
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

Jun 30, 2025 • 59min
Supporting Military Marriages
On this episode of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage' Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley celebrate our troops and their families, and talk with Beth Runkle about the challenges military spouses face and the dynamic of military home life -- which includes frequent moves, loneliness, saying goodbye for deployments, and the emotional strain of maintaining relationships. Beth shares personal experiences about resentment towards military life, the importance of communication, and how finding faith helped her marriage survive. We'll give you practical advice on self-care, forming community, and supporting mental and emotional health, too. We also will take a question from a listener who is dealing with anxiety. Another Move God? Here are resources to help military families! Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Jun 23, 2025 • 57min
Myths Wives Believe
On this episode of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage,' Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss common myths about marriage. Do you have misconceptions about what makes a marriage successful? We'll talk with Rhonda and Steve Stoppe who discuss Rhonda's book 'If My Husband Would Change, I'd Be Happy.' We'll hear stories about their marital challenges and how they resolved them through faith and open communication. The episode concludes with advice on dealing with chronic illness in marriage and the importance of maintaining self-care and balance. Plus, we have a fun activity to create music playlists for your spouse to foster connection and intimacy. If My Husband Would Change I'd Be Happy Weekend Get Away 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Jun 16, 2025 • 56min
Better Marriage - Better Life
Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley interview Dr. Gary Chapman, renowned author of 'The Five Love Languages' and other marriage-related books. On this episode we discuss practical insights from Chapman's new book, 'A Simple Guide for a Better Marriage.' Highlights include addressing common communication issues in marriage, the importance of humility, techniques for handling conflicts, and the role of apologies and forgiveness. Dr. Chapman shares his wisdom from 60 years of marriage, emphasizing the need for mutual respect, understanding each other's love languages, and consistently working on the relationship. The episode concludes with a celebration of Greg and Erin's 33rd wedding anniversary, highlighting their ongoing commitment to growing in love and supporting each other. A Simple Guide For A Better Marriage Conversation Starters For Couples Here's a link to the Narcissism episode Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Jun 9, 2025 • 49min
Covenant Conditions: A Father's Challenge To A Future Son-In-Law
What if you went to your girlfriend's father, asking for her hand in marriage, and he says "NO!" What would you do? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley dive into a heartfelt story involving Curt and Tanya Cramer, their daughter Abby, and her future husband, David. This conversation emphasizes the importance of patience, relational growth, and spiritual growth in order to handle the biblical requirements of a marriage. Greg and Erin also address a listener’s question about the biblical perspective on sex in marriage and share humorous marriage tweets. Ready To Wed: 12 Ways To Start A Marriage You'll Love 12 Questions Every Father Should Ask His Future Son In Law Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Jun 2, 2025 • 59min
Let's Talk About Marriage Pt .2
Personal anecdotes, including stories about resolving conflicts, handling crises, and supporting each other through tough times, illustrate the broader points of a strong marriagfe. The importance of empathy, communication, and long-term commitment is highlighted, as is the notion of using marriage as a means to grow more like Christ and to support one another in becoming the best versions of themselves. The Healthy Marriage Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring You Closer Together If you'd like to talk with a Christian Counselor, call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY Fight Your Way To A Better Marriage Additional Premarital Resources Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

May 26, 2025 • 59min
Let's Talk About Marriage Pt. I
On this edition of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin have a discussion with Jim and Jean Daly about strengthening marriages, starting with how their differences revealed themselves early in their marriage. We'll explore the key challenges in marriage such as creating safety and understanding each other's needs. This conversation is also featured on Focus on the Family daily radio program on June 5, 2025. The Healthy Marriage Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring You Closer Together Marriage Champions Fight Your Way To A Better Marriage Take the Marriage Personality Test Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

May 19, 2025 • 58min
Sports Analogies for Marriage
In this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss strategies to strengthen marriages using biblical principles and sports analogies! We spent some time with marriage coaches George and Tondra Gregory who shared their experiences working with NFL teams and their approach to marriage ministry. Topics include defining a 'win' in marriage, navigating cultural and communication differences, and the importance of intentional growth through life transitions. The episode also provides practical date night ideas using the alphabet, and addresses a listener's question about improving communication and managing emotional triggers. Make sure you share the link with your friends! The Game Plan For Marriage Nurture The Heart of your Spouse Collection The Animal Personality Test Support this Show! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

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.