you have good memories, or could things be better between you? Greg and Erin celebrate all dads with a special presentation from Pastor Ken Davis, who shares four important reminders based on Scripture in Malachi. We hope you'll be encouraged by this message, and that you'll share this podcast with those you love.

The Good Dad: Becoming The Father You Were Meant To Be

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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: Disco...

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: Disco...

How are you with money? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley get advice from Matt Bell, about biblical money principles. He explains the Parable of the Talents as a stewardship framework, contrasting consumer vs. steward mindsets, while urging couples to serve the Lord. We'll also challenge you to turn your home into a mini carnival for an at-home date night. The listener Q & A is about motivating a husband to read the Bible and take spiritual leadership.

Starting Strong: Discovering the Good That Money Can Do In Marriage

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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

Do you feel like your prayer life with your spouse could be better? Do you usually pray about circumstantial things? Mike and Melissa Kruger share about 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse that will transform your marriage and draw you both closer to Christ.

5 Things To Pray For Your Spouse

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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

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Greg and Erin talk about what each of us wish our spouse knew about our inner most secrets and desires in marriage. Sometimes it's hard to express our feelings. Greg and Erin share ideas on how to access our emotions, and share them with our spouse. This is a program that both wives and husbands need to hear! We also give you specific scripture to pray over various situations, and we are encouraged by a testimony from a listener.

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

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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

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Dealing With Inlaws

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This special edition encourages moms on their journey of motherhood, and it's hosted by Whitney Lowe and Erin Smalley. We're covering why becoming a mom is a gift, finding your identity in Christ, hope for tired moms, and ways to celebrate Mother's Day!

Praying The Scriptures For Your Children: Discover How To Pray God's Purpose For Their Lives

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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!

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Marriage Champions

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We're continuing our conversation on selfless sex with Pastor Doug Hanna, who shares his encouragement to pursue sexual satisfaction. He goes into how self-forgetful sex is a lifestyle, an attitude, its patient, and it seeks pleasure. Greg and Erin also have an exercise with foods around the world and date nights. We also answer a listener question about a spouse's lies and affairs.

Sex and Self-Forgetfulness

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On this episode, we're talking about Christian married sex with Pastor Doug Hannah, author of Sex and Self Forgetfulness. Does your sex life reflect covenant love through self-forgetfulness rather than selfishness transactional “getting what I’m owed"? We'll talk about serving your spouse, sinning against conscience, and even losing one’s voice. Boundaries matter, and sex is designed by God to be mutually pleasurable and received with thanksgiving. Well also play “compliment ping pong” and answer an email about a manipulative husband.

Sex and Self-Forgetfulness

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Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley welcome guests Ashley Durand and Kristen Roush authors of Mothering on Empty. We'll talk about the pressures that can leave spouses depleted, and how joy, identity in Christ, and an eternal perspective anchor marriage without idolizing it. We'll give practical tips for husbands of exhausted wives: empathy over fixing, initiative without being asked, avoiding competitions over tiredness, setting social media boundaries, and addressing the “mental load” so no one feels alone.

Mothering On Empty

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What makes a successful marriage? Today, Greg and Erin feature a presentation by best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn. She offers insights from research she's conducted on what makes for a happier, more fulfilling marriage. She also outlines practical ways to develop a more Christ-like relationship with your spouse. We'll challenge you to recreate your first date, and we'll answer a listener question about whether its Biblical to have joint bank accounts.

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Conversation Starters for Couples

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Pastor Dan Seaborn returns for more great conversation on reflection in marriage. When was the last time you asked yourself, "What caused me to do that?" when you responded to your spouse in a not-so-productive way? Greg and Erin also have an exercise to build connection that will open up your spouse's inner world, and we answer a listener question about how often to have sex in a healthy marriage.

The Necessary Nine

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Join Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley with their guest, Pastor Dan Seaborn as he describes how he and his wife transformed their marriage over the last three years. There's clinical wisdom for serious issues, but shared in casual and productive ways on this episode. We also share some questions to open up your spouse's inner world, as well as answer a listener's question on how often married couples should have sex.

The Necessary Nine

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Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss the importance of making marriages strong enough to withstand life's challenges. We're bringing back one of our best friends, Dr. Gary Thomas, who talks about his book 'Making Your Marriage a Fortress.' The conversation covers how sin, temptations, and life trials can erode a relationship. We also discuss the significance of spiritual growth, community, and emotional safety in marriages. We'll also answer a listener's question about handling life after divorce and provide practical advice on creating a couples' vision board to achieve future goals together.

Making Your Marriage A...

There's something exciting happening and you could call it an Adventure In Odyssey! This is a special release to talk about the brand new animated feature film that will release in the Fall of 2026.

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We're doing a Question/Answer Show again because you are part of our community—addressing real questions, exploring fresh perspectives, and continuing the dialogue together! Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley share on a variety of marital challenges. From persuading a husband to give family trips another chance to discussing sensitive issues like pornography in marriage, emphasizing boundaries and seeking professional help. Keep sending your questions to us. It's our honor to help you in every way possible!

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage Book

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In this engaging conversation, Luke and Courtney Smallbone share the story of their 16-year marriage, reflecting on their love story that began with a chance meeting at a shoe store. (Luke and his brother Joel make up the band For King And Country.) Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley delve into the unexpected challenges and growth that marriage brings, sharing insights on leadership, conflict resolution, and maintaining a fun and fulfilling relationship. And as always, we answer a listener question.

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We continue the conversation with Kait and JJ Tomlin, but we dive deeper into understanding ways to be more intimate with our spouse. Calling out our feelings, checking ourselves, and seeking God's truth as you walk through tough times. They delve into the surprises and challenges they faced and the importance of pre-engagement and premarital counseling. JJ shares his journey of overcoming resentment and selfishness, highlighting the impact of ownership and repentance on their marriage. The Tomlins speak candidly about their sex life, illustrating the importance of realistic expectations, too. We also address a listener's question about dealing with...