
Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage
Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear, practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family.
Latest episodes

May 12, 2025 • 47min
Stormie Omartian - The Power of Prayer for Marriage
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley discuss the benefits of prayer in relationships with the one and only Stormy Omartian, an award-winning author known for her 'Power of a Praying' series. Stormy shares her personal story, highlighting the role of prayer in overcoming marital challenges like depression, anger, and PTSD. You'll learn how prayer will foster unity, commitment, and positive change in your marriage. We also address a listener question about navigating feelings after an adult child's divorce. The Power of a Praying Couple Marriage Assessment 12 Questions Every Father Should Ask Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

May 5, 2025 • 56min
Restoring Marriage After an Affair
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley tackle the sensitive topic of marital betrayal due to physical affairs, emotional affairs, and pornography addiction. Guests Bob and Dannah Gresh share their personal journey through Bob's pornography addiction and the process of healing and restoration they experienced. They discuss the spectrum of pornography use, the impact of shame, and the importance of rigorous honesty and transparency in recovery. Happily Even After - Let God Redeem Your Marriage If you have a problem, listen to the No More Porn Podcast. You’ll learn why pornography hurts a marriage, but there’s hope and freedom found in God’s grace. Whether you’ve struggled with pornography or been hurt by your spouse’s usage of it, this series will help you start a journey toward healing. Marriage Champions How & Why To Pursue A Healing Separation Hope Restored Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 2min
Joy In Marriage
How is your marriage, really? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, we're highlighting key aspects of a long-lasting marriage. The episode discusses maintaining friendship, effective communication, and daily acts of love in marriage with our special guests Brandon and Octavia Cormier. They share their love story, challenges in communication, and how their faith has played a pivotal role in their marriage. The episode showcases the importance of enduring difficulties, seeking counsel, and placing faith in God to navigate marital challenges. The Deep Rooted Marriage: Cultivating Intimacy, Healing and Delight How & Why To Pursue A Healing Separation Send us your Date Night Disaster stories through Voice Mail! Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Apr 21, 2025 • 57min
God Loves Blended Families
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley revisit the topic of second marriages and blended families and delve deeper into the complexities and challenges that second marriages often face, including emotional baggage, communication issues, and the blending of children from previous marriages. Scott and Deana Thayer share their experiences and strategies for successfully blending their families and share the importance of preparation, managing expectations, establishing household rules, and prioritizing the couple’s relationship amidst the dynamics of a blended family. We also answer a listener question about potential red flags in a spouse’s behavior. Building Love Together In Blended Families It's Not About The Nail Video Connect with our Counseling Department 1-800-A-FAMILY Hope Restored Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Apr 14, 2025 • 58min
I May Have Married A Narcissist
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss narcissism in marriages with Dr. Dewey Wilson. What does it look like, what is it's impact on relationships, and how can we help both those exhibiting narcissistic behaviors and those living with narcissistic individuals? He provides insights from his research on clinical and subclinical narcissism, particularly among millennials. Greg & Erin also explore common communication misunderstandings between spouses using humorous 'wife-initions' and 'husband-itions'. They'll answer a question from a wife struggling with guilt over changing domestic responsibilities due to work demands, too. Get ready for lots of practical advice on managing expectations and encouraging open communication on this edition of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage! Rescue Your Love Life Nurturing the Heart Of Your Spouse Collection Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Apr 7, 2025 • 56min
Connecting In A Lonely World
Did you know that one in two Americans feel significantly lonely weekly? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Becky Harling shares how loneliness leads to increased anxiety, depression, and physical health risks. The conversation covers the differences in how introverts and extroverts experience loneliness and the importance of feeling connected in marriage. We'll give you practical advice to rekindle emotional connections, maintain empathy, avoid a critical spirit, and bringing fun back into relationships. Cultivating Deeper Connections In A Lonely World Hope Restored Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 9min
Guarding Your Vows: Affair Prevention
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin speak with marriage counselors, Dr. Jorge and Danisa Suarez as they share their marriage journey, including the challenges they faced, such as dealing with expectations from others and maintaining their commitment to God. They emphasize the importance of commitment to one another, communication, and setting boundaries of safety to protect and strengthen marriages. We'll offer insights on dealing with infidelity, highlighting the necessity of hope, grace, and the willingness to rebuild trust in your marriage. Hedges – 7 Ways To Love Your Wife Protect Your Marriage. Recovering From An Affair Greg Smalley sits down with Jerry Jenkins one on one for a special deep dive into ways to set appropriate boundaries in your marriage Dr. H. Norman Wright's interview with Jim Daly Are you facing challenges in your marriage? You are not alone. Focus on the Family's Hope Restored is a great resource for you. Discover a great path forward. Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Mar 24, 2025 • 60min
The Work of Happily Ever After
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin Smalley discuss the work required to maintain a healthy and fulfilling marriage. They talk about their personal experiences and delve into the idea of 'happily ever after,' exploring how expectations evolve over time. They are joined by Tanner and Whitney Lowe, who share insights from their eight years of marriage, addressing challenges such as conflict, and communication styles. The conversation also touches on the impact of Hollywood's portrayal of sex and intimacy, emphasizing the importance of adhering to a biblical perspective. The episode concludes with a Q&A session, offering advice to a listener struggling with trust issues due to her husband's spending habits. Marriage Assessment Resist the Drift Conferences Plugged In Hope Restored Healing Separation Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Mar 17, 2025 • 57min
Before You Marry Again
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin Smalley explore the complexities of remarriage, focusing on issues such as recurring relationship challenges and the importance of internal evaluation before remarrying. Guest counselors Ron and Nancy Keller share their insights and experiences, emphasizing the importance of grieving and dealing with emotions post-divorce for a successful remarriage. The episode also covers practical advice for blended families and navigating relationships with adult children. The book that Dr. Ron Keller mentioned, Reconnected, written by Greg & Erin Smalley is also available as a digital experience. For more on the book and the videos available, click here. Send us your Date Night Disaster stories via voicemail. If you need to speak to a counselor, just give us a call atn 1800AFAMILY. Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Mar 10, 2025 • 50min
United In Love
On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin speak with Billy and Dani Coker, an interracial couple who navigated their spiritual differences and various life challenges. The discussion covers how Billy and Dani's backgrounds impacted their marriage, and how they managed family traditions and expectations. Additionally, we answer a listener question on encouraging spiritual leadership in marriage and offer tips on relationship 'spring cleaning' to keep marriages vibrant and connected. Take the first step toward a stronger, more fulfilling relationship with our Marriage Assessment. This insightful tool helps you and your partner identify strengths, address challenges, and deepen your connection. Help your child navigate identity and belonging with wisdom and grace. Our expert insights offer guidance for parents of interracial children facing challenges related to race, culture, and self-acceptance. Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.