Shocking Marriage podcast

In this interview, Trisha Campbell tells the story of expanding her family of 3 children by adopting 5 children with special needs. She tells of the challenges associated with raising a large, transracial family and the steps she took to make sure her marriage thrived throughout the process.

Sathiya led a life of conflict. Even though he was a Christian pastor, he was addicted to pornography in his private life. In this riveting interview, hear how Sathiya overcame his addiction and created a system called Deep Clean that helps other men to do the same. In his recent book, "The Last Relapse", Sathiya talks of his life, his faith and his calling to help men achieve their own freedom.

In this episode, Jerry interviews John and Ana Mann about their newest book, "The Go-Giver Marriage". This fascinating book provides very practical and actionable techniques that can be applied to any marriage. You will hear keen insights no only on the contents, but also on the process of writing together as a couple.

The Bible tells us to build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's words and teachings. It's like building on a rock. Doing otherwise is like building on sand, where nothing can withstand the storms that life brings. Marriage is no different. We need to build our marriages on solid rock and maintain them over time. In this episode, you will hear how you can "shore up" your marriage by utilizing all the power that God so readily provides.

This begins a new series highlighting the book Shocking Marriage. In this, you will hear ways to strive for a better marriage that is both more fun and more satisfying.

Things you focus on in life get better. Things you ignore erode. That's as true in marriage as in any other area.  Be intentional in seeking out opportunities to grow together as a couple. In this episode you will hear of several opportunities to do so.

When I was newly married, it never occurred to me that I didn't know everything I needed to in order to have a great marriage. Forty years later, I asked a large group of people what they wish they had known as newlyweds that they have since learned. It turned out to be some fascinating information. In this podcast, I share these findings for you.

Sally shares tips and recommendations from her 27 years of being a licensed marriage therapist. Covid is tough on marriages and so are the Holidays. Sally shares tips to proactively get through both as well as many other situations.

Lisa Rae Morris has written an insightful, award winning book entitled Wifeology - A Field Guide to the Wife in Her Natural Habitat. In this interview you will hear an overview of this book as well as how the creation of it saved her marriage. This is a must listen for everyone!

In this fifth tip, you will learn how to listen empathically. While a challenging skill to learn, it will be well worth the effort.

In this fourth tip, you will hear why it is critical that you make time for quality conversation with your spouse

In this third tip, you will hear why it is critical to understand the purpose of a given conversation. Your participation should not always be the same...

Tip 2 in this mini series shows that not all communication is of equal importance. Learn how to distinguish, prioritize and give the proper attention to the communication in your marriage

In this mini-series, you will hear five great tips to improve the communication in your marriage.

What comes out of our mouths is a reflection of our heart. Check yourself, where is your heart in terms of your spouse?  Also, consider their heart if you hear something in an argument that is very upsetting. Did they intentionally meant to hurt you?  If not, maybe your misunderstood... Hear how to deal with this touchy subject in this episode.

People get naturally defensive when they feel attacked. Learn this simple technique to get your point across without escalating the argument.

The words we use when we argue make a big difference in the outcome. In this episode, learn how certain words escalate the situation, and an easy way to avoid them.

When you find yourself in conflict with your spouse, learn to focus on the issue and not on the person. Doing so gives you a common enemy (the issue) that you can work together toward resolving.

These brief (3-5 minute) episodes will give tangible tips on a given topic. This first series provides specific suggestions for dealing with arguments with your spouse. Conflict is inevitable in marriage, but it need not be destructive. Learn how to turn a negative event into an occasion that actually builds up your relationship. 

You and your spouse have been called to do more than what either of you could possibly do on your own. Learn how to discover God's unique calling for your marriage and how to develop super powers as a couple to get it done.

Every marriage can be better. It just takes intentionality and effort. Many couples desire an improved relationship, but they let other priorities get in their way, assuming they'll get back to it "someday". In this episode, you'll hear three things you can do right away to help take your marriage to the next level.

Couples in distress are "disconnected", no longer focusing on their relationship, but instead looking only to their own needs. To avoid devolving to this state, couples must intentionally focus on improving the connection they have with their spouse. In this episode, you will hear a variety of techniques you can use in your own marriage to ensure that your connection stays strong.

No word in marriage ministry draws more angst than the word submission. Women despise it, men use it as a theological hammer. What Paul intended when he discussed this was far different than what is often perceived today. In this podcast you will hear how submission fits in to God's overall plan for marriage, and how it can take things to another level.

How many times do we get frustrated when we ask our spouse for help only to find they don't do things our way? In this episode, learn why it is important to take a step back and allow them to contribute their own perspective and ideas. It may not be the way you'd do things... but it will probably be better!

Being stuck in the same house for an extended period of time will try anyone's nerves. It is critical for couples to maintain effective communication - especially during these times.

We are in the throes of a global pandemic. Families are forced to self-quarantine, stay at home and practice social distancing. This is quite a disruption to most of our routines. Even the strongest of marriages will find themselves struggling with the tensions the situation forces upon us. Hear in this episode some ways you can stay sane, and keep your marriage strong - even while dealing with this unnatural time.  

Everybody thinks they desire a "hot" relationship. Steamy, passionate, physical... These aren't bad things, but are they sustainable? In this episode, learn how to create a bed of coals in your marriage that will keep your fire burning even amidst storms or seasons of neglect.

It's a new year and a new decade. Time to create a vision for your marriage and focus on continuous improvement in your relationship. We're planning a conference to help you do that.

In this busy holiday season, it is important to keep your marriage as a top priority. Hear how one couple intentionally falls in love everyday and makes the choice to keep their marriage strong. That's one habit that leads to a shocking marriage

Your spouse should be the most important person in your life. So why is it that so many put them on the back burner of life when it comes to prioritizing time and money? In this episode, hear the dangers of taking your spouse for granted and the joys of putting them first. 

