Get Your Marriage On! with Dan Purcell

The quickest way to improve your relationship with your spouse is to first work on yourself. However, working on ourselves can be hard. Participating in a high-quality group coaching program can often be just the thing to get you going in the right direction. Last week we shared an inspiring story from Mark and Mindy. This week I have two inspiring guests, Tom and Jeff. Tom and Jeff were part of the last cohort for my Men’s Intimacy & Desire coaching program. Both Tom and Jeff are successful in their careers and have seen quite a bit of success in their marriages too.  In this interview, I ask them what they learned from the coaching program they wish to share with others. My biggest hope is everyone that who listens to this episode walks away inspired, filled with hope. I love this interview because Tom and Jeff are real, raw, and unabashed in sharing the transformation they experienced over the last three weeks. In case you’re interested, the next cohort for my coaching program starts on January 19, 2022. There are only a dozen seats available and as of this recording, several have been taken. You’ll find the details on my website at getyourmarriageon.com

In today's podcast, you’ll have the privilege of meeting one of my favorite couples on the planet, Mark and his wife Mindy! Mark was in my most recent Men's coaching cohort. Six months ago Mark and Mindy were on the brink of divorce after 25 years of marriage. However, they have worked really hard and with God’s help, and a little bit of effective coaching, they had grown a lot in a short time. I'm excited for you to hear their story! If you’re interested, the next cohort for my coaching program starts on January 19th, 2022. There are only a dozen seats available and as of this recording, several have been taken. You’ll find the details on my website at getyourmarriageon.com

I hope you’ve enjoyed the slight change of pace over the last couple of episodes. Rather than interviewing professionals, I want to share stories from real ordinary couples about how they’ve transformed their marriages into something extraordinary. Their stories are real, raw, vulnerable, and inspiring.  This is our third and final “Sextimony” episode in our three-part Sextimony series, where we’re sharing stories from ordinary couples about how they’ve transformed their marriages and found great joy and connection from a satisfying sex life.  Maegan and her husband Sam have been married for over 10 years. You’ll get to hear Maegan’s inspiring story of overcoming unwanted pornography use, how a disappointing honeymoon lead to her speaking up more for her desires, how oral sex has helped her connect with her husband and led her to be more adventurous and confident, how honest improvement in her sex life has led her to a stronger faith in God, and how being playful in the bedroom leads to great sex. *Please Note: Starting Friday, December 31st our podcasts will be released on Friday mornings. 

I’ve personally gained a lot from courageous couples opening up to me, in appropriate ways, how they’ve found deeper connection and joy in their sex lives. I want to share stories from real ordinary couples about how they’ve transformed their marriages into something extraordinary. Their stories are real, raw, vulnerable, and inspiring. These four couples talk about mindset shifts that lead them to better sex. We’ll call this a “Sextimony” series! This is our second installment in our four-part Sextimony series. Our guests today are Faith and Brennan West. They’re such a great couple, as you’ll soon find out :) I’m grateful they’ve been willing to share their story of overcoming the baby blues, gaining confidence in the bedroom, how the Intimately Us app helped them find excitement and connection in the bedroom, and how they’re better connected to each other.

I’d like to be part of changing the stigma around talking about elevating sex in marriage. I’ve personally gained a lot from courageous couples opening up to me, in an appropriate way, how they’ve found deeper connection and joy in their sex lives. So far in this podcast, we’ve generally interviewed experts in marriage or sex-related careers to one degree or another. I want to switch gears for the next three episodes. Rather than learn from professionals, I want to share stories from real ordinary couples about how they’ve transformed their marriages into something extraordinary. Their stories are real, raw, vulnerable, and inspiring. These three couples talk about mindset shifts that lead them to better sex. We’ll call this a “Sextimony” series! Our first “Sextimony” is from Sharon Williams. She talks about shifts that helped her realize she can be in charge of her pleasure and how it’s changed sex from a chore to something she absolutely looks forward to. Be sure to read her award winning essay called "Bridging the Orgasm Gap” which captures her journey of learning how to get what she wants in the bedroom. Since our interview, I read her free downloadable ebook called “10 Tips for Bridging Your Orgasm Gap” and can recommend it to you too. You can find both on her website.

