The Affair Recovery Podcast

Cindy Beall's husband came home one morning and confessed to multiple affairs over two and a half years. Then came the final blow: one of the women was pregnant. Cindy went into a despair so deep she didn't know how she would keep living, let alone stay married. Twenty-five years later, she looks back on a marriage that not only survived but became the one she had always hoped for.

In this episode, we sit down with Cindy, a pastor, author of Healing Your Marriage When Trust Is Broken, and past Hope Rising speaker, to walk through...

Should we just quit? What are we doing wrong? Why does it feel worse now than it did before? One minute you can't get close enough, the next a single look sends you both back to your corners, and you're left wondering if any of this is normal. In episode 25, Jeremy sits down with Rick, John and Laurie to answer the questions they hear most from couples in the thick of it, and to name the phases that feel like failure but aren't.

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The affair most likely isn’t the only thing you’re carrying. There may be an illness, a loss, a job that fell through, kids who need you, or years of quietly holding it all together, and now you’re being asked to heal a marriage on top of it. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Marcus Earle, Clinical Director of Psychological Counseling Services with 38 years in behavioral health, to talk about what so many of you have written in about: when infidelity isn’t your only crisis, where do you even begin?

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Whether it's been months or years, carrying the weight of betrayal can feel like something you'll never be able to set down. You'd let it go if you could, but forgiving feels like saying it was okay, or letting them off the hook. In this episode, we sit down to answer listener questions about forgiving what you can't forget, sharing what forgiveness looked like in our own recovery and starting with the piece so many people miss: what forgiveness actually is, and what it isn't.

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Two years into their marriage, Ryan confessed an addiction. In the painful years that followed, Jessica had affairs of her own. In their words, they “set their marriage on fire.” Twenty years later, they are both therapists helping couples heal from infidelity, and in this episode they tell their own story.

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A promise is not a boundary. Jim Ramos, author of Guardrails and founder of Men in the Arena, joins Jeremy and Rick Reynolds to lay out the practical guardrails that rebuild safety in a marriage, and why saying “you can trust me” changes nothing on its own.

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A song. A street you have to drive down. A photo your phone decides to resurface. You were fine five minutes ago and now you cannot breathe, and nobody warned you that this is what recovery would feel like. In Episode 21, our team focuses on 24/7 triggers: what they actually are, what to do when therapy or group is not available, and how the unfaithful can support their spouse in navigating these unexpected moments that rob everyday life.

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What does a true recovery roadmap look like? Does reaching the final destination simply mean stopping the addictive behaviors? In Episode 20, we welcome back Matt Wenger, Clinical Director at the Begin Again Institute, for part two of a conversation on healing sexual addiction. We get practical about the difference between sobriety and recovery, signs that someone is ready to address his/her addiction, how an unfaithful spouse can support a traumatized partner while doing their own healing, and so much more. We believe that no matter how far away it feels you can find real intimacy again.

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If you've ever wondered why nobody knew what to do with you after your world fell apart, you're not alone. Board-certified betrayal trauma coach Andrea Rogers shares her own story of discovering a 12-year affair and the difference between real recovery and simply modifying behavior.

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Andrea Rogers is a Board Certified Coach and Certified Partner Coach with APSATS,  known for her empowering voice f...

Attempting to make sense of the affair is painfully confusing, especially when there are signs of sexual addiction. In Episode 19, Matt Wenger, Clinical Director at the Begin Again Institute, joins the podcast to explain how sex addiction looks different from other types of infidelity, and to share a message every betrayed spouse needs to hear: this is not your fault.

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If one part of you wants to stay and another wants to leave, you know how exhausting that inner standoff can be. Many people believe that making the decision will finally quiet the pain. In Episode 18, Wayne Baker, LPC, explores why it actually works the other way around, and how getting curious about your own "parts" helps you begin to move forward. 

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Surviving the trauma isn't the same as truly healing what caused it. In this bonus episode, Jason sits down to tell his and Dara's full story: what was going on inside him across multiple betrayals, why the first round of help didn't create real change, and what finally broke through.

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You've tried everything but nothing changes. You may be wondering whether something deeper is going on. Dr. David Hawkins, clinical psychologist and founder of the Marriage Recovery Center, joins our expert therapists in Episode 17 to unpack the spectrum from narcissism to emotional immaturity, clarify what real remorse actually looks like, and work through a key question: is my mate in a season of affair fog, or is what I'm seeing a pervasive pattern? In this episode:

The rage that comes after infidelity can make you feel like you've become someone you don't recognize, capable of words, actions, and emotional spirals you never thought possible. In Episode 16, our expert therapists, joined by EMS Weekend Clinical Contributor Brett Hart, LPC, open up with their own deeply personal stories of breaking down in anger and what they learned in the journey through it. If you're feeling stuck in anger you can't seem to shake, or watching it come out sideways in places it doesn't belong, this episode is a reminder that you're not crazy, you're not alone, and...

