
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

Dec 2, 2024 • 42min
Affair-Proofing Your Marriage
The beginnings of an affair are often innocent and hardly noticeable, which is why you should take steps to safeguard your marriage. This week, join Greg & Erin as they sit down with author and counselor Dave Carder to talk about building trust, setting boundaries, and nurturing intimacy to keep your marriage strong and secure. Later, we share our favorite date night ideas. Then, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how she should handle confronting her husbands addiction to pornography. Click here to receive Dave's book, "Anatomy of an Affair," for a gift of any amount! Read Erin's article, "Make Date Night With Your Spouse A Weekly Habit." Read Erin's article, "Why and How to Pursue a Healing Separation." Read Joann Condie's book about how to deal with a spouse's porn addiction, "Aftershock." If you or your spouse struggle with porn, click here for Pure Desire Ministries Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Nov 25, 2024 • 45min
Together for the Long-Haul
What's the secret to a lasting marriage? This week, join Greg & Erin as they sit down with marriage champions Diane & Roger Ingolia, who share wisdom from their 47 years of marriage. Later, we engage in some date night conversation starters. Then, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how her & her husband can make love, instead of just having sex. Click here for a free list of date night conversation starters from Greg & Erin! Interested in one of our marriage seminars? Click here to check out Resist the Drift from Focus on the Family! Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Nov 18, 2024 • 47min
Choosing We Over Me
What does it mean to choose "we over me" in marriage? This week, join Greg & Erin as they sit down with author and counselor Debra Fileta, who shares insights on how you can build a strong, connected marriage by prioritizing union over personal agenda. Later, we debunk some marriage advice from the internet. Then, we hear a question from a listener whose husband is accusing her of being unfaithful. Click here to receive Debra's book, "Choosing Marriage," for a gift of any amount! Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Nov 11, 2024 • 51min
Cherishing the Differences in Your Spouse
No two people in marriage are the same, and differences that were initially fun and quirky may cause friction over time! In this weeks episode, listen to a conversation from Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, where Greg & Erin explain how you can learn to cherish the differences in your spouse. Later, we try a new segment called "What Would You Do?" where Greg & Erin talk about what they would do if one of them decided to leave the faith. Then, we answer a question from a listener about her alcoholic husband. Click here to receive "The Wholehearted Wife: 10 Keys to a More Loving Relationship" for a gift of any amount! Take the 4 Animals Personality Test Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Nov 4, 2024 • 49min
How to Leave and Cleave
In Genesis 2:24, the bible explains that, as one flesh, married couples should leave their family of origin and cleave to each other. But, practically speaking, what does that mean? Join Greg & Erin as they sit down with Scott Kedersha & Gabrielle McCullough of the More than Roommates podcast to talk about how to leave and cleave. Later, we sit down with a newly engaged couple to discuss how they can prepare for marriage. Then, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how she can improve a damaged relationship with her mother-in-law. Click here to listen to Scott & Gabrielle's podcast, More than Roommates Click here to check out Focus on the Family's premarital marriage curriculum, Ready to Wed Check out Greg's article, "12 Questions Every Father Should Ask His Future Son-In-Law" Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Oct 28, 2024 • 44min
Avoid the Chore War
Each of us comes into marriage with different expectations regarding how chores should be divided up and conquered. Join Greg & Erin as they sit down to discuss how you and your spouse can avoid having a "chore war" with each other. Later, counselor Jenny Coffey joins us to discuss preventing emotional burnout in marriage. And lastly, we’ll answer a question from a listener who wants to know how to have productive conversations with her husband when they disagree. Click here to receive Greg & Erin's book, Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, for a gift of any amount! Listen to Greg and Erin talk about the Chore War on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Click here to read Greg's article about chores in marriage Learn more about Heart Talk and Work Talk Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Oct 21, 2024 • 50min
Glorifying the Lord as a Wife
God invented marriage, and His word calls us to glorify Him in everything we do. Join Greg & Erin as they speak with social media influencer Milena Ciciotti to discuss how she glorifies the Lord in her marriage by staying grounded in biblical truth. Later, in marriage myths, we discuss the pros and cons behind the trending #tradwife phenomenon. Then, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how she can cope with her husband’s sexual history. Click here to take Greg & Erin's Marriage Assessment Hope Restored Marriage Intensive. Marriage counseling grounded in biblical principles. Find healing today. Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Oct 14, 2024 • 48min
When Trust is Broken
How do you fix your marriage when trust is broken? How do you trust again after betrayal? Join Greg & Erin as they sit down with Lysa TerKeurst to talk about how you can heal from broken trust. Then, we hear a riveting devotional from Bill Arbuckle about betrayal. Later, we hear a question from a listener who wants to know how to rebuild intimacy with her husband after infidelity. Click here to receive Lysa's new book, I Want To Trust You, But I Don't, for a gift of any amount! Click here to read Recovering From an Affair Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Oct 7, 2024 • 55min
Safety in Marriage
Feeling safe, and making sure your spouse feels safe, is key to a healthy marriage, but did you know that safety encompasses the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of our lives? Join Greg & Erin as they sit down with marriage expert, Dr. Bob Paul, to discuss safety in marriage. Later, join us for date night conversation starters. Then, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know her and her husband can reconnect after the birth of their first child. Click here to receive Dr. Paul's book, Empowered to Love, for a gift of any amount! Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Sep 30, 2024 • 45min
When You (or Your Spouse) is a People Pleaser
This week, join Greg & Erin as they sit down with Whitney & Tanner Lowe to discuss the struggle many couples face with seeking approval and people-pleasing, especially in today's social media driven world. Then, we debunk the popular marriage myth that says marriage will fix all your problems. Later, we hear a question from a listener who wants to know if her husband is too tied to his family. Click here to receive Whitney's book, Set Your Eyes Higher, for a gift of any amount! When You (or Your Spouse) is a People Pleaser Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.