Marriages that are in distress spend all of their time looking backward, assigning blame and keeping score. Healthy marriages look forward with an ongoing effort to get to a better place. Hear how to accomplish that in your marriage in this episode.

We continue the topic of effective communication this week, focusing on more subtle aspects such as non-verbal and tone. So many couples struggle with this but it doesn't have to be so hard. Become a student of your spouse and be intentional. This episode will provide you with specific tips on how to do just that.

Communication seems to be a huge issue in most marriages. Both spouses complain that their partner is not listening. It really boils down to a few key issues. Focus on these, and you can reduce your frustration dramatically!

Sean & Meghan Cody are Millennials, but in many ways they violate all of the stereotypes. Hear the inspiring story of how one couple is running a business from their home while raising young kids and keeping their marriage exciting and dynamic. They talk of an integrated life, where they are in control of their schedules, their workload, their money and their time. 

Your spouse should be your closest relationship. And you should enjoy spending time with them. Too many marriages have allowed the routine drudgery of life to overwhelm them. As a result, couples become tired and jaded. It doesn't have to be that way.  Develop a mindset where you encourage fun. Disrupt routine. Fight predictability. Be mischievous. With some effort, you will find that time spent with your spouse is most rewarding.  Jerry & Tara talk about the wackiness in their marriage and how others find it contagious.

It is easy to get consumed with our feelings. This is especially true in our marriages. If we feel good about things, we're in a good marriage. If we don't feel as good, our marriage is in trouble. Feelings naturally vary with life's circumstances. Hear how establishing a vision for your marriage can you help to override your temporary feelings and keep you heading in a positive direction.

In this episode, Jerry interviews Stacey Greene, author of "Stronger than Broken - One couple's decision to move through an affair". Stacey provides incredible insight on marriage and the horrific toll that infidelity plays on it. But she also provides tangible steps that can be taken to work through it, even to the point of being stronger than before. You don't want to miss this riveting episode!

Nobody thinks it can happen to them, until it does. People don't enter into marriage thinking they'll keep an eye out for something better, but every year thousands of marriages are wrecked when individuals decide to stray. Because they've given it no thought in advance, they find themselves too far down the path of temptation to turn back. In this episode you will hear tactical ways of proactively and defensively averting infidelity. If you find yourself nearing the path of temptation, these words may just be the ones that come back to you in time to save your marriage.

We spend years doing our best to raise our kids. Then they grow up and get married. Suddenly our role in their lives change dramatically. It's tough to let go. From their perspective, it can be tough to fully "leave and cleave" as well. In this episode, Jerry gives specific advice both to the parents and the married couples in terms of how to deal effectively with these new relationships.

Jerry sits down with his daughter-in-law to talk about setting boundaries, managing expectations and thriving in a sometimes awkward relational environment.

Sex and money are the two biggest reasons cited for divorce. In this episode, see why it is so critical that both spouses are on the same page when it comes to managing money. Sure you may have a spender and a saver, but with some effort you can align your efforts and work toward some common goals.

Learn three specific ways in which you can improve your relationship and minimize effort along the way. It's so much easier to be proactive and avoid problems than it is to constantly struggle to get out of them. This episode contains life-tested advice that can take your marriage to new levels.

Ask any financial advisor and they will tell you to invest throughout your entire career and you will have a healthy nest egg upon retirement. Marriage is the same way. If you want to have a fantastic marriage once you are an empty nester, begin investing in your marriage now. You will find yourself in a happier, healthier relationship as a result.

Marriage is the only relationship described in the Bible as one flesh. Many equate this simply as a result of sex. In this episode you will hear how there is a blessing associated with becoming one flesh that can take your marriage to new levels.

Our guest this week is Pastor Lou Rodriguez from Encounter Church in Evansville, Indiana. Lou has worked extensively with young couples both married and engaged. He has personally married over 90 couples! Lou shares from his vast experience the importance of effective communication in a marriage. He also shares some of the other common struggles faced by newlyweds including setting boundaries, and defending your spouse with in-laws. Lou has a tremendous sense of what young couples need to know and relates these stories in an entertaining fashion. 

We all have those days when we are not excited about our spouse. We may be bored or frustrated - we just don't "feel it". This happens to every couple. In this podcast, learn how to change your perspective on those days and use them to actually improve on your marriage. A Shocking Marriage is about more than feelings - it's about a long-term commitment. 

This episode discusses the final aspect of intimacy in marriage - physical intimacy. Sex is an important ingredient in marriage, but often times couples use sex as an inappropriate tool or reward. Learn how to stop manipulating behaviors and embrace sex as the gift that God intended in your marriage.

In this podcast, Jerry talks about the critical and fragile nature of emotional intimacy in a marriage. Couples that can satisfy each other in this regard are well set for the long-run. Those that ignore it risk potential collapse. Learn what it is, how to nurture and protect it and how to satisfy your spouse in this area.

Learn what Spiritual Intimacy is, and the important role that it plays in a Shocking Marriage. You will learn how to develop it, nurture it and apply it alongside your spouse. You will see how bringing this blessing into your marriage will help you in all aspects of your relationship and draw you both closer together and closer to God.

In this episode you will learn the three key aspects of intimacy that support a marriage relationship. You will see how these work together, and how if any one of them suffers, the relationship will suffer as well. You will understand the breadth and depth of Godly intimacy in a marriage and learn how to focus on and improve this critical aspect of your relationship

Too much effort is expended in marriage in trying to change your spouse. It just doesn't work. You can only change yourself. Having said that, you have a bigger influence on your spouse than anybody else could possibly have. Learn to use your influence to change the course of your marriage for the better.