Not all therapy is created equal – and after an affair, finding the right kind of help can feel like searching in the dark. In Episode 15, our expert therapists are joined by special guest, Candace, to talk about what quality care actually looks like and what to think about the rising trend of AI therapy. We live in a world overflowing with content — but discover why community is what actually heals.

Whether your desires led you to regret, or you're grieving desires that have gone unmet because of someone else's choices — your relationship with desire is closer to the center of your recovery than you might think. In this bonus episode, therapist and author Jay Stringer unpacks his new book Desire and why curiosity, not condemnation, is the path through.

Recovery after infidelity rarely follows a clean path and sometimes the very things meant to bring healing become the barriers to it. In Episode 14, our expert therapists answer real listener questions on the most painful obstacles to healing – including trauma, trust, trickle truth and affair partners.

The pain of infidelity is like no other — and what you do with it shapes the rest of your life. In Episode 13, our expert therapists unpack why time alone doesn't heal this kind of wound and reveal the step most people miss on the path to true healing.

If you’ve discovered your spouse is using porn, you might be asking if your pain is valid or if it’s "really" infidelity. You’re not alone. In episode 12, our expert therapists dive into this painful tension. Whether you are struggling with a long-term addiction, a different type of infidelity altogether, or wondering if recovery looks different for porn than a physical affair, we offer a path for you to find true intimacy—perhaps even for the very first time.

Reaching "ground zero" is the only way to build a new relationship after the old one has crumbled—but how do you know if your spouse is finally telling the whole truth? In Episode 11, Peter F Daniels III (MSEE, LCSW-S, CSAT) joins our experts to navigate the complex world of disclosure and discovery, helping both the betrayed and the unfaithful reach a solid foundation and begin rebuilding something new. We explore:

The question of "WHY" is often the greatest source of anguish for couples reeling from infidelity, yet it can also be the very path toward lasting healing. While you may never fully comprehend every detail, discovering the "why" is a critical step to getting your life and marriage back.

In episode 10, we feature a long time friend and fellow Affair Recovery Clinical Contributor, Jessica McDaniel, LPC-S as she and our other therapists unpack: 

How do you move forward when your marriage feels permanently tainted? Learn to navigate the grief of a shattered past while building a relationship worth staying for. In Episode 9, our experts answer a diverse set of questions: 

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‼️ Take the FREE Affair Analyzer: Understand yo...

In this honest interview, you get to hear from the other half of Candace. Her and her husband’s story is a raw, heart-wrenching journey through years of recovery. From the pain of multiple D-Days and a "fraudulent recovery" to the miraculous rebuilding of their marriage, they are a powerful testament to the possibility of healing even from the basement of rock bottom. 

Candace and her husband are a testament to the power of healing in the community. It wasn’t just the information that changed their course but the relationships that came alongside them. If you’ve been...

In Episode 8, we confront one of the most destructive forces in post-infidelity healing: shame. Our expert therapists break down the critical difference between guilt (“I did something bad”) and shame (“I am bad”). No matter what drives your intrusive "I'm not enough" thoughts, this episode provides handles to begin bringing shame into the light.

Is an emotional affair really "cheating"? Why does "limerence" feel so impossible to break compared to a one-night stand? Does porn count as infidelity? While all of our situations are different, the devastation of betrayal is universal and our experts explain why correctly identifying the type of affair is critical for creating an effective recovery roadmap.

What do you do when the road to recovery takes a tragic, irreversible turn? In this raw and deeply moving interview, Tara shares a personal journey that defies the typical narrative of reconciliation. Her story is not just about the trauma of infidelity but is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of absolute darkness. Whether you are approaching a storm, standing in the midst of it, or beginning to see light on the other side, we believe her story will bring hope to everyone who listens.

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In Episode 6, we explore a question that rattles in the hearts of so many reeling from the pain of infidelity: Is it truly possible to rebuild trust that has been shattered? Whether you are a betrayed partner struggling with the fear of being hurt again or an unfaithful spouse trying to create a sense of safety, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for discovering what trust looks like moving forward.

Having sex again after an affair – a vulnerable yet critical topic to explore in what it means to genuinely heal. Whether you are unsure of reengaging sexually, experiencing what is called "hysterical bonding" or feeling stuck after a failed attempt at reconnection, this conversation offers wise counsel to help you move forward without shame.

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In this episode, we dive into the muddy waters of faith and infidelity, addressing the profound spiritual crisis that occurs when you feel let down and betrayed by God or burdened by your own unfaithfulness. Whether you’re unsure about spirituality as a whole, wrestling with anger toward the divine, or seeking a path to redemption, this conversation explores the deepest questions we face on our journeys toward restoration.

When infidelity strikes, the question becomes: Can my marriage survive? And if so, how do we save it? In Episode 2, our experts discuss the incredible strength and resilience it takes to fight for a marriage after betrayal. 

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It's one of the biggest regrets people have in recovery: how they handled telling their kids, family and friends about the affair. Carrying the secret and shame can feel like a toxic weight, but telling the wrong person can create more trauma for all parties involved. In Episode 3, our expert therapists guide you through this complex question: Who should I talk to about the affair? 

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