It seems like marriage is just another word for “endlessly learning to communicate”. Yes, there is so much more to marriage than communication, but how many marital issues would be erased or solved if we just learned to communicate in a more healthy manner? Our 15 years of marriage have taught us that it’s not a matter of if we disagree, but when we do,…
Are Your Words Off-Limits, Unhelpful, or Wise?
Is it me or is marriage is just another word for “endlessly learning to communicate”? Agreed, there is so much more to marriage than communication, but how many marital issues would be erased or solved if we just learned to communicate healthier? As a husband and wife team, it’s important to establish healthy communication ground rules. The Fierce Marriage Podcast: Note: We recently recorded a…
3 Ground Rules for Experiencing Real Honesty with Your Spouse
Recently I walked out to our deck and began flailing my arms uncontrollably. I’m positive I looked like an idiot. Why, you ask? Two words: spider web. As I stepped outside I felt that familiar, sticky feeling all over my arms and face. The more I moved, the more I felt it. In about half a second I transformed from a calm, collected, adult man…
Building an Emotionally Safe Marriage (Dr. Josh and Christi Straub)
Josh and Christi are the real deal. Highly educated, faith-filled, and articulate communicators. In today’s special interview episode, we talked about what it takes to have an emotionally safe marriage. We discussed the “fight, flight, or freeze” response to trauma in your marriage, as well as our tendency to gloss over or forget to utilize ’emotion language’ as couples. We enjoyed our conversation, and we…
Uprooting Bitterness In Your Marriage
Seeds and roots of bitterness start subtly. We must be aware and wise to identify them and uproot them before they get out of control. In this episode, we talked about the true root of bitterness (it may not be what you think) and how standing in awe of God is the only true way to uproot it. The Fierce Marriage Podcast: Please feel…
The 5 Love Languages (Podcast)
In this episode we discussed Gary Chapman’s amazing book, The 5 Love Languages. In their discussion they explore whether or not they are biblical, and how they can help/hinder your marriage in the different seasons you’re in (pre-kids, having little kids, no kids, retired, etc.). After recently taking the quiz online (go to 5LoveLanguages.com to take the quiz yourself), both were surprised by their results…
Can I Have Close Friends of the Opposite Sex?
There is a lot of godly information and instruction around this area of friendship with the opposite sex and whether or not it is something that can happen or should happen. In this episode, Ryan and Selena will discuss this controversial topic while sharing their own experiences and biblical understanding of how we “can have the wisdom to know and enjoy the blessing of friendship…
How is Your Phone Hurting Your Marriage (Part 2)
You’re probably using your smartphone to listen to this. Your phone is a great tool! But it can also create problems in life and marriage. (Side note: This episode marks 1 FULL YEAR of the Fierce Marriage Podcast! Thanks for listening!) Anyways… A few diagnostic questions you may want to ask yourself: Do you check your phone first thing in the morning? Do you spend…
The Art of Appreciation
One of the quickest ways to defuse all manner of marital dysfunction is to show and feel appreciation toward one another. The thing about appreciation is that it’s a choice and a skill. I’d even say that just like many things, one can learn the art of appreciation! In this episode of the Fierce Marriage Podcast, we discuss a few ways to exercise your “appreciation…
5 Reasons Why Your Family of Origin Matters… a Lot
To put it plainly, “Family of Origin” refers to the environment in which you grew up. It’s not a new concept by any means, but it’s one Selena and I hadn’t explored at length. Until recently. I love thinking about family of origin in tree terms (hence the image for this post). How a tree grows doesn’t only depend on its species; it’s the net…