First Things THRST E146 - "Every Relationship ENDS!": The #1 Divorce Lawyer on Love, Marriage & Money | James Sexton
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Jun 22, 2026 
James Sexton, a divorce lawyer and author who turns legal experience into blunt relationship wisdom. He discusses why fear can be healthy, why passion is not the same as compatibility, and how relationships need intentional maintenance. He talks about honesty, teachable relationship skills, the meaning of heartbreak, and how money, fame and children reshape priorities.
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Ask What Problem Marriage Solves
- Treat long-term partnership like a career, not a short-term side hustle, and ask what problem marriage actually solves for you.
- James advises evaluating motives like tradition or peer pressure rather than assuming marriage preserves happiness.
Do Weekly Preventative Relationship Maintenance
- Do small, regular maintenance in relationships instead of waiting for crises; preventative habits are easier than rebuilding after collapse.
- James compares weekly small actions to fitness maintenance to prevent the gradual 'flood' of disconnection.
How A Shave Changed Weekend Intimacy
- Sexton dated partners with sensitive skin and adjusted his grooming accordingly to keep connection intact.
- One partner praised his shaved look, which motivated him to shave three times a day and boosted attraction.