We communicate a lot about who we are and how we feel about our spouse by the way we engage (or avoid) sex. Intimacy is about a willingness to let ourselves known, and that can be scary sometimes.   If you're new around here, welcome! We are thrilled to have you. My wife and I hosted a couple’s retreat in beautiful St. George Utah! It was in the mountains, with a lake, and each couple had their own private cabin or stayed at a nearby hotel. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife was the instructor and she did phenomenally! She taught us for all three days.   I took pages of notes and learned so many things that I’m working to apply in my marriage. I wanted to share a few things with you today.

Ok, I’m just… really curious. I have a ton of questions about sex toys. Teresa and Blair are the owners of the website, Romantic Blessings, and were gracious to have a frank conversation with me about vibrators and sex toys. I’ve had this view that sex toys were dirty, bad, and all about solo masturbation. I had this stigma that they were unsavory. But I’m learning they can be a great addition to you and your partner’s sexual experience. In the right context, they can add to the bonding and intimacy that makes sex fulfilling. Toys can also add novelty, which is really important for long-term relationships: they can make sex a whole lot of fun, feel new gain, be exciting, and of course pleasurable too. I hope this episode gives you some helpful info -- whether you’re new to toys or experienced, I hope the information shared helps. With Christmas coming up, perhaps you’ll want to try some new things after listening. Visit Romantic Blessings and use our code for 15% off! Code: GYMO15

I’ve heard it said that issues relating to money are the second leading cause of divorce in America. Although we focus a lot on sexual intimacy on this podcast, with Christmas and the financial stress it brings to marriages right around the corner, I thought addressing how to get on the same page with your spouse regarding money would be a good topic to address.   And that’s when I found Ashlee Binderim on Instagram. Ashlee and her husband Dave started their marriage with over $225,000 in debt. They were both working part-time, going to college full time, and barely making ends meet. After years of struggling, they finally figured out how to link arms and tackle financial goals together. Current debt payoff: $162,000 to date! Now, she's a certified financial coach and on a mission to help other couples reach their goals by getting on the same page with their finances so they can set up a secure future.   To learn more from Ashlee visit her website Beyond Millions.

Do you or your spouse live apart for part of the time? How do you keep your marriage strong when you may not see each other every day? And can distance really make the heart grow fonder? If you’re wondering these things too, you’re going to love this episode. Roughly 4 million American couples live apart for some of the time, whether for military, pilots, artists, traveling salespeople, medical professionals, or for other reasons. Elaine, a licensed marriage & family therapist, and her husband Abe, found themselves in a commuter marriage through some unique circumstances. They help other couples in similar situations maintain a strong relationship while apart. They are the co-host of the “Love Is In The Air” podcast (featuring an airplane as their logo -- get it?). Together they have 5 children.

About 1 in 8 couples have trouble conceiving. Infertility can become a real struggle for couples, sometimes interfering with intimacy and impacting their sex life. I’m was fortunate enough to meet Sadie Banks, a mother of one (soon to be two) who has dealt with years of struggles revolving around infertility and the impact it’s had on her marriage. In this episode, Sadie shares what she’s learned and offers helpful tips on how to keep your marriage growing through it all. If you or someone you love is struggling with intimacy during infertility, I hope this episode inspires you and gives you hope. Sadie Banks is the owner and creator of Good Grief Journals. In 2018, she was in the trenches of her Infertility Journey, she needed a guided outlet to help her through the emotions and hard experiences that her infertility journey brought into her life. After interviewing over 100 women who had experienced infertility or who were experiencing infertility, she created a prompt journal specifically for working through infertility trauma and grief. Shortly after creating the Infertility Journal, it was clear that guided journals for other types of grief were needed too and Good Grief Journals expanded.